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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/12362-0.txt b/12362-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7d4b085 --- /dev/null +++ b/12362-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10248 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12362 *** + +THE MOTHER'S RECOMPENSE; + + +A SEQUEL TO HOME INFLUENCE. + + +BY GRACE AGUILAR. + + + + +IN TWO VOLUMES. + +VOL. II. + + +LEIPZIG + +BERNHARD TAUCHNITZ + +1859. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + +"Who amongst this merry party will become sufficiently sober to assist +me in a work of charity?" was Mrs. Hamilton's address, one afternoon, as +she entered her daughter's room, where Emmeline, her young friends Lady +Florence and Lady Emily Lyle, and even the usually quiet Ellen, were +employing themselves in drawing, embroidery, and such light amusements +as diligently as the merry speech, the harmless joke, and the joyous +laugh of truly innocent enjoyment would permit. + +"A case of extreme distress has come before me," she continued, "for +which alms and other relief will not be sufficient; clothing is +principally required. Can any of you consent to put aside these pretty +things for a few days, merely for the sake of obliging me and doing +good? I have set every hand to work, and now for further assistance come +to you. To whom shall I appeal?" + +"To me--to me--to me!" every voice exclaimed spontaneously, and they +eagerly crowded round her to know what she required, what case of +distress had occurred, for whom they were to work. + +Gratified and pleased at their eagerness, Mrs. Hamilton smilingly +imparted all they wished to know. The simple tale drew from the artless +group many exclamations of pity, combined with the earnest desire to +relieve in whatever way their kind friend would dictate, and their task +was received by all with every demonstration of pleasure. + +"You, too, Ellen," said Mrs. Hamilton, smiling; "I thought you once said +you had no time for work." + +"Not for ornamental work, aunt! but I hope you have never asked in vain +for my assistance in such a case as this," answered Ellen, blushing as +she spoke. + +"No, love; my words did you injustice. But you appear to have found time +for ornamental work also, if this very pretty wreath be yours," said +Mrs. Hamilton, bending over her niece's frame, and praising the delicacy +of her flowers. + +"Oh, I have time for any and everything now," exclaimed Ellen, in a tone +of animation, so very unusual, that not only her aunt but her young +companions looked at her with astonishment. + +"Ellen, yon are becoming more and more incomprehensible," said Emmeline, +laughing. "If Edward do not come home soon, as I suspect this +extraordinary mood is occasioned by the anticipation of his arrival, I +am afraid your spirits will carry you half way over the Channel to meet +him. Mamma, take my advice, and keep a strict watch over the person of +your niece." + +"You know, Ellen, you are as full of fun and mischief as I am, quiet and +demure as we once thought you," said Lady Emily. + +"Is she? I am glad of it," said Mrs. Hamilton, playfully. "Do not look +so very much ashamed of your mirth, my dear Ellen, and bend over your +work as if you had been guilty of some extraordinary misdemeanour. You +know how pleased I always am to see you happy, Ellen," she added, in a +lower voice, as she laid her hand sportively on her niece's head, which +was bent down to conceal the confusion Emmeline's words had called +forth. + +Some little time longer Mrs. Hamilton remained with the young party, +entering with her usual kindness into all their pleasures and pursuits, +and left them perhaps even happier than she had found them. + +Ellen's change of manner had been noticed by the whole party assembled +at Oakwood; and by most of them attributed to the anticipation of the +long-absent Edward's return. That indefinable manner which had formerly +pervaded her whole conduct had disappeared. She no longer seemed to have +something weighing on her mind, which Mrs. Hamilton sometimes fancied to +have been the case. Cheerful, animated, at times even joyous, she +appeared a happier being than she had ever been before; and sincerely +her aunt and uncle, who really loved her as their child, rejoiced in the +change, though they knew not, guessed not the real cause. Ingratiating +herself with all, even the stern Duchess of Rothbury, who, with her now +only unmarried daughter, Lady Lucy, had accepted Mrs Hamilton's pressing +invitation to Oakwood, relaxed in her manner towards her; and Sir George +Wilmot, also a resident guest, declared that if Edward were not proud of +his sister on his return, he would do all in his power to hinder his +promotion. + +Mr. Hamilton and his family had employed the greater part of a very +beautiful August in conducting their guests to all the most picturesque +and favourite spots in the vicinity of Oakwood. About a week after the +circumstance we have narrated, St. Eval and Lady Gertrude joined them +in the morning of a proposed excursion, which included the whole party, +with the exception of Mrs. Hamilton and Ellen. The Earl and his sister +had been instantly enlisted as a most agreeable reinforcement; nor was +the young Earl very sorry for an excuse to spend a whole day in enjoying +the beauties of Nature _tête-à -tête_ with his betrothed, who, since the +candid explanation of her agitation on first hearing of Annie's +elopement, for which her knowledge of Lord Alphingham's former marriage +had well accounted, had become if possible dearer than ever; and this +excursion was indeed one of perfect enjoyment to both. + +Ellen, for some unaccountable reason, which her young friends could +neither penetrate nor conceive, refused to accompany them, declaring +that most important business kept her at home. + +"Edward will not come to-day, so do not expect him," had been Emmeline's +parting words. + +The ruralizing party were to dine amid the ruins of Berry Pomeroy, and +were not expected home till dusk, to a substantial tea. + +It might have been seven in the evening that Ellen quietly entered the +library, where her aunt was engaged in writing, and stood by her side in +silence, as if fearful of interrupting by addressing her. + +"Wait a few minutes, my love, and I shall be ready to attend to you, if +you require my assistance in the arrangement of your work," Mrs. +Hamilton said, alluding to the parcel of baby-linen she perceived in her +niece's hand. Ellen smiled and obeyed. In a few minutes Mrs. Hamilton +laid aside her writing, and looked up, as if expecting her niece would +speak. + +"Well, Ellen, what grand difficulty can you not overcome?" + +"None, my dear aunt. My task is done; I only want your approval," +replied Ellen. + +"Done!" repeated her aunt, in an accent of astonishment. "My dear Ellen, +it is impossible; I only gave it you a week ago. You must have worked +all night to finish it" + +"Indeed I have not," replied Ellen, quickly yet earnestly. + +"Then I certainly must examine every little article," said Mrs. +Hamilton, laughing, "or I shall decidedly fancy this extreme rapidity +cannot have been productive of neatness, which last I rather prefer to +the first." + +Ellen submitted her work to her scrutiny, without reply, and remained +kneeling on a stool at her aunt's feet, without any apprehension as to +the sentence that would be pronounced. + +"Really, Ellen, I shall incline to Emmeline's opinion, and believe some +magic is at work within you," was Mrs. Hamilton's observation, as she +folded up the tiny suit with very evident marks of satisfaction. "How +you have acquired the power of working thus neatly and rapidly, when I +have scarcely ever seen a needle in your hand, I cannot comprehend. I +will appoint you my sempstress-general, in addition to bestowing my +really sincere thanks for the assistance you have afforded me." + +Ellen pressed her aunt's hand to her lips in silence, for an emotion +Mrs. Hamilton beheld, but could not understand, choked her voice. + +"What is the matter, love? has anything occurred to annoy you to-day? +You look paler and more sad than usual; tell me what it is." + +"Do you remember what--what chanced--have you forgotten the event that +took place this very day, this very hour, in this very room, three years +ago?" demanded Ellen, almost inaudibly, and her cheek blanched to the +colour of her robe as she spoke. + +"Why recall the painful past at such a moment, my sweet girl? has it not +been redeemed by three years of undeviating rectitude and virtue? I had +hoped the recollection had ere this long ceased to disturb you," replied +Mrs. Hamilton, with much feeling, as she pressed her lips to her niece's +brow. + +"It never can, it never will, unless--unless--" Strong and almost +fearful emotion prevented all she had wished to say, and throwing into +Mrs. Hamilton's lap a small calf-skin pocket-book, she flung her arms +round her neck, and burying her face in her bosom, murmured, in a voice +choked with sobs, "The amount of all I took is there--all--all. Oh, take +it, and let me thus feel it as a debt which I have paid." + +"Ellen, my own Ellen, be composed," entreated Mrs. Hamilton, alarmed by +the extreme agitation she beheld. "Tell me, love, what are the contents +of this pocket-book? why do you entreat me so earnestly to take it?" + +Struggling violently with herself, Ellen tore open the little book, and +placed in her aunt's hand bank notes to the amount of those which had +once been so fatal a temptation. + +"They are mine--all mine. I have gained them honestly; indeed, indeed I +have; I have worked for them. It was to gain time for this I refused to +go out with you last winter. I had hoped my long, long task would have +been done before, but it was not. Oh, I thought I should never, never +gain the whole amount, but I have now; and, oh, tell me I have in part +redeemed my sin; tell me I am more worthy of your love, your kindness; +tell me I am again indeed your own happy Ellen." + +She would have said more, but no words came at her command, and Mrs. +Hamilton remained silent for a few minutes, in surprise and admiration. + +"My Ellen, my own much-loved Ellen!" she exclaimed at length, and tears +of unfeigned emotion mingled with the repeated kisses she imprinted on +her niece's cheek, "this moment has indeed repaid me for all. Little did +I imagine in what manner you were employed, the nature of your tedious +task. How could you contrive to keep it thus secret from me? what time +could you find to work thus laboriously, when not one study or +employment have I seen neglected?" + +"I thought at first I never should succeed," replied Ellen, her strong +emotion greatly calmed; "for while Miss Harcourt remained with us, I had +only two hours before prayers in the morning, and sometimes I have +ventured to sit up an hour or two later at night; but not often, for I +feared you would discover me, and be displeased, for I could not, dared +not tell you in what I was employed. The winter before last I earned so +much from embroidery and finer kinds of work, that I thought I should +have obtained the whole a year ago; but I was disappointed, for here I +could only do plain work, at which I earned but little, for I could not +do it so quickly. I had hoped there would have been no occasion to +refuse your wish, that I should accompany you and Emmeline, but I found +the whole amount was still far from completed, and I was compelled to +act as I did." + +"And is it possible, my Ellen, you have intrusted your secret to no one; +have demanded no sympathy, no encouragement in this long and painful +task?" + +"I could not have accomplished nor did I commence it, without the kind +assistance and advice of Ellis. My dear aunt, I knew, reposed great +confidence in her, and I thought if she did not disapprove of my plan, I +should not be acting so very independently, and that with her assistance +my secret would not be so difficult to keep: she procured me employment. +My name nor my reasons for seeking it were never known to those for whom +I worked." + +"And could she approve of a task such as this, my Ellen? Could she +counsel such painful self-denial and tedious labour?" + +"She did all she could to dissuade, and at first positively refused to +assist me; but at last yielded to my entreaties, for she saw I never +should be happy till I could look on the past more as a debt +than--than--" She paused, then added--"My own spirit rebelled enough; +that was far more difficult to overcome than other dissuasions." + +"And what strong impulse could have urged you to this course of +self-denial, my sweet girl? I know not yet whether I shall not scold you +for this almost needless infliction of pain, and for the deception it +involves towards me," said Mrs. Hamilton, with reproachful tenderness. + +"Forgive me, oh, forgive me that!" exclaimed Ellen, clasping the hand +she held. "I have often and often felt I was deceiving you; failing in +that confidence I had promised you should never have again to demand; +but I dared not tell you, for I knew you would have prohibited the +continuance of my task." + +"I should indeed, my Ellen; and tell me why you have done this. Was it +indeed because you imagined nothing else could atone for the past?" + +"Because I felt--I knew, though I was restored to your favour, your +confidence, my conscience was not at peace, because I had read, '_If the +wicked restore the pledge, give again that which he had robbed, walk in +the statutes of life, without committing iniquity, he shall surely live, +he shall not die_;' and I felt, however I might endeavour to be virtuous +and good, till I had given again that which I had robbed, I dared not +implore the mercy of my God." + +It is impossible to do justice by mere description to the plaintive +eloquence, to the mournfully-expressive voice with which these simple +words were said, betraying at once those thoughts and feelings which had +been so long concealed in Ellen's meek and youthful heart, the hidden +spring from which her every action had emanated; Mrs. Hamilton felt its +power, the sentiment was too exalted, too holy for human praise. She +folded her niece to her bosom. + +"May the Almighty searcher of hearts accept this sacrifice and bless +you, my dear child. Secretly, unostentatiously, it has been done. Pure +must have been the thoughts which were yours when thus employed, when +such was their origin, and we may hope, indeed, they have been accepted. +Had no self-denial attended the payment of your debt, had you merely +entreated your uncle to repay himself from the fortune you possess, I +would not have accepted it; such a payment would neither have been +acceptable to me, nor to Him whom, I firmly believe, my Ellen sought +more to please. But when every action the last few years has proved to +me, the words you repeated have indeed been the foundation of this +self-conquest, I cannot but humbly, trustingly, think it will be an +accepted offering on high. Nor will I refuse to comply with your +request, my dearest Ellen; I will receive that which you have so +perseveringly and so painfully earned; it shall be employed in +purchasing prayers for us all, from those whom it may relieve. Let not +the recollection of the past again disturb you, my sweet child. +Solicitude and pain you indeed once caused me, but this moment has +redeemed it all. Continue thus undeviatingly to follow the blessed path +you have chosen, and our Ellen is and ever will be deserving of all the +love which those to whom she is so dear can lavish upon her." + +For a few minutes there was silence, for the solemnity with which she +spoke had touched a responding chord; but the thoughts of the orphan +arose to heaven, silently petitioning for grace to continue in that +blessed path of which her aunt had spoken, in thankfulness for having +been permitted to conclude her painful task, and thus obtained the +approbation of her more than mother, the relative she so revered and +loved. + +"And this, then, was the long task which your numerous avocations during +the day prevented your completing, and you therefore took the time from +that allotted to recreation and amusement--this, which so strongly +emboldened my little Ellen, that even my coldness had no effect, except +to make her miserable. What do you not deserve for thus deceiving me? I +do not think I know any punishment sufficiently severe." Mrs. Hamilton +had recalled all her playfulness, for she wished to banish every trace +of sadness and emotion from the countenance of her niece. Ellen raised +her head to answer her in her own playful tone, when they were both +startled by the declining light of day being suddenly obscured, as if by +the shadow of a figure standing by the open window near them. It was, +however, so dark, that the outlines of the intruder were alone visible, +and they would have been unrecognised by any, save by the eye of +affection. + +Ellen sprung suddenly to her feet. "Edward!" burst gladly from her lips, +and in another second a fine manly youth had darted through the open +casement, and the long parted brother and sister were in each other's +arms. For a minute only Ellen was pressed in his embrace, and then +releasing her, he turned towards his aunt, and even as a devoted mother, +a fond and dutiful son, they met, for such had they been in the long +years of separation. Frequently had that high-spirited boy been tempted +to error and to sin, but as a talisman had her letters been. He thought +on the years that were passed, on their last interview, when every word +had graven itself upon his heart, on the devotedness of his orphan +sister, the misery he had once occasioned; he thought on these things, +and stood firm,--the tempter fled. He stood before them erect in +youthful beauty, no inward stain bade him turn from those fond looks or +shrink from the entwining arms of his young sister. And, oh, how blessed +is it thus to meet! to feel that vanished years have not estranged us, +distance has not diminished love, that we are to each other even as we +parted; to feel again the fond kiss, to hear once more the accents of a +voice which to us has been for years so still,--a voice that brings +with it the gush of memory! Past days flit before us; feelings, +thoughts, hopes, we deemed were dead, all rise again, summoned by that +secret witchery, the well-remembered though long silent voice. Let +years, long, lingering, saddening years drag on their chain, let youth +have given place to manhood, manhood to age, still will it be the +same--the voice we once have loved, and deemed to us for ever still--oh, +time, and grief, and blighted hope will be forgotten, and youth, in its +undimmed and joyous beauty, its glow of generous feelings, its bright +anticipations, all, all again be ours. + +"Mother; yes, now indeed may I call you mother!" exclaimed Edward, when +the agitation of this sudden meeting had subsided, and he found himself +seated on a sofa between his aunt and sister, clasping the hand of the +former and twining his arm caressingly round the latter. "Now indeed may +I indulge in the joy it is to behold you both again; now may I stand +forth unshrinkingly to meet my uncle's glance, no guilt, or shame, or +fear has cast its mist upon my heart. This was your gift," he drew a +small Bible from his bosom. "I read it, first, because it had been +yours, because it was dear to you, and then came other and holier +thoughts, and I bowed down before the God you worshipped, and implored +His aid to find strength, and He heard me." + +Mrs. Hamilton pressed his hand, but spoke not, and after a brief +silence, Edward, changing his tone and his subject, launched at once, +with all his natural liveliness, into a hurried tale of his voyage to +England. An unusually quick passage gave him and all the youngsters the +opportunity they desired, of returning to their various homes quite +unexpectedly. The vessel had only arrived off Plymouth the previous +night, or rather morning, for it was two o'clock; by noon the ship was +dismantled, the crew dismissed, leave of absence being granted to all. +And for the first time in his life, he laughingly declared he fancied +being the captain's favourite very annoying, as his presence and +assistance were requested at a time when his heart was at Oakwood; +however, he was released at last, procured a horse, and galloped away. +His disasters were not, however, over; his horse fell lame, as if, +Edward said, he felt a seaman was not a fit master for him. He was +necessitated to leave the poor animal to the care of a cottager, and +proceed on foot, avoiding the village, for fear of being recognised +before he desired; he exercised his memory by going through the lanes, +and reached Oakwood by a private entrance. Astonished at seeing the +rooms, by the windows of which he passed, deserted, he began to fear the +family were all in London; but the well-known sound of his aunt's voice +drew him to the library, just as he was seeking the main entrance to +have his doubts solved. He stood for a few minutes gazing on the two +beings who, more vividly than any others, had haunted his dreams by +night and visions by day; he had wished to meet them first, and alone, +and his wish was granted. + +Wrapped in her happy feelings, it was her brother's arm around her, her +brother's voice she heard, Ellen listened to him in trembling eagerness, +scarcely venturing to breathe, lest that dear voice should be still, +lest the hand she clasped should fade away, and she should wake and find +it but a dream of bliss--Edward could not really have returned; and Mrs. +Hamilton felt emotion so powerfully swelling within, as she gazed once +more on the brave preserver of her husband, the child of her sister, her +very image, that it was with difficulty she could ask those many +questions which affection and interest prompted. + +Edward had scarcely, however, finished his tale, before the sound of +many and eager voices, the joyous laugh, and other signs of youthful +hilarity, announced the return of the party from their excursion. Nor +was it long before Emmeline's voice, as usual, sounded in loud laughing +accents for her mother, without whose sympathy no pleasure was complete. + +"Do not disturb yourselves yet, my dear children," Mrs. Hamilton said, +as she rose, knowing well how many, many things the long-separated +orphans must have mutually to tell, and penetrating with that ready +sympathy--the offspring of true kindness--their wish for a short time to +remain alone together. "You shall not be summoned to join us till tea is +quite ready, and if you wish it, Edward," she added, with a smile, "you +shall have the pleasure of startling your uncle and cousins as agreeably +as you did us. I will control my desire to proclaim the happy tidings of +your safe return." + +She left the brother and sister together, sending Robert with, a lamp, +that they might have the gratification of seeing each other, which the +increasing darkness had as yet entirely prevented; and a gratification +to both it was indeed. Edward had left his sister comparatively well, +but with the traces of her severe illness still remaining vividly +impressed upon her features; but now he saw her radiant in health, in +happiness, and beauty so brilliant, he could hardly recognise that fair +and graceful girl for the ailing, drooping child she had once been. Nor +or was the contrast less striking between the Ellen of the present +meeting and the Ellen of the last; then wretchedness, misery, inward +fever, consumed her outward frame, and left its scorching brand upon her +brow. Remorseful anguish had bowed her down; and now he had returned +when her heart was free and light as the mountain breeze, her +self-inspired penance was completed; and nothing now existed to make her +shrink from the delight of devoting hours to her brother. + +"Tell James to go over to the Rectory, with my compliments to Mr. +Howard, and if he be not particularly engaged, I beg he will join us +this evening," said Mrs. Hamilton, a short time after she had left the +library, addressing Martyn, then crossing the hall. + +"Have you any particular wish for our worthy rector this evening, +Emmeline?" demanded Mr. Hamilton, gazing, as he spoke, with admiration +and surprise on the countenance of his wife, whose expressive features +vainly strove to conceal internal happiness. + +"A most earnest desire," she replied, smiling somewhat archly. + +"Indeed, I am curious"-- + +"I am sorry, dear Arthur, for I am no advocate for curiosity, and cannot +indulge it." + +"Ah, papa, there is a gentle hint for you, and a broader one for me," +exclaimed Emmeline, laughing; while conjectures as to what Mrs. +Hamilton's business with the rector could possibly be, employed the time +merrily till the whole party were assembled. + +"You may depend, Emmeline, it is to arrange all the necessary minutiae +for your marriage," said Lord St. Eval, who had been persuaded to remain +at Oakwood that night. "Your mother has selected a husband for you; +and, fearing your opposition, has sent for Mr. Howard that all may be +said and done at once." + +"I hope, then, that I am the man," exclaimed Lord Louis, laughing; +"there is no one else whom she can very well have at heart, not that I +see," he added, looking mischievously round him, while some strange and +painful emotions suddenly checked Emmeline's flow of spirits, and +utterly prevented her replying. + +A flush of crimson dyed her cheek and brow; nay, her fair neck partook +its hue, and she suddenly turned towards her mother, with a glance that +seemed of entreaty. + +"Why, Emmeline, my dear child, you surely cannot believe there is the +least particle of truth in my mischievous son's assertion?" said the +Marchioness of Malvern, pitying, though she wondered at her very evident +distress. + +"And is marriage so very disagreeable to you even in thought?" demanded +Lord St. Eval, still provokingly. + +"The very idea is dreadful; I love my liberty too well," answered +Emmeline, hastily rallying her energies with an effort, and she ran on +in her usual careless style; but her eye glanced on the tall figure of +young Myrvin, as he stood with Herbert at a distant window, and words +and liveliness again for a moment failed. His arms were folded on his +bosom, and his grey eye rested on her with an expression almost of +despair, for the careless words of Lord Louis had reached his heart--"No +one else she can have." + +Lord Louis had forgotten him, or intentionally reminded him that he was +indeed as a cypher in that noble circle; that he might not, dared not +aspire to that fair hand. He gazed on her, and she met his look; and if +that earnest, almost agonized glance betrayed to her young and guileless +bosom that she was beloved, it was not the only secret she that night +discovered. + +Mr. Hamilton was too earnestly engaged in conversation with Sir George +Wilmot to notice the painful confusion of his child; and Mrs. Hamilton +was thinking too deeply and happily on Ellen's conduct and Edward's +return, to bestow the attention that it merited, and consequently it +passed without remark. + +"Mother, I am sorry to be the first to inform you of such a domestic +misfortune," said Percy, soon after entering the room, apparently much +amused, "but Robert has suddenly lost his wits; either something +extraordinary has happened or is about to happen, or the poor fellow has +become bewitched. You smile, mother; on my honour, I think it no smiling +matter." + +"Never mind, Percy; your favourite attendant will, I have no doubt, +recover his senses before the night is over. I am not in the least +anxious," replied his mother, smiling. + +"Percy, your mother has clothed herself to-night in impenetrable +mystery, so do not hope to discover anything through her," said Lord St. +Eval, laughing, and the young men continued gaily conversing with Lady +Gertrude and Caroline, till the entrance of Mr. Howard and the +announcement of tea or supper; of both of which, after a day spent in +the country as this had been, the evening meal partook. + +"Ellen--where is Ellen?" said several voices, as they seated themselves +round the hospitable board, and observed her place was vacant; and Sir +George Wilmot eagerly joined the inquiry. + +"She will join us shortly, Sir George," replied Mrs. Hamilton, and +turning to a servant near her, desired him to let Miss Fortescue know +tea was ready. + +"I will go, madam. Stand back, James, let me pass," exclaimed Robert, +hastily, and he bounded out of the apartment with a most extraordinary +failing of his wonted respect. + +"There, proof positive; did I not tell you the lad was mad," said Percy, +and, as if in confirmation of his words, almost directly after a loud +and joyful shout sounded from the servants' hall. + +Mr. Hamilton looked up inquiringly, and in doing so his eye caught an +object that caused him to start from his seat with an exclamation of +surprise and pleasure; while Percy, leaping over chairs and tables that +stood in his way, unheeding Lord Louis's inquiry, whether Robert had +infected him, shook and shook again the hand of the long-absent +relative, in whom both he and Herbert could only recognise the preserver +of their father. Herbert and his sisters simultaneously left their +seats, and crowded round him. Warmly, affectionately, Edward greeted +them one and all, and rapidly answered the innumerable questions of +Percy; defended his sister from all share in his concealment, of which +Herbert and Emmeline laughingly accused her. The flush of almost painful +bashfulness still lingered on his cheek, as he marked the eyes of all +fixed upon him, strangers as well as friends; but as he turned in the +direction of his aunt, and his eye fell on the venerable figure of his +revered preceptor, who stood aside, enjoying the little scene he beheld, +as the remembrance of the blessed words, the soothing comfort that +impressive voice had spoken in his hour of greatest need, the lessons of +his childhood, his dawning youth, rushed on his mind, control, +hesitation, reserve were all at an end; he broke from the surrounding +and eager group, even from the detaining arm of his sister, sprang +towards him, and clasping both Mr. Howard's hands, his eyes glistened +and his voice quivered, as he exclaimed-- + +"Mr. Howard, too! one of my first, my best, and kindest friends. Ellen +told me not of this unexpected pleasure; this is joy, indeed." + +"A joy to me, too, my dear boy, equally unexpected; we must thank Mrs. +Hamilton for this early meeting. I knew not the pleasure she had +prepared for me," replied Mr. Howard, returning the pressure of Edward's +hand with equal warmth. + +"Nor did any one, my good sir. Never will I say again a lady cannot keep +a secret," said the Marquis of Malvern, jestingly. "Mr. Hamilton, as you +do not seem inclined to honour me, without asking, I must entreat a +formal introduction to that gallant nephew of yours, whose name is not +unknown to naval fame, though as yet but one of her junior officers." + +"I really beg your pardon, my dear Lord; Edward's sudden appearance has +startled me out of all etiquette. To one and all, then, of my good +friends here, allow me to introduce to their indulgent notice this said +Edward Fortescue, midshipman and gallant officer on board His Majesty's +good ship Prince William; and, in order that all reserve may be at an +end between us, I propose a bumper to the health and prosperity of the +wanderer returned." + +"Most excellent, my dear father; one that I will second with all my +heart," exclaimed Percy, eagerly. "For that amphibious animal looks +marvellously like a fish out of water amongst us all: and here we admit +no strangers. Edward, there is a vacant seat reserved for you by my +mother's side, who looks much as if she would choose you for her knight +this evening; and, therefore, though your place in future is amongst the +young ladies, to whom by-and-bye I mean to introduce you by name and +character, we will permit you to sit there to-night. Ellen, my little +coz, where are you? You must be content with looking at your brother, +not sitting by him. I cannot allow such breaches of etiquette; that is +quite impossible." + +"I am perfectly satisfied where I am, Percy," replied his cousin, +laughing, as she obeyed the Marchioness of Malvern's request and seated +herself beside her. Every eye was turned on Ellen with an admiration, +which, had not her thoughts been engrossed with her brother, would have +been actually painful to one of her quick feelings. Lady Malvern longed +to hear from her young favourite, in words, the internal delight which +was so evident in every feature, and by her kindly sympathy succeeded in +her wishes. The young sailor's health was celebrated with enthusiasm; +and Edward gracefully, though briefly, returned his thanks, while the +kindness of all around him, the easy friendliness of those who were +strangers, and the joy of feeling himself once more in the midst of +those he loved, soon placed him perfectly at ease. + +Ellen looked eagerly round her circle of friends, to mark the impression +made by Edward, and even her fond affection was fully satisfied. Sir +George Wilmot had not spoken, but his eye kindled with animation as in +the gallant young sailor he recalled his own youthful days, while some +other sad remembrances kept him silent, and checked his usual hilarity. +Lord Malvern appeared almost as interested as Mr. Hamilton. Lady +Gertrude's kind glance met hers, and told, by its silent eloquence, how +well she sympathised in Ellen's feelings; and Lord St. Eval too, his +smile spoke volumes, though his natural reserve prevented his addressing +Edward, while the young and lively members of the party seemed to find +abundant amusement in the anecdotes and adventures he narrated. Arthur +Myrvin gazed earnestly at him, and for a time banished his own +distressing thoughts in the endeavour to trace in the fine manly youth +before him some likeness to the handsome, yet violent and mischievous +boy he had first and last seen in the village of Llangwillan. + +"I have heard so much of Eward, from my friend Ellen here, that I am +most anxious to cultivate his acquaintance, and trust Castle Malvern +will often be graced by the presence of such a gallant young sailor," +was the Marchioness of Malvern's kind address, after they had adjourned +to the drawing room, as, leaning on the arm of Ellen, she advanced to +the young man, who, from Percy's lively introduction, was playing the +agreeable to Lady Florence and Lady Emily Lyle, while Lord Louis, who +found something in Edward's countenance that promised a kindred feeling +for fun and frolic, was demanding question after question, which Edward +was answering in a manner calculated to excite the continued merriment +of his companions, till a sign from his aunt called him to her side. + +"So I must entreat Admiral Sir George Wilmot to deign to notice my +nephew, it will not be given unasked," she said, approaching the aged +officer, who was sitting a little apart, shading his eyes with his hand, +as if in deep thought. "Sir George, I shall impeach you of high treason +against me, the liege lady of this fortress, that on a night when all is +joy, you, who are generally the gayest, should be sad. What excuse can +you urge in your defence?" + +"Is Edward unworthy of the high privilege of being a sailor, Sir +George?" whispered Ellen, archly, "or is your wrath against me, for not +joining your expedition this morning, to be extended to him? will you +not look on him as a brother seaman?" + +"Nay, Ellen, I must toil through long years of servitude, I must reap +very many laurels, ere I can deserve that title," said Edward. "The name +of Sir George Wilmot is too well known on the broad seas for me to hope +for more than a word of encouragement from him, or to enable me to look +on him with any other feelings than those of the deepest reverence and +respect." + +"Ay, ay, young man, you wish to surprise the old hulk to surrender; +gaily rigged and manned as you are, you think, by a show of homage to +me, to surprise me into paying it to you," said the old man, rousing +himself from his abstraction, and laughing as he spoke. "Do not deny it, +youngster, but I forgive you; for I have been an old fool, Mrs. +Hamilton. I plead guilty, and throw myself on your mercy. You, Mistress +Ellen, you deserve nothing from me, after rejecting every courtly speech +I could think of this morning, to persuade you to crowd sail and steer +out under my guidance instead of remaining safe in harbour. Jokes apart, +if you, young sir, will feel pleasure in the friendship of an old +time-worn servant of his Majesty as I am, I offer you my hand, with all +the warmth and sincerity of our noble profession. For your uncle's sake +as well as your own, my best wishes and my best offices shall be +exercised in tacking on lieutenant to your name." + +"And you will do nothing, then, for _my sake_, Sir George, nor for my +aunt's, whose dignity your sadness has offended?" said Ellen, smiling, +as did Mrs. Hamilton. + +"Your aunt would forgive my sadness, my dear child, did she know its +cause. I was wrong to encourage it, but I could not look on these bright +features," he laid his hand, which trembled, on Edward's arm, "without +seeing again past times peopled with those who have passed away. Mrs. +Hamilton, I thought again the merry favourite of my old friend, your +father, stood before me, the gay, the thoughtless, lovely Eleanor; she +was like him, in the bloom of youth and freshness, when I last beheld +her; and I thought, as mine eye glanced on this well known uniform, +there was another still of whom he reminded me,--the adopted son of my +affections, the darling of my childless years, Charles, my gallant +warm-hearted Charles! Nearly six years was he with me, when his courage +earned him a lieutenant's berth; he changed his quarters and his +commander, and I saw him no more. Such was he; such--oh, I thought +Eleanor and Charles again were before me, and I longed for the friend of +my early years, to recognise in his grandson the features of his +Eleanor, the voice, the laugh, and figure of his Charles. Forgive me, my +dear children, I have frightened away your mirth, and made myself +gloomy." + +There was silence as he ceased, and Sir George was the first to break +it, by addressing Edward with animation, questioning him as to all his +hopes and anticipations with regard to his promotion, which, as his six +years of service were now passed, he allowed to occupy his mind, and in +such conversation all traces of gloom quickly vanished; and Ellen, +interested in their conference, lingered near them in recovered spirits, +till the bell summoned all those who chose to join in the evening +prayer. All attended, except young Myrvin, who had departed. Herbert +felt anxious on his friend's account, for many reasons, which we must +postpone explaining till a future page; suffice it now to say that the +young man's conduct not seeming to be such as his profession demanded, a +degree of scarcely-perceptible, but keenly-felt coldness was displayed +towards him, both by Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Howard. Herbert had this night +remarked that his cheek was pale, his eye almost haggard, and his words +and manner often confused, and he had endeavoured to elicit the cause of +his inward disturbance, but unsuccessfully; the young man, although very +evidently unhappy, appeared to shrink from his confidence, and Herbert, +though grieved, desisted from his friendly office. That night Mr. +Hamilton resigned his place at the reading-desk to the worthy minister, +who, both in public and private worship, knew so well the duties of his +sacred office. He read the chapters of the evening, with a brief but +explanatory commentary on each, and after the usual prayers, broke forth +into a strain of earnest thanksgiving for the safe return of him who, +since he had last addressed his God, surrounded by his family, had been +exposed to the temptations and dangers of the sea, and mercifully +preserved through them all, and permitted to return in joy and peace. +To all, save to the orphans and Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton, his words applied +but to the terrors of the deep, but they well knew where the thoughts of +their minister had wandered; they knew that fervent thanksgiving was +offered up for his preservation from those sins which had been his on +his last return; they knew he blessed his Maker for the promise of +virtue he beheld; His grace had enabled him to overcome temptation, and +return to the home of his boyhood comparatively unstained. + +Edward contrasted his present feelings with those which he had +experienced the first night of his last return, and Ellen thought on +that bitter anguish, the public shame which had been hers in that very +hall, that very night three years before, and the young hearts of both +the orphans were filled with warm and deep thanksgiving. The thoughts of +all were composed and tranquillized when Mr. Howard ceased, and in the +little time that intervened between the conclusion of the service and +the family separating to their rooms, no light and frivolous converse +disturbed the solemn but sad impression on the minds of each. + +"I cannot part from you for the night, my dear cousin," said Edward, +somewhat archly, though in a low voice, as he approached the spot where +Caroline and St. Eval stood, "without offering you my warmest +congratulations on your future prospects, and without requesting an +introduction from _you_ to him, in whom I am to welcome a new relative. +I have been wishing to do so all the evening, but when I was at liberty +I missed you." + +Evidently pleased, Caroline looked up into St. Eval's face, but before +she could speak, the young earl had warmly pressed Edward's hand, and +answered with sincerity and kindness equal to his own. The whole party +very soon afterwards dispersed. + +Were it ours to follow our young and still, in appearance, childlike +friend Emmeline Hamilton to her room that night, we should see that the +smiles which had beamed around her lip had passed away, the flush on her +cheek was no longer there, and one or two bright drops might have been +observed slowly falling on her pale cheek, as she sat in deep musing, +ere she retired to her couch. She had dismissed Fanny, alleging that she +did not require her aid, and her long silky hair loosened from its +confinement, hung carelessly in golden waves around her. Tears fell on +her hand; she started, and flung back her tresses, looked fearfully +around her, and passed her hand across her eyes, as if to check +them--but ineffectually; another, and another fell; she leaned her +crossed arms upon the pillow, and her head drooped on them, and she +wept, wept as she had never wept before, and yet she knew not wherefore; +she was sad, how deeply sad, but that young and guileless spirit knew +not why. Child she was still in looks, in playfulness, in glee; a child +she still believed herself, but she was no child--that age of buoyancy +had fled, and Emmeline was, indeed, a woman, a thinking, feeling, ay, +and loving woman. + +It might have been nearly a week after Edward's return, when, on +entering the library one morning, Mrs. Hamilton observed her husband, +Mr. Howard, and Edward in earnest conference, the latter appearing +somewhat agitated. She would have retreated, imagining her presence +mistimed, but Edward, the instant he perceived her, sprung forward, and +seizing both her hands, exclaimed, in a voice of entreaty-- + +"Dearest aunt, will not you use your influence with my uncle, and +prevail on him to take the sum I have saved at different times, from my +prize-money and other things, to replace that which--which was lost +three years ago. To obtain sufficient, I have denied myself all +unnecessary indulgence; it has checked my natural extravagance; +prevented me, when sometimes I have been strongly tempted to play, or +join my messmates in questionable amusements. In saving that, I have +cured myself of many faults; it has taught me economy and control, for +by the time the whole amount was saved, my wishes and evil inclinations +were conquered. I look on it as a debt which I had bound myself to pay. +I anticipated the pleasure of telling my dear sister, she might banish +the past entirely from her mind, for I would not write a word of my +intentions, lest I should fail in them ere I returned. And now my uncle +refuses to grant my request; Mr. Howard will not second me; and--and I +see how it is," he continued, with a return of former violence in his +manner, as he paced the room, and a flush burned on his cheek, "my uncle +will not consent to look on it as a debt; he will not permit me, even as +far as this will do it, to redeem my sister." + +"You are quite mistaken, my dear boy," replied Mr. Hamilton, mildly. +"Your sister's own conduct has sufficiently proved to me her repentance +and amendment; her gentle virtues and faultless conduct have quite +redeemed the past, and so has yours. I refuse to take your well-earned +savings, merely because they really are not necessary." + +"But if it will give me pleasure, if it will satisfy me. Dearest aunt, +plead for me; you know not the relief it will be," again entreated +Edward, as he paused in his hasty walk, and looked beseechingly in his +aunt's face. + +"Nay, dear Edward, do not demand impossibilities," she replied, smiling, +"I cannot plead for you. That money with which you appear so very eager +to part must return to your own purse; your sister's debt is already +paid." + +"Paid!" repeated Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Howard, in astonishment, while +Edward stood, as if bewildered. "How, and by whom?" + +"By Ellen herself," replied Mrs. Hamilton; and, addressing her husband, +she added, "I should have told you before, but we have been both too +much engaged the last two days to allow any time for private +conversation; and my Ellen had entreated that only you should know her +secret; but she would, I know, have made an exception in Mr. Howard's +favour had I demanded it, for his excellent lessons have in all +probability assisted in making her the character she is; and as for her +brother--why, in charity, he shall know this strange tale," she added, +smiling; and briefly, but with affecting accuracy, she related all that +had passed between her and Ellen on the evening of Edward's return. Mr. +Hamilton and Mr. Howard listened in astonishment, for they knew not the +quiet steadiness, the unwavering firmness of Ellen's private character; +they guessed not the deep remorse which had been her own, nor for how +long it had guided and purified her actions. Edward had concealed his +face in his hands, his arms resting upon the table, for he felt in this +tale of persevering effort and self-denial, in comparison with Ellen's, +as if his had sunk to nothing; the bright lustre of his sister's +character dimmed even to obscurity his own. + +"And have you questioned Ellis? do you know in what manner she contrived +so secretly to render her assistance?" demanded Mr. Hamilton, with much +interest. + +"I have," replied his wife, "I did so that same night; for even Edward's +unexpected return could not banish his sister from my mind. She told me, +that at first she did all she could to turn Ellen from her purpose; but +when she found her resolution was unalterably fixed by some means to +earn sufficient to repay the cause of so much distress, she entered +warmly into her plan; and, with the active assistance of Robert, +procured her work from the baby-linen warehouses at Plymouth. She first +began with the plainest work, but that succeeded so well, finer was +given to her. In London she worked embroidery, purchasing the materials +from her own pocket-money, and consequently largely increasing her +hoard. Spite of her ill-health, the first winter we spent in London, she +perseveringly continued her irksome task, rising even in the coldest +weather at six, the provident care of Ellis causing her fire to be +lighted almost the earliest in the house. Robert was the messenger +employed to and fro, but no one knew her name or rank; for, devoted as +we well know he is to Ellen, he took the trouble of changing his livery +for plain clothes, whenever Ellis sent him on his mission. Her secret +has, indeed, been well preserved both from us and those who employed +her. Many, very many silent tears Ellis believes have fallen over my +poor Ellen's tedious task; many a struggle to adhere to her resolution, +and not throw it aside in despair; and frequently, she told me, after a +long, solitary evening, she has thrown her arms round Ellis's neck, and +wept from exhaustion, and the misery of hope deferred, for at first it +did appear an endless labour; but she persevered unshrinkingly, +combating her wishes to accompany me wherever Emmeline visited." + +"And it was this, then, that caused her determination to remain at home +till next year," observed Mr. Hamilton; "poor child, our harshness was +no sweetener of her task." + +"It was not, indeed; the night of Emmeline's introduction, Ellis says, +she wept as if her heart would break, as if she could not keep her +secret any longer; but she struggled with herself, and conquered; +although many times, during my estrangement, she has longed to confess +all, but the fear that I should forbid her continuing her task +restrained her." + +"I am very glad she persevered in her secret," said Mr. Howard, warmly; +"it is this quiet steady perseverance in a painful duty that has pleased +me far more than even the action itself, guided as that was by proper +feeling. Extraordinary sacrifices of our own formation are not, in +general, as acceptable to Him for whose sake they are ostentatiously +made, as the quiet steady discharge of our destined duties--the one is +apt to beget pride, the other true humility, but this unshaken +resolution in one so young, had its origin from true repentance, and +aided as it has been by the active fulfilment of every duty, +strengthened as it has, no doubt, been by prayer, I cannot but trust her +heavenly Master will look down with an eye of mercy on His young +servant. Look up, Edward; you, too, have done your duty. Why should your +sister's conduct cause this sudden depression, my young friend?" + +"Because," exclaimed he, with an earnestness almost startling, and as +he looked up his eyes glistened with tears, "because all my efforts sink +to nothing beside hers. I deemed myself becoming worthy; that the +conquests over inclination I made would obliterate the past; but what +are my sacrifices compared to hers? Weak, frail, sensitive creature as +she is, thus secretly, laboriously to earn that sum which, because it +required one or two petty sacrifices of inclination, I deemed that I had +so nobly gained. What have been my efforts compared to hers?" + +"Almost as great to you, my dear boy, as hers were to her," said Mr. +Hamilton, kindly; "you, too, have done well. Your past errors have +already, in my mind and in that of Mr. Howard and your aunt's, been +obliterated by the pleasure your late conduct has bestowed. She has not +had the temptations to extravagant pleasure which have been yours; to +save this sum you must have resigned much gratification. You have acted +thus excellently, in part, to regain the good opinion of your friends, +and the kind wish of restoring perfect peace to your sister: in the +first, you have fully succeeded; in the second, when your sister knows +what has been the secret purpose of your life for three long years, her +affections will amply repay you. You are deserving of each other, my +dear Edward; and this moment I do not scruple to say, I am proud to feel +myself so nearly related to those who, young as they both are, have so +nobly and perseveringly performed their duty both to God and man." + +Young Fortescue raised his uncle's hand, wrung it between both his own, +and impetuously darted from the room. + +"That boy would teach me never to despair again, my good friend," said +Mr. Hamilton, addressing the worthy clergyman. "When last he left me I +had learned to hope and yet to fear, for I dreaded his exposure to his +former temptations; and now--glad, indeed, am I to acknowledge myself +vanquished, and to own you were ever in the right." + +Mr. Howard smiled. + +"And now does my husband regret his having adopted my sister's orphans +as his own?" demanded Mrs. Hamilton, entwining her arm in her husband's, +and looking caressingly in his face. + +"No, my dearest wife; once, indeed, when I beheld you in fancy about to +sink beneath the accumulation of misery and anxiety both Edward and +Ellen's conduct occasioned, I did in secret murmur that the will of my +heavenly Father had consigned to us the care of such misguided ones; I +fear I looked on them as the disturbers of family peace and harmony, +when it was the will of my God. I felt indignant and provoked with them, +when I should have bowed submissively to Him. I have been blessed in +them when I deserved it not. You ever trusted, my Emmeline, though far +greater distress was your lot than mine. You never repented of that +kindness which bade your heart bleed for their orphan state, and urged +you to take them to your gentle bosom, and soothe them as your own. I +know that at this moment you have your reward." + +Mrs. Hamilton was prevented from replying by the entrance of Edward, who +eagerly inquired for his sister, alleging he had searched every room in +the house and could not find her. + +"She has gone with Herbert to the village to take the fruits of her own +work, some baby linen, to the poor woman in whose fate I am so +interested," replied Mrs. Hamilton, and turning to her husband, +added--"Now we really are alone, my dear Arthur, will you give a little +of your time to inform me in what manner I can best lay out, for this +unfortunate being's advantage, the sum my Ellen has placed in my hands? +Do not look at me, Edward, as if to implore me to take yours also, for I +mean to be very positive, and say at once I will not." + +"Come with me, my young friend, and we will go and meet Herbert and +Ellen," Mr. Howard said, smiling; "a walk is the best remedy for nerves +fevered as yours are at present, and I should be glad of your company." +And Edward, with eager pleasure, banishing all traces of former +agitation, departed arm in arm with a companion whom he still so revered +and loved, recalling with him reminiscences of his boyhood, and +detailing with animation many incidents of his late trip. This walk, +quiet as it was, was productive, both to Mr. Howard and his pupil, of +extreme pleasure; the former, while he retained all the gravity and +dignity of his holy profession, knew well how to sympathise with youth. +Increased duties in the ministry had caused him to resign the school +which he had kept when we first knew him, to the extreme regret of both +master and pupils. Mr. Howard regarded young people as the tender lambs +of his fold, whom it was his especial charge to train up in the paths of +grace, and guard from all the dangerous and hidden pitfalls of sin; +their parents might neglect, or, ignorant themselves, pursue a mistaken +method, but he was the shepherd placed over the flock, and while +untiringly, zealously, he endeavoured to lead the older members of his +congregation to the only rock of salvation, the younger were the objects +of his especial care. To them all was bright, the world in all its +dangerous, because more pleasurable, labyrinths was before them. He saw, +he knew their perfect ignorance, and he trembled, while he prayed so to +lead them, that the lessons of their minister might check them in the +career of imprudence or of sin. + +"Were I one of the fathers of Rome I should say, _benedicite_, my +children," he said, playfully, as Herbert and Ellen, apparently in +serious yet happy conversation approached and joined them, "but as I am +merely a simple minister of a simple faith, I greet you with the +assurance you are blessed in your charitable office." + +"And how, my kind friend, could you contrive to discover such was our +employment?" replied Herbert, smiling. "Can my mother have been +betraying us?" + +"Oh, she has been a sad traitress this morning, betraying all kinds of +secrets and misdemeanours," said Mr. Howard, laughing, and casting on +Ellen a glance of arch meaning, while Edward could scarcely contain his +impatience to seize his sister's arm and bear her off with him. + +"And we, too, have been hearing many tales of you, Mr. Howard," she +said. "We have heard very many blessings on your name in the cottage we +have left, although, alas! events have occurred there of a very painful +nature." + +"And why, alas, my dear child?" said Mr. Howard, affectionately. "Do you +deem it so sad a thing to die?" + +"It is wrong, I know, to regard it thus, Mr. Howard," replied Ellen; +"but yet, to leave all those we love on earth, to sever the tender cords +of affection binding us unto this world, must be, even to the strongest +and most pious minds, a draught of bitterness." + +"Do not, my dear children," said Mr. Howard, "imagine I deem it wrong to +indulge in earthly affections. Far from it; they are given us to sweeten +life, to draw our hearts in thanksgiving to him who gave them, and thus +indulged are pleasing unto Him. And how did you find poor Nanny to-day?" +he added, after a brief pause. + +"Suffering very much in body, but in a blessed state of mind," replied +Ellen, "which she greatly attributed to you; for she told me, before my +aunt discovered them and placed them where they now are, before she saw +you, death was a trouble awful in anticipation. She had ever tried to do +her duty in life, to remember her Maker in her youth, and believed that +she had succeeded; but when she knew that she must die, all appeared +changed; the aspect of death was different, when seemingly at a distance +to that which it presented when near at hand. She longed for some +minister of the Lord to pray for her, to comfort her in those moments +when suffering prevented serious thoughts, and it was affecting to hear +her bless that charity which had not only placed her soul under your +guidance, but provided also so many bodily comforts." + +"And you have been exercising the duties of the ministry before you have +donned your gown, my dear Herbert," said Mr. Howard, glancing +approvingly on his young friend. "Glad indeed shall I be to hail you as +a young brother in my sacred office; for with you it will be indeed the +service of the heart, and not of interest or compulsion. Would that your +friend Arthur possessed one-half of your earnest zeal, or that you +could inspire him with the same love for his sacred calling which +animates you." + +"I know not what to make of Arthur," said Herbert, somewhat sadly, "he +is strangely, unaccountably changed the last few months. When he was +first settled in his curacy, his conduct was such as to excite the +approbation of both my father and yourself; and now, I greatly fear, +that he is alienating both." + +"Do not condemn him harshly, without good proof, dear Mr. Howard," said +Ellen, earnestly. "I, too, have noticed that he is changed, though I +scarcely know in what manner; but for his father's sake and for mine, do +not treat him coldly before my uncle at least. He has many faults, but +surely some good qualities." + +"I trust he has; but I wish he would not so carefully conceal them, and +suffer his parishioners to have cause to relate so many tales of neglect +and levity in their curate," replied Mr. Howard; "but we will not bring +forward accusations when the accused is not present to defend himself: +and here we are at the Rectory before I had thought we were half way. +Will you come in, my young friends, and share an old man's homely +luncheon?" + +Gladly would they have done so, but Ellen had promised to return to +Oakwood in time for that meal, and was compelled to refuse; adding, that +both her brother and cousin might, for the Rectory was so near one of +the entrances to the park, she could easily return alone; but such was +not Mr. Howard's intention. He knew how Edward longed for a few minutes' +private conversation with his sister, and playfully detaining Herbert, +declaring he could not do without one at least, dismissed the orphans on +their walk, bestowing his parting blessing on Ellen with a warmth that +surprised her at the time, but the meaning of which was fully explained +in the interesting conversation that passed between her and her brother +ere they reached the house, and as the expression of approbation in the +minister she loved, filled her young mind with joy, while the mutual +confidence bestowed in that walk added another bright link to the chain +of affection which bound the souls of that brother and sister so fondly +together. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +It was the hour when all in general retired to rest, and the inmates of +Oakwood had dispersed for the purpose; but this night thoughts of a +mingled and contending nature occupied Mrs. Hamilton's mind, and +prevented all wish for sleep. Her guests had the last week increased, +and the part of hostess had been kindly and pleasingly performed; but +the whole of that day she had longed to be alone, and gladly, gratefully +she hailed that hour which enabled her to be so. Shading her eyes with +her hand, she gave to her thoughts the dominion they demanded. Maternal +ambition, maternal pride, in that silent hour fell before the stronger, +more absorbing power of maternal love. But a few brief hours, and the +child of her anxious cares, of fervent petitions at the throne of grace, +would be no longer an inmate of her father's house, her place in that +happy home would be a void. On the morrow, ay, the morrow, for the +intervening weeks had fled, her child would be another's. True, but few +miles would separate their homes; true, that he on whom that precious +gift would be bestowed, was in all respects the husband she would have +selected for her Caroline, the husband for whom the involuntary prayer +had arisen; virtue and piety, manliness and sincerity were his, besides +these attributes, which to some mothers would have been far more +brilliant, he was noble, even of exalted rank; but all, all these things +were forgotten in the recollection, that on the morrow she must bid +farewell to her cherished treasure, the link, the precious link of +protection would be severed, and for ever. Thoughts of the past mingled +with the present, and softened yet more that fond mother's feelings. +Pain, bitter pain, Caroline had sometimes cost her, but pleasure, +exquisite in its kind, had mingled with it. No longer would it be hers +to watch with trembling joy the dawning virtues which had flourished +beneath her eye; a link would be broken between them, a slender one +indeed, but still broken,--though Mrs. Hamilton reproached herself for +indulging in such feelings of sadness, when so many blessings promised +to gild the lot of her child. And yet, alas! what mother devoted to her +children as she had been, and still was this noble and gentle woman, +could part from a beloved one even for a brief space, even for +happiness, without one pang, selfish as it might be, selfish as perhaps +it was? for anxiety for the future darkened not the prospects of earthly +bliss, her trust in the character of St. Eval was too confiding; it was +only her fond heart which for a time would be so desolate. Her ear would +linger in vain for the voice it loved; her eye seek in sorrow for the +graceful form, the beauteous features on which it had so loved to gaze. +New ties would supply to Caroline the place of all that she had left; +deep springs of fond emotions, such as she had never felt before, would +open in her heart, and then would she still love, would she still look +to that mother, as in childhood and in youth she had done? Vainly she +struggled to subdue these thoughts, and bring forward in their stead the +visions of happiness, which alone had visited her before. Thronging and +tumultuously they came, and tears stole slowly from those mild eyes, +which for herself so seldom wept; while engrossed in her own +reflections, she heard not the soft and careful opening of her door, she +knew not that the beloved object of those tears had entered her room, +and was kneeling beside her. + +"Mother!" murmured Caroline, in a voice tremulous and weak with emotion +equal to her own. Mrs. Hamilton started, and her lip quivered with the +effort she made to smile her greeting. "Mother, my own mother, forgive +my intrusion; I thought not to have found you thus. Oh, deem me not +failing in that deep reverence your goodness, your devotedness, have +taught me to feel for you; if my love would bid me ask you why you weep, +may I not share your sorrow, mother?" + +"These are but selfish tears, my own; selfish, for they fall only when I +think that to-morrow bears my Caroline away, and leaves her mother's +heart for a time so lone and sad, that it will not even think of the +happiness I so fondly trust will be hers, in becoming the bride of him +she loves. Forgive me, my own Caroline; I had no right to weep and call +for these dear signs of sympathy at such a time." + +Silently and tearfully Caroline clung to her mother, and repeatedly +pressed her hand to her lips. + +"And why are you not at rest, my child? you will have but few brief +hours for sleep, scarcely sufficient to recall the truant rose to these +pale cheeks, and the lustre to this suddenly dimmed eye, my Caroline;" +and the mother passed her hand caressingly over her brow, and parted the +luxuriant hair that, loosened from the confining wreath of wild flowers +which had so lately adorned it, hung carelessly around her. She looked +long and wistfully on that young bright face. + +"You ask me why I am not at rest; oh, I could not, I felt I could not +part from you, without imploring your forgiveness for all the past; +without feeling that it was indeed pardoned. Never, never before has my +conduct appeared in such true colours: dark, even to blackness, when +contrasted with yours. Your blessing is my own, it will be mine +to-morrow; but, oh, it will not be hallowed to my heart, did I not +confess that I was--that I am unworthy of all your fondness, mother, and +implore you to forgive the pain I have so often and so wantonly +inflicted upon you. Oh, you know not how bitterly, how reproachfully, my +faults and errors rushed back to my mind, as I sat and thought this was +the last night that Caroline Hamilton would sleep beneath this roof; +that to-morrow we parted, and I left you without once acknowledging I +deserved not half your goodness; without one effort to express the +devoted gratitude, the deep, the reverential love, with which my heart +is filled. Mother, dearest, dearest mother! oh, call me but your +blessing, your comfort,--I never have been thus; wilful and disobedient, +I have poisoned many hours which would otherwise have been sweet. +Mother, my own mother, say only you forgive me--say that no lingering +pang I on my account remains." + +"Forgive you, my beloved! oh, long, long since have every childish fault +and youthful error been forgiven. Could resentment harbour in my heart +so long? could memory linger on moments of pain, when this last year not +one fault, not one failing of duty or of love has stained your conduct? +Even as my other children have you been my blessing, my comfort; the +dearer, when I thought on the doubts and fears of the past. Pain you may +have once caused me; but, oh, you know not how blessedly one proof of +affection, one hour of devotion in a child can obliterate from a +mother's heart the remembrance of months of pain. Think no more of what +is past, my own; remember only that your mother's blessing, her fervent +prayers will hover round you wherever you may be; that, should sickness +and sorrow at any time be your portion, however distant we may be, your +mother will come to soothe and cheer, your mother's bosom will still be +open to receive you." + +Caroline answered not, for her tears fell fast upon the hand she held; +tears not of sorrow but of emotion, blessed in their sadness. She bowed +her head before Mrs. Hamilton, and murmured-- + +"Bless me, my mother!" + +"May the God of infinite love, the Father of unclouded mercies, who hath +been so unchangeably merciful to his servants, look down from His +resplendent throne and bless you, my beloved! May he sanctify and bless +that event, which promises to our darkened eyes so much felicity! May He +guide my child in His own paths, and hearken to her mother's prayer!" + +"We will not separate this night to pray each in solitude, my child; let +us read, and address our heavenly Father together, as we were wont to +do, when it was my task to raise your infant thoughts and simple +prayers to Him who heard and answered. I cannot part from you till these +agitated feelings are more composed, and prayer will best enable them to +be so." + +Willingly, gladly Caroline lingered, and their private devotions, which +ever attended their retiring to rest, were performed together. Their +blessed influence was mutually felt. He whom they so fervently addressed +looked down upon His good and faithful servants, and poured upon the +mother's soul and on that of her child the calm and tranquillizing dew +of His blessing. + +The morning dawned, and common-place as is the expression, yet we must +confess the day was lovely; one of those soft, delicious September days +so well known to all who are acquainted with the climate of Devonshire. +Gaily the sun looked down from his field of stainless azure, and peeped +through the windows of the elegant little room which the taste of her +young bridesmaids had decorated as Caroline's tiring-room for the day, +and his bright rays played on the rich jewels scattered on the toilette, +and decked them with renewed brilliance; and at times his light would +fall full upon the countenance of the young bride, sometimes pensive, at +others, radiant in beaming smiles, as she replied to the kind words of +Lady Gertrude, or in answer to the playful conversation of her younger +bridesmaids, who, full of life, and hope, and innocence, hovered like +fairy spirits round their queen. The tears which had fallen from the +eyes of Emmeline on her sister's neck that morning were dried, yet still +there were some lingering traces of sadness on her fair sweet face, +which she struggled vainly to conceal, but which were regarded as the +sorrow of an affectionate heart thus parting from the sister of its +love. + +And Lilla Grahame, too, was there, smiling with, real and heartfelt +pleasure. She had observed the slight cloud on Emmeline's brow, and with +every affectionate art endeavoured to remove it. + +The toilette of the bride was completed, save her jewels, which Ellen +had entreated might be her office to arrange, and, smilingly, Lady +Florence resigned her place by Caroline's side. + +"For Edward's sake and for mine, dearest Caroline, will you, decked as +you are with jewels so far more precious, yet will you wear this, and +regard it indeed as the offering of the sincerest affection for +yourself, the warmest prayers for your welfare, from those who for so +many years have felt for you as if you were indeed their sister? poor as +is the gift, will you let Edward see it is not rejected?" and Ellen, as +with a flushed cheek and quivering lip she spoke, placed on the arm of +her cousin a bracelet, composed of her own and her brother's hair, and +clasped with chaste yet massive gold. The braid was fine and delicate, +while the striking contrast of the jet black and rich golden hair of +which it was composed, combined with its valuable clasp, rendered it not +an unfit offering on such a day. + +"Is it to remind me of all my unkindness towards you, Ellen, in days +past, of my hour of pride?" replied Caroline, in a low voice, as she +threw her arm caressingly round her cousin, and fondly kissed her. "I +will accept your gift, my dear Ellen, and sometimes look upon it thus." + +"Nay, do not say so, dearest Caroline, or I shall feel inclined to take +it even now from your arm, and never let you see it more; no, rather +let it be a remembrance of those poor orphans, whose lives _you_ have +not done the least to render happy. Gratefully, affectionately, shall we +ever think of you, dear Caroline, and, oh, may this little offering bid +you sometimes think thus, and thus only of us." + +The carriages were rather later than expected, and Lady Gertrude +observing Caroline somewhat pale, though no other sign denoted +agitation, endeavoured, by talking more sportively than usually was her +wont, to while away the time till the important moment arrived. + +It came at length, and Caroline, with a faltering step, entered the +carriage, which conveyed her to the old and venerable church, +accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton and Lady Gertrude, who had promised +to remain near her. The fair girls that held the rank of bridesmaids +followed, and three other carriages contained the invited guests to the +wedding. Not a creature was visible to disturb by acclamations the +bridal party on their route, and take from the calm and holy beauty of +the early morning; but that the day was remembered was clearly visible, +for there were garlands of the brightest, fairest flowers, which must, +by their number and variety, have been culled from many gardens of many +villages, festooning the hedges of the green lanes through which they +passed, and many a gay pennon pendant from oak or stately elm fluttered +in the breeze. All was so still and calm, that ere the carriage stopped +at the church porch Caroline had conquered the inward trembling of her +frame, and her heart thrilled not perhaps so anxiously as did both her +parents', when, leaning on the arm of her proud and happy father, she +walked steadily, even with dignity, up the church, where Mr. Howard, +young Myrvin, Lord St. Eval, his parents, Lord Louis, Percy, Herbert, +and Edward there stood, and a faint but expressive smile played round +her lips, in answer to St. Eval's eager yet silent greeting. He could +not speak, his feelings of happiness were too deep, too ecstatic for +words, but she had but to look on his expressive face, and all, all was +said. + +There was a moment's solemn pause as they knelt beside the altar, and +then the voice of Mr. Howard sounded, and its ever emphatic tones rung +with even more than its usual solemnity on the ears of all the assembled +relatives and friends, with thrilling power on the bride and bridegroom. +Calmly and clearly Caroline responded; her cheek was pale, but her lip +quivered not, and perhaps, in that impressive service, the agitation of +her mother was deeper than her own. She struggled to retain her +composure, she lifted up her soul in earnest prayer, that the blessing +of her God might indeed hallow the ceremony on which she gazed, and ere +her child arose, and led forward by her young enraptured husband, +approached for her parent's blessing and embrace, she was enabled to +give both without any visible emotion, save that her daughter might have +felt the quick pulsations of her fond heart, as she pressed her in her +arms. + +We will not linger on the joyous festivity which pervaded the lordly +halls of Oakwood on this eventful day. + +The hour had come when Caroline, the young Countess of St. Eval, bade +farewell to her paternal home. The nearest relatives of the bride and +bridegroom had assembled with them in a small apartment, at Caroline's +request, for a few minutes, till the carriage was announced, for though +resolved not to betray her feelings, she could not bear to part from +those she loved in public. She had changed her dress for a simple yet +elegant travelling costume, and was now listening with respectful +deference but glistening eyes to the fond words of her mother, who, +twining her arm around her, had drawn her a little apart from the +others, as if her farewell could not be spoken aloud; their attention +was so arrested by a remark of Lord Malvern, and his son's reply, that +they turned towards them. + +"Do not again let me hear you say our Gertrude never looks animated or +interested," the former said, addressing the Marchioness, somewhat +triumphantly. "She is as happy, perhaps, if possible, even happier than +any of us to-day, and, like a good girl, she shows it. Gertrude, love, +is it your brother's happiness reflected upon you?" + +"Let me answer for her, sir," replied St. Eval, eagerly. "You know not +why she has so much reason to look and, I trust, to feel happy. She sees +her own good work, and, noble, virtuous as she is, rejoices in it; +without her, this day would never have dawned for me, Caroline would +never have been mine, and both would have lived in solitary +wretchedness. Yes, dearest Gertrude," he continued, "I feel how much I +owe you, though I say but little. Happy would it be for every man, could +he receive from his sister the comfort, the blessing I have from mine, +and for every woman, were her counsels, like yours, guided by truth +alone." + +"The Earl and Countess of St. Eval left Oakwood about two o'clock, for +their estate in Cornwall, Castle Terryn, in an elegant chariot and four +superb greys, leaving a large party of fashionable friends and +relations to lament their early departure." So spoke the fashionable +chronicle in a paragraph on this marriage in high life, which contained +items and descriptions longer and more graphic than we have any +inclination to transcribe. + +A select party of the Marquis of Malvern's and Mr. Hamilton's friends +remained to dinner, and, at the request of Percy and Lord Louis, dancing +for the younger guests concluded the evening. The day had dawned in joy, +and no clouds disturbed its close. Fatigued, and her thoughts still +clinging to her child, Mrs. Hamilton was glad to seek the retirement of +her own room. Her thoughts turned on her Caroline, and so fondly did +they linger there, that Emmeline's strange diversity of wild spirits and +sudden but overpowering gloom did not occupy her mind as powerfully as +they would otherwise have done; she did not regard them, save as the +effects of excitement natural to such an eventful day; she guessed not +that of all her household the heart of her Emmeline was the heaviest, +her spirits weighed down by a gloom so desponding, so overwhelming, that +sleep for many hours fled from her eyes. She had powerfully exerted +herself during the day, and now in solitude, darkness, and silence, the +reflux of feeling was too violent for that young and, till lately, +thoughtlessly joyous heart to bear. Her heavy eyes and pallid cheeks +attracted notice indeed the following morning, but they were attributed +to fatigue from the gay vigils of the preceding night, and gladly did +the poor girl herself encourage the delusion, and obey her mother's +playful command to lie down for a few hours, as a punishment for +indulging an overplus of excitement. + +Herbert's pleasure, too, the preceding day had been alloyed by anxiety; +and perhaps his solicitude and his sister's sorrow proceeded from one +and the same cause, which our readers will find at length, a few pages +hence, when Arthur Myrvin becomes a prominent object in our history. + +Pleasure, in a variety of festive shapes, but innocent in all, was for +the next month the presiding genius of Oakwood and its vicinity. Lord +Malvern's family remained as guests at Oakwood during that time, and +some few college friends of Percy and Herbert, but Mr. Hamilton's other +friends departed for their respective homes the week following the +marriage. + +The young Earl and Countess of St. Eval meanwhile resided at their +beautiful retreat of Castle Terryn, which the taste of the young Earl +had rendered in every respect a residence suited to the rank and +feelings of those who claimed it as their own. + +Nothing now prevented our young friend Ellen from joining in the +amusements that offered themselves, and she enjoyed them even more than +she had expected, for she was accompanied by her brother, who had +deservedly become an universal favourite, and Mrs. Hamilton had the +pleasure, at length, of seeing not only health but happiness beaming +apparently unclouded on the countenance of her niece. + +Mr. Grahame, for the sake of Lilla, who was becoming dearer each day to +both her parents, for her true character for the first time stood +clearly forth, struggled with his gloom, and accompanied her where-over +her wishes led; and her cheerful spirits, her unpretending manners, and +constant and active affection, manifesting itself in a thousand +different ways, to amuse the couch of her now really ailing mother, did +much to palliate the disappointment and misery the conduct of his elder +daughter had occasioned. + +Herbert's secret was still inviolably kept; no one suspected that he +loved, much less that he was betrothed. Nearly two years had passed of +that long period which must elapse ere Herbert could hope to make Mary +his wife. They had glided quickly, very quickly by, and so too might the +remainder; but there was a dark, foreboding feeling pressing heavily +upon Herbert's heart as he looked forward, that robbed anticipation of +its charm, and rendered him even more pensive than from his boyhood had +been his wont. To strangers, even to his family, he was still the same; +to his God alone he laid his spirit bare. + +Six weeks after the marriage of Caroline, Oakwood and its neighbourhood +was as quiet as it has been when we knew it in former years. + +Lord Malvern's family stayed ten days at Castle Terryn, by the pressing +invitation of the young couple, and then returned to their estate in +Dorsetshire, leaving Lady Gertrude, however, for a few weeks' longer +residence with her brother and his wife. The young men returned to +college. Lilla Grahame remained at home till after the Christmas +vacation, when she was once more to reside with Mrs. Douglas for six +months or a year longer, according to the state of her mother's health, +who no longer wished to quit Moorlands; and therefore her husband gladly +consented to her remain there till Mrs. Hamilton paid her annual visit +to London. About this time also, Ellen, accompanied by her brother, +fulfilled her promise of visiting her old friend, Mr. Myrvin, and +delighted him by making his pretty vicarage her residence till near the +middle of November. Edward, with whom the kind old man was as much +pleased as he had been with his sister, also remained at Llangwillan +during that time, with the exception of three or four flying visits to +Oakwood, and latterly to Castle Terryn, where Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton, +with Emmeline, were staying the few last weeks of his and his sister's +visit at the vicarage. Their company was particularly soothing to Mr. +Myrvin at this period; for the letters of his son were causing him +extreme solicitude, revealing intentions, to understand which we must +for a short period retrace our steps, and thus commence another chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +Young Myrvin had been, at the period of Caroline's marriage, rather more +than a year as Mr. Howard's curate. At first, as we have seen, the +example of Herbert had done much towards reconciling him to a +profession, which was for many reasons opposed to his feelings. When in +the company of his friend, he had imparted to him his struggles with the +pride and ambition which still lurked within him, spite of all his +endeavours and resolutions to conquer and banish them. While Herbert was +near him all was well; his duty was regularly performed, in a manner +that satisfied his rector, and sufficiently rewarded Mr. Hamilton for +the interest he had taken in his and his father's welfare; but when +Herbert left Oakwood, Arthur's distaste for his occupation returned with +renewed strength, to which newly-dawning emotions added weight. Most +painfully had Arthur, when first intimate with Mr. Hamilton, +endeavoured to guard himself from the danger to his peace, which he +felt existed in the society of beings so amiable and attractive as were +his daughters; but his efforts were vain, as our readers may have +already discovered. There was a nameless, an indescribable charm in the +appearance and manner of Emmeline which he could not resist. It was some +few months ere the whole extent of evil was discovered, not perhaps +entirely till Emmeline returned to London, and Oakwood was desolate, +painfully desolate to the young man, who, when lingering within its +ancient walls, forgot everything around him, save the bright and +beautiful being who was to him its charm. When, however, that fair form +had departed from his sight, he was awakened to the delusive nature of +his hopes, and with the knowledge, exquisite even in its despair, that +he loved Emmeline Hamilton, his profession became more and more +distasteful. Had he followed the paths of ambition, as his inclination +prompted, had he but had the means of seeking some station whence he +might at length have risen to eminence, he cared not what the obstacles, +his union with her might not have been so difficult to overcome, or, at +least, he might not have met her; and did he wish that such had been the +case? no; misery in its most agonizing shape stood before him, and yet +the cause of that misery was the one bright star that appeared to gild +his lot. + +A poor curate of a country parish, with no resources but his salary to +increase his scanty means, no power of rendering himself of consequence +in the eyes of the world; and, alas! the fruit of many years' hard +labour from father to son--one-half of which might have rendered him +sufficiently independent to have chosen his own profession--was gone. +Poor as he was, could he ever look forward to possess the hand of +Emmeline? he felt the utter impossibility, and bitterly he knew he loved +but to despair. These contending feelings diverted his thoughts as may +well be supposed, and caused him to be careless in the discharge of his +clerical duties, abrupt and strange in his manner with Mr. Howard; and +unfortunately there was one in the village who was ready to turn the +simplest circumstance to the young curate's disadvantage. + +It was not likely the sinful and licentious man who, by Mr. Hamilton's +active exertions, had not only been dispossessed of the living of +Llangwillan, but very nearly of his gown also, would permit these, what +he termed injuries, to pass unavenged. Against the elder Myrvin he felt +his efforts would be unavailing, nor did he feel inclined to try a +second time, when he had once been foiled; but Arthur he believed a +surer mark. A farm of some consequence was to be let on Mr. Hamilton's +estate; it was very easy to settle in it a man lower in rank, but hard, +unrelenting as himself, an unprincipled instrument of his will. The +business was done, and the new neighbour, prepossessing in appearance +and manners, speedily ingratiated himself with all, and even obtained, +by a semblance of hard-working industry, and regular attendance at +public worship, seconded by quiet and unobtrusive conduct, the notice +and regard of his landlord, Mr. Hamilton. + +This man had entered his farm about four or five months after Arthur had +been installed as Mr. Howard's curate, and cautiously and yet +successfully he executed the wily requirements of his employer. So +guardedly did he work, that no one could trace to him, who ever spoke +as the friend of their curate, the prejudice which had slowly but surely +penetrated the mind of every man against him, and interpreted his +simplest action in the worst light. There were some rumours afloat of +misdemeanours during his college life; it mattered not whether they were +true or false, they were received and encouraged by the credulous. He +was a Welshman too, full of evil qualities, and clothed with +invulnerable pride, which last idea was unfortunately confirmed by +Myrvin's distaste for his profession, which prevented his entering into +the joys and sorrows of his parishioners, mingling familiarly and kindly +with them as a minister of God should do. + +How or when this prejudice began, or what was its origin, not one of the +good folks of the village could have told, for they really did not know; +but still it existed, and Arthur knew it. He felt himself disliked, and +instead of endeavouring to conciliate good-will and remove prejudice, +his mind was in such a fevered state of excitement, that he indulged in +every bitter feeling toward those with whom he had to deal, and shrunk +yet more from the performance of his duty. Instances of careless neglect +were often found, and became magnified in the relation. The young curate +was not always at hand when his presence was principally required; he +never left directions where he might be found. Abuse crept into that +parish, which in the time of his predecessor had been one of the most +orderly in Mr. Hamilton's domains--abuses in the younger inhabitants, at +which old men looked grave, and cited the neglect of their curate as the +cause, though to what abuses young Myrvin had given countenance all +would have found it difficult to tell. That he did not rebuke them it +was true; he did not perhaps observe them, but it was said, and justly, +he must have been strangely blind not to do so. + +The villagers understood not that preoccupation of mind which does +indeed render us blind to all things, save to the one intense subject of +thought. + +Complaints were made to and heard by the rector, who, faithful to his +trust, visited the parish, made inquiries, heard tales concerning his +curate that startled his charity, and finally spoke severely to Arthur +on his careless and neglectful conduct. It would have been better for +Arthur had pride remained banished during that interview; but, +unfortunately, fired with indignation at anything resembling censure +even from a superior, it returned with full force, and by his haughty +silence with regard to some of the charges brought against him, his +ill-disguised contempt of others, confirmed every evil report concerning +him which Mr. Howard had heard. Mildly he requested that the future +might atone for the past, and that Myrvin would remember the sacred post +he held. The unhappy young man heard him without reply; but when the +rector had departed, he strove to think soberly on the charges brought +against him, and look within himself to know if he deserved them. +Neglect and carelessness--yes, he had given cause for both. Other +accusations of much graver import he dismissed at once, satisfied that +the very thought of such vices had never even for one moment stained his +mind, and as secure in his own integrity and right feeling, as he was +aware of the prejudice against him, he determined--as, alas! how many in +such cases do--not to alter his general conduct, lest it should be said +he tacitly admitted the truth of every report against him. Had he only +been accused of neglect in parochial duties, he might perhaps, if his +troubled spirit had permitted him, have endeavoured to attend more +closely to them; but his pride prevented him from striving to obtain the +good-will of those who seemed only alive to every circumstance tending +to his disadvantage. Would he endeavour to conciliate those whom he well +knew disliked him? no; the very act of so doing would be brought against +him, and sternly he resolved that haughtiness and pride should still +characterise his deportment. What mattered it what people thought or +said, if it was untrue? he cared not; the world was a wilderness to his +excited and irritated fancy, in which there bloomed but one sweet +flower, too pure, too beautiful for him to touch. It was his doom he +thought to grovel on the earth, hers to shine like a star in the sphere +above him. + +Not long after Mr. Howard's interview with his curate, Mr. Hamilton's +family and his guests arrived at Oakwood, and Herbert eagerly sought his +friend. He was shocked at the change he perceived in his appearance, +which, though marked, was yet quite indescribable; that Arthur was +unhappy, that his profession was more than ever distasteful to him, he +soon discovered; but the real cause of these feelings he tried in vain +to probe. He saw, with the deepest regret, that all his former +exhortations on the subject, his earnest entreaties that Arthur would +persevere till he brought a willing heart as an offering to his Maker, +all had been without effect; but yet his kind heart could not cast away +his friend, opposite as were their feelings on a subject which to +Herbert was of vital importance. It was strange that a character such +as Herbert Hamilton should have selected Arthur Myrvin for his chosen +friend, yet so it was. It might have been pity, sympathy, which had +first excited this friendship. The indignation he felt at the +unjustifiable treatment Arthur had received while a servitor at college +had excited an interest, which had at first completely blinded him to +his many faults; and when they were discovered, the ardent desire and +hope that he might be of service in removing them from the otherwise +noble character of his friend still preserved and, indeed, heightened +his regard. Though frequently disappointed during his absence, at the +brevity and sometimes even confused style of Arthur's letters, he had +buoyed himself up with the hope that his representations had had their +effect, and he should find him, on his return, reconciled and happy in +the exercise of his duties. Again he urged, with a kindness of manner +that caused Arthur to wring his hand, and then pace the room in +ill-concealed agony, the necessity, now that he had indeed taken orders, +of endeavouring to do his Master's work on earth, of forcing his +rebellious spirit to submission. Arthur listened to him attentively, +sadly; but vainly Herbert strove to instil in him a portion of that +heavenly love which was to him the main-spring of his life. Arthur loved +with an intensity, which utterly prevented his looking up to heaven as +the goal, to reach which all earthly toil was welcome; and still not +even to Herbert did he breathe one syllable of the fire that was +inwardly consuming him. Had he been any one but Herbert Hamilton, the +unhappy young man would have sought and found relief in his confidence; +but not to the brother of the being he loved, oh, not to him--he could +not, dared not. + +"Herbert," he would say, in a voice hoarse with contending feelings, +"did I dare betray the secret of this tortured heart, the true cause of +my misery, you would pity, even if you condemned me; but ask it not--ask +it not, it shall never pass my lips; one thing only I beseech you, and I +do so from the regard you have ever seemed to feel for me. However you +may hear my character traduced, my very conduct may confirm every evil +report, yet believe them not; I may be miserable, imprudent, mad, but +never, never believe the name of Arthur Myrvin is stained with vice or +guilt. Herbert, promise me this, and come what may, one friend, at +least, is mine." + +Herbert gazed on him with doubt, astonishment, and sorrow, yet an +irresistible impulse urged him to promise all he asked, and Myrvin +looked relieved; but painfully he felt, though he noticed it not to his +friend, that the manner of Mr. Hamilton towards him was changed; +cordiality and kindness had given place to coldness and reserve. + +The whirl of a gay and happy London season had produced no change in the +outward appearance and demeanour of Emmeline Hamilton. It had not been +to her the ordeal it had been to her sister. She came forth from the gay +world the same pure, innocent being as she had entered it. Admired she +was by all with whom she was associated, but her smile was not sought +for, her conversation not courted, as had been Caroline's, therefore her +temptations had not been so great, but she was universally beloved. + +Her mother sometimes wondered that Emmeline, keenly susceptible as she +was to every other emotion, should still remain so insensible to +anything resembling love. "She is indeed still the same innocent and +darling child," she thought, and rested in pleased and satisfied +security. She little knew, penetrating even as she was, that those young +affections were already unconsciously engaged, that one manly figure, +one melancholy yet expressive face utterly prevented the reception of +any other. Emmeline knew not herself the extent of influence that secret +image had obtained; she guessed not the whole truth until that night +when her marriage had been jestingly alluded to, and then it burst upon +her, stunning her young mind with a sense of scarcely-defined yet most +painful consciousness. Arthur Myrvin had looked to Emmeline's return to +Oakwood with many mingled feelings; she might be perhaps, even as her +sister, a betrothed bride; he might have to witness, perhaps to +officiate at her nuptials; he might see her courted, receiving +attentions from and bestowing smiles on others, not casting one look or +one thought on him, who for her would have gladly died. The idea was +agony, and it was the sufferings occasioned by the anticipation of ideal +misery that had produced the change in face and form which Herbert had +beheld and regretted. + +They met, and as if fortune favoured their secret but mutual affection, +alone, the first time since Emmeline had returned from London. +Unaccustomed to control, and at that time quite unconscious she had +anything to conceal, though wondering why every pulse should throb, and +her cheek so flush and pale, her agitation of manner, her expressed and +evidently felt sorrow for the traces of suffering she beheld, sunk as +balm on the sorrowing heart of the young man, and his first three or +four interviews with her were productive of a happiness so exquisite, +that it almost succeeded in banishing his gloom; but short indeed was +that period of relief. Speedily he saw her, as he had expected, +surrounded by gay young men of wealth and station. He felt they looked +down on him; they thought not of him, as a rival he was unworthy, as +incapable of loving a being so exalted; but in the midst of these +wretched thoughts there arose one, that for a brief space was so bright, +so glad, so beautiful, that while it lasted every object partook its +rays. He marked her, he looked, with eyes rendered clear from jealousy, +for some sign, it mattered not how small, to say she preferred the +society of others to his own; ready as he was to look on the darkest +side of things, he felt the hesitating glance, the timid tone with which +she had latterly addressed him, contrary as it was to the mischievous +playfulness which had formerly marked her intercourse with him, was +dearer, oh, how much dearer than the gaiety in which she had indulged +with others. This change in her manner was unremarked by her family. + +The eye of love, however, looked on those slight signs in a very +different light. Did she, could she love one so unworthy? The very idea +seemed to make him feel as a new and better man. He covered his eyes +with his hands, lest any outward sign should break that blessed +illusion, and then he started, and returning recollection brought with +it momentary despair. Did she even love him--were even her parents to +consent,--his own,--for his vivid and excited fancy for one minute +imagined what in more sober moments he knew was impossible--yet even +were such difficulties removed, would he, could he take that fair and +fragile creature from a home of luxury and every comfort to poverty? +What had he to support a wife? How could they live, and what hope had +he of increasing in any way his fortune? Was he not exciting her +affections to reduce them, like his own, to despair? And could she, +beautiful and delicate as she was, could she bear the deprivation of his +lot? She would never marry without the consent of her parents, and their +approval would never be his, and even if it were, he had nothing, not +the slightest hope of gaining anything wherewith to support her; and +she, if indeed she loved him, he should see her droop and sink before +his eyes, and that he could not bear; his own misery might be endured, +but not hers. No! He paced the small apartment with reckless and +disordered steps. His own doom was fixed, nothing could now prevent +it--but hers, it might not be too late. He would withdraw from her +sight, he would leave her presence, and for ever; break the spell that +bound him near her. Ere that hasty walk in his narrow room was +completed, his resolution was fixed; he would resign his curacy, and +depart from the dangerous fascinations hovering round him. + +Yet still he lingered. If he had been too presumptuous in thinking thus +of Emmeline--if he were indeed nothing to her, why should he inflict +this anguish on himself? Why need he tear himself from her? The night of +Edward's return, while in one sense it caused him misery, by the random +remark of Lord Louis, yet, by the agitation of Emmeline, the pang was +softened, though he was strengthened in his resolve. Four days +afterwards, the very evening of that day when Mr. Howard had alluded to +his neglect of duties, before Herbert and his cousins, he tendered his +resignation, coldly and proudly refusing any explanation, or assigning +any reason for so doing, except that he wished to obtain a situation as +tutor in any nobleman or gentleman's family about to travel. So greatly +had the mind of Mr. Howard been prejudiced against the unhappy young +man, by the false representations of his parishioners, that he rather +rejoiced at Myrvin's determination, having more than once feared, if his +conduct did not alter, he should be himself compelled to dismiss him +from his curacy. But while pleased at being spared a task so adverse to +his benevolent nature, he yet could not refrain from regarding this +strange and apparently sudden resolution as a tacit avowal of many of +those errors with which he was charged. + +Feeling thus, it will be no subject of surprise that Mr. Howard accepted +his curate's resignation; but while he did so, he could not refrain from +giving the young man some kind and good advice as to his future life, +which Arthur, aware the rector regarded him through the medium of +prejudice, received not in the same kind spirit as it was offered. He +listened silently indeed, but with an air of pride which checked all Mr. +Howard's really kind intentions in his favour. + +The rector, aware that Mr. Hamilton would be annoyed and displeased at +this circumstance, did not inform him of Myrvin's intentions till some +few weeks after Caroline's marriage, not indeed till he felt compelled +by the wish to obtain his approval of a young clergyman who had been his +pupil, and was eager to secure any situation near Mr. Howard, and to +whom therefore the curacy Arthur had resigned would be indeed a most +welcome gift. Mr. Hamilton was even more disturbed, when all was told +him, than Mr. Howard had expected. It seemed as if Arthur had forgotten +every tie of gratitude which Mr. Hamilton's services to his father, even +forgetting those to himself, certainly demanded. His determined +resolution to assign no reason for his proceeding but the one above +mentioned, told against him, and Mr. Hamilton, aware of the many evil +reports flying about concerning the young man, immediately imagined that +he resigned the curacy fearing discovery of misdemeanours which might +end even more seriously. + +Herbert, too, was deeply pained that his friend had left him to learn +such important intelligence from the lips of another instead of +imparting it himself. It explained all the apparent contradictions of +Arthur's conduct the last month, but it surprised and grieved him, yet +the mystery caused him both anxiety and sadness, for Myrvin was +evidently determined in no way to solve it. That he was unhappy in no +ordinary degree, was to the eye of friendship very evident, not only in +the frequent wildness of his manner, but in the haggard cheek and +bloodshot eye; and sympathy thus ever kept alive in one so keenly +susceptible of the woes of others as was Herbert Hamilton, sympathy +continually excited, prevented all decrease of interest and regard. +Percy was irritated and annoyed; Myrvin had disappointed him. His +conduct, in return for Mr. Hamilton's kindness, appeared as ungrateful +as unaccountable, and this caused the more fiery temper of the young +heir of Oakwood to ignite and burst forth in a flame in the presence of +Arthur, whose meek forbearance and, he now began to fancy, silent +suffering tamed him after a brief period, and caused him, with his usual +frankness and quick transition of mood, to make him an apology for his +violence. He was touched by the young man's manner, but they continued +not on the same terms of friendly intimacy as formerly. + +Mrs. Hamilton's charitable nature, heightened also by Herbert's +unchanging regard, would not permit her to credit the tales that were +abroad concerning him. She regretted his determination, for it appeared +like wilfully casting away the friendship and interest of those who were +likely to do him service. She guessed not the real motive of his +resolve, if she had, she would have honoured even as she now regarded +him with pity; but almost for the first time the penetration of Mrs. +Hamilton was at fault. Emmeline's feelings, even as those of Arthur, +were successfully concealed; from her brother Herbert she had first +heard of Myrvin's intentions. She listened in silence, but her lip +quivered and her cheek grew pale; and when she sought the solitude of +her own room, tears relieved her, and enabled her to act up to her +determination, cost what it might, to be the same playful, merry girl +before her parents as was her wont, not that she meant in any way to +deceive them, but she had learned that she loved Arthur Myrvin, and knew +also that to become his wife, situated as they were, was a thing +impossible. + +Had Emmeline really been the romantic girl so generally believed, she +would now have done all in her power to overcome every difficulty, by +regarding poverty as the only criterion of true love; she would have fed +her imagination with visions of herself and Arthur; combating manfully +against evil, so they shared it together; she would have robed poverty +with an imaginary halo, and welcomed it, rejoicing to become his wife, +but such were not her feelings. The careful hand of maternal love had +done its work, and though enthusiasm and romance were generally the +characteristics most clearly visible, yet there was a fund of good and +sober sense within, that few suspected, and of which even her parents +knew not the extent, and that plain sense effectually prevented her ever +becoming the victim of imagination. + +Emmeline loved Arthur Myrvin, loved him with an intensity, a fervour, +which only those who possess a similar enthusiastic temperament can +understand. She felt convinced she was not indifferent to him; but agony +as it was to her young heart to part from him, in all probability for +ever, yet she honoured his resolution; she knew, she felt its origin, +and she rejoiced that he went of his own accord, ere their secret +feelings were discovered. + +Notwithstanding all her endeavours, her spirits flagged, and at the +conclusion of the Oakwood festivities she appeared so pale and thin, +that Mrs. Hamilton consulted Mr. Maitland. Emmeline had resisted, as +much as she could without failure of duty, all appeal to medical advice, +and it was with trembling she awaited his opinion; when, however, it was +given, she rejoiced that he had been consulted, for had her parents +entertained any suspicions of the real cause, it would have completely +banished them. He said she was merely suffering from the effects of a +lengthened period of excitement, that quiet and regularity of pursuits +would in all probability restore both health and spirits. A smile, faint +and apparently without meaning, played round her lips as her mother +repeated what he had said, and playfully declared she should most +strictly adhere to his advice. + +Arthur had shrunk from the task of acquainting his father with his +intentions, for he well knew they would give him pain, and cause him +extreme solicitude, and he postponed doing so till his plans for the +future were determined. He had even requested Ellen and Edward, who were +still his friends, to say but little concerning him during their stay at +Llangwillan; but if they revealed his intentions, he implored them to +use all their influence with his father to reconcile him to this bitter +disappointment of his cherished hopes. He had determined not to return +to Llangwillan, he felt he could not bear to see his parent with the +consciousness that he had acted contrary to his wishes; he would not +therefore do so till he had succeeded in obtaining the situation he so +earnestly desired. But as the period when he should resign his curacy +now rapidly approached, he no longer refrained from writing to his +father, and Ellen proved her regard for both father and son, by +affectionately endeavouring to soothe Mr. Myrvin's disappointment and +solicitude, which were, as his son expected, extreme. She succeeded, at +length, in persuading him, that could he obtain the situation he so much +desired, Arthur would be more likely to advance than in retaining his +present occupation. + +The period of Arthur's departure came a few days before Christmas. He +went to bid Mr. Hamilton farewell the very morning on which that +gentleman intended riding over to Exeter to meet Ellen and her brother, +on their return from Llangwillan. To Arthur this interview was indeed a +painful one. From the moment his resolution to depart had been fixed, +that moment the blessed truth had strangely and suddenly burst upon him +that he was beloved; a new spirit appeared to dawn within, and midst +the deep agony it was to feel he was parting for ever from a being he so +dearly loved, there was a glow of approving conscience that nerved him +to its endurance. It was this which had enabled him to conquer his +irritation at Percy's violence, and the grief it was to feel that +Herbert too must doubt him. He esteemed, he loved, was deeply grateful +to Mr. Hamilton, and his evident displeasure was hard to bear; yet even +that he had borne, strengthened by secret yet honourable incentives. But +that morning, his heart throbbing with ill-concealed anguish, for the +following day he would he miles from Oakwood, never, never to behold +Emmeline again, his frame weakened, his blood fevered from the +long-continued mental struggle, the stern address of Mr. Hamilton stung +him to the quick. + +Mr. Hamilton was not one of those who could disguise his sentiments. If +interested at all in the fortunes of another, he felt he must speak, +however severe in some cases his words might seem. As the chosen friend +of his son--the victim for a time of oppression and injury--young Myrvin +had excited his interest too powerfully for him entirely to abandon it +even now, and therefore he spoke plainly to him even as he thought. + +"You are casting from you," he said, "a friend who was both able and +willing to assist you, apparently without the slightest regret, even +with indifference. As the chosen and dear companion of my valued son, +your interests were mine, and gladly would I have done all in my power +to forward your views, had your conduct been such as I expected and +required, but such it appears has been far from the case. Your +unaccountable resignation of a situation, which, though not one of +great emolument, was yet of value, unhappily confirms every evil report +I have heard. The same unsteady and wavering spirit which urges you to +travel, instead of permitting you to remain contented in the quiet +discharge of sacred duties, may lead you yet more into error, and I warn +you as a friend, govern it in time. You may deem me intrusive in my +remarks, I speak but for your own good, young man; and though your +forgetfulness of the sacred nature of your profession could not fail to +lessen my esteem and regard, yet for your father's sake I would implore +you to remember that your calling involves duties of the most solemn +nature, and renders you a much more responsible being both in the sight +of God and man." + +Arthur answered him not. His cheek burned and his heart throbbed, but it +was the father of Emmeline, the benefactor of his father, who spoke, and +he might have spoken more and more severely, but he would have been +unanswered; even to defend his own stainless integrity and innocence he +could not have spoken, the power of speech appeared to have entirely +deserted him. Never could he have been said to hope, but the words he +had heard proved to him that he had lost the esteem and regard of Mr. +Hamilton, and darkened his despair. He fixed his large, dark grey eyes +earnestly on Mr. Hamilton's face, so earnestly, that for some time +afterwards that look was recalled with melancholy feelings; he bent his +head silently yet respectfully, and quitted the room without uttering a +single word. + +Struck by his haggard features, and the deeply mournful tone of his +voice, as he bade her farewell and thanked her for all her kindness, +Mrs. Hamilton, whose kindly nature had never permitted her to share her +husband's prejudice against him, invited him, if his time permitted, to +accompany her on her walk to Moorlands, where she had promised Lady +Helen and Lilla to spend the day during her husband's absence. There was +such extreme kindness in her manner, pervading also her words, that +Arthur felt soothed and comforted, though he found it difficult to +converse with her on the indifferent subjects she started, nor could he +answer her concerning his plans for the future, for with a burning cheek +and faltering voice he owned they were not yet determined. He gazed on +her expressive features, which responded to the interest she expressed, +and he longed to confess the whole truth, and implore her pity, her +forgiveness for having dared to love her child; but with a strong effort +he restrained himself, and they parted, in kindness, indeed, but nothing +more. + +"Emmeline is gone down to the school," said Mrs. Hamilton, unasked, and +thus betraying how entirely she was free from all suspicions of the +truth, "and she goes from thence to see a poor woman in the outskirts of +the village. You must not leave us without wishing her farewell, or she +will think you have not forgiven all the mischievous jokes she has +played off upon you so continually." + +Arthur started, as he looked on her face. Again the wish arose to tell +her all, but it was instantly checked, and bowing with the deepest +reverence, as he pressed in his her offered hand, hastily withdrew. + +Should he indeed see Emmeline, and alone? Her mother's voice had bid him +seek her, but the same motives that bade him resign his curacy, caused +him now to feel the better course would be to fly at once from the +fascination of her presence, lest in a moment of excitement he should be +tempted to betray the secret of his love; but while passion struggled +with duty, the flutter of her dress, as Emmeline suddenly emerged from a +green lane, and walked slowly and, he thought, sadly along, caught his +eye, and decided the contest. + +"I will be guarded; not a word of love shall pass my lips. I will only +gaze on her sweet face, and listen to the kind tones of her dear voice +again, before we part for ever," he thought, and darting forwards, was +speedily walking by her side. He believed himself firm in his purpose, +strong, unwavering in his resolution; but his heart had been wrung to +its inmost core, his spirit bent beneath its deep, wild agony, and at +that moment temptation was too powerful; he could not, oh, he could not +part from her, leave her to believe as others did. Could he bear that +she, for whose smile he would have toiled day and night, to be regarded +with esteem, to obtain but one glance of approbation, could he bear that +she should think of him as the unworthy being he was represented? No! he +felt he could not, and in one moment of unrestrained and passionate +feeling, his love was told, the treasured secret of his breaking heart +revealed. + +Emmeline heard, and every limb of her slight frame trembled, almost +convulsively, with her powerful struggle for composure, with the wish +still to conceal from him the truth that he was to her even as she to +him, dear even as life itself; but the struggle was vain. The anguish +which the sight of his deep wretchedness inflicted on that young and +gentle bosom, which from childhood had ever bled for others' woes, was +too powerful, and led on by an irresistible impulse, she acknowledged +his affections were returned; for she felt did she not speak it, the +extreme agitation she could not hide would at once betray the truth, but +at the same instant she avowed her unhappy love, she told him they must +part and for ever. She conjured him for her sake to adhere to his +resolution, and leave the neighbourhood of Oakwood; she thanked him with +all the deep enthusiasm of her nature, for that regard for her peace +which she felt confident had from the first dictated his resigning his +curacy, and braving the cruel prejudices of all around him, even those +of her own father, rather than betray his secret and her own; rather +than linger near her, to play upon her feelings, and tempt her, in the +intensity of her affection for him, to forget the duty, the gratitude, +the love, she owed her parents. + +"Wherefore should I hide from you that the affection, the esteem you +profess and have proved for me are returned with equal force?" continued +this noble-minded and right-feeling girl, as they neared Mrs. Langford's +cottage, where she felt this interview must cease--she could sustain it +no longer. "I would not, I could not thus wound the kind and generous +heart of one, to whose care I feel I could intrust my earthly happiness; +but as it is, situated as we both are, we must submit to the decrees of +Him, who, in infinite wisdom and mercy, would, by this bitter trial, +evince our love for Him, and try us in the ordeal of adversity and +sorrow. He alone can know the extent of that love we bear each other; +and He, if we implore Him, can alone give us sufficient strength to +obtain the conquest of ourselves. We part, Arthur--and if not for ever, +at least till many years have passed. Forget me, Arthur; you have by the +honourable integrity of your conduct wrung from me a secret I had deemed +would have died with me; for I knew and felt, and so too must you, its +utter, utter hopelessness." + +Her voice for the first time, faltered; audibly, but with a strong +effort, she rallied, "I do not ask from you an explanation of the +rumours to your discredit, which are flying about this neighbourhood, +for not one of them do I believe; you have some secret enemy, whose evil +machinations will, I trust, one day be clearly proved; perhaps you have +been neglectful, heedless, and I may have been the cause. But let not +this be, dear Arthur, let me not have the misery of feeling that an +ill-fated love for one thus separated from you has rendered reckless +that character which is naturally so good, so bright, and noble. Oh, for +my sake, yield not to despair; shake off this lethargy, and prove to the +whole world that they have wronged you, that the fame of Arthur Myrvin +is as stainless as his name." + +Arthur moved not his eyes from her as she thus spoke, every word she +uttered increased the strong devotion he felt towards her; but as the +purity, the nobleness of her character was displayed even clearer than +ever before him, he felt himself unworthy to possess her, and yet that +such a being loved him, avowed her love, acknowledged that to him she +could intrust her earthly happiness without a single doubt, that +knowledge exalted him above himself, soothed that morbid sensitiveness +which had oppressed him, and, ere her sweet voice had ceased to urge him +on to exertion, to trust in Him who had ordained their mutual trial, he +had inwardly resolved to nerve himself to the task, and prove that she +was not deceived in him, that he would deserve her favourable opinion. +He gazed on her as if that look should imprint those fair and childlike +features on the tablet of his memory. + +"I will obey you," he said at length, in a voice hoarse with contending +emotions. "We part, and when I return years hence, it may be to see you +the happy wife of one in all respects more suited to you; but then, even +then, although love for me may have passed away, remember it is you, +whose gentle voice has saved a fellow-creature from the sinful +recklessness of despair; you who have pointed out the path which, I call +heaven and earth to witness, I will leave no means untried till it is +trodden. Had you refused to hear me, had you scorned my affections, left +me in displeasure for my presumption, oh, Emmeline, I might indeed have +become that which I am believed; but now you have inspired me with a new +spirit. The recollection that you have not deemed me so utterly +unworthy, will never, never leave me; it shall cling to me, and if evil +assail me, that fond thought shall overcome temptation. The vain +longings for a more stirring profession shall no more torment me, it is +enough _you_ have not despised me; and however irksome may be my future +duties, they shall be performed with a steadiness and zeal which shall +procure me esteem, if it do no more, and reconcile my conscience to my +justly offended Maker. If, in future years, you chance to hear the name +of Arthur Myrvin spoken in terms of respect and love, you will trace +your own work; and oh, Emmeline, may that thought, that good deed, prove +the blessing I would now call down upon your head." + +He paused in strong and overpowering emotion, and Emmeline sought in +vain for words to reply; they had reached the entrance to Mrs. +Langford's little garden, and now the hour had come when they must part. +"Farewell, dearest Arthur, may God bless you and give you peace! Leave +me now," she added, after a moment's pause. But Arthur could only fix +his eyes mournfully on her face, as though her last look should never +leave him; then, suddenly, he raised her hand to his quivering lip. One +moment, through blinding tears, he gazed on that dear being he loved so +well; yet another moment, and he was gone. + +Emmeline leaned heavily against the little gate, a sickness as of death +for a moment crept over her and paralysed every limb; with a strong +effort she roused herself and entered the cottage, feeling greatly +relieved to find Mrs. Langford was absent. She sunk on a low seat, and +burying her face in her hands, gave way for the first time to a violent +burst of tears; yet she had done her duty, she had acted rightly, and +that thought enabled her to conquer the natural weakness which, for a +short time, completely overpowered her, and when Mrs. Langford returned, +no signs of agitation were evident, except a more than ordinary +paleness, which in her present delicate state of health, was easily +attributable to fatigue. + +Now it so happened that Widow Langford possessed a shrewdness and +penetration of character, which we sometimes find in persons of her +class, but which was in her case so combined, from long residence in Mr. +Hamilton's family, with a delicacy and refinement, that she generally +kept her remarks very much more secret than persons in her sphere of +life usually do. It was fortunate for our poor Emmeline that it was so, +for the widow had chanced to be an unseen witness of Arthur's +impassioned farewell. She heard the concluding words of both, marked the +despairing glance of Arthur, the deadly paleness of her dear Miss +Emmeline, and connecting these facts with previous observations, she +immediately imagined the truth; and with that kindness to which we have +alluded, she retreated and lingered at a neighbour's till she thought +her young lady had had sufficient time to recover her composure, instead +of acting as most people would have done, hastened up to her, under the +idea she was about to faint, and by intrusive solicitations, and yet +more intrusive sympathy in such a matter, betrayed that her secret had +been discovered. + +Mrs. Langford shrunk from acting thus, although this was not the first +time she had suspected the truth. She knew Emmeline's character well, +and doted on her with all the affection a very warm heart could bestow. +Having been head nurse in Mrs. Hamilton's family from Herbert's birth, +she loved them all as her nurslings, but Emmeline's very delicate health +when a baby, appeared to have rendered her the good woman's especial +favourite. + +At the time of Caroline's marriage, Miss Emmeline's future prospects +were, of course, the theme of the servants' hall; some of whom thought +it not at all improbable, that as Miss Hamilton had become a countess, +Miss Emmeline might one day be a marchioness, perhaps even a duchess. +Now Widow Langford thought differently, though she kept her own counsel +and remained silent. Miss Emmeline, she fancied, would be very much +happier in a more humble sphere, and settled down quietly near Oakwood, +than were she to marry some great lord, who would compel her to live +amidst the wear and tear of a gay and fashionable life. Arthur Myrvin +chanced to be a very great favourite of the widow's, and if he could but +get a richer living, and become rather more steady in his character, and +if Miss Emmeline really loved him, as somehow she fancied she did, why +it would not only be a very pretty, but a very happy match, she was +quite sure. + +The good widow was, however, very careful not in the least to betray to +her young lady that she had been a witness of their parting; for, after +an expression of pleasure at seeing her there, an exclamation of +surprise and regret at her pale cheeks, she at once branched off into a +variety of indifferent subjects concerning the village, topics in which +she knew Emmeline was interested, and concluded with-- + +"And so our young curate is, indeed, going to start for Exeter to-night, +in the Totness mail. I am so very sorry, though I do not dare say so to +any of my uncharitable neighbours. I did not think he would go so soon, +poor dear Mr. Myrvin." + +"It is not too soon, nurse, when every tongue has learned to speak +against him," replied Emmeline, calmly, though a sudden flush rose to +her cheek. "He must be glad to feel Mr. Howard no longer requires his +services." + +"But dear Miss Emmeline, you surely do not believe one word of all the +scandalous reports about him?" said the widow, earnestly. + +"I do not wish to do so, nor will I, without more convincing proofs," +replied Emmeline, steadily. "My father, I fear, is deeply prejudiced, +and that, in one of his charitable and kindly feelings, would tell +against him." + +"My master has been imposed on by false tales, my dear young lady; do +not let them do so on you," said the good woman, with an eagerness which +almost surprised her young companion. "I am quite convinced he has some +secret enemy in the parish, I am pretty certain who it is; and I do not +despair one day of exposing all his schemes, and proving Mr. Myrvin is +as well disposed and excellent a young man as any in the parish. I know +who the villain is in this case, and my master shall know it too, one +day." Emmeline struggled to subdue the entreaty that was bursting from +her lips, but entirely she could not, and seizing the widow's hand, she +exclaimed, in a low agitated voice-- + +"Do so; oh, proclaim the falsehood, the cruelty of these reports, and +I--I mean Arthur--Mr. Myrvin will bless you. It is so cruel, in such +early youth, to have one's character defamed, and he has only that on +which to rest; tell me, promise me you will not forget this +determination." + +"To the very best of my ability, Miss Emmeline, I promise you," replied +Mrs. Langford, more and more confirmed in her suspicions. "But do not +excite yourself so much, dear heart. Mr. Maitland said you were to be +kept quite quiet, you know, and you have fatigued yourself so much, you +are trembling like an aspen." + +"My weakness must plead my excuse for my folly, dear nurse," answered +Emmeline, striving by a smile to control two or three tears, which, +spite of all resistance, would chase one another down her pale cheek. +"Do not mind me, I shall get well very soon. And how long do you think +it will be before you succeed in your wish?" + +"Not for some time, my dear young lady, at present. I have only my +suspicions; I must watch cautiously, ere they can be confirmed. I assure +you, I am as anxious that poor young man's character should be cleared +as you can be." + +A faint smile for a moment played round Emmeline's lips, as she pressed +the good woman's hand, and said she was satisfied. A little while longer +she lingered, then rousing herself with a strong effort, she visited, as +she had intended, two or three poor cottages, and forced herself to +listen to and enter with apparent interest on those subjects most +interesting to their inmates. In her solitary walk thence to Moorlands +she strenuously combated with herself, lest her thoughts should adhere +to their loved object, and lifting up her young enthusiastic soul in +fervent faith and love to its Creator, she succeeded at length in +obtaining the composure she desired, and in meeting her mother, at +Moorlands, with a smile and assumed playfulness, which did not fail, +even at Mrs. Hamilton's gentle reproof for her lengthened absence and +over fatigue, to which she attributed the paleness resting on her cheek, +and which even the return of Edward and Ellen to Oakwood, and the many +little pleasures incidental to a reunion, could not chase away. + +Three weeks passed quietly on; Oakwood was once more the seat of +domestic enjoyment. The Earl and Countess St. Eval spent the week of +Christmas with them, which greatly heightened every pleasure, and Mr. +and Mrs. Hamilton, instead of seeking in vain for one dear face in the +happy group around them on the eve of Christmas and the New Year, beheld +beside their peaceful hearth another son, beneath whose fond and gentle +influence the character of Caroline, already chastened, was merging into +beautiful maturity, and often as Mrs. Hamilton gazed on that child of +care and sorrow, yet of deep unfailing love, she felt, indeed, in her a +mother's recompense was already given. + +Edward's leave of absence was extended to a longer period than usual. +His ship had been dismantled, and now lay untenanted with the other +floating castles of the deep. Her officers and men had been dispersed, +and other stations had not yet been assigned to them. Nor did young +Fortescue intend joining a ship again as midshipman; his buoyant +hopes--the expectations of a busy fancy--told him that perhaps the +epaulette of a lieutenant would glitter on his shoulder. On his first +return home he had talked continually of his examination and his +promotion, but as the time neared for him to accompany his uncle to +London for the purpose, his volubility was checked. + +Caroline and her husband returned to Castle Terryn, and scarcely four +weeks after Myrvin's departure, Emmeline received from the hands of Mrs. +Langford an unexpected and most agitating letter. It was from Arthur; +intense mental suffering, in the eyes of her it addressed, breathed +through every line; but that subject, that dear yet forbidden subject, +their avowed and mutual love, was painfully avoided; it had evidently +been a struggle to write thus calmly, impassionately, and Emmeline +blessed him for his care: it merely implored her to use her influence +with St. Eval to obtain his interference with his father on his +(Arthur's) behalf. Lord Malvern he had heard was seeking for a gentleman +to accompany his son Louis as tutor and companion to Germany; there, for +the two following years, to improve his education, and enable him to +obtain a thorough knowledge of the language and literature of the +country. Arthur had applied for the situation, and recognised by the +Marquis as the young clergyman he had so often seen at Oakwood, he +received him with the utmost cordiality and kindness. On being +questioned as to his reasons for resigning his curacy, he frankly owned +that so quiet a life was irksome to him, and a desire to travel had +occasioned the wish to become tutor to any nobleman or gentleman's son +about to do so. He alluded himself to the reports to his prejudice, +avowed with sorrow that neglect of parochial duties was indeed a just +accusation, but from every other, he solemnly assured the Marquis, his +conscience was free. Not one proof of vice or even irregularity of +conduct had been or could be brought against him. He farther informed +Emmeline, that not only the Marquis but the Marchioness and the whole +family appeared much disposed in his favour, particularly Lord Louis, +who declared that if he might not have him for a tutor, he would have no +one else, and not go to Germany or to any school at all. The Marquis had +promised to give him a decided answer as soon as he had consulted Lord +St. Eval on the subject. He knew, Myrvin concluded, that her influence +was great with the Earl, and it was for that reason and that alone he +had ventured to address her. + +Emmeline reflected long and deeply on this letter. Had she listened to +the powerful pleadings of her deep affection, she would have shrunk from +thus using her influence, however small, to send him from England,--yet +could she hesitate? had she indeed forgotten herself to follow that only +path of duty she had pointed out to him? Brief indeed were her moments +of indecision. She wrote instantly to St. Eval in Arthur's favour, but +so guardedly and calmly worded her letter, that no suspicion of any +kinder or more interested feeling than that of her peculiarly generous +and warm-hearted nature could have been suspected, either by St. Eval or +her sister. She excused her boldness in writing thus unadvisedly and +secretly, by admitting that she could not bear that an unjust and +unfounded prejudice should so cruelly mar the prospects of so young and, +she believed, injured a fellow-creature. She was well aware that her +father shared this prejudice, and therefore she entreated St. Eval not +to mention her share in the transaction. + +Lord St. Eval willingly complied with her wishes. She had been, as we +know, ever his favourite. He loved her perfect artlessness and +playfulness, her very enthusiasm rendered her an object of his regard; +besides which, on this point, his opinion coincided with hers. He felt +assured young Myrvin was unhappy--on what account he knew not--but he +was convinced he did not deserve the aspersions cast upon him; and, +directly after the receipt of Emmeline's earnest letter, he came +unexpectedly to the parish, made inquiries, with the assistance of Mrs. +Langford, and returned to Castle Terryn, perfectly satisfied that it +would certainly be no disadvantage to his brother to be placed under the +care and companionship of Arthur Myrvin. He lost no time in imparting +this opinion to his father; and Emmeline very quickly learned that the +whole affair was arranged. Lord Louis was wild with joy that Arthur +Myrvin, whom he had liked at Oakwood, was to be his tutor, instead of +some prim formidable, dominie, and to this news was superadded the +intelligence that, the second week in February, the Rev. Arthur Myrvin +and his noble pupil quitted England for Hanover, where they intended to +make some stay. + +Emmeline heard, and the words "will he not write me one line in farewell +ere he leaves England?" were murmured internally, but were instantly +suppressed, for she knew the very wish was a departure from that line of +stern control she had laid down for herself and him; and that letter, +that dear, that precious letter--precious, for it came from him, though +not one word of love was breathed,--ought not that to be destroyed? Had +she any right now to cherish it, when the aid she sought had been given, +its object gained? Did her parents know she possessed that letter, that +it was dear to her, what would be their verdict? And was she not +deceiving them in thus retaining, thus cherishing a remembrance of him +she had resolved to forget? Emmeline drew forth the precious letter; she +gazed on it long, wistfully, as if in parting from it the pang of +separation with the beloved writer was recalled. She pressed her lips +upon it, and then with stern resolution dropped it into the fire that +blazed upon the hearth; and, with cheek pallid and breath withheld, she +marked the utter annihilation of the first and last memento she +possessed of him she loved. + +Mrs. Hamilton's anxiety on Emmeline's account did not decrease. She +still remained pale and thin, and her spirits more uneven, and that +energy which had formerly been such a marked feature in her character +appeared at times entirely to desert her; and Mr. Maitland, discovering +that the extreme quiet and regularity of life which he had formerly +recommended was not quite so beneficial as he had hoped, changed in a +degree his plan, and advised diversity of recreation, and amusements of +rather more exertion than he had at first permitted. Poor Emmeline +struggled to banish thought, that she might repay by cheerfulness the +tenderness of her parents and cousins, but she was new to sorrow; her +first was indeed a bitter trial, the more so because even from her +mother it was as yet concealed. She succeeded for a time in her wishes, +so far as to gratify her mother by an appearance of her usual +enthusiastic pleasure in the anticipation of a grand ball, given by +Admiral Lord N----, at Plymouth, which it was expected the Duke and +Duchess of Clarence would honour with their presence. Ellen anxiously +hoped her brother would return to Oakwood in time to accompany them. He +had passed his examination with the best success, but on the advice of +Sir Edward Manly, they both lingered in town, in the hope that being on +the spot the young officer would not be forgotten in the list of +promotions. He might, Edward gaily wrote, chance to return to Oakwood a +grade higher than he left it. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +"Ellen, I give you joy!" exclaimed Emmeline, entering the room where her +mother and cousin were sitting one afternoon, and speaking with some of +her former cheerfulness. "There is a carriage coming down the avenue, +and though I cannot quite distinguish it, I have second sight sufficient +to fancy it is papa's. Edward declared he would not tell us when he was +coming home, and therefore there is nothing at all improbable in the +idea, that he will fire a broadside on us, as he calls it, +unexpectedly." + +"I would willingly stand fire, to see him safe anchored off this +coast," replied Ellen, smiling. "Lord N----'s ball will lose half its +charms if he be not there." + +"What! with all your enthusiastic admiration of her Royal Highness, whom +you will have the honour of seeing? For shame, Ellen." + +"My enthusiastic admiration; rather yours, my dear Emmeline. Mine is so +quiet that it does not deserve the name of enthusiasm," replied Ellen, +laughing. "Nor could I have imagined you would have honoured me so far +as to give me an attribute in your eyes so precious." + +"I am getting old and learning wisdom," answered Emmeline, making an +effort to continue her playfulness, "and therefore admire quietness more +than formerly." + +"And therefore you are sometimes so silent and sad, to atone for the +past, my Emmeline," remarked her mother, somewhat sorrowfully. + +"Sad, nay, dearest mother, do me not injustice; I cannot be sad, when so +many, many blessings are around me," replied the affectionate girl. +"Silent I may be sometimes, but that is only because I do not feel quite +so strong perhaps as I once did, and it appears an exertion to rattle on +as I used upon trifling subjects." + +"I shall not be contented, then, my own Emmeline, till that strength +returns, and I hear you delighted, even as of old, with little things +again." + +"And yet you have sometimes smiled at my romance, and bade me think of +self-control, dearest mother. Must I be saucy enough to call you +changeable?" answered Emmeline, smiling, as she looked in her mother's +face. + +Mrs. Hamilton was prevented replying by Ellen's delighted exclamation +that it was her uncle's carriage, and Edward was waving a white +handkerchief, as if impatient to reach them, an impatience which was +speedily satisfied by his arrival, bounding into the room, but suddenly +pausing at the door to permit his uncle and another gentleman's +entrance, to which latter he respectfully raised his cap, and then +sprung forward to clasp the extended hands of his cousin and sister. + +"Allow me to congratulate you, madam," said Sir Edward Manly, after +returning with easy politeness the courteous greeting of Mrs. Hamilton, +"on the promotion of one of the bravest officers and most noble-minded +youths of the British navy, and introduce all here present to Lieutenant +Fortescue, of his Majesty's frigate the Royal Neptune, whose unconquered +and acknowledged dominion over the seas I have not the very slightest +doubt he will be one of the most eager to preserve." + +"Nor can I doubt it, Sir Edward," replied Mrs. Hamilton, smiling, as she +glanced on the flushing cheek of her gallant nephew, adding, as she held +out her hand to him, "God bless you, my dear boy! I do indeed rejoice in +your promotion, for I believe it well deserved." + +"You are right, madam, it is well deserved," replied Sir Edward, with an +accent so marked on the last sentence that the attention of all was +arrested. "Hamilton, I have been silent to you on the subject, for I +wished to speak it first before all those who are so deeply interested +in this young man's fate. The lad," he added, striking his hand frankly +on Edward's shoulder, "the lad whose conscience shrunk from receiving +public testimonials of his worth as a sailor, while his private +character was stained, while there was that upon it which, if known, he +believed would effectually prevent his promotion; who, at the risk of +disappointment to his dearest wishes, of disgrace, want of honour, +possessed sufficient courage to confess to his captain that his +log-book, the first years of his seamanship, told a false tale--the lad, +I say, who can so nobly command himself, is well worthy to govern +others. He who has known so well the evil of disobedience will be firm +in the discipline of his men, while he who is so stern to his own faults +will, I doubt not, be charitable to those of others. The sword presented +to him for his brave preservation of the crew of the Syren will never be +stained by dishonour, while he looks upon it and remembers the past, and +even as in those of my own son, shall I henceforward rejoice in using my +best endeavours to promote the fortunes of Edward Fortescue." + +The return of Edward, the honours he had received, the perfect happiness +beaming on his bright face, all caused Ellen to look forward to the ball +with greater pleasure than she had ever regarded gaiety of that sort +before; and Mrs. Hamilton would sometimes playfully declare that she and +Emmeline had for a time exchanged characters, although Edward's +never-failing liveliness, his odd tales and joyous laugh, had appeared +partly to rouse the latter's usual spirits, and dissipate slightly her +mother's anxiety. + +The festive night arrived, and anticipation itself was not disappointed +in the pleasure it bestowed. All the nobility of the country, for miles +round, had assembled in respect to the royal guests who had honoured +the distinguished commander with their august presence; and Mrs. +Hamilton's natural feelings of pride were indeed gratified that night, +as she glanced on her Caroline, who now appeared in public for the first +time since her marriage, attired in simple elegance, yet with a richness +appropriate to her rank, attracting every eye, even that of their Royal +Highnesses themselves, by the graceful dignity of her tall and +commanding figure, by the quiet repose and polished ease which +characterised her every movement. If Lord St. Eval looked proud of his +young wife, there were few there who would have blamed him. The Lady +Florence Lyle was with her brother, enjoying with unfeigned pleasure, as +did Ellen, and to all appearance Emmeline, the scene before them. + +The brilliant uniforms of the army, and the handsome but less striking +ones of the navy, imparted additional gaiety and splendour to the rooms, +forming picturesque groups, when contrasting with the chaste and elegant +costumes of the fairer sex. But on the fascinating scene we may not +linger, nor attempt to describe the happiness which the festivities +occasioned the entire party, nor on the gratification of Lieutenant +Fortescue, when Sir Edward Manly begged the honour of an introduction +for his young friend to his Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence, who, +with his amiable consort, the Princess Adelaide, had honoured Lord +N----with their august presence. Upon one incident alone we must be +permitted to dwell, as affording a great and unexpected pleasure to our +friend Ellen. + +Edward and Ellen were for some time perfectly unconscious that they were +objects of the most earnest, penetrating scrutiny of a lady, leaning on +the arm of a young and handsome man in regimentals, near them. + +"It must be them; that likeness cannot be that of a stranger," were the +words, uttered in an earnest, persuading tone, addressed by the young +officer to the lady, who might be his mother, which were the first to +attract the attention of the little group, though the speaker appeared +quite unconscious he was overheard. "Let me speak to him, and at least +ask the question." + +"No, no, Walter," the lady replied, in a low tone. "Changed as are our +situations now, I could not wish, even if it be them, to intrude upon +their remembrance." + +An exclamation of suppressed impatience escaped from the lips of the +young man, but instantly checking it, he said, respectfully and +tenderly-- + +"Dearest mother, do not say so, if" (the name was lost) "grew up as she +was a child, she would be glad to welcome the friend of her father, the +companion of her childhood." + +"But it cannot be, Walter; that beautiful girl is not like my poor +child, though her brother may strangely resemble those we have known." + +"Have you not often told me, mother, we never change so much as from +childhood into youth? Ellen was always ill, now she may be well, and +that makes all the difference in the world. I am much mistaken if those +large, mournful eyes can belong to any but"-- + +He paused abruptly; for convinced that they must be the subject of +conversation, and feeling they were listening to language not meant for +their ears, Edward and Ellen turned towards the speakers, who to the +former appeared perfect strangers, not so to the latter. Feelings, +thoughts of her earliest infancy and childhood, came thronging over her +as a spell, as she gazed on the lady's countenance, which, by its +expression, denoted that sorrow had been her portion; it was changed, +much changed from that which it had been; but the rush of memory on +Ellen's young soul told her that face had been seen before. A night of +horror and subsequent suffering flashed before her eyes, in which that +face had beamed in fondness and in soothing kindness over her; that +voice had spoken accents of love in times when even a mother's words +were harsh and cold. + +"Forgive me, sir, but is not your name Fortescue?" inquired the young +man, somewhat hesitatingly, yet frankly, as he met Edward's glance. + +"You have the advantage of me, sir," he replied, with equal frankness; +"such is my name, but yours I cannot guess." + +"I beg your pardon, but am I speaking to the son of Colonel Fortescue, +who fell in India during a skirmish against the natives, nearly ten +years ago?" + +"The same, sir." + +"Then it is--it is Mrs. Cameron; I am not, I knew I could not be +mistaken," exclaimed Ellen, in an accent of delight, and bounding +forward, she clasped the lady's eagerly-extended hand in both hers, and +gazing in her face with eyes glistening with starting tears. "And would +you, could you have passed me, without one word to say my friend, the +wife of my father's dearest friend, was so near to me? you who in my +childhood so often soothed and tended my sufferings, dearest Mrs. +Cameron?" and tears of memory and of feeling fell upon the hand she +held, while young Cameron gazed on her with an admiration which utterly +prevented his replying coherently to the questions, the reminiscences of +former years, when they were playmates together in India, which Edward, +discovering by his sister's exclamation who he was, was now pouring in +his ear. + +"I did not, could not think I should have been thus affectionately, thus +faithfully remembered, my dear Ellen, after a lapse of so many years," +replied Mrs. Cameron, visibly affected at her young companion's warmth. +"I could not imagine the memory of a young child, such as you were when +we parted, would have been so acute." + +"Then my niece must have been all these years mistaken, and you too did +not understand her, though she fancied you did," said Mrs. Hamilton, +with a smile, advancing to relieve Ellen's agitation, which the +association of her long-lamented father with Mrs. Cameron rendered +almost painful. "I could have told you, from the moment she was placed +under my care, that she never would forget those who had once been kind +to her. I have known you so long, from Ellen's report, that glad am I +indeed to make your acquaintance; you to whom my lamented sister was so +much indebted." + +Gratified and soothed by this address, for the sight of Ellen had +awakened many sad associations, she too being now a widow, Mrs. Cameron +rallied her energies, and replied to Mrs. Hamilton, in her naturally +easy and friendly manner. Ellen looked on the black dress she wore, and +turned inquiringly to young Cameron, who answered hurriedly, for he +guessed her thoughts. + +"Ask not of my father, he is beside Colonel Fortescue; he shared his +laurels and his grave." + +An expression of deep sympathy passed over Ellen's countenance, +rendering her features, to the eager glance of the young man, yet more +attractive. + +"You have, I see, much to say and inquire, my dear Ellen," said her +aunt, kindly, as she marked her flushed cheek and eager eye. "Perhaps +Mrs. Cameron will indulge you by retiring with you into one of those +quiet, little refreshment-rooms, where you can talk as much as you +please without remark." + +"Can I ask my dear young friend to resign the pleasures of the dance, +and agreeable companionship of the friends I see thronging round her, to +listen to an old woman's tale?" said Mrs. Cameron, smiling. + +"I think you are answered," replied Mrs. Hamilton, playfully, as Ellen +passed her arm through that of Mrs. Cameron and looked caressingly and +persuadingly in her face. + +Mrs. Cameron's tale was soon told. She had returned to England, for +India had become painful to her, from the many bereavements which had +there unhappily darkened her lot. Captain Cameron had fallen in an +engagement, two or three years after Mrs. Fortescue's departure; and out +of seven apparently healthy children, which had been hers when Ellen +knew her, only three now remained. It was after the death of her eldest +daughter, a promising girl of eighteen, her own health having suffered +so exceedingly from the shock, that her son Walter, fearing for her +life, effected an exchange, and being ordered to return with his +regiment to England--for he now held his father's rank of captain--he +succeeded in persuading his mother to accompany him with his sisters. He +was quartered at Devonport, where it appeared they had been residing +the last eight months, visited, even courted, by most of the military +and naval officers who had known and respected his father; amongst whom +was Lord N--, who had persuaded Mrs. Cameron to so far honour his ball +as there to introduce her daughter Flora, using arguments she could not +resist, and consequently delighting her affectionate children, by once +more appearing in public. + +"And this is Walter, the kind Walter, who used ever to take my part, +though he did scold me for always looking so sad," exclaimed Ellen, +after hearing her friend's tale, and answering all her questions +concerning herself, looking up as she spoke on the young man, who had +again joined them, and blushing with timidity at her boldness in thus +speaking to one who had grown into a stranger. + +The young man's heart throbbed as he heard himself addressed as Walter +by the beautiful girl beside him; and he found it difficult to summon +sufficient courage to ask her to dance with him; frankly, however, she +consented. + +Ellen found pleasure, also, in renewing acquaintance with the timid +Flora, whom she had left a playful child of seven, and who was now +merging into bright and beautiful girlhood; eager to return her kindly +warmth in the delight of finding one of her own age among that +glittering crowd of strangers. + +But few more incidents of note occurred that night; dancing continued +with unabated spirit, even after the departure of the royal guests, and +pleasure was the prevailing feeling to the last. The notice of the Duke, +and the benignant spirit of the Duchess, her gentle and kindly manners, +had penetrated many a young and ardent soul, and fixed at once and +unwaveringly the stamp of future loyalty within. + +Once introduced to Mrs. Cameron, and aware that she resided so near +them, Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton cultivated her acquaintance; speedily they +became intimate. In Mrs. Fortescue's broken and dying narrative, she had +more than once mentioned them as the friends of her husband, and having +been most kind to herself. Edward had alluded to Captain Cameron's care +of him, and parting advice, when about to embark for England; and Ellen +had frequently spoken of Mrs. Cameron's kindness to her when a child. +All those who had shown kindness to her sister were objects of +attraction to Mrs. Hamilton, and the widow speedily became so attached +to her and her amiable family, that, on Walter being suddenly ordered +out to Ireland (which commands, by the way, the young man obeyed with +very evident reluctance), she gladly consented to rent a small +picturesque cottage between Moorlands and Oakwood, an arrangement which +added much to the young people's enjoyment; while the quiet repose of +her present life, the society of Mrs. Hamilton and her worthy husband, +as also that of Mr. Howard, restored the widow to happiness, which had +not been her portion since her husband's death; and now, for the first +time, Mrs. Hamilton became acquainted with those minute particulars +which she had for the last nine years desired to know, concerning the +early childhood of those orphans then committed to her care. That her +sister had been partial, it was very easy to discover; but the extent of +the evil, and the many little trials Ellen's very infancy had to +encounter, were only subjects of conjecture, for she could not bear to +lead them to speak on any topic that might in the least have reflected +on the memory of their mother. + +The intelligence therefore which she now obtained explained all that had +been a matter of mystery and surprise in Ellen's character, and rendered +clearer than ever to Mrs. Hamilton the painful feelings which had in +opening youth actuated her niece's conduct; and often, as she listened +to Mrs. Cameron's account of her infant sufferings and her mother's +harshness and neglect, did Mrs. Hamilton wish such facts had from the +first been known to her; much sorrow, she felt assured, might have been +spared to all. She would perchance have been enabled to have so trained +her and soothed her early-wounded sensibility, that all the wretchedness +of her previous years might have been avoided, but she would not long +allow her mind to dwell on such things. She looked on her niece as +dearer than ever, from the narrative she had heard, and she was thankful +to behold her thus in radiant health and beauty, and, she hoped, in +happiness, although at times there was still a deeper shade of +seriousness than she loved to see imprinted on her brow, and dimming the +lustre of her eye, but it caused her no anxiety. Ellen's character had +never been one of light-hearted glee; it would have been unnatural to +see it now, and she believed that appearance of melancholy to be her +natural disposition, and so too, perhaps, the orphan regarded it +herself. + +A very few weeks after Lord N----'s ball, Edward again departed from +Oakwood to join his ship. He parted gaily with his friends, for he knew +his voyage was to be but a short one; and that now the first and most +toilsome step to promotion had been gained, he should have very many +more opportunities of taking a run home and catching a glimpse, he said, +joyously, of the whole crew who were so dear to him, on board that tough +old ship Oakwood; and Ellen, too, could share his gaiety even the night +previous to his departure, for this was not like either their first or +second parting. She had all to hope and but little to fear; for her +trust was too firmly fixed on Him who had guarded that beloved brother +through so many previous dangers and temptations to bid her waver now. +Even Mrs. Hamilton's anxious bosom trembled not as she parted from the +son of her affections, the preserver of her husband; and though Oakwood +felt dull and gloomy on the first departure of the mischief-loving, +mirthful sailor, it was not the gloom of sorrow. February passed, and +Mrs. Hamilton's solicitude with regard to Emmeline still continued. +There were times when, deceived by her daughter's manner, lively and +playful apparently as usual, she permitted herself to feel less anxious; +but the pale cheek, the dulled eye, the air of languor, and sometimes, +though not often, of depression, which pervaded every movement, very +quickly recalled anxiety and apprehension. Mr. Maitland could not +understand her. If for a moment he imagined it was mental suffering, her +manner was such the next time he saw her as entirely to baffle that +fancy, and convince him that the symptoms which caused Mrs. Hamilton's +alarm were, in reality, of no consequence. Determined to use every +effort to deceive him, lest he should betray to her parents the real +cause of her sufferings, Emmeline generally rallied every effort and +rattled on with him, as from a child she had been accustomed, therefore +it was no wonder the worthy surgeon was deceived; and often, very +often, did the poor girl wish she could deceive herself as easily. It +was now nearly three months since she and young Myrvin had so painfully +parted, and her feelings, instead of diminishing in their intensity, +appeared to become more powerful. She had hoped, by studiously employing +herself, by never indulging in one idle hour, to partially efface his +remembrance, but the effort was fruitless. The letters from Lady +Florence and Lady Emily Lyle became subjects of feverish interest, for +in them alone she heard unprejudiced accounts of Arthur, of whose +praises, they declared, the epistles of their brother Louis were always +full; so much so, Lady Emily said, that she certainly should fall in +love with him, for the purpose of making a romantic story. Sadly did +poor Emmeline feel there was but little romance in her feelings; cold +clinging despair had overcome her. She longed for the comfort of her +mother's sympathy, but his character was not yet cleared. Mr. Hamilton +evidently mistrusted the praises so lavishly bestowed on the young man +by Lord Malvern's family; and how could she defend him, if accused of +presumption towards herself? Presumption there had not been; indeed, his +conduct throughout had done him honour. She fancied her mother would be +displeased, might imagine she had encouraged the feeling of romantic +admiration till it became an ideal passion, and made herself miserable. +Perhaps an unknown yet ever-lingering hope existed within, spite of +despair; perhaps aerial visions would mingle in the darkness, and +Emmeline shrunk, unconsciously, from their utter annihilation by the +stern prohibition of her parents. Such was the constant tenour of her +thoughts; but one moment of excited feeling betrayed that which she had +deemed would never pass her lips. + +But a very few days had elapsed since Edward's departure from Oakwood +when, one afternoon, Mr. Hamilton entered the usual sitting-room of the +family, apparently much disturbed. Mrs. Hamilton and Ellen were engaged +in work, and Emmeline sat at a small table in the embrasure of one of +the deep gothic windows, silently yet busily employed it seemed in +drawing. She knew her father had gone that morning to the village, and +as usual felt uneasy and feverish, fearing, reasonably or unreasonably, +that on his return she would hear something unpleasant concerning +Arthur; as she this day marked the countenance of her father, her heart +throbbed, and her cheek, which had been flushed by the action of +stooping, paled even unto death. + +"What mishap has chanced in the village, that you look so grave, my dear +love?" demanded his wife, playfully. + +"I am perplexed in what matter to act, and grieved, deeply grieved, at +the intelligence I have learned; not only that my prejudice is +confirmed, but that the knowledge I have acquired concerning that +unhappy young man places me in a most awkward situation." + +"You are not speaking very intelligibly, my dear husband, and therefore +I must guess what you mean; I fear it is young Myrvin of whom you +speak," said Mrs. Hamilton, her playfulness gone. + +"They surely have not been again bringing him forward to his discredit?" +observed Ellen, earnestly. "The poor young man is far away; why will +they still endeavour to prejudice you and Mr. Howard against him?" + +"I admire your charity, my dear girl, but, I am sorry to say, in this +case it is unworthily bestowed. There are facts now come to light which, +I fear, unpleasant as will be the task, render it my duty to write to +Lord Malvern. Arthur Myrvin is no fit companion for his son." + +"His poor, poor father!" murmured Ellen, dropping her work, and looking +sorrowfully, yet inquiringly, in her uncle's face. + +"But are they facts, Arthur--are they proved? for that there is unjust +prejudice against him in the village, I am pretty certain." + +"They are so far proved, that, by applying them to him, a mystery in the +village is cleared up, and also his violent haste to quit our +neighbourhood. You remember Mary Brookes?" + +"That poor girl who died, it was said, of such a rapid decline? +Perfectly well." + +"It was not a decline, my dear Emmeline; would that it had been. She was +beautiful, innocent, in conversation and manner far above her station. +There are many to say she loved, and believed, in the fond trust of +devotion, all that the tempter said. She was worthy to be his wife, and +she became his victim. His visits to her old grandmother's cottage I +myself know were frequent. He deserted her, and that wild agony broke +the strings of life which remorse had already loosened; ten days after +Myrvin quitted the village she died, giving birth to an unhappy child of +sin and sorrow. Her grandmother, ever dull in observation and sense, has +been silent, apparently stupefied by the sudden death of her Mary, and +cherishes the poor helpless infant left her by her darling. Suddenly she +has appeared awakened to indignation, and a desire of vengeance on the +destroyer of her child, which I could wish less violent. She implored +me, with almost frantic wildness, to obtain justice from the cruel +villain--accusing him by name, and bringing forward so many proofs, +which the lethargy of grief had before concealed, that I cannot doubt +for one moment who is the father of that poor babe--the cruel, the +heartless destroyer of innocence and life." + +"But is there no evidence but hers? I wish there were, for Dame Williams +is so weak and dull, she may easily be imposed upon," observed Mrs. +Hamilton, thoughtfully. "It is indeed a tale of sorrow; one that I could +wish, if it indeed be true, might not be published, for did it reach his +father's ears"-- + +"It will break his heart, I know it will," interrupted Ellen, with an +uncontrolled burst of feeling. "Oh, do not condemn him without further +proofs," she added, appealingly. + +"Every inquiry I have made confirms the old dame's story," replied Mr. +Hamilton, sadly. "We know Myrvin's life in college, before his change of +rank, was one of reckless gaiety. All say he was more often at Dame +Williams's cottage than at any other. Had he been more attentive to his +duties, we might have believed he sought to soothe by religion poor +Mary's sufferings, but we know such was not his wont. Jefferies +corroborates the old dame's tale, bringing forward circumstances he had +witnessed, too forcibly to doubt. And does not his hasty resignation of +a comfortable home, a promising living, evince his guilt more strongly +than every other proof? Why did he refuse to defend his conduct? Was it +not likely such a crime as this upon his conscience would occasion that +restlessness we all perceived, that extreme haste to depart? he would +not stay to see his victim die, or be charged with a child of sin. There +was a mystery in his sudden departure, but there is none now; it is all +too clear." + +"_It is false!_" burst with startling almost overwhelming power from the +lips of Emmeline, as she sprung with the strength of agony from her +seat, and stood with the suddenness of a vision, before her parents, a +bright hectic spot burning on either cheek, rendering her usually mild +eyes painfully brilliant. She had sat as if spell-bound, drinking in +every word. She _knew_ the tale was false, but yet each word had fallen +like brands of heated iron on her already scorching brain; that they +should dare to breathe such a tale against him, whose fair fame she knew +was unstained, link his pure name with infamy; and her father, too, +believed it. She did not scream, though there was that within which +longed for such relief. She did not faint, though every limb had lost +its power. A moment's strength and energy alike returned, and she +bounded forward. "It is false!" she again exclaimed, and her parents +started in alarm at her agonized tone; "false as the false villain that +dared stain the fair fame of another with his own base crime. Arthur +Myrvin is not the father of that child; Arthur Myrvin was not the +destroyer of Mary Brookes. Go and ask Nurse Langford: she who hung over +poor Mary's dying bed; who received from her own cold lips the name of +the father of her child; she who was alone near her when she died. Ask +her, and she will tell you the wretch, who has prejudiced all minds +against the good, the pure, the noble; the villain, the cruel +despicable villain, who rested not till his base arts had ruined +the--the--virtuous; that Jefferies, the canting hypocrite, the wretched +miscreant, who has won all hearts because he speaks so fair, he, he +alone is guilty. Put the question to him; let Nurse Langford ask him if +the dying spoke falsely when she named him, and his guilt will be +written on his brow. Arthur Myrvin did visit that cottage; Mary had +confessed a crime, she said not what, and implored his prayers; he +soothed her bodily and mental sufferings, he robbed death of its +terrors, and his only grief at leaving the village was, that she would +miss his aid, for that crime could not be confessed to another; and they +dare to accuse him of sin, he who is as good, as pure, as--" For one +second she paused, choked by inward agony, but ere either her father or +mother could address her, she continued, in an even wilder tone,--"Why +did Arthur Myrvin leave this neighbourhood? why did he go hence so +suddenly--so painfully? because, because he loved me--because he knew +that I returned his love, and he saw the utter hopelessness that +surrounded us, and he went forth to do his duty; he left me to forget +him, to obtain peace in forgetfulness of one I may never see +again--forgetfulness! oh, not till my brain ceases to throb will that be +mine. He thought to leave me with his love unspoken, but the words came, +and that very hour we parted. He loved me, he knew I could not be his, +and it was for this his living was resigned, for this he departed; and +had he cause to blush for this? pure, honourable, as was his love, too +noble, too unselfish to urge aught that could bid Emmeline forget her +duty to her parents for love of him; bearing every calumny, even the +prejudice, the harshness of my father, rather than confess he loved me. +He is innocent of every charge that is brought against him--all, all, +save the purest, the most honourable love for me; and, oh, is that +indeed, indeed a crime?" + +She had struggled to the very last to speak calmly, but now sobs, the +more convulsive because the more suppressed, rose choking in her throat, +and rendered the last words almost inaudible. She pressed both hands +against her heart and then her temples, as if to still their painful +throbbings, and speak yet more, but the effort was fruitless, and she +darted wildly, and fled as an arrow from the room. + +Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton looked on each other in painful and alarmed +astonishment, and Ellen, deeply affected, rose hastily, as if with the +intention of following her agitated cousin, but her aunt and uncle +entreated her not, alleging Emmeline would sooner recover alone, asking +her at the same time if she had known anything relative to the +confession they had just heard. She answered truly in the negative. +Emmeline had scarcely ever spoken of young Myrvin in her hearing; but as +the truth was now discovered, many little instances rose to the +recollection of both parents to confirm the avowal of their child, and +increase their now painfully awakened solicitude. Her agitation the +night of Edward's return, when Lord St. Eval laughingly threatened her +with marriage, rose to the recollection of both parents; her extreme +excitement and subsequent depression; her visibly failing health since +Arthur's departure, all, all, too sadly confirmed her words, and +bitterly Mrs. Hamilton reproached herself for never having suspected +the truth before, for permitting the young man to be thus intimate at +her house, heedless of what might ensue, forgetful that Emmeline was +indeed no longer a child, that her temperament was one peculiarly liable +to be thus strongly excited. + +For a few minutes Mr. Hamilton felt pride and anger struggling fiercely +in his bosom against Arthur, for having dared to love one so far above +him as his child, but very quickly his natural kindliness and charity +resumed their sway. Could he wonder at that, love for one so fond, so +gentle, so clinging, as his Emmeline? Would he not have deemed Arthur +cold and strange, had her charms indeed passed him unnoticed and unfelt; +he remembered the forbearance, the extreme temper the unhappy young man +had ever displayed towards him, and suddenly and unconsciously he felt +he must have done him wrong; he had been prejudiced, misguided. If Nurse +Langford's tale was right, and Jefferies had dared to accuse another of +the crime he had himself committed, might he not in the like manner have +prejudiced the whole neighbourhood against Arthur by false reports? But +while from the words of his child every kindly feeling rose up in the +young man's favour, Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton did not feel the less +painfully that Emmeline had indeed spoken rightly: hopelessness was her +lot. It seemed to both impossible that they could ever consent to behold +her the wife of Myrvin, even if his character were cleared of the +stigmas which had been cast upon it. Could they consent to expose their +fragile child, nursed as she had been in the lap of luxury and comfort, +to all the evils and annoyances of poverty? They had naturally +accustomed themselves to anticipate Emmeline's marrying happily in +their own sphere, and they could not thus suddenly consent to the +annihilation of hopes, which had been fondly cherished in the mind of +each. + +Some little time they remained in conversation, and then Mrs. Hamilton +rose to seek the chamber of her suffering child, taking with her indeed +but little comfort, save her husband's earnest assurance that he would +leave no means untried to discover Jefferies' true character, and if +indeed Arthur had been accused unjustly. + +It was with a trembling hand Mrs. Hamilton softly opened Emmeline's +door, and with a heart bleeding at the anguish she beheld, and which she +felt too truly she could not mitigate, she entered, and stood for +several minutes by her side unnoticed and unseen. + +There are some dispositions in which it is acutely painful to witness +sorrow. Those whom we have ever seen radiant in health, in liveliness, +in joy--so full of buoyancy and hope, they seem as if formed for +sunshine alone, as if they could not live in the darkening clouds of woe +or care; whose pleasures have been pure and innocent as their own bright +beauty; who are as yet unknown to the whispering of inwardly working +sin; full of love and gentleness, and sympathy, ever ready to weep for +others, though for themselves tears are unknown; creatures, whose warm +enthusiastic feelings bind them to every heart capable of generous +emotions; those in whom we see life most beautified, most glad. Oh, it +is so sad to see them weep; to feel that even on them sorrow hath cast +its blight, and paled the cheek, and dimmed the laughing eye, the +speaking smile, and the first grief in such as these is agony indeed: +it is the breaking asunder of every former joy. They shrink from +retrospection, for they cannot bear to feel they are not now as then, +and the future shares to them the blackened shadows of the hopeless +present. As susceptible as they are to pleasure so are they to pain; and +raised far above others in the enjoyment of the one, so is their grief +doubled in comparison with those of more happy, because more even +temperaments. So it was with Emmeline; and her mother felt all this as +she stood beside her, watching with tearful sympathy the first real +grief of her darling child. Emmeline had cast herself on her knees +beside her couch; she had buried her face in her hands, while the sobs +that burst incessantly from her swelling bosom shook her frail figure +convulsively; the blue veins in her throat had swelled as if in +suffocation, and her fair hair, loosened from its confinement by her +agitation, hung wildly around her. + +"Emmeline," Mrs. Hamilton said, gently and falteringly, but her child +heard her not, and she twined her arm around her, and tried to draw her +towards her. + +"My own darling Emmeline, speak to me; I cannot bear to see you thus. +Look up, love; for my sake calm this excited feeling." + +"May I not even weep? Would you deny me that poor comfort?" burst almost +passionately from the lips of Emmeline, for every faculty was bewildered +in that suddenly-excited woe. She looked up; her eyes were bloodshot and +haggard, her cheek flushed, and the veins drawn like cords across her +brow. + +"Weep: would your mother forbid you that blessed comfort and relief, my +Emmeline? Could you indeed accuse me of such cruelty?" replied Mrs. +Hamilton, bending over her as she spoke, and removing from those flushed +temples the hair which hung heavy with moisture upon them, and as she +did so Emmeline felt the tears of her mother fall thick and fast on her +own scorching brow. She started from her knees, gazed wildly and +doubtingly upon her, and tottering from exhaustion, would have fallen, +had not Mrs. Hamilton, with a sudden movement, received her in her arms. +For a moment Emmeline struggled as if to break from her embrace, but +then, with a sudden transition of feeling, clasped her arms convulsively +about her mother's neck, and burst into a long and violent but relieving +flood of tears. + +"I meant never, never to have revealed my secret," she exclaimed, in a +voice almost inaudible, as her mother, seating her on a couch near them, +pressed her to her heart, and permitted some minutes to pass away in +that silence of sympathy which to the afflicted is so dear. "And now +that it has been wrung from me, I know not what I do or say. Oh, if I +have spoken aught disrespectfully to you or papa just now, I meant it +not, indeed I did not; but they dared to speak false tales, and I could +not sit calmly to hear them," she added, shuddering. + +"There was nothing in your words, my own love, to give us pain with +regard to ourselves," said Mrs. Hamilton, in her most soothing tone, as +again and again she pressed her quivering lips to that flushed cheek, +and tried to kiss away the now streaming tears. "Do not let that thought +add to your uneasiness, my own darling." + +"And can you forgive me, mother?" and Emmeline buried her face yet more +closely in her mother's bosom. + +"Forgive you, Emmeline! is there indeed aught in your acquaintance with +Arthur Myrvin which demands my forgiveness?" replied her mother, in a +tone of anxiety and almost alarm. + +"Oh, no, no! but you may believe I have encouraged these weak emotions; +that I have wilfully thought on them till I have made myself thus +miserable; that I have called for his love--given him encouragement: +indeed, indeed I have not. I have struggled hard to obtain +forgetfulness--to think of him no more, to regain happiness, but it +would not come. I feel--I know I can never, never be again the joyous +light-hearted girl that I was once; all feels so changed." + +"Do not say so, my own love; this it but the language of despondency, +now too naturally your own; but permit it not to gain too much +ascendency, dearest. Where is my Emmeline's firm, devoted faith in that +merciful Father, who for so many years has gilded her lot with such +unchecked happiness. Darker clouds are now indeed for a time around you, +but His blessing will remove them, love; trust still in Him." + +Emmeline's convulsive sobs were somewhat checked; the fond and gentle +tones of sympathy had their effect on one to whom affection never +pleaded in vain. + +"And why have you so carefully concealed the cause of the sufferings +that were so clearly visible, my Emmeline?" continued her mother, +tenderly. "Could that fear which you once avowed in a letter to Mary, +have mingled in your affection for me? Could fear, indeed, have kept you +silent? Can your too vivid fancy have bid you imagine I should reproach +you, or refuse my sympathy in this sad trial? Your perseverance in +active employments, your strivings for cheerfulness, all must, indeed, +confirm your assertion, that you have not encouraged weakening emotions. +I believe you, my own, and I believe, too, my Emmeline did not give +young Myrvin encouragement. Look up, love, and tell me that you do not +fear your mother--that you do not deem her harsh." + +"Harsh? oh, no, no!" murmured the poor girl, still clinging to her neck, +as if she feared something would part them. "It is I who am capricious, +fanciful, miserable: oh, do not heed my incoherent words. Mother, +dearest mother, oh, let me but feel that you still love me, and I will +teach my heart to be satisfied with that." + +"But if indeed I am not harsh, tell me all, my Emmeline--tell me when +you were first aware you loved Arthur Myrvin; all that has passed +between you. I promise you I will not add to your suffering on his +account by reproaches. Confide in the affection of your mother, and this +trial will not be so hard to bear." + +Struggling to obtain composure and voice, Emmeline obeyed, and +faithfully repeated every circumstance connected with her and Arthur, +with which our readers are well acquainted; touching lightly, indeed, on +their parting interview, which Mrs. Hamilton easily perceived could not +be recalled even now, though some months had passed, without a renewal +of the distress it had caused. Her recital almost unconsciously exalted +the character of Arthur in the mind of Mrs. Hamilton, which was too +generous and kind to remain untouched by conduct so honourable, +forbearing, and praiseworthy. + +"Do not weep any more for the cruel charges against him, my love," she +said, with soothing tenderness, as Emmeline's half-checked tears burst +forth again as she spoke of the agony she in secret endured, when in her +presence his character was traduced. "Your father will now leave no +means untried to discover whether indeed they are true or false. +Insinuations and reports have prejudiced his judgment more than is his +wont. He has gone now to Widow Langford, to hear her tale against +Jefferies, and if this last base charge he has brought against Arthur be +indeed proved against himself, it will be easy to convict him of other +calumnies; for the truth of this once made evident, it is clear that his +base machinations have been the secret engines of the prejudice against +Myrvin, for which no clear foundation has ever yet been discovered. You +will not doubt your father's earnestness in this proceeding, my +Emmeline, and you know him too well to believe he would for one moment +refrain from acknowledging to Mr. Myrvin the injustice he has done him, +if indeed it prove unfounded." + +"And if his character be cleared from all stain--if not a whisper taint +his name, and his true excellence be known to all--oh, may we not hope? +mother, mother, you will not be inexorable; you will not, oh, you will +not condemn your child to misery!" exclaimed Emmeline, in a tone of +excitement, strongly contrasting with the hopelessness which had +breathed in every word before; and, bursting from her mother's detaining +hold, she suddenly knelt before her, and clasped her robe in the +wildness of her entreaty. "You will not refuse to make us happy; you +will not withhold your consent, on which alone depends the future +happiness of your Emmeline. You, who have been so good, so kind, so +fond,--oh, you will not sentence me to woe. Mother, oh, speak to me. I +care not how many years I wait: say, only say that, if his character be +cleared of all they have dared to cast upon it, I shall one day he his. +Do not turn from me, mother. Oh, bid me not despond; and yet and yet, +because he is poor, oh, would you, can you condemn me to despair?" + +"Emmeline, Emmeline, do not wring my heart by these cruel words," +replied Mrs. Hamilton, in a tone of such deep distress, that Emmeline's +imploring glance sunk before it, and feeling there was indeed no hope, +her weakened frame shook with the effort to restrain the bursting tears. +"Do not ask me to promise this; do not give me the bitter pain of +speaking that which you feel at this moment will only add to your +unhappiness. You yourself, by the words you have repeated, behold the +utter impossibility of such an union. Why, why then will you impose on +me the painful task of repeating it? Could I consent to part with you to +one who has not even a settled home to give you, whose labours scarcely +earn sufficient to maintain himself? You know not all the evils of such +an union, my sweet girl. You are not fitted to cope with poverty or +care, to bear with that passionate irritability and restlessness which +characterise young Myrvin, even when weightier charges are removed. And +could we feel ourselves justified in exposing you to privations and +sorrows, which our cooler judgment may perceive, though naturally +concealed from the eye of affection? Seldom, very seldom, are those +marriages happy in which such an extreme disparity exists, more +particularly when, as in this case, the superiority is on the side of +the wife. I know this sounds like cold and worldly reasoning, my +Emmeline; I know that this warm, fond heart revolts in agony from every +word, but do not, do not think me cruel, love, and shrink from my +embrace. How can I implore you, for my sake, still to struggle with +these sad feelings, to put every effort into force to conquer this +unhappy love? and yet my duty bids me do so; for, oh, I cannot part with +you for certain poverty and endless care. Speak to me, my own; promise +me that you will try and be contented with your father's exertions to +clear Arthur's character from all aspersions. You will not ask for +more?" + +There was a moment's pause. Mrs. Hamilton had betrayed in every word the +real distress she suffered in thus speaking, when the gentle pleading of +her woman's heart would have bade her soothe by any and every means her +afflicted child; Emmeline knew this, and even in that moment she could +not bear to feel her mother grieved, and she had been the cause. Filial +devotion, filial duty, for a few minutes struggled painfully with the +fervid passion which shook her inmost soul; but they conquered, and when +she looked up, her tears were checked, and only the deadly paleness of +the cheek, the quivering of the lip and eye, betrayed the deep emotion +that still prevailed within. + +"Be not thus distressed for me, my dear, my too indulgent mother," +replied Emmeline, in a voice that struggled to be composed and firm, +though bodily weakness defied her efforts. "I meant not to have grieved +you, and yet I have done so. Oh, let not my foolish words give you pain, +you whose love would, I know, seek to spare me every suffering. My brain +feels confused and burning now, and I know not what I say; but it will +pass away soon, and then I will try to be all you can wish. You will +not, I know you will not be so cruel as to bid me wed another, and that +knowledge is enough. Let but his character be cleared, and I promise you +I will use every effort to be content. I knew that it was hopeless. Why, +oh, why did I bid your lips confirm it!" and again were those aching +eyes and brow concealed on Mrs. Hamilton's shoulder, while the +despairing calmness of her voice sounded even more acutely painful to +her mother than the extreme suffering it had expressed before. + +"May God in His mercy bless you for this, my darling girl!" escaped +almost involuntarily from Mrs. Hamilton's lips, as the sweet disposition +of her child appeared to shine forth brighter than ever in this complete +surrender of her dearest hopes to the will of her parents. "And oh, that +He may soothe and comfort you will mingle in your mother's prayers. Tell +me but one thing more, my own. Have you never heard from this young man +since you parted?" + +"He wrote to me, imploring me to use my influence with St. Eval, to aid +his obtaining the situation of tutor to Lord Louis," answered Emmeline. +"He did not allude to what had passed between us; his letter merely +contained this entreaty, as if he would thus prove to me that his +intention to quit England, and seek for calmness in the steady +performance of active duties, was not mere profession." + +"Then your representations were the origin of Eugene's interest in +Arthur?" said Mrs. Hamilton, inquiringly. + +Emmeline answered in the affirmative. + +"And did you answer his letter?" + +"No, mamma; it was enough for me and for him, too, his wishes were +granted. I would not indulge my secret wish to do so. Neither you nor +papa, nor indeed any of my family, knew what had passed between us. +Determined as I was to struggle for the conquest of myself, I did not +imagine in keeping that secret I was acting undutifully; but had I +written to him, or cherished, as my weak fondness bade me do, +his--his--why should I hide it--his precious letter, my conscience would +have added its pangs to the sufferings already mine. While that was free +and light, I could still meet your look and smile, and return your kiss, +however I might feel my heart was breaking; but if I had so deceived +you, so disregarded my duty, as to enter into a correspondence with him, +unknown to you, oh, the comfort of your love would have flown from me +for ever." + +"And had my Emmeline indeed sufficient resolution to destroy that +letter?" demanded Mrs. Hamilton, surprise mingling with the admiration +and esteem which, though felt by a mother for a child, might well be +pardoned. + +"It was my duty, mother, and I did it," replied Emmeline, with a +simplicity that filled the eyes of her mother with tears. "Could I +indeed forget those principles of integrity which, from my earliest +infancy, you have so carefully instilled?" + +Mrs. Hamilton clasped her to her bosom, and imprinted kisses of the +fondest affection on her colourless and burning forehead. + +"Well, indeed, are my cares repaid," she exclaimed. "Oh, that my +affection could soothe your sorrows as sweetly as your gentle yet +unwavering adherence to filial love and duty have comforted me. Will +you, for my sake, my own love, continue these painful yet virtuous +efforts at self-conquest, which you commenced merely from a sense of +duty? Will you not glad your mother's heart and let me have the comfort +of beholding you once more my own cheerful, happy Emmeline?" + +"I will try," murmured Emmeline, struggling to smile; but oh, it was so +unlike herself, so lustreless and faint, that Mrs. Hamilton hastily +turned away to hide emotion. The dressing-bell at that instant sounded, +and Emmeline looked an entreaty to which her lips appeared unwilling to +give words. Her mother understood it. + +"I will not ask you to join us at dinner, love. Do not look so +beseechingly, you will recover this agitation sooner and better alone; +and so much confidence have you compelled me to feel in you," she added, +trying to smile and speak playfully, "that I will not ask you to make an +exertion to which you do not feel equal, even if you wish to be alone +the whole evening. I know my Emmeline's solitary moments will not be +spent in vain repinings." + +"You taught me whom to seek for comfort and relief in my childish +sorrows, and I will not, I do not forget that lesson now, mother," +answered Emmeline, faintly yet expressively. "Let me be alone, indeed, a +few hours, and if I can but conquer this feeling of exhaustion, I will +join you at tea." + +Mrs. Hamilton silently embraced and left her, with a heart swelling with +fond emotion, as she thought on the gentle yet decided character of her +child, who from her infancy had scarcely ever caused her pain, still +less anxiety. Now indeed solicitude was hers, for it was evident, alas! +too evident, that Emmeline's affections were unalterably engaged; that +this was not the mere fervour of the moment, a passion that would pass +away with the object, but one that Mrs. Hamilton felt forebodingly would +still continue to exist. Emmeline's was not a disposition to throw off +feelings such as these lightly and easily. Often had her mother inwardly +trembled when she thought of such a sentiment influencing her Emmeline, +and now the dreaded moment had come. How was she to act? She could not +consent to an union such as this would be. Few mothers possessed less +ambition than Mrs. Hamilton, few were so indulgent, so devoted to her +children, but to comply with the poor girl's feverish wishes would be +indeed but folly. Arthur had engaged himself to remain with Lord Louis +Lyle during the period of his residence in Germany, which was at that +time arranged to be three years. The future to young Myrvin must, she +knew, be a blank; years would in all probability elapse ere he could +obtain an advantageous living and means adequate to support a wife and +family; and would it not be greater cruelty to bid Emmeline live on in +lingering and sickening hope, than at once to appeal to her reason, and +entreat her, by the affection she bore her parents, to achieve this +painful conquest of herself, as their consent could not be given. They +felt sad, indeed, thus to add to the suffering of their afflicted child, +yet it was the better way, for had they promised to consent that when he +could support her she should be his own, it might indeed bring relief +for the moment, but it would be but the commencement of a life of +misery; her youth would fade away in that sickening anguish of hope +deferred, more bitter because more lingering than the absolute +infliction of brief though certain suffering. The hearts of both parents +grieved as they thought on all she had endured, and for a brief period +must still endure, but their path of duty once made clear, they swerved +not from it, however it might pain themselves. + +Mrs. Hamilton was right. Emmeline's solitary moments were not spent in +vain repinings; she struggled to compose her thoughts, to cast the +burden of her sorrows upon Him, who in love and mercy had ordained them; +and she did so with that pure, that simple, beautiful faith so +peculiarly her own, and a calm at length stole over her wearied spirit +and exhausted frame, soothing her, even to sleep, with the words of +prayer yet lingering on her lips. She awoke, after above an hour's +slumber, composed in mind, but still feverish in body. Prayer had +brought its blessed influence, but that calm was more the quiescence +proceeding from over-excitement than natural feeling; she felt it so, +and dreaded the return of mental agony, as bodily sufferers await the +periodical paroxysms of pain. She resolved not to give way to the +exhaustion she still felt. She rejoined the family at tea, pale indeed, +but perfectly composed, and even faintly smiling on her father, who, +hastily rising as she languidly and unexpectedly entered the room, +carried her tenderly in his arms to a couch, compelled her to lie down, +and bending over her with that soothing fondness which she so much +loved, retained his seat by her side all the evening, though +participating and frequently inducing her to join in the conversation on +various topics, which Mrs. Hamilton and Ellen seemed determined to +maintain. Once during that evening Emmeline had looked up beseechingly +in her father's face, and that touching, silent eloquence told all she +would have said, far more expressively than words. + +"Justice shall be done, my Emmeline," he replied, gently drawing her to +him, and speaking in a tone that was heard by her alone. "I have been +harsh, prejudiced, as cruelly unjust as blindly imposed on by a +comparative stranger; but I promise you, all shall be impartially +considered. I have done this unfortunate young man much wrong, for I +should have recollected his father has many enemies, and this may be one +of them, seeking from revenge to injure him. I am grateful to Arthur +Myrvin for his forbearance towards myself, for his truly noble conduct +towards you--right principles alone could have dictated both. Mrs. +Langford has confirmed all you said, and informed me of many little +circumstances which if, on a strict examination, I find are founded on +truth, Jefferies' character and base designs will not be difficult to +fathom. Myrvin's character shall be cleared from suspicion, if it be in +my power, my dear girl; rest as confident on my promise to that effect, +as I do on yours, that, this accomplished, _you will ask no more_." + +Emmeline's head rested on his shoulder; he had marked the relief, the +gratitude her sweet face expressed during his first words, but as he +ceased, her eyes were hid upon his bosom, and he could read no more. It +was well for the steadiness of his determination that it was so, for the +wretchedness imprinted on every feature, every line of her countenance, +at his concluding sentence, would have wrung his soul. + +Though persuaded by her parents to retire early, Emmeline did not do so +till the usual hour of separation after prayers. To Ellen's +silently-observing eye she appeared to shrink from being alone, and this +thought haunted her so incessantly, that, instead of composing herself +to rest, she softly traversed the short distance which separated their +apartments, and entered her cousin's room. + +Emmeline was alone, undressed, a large wrapping robe flung carelessly +over her night attire, but instead of reading, which at that hour, and +in that guise, she generally did, that the word of God might be the last +book on which she looked ere she sought her rest, she was leaning +abstractedly over the fire, seated on a low stool, her hands pressed on +her temples, while the flickering flame cast a red and unnatural glare +on those pale cheeks. Ellen advanced, but her cousin moved not at her +entrance, nor even when she knelt by her side, and twined her arms +around her. + +"Will you not go to bed, dearest Emmeline? it is so late, and you have +been so fearfully agitated to-day. Look up and speak to me, my own dear +cousin, or I shall fancy you are hurt with me for permitting so many +hours to pass without coming near you, when I knew you were in +suffering. Oh, you know not how I longed to come, but my aunt said you +had entreated to be left alone. I stood for some minutes by your door, +but all was so still, I thought I should disturb you did I enter. You do +not accuse me of unkindness, Emmeline?" + +Housed by her cousin's affectionate words and imploring voice, Emmeline +resisted not her embrace, but clung to her in silence. + +"You are ill, you are very ill, dearest, dearest Emmeline; do not sit up +thus; for my sake, for your mother's sake, try if sleep will not ease +this aching head," exclaimed Ellen, much alarmed at the burning heat and +quick throbbing of Emmeline's forehead, as it rested on her shoulder. + +"I cannot sleep, Ellen, it is useless to attempt it; I feel as if my +eyes would never close again; as if years had passed over my head since +last night. I thought I could not be more miserable than I was +when--when we parted, and as I have been since; but that was +nothing--nothing to this. I thought I had not indulged in hope, for I +knew that it was vain, but now, now I feel I must have done so, and it +is its utter, utter annihilation that bows me to the earth. Oh, why am I +so changed, I who was once so glad, so free, so full of hope and +happiness, looking forward to days as bright as those that fled; and now +what am I, and what is life? a thing from which all happiness has flown, +but clothed in darker shadows, from its contrast with the past." + +"Oh, do not say so, dearest," replied Ellen, affected almost to tears by +the despairing tone in which these words were said. "The blessing, the +comfort of your parents, your brothers, of all who know you as you are, +do not say your life will be without joy; its most cherished flower, its +most precious gem may have passed away, but others will spring up in +time, to fill that yearning void. You, whose presence ever brings with +it such enjoyment to others, oh, you too will be blessed. You cannot +long continue miserable, when you feel the power you have of making so +many of your fellow-creatures happy. You are ill, exhausted now, and +therefore all around you looks so full of gloom and pain, yet when this +shall have passed, you will not reject the comfort that remains. Have +you not an approving conscience to support you, the consciousness that +you have proved your love and gratitude to the parents you so fondly +love? and think you He, who looks with an eye of favour on the faintest +effort of His creatures, made for His sake, and in His spirit, will +permit this strength to pass unaided? No, dearest, He will assist and +strengthen you; He can take even from this bitter trial its sting." + +"I know it, I feel it," murmured Emmeline, still clinging to her cousin, +as if she found comfort in her presence and her words. "I know well that +this trial in itself is as nothing compared with those endured at this +very hour by thousands of my fellow-creatures, and knowing this makes me +the more wretched, for if I am thus repining and miserable, how dare I +hope my prayers will be heard?" + +"Yet doubt it not, my own Emmeline; our Father in heaven judgeth not as +man judgeth. Man might condemn this appearance of weakness in you now, +but God will not, for he knows the individual strength of His creatures, +and in love and mercy chasteneth accordingly. He knoweth this is a +severe trial for one, young and gentle as you are; and with your heart +lifted up to Him, as I know it is, doubt not that your prayers will be +heard and this pang softened in His own time. I fear my words sound +cold; but oh, would that I could comfort you, dearest," and tears stood +trembling in Ellen's eyes. + +"And you do comfort me, Ellen; oh, I do not feel so very wretched with +you near me as I do alone, though even you cannot guess this extent of +suffering; you know not what it is to love, and yet to feel there is no +hope; no--none," she repeated, in a low murmuring tone, as if to +convince herself that there was indeed none, as she had said; and it was +not strange that thus engrossed, she marked not that a slight shudder +passed through her cousin's frame at her last words; that Ellen's cheek +suddenly vied in its deadly paleness with her own; that the tears dried +up, as if frozen in those large, dark eyes, which were fixed upon her +with an expression she would, had she seen it, have found difficult to +understand; that the pale lip quivered for a few minutes, so as entirely +to prevent her speaking as she had intended. + +"Go to bed, dearest Emmeline, indeed you must not sit up longer," Ellen +said at length, as she folded her arms fondly round her and kissed her +cheek. "When I was ill, you ever wished to dictate to me," she +continued, playfully, "and I was always good and obedient; will you not +act up to your own principle and obey me now? think of your mother, +dearest, how anxious she will be if you are ill. I will not leave you +till you are asleep." + +"No, no, dear Ellen, I will not so abuse your kindness; I will go to +bed. I have been wrong to sit up thus, when I promised mamma to do all I +could to--but, indeed, you must not stay with me, Ellen. I feel so +exhausted, I may perhaps sleep sooner than I expect; but even if I do +not, you must not sit up." + +"Never mind, my love, let me see you obedient, and I will perhaps learn +the same lesson," replied Ellen, playfully, though her cheek retained +its suddenly-acquired paleness. Emmeline no longer resisted, and Ellen +quickly had the relief of seeing her in bed, and her eyes closed, as if +in the hope of obtaining sleep; but after a few minutes they again +opened, and seeing Ellen watching her, she said-- + +"You had better leave me, Ellen, I shall not be able to sleep if I think +you are watching me, and losing your own night's rest. I am not ill, my +dear cousin, I am only miserable, and that will pass away perhaps for a +short time again, as it did this afternoon." + +Ellen again kissed her and closed the curtains, obeying her so far as to +retire to her room, but not to bed; she was much too uneasy to do so. +Emmeline had been in very delicate health for some months, and it +appeared to her observant eyes and mind, that now the cause for her +exertion was removed, by the discovery of her long-treasured secret, +that health had really given way, and she was actually ill in body as +well as mind. The burning heat of her forehead and hand, the quick +pulsation of her temples, had alarmed her as predicting fever; and +Ellen, with that quiet resolution and prompt decision, which now +appeared to form such prominent traits in her character, determined on +returning to her cousin's room as soon as she thought she had fallen +asleep, and remain there during the night; that if she were restless, +uneasy, or wakeful, she might, by her presence, be some comfort, and if +these feverish symptoms continued, be in readiness to send for Mr. +Maitland at the first dawn of morning, without alarming her aunt. + +"You are not formed for sorrow, my poor Emmeline," she said internally, +as she prepared herself for her night's visit by assuming warmer +clothing. "Oh, that your grief may speedily pass away; I cannot bear to +see one so formed for joy as you are grieved. My own sorrows I can bear +without shrinking, without disclosing by one sign what I am internally +suffering. I have been nerved from my earliest years to trial, and it +would be strange indeed did I not seem as you believe me. _I_ know not +what it is to love. _I_ know not the pang of that utter hopelessness +which bows my poor cousin to the earth. Ah, Emmeline, you know not such +_hopelessness_ as mine, gloomy as are your prospects; you can claim the +sympathy, the affection, the consolation, of all those who are dear to +you; there is no need to hide your love, ill-fated as it is, for it is +_returned_--you are beloved; and I, my heart must bleed in secret, for +no such mitigation attends its loss of peace. I dare not seek for +sympathy, or say I love; but why--why am I encouraging these thoughts?" +and she started as if some one could have heard her scarcely-audible +soliloquy. "It is woman's lot to suffer--man's is to _act_, woman's to +_bear_; and such must be mine, and in silence, for even the sympathy of +my dearest relative I dare not ask. Oh, wherefore do I feel it shame to +love one so good, so superior, so holy? because, because he does not +love me, save with a brother's love; and I know he loves another." + +The slight frame of the orphan shook beneath that inward struggle; there +were times, in her hours of solitude, when such thoughts would come, +spite of every effort to expel them, and there was only one way to +obtain that self-control she so much needed, so continually exercised, +till it became a second nature. She became aware her feelings had +obtained undue ascendency, and, sinking on her knees, remained absorbed +in prayer, fervent and heartfelt, truly the outpourings of a contrite +and trusting spirit, confident in the power and mercy to which she +appealed. That anguish passed ere she arose, and every sign of agitation +had left her countenance and voice as she put her resolution into +action, and returned to her cousin. + +Emmeline had awoke from her brief and troubled slumbers, more restless +and feverish than when she had first sought her couch; and, suffering as +she was from that nervous and anxious state peculiar to approaching +fever, the poor girl no longer resisted Ellen's evident determination, +and clasping her hand between her own, now burning with fever, +continually thanked her, in broken and feeble accents, for remaining +with her, assuring her she did not feel so ill or as unhappy as she +should have done had she been alone. Anxious as she was, Ellen would not +arouse her aunt, but at the first break of day she softly entered the +housekeeper's room, and succeeded in arousing without alarming her, +informed her of Emmeline's restless state, and implored her to send at +once for Mr. Maitland. Hastily rising, Ellis accompanied Ellen to her +cousin's room, and instantly decided on complying with her request. The +household were already on the alert, and a servant was speedily +despatched; but, relieved as she was on this point, Ellen would not +comply with the good housekeeper's request to repose herself for a few +hours; she had resolved not to relinquish her post by the bedside of the +young sufferer to any save her aunt herself. Ellis desisted, for a word +from her favourite, almost her darling, as Ellen from many circumstances +had become, was to her always sufficient. + +Mrs. Hamilton and Mr. Maitland met at Emmeline's door, to the +astonishment and at first alarm of the former--an alarm which subsided +into comparative relief, as she listened to Ellen's hurried tale, +although anxiety to a very high degree remained, and with some reason, +for Ellen's fears were not unfounded. Emmeline's fever rapidly and +painfully increased, and for a week her parents hung over her couch +almost despairing of her recovery; their fond hearts almost breaking, as +they heard her sweet voice, in the wild accent of delirious intervals, +calling aloud on Arthur, and beseeching their consent and blessing to +restore her to health; and scarcely less painful was it in her lucid +hours to see her clasp her mother's hands repeatedly, and murmur, in a +voice almost inarticulate from weakness-- + +"Do not be anxious or grieved for me, my own dear mamma, I shall soon +get well, and be your happy Emmeline again. I cannot be miserable, when +I have you and papa and Ellen to love me so tenderly," and then, she +would cling to her mother's neck, and kiss her till she would sink to +sleep upon her bosom, as in infancy and childhood she had so often done; +and dearer than ever did that gentle girl become, in these hours of +suffering, to all who had loved her so fondly before; they had deemed it +almost impossible that affection could in any way be increased, and yet +it was so. Strange must be that heart which can behold a being such as +Emmeline cling to it, as if its protection and its love were now all +that bound her to earth, and still remain unmoved and cold. Affection is +ever strengthened by dependence--dependence at least like this; and +there was something peculiarly touching in Emmeline's present state of +mental weakness. Her parents felt, as they gazed on her, that they had +occasioned the anguish which had prostrated her on a bed of sickness; +and yet their child clung to them as if, in the intensity of her +affection for them, and theirs for her, she would strive to forget her +unhappy love, and be once more happy. + +Time rolled heavily by, and some few weeks passed, ere Emmeline was +sufficiently convalescent to leave her room, and then her pallid +features and attenuated form were such constant and evident proofs of +that mental as well as bodily fever, that Mrs. Hamilton could not look +on her without pain. She was still inwardly restless and uneasy, though +evidently struggling for cheerfulness, and Mr. Maitland, to whom some +necessary particulars of her tale had been told, gave as his opinion, +that some secret anxiety still rested on her mind, which would be much +better removed; the real cause of that solicitude her parents very +easily penetrated. Mr. Hamilton, fearing the effects of excitement in +her still very delicate state, had refrained from telling her all he had +accomplished in young Myrvin's favour during her sickness, but on +hearing Mr. Maitland's report, her parents both felt assured it was for +that information she pined, and therefore determined on instantly giving +her relief. + +It was with the utmost tenderness and caution Mr. Hamilton alluded to +the subject, and seating himself by her couch, playfully asked her if +she would promise him to get well the sooner, if he gratified her by the +pleasing intelligence that Arthur Myrvin's character was cleared, that +his enemy had been discovered, his designs exposed, and himself obliged +to leave the village, and the whole population were now as violently +prejudiced in Arthur's favour, as they had formerly been against him; +provoked also with themselves for their blind folly in receiving and +encouraging the idle reports propagated against him, not one of which +they now perceived were sufficiently well founded to stand before an +impartial statement and accurate examination. + +Had her parents doubted what had weighed on Emmeline's mind, the sudden +light beaming in those saddened eyes, the flush kindling on those pale +cheeks, the rapid movement with which she caught her father's hand, and +looked in his face, as if fearful he would deceive her, all these minute +but striking circumstances must have betrayed the truth. In a voice +almost inarticulate from powerful emotion, she implored him to tell her +every particular, and tenderly he complied. + +He had followed, he said, her advice, and confronted Nurse Langford with +the unprincipled man who had dared accuse a fellow-creature of a crime +in reality committed by himself, and reckless as he was, he had shrunk +in guilt and shame before her accusation, which was indeed the +accusation of the dying, and avowing himself the real perpetrator of the +sin, offered her a large bribe for secrecy, which, as might be expected, +the widow indignantly refused. It was easy to perceive, his arts had +worked on the old woman, Mary's grandmother, to believe him her friend +and Arthur her foe; the poor old creature's failing intellect assisted +his plans, while the reports he had insidiously circulated against the +unfortunate young man also confirmed his tale. Little aware that the +Widow Langford had been almost a mother to the poor girl his villainy +had ruined, and that she was likely to have heard the truth, being quite +unconscious she had attended her dying moments, he published this +falsehood, without any feeling of remorse or shame, hoping by so doing, +effectually to serve his employers, effect the disgrace of Myrvin, and +completely screen himself. Mrs. Langford now found it was time indeed +for her to come forward and perform her promise to Emmeline by proving +young Myrvin's innocence, but hesitated how to commence. She was +therefore both relieved and pleased at the entrance and inquiries of Mr. +Hamilton, and promised to obey his directions faithfully, only imploring +him to clear Mr. Myrvin's character, and expel Farmer Jefferies from the +village, which, from the time of his settling there, she said, had been +one scene of anarchy and confusion; frankly avowing, in answer to a +question of Mr. Hamilton, that it was for Miss Emmeline's sake she was +so anxious; she was sure she was interested in Mr. Myrvin's fate, and +therefore she had mentioned the unhappy fate of poor Mary Brookes, to +prove to her the young man had attended to his duty. Many other +startling proofs of Jefferies' evil conduct had the good widow, by +silent but watchful attention, been enabled to discover, as also +convincing evidence that the young curate had not been so neglectful or +faulty as he had been reported. All her valuable information she now +imparted to her master, to be used by him in any way his discretion +might point out, promising to be ever ready at the slightest notice to +prove all she had alleged. Mr. Hamilton carefully examined every +circumstance, reflected for a brief period on his mode of action, and +finally, assembling all the principal inhabitants around him, in the +public school-room of the village, laid before them all the important +facts he had collected, and besought their impartial judgment. He owned, +he said, that he too had been prejudiced against Mr. Myrvin, whose +life, while among them, many circumstances had combined to render +unhappy, but that now, he heartily repented his injustice, for he felt +convinced the greater part of what had been alleged against him was +false. Those evil reports he proved had all originated from the +machinations of Jefferies, and he implored them to consider whether they +could still regard the words of one, against whom so much evil had now +been proved, as they had formerly done, or could they really prove that +their young curate had in truth been guilty of the misdemeanours with +which he had been charged. + +Mr. Howard, who was present, seconded his words, acknowledging that he +too had been prejudiced, and adding, that he could not feel satisfied +till he had avowed this truth, and asked his young friend's pardon for +the injury he had done him. + +Nothing is more sudden and complete than changes in popular feeling. The +shameful act of Jefferies, in casting on the innocent the stigma of +shame and crime which was his own, was quite enough for the honest and +simple villagers. At once they condemned themselves (which perhaps they +might not have been quite so ready to do, had not Mr. Hamilton and their +rector shown them the example), and not only defended and completely +exculpated Myrvin, but in an incredibly short space of time, so many +anecdotes of the young man's performance of his duty were collected, +that had not Mr. Hamilton been aware of the violent nature of popular +feeling, those defects which still remained, though excused by the +recollection of the mental tortures Myrvin had been enduring, would +undoubtedly have departed, as entirely as every darker shade on his +character had done. + +Convinced that Arthur's attention to parochial affairs, as well as his +conduct in other matters, had been very opposite to that which had been +reported, neither Mr. Howard nor Mr. Hamilton could feel satisfied till +they had written to him, frankly avowing their injustice, and asking his +pardon and forgetfulness of the past, and assuring him that, if his +conduct continued equally worthy of approbation as it was at the present +time, he should ever find in them sincere and active friends. + +Mr. Hamilton felt he had much, very much to say to the young man; but in +what manner to word it he was somewhat perplexed. He could not speak of +his daughter, and yet Myrvin's conduct towards her had created a feeling +of gratitude and admiration which he could not suppress. Many fathers +would have felt indignation only at the young man's presumption, but Mr. +Hamilton was neither so unreasonable nor so completely devoid of +sympathy. It was he himself, he thought, who had acted imprudently in +allowing him to associate so intimately with his daughters, not the +fault of the sufferer. Myrvin had done but his duty indeed, but Mr. +Hamilton knew well there were very few young men who would have acted as +he had done, when conscious that his affection was returned with all the +enthusiasm and devotedness of a disposition such as Emmeline's. How few +but would have played with those feelings, tortured her by persuasions +to forget duty for the sake of love; but Arthur had not done this, and +the father's heart swelled towards him in gratitude and esteem; even +while he knew the hopelessness of his love, he felt for the anguish +which his sympathy told him Arthur must endure. After more deliberation +and thought than he could have believed necessary for such a simple +thing as to write a letter, Mr. Hamilton did achieve his object, +retaining a copy of his epistle, to prove to his child he had been +earnest in his assurances that Arthur's character should be cleared. +Painfully agitated by the tale she had heard, and this unexpected +confidence of her father, Emmeline glanced her eye over the paper, and +read as follows:-- + + +"_To the Rev. Arthur Myrvin, Hanover_. + +"MY DEAR MYRVIN.--You will be no doubt astonished at receiving this +letter, brief as I intend it to be, from one with whom you parted in no +very friendly terms, and who has, I grieve to own, given you but little +reason to believe me your friend. When a man has been unjust and +prejudiced, it becomes his peremptory duty, however pride may rebel, to +do all in his power to atone for it by an honourable reparation, both in +word and deed, towards him he may have injured. Such, my young friend, +is at present our relative position, and I am at a loss to know how best +to express my sense of your honourable conduct and my own injustice, +which occasioned a degree of harshness in my manner towards you when we +separated, which, believe me, I now recall both with regret and pain. +Circumstances have transpired in the parish once under your care, which +have convinced not only me, but all those still more violently +prejudiced against you, that your fair fame was tarnished by the secret +machinations and insidious representations of an enemy, and not by the +faulty nature of your conduct; and knowing this, we most earnestly +appeal to the nobleness of your nature for forgetfulness of the past, +and beg you will endeavour henceforward to regard those as your sincere +friends whom you have unhappily had too much reason to believe +otherwise. + +"For myself, my dear Myrvin, I do not doubt that you will do this, for +candidly I own, that only now I have learned the true nature of your +character. When I first knew you, I was interested in your welfare, as +the chosen friend of my son, and also for your father's sake, now it is +for your own. The different positions we occupy in life, the wide +distance which circumstances place between us, will, I feel sure, +prevent all misconception on your part as to my meaning, and prevent +your drawing from my friendly words conclusions opposite to what I +intend, therefore I do not hesitate to avow that I not only esteem, but +from my heart I thank you, Myrvin, for your indulgence of those +honourable feelings, that perfect integrity which bade you resign your +curacy and depart from Oakwood. I did you wrong, great wrong; words can +but faintly compensate injury, though words have been the weapon by +which that injury has been inflicted, yet I feel confident you will not +retain displeasure, natural as it was; you will consent once more to +look on and appeal, if you should ever require it, to the father of +Herbert as your willing friend. Believe me, that if it be in my power to +assist you, you will never appeal in vain. Lord Malvern, I rejoice to +find, is your staunch friend, and nothing shall be wanting on my part to +render that friendship as permanent as advantageous. Mrs. Hamilton begs +me to inform you, that in this communication of my feelings, I have +transcribed her own. Injustice indeed she never did you; but +admiration, esteem, and gratitude are inmates of her bosom as sincerely +as they are of my own. Continue, my young friend, this unwavering regard +to the high principles of your nature, this steady adherence to duty, +spite of prejudice and wrong, if indeed they should ever again assail +you, and the respecs of your fellow-creatures will be yours as warmly, +as unfeignedly, as is that of + +"Your sincere friend, + +"ARTHUR HAMILTON." + +No word, no sound broke from the parched lips of Emmeline as she ceased +to read. She returned the paper to her father in that same silence, and +turning from his glance, buried her face in her hands. Mr. Hamilton +guessed at once all that was passing in that young and tortured heart; +he drew her to him, and whispered fondly-- + +"Speak to me, my Emmeline. You do not think he can mistake my feelings. +He will not doubt all prejudice is removed." + +"Oh, no, no," she replied, after a severe struggle for composure; "you +have said enough, dear, dear papa. I could not have expected more." + +For a moment she clung to his neck, and covered his cheek with kisses, +then gently withdrawing herself from his arms, quietly but hastily left +the room. For about an hour she might have remained absent, and Mrs. +Hamilton would not disturb her; and when she returned there was no trace +of agitation, pale she was indeed, and her eye had lost its brightness, +but that was too customary now to be deemed the effect of excited +emotion, and no further notice was taken, save that perhaps the manner +of her parents and Ellen towards her that night was even fonder than +usual. + +Once again Mr. Hamilton mentioned Arthur Myrvin; to speak of the +pleasing and satisfactory letters both he and Mr. Howard had received +from him. He addressed himself to Ellen, telling her, Arthur had written +in a manner tending to satisfy even her friendly feelings towards him. +Emmeline joined not in the conversation. Her father did not offer to +show her the letter, and she stilled the yearnings of her young and +loving heart. From that hour the name of Arthur Myrvin was never heard +in the halls of Oakwood. There was no appearance of effort in the +avoidance, but still it was not spoken; not even by Percy and Herbert, +nor by Caroline or her husband. Even the letters of Lady Florence and +Lady Emily Lyle ceased to make him their principal object. Emmeline knew +the volatile nature of the latter, and therefore was not surprised that +she had grown tired of the theme; that Lady Florence should so +completely cease all mention of the tutor of her favourite brother was +rather more strange, but she did so perhaps in her letters to Ellen, and +of that Emmeline had not courage to ask. St. Eval would speak of Lord +Louis, expressing hopes that he was becoming more steady; but it so +chanced that, although at such times Emmeline, spite of herself, ever +longed for somewhat more, the magic name that would have bidden every +pulse throb never reached her ears, and her excited spirit would sink +back in despondency and gloom, increased from the momentary excitement +which expectation had vainly called forth. + +Astonished indeed had Arthur Myrvin been at the receipt of his letters +from Oakwood and the Rectory. Mr. Howard's was productive of +gratification alone; that of Mr. Hamilton afforded even greater +pleasure, combined with a more than equal measure of pain. He had hoped +Emmeline would have answered his letter. She did not, but he knew her +influence had been exercised in his favour; and agony as it was, he +acknowledged she had acted wisely. There was too much devotedness in +Emmeline's character for Myrvin to encourage one lingering doubt that +his affections were returned; and as he thought on her steady discharge +of filial duty, as he recalled their parting interview, and felt she had +not wavered from the path she had pointed out, his own energies, +notwithstanding that still lingering, still acute suffering, were roused +within him, and he resolved he would obey her. She should see her appeal +had not been made in vain; she should never blush for the man she had +honoured with her love; he would endeavour to deserve her esteem, though +they might never meet again. He felt he had been too much the victim of +an ill-fated passion; he had by neglect in trifles encouraged the +prejudice against him, lost himself active and willing friends; this +should no longer be, and Myrvin devoted himself so perseveringly, so +assiduously to his pupil, allowing himself scarcely any time for +solitary thought, that not the keenest observer would have suspected +there was that upon the young man's heart which was poisoning the +buoyancy of youth, robbing life of its joy, and rendering him old before +his time. + +That Mr. Hamilton, the father of his Emmeline, that his feelings should +have thus changed towards him, that he should admire and esteem instead +of condemn, was a matter of truly heartfelt pleasure. Hope would have +shook aloft her elastic wings, and carried him beyond himself, had not +that letter in the same hour dashed to the earth his soaring fancy, and +placed the seal upon his doom. He could not be mistaken; Mr. Hamilton +knew all that had passed between him and Emmeline, and while he +expressed his gratitude for the integrity and forbearance he (Myrvin) +had displayed, he as clearly said their love was hopeless, their union +never could take place. + +Myrvin had known this before, then why did his heart sink in even +deeper, darker despondency as he read? why were his efforts at +cheerfulness so painful, so unavailing? He knew not and yet struggled +on, but weeks, ay, months rolled by, and yet that pang remained +unconquered still. + +And did Emmeline become again in looks and glee as we have known her? +Was she even to her mother's eye again a child? Strangers, even some of +her father's friends, might still have deemed her so; but alas! a +mother's love strove vainly thus to be deceived. Health returned, and +with it appeared to come her wonted enthusiasm, her animated spirits. +Not once did she give way to depression; hers was not that pining +submission which is more pain to behold than decided opposition, that +resignation which has its foundation in pride, not in humility, as its +possessors suppose. Emmeline's submission was none of these. Her duties +as daughter and sister and friend, as well as those to the neighbouring +poor, were, if possible, more actively and perseveringly performed than +they had even been before. Not one of her former favourite employments +was thrown aside. The complete unselfishness of her nature was more +clearly visible than ever, and was it strange that she became dearer +than ever to those with whom she lived? Her parents felt she was twining +herself more and more around their hearts, and beheld, with +inexpressible anguish, that though her young mind was so strong, her +fragile frame was too weak to support the constant struggle. She never +complained; there was no outward failing of health, but there was a +nameless something hovering round her, which even her doting parents +could not define, but which they felt too forcibly to shake off; and +notwithstanding every effort to expel the idea, that nameless something +brought with it alarm--alarm defined indeed too clearly; but of which +even to each other they could not speak. + +Time passed, and Herbert Hamilton, as the period of his ordination was +rapidly approaching, lost many of those painfully foreboding feelings +which for the last three years had so constantly and painfully assailed +him. He felt stronger in health than he had ever remembered to have +done, and the spirit of cheerfulness, and hope, and joy breathing in the +letters of his Mary affected him with the same unalloyed feelings of +anticipated happiness; sensations of holiness, of chastened thanksgiving +pervaded his every thought, the inward struggle appeared passed. There +was a calm upon his young spirit, so soothing and so blessed, that the +future rose before him unsullied by a cloud; anticipation was so bright, +it seemed a foretaste of that glorious heaven, the goal to which he and +his Mary looked--the home they sought together. + +Percy had also obtained honourable distinction at Oxford; his active +spirit would not have permitted him to remain quiet in college so long, +had he not determined to see his brother ordained ere he commenced the +grand tour, to which he looked with much zest, as the completion to his +education, and render him, if he turned it to advantage, in all respects +fitted to serve his country nobly in her senate, the point to which he +had looked, from the first hour he was capable of thought, with an +ardour which increased as that long-desired time approached. + +The disgraceful expulsion of Cecil Grahame from Cambridge opened afresh +that wound in his father's heart which Annie had first inflicted, but +which the conduct of Lilla had succeeded in soothing sufficiently to bid +her hope it would in time be healed. The ill-directed young man had +squandered away the whole of his mother's fortune, and behaved in a +manner that rendered expulsion inevitable. He chose to join the army, +and, with a painfully foreboding heart, his father procured him a +commission in a regiment bound for Ireland, hoping he would be exposed +to fewer temptations there than did he remain in England. + +Lady Helen, as her health continued to decline, felt conscience becoming +more and more upbraiding, its voice would not be stilled. She had known +her duty as a mother; she had seen it beautifully portrayed before her +in Mrs. Hamilton, but she had neglected its performance, and her +chastisement she felt had come. Annie's conduct she had borne, she had +forgiven her, scarcely appearing conscious of the danger her daughter +had escaped; but Cecil was her darling, and his disgrace came upon her +as a thunderbolt, drawing the veil from her eyes, with startling and +bewildering light. She had concealed his childish faults, she had petted +him in every whim, encouraged him in every folly in his youth; to hide +his faults from a severe but not too harsh a judge, she had lowered +herself in the eyes of her husband, and achieved no good. Cecil was +expelled, disgracefully expelled, and the wretched mother, as she +contrasted his college life with that of the young Hamiltons, felt she +had been the cause; she had led him on by the flowery paths of +indulgence to shame and ruin. He came not near her; he joined his +regiment, and left England, without bidding her farewell, and she felt +she should never see him more. From that hour she sunk; disease +increased, and though she still lingered, and months passed, and there +was no change for the worse, yet still both Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton felt +that death was written on her brow, that, however he might loiter on his +way, his destined victim would never again feel the blessedness of +health; and all their efforts were now directed in soothing the +affliction of Grahame, and lead him to console by tenderness the +remaining period of his unhappy wife's existence. They imparted not to +him their fears, but they rested not till their desire was obtained, and +Lady Helen could feel she was not only forgiven but still beloved, and +would be sincerely mourned, both by her husband and Lilla, in whom she +had allowed herself at one time to be so deceived. + +Having now brought the affairs of Oakwood, and all intimately connected +with it, to a point, from which no subject of interest took place for +above a year, at that period we resume our narrative. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +It was a fine summer morning. The windows of a pretty little +sitting-room were thrown wide open, and the light breeze, loaded with +the perfume of a thousand flowers, played refreshingly on the pale cheek +of our young friend Emmeline, who, reclining on a sofa, looked forth on +beautiful nature with mingled sadness and delight. More than a year had +elapsed since we last beheld her, and she was changed, painfully +changed. She still retained her childish expression of countenance, +which ever made her appear younger than in reality she was, but its +ever-varying light, its beautiful glow were gone; yet she complained +not. The smile ever rested on her lips in the presence of her parents; +her voice was ever joyous, and no sigh, no repining word, betrayed the +breaking heart within. She recognised with a full and grateful heart the +blessings still surrounding her, and struggled long and painfully to be +content; but that fond yearning would not be stilled, that deep love no +effort could dispel. Still there were times when those who had never +known her in former years would have pronounced her well, quite well in +health; and Emmeline would smile when such remarks reached her, and +wonder if her parents were so deceived. Sometimes she thought they were, +for the name of Arthur Myrvin was no longer suppressed before her. She +heard of him, of his devotion to his pupil, of the undeviating integrity +and steadiness which characterised him, and promised fair to lead Lord +Louis in the same bright paths; she had heard of Arthur's devoted care +of his pupil during a long and dangerous illness, that he, under Divine +goodness, had been the instrument of saving the youth's life, and +restoring him to health; and if she permitted no sign to betray the +deep, absorbing interest she felt, if her parents imagined he was +forgotten, they knew not the throbbings of her heart. + +She was conversing this morning with Mrs. Cameron, who had learned to +love Emmeline dearly; from being very often at Oakwood, she and her +daughters were looked on by all Mr. Hamilton's children as part of the +family. + +"Is not Flora delighted at the idea of again seeing her brother?" +Emmeline asked, in answer to Mrs. Cameron's information that Walter was +returning with his regiment to England, and in a very few weeks would be +once more an inmate of her home. She answered cheerfully in the +affirmative, and Emmeline again inquired--"Was Captain Cameron at all +acquainted with Cecil Grahame? Did he know the cause of his having been +so disgracefully cashiered?" + +"Their regiments were quartered in such different parts of Ireland," +replied Mrs. Cameron, "that I believe they only met on one occasion, and +then Walter was glad to withdraw from the society of the dissolute young +men by whom Lieutenant Grahame was always surrounded. The cause of his +disgrace appears enveloped in mystery. Walter certainly alluded to it, +but so vaguely, that I did not like to ask further particulars. I +dreaded the effect it would have on Mr. Grahame, but little imagined +poor Lady Helen would have sunk beneath it." + +"I believe few know how she doted on that boy. It was misguided, but +still it was love that caused her to ruin him as she did in his +childhood. From the hour he was expelled from Cambridge, she never held +up her head; it was so cruelly ungrateful of him to set off for Ireland +without once seeking her; and this last stroke was too much for her to +bear. She still hoped, despite her better judgment, that he would in the +end distinguish himself, and she could not meet the disappointment." + +"Did she long survive the intelligence?" + +"Scarcely four-and-twenty hours. Mr. Grahame, feeling unable to command +himself, requested mamma and Lilla to impart to her the distressing +information, which they did most tenderly; but their caution was +entirely fruitless. Her constant inquiry was relative to his present +situation, and when she heard that he had not been seen since he was +cashiered, she sunk into a state of insensibility from which she never +recovered." + +"And Mr. Grahame?" + +"The shock rendered him almost distracted, for it was so sudden. Lady +Helen had become so altered lately, that she was devotedly loved both by +her husband and child; she had been so long ailing, that both Lilla and +her father fondly hoped and believed she would be spared to them still +some years longer, though she might never entirely recover her health. +Mr. Grahame's feelings are stronger than most people imagine, but his +misfortunes have bowed him down even more than I could have believed +possible." + +"They appeared so united and happy, that I do not wonder at it," +observed Mrs. Cameron. "I have seldom seen such devotedness as Lady +Helen received from both her husband and child; she always welcomed +their affectionate attentions as if she felt herself undeserving of +them. I was interested in her, she bore her sufferings so meekly." + +"And poor Lilla, how is she?" + +"She suffers much, but behaves admirably. Ellen says her self-control is +extraordinary, when we remember she was one of those beings who could +never conceal a single feeling. Her poor father seems to look to her now +as his sole blessing and support; she soothes his sorrow so quietly, so +tenderly, and ever tries to prevent his thoughts dwelling on the stigma +which Cecil's disgraceful conduct has cast upon his name. I trust time +will restore that calm tranquillity which he has enjoyed the last year, +but I must own I fear it. If this moody irritability continue, Lilla +will have much to bear, but she will do her duty, and that will bring +its own reward." + +A faint and scarcely audible sigh escaped from Emmeline as she spoke. +Mrs. Cameron, without noticing, asked when she expected her brothers to +return home from London. + +"Herbert takes orders next week, and they return together very soon +afterwards. He is, as you will believe, delighted at the near approach +of an event which has been his guiding star since his boyhood. I never +saw him looking so well or so happy, and Percy shares his joy, and we +shall have him near us, I am happy to say, for he will be the minister +of our own dear parish, which, by Mr. Howard's promotion, will be vacant +about the time he will require it. Mr. Howard says he thinks he should +have turned rebel, and refused the presentation of a valuable living, +with the title of archdeacon attached to his name, if any one but +Herbert were to succeed him here; but as he leaves his flock under his +care, he will not refuse the blessings offered him. He does not go very +far from us, if he had I should have been so very sorry, that even my +brother's succeeding him would not have satisfied me." + +There was a short pause, which was broken by Emmeline saying-- + +"Speaking about Mr. Howard and Herbert has made me forget Percy, dear +fellow. You know how he has raved about the grand tour he is going to +make, all the curiosities he is to see and bring home for me, even to +the dome of St. Peter's or the crater of Vesuvius, if I wish to see +them. He has taken my provoking remarks in good part, and sets off with +Caroline and her husband in July. My sister's health has been so +delicate the last three months, that she is advised to go to Geneva. Her +little boy grows such a darling, I shall miss him almost as much as his +mother." + +"Do you stay with them at Castle Terryn before they go?" + +"I do not think I shall, for at present I seem to dislike the idea of +leaving home. They come to us, I believe, a few weeks hence, in order +that we may be all together, which we could not very well be at St. +Eval's." + +"Has Lord St. Eval quite lost all anxiety on his brother's account? The +physicians said they could never have brought him through it, had it not +been for Mr. Myrvin's prudent and unceasing care." + +"Yes; every letter from Castle Malvern confirms the report, all anxiety +has been over some weeks now; indeed, before the Marquis reached +Hanover, where he received from his son's own lips an affecting and +animated account of his own imprudence, and Mr. Myrvin's heroic as well +as prudent conduct." + +"Was there an accident, then? I thought it was from the fever then +raging in the town." + +"Lord Louis had determined, against his tutor's consent, to join a party +of very gay young men, who wished to leave Hanover for a time and make +an excursion to the sea-shore. Mr. Myrvin, who did not quite approve of +some of the young gentlemen who were to join the party, remonstrated, +but in vain. Lord Louis was obstinate, and Mr. Myrvin, finding all his +efforts fruitless, accompanied his pupil, very much to the annoyance of +the whole party, who determined to render his sojourn with them so +distasteful, that he would quickly withdraw himself. Lord Louis, led on +by evil companions, turned against his tutor, who, however, adhered to +his duty unshrinkingly. A sailing match was resolved on, and, +notwithstanding the predictions of Mr. Myrvin, that a violent storm was +coming on and likely to burst over them before half their day's sport +was completed, they set off, taunting him with being afraid of the +water. They declared there was no room for him in their boats, and +pushed off without him. He followed them closely, and fortunate was it +that he did so. The storm burst with fury; the little vessels were most +of them shattered to pieces, and many of the misguided and unfortunate +young men fell victims to their wilful folly. Some, who were good +swimmers, escaped, but Lord Louis had struck his head against a +projecting rock, and, stunned and senseless, must have sunk, had not Mr. +Myrvin been mercifully permitted to bear him to the shore in safety. He +was extremely ill, but in a few weeks recovered sufficiently to return +to Hanover, unconscious, as was Mr. Myrvin, of the virulent fever then +raging there. Already in delicate health, he was almost instantly +attacked by the disease, in its most alarming and contagious form; the +servants fled in terror from the house, only one, his own valet, an +Englishman, remained near him. But Mr. Myrvin never left him; day and +night he attended, soothed, and relieved him. His efforts were, happily, +rewarded: Lord Louis lived and his preceptor escaped all infection. The +Marquis and his son have both written of Mr. Myrvin in the most +gratifying terms; and the Marchioness told mamma she could never in any +way repay the debt of gratitude she owed him." + +Mrs. Cameron was much interested in Emmeline's narrative, and asked if +they were not soon to return to England. + +"They may have already arrived," replied Emmeline. "Florence wrote me a +fortnight ago she was counting the days till their return. I sent a +letter, apparently from her, this morning to Moorlands for Ellen, as I +am not quite sure whether she will return home this evening or not, and +perhaps that contains the intelligence. His mother and sisters will be +overjoyed to have him once more with them, after the dangers he has +passed." + +"Has Mr. Myrvin any family?" + +"Only his father, a truly good, kind, old man, the rector of +Llangwillan." + +"And are you not desirous to see this admirable young man, this devoted +preceptor, my dear Emmeline?" said Mrs. Cameron, smiling. "Will he not +be an excellent hero of romance?" + +Emmeline answered, that as she already knew him, she could not throw +around him the halo of imagination; she was content to admire his +character as it was, without decking him in other charms. Their further +conversation turned upon other and indifferent subjects till Mrs. +Cameron departed. + +The death of Lady Helen and the misconduct of her son had cast such deep +gloom over Moorlands, that not only Emmeline, but both Mr. and Mrs. +Hamilton feared Grahame would never arouse himself from the moody apathy +into which he had fallen. He felt disgrace had fallen on his name, a +stain never to be erased; that all men would shun the father of one so +publicly dishonoured. The extent of Cecil's conduct was scarcely known +even to his father; but that he had used dishonest measures at the +gambling table to discharge enormous debts; that he had behaved +insolently to his superior officers; that it required great interest to +prevent a much harsher sentence than had been his punishment--these +facts were known all over England. The previously unsullied name of +Grahame was now synonymous with infamy; and it was even supposed Cecil +would never show his face in England again. Mr. Grahame shrunk in misery +from encountering the glance even of his friends; he felt as if he too +shared the disgrace of his son, he and his young, his beautiful Lilla; +she whom he had anticipated, with so much pleasure, introducing among +his friends, she was doomed to share with him the solitude, which he +declared was the only fit abode of ignominy; and even to her his manner +was wayward and uncertain--at times almost painfully fond, at others +equally stern and harsh. Lilla's character was changed; she struggled to +bear with him, unrepiningly, dutifully, conscious that the eye of her +God was upon her, however her father might appear insensible to her +affection. + +Even the society of Mr. Howard and Mr. Hamilton was irksome; their +efforts to rouse and cheer him were unavailing, and they could only hope +time would achieve that for which friendship was inadequate. + +Herbert's engagement with Mary Greville still remained untold, but he +looked forward to discovering his long-treasured secret, when he beheld +himself indeed an ordained minister of God; Percy perhaps was in his +confidence, but neither his sisters nor Ellen. Mary's letters were full +of comfort to him; such pure and beautiful affection breathed in every +line, that even the sadness which the few last unconsciously betrayed +did not alarm him. He accounted for it by her reluctance to quit her +beautiful retreat in the Swiss mountains for the confusion and heat of +Paris, where she now resided. A few months previously they had been +visited in their retreat by her father; scarcely more surprised were +they at his appearance than at his manner, which was kinder and more +indulgent than Mary had ever remembered it. For a short time Mrs. +Greville indulged hopes, that their long separation had effected a +change in her husband, and that they should at length be happy together. + +He did not know much about Alfred, he said, except that he was well, and +travelling with some friends in different parts of the Continent. + +Mrs. Greville tried to be satisfied, and her cheering hopes did not +desert her even when her husband expressed a wish that she would reside +with him at Paris. The wish rather confirmed them, as it evinced that he +was no longer indifferent to her own and his child's society. With +joyful alacrity she consented, but in vain endeavoured to banish from +Mary's mind the foreboding fears that appeared to have filled it, from +the hour it was settled they were to leave Monte Rosa. In vain her +mother affectionately represented how much nearer she would be to +Herbert; nothing could remove, though she strove to conquer, this +seemingly uncalled-for and indefinable despondency. + +"I confess my weakness," she wrote to her betrothed, "but I had so often +pictured remaining at Monte Rosa till you came for me, as you had +promised, so often pictured to myself the delight of showing to you my +favourite haunts, ere we left them together for still dearer England, +that I cannot bear to find these visions dispelled without pain. I know +you will tell me I ought to be thankful for this great and happy change +in my father, and bear every privation for the chance of binding him to +us for ever. Do not reprove me, dear Herbert, but there is that about my +father that bids me tremble still, and whispers the calm is not lasting; +in vain I strive against it, but a voice tells me, in thus leaving Monte +Rosa, peace lingers in its beautiful shades, and woe's dark shadow +stands threatening before me." + +Herbert longed to go to her, and thus disperse all these foreboding +fears, but that pleasure the near approach of his ordination prevented; +but fondly he looked forward with unalloyed hope in a few months to seek +his Mary, and at once banish all indefinable sorrow by making her his +own. Not a doubt entered his mind of Mr. Greville's consent, when he +should in person demand it, and he was eager to do so while this +strangely indulgent humour continued. + +The first few months of her residence in Paris were fraught with +happiness for Mrs. Greville. Her husband's manner did not change. They +mingled in society, and the admiration Mary's quiet beauty excited +afforded the greatest pleasure to her mother, and even appeared to +inspire her father with some pride. To the poor girl herself it was +irksome and painful; but she tried to convince herself these feelings +were wrong, and checked them even in her letters to Herbert. + +Ellen returned from Moorlands, where she had been staying with Lilla, +whose affection for her continued unabated; for she found in her society +and sympathy much comfort since her mother's death. There was little +change visible in Ellen. Her health was established, her pensive beauty +unimpaired. Still was she the meek, unassuming, gentle girl she had long +been; still to the eye of strangers somewhat cold and indifferent. Her +inward self was becoming every year more strengthened; she was resolved +to use every effort to _suffer_, without the slightest portion of +bitterness impregnating her sentiments towards her fellow-creatures, or +the world in general. Her lot she _knew_ was to _bear_; her duty she +_felt_ was to _conceal_. + +Ellen, on her return home, gave her cousin the letter which Emmeline had +mentioned as having forwarded to her that morning. It was fraught with +interest, and the anxious eye of Mrs. Hamilton moved not from her +daughter's countenance as she read. Still was it so calm that even she +was puzzled; and again the thought, "Is it for him" she is thus +drooping, fading like a flower before me? is it, indeed, the struggle +between love and duty which has made her thus? crossed her mind, as it +had often, very often done before, and brought with it renewed +perplexity. + +Lady Florence had written in the highest spirits, announcing the return +of her father, Lord Louis, and his tutor; that her brother was looking +quite well and strong, and was the same dear, merry, mischievous boy as +ever; delighted to be in England, abusing all the Germans, and +professing and displaying the most extreme fondness for Mr. Myrvin. + +"He speaks of Mr. Myrvin in terms that bring tears to my eyes, tears of +which, my dear Ellen, I am not at all ashamed. The only drawback to the +life of a soldier, which my brother has now positively resolved on, in +spite of all our persuasions, exists, he says, in the consequent +separation from Mr. Myrvin, and he almost wishes to go to Cambridge, to +chain him to his side; but for Mr. Myrvin's sake, I am glad this will +not be. He is looking ill, very ill, quite different to the Arthur +Myrvin we knew at Oakwood; a change has come over him which I cannot +describe, and even to myself can scarcely define. He is much more +polished in his manner, but it is tinged with such deep melancholy, or +intense thought, I really do not know which it is, that he appears many +years older than when he left England. My father has at length prevailed +on him to resign all idea of again seeking the arduous charge of tutor, +but, with that honest pride which I so much admire and esteem, he has +refused all papa's offers of advancement, only consenting to accept the +living on Eugene's estate, when Louis shall require his services no +longer. I trust the healthy air of Cornwall and the quiet of his parish +will restore him to health, for the care which preserved that of Louis +has, I fear, ruined his own. He goes to London to-morrow to see +Herbert; the society of your cousins cannot fail to do him good. Louis +joins the army in a few months, and then Mr. Myrvin will take possession +of his living; but you will in all probability see them before, as Lord +and Lady St. Eval have sent a pressing invitation for them to come down +to Castle Terryn, and as soon as Mr. Myrvin returns from London, Louis +intends doing so. I want to hear Herbert's opinion of his friend, as my +dismal fancies concerning him may, after all, be only a woman's fancy, +yet looking ill he decidedly is." + +So wrote Lady Florence, and very soon Herbert and Percy's letters home +confirmed all she had said. Either the air of Germany had not been +congenial, or some other cause had so changed his outward appearance and +tinged his manner, that Herbert could not look on him without pain; but +the restless irritation, the haughty indifference which had been his +before he left Oakwood, no longer existed. There was a quiet dignity +about him that prevented all intrusive sympathy, a mild, steady lustre +in his dark grey eye, which so clearly said conscience was at peace, +that Herbert instinctively felt the bonds of friendship stronger than +they had ever been before; he was no longer anxious, for he felt assured +the errors of Arthur's former life were conquered, and he wrote to his +father concerning his friend with all his native eloquence. + +Emmeline made no observation; her young soul was absorbed in an intense +feeling of thanksgiving, that her prayers had been heard. Strength had +been granted him, and he had done his duty; he was esteemed, beloved; +his character was pure and bright; and if the gulf between them +remained impassable, should she murmur, when _all_ for which she had +prayed had been vouchsafed her? But a sterner call of obedience appeared +about to hover over her, from which her young spirit shrunk back +appalled. + +Herbert's anxious wishes were accomplished; there was no longer any +barrier to his earnest prayers to become a servant of his God, and of +service to his fellow-creatures. The six years in which he had laboured +unceasingly, untiringly, to prepare himself for the life which from his +boyhood he had chosen, now appeared but as a passing dream, and as he +knelt before the venerable bishop, his feelings became almost +overpowering. Tears rose in his eyes, and he drooped his head upon his +hands to conceal them. He felt this was no common life on which he +entered, no mere profession, in which he would be at liberty to think +and act as he pleased. Herbert felt that he had vowed himself to do the +work of God; that in it was comprised the good of his fellow-creatures. +The stern conquest of his own rebellious will; that his _actions_, not +his language only, should uphold the glory of his Maker. + +The return of Percy and Herbert brought pleasure to Oakwood, and a week +or two afterwards Lord and Lady St. Eval, with their little boy, +arrived, imparting additional happiness. Emmeline was surprised at +seeing them, for she thought Lord Louis and his preceptor were expected +at Castle Terryn. Lord St. Eval often spoke of his brother, and alluded +to Myrvin, and even hinted his thanks to Emmeline for her exertions in +the latter's favour, when the Marquis was hesitating whether or not to +intrust him with the charge of his son; but on such matters he never +spoke openly, yet not so guardedly as to betray to Emmeline he was +acquainted with her secret. + +Mr. Hamilton had many private conversations both with the young Earl and +his son Herbert, but what the subject was which so engrossed him only +Mrs. Hamilton knew. + +The return of Edward, too, from a short cruise gave additional spirit to +Oakwood. The young sailor had rapidly run through the grades of +lieutenant, and now stood the first on the line; his character both as a +sailor and a man was confirmed. He was as deservedly respected by his +messmates as beloved by his family, and to Ellen he was indeed dear. The +most perfect confidence existed between this affectionate brother and +sister, except on one point, and on that even to Edward she could not +speak; but he had not one thought, one feeling which he concealed from +her, he sought no other friend. Scarcely could Mrs. Cameron and her son +Walter recognise in this amiable young man the headstrong, fiery, +overbearing lad they had known in India. + +The little party at Oakwood had all either walked or ridden out, and +Mrs. Hamilton alone remained at home. She stood by the side of Emmeline, +who was asleep, peacefully and sweetly; a smile bright and beautiful as +of other days, played round her lips. The mother reflected on the words +of Mr. Maitland, who had assured her, the remedy he proposed would be +successful. "Make her happy, remove this weighty load which weighs upon +her heart, and she will live to be the blessing she has ever been to all +who love her." + +Tears of mingled feeling rose to the eyes of Mrs. Hamilton as she +watched her child. Emmeline's lips moved. "Arthur, dear Arthur," she +murmured, a faint flush rising to her cheek, and the smile heightened in +its brilliancy; a few minutes, and her eyes unclosed; a shade of +disappointment passed over her features, a faint sigh struggled to +escape, but it was checked, for she met her mother's fond glance, and +smiled. + +"Why are you not gone out, dearest mother, this lovely evening? why stay +with such a dull companion as I am? Percy and Edward could offer so many +more attractions, and I am sure it is not with their good-will you are +here." + +"Would my Emmeline refuse me the sweet pleasure of watching her, tending +her? believe me, dearest, without you at my side, the park and this +lovely evening would lose half their attractions." + +"Do not say so, my own mother. I am not ill, only lazy, and that you +were not wont to encourage; my eyes would close, spite of all my +efforts. But why should you have the uninteresting task of watching my +slumbers?" + +"Because, dearest, I will not abandon my office, till it is claimed as +the right of another. It will soon be, my Emmeline; but do not send me +from your side, till then." + +"The right of another, dearest mother? whose right will it ever be but +yours? who can ever be to me the tender nurse that you have been?" + +"One who will vow to love, protect, and cherish you; one who loves you, +my own Emmeline, and longs to claim you as his own, and restore, by his +affection, the health and spirits you have lost; one who has the consent +and blessing of your father and myself, and waits but for yours." + +Emmeline started from her recumbent posture. + +"Oh, send me not from you, mother, my own mother! Do not, oh, do not +compel me to marry!" she exclaimed, in a tone of agony. "The affection +of a husband restore my health! oh, no, no, it would break my heart at +once, and you would send me from you but to die. Mother, oh, let me stay +with you. Do not let my father command my obedience; in everything else +I will obey but in this." She hid her face in Mrs. Hamilton's bosom, and +wept bitterly. + +"We will command nothing that can make you miserable, my own," replied +her mother, soothingly. "But you will love him, my Emmeline, you will +love him as he loves you; his fond affection cannot fail to make you +happy. You will learn to know him--to value his noble virtues, his +honourable principles. As his wife, new pleasures, new duties will be +around you. Health will return, and I shall see my Emmeline once more as +she was--my own happy child." + +"And has it indeed gone so far that both you and my father have +consented, and I must disobey and displease my parents, or be miserable +for life?" + +"My child," said Mrs. Hamilton, so solemnly, that Emmeline involuntarily +checked her tears, "my child, you shall never marry the husband we have +chosen for you, unless you can love and be happy with him: sacredly and +irrevocably I promise this. You shall not sacrifice yourself for a +doubtful duty. If, when you have seen and known him, your wishes still +are contrary to ours, we will not demand your obedience. If you still +prefer your mother's home, never, never shall you go from me. Be +comforted, my Emmeline,--do not weep thus. Will you not trust me? If +you cannot love, you shall not marry." + +"But, my father--oh, mamma, will he too promise me this?" + +"Yes, love; doubt him not," and a smile so cheering, so happy, was round +Mrs. Hamilton's lips as she spoke, that Emmeline unconsciously felt +relieved. "We only wish our Emmeline's consent to an introduction to +this estimable young man, who has so long and so faithfully loved her, +and if still she is inexorable we must submit. Could I send you from me +without your free consent? Could I part from you except for happiness?" + +Emmeline threw her arms round her mother's neck. In vain she struggled +to ask who was the young man of whom her mother spoke. Why should she +inquire, when she felt that he never, never could be anything to her? +Bitterly, painfully she struggled to dismiss the thought hastily from +her mind, and gladly hailed the entrance of the nurse with her little +nephew as a relief. Her mother joined her in caressing and playing with +him, and ere he was dismissed the scattered parties had returned, and +there was no opportunity for farther confidential converse. + +It was a happy, merry party at Oakwood, but the presence of Lilla +Grahame was wanting to make it complete. Ellen was constantly with her, +for she would not permit the lively proceedings of home to interfere +with the call of friendship; and in this task of kindness she was +constantly joined by Edward, who would frequently leave gayer amusements +to offer Lilla his company on her walk, and his intelligent +conversation, his many amusing anecdotes, frequently drew a smile from +his young listener, and, combined with Ellen's presence and more quiet +sympathy, raised her spirits, and encouraged her in her painful task of +bearing with, if she could not soothe, her father's still irritable +temperament. Moorlands was to be sold; for Mr. Grahame had resolved on +burying himself and his child in some retired cottage, where his very +existence might be forgotten. In vain Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton combated +this resolution, and entreated him at least to settle near them; gloomy, +almost morose, he still spoke of Wales as the only place where he was +not known, where his name might not be associated with disgrace. Lilla +was just of an age to feel the parting with the kind friends of her +childhood as a most painful trial, but she determined to reconcile +herself to her father's will whatever it might be. + +Captain Cameron too was an agreeable addition to the society of Oakwood; +high-spirited, and naturally joyous, Percy liked him as a kindred +spirit; and reserved, though intelligent, Herbert found many points of +his character assimilate with his. Mrs. Cameron's station in life had +been somewhat raised since her return to England. Sir Hector Cameron, +her husband's elder brother, childless and widowed, found his morose and +somewhat miserly disposition softened, and his wish to know his +brother's family became too powerful to be resisted. He had seen Walter +in Ireland, and admired the young man ere he knew who he was; a farther +acquaintance, ere he discovered himself as his uncle, heightened these +good impressions, and Walter, to his utter astonishment, found himself +suddenly the heir to a rich baronetcy, and his mother and sisters +comfortably provided for. He rejoiced at his good fortune, but not at +the baronetcy itself; not for the many pleasures which, as Sir Hector's +heir, now stood temptingly before him, but because he might now indeed +encourage an affection, which he had once believed was as hopeless as it +was intense. + +There is but one person whom we knew in a former page whose fate we have +omitted to mention; it may be well to do so here, ere we proceed +regularly with our narrative. The high-minded, unselfish, truth-loving +Lady Gertrude Lyle had at length, to the great joy of her parents, +consented to reward long years of silent devotion, by bestowing her hand +on the Marquis of Alford. They were married, and need we say that they +were happy? Lady Gertrude's love to her husband increased with each +passing year, and he, as time passed on, missed nothing of that bright +example of goodness, of piety, and virtue, which had led him to deserve +her love. + +"Emmeline, dearest, put on your prettiest dress to-night, and confine +those flowing curls with some tasteful wreath," said Mr. Hamilton, +playfully addressing his daughter, about a week after the conversation +with her mother. The dressing-bell had sounded, and the various inmates +of Oakwood were obeying its summons as he spoke, and Caroline laughingly +asked her father how long he had taken such an interest in dress. "Does +your ladyship think I never do?" he replied, with mock gravity. + +"Do you remember when my dear father's own hand wreathed a sprig of +scarlet geranium in my hair, some ten years ago, when I was a vain and +wilful girl?" replied the young Countess, without heeding his question, +and looking up with fond affection in his face. "Ah, papa, no flower, +even when formed of gems, ever gave me so much pleasure as that." + +"Not even when placed within these glossy curls by St. Eval's hand? Are +you not jealous, Eugene?" + +"Not in the least, my dear sir," replied the Earl, laughing. "I have +heard of that flower, and the good effects it produced." + +"You have heard of it, have you? I should have fancied my Caroline had +long ere this forgotten it." + +Lady St. Eval smiled reproachfully as she quitted the room, and Mr. +Hamilton, turning to Emmeline, took her hand fondly, and said, "Why does +my Emmeline look so grave? Does she not approve of her father taking an +interest in her dress? But it is not for me I wish you to look pretty +to-night, I will confess; for another, Emmeline, one whom I expect you +will, for my sake, do all in your power to please, and--and love. Do not +start, my child, the task will not be very difficult." He kissed her +cheek with a cheerful smile, and left her, motionless and pale, every +feature expressive of passive endurance, her hands clasped tightly on +her heart. Emmeline sat before her mirror, and permitted Fanny to +arrange her beautiful hair as she would; to her it mattered not. The +words of her father alone rung in her ears. That night sealed her fate. +Fanny spoke, for she was alarmed at her young lady's manner, but +Emmeline answered as if she had heard her not, and the business of the +toilette passed in silence. Yet so well had it been performed, so fair +and lovely did that gentle girl look, as she entered the drawing-room, +that every eye was fixed on her in admiration. The graceful folds of an +Indian muslin dress enveloped her slight form, and a wreath of lilies +of the valley, twined with the smallest pink rose-buds, confined her +luxuriant hair; a scarcely perceptible blush was on her cheeks, and her +eyes, continually wandering round the room, as if in search for some +unseen object, shone with unusual brilliancy. Her father whispered, as +he found himself near her-- + +"I do not expect my friend will arrive till late, my little Emmy, but +look as pretty then as you do now, and I shall be satisfied." + +She was relieved, but intelligence met her ear, ere dinner was +concluded, that rendered it a fearful struggle to retain her composure. +Mrs. Cameron's family, Mr. Howard, and one or two others, she knew were +coming in the evening, but that Lord St. Eval expected his brother Louis +to arrive at Oakwood by eight or nine o'clock that same evening, was +indeed information startling in the extreme. Would he not be accompanied +by his preceptor? Would she not see him, from whom she had so long been +parted? see him, to whom her heart was given, and in his presence be +introduced to the husband of her parents' choice? + +Mrs. Hamilton watched her with extreme uneasiness, and when dinner was +over, whispered, as it seemed, an earnest entreaty in her husband's ear. +He shook his head in sportive refusal; she still appeared anxious, but +acquiesced. The hours passed on. Emmeline for a few minutes had retired, +for the happiness, the gaiety around her, pressed with over-powering +heaviness on her heart; she had turned from it almost unconsciously. +"Why, oh, why did I not confess to mamma that I could not wed another, +because I still loved Arthur? why was I so foolish as to fear to confess +the truth, we should not then have met? Why have I been so weak to hide +these miserable feelings even from my mother? how can I expect her +sympathy, when she knows them not?" + +So she thought, but it was now too late. The affectionate caresses, the +kind voice of her cousin Ellen roused her; controlling herself, she took +Ellen's arm, and together they entered the drawing-room. She saw no +strangers, all were familiar to her eye, and rallying her spirits, she +entered into conversation with St. Eval, who hastened up to her as she +entered. Ellen joined the dancers. + +"I wonder why we all seem so gay and happy to-night," said St. Eval. +"Look at Captain Cameron and our pretty demure cousin Ellen, Emmeline; I +never saw such devotion in my life. Take my word for it, that will be a +match one of these days, and a very pretty one. Cameron is a good +fellow, and if ever any one were smitten, he is." + +"But Ellen's admiration of his character is rather too open and freely +expressed for him to hope his affection, if he do love, is returned. No, +Eugene, Captain Cameron may be attracted, I grant you, but I do not +fancy he will be Ellen's choice." + +"Do you know any whom you think will?" + +"What a question," she said, smiling, "to tempt me to betray my cousin's +secrets, if she had any, but candidly I must admit that as yet I know +none. It is a strange fancy, but I often think Ellen will be an old +maid." + +"Why, is she so precise, so prim, so opinionated, so crabbed? For shame, +Emmeline, even to hint such a thing." + +"Nay, St. Eval, the shame is rather yours, for daring to associate such +terms with a single woman. To go through life alone, without sympathy, +without any call for natural affections, always appears at first sight +rather melancholy than otherwise; but why should dislike and prejudice +be added to them? I cannot think that a woman's remaining unmarried is +any proof of her being unamiable." + +"Indeed, I am not so unjust," said the Earl, smiling; "when old maids +conduct themselves properly, I esteem them quite as much and more than +some married women. But still Ellen shall not be an old maid; she is too +pretty and too good, and would bless any man who may be happy enough to +gain her affections and esteem. But you, Emmeline, you, surely, will not +be an old maid, though you are so warm in their defence." + +"My lot is not in my own hands--do not speak of that, Eugene," she said, +with a quivering lip; and hastily turning from his gaze, she added, "as +you seem to know everybody's concerns in the room, what are Mrs. Cameron +and Florence talking so intently about?" + +"On the old subject: my madcap brother Louis and his sage tutor. By the +bye, Emmy, I have never asked what you think of Myrvin's conduct in this +affair; did he not behave admirably?" + +"He did but his duty," replied Emmeline, firmly. "He acted but as every +man of generous feelings would have done; it was his duty, for he had +pledged himself to the care of his pupil, and could he have left him in +his sickness? The dictates of common humanity, the social duties of life +would have prevented him." + +"What a pity Florence does not hear you, such calm reasoning would +destroy all the glow of romance which she has thrown around these +incidents. But indeed you do not give Myrvin his due, every man does not +perform his duty." + +"Every man _ought_, and when he does not, he is wrong; as when he does, +he is right." + +"But this is contrary to your own principle, Emmeline. What has become +of the enthusiasm which once bade you condemn all such cold judgments, +such scanty praise? Once upon a time, you would have looked on such +conduct very differently." + +Emmeline turned away, but St. Eval saw her eyes were swimming in tears. +He continued, sportively-- + +"Be assured, I will tell Myrvin as soon as I see him." + +"I beg you will not, my lord," Emmeline said, struggling to retain her +calmness; but failing, she added, entreatingly, "dearest Eugene, if you +have any regard for me, do not repeat my words; let them pass with the +subject, it has engrossed us quite enough." + +St. Eval shook his head in playful reproof. They sat apart from the +dancers, and feeling neither her words nor any subsequent agitation +could be remarked, she placed her trembling hand in St. Eval's, and +said, almost inarticulately-- + +"Eugene, tell me, does Arthur--Mr. Myrvin accompany Lord Louis to-night? +Do not deceive me." + +"He does," he replied instantly, "and what detains them I cannot +understand. But fear nothing, dearest Emmeline, I know all; you may +trust me, fear nothing. And now your promise--the quadrille is formed, +they only wait for us." + +"I know all, fear nothing," Emmeline internally repeated, her whole +frame trembling with agitation, as kindly and encouragingly St. Eval +led her to the place assigned them. She forced herself to think only on +the dance, on the amusing anecdotes he was telling her, on the light +laugh, the ready jest that were sparkling around her. Her natural grace +in dancing forsook her not, nor did she refuse her sister's request, +when the quadrille was finished, that she would take out her harp. She +seated herself at the instrument and commenced. + +Music had not lost its charm, rapt in the exquisite air she was playing, +it seemed to soothe her agitated feelings, and bid her forget her usual +timidity. All were silent, for the air was so sweet, so plaintive, not a +voice could have disturbed it; it changed to a quicker, more animated +strain, and at that instant Emmeline beheld Edward and Ellen hastily +rise to greet a young man, who noiselessly yet eagerly came forward to +meet them: it was Lord Louis. Emmeline started, a strong effort alone +enabled her to command herself sufficiently to continue playing, but her +fingers now moved mechanically; every pulse throbbed so violently, and +to her ear so loudly, that she no longer heard the notes she played. All +was a mist before her eyes, and the animated plaudits that greeted her +as she ceased, rung in her ears as unmeaning, unintelligible sounds. +Lord Louis hastily advanced to lead her from the harp, and to tell her +how very glad he was to see her again, though even his usually careless +eye lost its mirthful expression, as he marked the alteration in his +favourite companion. Emmeline tried to smile and answer him in his own +strain, but her smile was sickly and faint, and her voice trembled +audibly as she spoke. She looked round, fearing, yet longing to see +another, but Lord Louis was alone. His preceptor was not near him, but +Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton, St. Eval and Herbert had also left the room. Some +little time passed in animated conversation, still Myrvin did not +appear. + +"You are wanted in the library, dearest Emmeline," said the young +Countess St. Eval. + +"Come with me, Emmeline: foolish girl, 'fear nothing,'" said the Earl, +joyously. + +"Smile, gentle one," he whispered, as she turned her beseeching glance +towards him, "do not greet the husband your parents have selected for +you with a countenance such as this; nay, fear nothing," he repeated, as +her steps faltered, and every limb trembled at his words. Again he +smiled as he had once before during that evening, and for the first time +a gleam of sudden light darted across the bewildered mind of the +agitated girl, but so dazzling were the rays, so overpowering the +brilliancy, from the contrast with the deep gloom which had been there +before, that she could not believe it real; she deemed it some wild +freak of fancy, that sportive fancy which had so long deserted her. St. +Eval hurried on, supporting rather than leading his companion. They +reached the library, and Emmeline's agitation increased almost to +fainting; she leaned more heavily on St. Eval's arm; though her heart +beat almost audibly, and her cheek vied in its paleness with a marble +statue near her, not a word betrayed her emotion. There were many lights +within the library, a group was gathered round the centre table, but to +Emmeline all was indistinct, not one amongst them could she recognise. +Her father hastened towards her, he took her trembling hand in his, and +led her gently forward. + +"Look up, my beloved," he said, tenderly, "we have sent for you to +ratify the consent your mother and I have given, given on condition, +that if yours be withheld, ours also is void. But will the long years of +silent love and uncomplaining suffering for your sake, plead in vain to +one so gentle as yourself? Look up, my Emmeline, and tell me, if the +fond affection, the tender cares of him whom we have chosen, will not +indeed prove the best restorative we can bestow?" + +She did look up, and the quick gushing flow of blood dyed her pallid +cheek with crimson, and lit up her soft eyes with their wonted lustre. +There was one tall, manly form beside her, gazing on her with such +devoted love, that she saw not how pale were those expressive features, +what a deep impress of long suffering was on that high and noble brow. +She heard naught but that deep rich voice pronounce her name, and call +her "his own, own Emmeline," for she had sunk in his extended arms, she +had hidden her face upon his shoulder and wept. + +"Are we forgiven, Emmeline, dearest?" said Mrs. Hamilton, fondly, after +a long pause, which many mingled feelings had occasioned. Her child +withdrew for a moment from the arms of her betrothed, and flung herself +upon her neck. "Your father bound me by a promise not to reveal his +secret, and I kept it well till this evening; for did you not deserve +some punishment, my child, for believing even for a single moment your +parents would have rewarded your unwavering discharge of a most painful +duty, your unhesitating submission to our will, by forcing you to bestow +your hand upon another, when your heart was already engaged? No, my own +Emmeline, we could not have been so cruel. Take her, my dear Arthur; +freely, fearlessly I consign her happiness to your charge, for indeed +you have well deserved her." + +We need not lift the veil from the brief interview which the +consideration of Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton afforded to the lovers, it is +enough that they were happy, happy in the consciousness not of present +joy alone, but of duty unshrinkingly performed, of pain endured with +unrepining fortitude; unalloyed in its purity indeed was their +happiness, for it was the recompense of virtue. + +When the tidings of what had passed were made known, there were few who +did not feel as if some individual joy had been imparted. The universal +sympathy occasioned by the happiness of a being so generally beloved as +Emmeline shed new animation over the little party. And Ellen, the gentle +affectionate Ellen, did not she rejoice? She did, unfeignedly, +sincerely, but there was a pang of bitterness mingled with it which she +vainly struggled to subdue. + +"Can you consent to live in the humble vicarage of my estate, Emmeline?" +whispered the young Earl in her ear, as she relinquished the arm of +Arthur, whom Edward, Percy, and Ellen were eagerly surrounding. "You +have often admired it. Will it serve you for a home, think you? if not, +name what alterations you will like, and they shall be done, even as if +Aladdin's wonderful genii had performed it." + +"Dearest Eugene," said Emmeline, "I feel it is to you, to your generous +pleadings in Arthur's favour, I greatly owe this happiness. Will you not +let me thank you for that, instead of asking more?" + +"No, little fairy, I will do no such thing, for I only spoke the truth, +and that, Emmeline, 'was but my _duty_,' and demands no thanks or praise +whatever; and as I have selected my friend Myrvin to supply the place of +my late vicar, who was promoted last week to a better living, to see +everything prepared for his comfort, and that of his wife, is also +mine." + +"Nay, spare me, dear St. Eval; I will plead guilty of not giving Arthur +his due, if you will promise me not always to torment me with duty. I +was unjust and unkind." + +"No, dearest Emmy, you were neither unjust nor unkind; you only said one +thing and meant another, and as _I_ know _why_ you did so, I forgive +you." + +Mrs. Cameron's family and the other guests having departed, and only Mr. +Hamilton's own circle lingering in the drawing-room, some surprise was +occasioned to all except Mrs. Hamilton and Percy, by Mr. Hamilton +suddenly laying his hand gently on Herbert's shoulder, and saying +earnestly, though somewhat playfully-- + +"One surprise and one cause for congratulation we might, I think, deem +sufficient for _one_ evening, but I intend being the happy messenger of +another event, which may chance to be even more surprising, and +certainly not less joyful. I beg you will all offer Mrs. Hamilton and +myself your warmest congratulations, for the same day that gives us a +new son will, I trust, bestow on us an other daughter. This quiet young +man intends taking unto himself a wife; and as it may be some little +time ere we can bring her home from France, the best thing we can do is +to anticipate two marriages in one day." + +"Herbert, my true English bred and English feeling cousin, marry a +French woman, by my good sword, you shall not," said Edward, laughing, +when the universal surprise and joy which this information had excited +had somewhat subsided. The eager question who was Herbert's choice, was +asked by Caroline and Emmeline together. + +"Fear nothing, Master Lieutenant," St. Eval said, ere Herbert could +reply; "my wits, though a landsman, are not quite so blunt as yours, and +I guess better than you do. Is it possible no one here can tell? has my +demure brother Herbert's secret never been suspected? Caroline, what has +become of your penetration; and Emmeline, your romance? Ellen, cannot +you guess?" + +"Yes," she replied, instantly, though as she spoke a sudden crimson rose +to her cheek, which, though unnoticed, had been, while Mr. Hamilton +spoke, pale as death. + +"May you, may you be happy, dearest Herbert," she added, calmly, as she +extended her hand to him; "few are so fitted to make you so, few can so +truly sympathise in your feelings as Mary Greville." + +"You are right, you are right, Ellen," said Lady Emily Lyle, as Herbert +warmly pressed his cousin's hand, and thanked her in that low thrilling +voice so peculiarly his own; and then, with a countenance radiant with +animated joy, turned towards the little group, and thanking them for the +joy with which his Mary's name was universally greeted, turned to Edward +and asked, with a smile, if Mary were not sufficiently English to +content him. + +"Quite, quite; I would even go over to France for the sake of bringing +her to England in my gallant Gem," replied the young sailor. "She is +the best wife you could have chosen, Herbert, for you were ever +alongside, even in your boyish days; and it would have been a sin and +shame for you to have married any one else. Percy, why do not you follow +such an excellent example?" + +"I--because a bachelor's life has not yet lost its charms for me, +Edward! I like my own ease, my own pleasure best, and wish to be free a +short time longer," replied the young man, stretching himself on a sofa, +with a comic air of _nonchalance_ and affectation; then starting up, he +added, theatrically, "I am going to be a senator, a senator; and how in +the world can I think of matrimony but as a state of felicity unsuited +to such a hard-working fellow as I am, or rather mean to be." + +"I commend you for the correction in your speech, Percy," said his +mother, smiling. "_Mean to be_ and _am_, are two very different things." + +"But in me may chance so to amalgamate as to become the same. Mother, +who would believe you could be so severe? But I forgive you; one of +these days you will regret your injustice: that smile says I wish I may. +Well, we shall see. And now, lords and ladies, to bed, to bed. I have +swallowed such large draughts of surprise to-night, I can bear no more. +A kind good night to all. Myrvin," he called out from the hall, "if you +are as early to-morrow as you were at Oxford, we will be off to +Trevilion and inspect your new vicarage before breakfast, and back by +night." + +"Not to-morrow, Arthur," entreated Emmeline, in a low voice, as he +followed her from the room. + +"Not to-morrow, dearest," he replied, tenderly, as he drew her to his +bosom, and bade God bless her. + +The other members of the family also separated, Ellen one of the last, +for Lady Emily at first detained her in some trifling converse, and Mrs. +Hamilton was telling her of something she wished her niece to do for her +the next morning. Ellen was standing in the shade as her aunt spoke; all +had left the room except Edward and themselves, and humming a lively +air, the former was departing, when, turning round to wish his sister +good night, the light flashed full upon her face, and there was +something in its expression, in its almost unearthly paleness, that made +him suddenly start and cease his song. + +"Merciful heaven! Ellen, what is the matter? You look like a ghost." + +"Do not be silly, Edward, there is nothing the matter. I am quite well, +only warm," she replied, struggling to smile, but her voice was so +choked, her smile so unnatural, that not only her brother but her aunt +was alarmed. + +"You are deceiving us, my dear girl, you are not well. Are you in pain, +dearest?" she said, hastening towards her. + +Ellen had borne up well when unnoticed; but the voice of kindness, the +fond caress her aunt bestowed completely overpowered her, and, sinking +on a chair, she burst into tears. + +"It is nothing, indeed it is nothing, my dear aunt," she said, with a +strong effort checking the bursting sob. "I have felt the heat very +oppressive all the evening, it is only that which makes me so foolish." + +"I hope it is only the heat, my Ellen," replied Mrs. Hamilton, fondly, +suspicion flashing across her mind, not indeed of the truth, but +something near akin to it. For a few minutes Ellen leaned her head +silently against her aunt, who continued bending over her, then +returning her affectionate kiss, shook hands with her brother, assured +him she was quite well, and quietly left the room. + +"Now, then, I know indeed my fate," Ellen murmured internally, as her +aching head rested on a sleepless pillow, and her clasped hands were +pressed against her heart to stop its suffocating throbs. "Why am I thus +overwhelmed, as if I had ever hoped, as if this were unexpected? Have I +not known it, have I not felt that she would ever be his choice? that I +was mad enough to love one, who from his boyhood loved another. Why has +it fallen on me as a shock for which I was utterly unprepared? What has +become of my many resolutions? Why should the task be more difficult now +than it has been? I feel as if life were irksome to me, as if all I +loved were turned to that bitterness of spirit against which I have +striven, as if I could dash from my poor cousin's lips the cup of +unexpected happiness she has only this evening tasted. Oh, merciful +Father! forsake me not now, let me not feel thus, only fill my heart +with love and charity, take from me this bitterness and envy. It is Thou +that dispenseth this bitter cup. Father, I recognise Thy hand, and would +indeed resign myself to Thee. Oh, enable me to do so; teach me to love +Thee alone, to do Thy work, to subdue myself, and in thankfulness +receive the many blessings still around me; let me but see _them_ happy. +Oh, my Father, let Thy choicest blessings be his lot, and for me" it was +a bitter struggle, but ere the night had passed that young spirit had +conquered, had uttered fervently, trustingly, heartfully,--"for me, oh, +my Father, let Thy will be done." And Ellen joined the breakfast-table +the following morning calm and cheerful; there was no trace of internal +suffering, no sign to betray even to her aunt all that she endured. She +entered cheerfully into all Emmeline's happiness, accompanied her and +Arthur, with Lord and Lady St. Eval, to Trevilion, and entered into +every suggested plan, as if indeed no other thoughts engrossed her. +Arthur and Emmeline found in her an active and affectionate friend, and +the respect and love with which she felt herself regarded seemed to +soothe, while it urged her on to increased exertion. Mrs. Hamilton +watched her anxiously; she had at first fancied Arthur was the object of +her niece's regard, but this idea was not strengthened, and though she +felt assured such was not the real cause of Ellen's agitation that +eventful evening, she could not, and did not guess the truth. + +The revealing a long-treasured secret, the laying bare feelings of the +heart, which have so long been concealed, even to our dearest friends, +does not always produce happiness; there is a blank within us, a +yearning after something we know not what, and the spirit loses for a +time its elasticity. It may be that the treasured secret has been so +long enshrined in our innermost souls, we have felt it so long as only +our own, that when we betray it to others, it is as if we parted from a +friend; it is no longer our own, we can no longer hold sweet communion +with it, for the voice of the world hath also reached it, and though at +first its revealing is joy, it is followed by a sorrow. So Herbert felt, +when the excitement of congratulation, of the warm sympathy of his +friends had given place to solicitude and thought. Mary had been so +long the shrine of his secret, fondest thoughts, he had so long indulged +in delicious fancies, known to few others save himself, that now they +had been intruded on even by the voice of gratulation, they would no +longer throng around. It was strange that on this night, when his choice +had been so warmly approved of by all his friends, when words of such +heartfelt kindness had been lavished in his ear, that the same dull +foreboding of future evil, of suffering, of death, pressed heavily on +him, as in earlier years it had been so wont to do. He struggled against +it; he would not listen to its voice, but it would have sway. Donned it +was not indeed, but from its mystery more saddening. Herbert wrestled +with himself in fervent prayer; that night was to him almost as +sleepless as it was to his cousin Ellen, but the cause of her weary +watching was, alas! too well defined. The bright sun, the joyous voices +of his brother and cousin beneath his window, roused Herbert from these +thoughts, and ere the day had passed, he had partly recovered the usual +tenor of his mind, though its buoyancy was still subdued, and its secret +temperament somewhat sad, but to his family he seemed as usual. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +Some weeks passed, and Emmeline's health was rapidly returning; her +spirits were more like those of her girlhood, subdued indeed by past +suffering, but only so far subdued as to render her, if possible, still +dearer to all those who loved her; and she, too, beheld with delight the +colour returning to her Arthur's cheek, his step regaining its +elasticity; and there was a manly dignity about him now which, when she +first loved, she had not seen, but which she felt rendered him still +dearer, for she could look up to him for support, she could feel +dependence on his stronger and more decisive character. + +Each week confirmed Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton in the wisdom of their +decision, by revealing more clearly Myrvin's character. He was more +devoted to the duties of his clerical profession; pride, haughtiness, +that dislike to mingle with his parishioners, had all departed, and as +they observed how warmly and delightedly their Emmeline entered into his +many plans for doing good, for increasing the happiness of the villagers +under his spiritual charge, they felt that her domestic virtues, her +gentle disposition, were far more suited to the wife of a clergyman, +than to that life of bustling gaiety which might perhaps, under other +circumstances, have been her portion. + +"Are there not responsibilities attached to a clergyman's wife?" she +once asked her mother. "I feel as if so much depended upon _me_ to +render him respected and beloved, that I sometimes fear I may fail in my +duty, and, through ignorance, not intentional, perhaps bring discredit +on his name. Dearest mother, how can I prevent this?" + +"These fears are natural to one of your character, my Emmeline, but they +will quickly pass away. You would be more likely to fail in the duties +of fashionable life, than in those which you will soon have to fulfil. +Occupation which, had you been more fashionably educated, must have been +irksome, will to you remain the pleasures they have ever been, +heightened and encouraged by the sympathy of your husband. A wife to be +truly happy and virtuous, must entirely forget _self_; a truth which the +partner of a country clergyman should ever remember, as his family is +larger, more constant in their calls upon her attention and sympathy, +and sometimes her exertions are less productive of satisfaction and +pleasure, than those of many other stations in life. Her own demeanour +should be alike gentle, unassuming, persuasive, yet dignified, so that +her actions may assist and uphold her husband's doctrines more than her +language. You have but to follow the principles of Christianity and the +dictates of your own heart, my Emmeline, and your duty will be done, +almost unconsciously to yourself." + +The only drawback to Emmeline's happiness was, that Lord and Lady St. +Eval were obliged to leave England ere her marriage could be solemnized, +the health of the latter prohibiting further delay. They did not expect +to be absent much more than a twelvemonth, and the Earl, laughingly, +told Emmeline, if she would defer her wedding till then, he would +promise to be present; to that, however, none of the parties concerned +seemed inclined to consent, and St. Eval owned he would much rather, on +his return, see her comfortably settled at the Vicarage, where +preparations were rapidly advancing. Percy, however, promised to defer +his intended tour till his favourite sister should be Myrvin's bride, +and Edward, on leaving to join his ship, declared, if wind and tide were +not very contrary, he, too, would take a run down and dance at her +wedding. + +A short time after the departure of the Earl and Countess, and Edward, +Ellen received from the hand of her cousin Herbert a letter, which for +the moment caused her some emotion. She felt his eyes were fixed upon +her with a peculiar expression, and shrinking from them, she was +hastening to her own room to answer the letter there, when Herbert +called after her-- + +"Do not run away from me, Nelly; whatever be your answer, I am to be the +bearer." + +Returning instantly, she asked, with cheek suddenly paled and lip +compressed, "Are you then aware of the contents of this letter, Herbert; +are you in Captain Cameron's confidence?" + +"To both demands I am happy enough to answer, yes, Ellen," he replied, +smiling archly. "Captain Cameron has made me his father confessor, and +in return, I have promised to use all my influence in his favour, to +tell you what his letter may perhaps have but incoherently expressed: +that he loves you, Ellen, devotedly, faithfully; that he feels life +without you, however brilliant in appearance, will be a blank. I +promised him I would play the lover well, and indeed, my dear cousin, +his affection and esteem for you do not admit a single doubt." + +"I am sorry for it," said Ellen, calmly, "very sorry, as it is not in my +power to return those feelings, and consequently I am compelled to give +him pain. I am grateful, very grateful for the high opinion, the kind +feelings, his letter expresses towards me. I shall never cease to +respect and value him as a friend, but more I cannot give." + +"Nay, Ellen, take time to consider of his offer; do not refuse him at +once thus decidedly. You say you respect him. I know you admire his +conduct, both as a son and brother, and as a man. What objections are +there so great as to call for this decided and instant refusal?" + +"Simply because, as a husband, I can never love him." + +"Never is a long day, Ellen. You surely have not so much romance in your +composition as to refuse a young man possessing every virtue which can +make a woman happy, merely because he does not excite any very violent +passion? Do you not know there are some dispositions which never love to +the full extent of the word, and yet are perhaps happier in the marriage +state than those who do? Now you may be one of these, Ellen." + +"It may be so," she said, still calmly, though a deep flush stained her +cheek. Herbert had spoken playfully, but there was that in his words +which, to a heart seared as was hers, was productive of intense +suffering. + +"It may be so perhaps; I shall never meet one to love, as I believe a +husband ought to be loved, yet that would not satisfy my conscience for +accepting Walter. I trust I am not romantic, Herbert, but I will say, +that the vow to love, honour, and obey, to think only of him, demands +something more than the mere cold esteem which some may deem sufficient +for happiness. Walter _is_ an estimable young man, one who will make any +woman happy, and deeply indeed I regret that he has chosen one who can +only return his warm devoted affection with the comparatively chilling +sentiments of friendship and esteem. I would not do his kind heart so +much wrong as to accept him." + +"But take time, Ellen, give him some hope. You can urge no objections +against him, and his family are dear to you. He has told me that from +his childhood he loved you, that your remembrance never left him, and +when again he met you, his fanciful visions became a beautiful and +palpable reality; give him, at least, some time for hope. It is +impossible, with a heart disengaged as yours, to associate intimately +with him and not love him." + +"A heart disengaged as mine! how know you that, Herbert?" said his +cousin, with a smile, which would have deceived the most penetrating +eye. "Are you not presuming too far in your inspection of my heart, +seeking in rather a roundabout way, to obtain my entire confidence?" + +"No, dearest Ellen, I speak and feel in this business but as Edward +would, were he in my place; your happiness is as dear to me as it is to +him. We have for very many years been to each other as a brother and +sister, and, believe me, in urging your acceptance of this good young +man, I seek but your welfare alone." + +"I believe you, my dear cousin," replied Ellen, frankly holding out her +hand, which Herbert warmly pressed. "But indeed, in this instance, you +are deceived. An union with Walter Cameron would not form my happiness, +worthy as he is,--suitable as the world would deem such a match in all +respects; and sorry as I am to inflict pain and disappointment on the +companion of my childhood, as also, I fear, on his kind mother, I cannot +be his wife." + +"And if your affections be already engaged, far be it from me to urge +you farther; but"-- + +"I said not that they were, Herbert," interrupted Ellen, steadily +fixing, as she spoke, her large eyes unshrinkingly on her cousin's face. +Herbert felt fairly puzzled, he could not read her heart; he would have +asked her confidence, he would have promised to do all in his power to +forward her happiness, but there was something around her that, while it +called forth his almost unconscious respect, entirely checked all +farther question. He did not fancy that she loved another, and yet why +this determined rejection of a young man whom he knew she esteemed. + +"I am only grieving you by continuing the subject," he said; "and +therefore grant me your forgiveness, dearest Ellen, and your final +answer to Cameron, and it shall be resumed no more." + +"I have nothing to forgive, Herbert," replied Ellen, somewhat +mournfully. + +She sat a few minutes longer, in saddened thought, gazing on the open +letter, and then quitted the room and sought her own. She softly closed +the door, secured it, and then sinking on a low seat beside her couch, +buried her pale face in her hands, and for a few minutes remained +overwhelmed by that intensity of secret and tearless suffering. It was +called forth afresh by this interview with her cousin: to hear his lips +plead thus eloquently the cause of another; to hear him say that perhaps +she was one of those who would never love to its full extent. When her +young heart felt bursting beneath the load of deep affection pressing +there, one sweet alone mingled in that cup of bitterness, Herbert +guessed not, suspected not the truth. She had succeeded well in +concealing the anguish called forth by unrequited love, and she would +struggle on. + +"Never, never shall it be known that I have given this rebellious heart +to one who seeks it not. No, no, that tale shall live and die with me; +no one shall know how low I have fallen. Poor Walter! he will think I +cannot feel for his unreturned affection, when I know too well its pang; +and why should I not be happy with him, why live on in lingering +wretchedness, when, perhaps as a wife, new duties might rouse me from +this lethargy? Away from Herbert I might forget--be reconciled; but +swear to love Walter when I have no love to give--return his affection +by indifference--oh, no, no, I will not be so guilty." + +Ellen again hid her eyes in her hands, and thought long and painfully. +Pride urged her to accept young Cameron, but every better feeling +revolted from it. She started from that posture of despondency, and, +with a bursting heart, answered Walter's eloquent appeal. Kindness +breathed in every line she wrote--regard for his welfare--esteem for his +character; but she calmly yet decidedly rejected his addresses. She was +grieved, she said, most deeply grieved that anything in her manner +towards him had encouraged his hopes. She had acted but as she felt, +looking on the companion of her early childhood, the son of her father's +and her own kind friend, as a brother and a friend, in which light she +hoped he would ever permit her to regard him. Hope found no +resting-place in her letter, but it breathed such true and gentle +sympathy and kindness, that Walter could not but feel soothed, even in +the midst of disappointment. Ellen paused ere she sealed her letter; she +could not bear to act, even in this matter, without confiding in her +aunt; that Captain Cameron had proposed and been rejected, she felt +assured, report would soon convey to her ears. Why not then seek her +herself? The task of writing had calmed her heart. Taking, therefore, +Walter's letter and her own, she repaired to her aunt's dressing-room, +and fortunately found her alone. Mrs. Hamilton looked earnestly at her +as she entered, but she made no observation till, in compliance with +Ellen's request, she perused the letters offered to her. + +"Have you reflected sufficiently on your decision, my Ellen?" she said, +after thanking her for the confidence she reposed in her. "Have you +thought well on the estimable character of this young man? Far be it +from me to urge or persuade you in such an important matter as marriage, +but you have not, I trust, answered this letter on the impulse of the +moment?" + +"No, aunt, I have not indeed. Herbert has been most earnestly pleading +Captain Cameron's cause, and I have thought on all he has said, and the +little I can bring forward to combat it, but still I have refused him, +because as a husband I can never love him. I honour all his good +qualities. I cannot remember one fault or failing in his character, +which might render a wife unhappy. I grieve for his disappointment, but +I should not think I was doing either him or myself justice, to accept +him merely on these considerations. Herbert, I know, considers me +romantic, and perhaps unkind towards his friend; but painful as such an +idea is, I cannot act otherwise than I have done." + +"Do not let that idea, then, continue to give you pain, my dear girl; +your manner towards Walter has never expressed more than kindness and +friendly regard. If I had seen anything like encouragement to him on +your part, do you not think I should have called you to account long +ago?" she added, with a smile, as Ellen, much relieved, kissed her in +silence. "Our young folks have, I know sometimes in sport, allied your +name with his, but I have generally checked them. Walter I certainly did +fancy admired you, but I did not imagine the feeling so decided as it +has proved. I will not blame your decision, though perhaps it may not be +a very wise one. Marriage is too serious a thing to be entered upon +lightly, and if you cannot love Walter as a husband, why you are quite +right not to accept him. I am not so eager to part with my Ellen as to +advise her marrying, whether she likes it or not. I shall soon have only +you to cheer my old age, you know. Do not look so pained and sad, love; +it is not thus young ladies in general refuse an offer. Go and give your +letter to Herbert, tell him it has my unqualified approval, and then +return to me. I marked some beautiful passages in one of our favourite +authors the other day and you shall read them to me. Now run away, and +come back quickly." + +Ellen obeyed gladly and gratefully, and was enabled playfully to return +the smile with which Herbert received her letter and his mother's +message. Mrs. Hamilton felt more and more convinced that her suspicions +were correct, and that her niece's affections were unhappily engaged. +She thought again and again who could be their object, and still she +fancied it was Arthur Myrvin. She scarcely knew why herself, except from +Ellen's agitation the night of his arrival at Oakwood, and engagement +with Emmeline. That Herbert was the object was to her so improbable, +that the idea never crossed her mind. They had lived so long as brother +and sister, they had from their earliest childhood so intimately +associated with each other, Ellen and Edward were to her so like her own +children, that not once did she imagine Ellen loved her cousin. She +watched her closely, and she was more and more convinced that she had +something to conceal. She was certain her decided rejection of Walter +proceeded from her affections being already engaged, which had also +blinded her to his attentions; and she was convinced also that Ellen +loved in vain, and therefore, though she longed to console and soothe +her, she resolved not to speak to her on the subject, and wring from her +a secret which, when once betrayed, though revealed to her alone, might +be still more painful to endure. Mrs. Hamilton's manner was so kind, so +soothing, so calculated to support and strengthen, that Ellen more than +once wondered whether her aunt had indeed discovered her secret; but she +could not speak of it. She could not even to the being she loved best on +earth, with the exception of one, thus lay bare her aching heart. Often +and often she longed to throw herself in the arms of her aunt and weep, +but she controlled the impulse, and bore on in silence and outward +cheerfulness; strengthened in her efforts by the conviction that Herbert +knew not, imagined not the truth. + +Young Cameron was grieved and disappointed, for his love for Ellen was +indeed sincere, but he could not mistake her letter; he saw there was no +hope, her expressions of friendship and kindness were soothing and +gratifying, they prevented all bitterness of feeling, and he determined +to preserve the friendship and brotherly regard which she so frankly +proffered. + +Mrs. Cameron was at first somewhat hurt at Ellen's decided rejection of +her son, but she could not long retain any emotion of coolness towards +her, she could not resist the affectionate manner of Ellen, and all was +soon as usual between them. A visit with Percy to Castle Malvern, at +Lord Louis's earnest entreaty, to Walter was an agreeable change, though +it had at first been a struggle to rouse himself sufficiently. There the +character and conversation of Lady Florence Lyle, to his excited fancy, +so much resembled Ellen's, that unconsciously he felt soothed and happy. +From Castle Malvern, he joined his regiment with Lord Louis, who had +received a commission in the same troop, and by the time Captain Cameron +returned to Oakwood, he could associate with Ellen as a friend and a +brother. Above a year, it is true, elapsed before that time, and in that +period events had occurred at Oakwood, as unexpected as they were +mournful--but we will not anticipate. + +Soon after Lord and Lady St. Eval's departure for Italy, Mr. Grahame, +despite the entreaties of his friends, even the silent eloquence of +Lilla's appealing eyes, put his resolution into force, and retired to +Wales. He had paid to the last farthing all his misguided son's +honourable and dishonourable debts; and this proceeding, as might be +expected, left him so reduced in fortune as to demand the greatest +economy to live with any comfort. To such an evil Grahame seemed +insensible; his only wish was to escape from the eye and tongue of the +world. A mistaken view with regard to his child also urged him on. Why +should he expose her to the attentions of the young noblemen so +constantly visiting at Mr. Hamilton's house, when, he felt assured, +however eagerly his alliance would once have been courted, now not one +would unite himself to the sister of a publicly disgraced and privately +dishonoured man? No, it was better for her to be far away; and though +her mild submission to his wishes, notwithstanding the pain he knew it +was to part from her friends at Oakwood, rendered her dearer to him than +ever, still he wavered not in his resolution. The entreaties of Arthur +Myrvin, Emmeline, and Ellen did, however, succeed in persuading him to +fix his place of retirement at Llangwillan, so that all connection would +not be so completely broken between them, as were he to seek some more +distant part of the country. Llangwillan, Arthur urged, was scarcely +known to the world at large, but it was to them, and they might hope +sometimes, to see them; for he, Emmeline, and Ellen would often visit +his father. Grahame consented, to the great joy of his child, who felt +more than himself the force of Myrvin's arguments. + +"Mr. Myrvin is such a dear, good, old man, you cannot fail to love him, +Lilla," Ellen said, soothingly, as the day of parting neared. "You must +ask him to show you the little cottage where the first eight weeks of my +residence in England were passed, and make friends with the old widow +and her daughter for my sake; you will find them willing enough to talk +about us and my poor mother, if you once speak on the subject. And my +mother's grave, dear Lilla, you will visit that sometimes, will you not? +and not permit a weed to mingle with the flowers Arthur planted around +it after we left, to distinguish it, he said, from every other grave. It +shall be your charge, dearest Lilla, and Edward and I will thank you for +it; he never goes to Llangwillan without passing an hour of each day by +that little humble mound." + +"Edward, does he ever come to Llangwillan?" Lilla suddenly asked, her +tears checked, and every feature expressive of such animated hope, that +Ellen looked at her for a moment in astonishment, and then smilingly +answered in the affirmative. Lilla clasped her hands in sudden joy, and +then, as if ashamed, hid her face, burning with blushes, on Ellen's +hand. Her companion stooped down to kiss her brow, and continued talking +of her brother for some time longer. + +From that day Ellen observed Lilla regained her usual animation, her eye +sparkled, and her cheek often flushed, as if from some secret thought; +her spirits only fell at the hour of parting, and Ellen felt assured +they would quickly rise again, and the first packet she received from +Llangwillan confirmed the supposition. Mrs. Hamilton was surprised, but +Ellen was not. + +Preparations were now actively making for Herbert's visit to France, +thence to bring home his betrothed. His father and Percy had both +resolved on accompanying him, and Mrs. Hamilton and Emmeline and Arthur +anxiously anticipated the return of their long-absent friends. + +A longer time than usual had elapsed between Mary's letters, and +Herbert's anxiety was becoming more and more intense. Two or three of +his letters had remained unanswered; there were no tidings of either +herself or her mother. St. Eval had determined on not visiting Paris +till his return from Switzerland, as his solicitude to arrive at his +journey's end, and commence the prescribed remedies for Caroline would, +he was quite sure, destroy all his pleasure. In vain his wife laughed at +his hurry and his fears; much as he wished to see Mary, he was +determined, and Caroline no farther opposed him. Through them, then, +Herbert could receive no tidings; he had not heard since that event, +which he believed would have been as much joy to Mary as to +himself--his ordination. He struggled with his own anxiety that the +intervening obstacles to his journey should not deprive him of serenity +and trust, but the inward fever was ravaging within. Only one short +week, and then he departed; ere, however, that time came, he received a +letter, and with a sickening feeling of indefinable dread recognised the +handwriting of his Mary. He left the breakfast-parlour to peruse it +alone, and it was long before he returned to his family. They felt +anxious, they knew not why; even Arthur and Emmeline were silent, and +the ever-restless Percy remained leaning over a newspaper, as if +determined not to move till his brother returned. A similar feeling +appeared to detain his father, who did not seek the library as usual. +Ellen appeared earnestly engaged in some communications from Lady +Florence Lyle, and Mrs. Hamilton was perusing a letter from Caroline, +which the same post had brought. + +With a sudden spring Percy started from his seat, exclaiming, in a tone +that betrayed unconsciously much internal anxiety-- + +"What in the world is Herbert about? He cannot have gone out without +bringing us some intelligence. Robert, has Mr. Herbert gone out?" he +called loudly to the servant, who was passing the open window. + +"No, sir," was the reply; "he is still in his room." + +"Then there will I seek him," he added, impetuously; but he was +prevented by the entrance of Herbert himself, and Percy started from him +in astonishment and alarm. + +There was not a particle of colour on his cheek or lips; his eyes +burned as with fever, and his lips quivered as in some unutterable +anguish. + +"Read," he said, in a voice so hoarse and unnatural, it startled even +more than his appearance, and he placed the letter in his father's hand. +"Father, read, and tell them all--I cannot. It is over!" he continued, +sinking on a stool at his mother's feet, and laying his aching head on +her lap. "My beautiful dream is over, and what is the waking? +wretchedness, unutterable wretchedness! My God, my God, Thy hand is +heavy upon me, yet I would submit." He clasped his mother's hands +convulsively in his, he drooped his head upon them, and his slight frame +shook beneath the agony, which for hours he had been struggling to +subdue. Mrs. Hamilton clasped him to her bosom; she endeavoured to speak +words of hope and comfort. + +Silence deep and solemn fell over that little party; it was so fearful +to see Herbert thus--the gentle, the self-controlled, the exalted +Herbert thus bowed down even to the earth; he, whose mind ever seemed +raised above this world; he, who to his family was ever a being of a +brighter, holier sphere. If he bent thus beneath the pressure of earthly +sorrow, what must that sorrow be? His family knew the depth of feeling +existing in his breast, which the world around them never could suspect, +and they looked on him and trembled. Myrvin raised him from the arms of +his mother, and bore him to the nearest couch, and Mrs. Hamilton wiped +from his damp brow the starting dew. Tears of alarm and sympathy were +streaming from the eyes of Emmeline, and Myrvin resigned his post to +Percy, to comfort her. But Ellen wept not; pale as Herbert, her features +expressed suffering almost as keen as his, and yet she dared not do as +her heart desired, fly to his side and speak the words that love +dictated. What was her voice to him? _she_ had no power to soothe. + +Deep and varied emotions passed rapidly over Mr. Hamilton's countenance +as he read the letter which had caused this misery. Percy could trace +upon his features pity, sorrow, scorn, indignation, almost loathing, +follow one another rapidly and powerfully, and even more violently did +those emotions agitate him when the truth was known. + +"It was an old tale, and often told, but that took not from its +bitterness," Mary wrote, from a bed of suffering such as she had never +before endured; for weeks she had been insensible to thought or action, +but she had resolved no one but herself should inform her Herbert of all +that had transpired, no hand but her own should trace her despairing +words. They had lived, as we know, calmly at Paris, so peaceably, that +Mrs. Greville had indulged in brighter hopes for the future than had +ever before engrossed her. Mr. Greville spent much of his time from +home, accompanying, however, his wife and daughter to their evening +amusements, and always remained present when they received company in +return. They lived in a style of more lavish expenditure than Mrs. +Greville at all approved of. Her husband, however, only laughed +good-humouredly whenever she ventured to remonstrate, and told her not +to trouble herself or Mary about such things; they had enough, and he +would take care that sufficiency should not fail. A dim foreboding +crossed Mrs. Greville's mind at these words; but her husband's manner, +though careless, preventing all further expostulation, she was +compelled to suppress, if she could not conquer, her anxiety. At +length, the storm that Mary had long felt was brooding in this unnatural +calm, burst over her, and opened Mrs. Greville's eyes at once. + +Among their most constant but least welcome visitors was a Monsieur +Dupont, a man of polished manners certainly, the superficial polish of +the Frenchman, but of no other attraction, and even in that there was +something about him to Mary particularly repulsive. He had seen some +threescore years; his countenance, in general inexpressive, at times +betrayed that strong and evil passions were working at his heart. He was +said to be very rich, though some reports had gone about that his +fortune had all been amassed by gambling in no very honourable manner. +With this man Mr. Greville was continually associated; they were seldom +seen apart, and being thus the favourite of the master, he was +constantly at the house. To Mrs. Greville as to Mary he was an object of +indefinable yet strong aversion, and willingly would they have always +denied themselves, and thus escaped his odious presence. Once they had +done so, but the storm of fury that burst from Mr. Greville intimidated +both; they felt some little concession on their parts was demanded to +preserve peace, and Monsieur Dupont continued his visits. + +To this man, publicly known as unprincipled, selfish, incapable of one +exalted or generous feeling, Greville had sworn to give his gentle and +unoffending child; this man he sternly commanded Mary to receive as her +husband, and prepare herself for her marriage within a month. + +As if a thunderbolt had fallen, Mary and her mother listened to these +terrible words, and scarcely had the latter sufficient courage to +inform her unpitying husband of their child's engagement with Herbert +Hamilton. For Mary's sake, she struggled and spoke, but her fears were +not without foundation. A horrid imprecation on Mr. Hamilton and his +family burst instantly from the lips of the now infuriated Greville; he +had chosen for many years to fancy himself deeply injured by that +gentleman, and, with an oath too fearful to be written, he solemnly +swore that Mary should never be the wife of Herbert; he would rather see +her dead. Louder and louder grew his passion, but Mrs. Greville heard +him not. Mary had dropped as if lifeless at his feet. She had sprung up +as if to arrest the imprecation on her father's lips, but when his +dreadful oath reached her ears, her senses happily forsook her, and it +was long, very long before she woke to consciousness and thought. Mrs. +Greville hung in agony over the couch of her unhappy child; scarcely +could she pray or wish for her recovery, for she knew there was no hope. +Her husband had let fall hints of being so deeply pledged to Dupont, +that his liberty or perhaps his life depended on his union with Mary, +and could she wish her child to live to be the wife of such a man, yet +could she see her die? What pen can describe the anguish of that fond +mother, as for weeks she watched and tended her senseless child, or the +contending feelings that wrung her heart when Mary woke again to +consciousness and misery, and asked her, in a voice almost inarticulate +from weakness, what had happened--why she was thus? Truth gradually +broke upon her mind, and Mary too soon remembered all. The physician +said she was recovering, that she would quickly be enabled to leave her +bed and go about as usual. Greville swore he would no longer be +prevented seeing her, and Mary made no opposition to his entrance. +Calmly and passively she heard all he had to say; what he told her then +she did not repeat in writing to Herbert. She merely said that she had +implored him to wait till her health was a little more restored; not to +force her to become the wife of Dupont, till she could stand _without +support_ beside the altar, and he had consented. + +"Be comforted, then, my beloved Herbert," she wrote, as she concluded +this brief tale of suffering. "They buoy me up with hopes that in a very +few months I shall be as well as ever I was. I smile, for I know the +blight has fallen, and I shall never stand beside an earthly altar; all +I pray is, that death may not linger till my father's patience be +exhausted, and he vent on my poor mother all the reproaches which my +lingering illness will, I know, call forth. Oh, my beloved Herbert, +there are moments when I think the bitterness of death is passed, when I +am so calm, so happy, I feel as if I had already reached the confines of +my blissful, my eternal home; but this is not always granted me. There +are times when I can think only on the happiness I had once hoped to +share with you when heaven itself seemed dimmed by the blessedness I had +anticipated on earth. Herbert, I shall never be another's wife, and it +will not be misery to think of me in heaven. Oh, no, we shall meet there +soon, very soon, never, never more to part. Why does my pen linger? +Alas! it cannot trace the word farewell. Yet why does it so weakly +shrink? 'tis but for a brief space, and we shall meet where that word is +never heard, where sorrow and sighing shall be no more. Farewell, then, +my beloved Herbert, beloved faithfully, unchangeably in death as you +have been in life. I know my last prayer to you is granted ere even it +is spoken: you will protect and think of my poor mother; you will not +permit her to droop and die of a broken heart, with no kind voice to +soothe and cheer. I feel she will in time be happy; and oh, the +unutterable comfort of that confiding trust. Once more, and for the last +time, farewell, my beloved; think only that your Mary is in heaven, that +her spirit, redeemed and blessed, waits for thee near the Saviour's +throne, and be comforted. We shall meet again." + +No sound broke the stillness when that sad letter had been perused. Mr. +Hamilton had bowed his head upon his hands, for he could not speak of +comfort; the long years of domestic bliss which had been his portion, +made him feel bitterly the trial which the heart of his son was doomed +to endure. And how was he to aid? Could he seek Greville, and condescend +to use persuasions, arguments to force from him his consent? With +clenched hand and knitted brow Percy stood, his thoughts forcibly drawn +from the sufferers by the bitter indignation he felt towards the +heartless, cruel man who had occasioned all. Mrs. Hamilton could think +only of her son, of Mary, whom she had so long loved as her own child, +and the longing to behold her once again, to speak the words of soothing +and of love, with which her heart felt bursting. Emmeline could only +weep, that such should be the fate of one whom from her childhood she +had loved, and whom she had lately anticipated with so much delight +receiving as a sister. For some minutes Ellen sat in deep and painful +thought, then starting up, she flew to the side of her uncle, and +clasping his hand, entreated-- + +"Go to Paris, my dear uncle; go yourself, and see this relentless man; +speak with him, know why he has commanded Mary to receive this Dupont as +her husband; perhaps you may render Herbert's claims as valuable in his +eyes. He has no cause of strife with you; he will hear you, I know he +will; his fury was called forth because he thought Herbert stood in the +way of his wishes. Prove to him the happiness, the life of his child, of +yours, depend on their union. He cannot, he will not refuse to hear you. +Oh, do not hesitate, go to him, my dear uncle; all may not be so +desperate as at this distance we may fancy." + +"My father may as well plead to the hard flint as to Alfred Greville's +feelings," muttered Percy. "Ellen, you know not what you ask; would you +have my father debase himself to a wretch like that?" + +"'Tis Mr. Greville who will be debased, and not my uncle, Percy. The +world might think him humbled to plead to such a man, but they would +think falsely; he is raised above the cringing crowd, who from false +pride would condemn the child of virtue to misery and death, because +they would not bear with the vices of the parent. Were Mary, were Mrs. +Greville in any point otherwise than they are, I would not thus plead, +for there would be no necessity. She could not be so dear to Herbert. I +do not ask my uncle to humble himself; I ask him but to reason with Mr. +Greville, to convince him of his error." + +"What says my Herbert?" demanded Mr. Hamilton, gazing with astonishment +on his niece's animated features, and almost wondering at her unwonted +eloquence. + +"That she has spoken well, and may God in Heaven bless her for the +thought!" exclaimed Herbert, who had roused himself to listen to her +earnest words, and now, with sudden energy, sprung up. "Father, let us +go. Ellen has spoken justly; he will listen to you, he will not hear my +entreaties unmoved. I have never offended him; he is, indeed, a harsh +and cruel man, one whom I would gladly shun, but the father of Mary. Oh, +let us seek him, for her sake we will plead; he will wake from his +dream, he will know he has been in error. Oh, my father, let us go. She +may yet be saved to live and bless me." + +He sunk back on the sofa, and burst into tears. Hope had suddenly sprung +up from the dark void which had been in his heart. Mrs. Hamilton could +not check that suddenly-excited hope, but she did not share it, for she +felt it came but to deceive. She whispered gentle and consoling words, +she spoke of comfort that she could not feel. But once his energies +aroused, they did not fail him. To go instantly to Paris, to seek Mr. +Greville, and plead his own cause, aided by his father's influence, +acknowledge he had been wrong in not asking his consent before, such +thoughts now alone occupied his mind, and Mr. Hamilton could not check +them, though, even as his wife, he shared not his son's sanguine +expectations. That he had once possessed more influence than any one +else over Mr. Greville he well knew; but he thought with Percy, the +dislike felt towards him originated from this, and that it was more than +probable he would remain firm in his refusal to triumph over both +himself and his son; yet he could not hesitate to comply with Herbert's +wishes. Ellen's suggestion had roused him to exertion, and he should not +be permitted to sink back into despondency, at least they should meet. + +It would be difficult to define Ellen's feelings as she beheld her +work, and marked the effect of her words upon her cousin. Not a particle +of selfishness mingled in her feelings, but that deep pang was yet +unconquered. Herbert's manner to her was even kinder, more affectionate +than usual, during the few days that intervened ere they parted, as if +he felt that she had drawn aside the dark veil of impenetrable gloom, +and summoned hope to rise again; and could she see or feel this unmoved? +Still was she calm and tranquil, and she would speak of Mary and of +brighter hopes, and no emotion was betrayed in her pale cheek or in that +tearless eye. + +Percy accompanied his father and brother. They travelled rapidly, and a +favourable voyage enabled them to reach Paris in a shorter time than +usual. Mr. Hamilton had insisted on seeking Mr. Greville's mansion at +first alone, and Percy controlled his own feelings. To calm the strong +emotion, the deep anxiety, that now he was indeed in the same city as +his Mary, almost overpowered Herbert; the struggle for composure, for +resignation to whatever might be the will of his God, was too powerful +for his exhausted strength. Sleep had only visited him by snatches, +short and troubled, since he had received Mary's letter; the long +interval which elapsed ere Mr. Hamilton returned was productive of even +keener suffering than he had yet endured. Hope had sunk powerless before +anxiety; the strength of mind which had borne him up so long was giving +way beneath the exhaustion of bodily powers, which Percy saw with alarm +and sorrow; his eyes had lost their lustre, and were becoming dim and +haggard; more than once he observed a slight shudder pass through his +frame, and felt his words of cheering and of comfort fell unheeded on +his brother's ear. At length Mr. Hamilton returned. + +"She lives, my son," were the first words he uttered, but his tone was +not joyful; "our beloved and gentle Mary yet lives, and soon, very soon +you shall meet, not to part on earth again." + +Herbert gazed wildly in his face, he clasped his hands convulsively, and +then he bowed his head in a deep and fervent burst of thanksgiving. + +"And Greville," said Percy, impatiently, "has he so soon consented? +father, you have not descended to entreaties, and to such a man?" + +"Percy, peace," said his father, gravely. "With Mr. Greville I have +enchanged no words. Thank God, I sought not his house with any hostile +intention, with any irritation urging me against him. Percy, he is dead, +and let his faults die with him." + +"Dead!" repeated the young man, shocked and astonished, and Herbert +started up. His lip quivered with the vain effort to ask an explanation. + +It was even so, that very morning Greville had breathed his last, with +all his sins upon his head, for no time had been allowed him either for +repentance or atonement. A few days after Mary had written to Herbert, +her father had been brought home senseless, and dreadfully injured, by a +fall from his horse. His constitution, shattered by intemperance and +continued dissipation, was not proof against the fever that ensued; +delirium never left him. For five days Mrs. Greville and Mary watched +over his couch. His ravings were dreadful; he would speak of Dupont, at +one time, with imprecations; at others, as if imploring him to forbear. +He would entreat his child to forgive him; and then, with fearful +convulsions, appear struggling with the effort to drag her to the altar. +Mary heard, and her slight frame shook and withered each day faster than +the last, but she moved not from her father's side. In vain Mrs. +Greville watched for some returning consciousness, for some sign to say +he died in peace. Alas! there was none. He expired in convulsions; and +scarcely had his wife and child recovered the awful scene, when the +entrance of the hated Dupont roused them to exertion. He came to claim +Mary as his promised wife, or send them forth as beggars. The house and +all that it contained, even to their jewels, were his; for Greville had +died, owing him debts to an amount which even the sale of all they +possessed could not entirely repay. He had it in his power to arrest the +burial of the scarcely cold corpse, to stain the name of the dead with +undying infamy; and he vowed that he would use his power to its utmost +extent, if Mary's consent were not instantly given. Four-and-twenty +hours he gave her to decide, and departed, leaving inexpressible +wretchedness behind him, on the part of Mrs. Greville, and the calm +stupor of exhaustion and despair pervading Mary's every faculty. + +"My child, my child, it shall not be; you shall not be that heartless +villain's wife. I have health; I can work, teach, do anything to support +us, and why, oh, why should you be thus sacrificed? Mary, Mary, you will +live, my child, to bless your desolate and wretched mother. Oh, my God, +my God, why hast thou thus forsaken me? I have trusted in thee, and wilt +thou thus fail me? To whom can I appeal--what friend have I near me?" + +"Mother, do not speak thus," exclaimed Mary, roused from the lethargy +of exhaustion by her mother's despairing words, and she flung herself on +her knees beside her, and threw her arms around her. "Mother, my own +mother, the God of the widow and the fatherless is still our friend; He +hath not forsaken us, though for a time His countenance is darkened +towards us. Oh, he will have mercy; He will raise us up a friend--I +feel, I know He will. He will relieve us. Let us but trust in Him, +mother; let us not fail now. Oh, let us pray to Him, and He will +answer." + +The eyes of the good and gentle girl were lit up with sudden radiance. +Her pallid cheek was faintly flushed; her whole countenance and tone +expressed the enthusiasm, the holiness which had characterised her whole +life. Mrs. Greville clasped her faded form convulsively to her aching +bosom, and, drooping her head, wept long and freely. + +"Father, I have sinned," she murmured; "oh, have mercy." + +An hour passed, and neither Mary nor her mother moved from that posture +of affliction, yet of prayer. They heard not the sound of many voices +below, nor a rapid footstep on the stairs. The opening of the door +aroused them, but Mary looked not up; she clung closer to her mother, +for she feared to gaze again on Dupont. A wild exclamation of joy, of +thanksgiving, bursting from Mrs. Greville's lips startled her; for a +moment she trembled, yet she could not be mistaken, that tone was joy. +Slowly she looked on the intruder. Wildly she sprung up--she clasped her +hands together. + +"My God, I thank thee, we are saved!" broke from her parched lips, and +she sunk senseless at Mr. Hamilton's feet. + +Emissaries of wickedness were not wanting to convey the intelligence +very quickly to Dupont's ear, that Mrs. and Miss Greville had departed +from the Rue Royale, under the protection of an English gentleman, who +had stationed two of his servants at their house to protect Mr. +Greville's body from insult, and give him information of all that took +place during his absence. Furiously enraged, Dupont hastened to know the +truth of these reports, and a scene of fierce altercation took place +between him and Mr. Hamilton. The calm, steady firmness of his +unexpected opponent daunted Dupont as much as his cool sarcastic +bitterness galled him to the quick. The character of the man was known; +he was convinced he dared not bring down shame on the memory of +Greville, without inculpating himself, without irretrievably injuring +his own character, and however he might use that threat as his weapon to +compel Mary's submission, Mr. Hamilton was perfectly easy on that head. +Dupont's cowardly nature very soon evinced itself. A few words from Mr. +Hamilton convinced him that his true character had been penetrated, and +dreading exposure, he changed his ground and his tone, acknowledged he +had been too violent, but that his admiration for Miss Greville had been +the sole cause; expressed deep sorrow for Mr. Greville's melancholy end, +disavowed all intention of preventing the interment of the body, and +finally consented to liquidate all debts, save those which the sale of +the house and furniture might suffice to discharge. + +Scarcely could Mr. Hamilton command his indignation during this +interview, or listen to Dupont's professions, excuses, defences, and +concessions, without losing temper. He would not consent to be under any +obligation: if M. Dupont could _prove_ that more was owing than that +which he had consented to receive, it should be paid directly, but he +should institute inquiries as to the legality of his claims, and +carefully examine all the papers of the deceased. + +"It was not at all necessary," Dupont replied. "The sum he demanded was +due for debts of honour, which he had a slip of paper in Greville's own +handwriting to prove." + +Mr. Hamilton made no further reply, and they parted with nothing decided +on either side, Dupont only repeating his extreme distress at having +caused Miss Greville so much unnecessary pain; that had he known she was +engaged to another, he would never have persisted in his suit, and +deeply regretted he had been so deceived. + +Mr. Hamilton heard him with an unchanging countenance, and gravely and +formally bowed him out of the house. He then placed his seal on the lock +of a small cabinet, which Mrs. Greville's one faithful English servant +informed him contained all his master's private papers, dismissed the +French domestics, and charging the Englishmen to be careful in their +watch that no strangers should be admitted, he hastened to impart to his +anxiously-expecting sons all the important business he had transacted. + +Early the following morning Mr. Hamilton received intelligence which +very much annoyed and startled him. Notwithstanding the vigilant watch +of the three Englishmen stationed at Mr. Greville's house, the cabinet, +which contained all his private papers, was gone. The men declared +again and again, no one could have entered the house without their +knowledge, or removed such a thing as that without some noise. Mr. +Hamilton went instantly with them to the house; how it had been taken he +could not discover, but it was so small that Mr. Hamilton felt it could +easily have been removed; and he had no doubt that Dupont had bribed one +of the dismissed servants, who was well acquainted with every secret of +the house, to purloin it for him, and Dupont he instantly determined on +charging with the atrocious theft. Dupont, however, had decamped, he was +nowhere to be found; but he had desired an agent to receive from Mr. +Hamilton's hands the payment of the debts he still claimed, and from +this man it was endeavoured by many questions to discover some traces of +his employer, but all in vain. M. Dupont had left Paris, he said, the +previous evening. + +Mr. Hamilton was not satisfied, and, consequently, seeking an able +solicitor, put the affair into his hands, and desired that he would use +every means in his power to obtain the restoration of the papers. That +Dupont had it in his power farther to injure the widow and child of the +deceased he did not believe; he rather thought that his extreme desire +to obtain them proceeded from a consciousness that they betrayed some of +his own evil deeds, yet he could not feel easy till they were either +regained, or he knew that they were destroyed. Mrs. Greville earnestly +wished their recovery, for she feared they might, through the similarity +of names, bring some evil on her son, towards whom her fond heart yet +painfully yearned, though years had passed since she had seen, and many +weary months since she had heard of him. Her fears on this head +rendered both Mr. Hamilton and Percy still more active in their +proceedings, and both determined on remaining at Paris even after +Herbert and Mrs. Greville, with Mary, had left for England. + +And what did Herbert feel as he looked on the fearful change in her he +loved? Not yet did he think that she must die; that beaming eye, that +radiant cheek, that soft, sweet smile--oh, could such things tell of +death to him who loved? He held her to his heart, and only knew that he +was blessed. + +And Mary, she was happy; the past seemed as a dim and troubled vision; +the smile of him she loved was ever near her, his low sweet voice was +sounding in her ear. A calm had stolen over her, a holy soothing calm. +She did not speak her thoughts to Herbert, for she saw that he still +hoped on; they were together, and the present was enough. But silently +she prayed that his mind might be so prepared, so chastened, that when +his eyes were opened, the truth might not be so terrible to bear. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +It was indeed a day of happiness that beheld the arrival of Mrs. +Greville and Mary at Oakwood, unalloyed to them, but not so, alas! to +those who received them. Mrs. Hamilton pressed the faded form of Mary to +her heart, she kissed her repeatedly, but it was long before she could +speak the words of greeting; she looked on her and on her son, and tears +rose so thick and fast, she was compelled to turn away to hide them. +Ellen alone retained her calmness. In the fond embrace that had passed +between her and Mary, it is true her lip had quivered and her cheek had +paled, but her agitation passed unnoticed. + +"It was _her_ voice, my Mary, that roused me to exertion, it was her +representations that bade me not despair," whispered Herbert, as he hung +over Mary's couch that evening, and perceived Ellen busily employed in +arranging her pillows. "When, overwhelmed by the deep misery occasioned +by your letter, I had no power to act, it was her ready thought that +dictated to my father the course he so successfully pursued." Mary +pressed the hand of Ellen within both her own, and looked up gratefully +in her face. A faint smile played round the orphan's lips, but she made +no observation in reply. + +A very few weeks elapsed before the dreaded truth forced itself upon the +minds of all, even on her mother, that Mary was sinking, surely sinking, +there was no longer hope. Devotedly as her friends loved her, they could +not sorrow, before her they could not weep. She was spared all bodily +suffering save that proceeding from debility, so extreme she could not +walk across the room without assistance. No pain distorted the +expression of her features, which, in this hour of approaching death, +looked more lovely than they had ever seemed before; her soft blue eye +beamed at times with a celestial light, and her fair hair shaded a brow +and cheek so transparent, every blue vein could be clearly seen. One +thought alone gave her pain, her Herbert she felt was still unprepared. + +He was speaking one day of the future, anticipating the time when the +Rectory would receive her as its gentle mistress, and of the many things +which occupied his thoughts for the furtherance of her comfort, when +Mary laid her hand gently on his arm, and, with a smile of peculiar +sweetness, said-- + +"Do not think any more of such things, my beloved; the mansion which +will behold our blessed union is already furnished and prepared; I may +seek it first, but it will be but to render it even yet more desirable +to you." + +Herbert looked on her face to read the meaning of her words; he read +them, alas! too plainly, but voice utterly failed. + +"Look not on me thus," she continued, in that same pleading and soothing +tone. "Our mansion is prepared for us above; below, my Herbert, oh, +think not it will ever receive me. Why should I hesitate to speak the +truth? The blessed Saviour, to whose arms I so soon shall go, will give +you strength to bear this; He hath promised that He will, my own +Herbert, my first, my only love. My Saviour calls me, and to Him, oh, +can you not without tears resign me?" + +"Mary," murmured the unhappy Herbert, "Mary, oh, do not, do not torture +me. You will not die; you will not leave me desolate." + +"I shall not die, but live, my beloved--live, oh, in such blessedness! +'tis but a brief, brief parting, Herbert, to meet and love eternally." + +"You are ill, you are weak, my own Mary, and thus death is ever present +to your mind; but you will recover, oh, I know, I feel you will. My God +will hear my prayers." + +"And He will grant them, Herbert--oh, doubt Him not, grant them, even in +my removal. He takes me not from you, my Herbert, He but places me, +where to seek me, you must look to and love but Him alone; and will you +shrink from this? Will that spirit, vowed to His service from your +earliest boyhood, now murmur at His will? Oh, no, no; my Herbert will +yet support and strengthen his Mary, I know, I feel he will. Forgive me +if I have pained you, my best love; but I could bear no other lips than +mine to tell you, that on earth I may not live--but a brief space more, +and I shall be called away. You must not mourn for me, my Herbert; I die +so happy, oh, so very happy!" + +Herbert had sunk on his knees beside her couch; he drooped his head upon +his hands, and a strong convulsion shook his frame. He uttered no sound, +he spoke no word, but Mary could read the overwhelming anguish that +bowed his spirit to the earth. The words were spoken; he knew that she +must die, and Mary raised her mild eyes to heaven, and clasped her hands +in earnest prayer for him. "Forsake him not now, oh God; support him +now; oh, give him strength to meet Thy will," was the import of her +prayer. Long was that deep, deep stillness, but when Herbert looked up +again he was calm. + +"May God in heaven bless you, my beloved," he said, and imprinted a long +fervent kiss upon her forehead. "You have taught me my Saviour's will, +and I will meet it. May He forgive--" His words failed him; again he +held her to his heart, and then he sat by her side and read from the +Book of Life, of peace, of comfort, those passages which might calm this +anguish and strengthen her; he read till sleep closed the eyes of his +beloved. Yes, she was the idol of his young affections; he felt her +words were true, and when she was gone there would be naught to bind his +spirit to this world. + +It would be needless to lift the veil from Herbert's moments of +solitary prayer. Those who have followed him through his boyhood and +traced his character need no description of his feelings. We know the +intensity of his earthly affections, the strength and force of his every +emotion, the depth and holiness of his spiritual sentiments, and vain +then would be the attempt to portray his private moments in this dread +trial: yet before his family he was calm, before his Mary cheerful. She +felt her prayers were heard, he was, he would be yet more supported, and +her last pang was soothed. + +Mr. Hamilton had returned from France, unsuccessful, however, in his +wish to obtain the restitution of Greville's papers. Dupont had +concealed his measures so artfully, and with such efficacy, that no +traces were discovered regarding him, and Mr. Hamilton felt it was no +use to remain himself, confident in the integrity and abilities of the +solicitor to whom he had intrusted the whole affair; he was +unaccompanied, however, by Percy, who, as his sister's wedding was, from +Mary's illness, postponed, determined on paying Lord and Lady St. Eval a +visit at Geneva. + +As Emmeline's engagement with Arthur very frequently engrossed her time, +Ellen had devoted herself assiduously as Mary's constant nurse, and well +and tenderly she performed her office. There was no selfishness in her +feelings, deeply, unfeignedly she sorrowed, and willingly, gladly would +she have laid down her life to preserve Mary's, that this fearful trial +might be removed from Herbert. To spare him one pang, oh, what would she +not have endured. Controlled and calm, who could have guessed the chaos +of contending feeling that was passing within; who, that had seen the +gentle smile with which she would receive Herbert's impassioned thanks +for her care of his Mary, could have suspected the thrill, the pang +those simple words occasioned. Mary alone of those around her, except +Mrs. Hamilton, was not deceived. She loved Ellen, had long done so, and +the affectionate attention she so constantly received from her had drawn +the bonds of friendship closer. She felt convinced she was not happy, +that there was something heavy on her mind, and the quick intellect of a +vivid fancy and loving nature guessed the truth. Her wish to see her +happy became so powerful, that she could not control it. She fancied +that Ellen might be herself deceived, and that the object of her +affections once known, all difficulties would be smoothed. The idea that +her last act might be to secure the happiness of Ellen, was so soothing +to her grateful and affectionate feelings, that, after dwelling on it +some time, she took the first opportunity of being alone with her friend +to seek her confidence. + +"No, dearest, do not read to me," she said, one evening, in answer to +Ellen's question. "I would rather talk with you; do not look anxious, I +will not fatigue myself. Come, and sit by me, dear Ellen, it is of you +that I would speak." + +"Of me?" repeated Ellen, surprised. "Nay, dearest Mary, can you not find +a more interesting subject?" + +"No, love, for you are often in my thoughts; the approach of death has, +I think, sharpened every faculty, for I see and read trifles clearer +than I ever did before; and I can read through all that calm control and +constant smile that you are not happy, my kind Ellen; and will you think +me a rude intruder on your thoughts if I ask you why?" + +"Do you not remember, Mary, I was ever unlike others?" replied Ellen, +shrinking from her penetrating gaze. "I never knew what it was to be +lively and joyous even as a child, and as years increase, is it likely +that I should? I am contented with my lot, and with so many blessings +around, should I not be ungrateful were I otherwise?" + +"You evade my question, Ellen, and convince me more and more that I am +right. Ah, you know not how my last hour would be soothed, could I feel +that I had done aught to restore happiness to one who has been to me the +blessing you have been, dear Ellen." + +"Think not of it, dearest Mary," said Ellen. "I ought to be happy, very +happy, and if I am not, it is my own wayward temper. You cannot give me +happiness, Mary; do not let the thought of me disturb you, dearest, kind +as is your wish, it is unavailing." + +"Do not say so, Ellen; we are apt to look on sorrow, while it is +confined to our own anxious breasts, as incurable and lasting; but when +once it is confessed, how quickly do difficulties vanish, and the grief +is often gone before we are aware it is departing. Do not, dearest, +magnify it by the encouragement which solitary thought bestows." + +"Are there not some sorrows, Mary, which are better ever concealed? Does +not the opening of a wound often make it bleed afresh, whereas, hidden +in our own heart, it remains closed till time has healed it." + +"Some there are," said Mary, "which are indeed irremediable, but"--she +paused a moment, then slightly raising herself on her couch, she threw +her arm round Ellen's neck, and said, in a low yet deeply expressive +voice--"is your love, indeed, so hopeless, my poor Ellen? Oh, no, it +cannot be; surely, there is not one whom you have known sufficiently to +give your precious love, can look on you and not return it." + +Ellen started, a deep and painful flush rose for a moment to her cheek, +she struggled to speak calmly, to deny the truth of Mary's suspicion, +but she could not, the secret of her heart was too suddenly exposed +before her, and she burst into tears. How quickly will a word, a tone +destroy the well-maintained calmness of years; how strangely and +suddenly will the voice of sympathy lift from the heart its veil. + +"You have penetrated my secret," she said, and her voice faltered, "and +I will not deny it; but oh, Mary, let us speak no more of it. When a +woman is weak enough to bestow her affections on one who never sought, +who will never seek them, surely the more darkly they are hidden, the +better for her own peace as well as character. My love was not called +for. I never had aught to hope; and if that unrequited affection be the +destroyer of my happiness, it has sprung from my own weakness, and I +alone have but to bear it." + +"But is there no hope, Ellen--none? Do not think so, dearest. If his +affections be still disengaged, is there not hope they may one day be +yours?" + +"No, Mary, none. I knew his affections were engaged; I knew he never +could be mine, and yet I loved him. Oh, Mary, do not scorn my weakness; +you have wrung my secret from me, do not, oh, do not betray me. There is +no shame in loving one so good, so holy, and yet--and yet--Mary, dearest +Mary, promise me you will not speak it--I cannot rest unless you do; let +it pass your lips to _none_." + +"It shall not, my Ellen; be calm, your secret shall die with me, +dearest," replied Mary, earnestly, for Ellen's feelings completely +overpowered her, and bursting sobs choked her utterance. + +"For me there is no hope. Oh, could I but see him happy, I should ask no +more; but, oh, to see him miserable, and feel I have no power to +soothe--when--" She paused abruptly, again the burning blood dyed her +cheeks, even her temples with crimson. Mary's eyes were fixed upon her +in sympathy, in love; Ellen fancied in surprise, yet suspicion. With one +powerful effort she conquered herself, she forced back the scalding +tears, the convulsive sob, and bending over Mary, pressed her trembling +lips upon her pale brow. + +"Let us speak no more of this, dearest Mary," she said, in a low calm +voice. "May God bless you for your intended kindness. It is over now. +Forgive me, dearest Mary, I have agitated and disturbed you." + +"Nay, forgive me, my sweet Ellen. It is I who have given you pain, and +should ask your forgiveness. I thought not of such utter hopelessness. I +had hoped that, ere I departed, I might have seen the dawn of happiness +for you; but I see, I feel now that cannot be. My own Ellen, I need not +tell you the comfort, the blessed comfort of prayer." + +For a few minutes there was silence. Ellen had clasped the hand of Mary, +and turned aside her head to conceal the tears that slowly stole down +her cheek. The entrance of Emmeline was a relief to both, and Ellen left +the room; and when she returned, even to Mary's awakened eyes, there +were no traces of agitation. Each week produced a visible change in +Mary; she became weaker and weaker, but her mind retained its energy, +and often her sorrowing friends feared she would pass from the detaining +grasp of love, ere they were aware of the actual moment of her +departure. One evening she begged that all the family might assemble in +her room; she felt stronger, and wished to see them altogether again. +Her wish was complied with, and she joined so cheerfully in the +conversation that passed around, that her mother and Herbert forgot +anxiety. It was a soft and lovely evening; her couch, at her own +request, had been drawn to the open window, and the dying girl looked +forth on the beautiful scene beneath. The trees bore the rich full green +of summer, save where the brilliantly setting sun tinged them with hues +of gold and crimson. Part of the river was also discernible at this +point, lying in the bosom of trees, as a small lake, on which the +heavens were reflected in all their surpassing splendour. The sun, or +rather its remaining beams, rested on the brow of a hill, which, lying +in the deepest shadow, formed a superb contrast with the flood of liquid +gold that bathed its brow. Clouds of purple, gold, crimson, in some +parts fading into pink, floated slowly along the azure heavens, and the +perfect stillness that reigned around completed the enchantment of the +scene. + +"Look up, my Mary, and mark those clouds of light," said Herbert. "See +the splendour of their hues, the unstained blue beyond; beautiful as is +earth, it shows not such exquisite beauty as yon heaven displays, even +to our mortal sight, nor calls such feelings of adoration forth. What +then will it be when that blue arch is rent asunder, and the effulgent +glory of the Maker of that heaven burst upon our view?" + +"Blessed, oh, how blessed are those who, conducted by the Lamb of God, +can share that glory," answered Mary, with sudden energy. "Who can speak +the unutterable love which, while the beauteous earth yet retains the +traces of an awful curse, hath washed from man his sin, and takes from +death its sting?" + +"And is it this thought, this faith which supports you now, my Mary?" +demanded Herbert, with that deep tenderness of one so peculiarly his +own. + +"It is, it is," she answered, fervently, "My sins are washed away; my +prayers are heard, for my Saviour pleads, and my home is prepared on +high amid the redeemed and the saved. Oh, blessed be the God of truth +that hath granted me this faith"--she paused a minute, then added--"and +heard my prayer, my beloved Herbert, and permitted me thus to die in my +native land, surrounded by those I love!" + +She leaned her head on Herbert's bosom, and for some time remained +silent; then looking up, said cheerfully, "Do you remember, Emmeline, +when we were together some few years ago, we always said such a scene +and hour as this only wanted music to make it perfect? I feel as if all +those fresh delightful feelings of girlhood had come over me again. +Bring your harp and sing to me, dearest, those words you read to me the +other day." + +"Nay, Mary, will it not disturb you?" said Emmeline, kneeling by her +couch, and kissing the thin hand extended to her. + +"No, dearest, not your soft, sweet voice, it will soothe and give me +pleasure. I feel stronger and better to-night than I have done for some +time. Sing to me, but only those words, dear Emmy; all others would +neither suit this scene nor my feelings." + +For a moment Emmeline hesitated, and looked towards her mother and Mrs. +Greville. Neither was inclined to make any objection to her request, and +on the appearance of her harp, under the superintendence of Arthur, +Emmeline prepared to comply. She placed the instrument at the further +end of the apartment, that the notes might fall softer on Mary's ear, +and sung, in a sweet and plaintive voice, the following words:-- + + "Remember me! ah, not with sorrow, + 'Tis but sleep to wake in bliss. + Life's gayest hours can seek to borrow + Vainly such a dream as this. + + Ah, see, 'tis heaven itself revealing + To my dimmed and failing sight; + And hark! 'tis angels' voices stealing + Through the starry veil of night. + + Come, brother, come; ah, quickly sever + The cold links of earth's dull chain; + Come to thy home, where thou wilt never + Pain or sorrow feel again. + + Come, brother, come; we spread before thee + Visions of thy blissful home; + Heed not, if Death's cold pang come o'er thee, + It will but bid thee haste and come! + + Ah, yes, I see bright forms are breaking + Through the mist that veils mine eyes; + Now gladly, gladly, earth forsaking, + Take, oh, take me to the skies. + +The mournful strain ceased, and there was silence. Emmeline had adapted +the words to that beautiful air of Weber's, the last composition of his +gifted mind. Mary's head still rested on the bosom of Herbert, her hand +clasped his. Evening was darkening into twilight, or the expression of +her countenance might have been remarked as changed--more spiritual, as +if the earthly shell had shared the beatified glory of the departing +spirit. She fixed her fading eyes on Ellen, who was kneeling by her +couch, steadily and calmly, but Ellen saw her not, for in that hour her +eyes were fixed, as in fascination on the form of Herbert, as he bent +over his beloved. The dying girl saw that mournful glance, and a gleam +of intelligence passed over her beautiful features. She extended one +hand to Ellen, who clasped it fondly, and then she tried to draw it +towards Herbert. She looked up in his face, as if to explain the meaning +of the action, but voice and strength utterly failed, and Ellen's hand +dropped from her grasp. + +"Kiss me, Herbert, I would sleep," she said, so faintly, Herbert alone +heard it. Their lips met in one long lingering kiss, and then Mary +drooped her head again upon his bosom, and seemed to sleep so gently, so +sweetly, her friends held their breath lest they should disturb her. +Nearly half an hour passed and still there was no movement. The full +soft light of an unclouded moon fell within that silent chamber, and +gilded the forms of Mary and Herbert with a silvery halo, that seemed to +fall from heaven itself upon them. Mary's head had fallen slightly +forward, and her long luxuriant hair, escaped from its confinement, +concealed her features as a veil of shadowy gold. Gently and tenderly +Herbert raised her head, so as to rest upon his arm; as he did so her +hair fell back and fully exposed her countenance. A faint cry broke from +his parched lips, and Ellen started in agony to her feet. + +"Hush, hush, my Mary sleeps," Mrs. Greville said; but Mr. Hamilton +gently drew her from the couch and from the room. Her eyes were closed; +a smile illumined that sweet face, as in sleep it had so often done, and +that soft and shadowy light took from her features all the harsher tale +of death. Yes, she did sleep sweetly and calmly, but her pure spirit had +departed. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +It was long, very long ere Mr. Hamilton's family recovered the shock of +Mary's death. She had been so long loved, living amongst them from her +birth, her virtues and gentleness were so well known and appreciated by +every member. She had been by Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton so long considered +as their child, by her betrothment with their Herbert, that they +sorrowed for her as if indeed she had been bound to them by that tender +tie; and her poor mother now indeed felt desolate: her only treasure, +her precious, almost idolized Mary, was taken from her, and she was +childless, for of Alfred she had long ceased to receive intelligence. +She bowed her head, earnestly striving for submission, but it was long, +long ere peace returned; soothed she was indeed by the tender kindness +of her friends; but what on earth can soothe a bereaved and doting +mother? Emmeline, Ellen, Herbert, even Arthur Myrvin, treated her with +all the love and reverence of children, but neither could fill the +aching void within. On Herbert indeed her spirit rested with more +fondness than on any other object, but it was with a foreboding love; +she looked on him and trembled. It was a strange and affecting sight, +could any one have looked on those two afflicted ones: to hear Herbert +speak words of holy comfort to the mother of his Mary, to hear him speak +of hope, of resignation, mark the impress of that heavenly virtue on +his pale features; his grief was all internal, not a word escaped his +lips, not a thought of repining crossed his chastened mind. The extent +of that deep anguish was seen alone in his fading form, in his pallid +features; but it was known only to the Searcher of all hearts. He had +wished to perform the last office to his Mary, but his father and +Archdeacon Howard conjured him to abandon the idea, and suffer the +latter to take his place. All were bathed in tears during that solemn +and awful service. Scarcely could Mr. Howard command his voice +throughout, and his concluding words were wholly inaudible. But no +movement was observable in Herbert's slight and boyish form; enveloped +in his long mourning robe, his features could not be seen, but there was +somewhat around him that created in the breasts of all who beheld him a +sensation of reverence. All departed from the lowly grave, but Herbert +yet remained motionless and silent. His father and Myrvin gently sought +to lead him away, but scarcely had he proceeded two paces, when he sunk +down on the grass in a long and deathlike swoon; so painfully had it the +appearance of death, that his father and friends believed for a time his +spirit had indeed fled to seek his Mary; but he recovered. There was +such an aspect of serenity and submission on his countenance, that all +who loved him would have been at peace, had not the thought pressed +heavily on their minds that such feelings were not long for earth. + +These fainting fits returned at intervals, and Mrs. Hamilton, whilst she +struggled to lift up her soul in undying faith to the God of Love, and +resignedly commit into His hands the life and death of her beloved son, +yet every time she gazed on him, while lying insensible before her, felt +more and more how difficult was the lesson she so continually strove to +learn; how hard it would be to part from him, if indeed he were called +away. She compared her lot with Mrs. Greville's, and thought how much +greater was her trial; and yet she, too, was a mother, and though so +many other gifts were vouchsafed her, Herbert was as dear to her as Mary +had been to Mrs. Greville. Must she lose him now, now that the fruit she +had so fondly cherished, watched as it expanded from the infant germ, +had bloomed so richly to repay her care, would he be taken from her now +that every passing month appeared to increase his love for her and hers +for him? for Herbert clung to his mother in this dread hour of +affliction with increasing fondness. True, he never spoke the extent of +his feelings even to her, but his manner betrayed how much he loved her, +how deeply he felt her sympathy, which said that next to his God, he +leaned on her. + +At first Mr. Hamilton wished his son to resign the Rectory and join his +brother and sister at Geneva, and then accompany Percy on his travels; +but mournfully yet steadily Herbert rejected this plan. + +"No, father," he said. "My duties as a son and brother, as well as the +friend and father of the flock committed to my charge, will be far more +soothing and beneficial, believe me, than travelling in far distant +lands. My health is at present such, that my home and the beloved +friends of my infancy appear dearer to me than ever, and I cannot part +from them to seek happiness elsewhere. I will do all in my power, by the +steady discharge of my many and interesting duties, to preserve my +health and restore peace and contentment. I seek not to resign my charge +in this world till my Saviour calls me; His work has yet to be done on, +earth, and till He dismisses me, I will cheerfully perform it; till then +do not ask me to forsake it." + +Mr. Hamilton wrung his son's hand in silence, and never again urged his +departure. + +There was no selfishness in Herbert's sorrow; he was still the devoted +son, the affectionate brother, the steady friend to his own immediate +circle; and to the poor committed to his spiritual charge, he was in +truth, as he had said he would be, a father and a friend. In soothing +the sufferings of others, his own became less bitterly severe; in +bidding others hope, and watch, and pray, he found his own spirit +strengthened and its frequent struggles calmed. With such unwavering +steadiness were his duties performed, that his bodily sufferings never +could have been discovered, had not those alarming faints sometimes +overpowered him in the cottages he visited ere his duties were +completed; and he was thankful, when such was the case, that it occurred +when from home, that his mother was thus sometimes spared anxiety. He +would walk on quietly home, remain some little time in his own chamber, +and then join his family cheerful and composed as usual, that no one +might suspect he had been ill. + +Arthur Myrvin often gazed on his friend with emotions of admiration, +almost amounting to awe. His love for Emmeline was the strongest feeling +of his heart, and when for a moment he fancied her snatched from him, as +Mary had been from Herbert, he felt he knew he could not have acted like +his friend: he must have flown from scenes, every trace of which could +speak of the departed, or, if he had remained, he could not, as Herbert +did, have attended to his duties, have been like him so calm. + +In the society of his cousin Ellen, Herbert found both solace and +pleasure. She had been so devoted to the departed, that he felt he loved +her more fondly than he had ever done, and he would seek her as the +companion of a walk, and give her directions as to the cottages he +sometimes wished her to visit, with a portion of his former animation, +but Ellen never permitted herself to be deceived; it was still a +brother's love, she knew it never could be more, and she struggled long +to control, if not to banish, the throb of joy that ever filled her +bosom when she perceived there were times she had power to call the +smile to Herbert's pensive features. + +Percy's letters were such as to soothe his brother by his affectionate +sympathy; to betray more powerfully than ever to Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton +how dear to each other were their sons, how pure and consoling was the +friendship subsisting between them, and on other points to give much +pleasure to all his family. Caroline's health was much improved; her +little son, Percy declared, was such a nice, merry fellow, and so +handsome, that he was quite sure he resembled in all respects what he, +Percy Hamilton, must have been at the venerable age of two years. He +said farther, that as Lord and Lady St. Eval were going to make the tour +of the principal cities of Europe, he should remain with them and be +contented with what they saw, instead of rambling alone all over the +world, as he had intended. At first Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton were somewhat +surprised at this decision, but knowing the nature of their son, began +to fancy that a certain Miss Manvers had something to do with it, the +sister of Lord Delmont, the Earl St. Eval's most intimate friend, and +the chosen friend of Mary Greville during her residence at Monte Rosa. +In Lord Delmont's will he had left the Earl guardian of his sister +during the year that intervened before her coming of age, an office +which rendered St. Eval still more intimate with the family. On his way +to Geneva he had heard from Miss Manvers of her mother's death, and that +she was residing with an English family on the banks of the Lake. The +information that her brother's friends, and indeed her own, with his +wife and family, intended spending some little time at Geneva, was a +source of so much pleasure, that after a little hesitation she accepted +the earnest invitation of both the Earl and his lady, and gladly and +gratefully consented to reside with them during their stay in +Switzerland, and then accompany them on their intended tour. + +The strong affection Percy bore his brother rendered him long unable to +regain his usual mirth and flow of spirits, and he found the +conversation of Louisa Manvers even more pleasing than ever. Mary had +made her perfectly acquainted with Herbert, and therefore, though she +had never seen him, she was well enabled to enter into the deep +affliction the loss of his betrothed must have occasioned him. Percy +could speak to her as often as he pleased of his brother and Mary, and +ever found sympathy and interest attached to the subject. Thus the idea +of travelling alone, when his sister's family offered such attractions, +became absolutely irksome to him, and he was pleased to see that his +plan of joining them was not disagreeable to Miss Manvers. Mr. Hamilton +sent his unqualified approval of Percy's intentions, and Herbert also +wrote sufficiently of himself to satisfy the anxious affection of his +brother. + +There was only one disappointing clause in Percy's plans, and he +regretted it himself, and even hinted that if his sister still very much +wished it, he would give up his intention, and return home in time to be +present, as he had promised, at her wedding. He wrote in his usual +affectionate strain both to Emmeline and Myrvin, but neither was selfish +enough to wish such a sacrifice. + +At Herbert's earnest entreaty, the marriage of his sister was, however, +fixed rather earlier than she had intended. It was not, he said, as if +their marriage was to be like Caroline's, the signal for a long course +of gaiety and pleasure; that Emmeline had always determined on only her +own family being present, and everything would be so quiet, he was sure +there could be no necessity for a longer postponement. + +"My Mary wished to have beheld your union," his lip trembled as he +spoke; "had not her illness so rapidly increased she wished to have been +present, and could she now speak her wishes, it would be to bid you be +happy--no longer to defer your union for her sake. Do not defer it, dear +Emmeline," he added, in a somewhat sadder tone, "we know not the events +of an hour, and wherefore should we delay? it will be such joy to me to +unite my friend and my sister, to pour forth on their love the blessing +of the Lord." + +There was something so inexpressibly sweet yet mournful in his +concluding words, that Emmeline, unable to restrain the impulse, leaned +upon his neck and wept. + +"Do not chide my weakness, Herbert," she tried to say, "these are not +tears of unmingled sadness; oh, could I but see you happy." + +"And you will, my sweet sister: soon--very soon, I shall be happy, +quite--quite happy," he added, in a lower tone, as he fondly kissed her +brow. + +Emmeline had not marked the tone of his concluding words, she had not +seen the expression of his features; but Ellen had, and a cold yet +indefinable thrill passed through her heart, and left a pang behind, +which she could not conquer the whole of that day. She understood it +not, for she _would_ not understand. + +Urged on, however, a few days afterwards, during a walk with Herbert, +she asked him why he was so anxious the ceremony should take place +without delay. + +"Because, my dear Ellen, I look forward to the performance of this +ceremony as a source of pleasure which I could not bear to resign to +another." + +"To another, Herbert; what do you mean? Do you think of following my +uncle's advice, and resigning your duties for a time, for the purpose of +travel?" + +"No, Ellen; those duties will not be resigned till I am called away; +they are sources of enjoyment and consolation too pure to be given up. I +do not wish my sister's wedding to be deferred, for I know not how soon +my Saviour may call me to Himself." + +"May we not all urge that plea, my dear cousin?" said Ellen; "and yet in +your sermon last Sunday, you told us to do all things soberly, to give +due reflection to things of weight, particularly those in which temporal +and eternal interests were united; not to enter rashly and hastily into +engagements, not too quickly to put off the garb of mourning, and plunge +once more into the haunts of pleasure." She paused. + +"I did say all this, Ellen, I own; but it has not much to do with our +present subject. Emmeline's engagement with Arthur has not been entered +on rashly or in haste. She does not throw off the garb of mourning to +forget the serious thoughts it may have encouraged; and though you are +right, we none of us can know how soon we may be called away, yet, +surely, it behoves those unto whom the dart has sped, the mandate been +given, to set their house in order for they shall surely die, and not +live the usual period of mortals." + +"But who can tell this, Herbert? who are so favoured as to know the +actual moment when the dart has sped and how soon it will reach them? +should we not all live as if death were near?" + +"Undoubtedly, we should so order our souls, as ever to be ready to +render them back to Him who gave them; but we cannot always so arrange +our worldly matters, as we should, did we know the actual moment of +death's appearance; our business may require constant care, we may have +dear objects for whom it is our duty to provide, to the best of our +power, and did we know when we should die, these things would lose the +interest they demand. Death should, indeed, be ever present to our +minds; it should follow us in our joy as in our sorrow, and never will +it come as a dark and gloomy shadow to those who in truth believe; but +wise and merciful is the decree that conceals from us the moment of our +departure. Were the gates of Heaven thus visible, how tame and cold +would this world appear; how few would be the ties we should form, how +insignificant would seem those duties which on earth we are commanded to +perform. No, to prepare our souls to be ready at a minute's warning to +return to their heavenly home is the duty of all. More is not expected +from those in perfect health; but, Ellen, when a mortal disease is +consuming this earthly tabernacle, when, though Death linger, he is +already seen, ay, and even felt approaching, then should we not wind up +our worldly affairs, instead of wilfully blinding our eyes to the truth, +as, alas! too many do? Then should we not 'watch and pray' yet more, not +only for ourselves, but those dearest to us, and do all in our power to +secure their happiness, ere we are called away?" + +Ellen could not answer. She understood too well his meaning; a sickness +as of death crept over her, but with an effort she subdued that deadly +faintness; she would have spoken on other things, but her tongue was +parched and dry. + +Engrossed in his own solemn feelings, in the wish to prepare his cousin +for the truth, Herbert perceived not her agitation, and, after a +minute's pause, continued tenderly-- + +"My own cousin, death to you is, I know, not terrible; why then should I +hesitate to impart tidings which to me are full of bliss? The shaft +which bore away my Mary, also entered my heart, and implanted in me the +disease which no mortal skill can cure. Do not chide me for entertaining +an unfounded fancy. Ellen, dear Ellen, I look to you, under heaven, to +support my mother under this affliction. I look to your fond cares to +subdue the pang of parting. You alone of her children will be left near +her, and you can do much to comfort and soothe not only her, but my +father; they will mourn for me, nature will speak, though I go to joy +inexpressible, unutterable! Ellen, speak to me; will you not do this, my +sister, my friend?" + +"Give me but a moment," she murmured almost inaudibly, as, overpowered +by increasing faintness, she sunk down on a grassy bank near them, and +buried her face in her hands. Minutes rolled by, and still there was +silence. Herbert sat down beside her, threw his arm around her, and +pressed a brother's kiss upon her cold, damp brow. She started and would +have risen, but strength failed; for a moment her head leaned against +his bosom, and a burst of tears relieved her. "Forgive me, Herbert," she +said, striving at once for composure and voice. "Oh, weak as I am, do +not repent your confidence. It was unexpected, sudden; the idea of +parting was sharper than at the first moment I could bear, but it will +soon be over, very, very soon; do not doubt me, Herbert." She fixed her +mournful eyes upon his face, and her cheek was very pale, "Yes," she +said, with returning strength, "trust me, dear Herbert, I will be to my +aunt, my more than mother, ever as you wish. My every care, my every +energy shall be employed to soften that deep anguish which--" She could +not complete the sentence, but quickly added, "the deep debt of +gratitude I owe her, not a whole life can repay. Long have I felt it, +long wished to devote myself to her and to my uncle, and this charge has +confirmed me in my resolution. Yes, dearest Herbert, while Ellen lives, +never, never shall my beloved aunt be lonely." + +Herbert understood not the entire signification of his cousin's words; +he knew not, that simple as they were to his ears, to her they were a +vow sacred and irrevocable. She knew she could never, never love +another, and there was something strangely soothing in the thought, that +it was his last request that consecrated her to his mother, to her +benefactress. To feel that, in endeavouring to repay the dept of +gratitude she owed, she could associate Herbert intimately with her +every action, so to perform his last charge, that could he look down +from heaven it would be to bless her. + +Herbert knew not the intensity of Ellen's feelings, still less did he +imagine he was the object of her ill-fated affection. Never once had +such a suspicion crossed his mind; that she loved him he doubted not, +but he thought it was as Emmeline loved. He trusted in her strength of +character, and therefore had he spoken openly; and could Ellen regret +his confidence, when she found that after that painful day, her society +appeared dearer, more consoling to him than ever? + +Although some members of her family could not be present at Emmeline's +wedding, a hasty visit from Edward was a source of joy to all. He was +about to sail to the shores of Africa in a small frigate, in which he +had been promoted to the second in command, an honour which had elevated +his spirits even beyond their usual buoyancy. He had been much shocked +and grieved at his sister's account of Mary's death, and Herbert's deep +affliction; but after he had been at home a few days, the influence of +his natural light-heartedness extended over all, and rendered Oakwood +more cheerful than it had been since the melancholy event we have +narrated. + +To Lilla Grahame it was indeed a pleasure to revisit Oakwood, +particularly when Lieutenant Fortescue was amongst its inmates. Edward's +manner was gallantly courteous to all his fair friends; a stranger might +have found it difficult to say which was his favourite, but there was +something about both him and Miss Grahame which very often called from +Ellen a smile. + +It was an interesting group assembled in the old parish church on the +day that united our favourite Emmeline with her long-beloved Arthur, but +it was far from being a day of unmingled gladness. Deep and chastened as +was the individual and mutual happiness of the young couple, they could +neither of them forget that there was a beloved one wanting; that they +had once hoped the same day that beheld their nuptials would have +witnessed also those of Herbert and his Mary. + +Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton had looked with some degree of dread to this day, +as one of painful recollection to Herbert; but he, perhaps of all who +were around him, was the most composed, and as the impressive ceremony +continued, he thought only of those dear ones whose fate he thus united; +he felt only the solemn import of the prayers he said, and his large and +beautiful eyes glistened with enthusiasm as in former days. It would +have been a sweet group for a skilful painter, those three principal +figures beside the altar. Herbert, as we have described him; Emmeline, +in her simple garb of white, her slight figure and peculiarly feminine +expression of countenance causing her to appear very many years younger +than in reality she was; and Arthur, too, his manly features radiant +with chastened yet perfect happiness, seemed well fitted to be the +protector, the friend of the gentle being who so soon would call him +husband, and look to him alone for happiness. Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton +rejoiced that their beloved child was at length blessed in the +gratification of her long-cherished, long-controlled hopes; that, as far +as human eye could penetrate, they had secured her happiness by giving +her to the man she loved. There was one other kneeling beside the altar +on whom Mrs. Hamilton looked with no small anxiety, for the emotion she +perceived, appeared to confirm the idea that it was indeed Arthur Myrvin +who had engrossed the affections of her niece. There are mysteries in +the human heart for which we seek in vain to account; associations and +sympathies that come often uncalled-for and unwished. Ellen knew not +wherefore the scene she witnessed pressed strangely on her heart; she +struggled against the feeling, and she might perhaps have succeeded in +concealing her inward emotions, but suddenly she looked on Herbert. She +marked him radiant, it seemed, in health and animation, his words +flashed across her mind; soon would the hue of death be on that cheek, +the light of that eye be dimmed, that sweet and thrilling voice be +hushed on earth for ever; that beautiful form bent down as a flower, +"the wind passeth over it and it is gone, and the place thereof shall +know it no more;" and thus would it soon be with him she loved. The gush +of feeling mocked all her efforts at control, Ellen buried her face in +her hands, and her slight frame shook, and the low choking sob was +distinctly heard in the brief silence that followed the words, "Those +whom God hath joined let no man put asunder." + +Arthur, at Emmeline's own desire, conducted his bride at once to the +small yet comfortable home which had been prepared for her in his +vicarage on Lord St. Eval's estate. That her residence was so near them +was a great source of pleasure to both her parents, and the feeling that +her home was in the centre of all she loved, not only so near the +beloved guardians of her infancy but Caroline and St. Eval, would have +added to her cup of joy, had it not been already full to overflowing; +the pang of parting was thus soothed to both mother and child. Even more +than Caroline, Mrs. Hamilton felt she should miss the gentle girl, who +scarcely from her infancy had given her one moment's pain; but in the +happiness of her child she too was blessed, and thankfully she raised +her voice to Him whose blessing, in the rearing of her children, she had +so constantly and fervently implored, and the mother's fond and yearning +heart was comforted. + +Though Ellen had smiled, and seemed to every eye but that of her +watchful aunt the same as usual the whole of that day, yet Mrs. Hamilton +could not resist the impulse that bade her seek her when all had retired +to their separate apartments. Ellen had been gone some time, but she was +sitting in a posture of deep thought, in which she had sunk on first +entering her room. She did not observe her aunt, and Mrs. Hamilton +traced many tears slowly, almost one by one, fall upon her +tightly-clasped hands, ere she found voice to speak. + +"Ellen, my sweet child!" + +Ellen sprung up, she threw herself into those extended arms, and hid her +tearful eyes on her aunt's bosom. + +"I have but you now, my own Ellen, to cheer my old age and enliven our +deserted hearth. You must not leave me yet, dearest. I cannot part with +you." + +"Oh, no, no; I will never, never leave you. Your home shall be my home, +my more than mother; and where you go, Ellen will follow," she murmured, +speaking unconsciously in the spirit of one of the sweetest characters +the Sacred Book presents. "Do not ask me to leave you; indeed, indeed, +no home will be to me like yours." + +"Speak not, then, so despondingly, my Ellen," replied Mrs. Hamilton, +fondly kissing her. "Never shall you leave me without your own full and +free consent. Do you remember, love, when I first promised that?" she +continued, playfully; for she sought not to draw from Ellen the secret +of her love, she only wished to soothe, to cheer, to tell her, however +unrequited might be her affections, still she was not desolate, and when +she left her, fully had she succeeded. Ellen was comforted, though she +scarcely knew wherefore. + +Some few months passed after the marriage of Emmeline, and the domestic +peace of Oakwood yet remained undisturbed. There were times when Ellen +hoped she had been deceived, that Herbert had been deceived himself. But +Myrvin dared not hope; he was not with his friend as constantly as Ellen +was, and almost every time he beheld him he fancied he perceived an +alarming change. + +About this time a malignant disease broke out in the neighbourhood of +the Dart, whose awful ravages it appeared as if no medical aid was +adequate to stop. In Herbert Hamilton's parish the mortality was +dreadful, and his duties were consequently increased, painfully to +himself and alarmingly to his family. A superhuman strength seemed, +however, suddenly granted him. Whole days, frequently whole nights, he +spent in the cottages of the afflicted poor. Soothing, encouraging, +compelling even the hardened and impenitent to own the power of the +religion he taught; bidding even them bow in unfeigned penitence at the +footstool of their Redeemer, and robbing death, in very truth, of its +sting. The young, the old, men in their prime, were carried off. The +terrible destroyer knew no distinction of age or sex or rank. Many a +young child would cease its wailing cry of suffering when its beloved +pastor entered the lowly cot, and with the fondness of a parent, with +that smile of pitying love which few hearts can resist, would seek to +soothe the bodily anguish, while at the same moment he taught the young +soul that death was not terrible; that it was but a few moments of pain +to end in everlasting bliss; that they were going to Him who had said +"Suffer little children to come unto me, for of such is the kingdom of +heaven." From the old, Herbert would learn many a lesson of piety and +resignation, and feel that attendance on such beds of death was in truth +a blessing to himself. + +Fearlessly, for her trust was fixed on the Rock of Righteousness, did +Ellen second the exertions of her cousin in this time of general +affliction. There were many who sought to deter her, for they whispered +the disease was contagious, but Ellen heeded them not, nor did Mrs. +Hamilton, herself so active in seasons of distress, seek to dissuade +her. "The arm of my God is around me, alike in the cottages of the dying +as in the fancied security of Oakwood," she said one day to Herbert, who +trembled for her safety, though for himself no fears had ever entered +his mind. "If it is His will that I too should feel His chastening rod, +it will find me though I should never leave my home; my trust is in Him. +I go in the humble hope to do His work, and He will not forsake me, +Herbert." + +Herbert trembled for her no more, and an active and judicious assistant +did he find her. For six weeks the disease continued unabated; about +that time it began to decline, and hopes were entertained that it was +indeed departing. + +There was moisture in the eyes of the young minister, as he looked +around him one Sabbath evening on the diminished number of his +congregation; so many of whom were either clad in mourning, or bore on +their countenance the marks of recent suffering, over the last victim +the whole family at Oakwood had sincerely mourned, for it was that kind +old woman whom we have mentioned more than once as being connected with +the affairs we have related. Nurse Langford had gone to her last home, +and both Ellen and Herbert dreaded writing the intelligence to her +affectionate son, who was now in Percy's service. She had been buried +only the day previous. Her seat was exactly opposite the pulpit, where +she had so often said it was such a blessing to look on the face of her +dear Master Herbert, and hear such blessed truths from his lips. She now +was gone. Herbert looked on her vacant seat, and it was then his eyes +glistened in starting tears. He had seen his cousin look towards the +same place, and though her veil was closely drawn down, he _felt_ her +tears were falling fast and thick upon her book. More than usually +eloquent was the young clergyman that day, in the discourse he had +selected as most appropriate to the feelings of those present. He spoke +of death, and, with an eloquence affecting in its pure simplicity, he +alluded to the loss of those we love. "Wherefore should I say loss, my +brethren?" he said, in conclusion. "They have but departed to mansions +of undying joy: to earth they may be lost, but not to us. Oh, no, God +cursed the ground for man's sake--it is fading, perishable! There will +be a new heaven and a new earth, but the spirit which God breathed +within us shall not see corruption. Released from this earthly shell, we +shall again behold those who have departed first; they will meet us +rejoicing, singing aloud the praises of that unutterable love that +redeemed and saved us, removing the curse pronounced on man, even as on +earth, making us heirs of eternal life, of everlasting glory! My +brethren, Death has been amongst us, but how clothed? to us who remain, +perhaps for a time in sadness; but to those who have triumphantly +departed, even as an angel of light, guiding them to the portals of +heaven. Purified by suffering and repentance, their garments white as +snow, they encircle the throne of their Saviour; and those whose lives +below were those of toil and long suffering, are now among the blessed. +Shall we then weep for them, my friends? Surely not. Let us think of +them, and follow in their paths, that our last end may be like theirs, +that we may rejoin them, never again to part! + +"Are there any here who fear to die? Are there any who shrink and +tremble when they think they may be the next it may please the Lord to +call? My Christian brethren, think awhile, and such thoughts will cease +to appal you. To the heathen alone is death the evil spirit, the +blackening shadow which, when called to mind, will poison his dearest +joys! To us, brethren, what is it? In pain it tells us of ease; in +strife or tumult, that the grave is a place of quiet; in the weariness +of exhausted spirits, that the end of all these things is at hand. Who +ever found perfect joy on earth? Are we not restless, even in the midst +of happiness? Death tells us of a purer happiness, in which there is no +weariness, no satiety. When we look around on those we love, when we +feel the blessings of affection, death tells us that we shall love them +still better in heaven! Is death then so terrible? Oh, let us think on +it thus in life and health, and in the solitude and silence of our +chamber such thoughts will not depart from us. Let these reflections +pervade us as we witness the dying moments of those we love, and we +shall find even for us death has no sting; for we shall meet again in a +world where death and time shall be no more! Oh, my beloved brethren, +let us go home, and in our closets thank God that His chastening hand +appears about to be removed from us, and so beseech Him to enlighten our +eyes to look on death, and so to give us that faith, which alone can +make us whole, and give us peace, that we may say with the venerable +Simeon, 'Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine +eyes have seen thy salvation.'" + +He ceased, and a solemn stillness reigned within the church. For a +moment the young clergyman bowed his head in silent prayer upon his +book, and then he raised his clasped hands on high, and, in a voice of +almost unearthly sweetness and power, gave the parting benediction. The +flush was observed to fade from his cheek, the lustre depart from his +eye; he raised his hand languidly to his damp brow, and in another +minute Mr. Hamilton darted from his seat, and received his son in his +arms, in a long and deathlike swoon, That same evening beheld Herbert +Hamilton, the beloved, the good, stretched on his couch a victim to the +same fearful disease, to remove the sting of which he had so long and +perseveringly laboured. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +There was joy in the superb hotel at Frankfort-sur-Maine which served as +the temporary residence of Lord St. Eval's family, domestic joy, for the +danger which had threatened the young Countess in her confinement had +passed away, and she and her beautiful babe were doing as well as the +fond heart of a father and husband could desire. They had been at +Frankfort for the last two months, at which place, however, Percy +Hamilton had not been stationary, taking advantage of this pause in St. +Eval's intended plans, by seeing as much of Germany as he could during +that time; and short as it was, his energetic mind had derived more +improvement and pleasure in the places he had visited, than many who had +lingered over the same space of ground more than double the time. +Intelligence that Caroline was not quite so well as her friends wished, +aided perhaps by his secret desire to see again her gentle companion, +Percy determined for a short time to return to Frankfort, till his +sister's health was perfectly restored, and they might be again enabled +to travel together. His almost unexpected arrival added to the happiness +of the young Earl's domestic circle, and there was somewhat in his arch +yet expressive glance, as he received his baby niece from the arms of +Miss Manvers, and imprinted a light kiss on the infant's sleeping +features, that dyed her cheek with blushes, and bade her heart beat +quick with an indefinable sense of pleasure. + +The sisterly friendship of Louisa Manvers had been a source of real +gratification to both the Earl St. Eval and his Countess during their +travels, more particularly now, when the health of the latter required +such kindly tending. Mrs. Hamilton had deeply regretted the +impossibility of her being with her child at such a time; the letter +Lord St. Eval had despatched was, however, calculated to disperse all +her anxiety, the danger appearing after the letter had gone, and not +lasting sufficiently long to justify his writing again. They were +sitting round the breakfast-table the morning after Percy's return, +lengthening the usual time of the meal by lively and intelligent +conversation; Miss Manvers was presiding at the table, and Percy did not +feel the least inclined to move, declaring he would wait for his English +despatches, if there were any, before he went out. The post happened to +be rather late that morning, a circumstance, wonderful to say, which did +not occasion Percy annoyance. It came in, however, at length, bringing +several papers for Lord St. Eval and his wife, from the Malvern family, +but only two from Oakwood, one, in the handwriting of Ellen, to Percy, +and one for Robert Langford, evidently from Mr Hamilton. + +"This is most extraordinary," Percy said, much surprised. "My mother +not written to Caroline, and none from Herbert to me; his duties are +increased, I know, but surely he could find time to write to me." + +"Mrs. Hamilton has written to Caroline since her confinement, and so did +all her family four or five days ago," said Lord St. Eval, but his words +fell unheeded on the ear of Percy, who had hastily torn open his +cousin's letter, and glanced his eye over its contents. Engaged in his +own letters, the Earl did not observe the agitation of his friend, but +Miss Manvers saw his hand tremble so violently, that he could scarcely +hold the paper. + +"Merciful heaven! Mr. Hamilton--Percy, what is the matter?" she +exclaimed, suddenly losing all her wonted reserve, as she remarked his +strange emotion, and her words, connected with the low groan that burst +from Percy's heart, effectually roused the Earl's attention. + +"Hamilton, speak; are there ill news from Oakwood? In mercy, speak!" he +said, almost as much agitated as his friend. + +"Herbert," was all Percy could articulate, "Herbert, my brother; oh God, +he is dying, and I am not near him. Read, St. Eval, for pity; I cannot +see the words. Is there yet time--can I reach England in time? or is +this only a preparation to tell me he is--is dead?" + +"He lives, Percy; there may be yet time, if you set off at once," +exclaimed the Earl, who saw the necessity of rousing his friend to +exertion, for the sudden blow had bewildered his every faculty. He +started up wildly, and was darting from the room, when he suddenly +paused-- + +"Keep it from Caroline--tell her not now, it will kill her," he cried. +"May God in heaven bless you for those tears!" he continued, springing +towards Louisa, and clasping her hands convulsively in his, as the sight +of her unfeigned emotion caused the hot tears slowly to trickle down his +own cheek, and his lip quivered, till he could scarcely speak the words +of parting. "Oh, think of me; I go to the dying bed of him, whom I had +hoped would one day have been to you a brother--would have joined--" He +paused in overwhelming emotion, took the hand of the trembling girl, +raised it to his lips, and darted from the apartment. + +St. Eval hastily followed him, for he saw Percy was in no state to think +of anything himself, and the letter Robert had received, telling him of +the death of his mother, rendered him almost as incapable of exertion as +his master; but as soon as he heard the cause of Percy's very visible +but at first incomprehensible agitation, his own deep affliction was at +once subdued; he was ready and active in Percy's service. That Mr. +Hamilton should thus have written to him, to alleviate the blow of a +parent's death, to comfort him when his own son lay on a dying bed, +penetrated at once the heart of the young man, and urged him to +exertion. + +Day and night Percy travelled; but we must outstrip even his rapid +course, and conduct our readers to Oakwood, the evening of the second +day after Percy's arrival at Ostend. + +Herbert Hamilton lay on his couch, the cold hand of Death upon his brow; +but instead of robing his features with a ghastly hue, it had spread +over them even more than usual beauty. Reduced he was to a mere shadow, +but his prayers in his days of health and life had been heard; the +delirium of fever had passed, and he met death unshrinkingly, his mind +retaining even more than its wonted powers. It was the Sabbath evening, +and all around him was still and calm. For the first two days after the +delirium had departed, his mind had still been darkened, restless, and +uneasy. Perseveringly as he had laboured in his calling, he had felt in +those darker days the utter nothingness of his own works, how wholly +insufficient they had been to secure his salvation; and the love of his +God, the infinite atonement in which he so steadily believed, shone not +with sufficient brightness to remove this painful darkness. Death was +very near, and it no longer seemed the angel of light he had ever +regarded it; but on the Saturday the mist was mercifully dispelled from +his mind, the clouds dispersed, and faith shone forth with a brilliancy, +a lustre overpowering; it told of heaven with an eloquence that banished +every other thought, and Herbert's bodily sufferings were felt no +longer; the confines of heaven were gained--but a brief space, one +mortal struggle, and he would meet his Mary at the footstool of his God. + +With solemn impressiveness, yet affecting tenderness, Archdeacon Howard +had administered the sacrament to him, whom he regarded at once as +pupil, friend, and brother; and the whole family of the dying youth, at +his own particular request, had shared it with him. Exhausted by the +earnestness in which he had joined in the solemn service, Herbert now +lay with one hand clasped in his mother's, who sat by his side, her head +bent over his, and her whole countenance, save when the gaze of her son +was turned towards her, expressive of tearless, heart-rending sorrow, +struggling for resignation to the will of Him, who called her Herbert +to Himself. Emmeline was kneeling by her mother's side. Mr. Hamilton +leaned against the wall, pale and still; it was only the agonized +expression of his manly features that betrayed he was a living being. On +the left side of the dying youth stood Arthur Myrvin, who, from the +moment of his arrival at Oakwood, had never once left Herbert's couch, +night and day he remained beside him; and near Arthur, but yet closer to +her cousin, knelt the orphan, her eyes tearless indeed, but her whole +countenance so haggard and wan, that had not all been engrossed in +individual suffering, it could not have passed unobserved. The tall, +venerable figure of the Archdeacon, as he stood a little aloof from the +principal figures, completed the painful group. + +"My own mother, your Herbert is so happy, so very happy! you must not +weep for me, mother. Oh, it is your fostering love and care, the +remembrance of all your tenderness from my infancy, gilding my boyhood +with sunshine, my manhood with such refreshing rays--it is that which is +resting on my heart, and I would give it words and thank and bless you, +but I cannot. And my father, too, my beloved, my revered father--oh, but +little have I done to repay your tender care, my brother and sisters' +love, but my Father in heaven will bless--bless you all; I know, I feel +He will." + +"Percy," repeated the dying youth, a gleam of light kindling in his eye +and flushing his cheek. "Is there indeed a hope that I may see him, that +I may trace those beloved features once again?" + +He closed his eyes, and his lips moved in silent yet fervent prayer, +that wish was still powerful within; it was the only thought of earth +that lingered. + +"Tell him," he said, and his voice sounded weaker and weaker, "tell him, +Herbert's last prayer was for him, that he was in my last thoughts; tell +him to seek for comfort at the foot of that Throne where we have so +often knelt together. Oh, let him not sorrow, for I shall be happy--oh, +so happy!" + +Again he was silent, and for a much longer interval; but when he +reopened his eyes, they were fixed on Ellen. + +"My sister, my kind and tender nurse, what shall I say to you?" he said, +languidly, but in a tone that thrilled to her aching heart. "I can but +commend you to His care, who can take from grief its sting, even as He +hath clothed this moment in victory. May His spirit rest upon you, +Ellen, and give you peace. May He bless you, not only for your +affectionate kindness towards me, but to her who went before me. You +will not forget, Ellen." His glance wandered from his cousin to his +mother, and then returned to her. She bowed her head upon his extended +hand, but her choking voice could speak no word. "Caroline, too, she +will weep for me, but St. Eval will dry her tears; tell them I did not +forget them; that my love and blessing is theirs even as if they had +been around me. Emmeline, Arthur,--Mr. Howard, oh, where are you? my +eyes are dim, my voice is failing, yet"-- + +"I am here, my beloved son," said the Archdeacon, and Herbert fixed a +kind glance upon his face, and leaned his head against him. + +"I would tell you, that it is the sense of the Divine presence, of love, +unutterable, infinite, inexhaustible, that has taken all anguish from +this moment. My spirit rises triumphant, secure of eternal salvation, +triumphing in the love of Him who died for me. Oh, Death, well may I +say, where is thy sting? oh, grave, where is thy victory? they are +passed; heaven is opening. Oh, bliss unutterable, undying!" He sunk back +utterly exhausted, but the expression of his countenance still evinced +the internal triumph of his soul. + +A faint sound, as of the distant trampling of horses, suddenly came upon +the ear. Nearer, nearer still, and a flush of excitement rose to +Herbert's cheek. "Percy--can it be? My God, I thank thee for this +mercy!" + +Arthur darted from the room, as the sound appeared rapidly approaching; +evidently it was a horse urged to its utmost speed, and it could be none +other save Percy. Arthur flew across the hall, and through the entrance, +which had been flung widely open, as the figure of the young heir of +Oakwood had been recognised by the streaming eyes of the faithful +Morris, who stood by his young master's stirrup, but without uttering a +word. Percy's tongue clove to the roof of his mouth; his eyes were +bloodshot and haggard. He had no power to ask a question, and it was +only the appearance of Myrvin, his entreaty that he would be calm ere +Herbert saw him, that roused him to exertion. His brother yet lived; it +was enough, and in another minute he stood on the threshold of Herbert's +room. With an overpowering effort the dying youth raised himself on his +couch, and extended his arms towards him. + +"Percy, my own Percy, this is kind," he said, and his voice suddenly +regained its wonted power. Percy sprung towards him, and the brothers +were clasped in each other's arms. No word did Percy speak, but his +choking sobs were heard; there was no movement in the drooping form of +his brother to say that he had heard the sound; he did not raise his +head from Percy's shoulder, or seek to speak of comfort. + +"Speak to me, oh, once again, but once more, Herbert!" exclaimed Percy. +Fearful agony was in his voice, but, oh, it could not rouse the _dead_: +Herbert Hamilton had departed. His last wish on earth was fulfilled. It +was but the lifeless form of his beloved brother that Percy held in the +stern grasp of despairing woe. It was long ere the truth was known, and +when it was, there was no sound of wailing heard within the chamber, no +cry of sorrow broke the solemn stillness. For him they could not weep, +and for themselves, oh, it was a grief too deep for tears. + + * * * * * + +We will not linger on the first few weeks that passed over the inmates +of Oakwood after the death of one we have followed so long, and beheld +so fondly and deservedly beloved. Silent and profound was that sorrow, +but it was the sorrow of those who, in all things, both great and small, +beheld the hand of a God of love. Could the faith, the truth, which from +her girlhood's years had distinguished Mrs. Hamilton, desert her now? +Would her husband permit her to look to him for support and consolation +under this deep affliction, and yet not find it? No; they looked up to +their God; they rejoiced that so peaceful, so blessed had been the death +of their beloved one. His last words to them came again and again on the +heart of each parent as soothing balm, of which nor time nor +circumstance could deprive them. For the sake of each other, they +exerted themselves, an example followed by their children; but each felt +years must pass ere the loss they had sustained would lose its pang, ere +they could cease to miss the being they had so dearly loved, who had +been such a brilliant light in their domestic circle--brilliant, yet how +gentle; not one that was ever sparkling, ever changing, but of a soft +and steady lustre. On earth that light had set, but in heaven it was +dawning never to set again. + +For some few weeks the family remained all together, as far at least as +Arthur's ministerial duties permitted. Mr. Hamilton wished much to see +that living, now vacant by the death of his son, transferred to Myrvin, +and he exerted himself towards effecting an exchange. Ere, however, +Percy could return to the Continent, or Emmeline return to her husband's +home, the sudden and alarming illness of Mrs. Hamilton detained them +both at Oakwood. The fever which had been raging in the village, and +which had hastened the death of Herbert, had also entered the household +of Mrs. Hamilton. Resolved that no affliction of her own should +interfere with those duties of benevolence, to exercise which was her +constant practice, Mrs. Hamilton had compelled herself to exertion +beyond the strength of a frame already wearied and exhausted by +long-continued but forcibly-suppressed anxiety, and three weeks after +the death of her son she too was stretched on a bed of suffering, which, +for the first few days during the violence of the fever, her afflicted +family believed might also be of death. In this trying time, it was to +Ellen that not only her cousin but even her uncle turned, by her example +to obtain more control and strength. No persuasions could induce her to +leave the side of her aunt's couch, or resign to another the painful yet +soothing task of nursing. Young and inexperienced she was, but her +strong affection for her aunt, heightened by some other feeling which +was hidden in her own breast, endowed her at once with strength to +endure continued fatigue, with an experience that often made Mr. +Maitland contemplate her with astonishment. From the period of Herbert's +death, Ellen had placed her feelings under a restraint that utterly +prevented all relief in tears. She was never seen to weep; every feature +had indeed spoken the deep affliction that was hers, but it never +interfered with the devoted care she manifested towards her aunt. +Silently yet perseveringly she laboured to soften the intense suffering +in the mother's heart; it was on her neck Mrs. Hamilton had first wept +freely and relievingly, and as she clasped the orphan to her bosom, had +lifted up her heart in thanksgiving that such a precious gift was yet +preserved her, how little did even she imagine all that was passing in +Ellen's heart; that Herbert to her young fancy had been how much dearer +than a brother; that she mourned not only a cousin's loss, but one round +whom her first affections had been twined with an intensity that death +alone could sever. How little could she guess the continued struggle +pressing on that young mind, the anguish of her solitary moments, ere +she could by prayer so calm her bursting heart as to appear the composed +and tranquil being she ever seemed before the family. Mrs. Hamilton +could only feel that the comfort her niece bestowed in this hour of +affliction, her controlled yet sympathising conduct, repaid her for all +the care and sorrow Ellen once had caused. Never had she regretted she +had taken the orphans to her heart and cherished them as her own; but +now it was she felt the Lord had indeed returned the blessing tenfold in +her own bosom; and still more did she feel this in the long and painful +convalescence that followed her brief but severe attack of fever, when +Ellen was the only one of her children remaining near her. + +Completely worn out by previous anxiety, the subsequent affliction, and, +finally, her mother's dangerous illness, Emmeline's health appeared so +shattered, that as soon as the actual danger was passed, Myrvin insisted +on her going with him, for change of air and scene, to Llangwillan, a +proposal that both her father and Mr. Maitland seconded; trembling for +the precious girl so lately made his own, Arthur resisted her entreaties +to remain a little longer at Oakwood, and conveyed her at once to his +father's vicarage, where time and improved tidings of her mother +restored at length the bloom to her cheek and the smile to her lip. + +It was strange to observe the difference of character which opposite +circumstances and opposite treatment in their infant years had made in +these two cousins. Emmeline and Ellen, had they been brought up from +babes together, and the same discipline extended to each, would, in all +probability, have in after years displayed precisely the same +disposition; but though weak indulgence had never been extended to +Emmeline, prosperity unalloyed, save in the affair with Arthur Myrvin, +had been her portion. Affection and caresses had been ever lavished +almost unconsciously upon her, but instead of cherishing faults, such +treatment had formed her happiness, and had encouraged and led her on +in the paths of virtue. Every thought and feeling were expressed without +disguise; she had been so accustomed to think aloud to her mother from +childhood, so accustomed to give vent to her little vexations in words, +her sorrows in tears, which were quickly dried, that as years increased, +she found it a very difficult task either to restrain her sentiments or +control her feelings. Her mind could not be called weak, for in her +affection for Arthur Myrvin, as we have seen, when there was a +peremptory call for exertion or self-control, it was ever heard and +attended to. Her health indeed suffered, but that very fact proved the +mind was stronger than the frame; though when she marked Ellen's +superior composure and coolness, Emmeline would sometimes bitterly +reproach herself. From her birth, Ellen had been initiated in sorrow, +her infant years had been one scene of trial. Never caressed by her +mother or those around her, save when her poor father was near, she had +learned to bury every affectionate yearning deep within her own little +heart, every childish sentiment was carefully concealed, and her +father's death, the horrors of that night, appeared to have placed the +seal on her character, infant as she was. She was scarcely ten when she +became an inmate of her aunt's family, but then it was too late for her +character to become as Emmeline's. The impression had been made on the +yielding wax, and now it could not be effaced. Many circumstances +contributed to strengthen this impression, as in the first portion of +this history we have seen. Adversity had made Ellen as she was, and +self-control had become her second nature, long before she knew the +meaning of the word. + +The intelligence of Herbert's death, though deferred till St. Eval +thought his wife enabled to bear it with some composure, had, however, +so completely thrown her back, that she was quite unequal to travel to +England, as her wishes had instantly dictated, and her husband was +compelled to keep up a constant system of deception with regard to her +mother's illness, lest she should insist, weak as she was, on +immediately flying to her aid. As soon as sufficient strength returned +for Mrs. Hamilton to express her wishes, she entreated Percy to rejoin +his sister, that all alarm on her account might subside. The thought of +her child was still uppermost in the mother's mind, though her excessive +debility compelled her to lie motionless for hours on her couch, +scarcely sensible of anything passing around her, or that her husband +and Ellen hardly for one moment left her side. The plan succeeded, +Caroline recovered soon after Percy's arrival; and at the earnest +message Percy bore her from her mother, that she would not think of +returning to England till her health was quite restored, she consented +leisurely to take the celebrated excursion down the Rhine, ere she +returned home. + +It would have seemed as though no other grief could be the portion of +Ellen, but another sorrow was impending over her, which, while it +lasted, was a source of distress inferior only to Herbert's death. +Entering the library one morning, she was rather surprised to find not +only Mr. Maitland but Archdeacon Howard with her uncle. + +The former was now too constantly a visitor at the Hall to occasion +individually much surprise, but it was the expression on the +countenances of each that created alarm. Mr. Hamilton appeared +struggling with some strong and painful emotion, and had started as +Ellen entered the room, while he looked imploringly towards the +Archdeacon, as if seeking his counsel and assistance. + +"Can we indeed trust her?" Mr. Maitland said, doubtingly, and in a low +voice, as he looked sadly upon Ellen. "Can we he sure these melancholy +tidings will be for the present inviolably kept from Mrs. Hamilton, for +suspense such as this, in her present state of health, might produce +consequences on which I tremble to think?" + +"You may depend upon me, Mr. Maitland," Ellen said, firmly, as she came +forward. "What new affliction can have happened of which you so dread my +aunt being informed? Oh, do not deceive me. I have heard enough to make +fancy perhaps more dreadful than reality, Mr. Howard. My dear uncle, +will you not trust me?" + +"My poor Ellen," her uncle said, in a faltering voice, "you have indeed +borne sorrow well; but this will demand even a greater share of +fortitude. All is not yet known, there may be hope, but I dare not +encourage it. Tell her, Howard," he added, hastily, shrinking from her +sorrowful glance, "I cannot." + +"Is it of Edward you would tell me? Oh, what of him?" she exclaimed. +"Oh, tell me at once, Mr. Howard, indeed, indeed, I can bear it." + +With the tenderness of a father, Mr. Howard gently and soothingly told +her that letters had that morning arrived from Edward's captain, +informing them that the young lieutenant had been despatched with a +boat's crew, on a message to a ship stationed about twelve miles +southward, towards the Cape of Good Hope; a storm had arisen as the +night darkened, but still Captain Seaforth had felt no uneasiness, +imagining his young officer had deemed it better remaining on board the +Stranger all night, though somewhat contrary to his usual habits of +promptness and activity. As the day, however, waned to noon, and still +Lieutenant Fortescue did not appear, the captain despatched another boat +to know why he tarried. The sea was still raging in fury from the last +night's storm, but the foaming billows had never before detained Edward +from his duty. With increasing anxiety, Captain Seaforth paced the deck +for several hours, until indeed the last boat he had sent returned. He +scanned the crew with an eye that never failed him, and saw with dismay, +that neither his lieutenant nor one of his men were amongst them. +Horror-stricken and distressed, the sailors related that, despite every +persuasion of the captain of the Stranger, Lieutenant Fortescue had +resolved on returning to the Gem the moment his message had been +delivered and the answer given; his men had seconded him, though many +signs denoted that as the evening advanced, so too would the impending +storm. Twilight was darkening around him when, urged on by a mistaken +sense of duty, the intrepid young man descended into the boat, and not +half an hour afterwards the storm came on with terrific violence, and +the pitchy darkness had entirely frustrated every effort of the crew of +the Stranger to trace the boat. Morning dawned, and brought with it some +faint confirmation of the fate which all had dreaded. Some spars on +which the name of the Gem was impressed, and which were easily +recognised as belonging to the long-boat, floated on the foaming waves, +and the men sent out to reconnoitre had discovered the dead body of one +of the unfortunate sailors, who the evening previous had been so full of +life and mirth, clinging to some sea-weed; while a hat bearing the name +of Edward Fortescue, caused the painful suspicion that the young and +gallant officer had shared the same fate. Every inquiry was set afloat, +every exertion made, to discover something more certain concerning him, +but without any effect. Some faint hope there yet existed, that he might +have been picked up by one of the ships which were continually passing +and repassing on that course; and Captain Seaforth concluded his +melancholy narration by entreating Mr. Hamilton not to permit himself to +despair, as hope there yet was, though but faint. Evidently he wrote as +he felt, not merely to calm the minds of Edward's sorrowing friends, but +Mr. Hamilton could not share these sanguine expectations. Mystery had +also enveloped the fate of his brother-in-law, Charles Manvers; long, +very long, had he hoped that he lived, that he would yet return; but +year after year had passed, till four-and-twenty had rolled by, and +still there were no tidings. Well did he remember the heart-sickening +that had attended his hopes deferred, the anguish of suspense which for +many weary months had been the portion of his wife, and he thought it +almost better for Ellen to believe her brother dead, than to live on in +the indulgence of hopes that might have no foundation; yet how could he +tell her he was dead, when there was one gleam of hope, however faint. +Well did he know the devoted affection which the orphans bore to each +other. He gazed on her in deep commiseration, as in unbroken silence she +listened to the tenderly-told tale; and, drawing her once more to his +bosom as Mr. Howard ceased, he fondly and repeatedly kissed her brow, +as he entreated her not to despair; Edward might yet be saved. No word +came from Ellen's parched lips, but he felt the cold shudder of +suffering pass through her frame. Several minutes passed, and still she +raised not her head. Impressively the venerable clergyman addressed her +in tones and words that never failed to find their way to the orphan's +heart. He spoke of a love and mercy that sent these continued trials to +mark her as more peculiarly His own. He told of comfort, that even in +such a moment she could feel. He bade her cease not to pray for her +brother's safety; that nothing was too great for the power or the mercy +of the Lord; that however it might appear impossible to worldly minds +that he could be saved, yet if the Almighty's hand had been stretched +forth, a hundred storms might have passed him by unhurt; yet he bade her +not entertain too sanguine hopes. "Place our beloved Edward and yourself +in the hands of our Father in heaven, my child; implore Him for strength +to meet His will, whatever it may be, and if, indeed, He hath taken him +in mercy to a happier world, He will give you strength and grace to meet +His ordinance of love; but if hope still lingers, check it not--he may +be spared. Be comforted, then, my child, and for the sake of the beloved +relative yet spared you, try and compose your agitated spirits. We may +trust to your care in retaining this fresh grief from her, I know we +may." + +"You are right. Mr. Howard; oh, may God bless you for your kindness!" +said the almost heart-broken girl, as she raised her head and placed her +trembling hands in his. Her cheeks were colourless as marble, but the +long dark fringes that rested on them were unwetted by tears; she had +forcibly sent them back. Her heart throbbed almost to suffocation, but +she would not listen to its anguish. The form of Herbert seemed to flit +before her and remind her of her promise, that her every care, her every +energy should be devoted to his mother; and that remembrance, +strengthened as it was by Mr. Howard's words, nerved her to the painful +duty which was now hers to perform. "You may indeed trust me. My Father +in heaven will support me, and give me strength to conceal this +intelligence effectually, till my beloved aunt is enabled to hear it +with composure. Do not fear me, Mr. Maitland; it is not in my own +strength I trust, for that I feel too painfully at this moment is less +than nothing. My dearest uncle, will you not trust your Ellen?" + +She turned towards him as she spoke, and Mr. Hamilton felt the tears +glisten in his eyes as he met the upturned glance of the afflicted +orphan--now indeed, as it seemed, so utterly alone. + +"Yes I do and ever will trust you, my beloved Ellen," he said, with +emotion. "May God grant you His blessing in this most painful duty. To +Him I commend you, my child; I would speak of comfort and hope, but He +alone can give them." + +"And He _will_," replied Ellen, in a low, steady voice; and gently +withdrawing her hand from Mr. Howard's, she softly but quickly left the +library. But half an hour elapsed, and Ellen was once more seated by her +aunt's couch. The struggle of that half hour we will not follow; it was +too sacred, too painful to be divulged, and many, many solitary hours +were thus spent in suffering, known only to herself and to her God. + +"You have been long away from me, my Ellen, or else my selfish wish to +have you again near me has made me think so," Mrs. Hamilton said that +eventful morning. + +"Have you then missed me, my dear aunt? I am glad of it, for comfort as +it is to be allowed to remain always with yon, it is even greater +pleasure to think you like to have me near you," replied Ellen. + +"Can I do otherwise, my own Ellen? Where can I find a nurse so tender, +affectionate, and attentive as you are? Who would know so well how to +cheer and soothe me as the child whose smallest action proves how much +she loves me?" + +Tears glistened in the eyes of Ellen as her aunt spoke, for if she had +wanted fresh incentive for exertion, those simple words would have given +it. Oh, how much encouragement may be given in one sentence from those +we love; how is every effort to please lightened by the consciousness it +is appreciated; how is every duty sweetened when we feel we are beloved. + +Mrs. Hamilton knew not how that expression of her feelings had fallen on +the torn heart of her niece; she guessed not one-half Ellen endured in +secret for her sake, but she felt, and showed she felt, the full value +of the unremitting affectionate attentions she received. + +Days, weeks passed by; at length, Mrs. Hamilton's extreme debility began +to give place to the more restless weariness of convalescence. It was +comparatively an easy task to sit in continued silence by the couch, +actively yet quietly to anticipate her faintest wish, and attend to all +the duties of nurse, which demanded no exertion in the way of talking, +and other efforts at amusement; there were then very many hours that +Ellen's saddened thoughts could dwell on the painful past. + +She struggled to behold heaven's mercy in affliction, and rapidly, more +rapidly than she was herself aware of, was this young and gentle girl +progressing in the paths of grace. Had Herbert and Mary both lived and +been united, Ellen would, in all probability, have at length so +conquered her feelings, as to have been happy in the marriage state, and +though she could not have bestowed the first freshness of young +affection, she would ever have so felt and acted as to be in very truth, +as Lord St. Eval had said, a treasure to any man who had the felicity to +call her his. Had her cousin indeed married, Ellen might have felt it +incumbent on her as an actual duty so to conquer herself; but now that +he was dead she felt it no sin to love, in devoting herself to his +parents in their advancing age, partly for his sake, in associating him +with all she did for them, and for all whom he loved; there was no sin +now in all this, but she felt it would be a crime to give her hand to +another, when her whole heart was thus devoted to the dead. There was +something peculiarly soothing to the grateful and affectionate feelings +with which she regarded her aunt and uncle; that she perhaps would be +the only one of all those who had-- + + "Played + Beneath the same green tree, + Whose voices mingled as they prayed + Around one parent knee"-- + +would remain with nothing to divert her attention from the pleasing task +of soothing and cheering their advancing years, and her every effort was +now turned towards making her _single_ life, indeed, one of +_blessedness_, by works of good and thoughts of love towards all with +whom she might associate; but in these visions her brother had ever +intimately mingled. She had pictured herself beholding and rejoicing in +his happiness, loving his children as her own, being to them a second +mother. She had fancied herself ever received with joy, a welcome inmate +of her Edward's home, and so strongly had her imagination become +impressed with this idea, that its annihilation appeared to heighten the +anguish with which the news of his untimely fate had overwhelmed her. He +was gone; and it seemed as if she had never, never felt so utterly +desolate before; as if advancing years had entirely lost the soft and +gentle colouring with which they had so lately been invested. It seemed +but a very short interval since she had seen him, the lovely, playful +child, his mother's pet, the admiration of all who looked on him; then +he stood before her, the handsome, manly boy she had parted with, when +he first left the sheltering roof of Oakwood, to become a sailor. Then, +shuddering, she recalled him when they had met again, after a lapse of +suffering in the young life of each; and her too sensitive fancy +conjured up the thought that her fault had not yet been sufficiently +chastised, that he was taken from her because she had loved him too +well; because her deep intense affection for him had caused her once to +forget the mandate of her God. In the deep agony of that thought, it +seemed as if she lived over again those months of suffering, which in a +former pages we have endeavoured to describe. + +Humbled to the dust, she recognised the chastising hand of her Maker, +and as if it had only now been committed, she acknowledged and repented +the transgression a moment's powerful temptation had forced her to +commit. Had there been one to whom she could have confessed these +feelings, whose soothing friendship would have whispered it was needless +and uncalled-for to enhance the suffering of Edward's fate by such +self-reproach, Ellen's young heart would have been relieved; but from +that beloved relative who might have consoled and alleviated her grief, +this bitter trial she must still conceal. Mr. Hamilton dared not +encourage the hope which he had never felt but his bosom swelled with +love and almost veneration for the gentle being, to whose care Mr. +Maitland had assured him the recovery of his beloved wife was, under +Providence, greatly owing. He longed to speak of comfort; but, alas! +what could he say? he would have praised, encouraged, but there was that +about his niece that utterly forbade it; for it silently yet +impressively told whence that sustaining strength arose. + +It was when Mrs. Hamilton was beginning to recover, that still more +active exertions on the part of Ellen were demanded. Every effort was +now made to prevent her relapsing into that despondency which +convalescence so often engenders, however we may strive to resist it. +She was ready at a minute's notice to comply with and often to +anticipate her aunt's most faintly-hinted wishes; she would read to her, +sing her favourite airs, or by a thousand little winning arts +unconsciously entice the interest of her aunt to her various pursuits, +as had been her wont in former days. There was no appearance of effort +on her part, and Mrs. Hamilton insensibly, at first, but surely felt +that with her strength her habitual cheerfulness was returning, and +fervently she blessed her God for this abundant mercy. No exertion on +her side was wanting to become to her husband and household as she had +been before the death of her beloved son; she felt the beauteous flower +was transplanted above; the hand of the reaper had laid it low, though +the eye of faith beheld it in perfect undying loveliness, and though the +mother's heart yet sorrowed, 'twas a sorrow now in which no pain was +mingled. + +One evening they had been speaking, among other subjects, of Lilla +Grahame, whose letters, Mrs. Hamilton had observed, were not written in +her usual style. Too well did Ellen guess the reason; once only the poor +girl had alluded to Edward's supposed fate, but that once had more than +sufficiently betrayed to Ellen's quickly-excited sympathy the true +nature of her feelings towards him. As Lilla had not, however, written +in perfect confidence, but still as if she feared to write too much on +emotions she scarcely understood herself, Ellen had not answered her as +she would otherwise have done. That her sympathy was Lilla's was very +clearly evident, but as the secrecy preserved towards Mrs. Hamilton had +been made known to her by Emmeline, she had not written again on the +subject, but yet Ellen was not deceived; in every letter she received +she could easily penetrate where Lilla's anxious thoughts were +wandering. Of Cecil Grahame there were still no tidings, and, all +circumstances considered, it did not seem strange she should often be +sorrowful and anxious. On dismissing this subject, Mrs. Hamilton had +asked Ellen to sing to her, and selected, as a very old favourite, "The +Graves of the Household." She had always forgotten it, she said, before, +when Ellen wished her to select one she preferred. She was surprised +that Ellen had not reminded her of it, as it had once been an equal +favourite with her. For a moment Ellen hesitated, and then hastened to +the piano. In a low, sweet, yet unfaltering voice, she complied with her +aunt's request; once only her lip quivered, for she could not sing that +verse without the thought of Edward. + + "The sea, the blue lone sea, hath one, + He lies where pearls lie deep; + He was the loved of all, yet none + O'er his low bed may weep." + +Mr. Hamilton unobserved had entered the room, and now stood with folded +arms and mournful glance, alternately regarding his wife and niece. Mr. +Maitland had that morning told him there was not now the slightest +danger remaining, and he rather advised that Mrs. Hamilton should be +informed of what had passed, lest the painful intelligence should come +upon her when quite unprepared. He had striven for composure, and he now +entered expressly to execute this painful task; he had marked the +suffering imprinted on his niece's face, and he could continue the +deception no longer. On the conclusion of her song, Ellen reseated +herself on the stool she had occupied at her aunt's feet, her heart too +full to speak. + +"Why are you so silent, my dear husband?" Mrs. Hamilton said, addressing +him, and who almost started at her address. "May I know the subject of +such very deep thought?" + +"Ellen, partly," he replied, and he spoke the truth. "I was thinking how +pale and thin she looks, and how much she has lately had to distress and +cause her anxiety." + +"She has, indeed, and therefore the sooner we can leave Oakwood for a +few months, as we intended, the better. I have been a long and +troublesome patient, my Ellen, and all your efforts to restore me to +perfect health will he quite ineffectual unless I see the colour return +to your cheek, and your step resume its elasticity." + +"Do not fear for me, my beloved aunt; indeed I am quite well," answered +Ellen, not daring to look up, lest her tears should be discovered. + +"You are right, my Emmeline," suddenly exclaimed Mr. Hamilton, rousing +himself with a strong effort, and advancing to the couch where his wife +sat, he threw his arms around her. "You do not yet know all that our +Ellen has in secret borne for your sake. You do not yet know the deep +affliction which is the real cause of that alteration in her health, +which only now you are beginning to discover. Oh, my beloved wife, I +have feared to tell you, but now that strength is returning, I may +hesitate no longer; for her sake you will bear these cruel tidings even +as she has done. Will you not comfort her? Will you--" The sudden +opening of the door arrested the words upon his lips. Touched by +indefinable alarm, Mrs. Hamilton's hand grasped his without the power of +speech. Ellen had risen, for she felt she could not hear those sad words +again spoken. + +It was James the footman who entered, and he placed a letter in her +hand. She looked at the direction, a faint cry broke from her lips; she +tore it open, gazed on the signature, and sunk senseless on the floor. +She who had borne suffering so well, who had successfully struggled to +conceal every trace of emotion, when affliction was her allotted +portion, was now too weak to bear the sudden transition from such +bitter grief to overwhelming joy. Mr. Hamilton sprung forward; he could +not arrest her fall, but his eye had caught the well-known writing of +him he had believed lay buried in the ocean, and conquering her own +extreme agitation, Mrs. Hamilton compelled herself to think of nothing +but restoring the still senseless girl to life. A few, very few words +told her all. At first Mr. Hamilton's words had been almost inarticulate +from the thankfulness that filled his heart. It was long ere Ellen awoke +to consciousness. Her slight frame was utterly exhausted by its +continued conflict with the mind within, and now that joy had come, that +there was no more need for control or sorrow, her extraordinary energy +of character for the moment fled, and left her in very truth the weak +and loving woman. Before she could restore life to Ellen's inanimate +form, Mrs. Hamilton had time to hear that simple tale of silent +suffering, to feel her bosom glow in increasing love and gratitude +towards the gentle being who for her sake had endured so much. + +"Was it but a dream, or did I not read that Edward lived, was +spared,--that he was not drowned? Oh, tell me, my brain seems still to +swim. Did they not give me a letter signed by him himself? Oh, was it +only fancy?" + +"It is truth, my beloved; the Almighty mercifully stretched forth His +arm and saved him. Should we not give Him thanks, my child?" + +Like dew upon the arid desert, or healing balm to a throbbing wound, so +did those few and simple words fall on Ellen's ear; but the fervent +thanksgiving that rose swelling in her heart, wanted not words to render +it acceptable to Him, whose unbounded mercy she thus acknowledged and +adored. + +Mrs. Hamilton pressed her closer to her bosom, again and again she +kissed her, and tried to speak the words of affectionate soothing, which +seldom failed to restore Ellen to composure. + +"You told me once, my Ellen, that you never, never could repay the large +debt of gratitude you seemed to think you owed me. Do you remember my +saying you could not tell that one day you might make me your debtor, +and are not my words truth? Did I not prophesy rightly? What do I not +owe you, my own love, for sparing me so much anxiety and wretchedness? +Look up and smile, my Ellen, and let us try if we can listen composedly +to our dear Edward's account of his providential escape. If he were near +me I would scold him for giving you such inexpressible joy so suddenly." + +Ellen did look up and did smile, a bright beaming smile of chastened +happiness, and again and again did she read over that letter, as if it +were tidings too blessed to be believed, as if it could not be Edward +himself who had written. His letter was hasty, nor did he enter into +very many particulars, which, to render a particular part of our tale +intelligible, we must relate at large in another chapter. This epistle +was dated from Rio Janeiro, and written evidently under the idea that +his sister had received a former letter containing every minutiae of his +escape, which he had forwarded to her, under cover to Captain Seaforth, +only seven days after his supposed death. Had the captain received this +letter, all anxiety would have been spared, for as he did not write to +Mr. Hamilton for above a week after Edward's disappearance, it would +have reached him first; it was therefore very clear it had been lost on +its way, and Edward fearing such might be the case, from the uncertain +method by which it had been sent, wrote again. He had quite recovered, +he said, all ill effects from being so long floating in the water on a +narrow plank; that he was treated with marked kindness and attention by +all the crew of the Alma, a Spanish vessel bound to Rio Janeiro and +thence to New York, particularly by an Englishman, Lieutenant Mordaunt, +to whose energetic exertions he said he greatly owed his preservation; +for it was he who had prevailed on the captain to lower a boat, to +discover what that strange object was floating on the waves. He +continued, there was something about Lieutenant Mordaunt he could not +define, but which had the power of irresistibly attracting his respect, +if not affection. His story he believed was uncommon, but he had not yet +heard it all, and had no time to repeat it, as he was writing in great +haste. Affectionately he hoped no alarm amongst his friends had been +entertained on his account, that it would not be long before he returned +home; for as soon as the slow-sailing Spaniard could finish her affairs +with the ports along the coast of Spanish America and reach New York, +Lieutenant Mordaunt and himself had determined on quitting her, and +returning to England by the first packet that sailed. A letter to New +York might reach him, but it was a chance; therefore he did not expect +to receive any certain intelligence of home--a truth which only made him +the more anxious to reach it. + +Quickly the news that Edward Fortescue lived, and was returning home in +perfect health, extended far and wide, and brought joy to all who heard +it. A messenger was instantly despatched to Trevilion Vicarage to +impart the joyful intelligence to Arthur and Emmeline, and the next day +saw them both at Oakwood to rejoice with Ellen at this unexpected but +most welcome news. There was not one who had been aware of the suspense +Mr. Hamilton and Ellen had been enduring who did not sympathise in their +relief. Even Mrs. Greville left her solitary home to seek the friends of +her youth: she had done so previously when affliction was their portion. +She had more than once shared Ellen's anxious task of nursing, when Mrs. +Hamilton's fever had been highest; kindly and judiciously she had +soothed in grief, and Mrs. Greville's character was too unselfish to +refuse her sympathy in joy. + +A few weeks after the receipt of that letter, Mr. Hamilton, his wife, +and Ellen removed to a beautiful little villa in the neighbourhood of +Richmond, where they intended to pass some of the winter months. A +change was desirable, indeed requisite for all. But a short interval had +passed since the death of their beloved Herbert, and there were many +times when the parents' hearts yet painfully bled, and each felt +retirement, the society of each other, and sometimes of their most +valued friends, the exercise of domestic and religious duties, would be +the most efficient means of acquiring that peace of which even the +greatest affliction cannot deprive the truly religious mind. At +Christmas, St. Eval had promised his family should join them, and all +looked forward to that period with pleasure. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + +Although we are as much averse to retrospection in a tale as our readers +can be, yet to retrace our steps for a short interval is a necessity. +Edward had written highly of Lieutenant Mordaunt, but as he happens to +be a personage of rather more consequence to him than young Fortescue +imagined, we must be allowed to introduce him more intimately to our +readers. + +It was the evening after that in which Lieutenant Fortescue had so +rashly encountered the storm, that a Spanish vessel, of ill-shaped bulk +and of some hundred tons, was slowly pursuing her course from the coast +of Guinea towards Rio Janeiro. The sea was calm, almost motionless, +compared with its previous fearful agitation. The sailors were gaily +employed in their various avocations, declaring loudly that this respite +of calm was entirely owing to the interposition of St. Jago in their +favour, he being the saint to whom they had last appealed during the +continuance of the tempest. Aloof from the crew, and leaning against a +mast, stood one apparently very different to those by whom he was +surrounded. It was an English countenance, but embrowned almost to a +swarthy hue, from continued exposure to a tropical sun. Tall and +remarkably well formed, he might well have been supposed of noble birth; +there were, however, traces of long-continued suffering imprinted on his +manly face and in his form, which sometimes was slightly bent, as if +from weakness rather than from age. His dark brown hair was in many +parts silvered with grey, which made him appear as if he had seen some +fifty years at least; though at times, by the expression of his +countenance, he might have been thought full ten years younger. +Melancholy was the characteristic of his features; but his eye would +kindle and that cheek flush, betraying that a high, warm spirit still +lurked within, one which a keen observer might have fancied had been +suppressed by injury and suffering. It was in truth a countenance on +which a physiognomist or painter would have loved to dwell, for both +would have found in it an interest they could scarcely have defined. + +Thus resting in meditative silence, Lieutenant Mordaunt's attention was +attracted by a strange object floating on the now calm ocean. There were +no ships near, and Mordaunt felt his eyes fascinated in that direction, +and looking still more attentively, he felt convinced it was a human +body secured to a plank. He sought the captain instantly, and used every +persuasion humanity could dictate to urge him to lower a boat. For some +time he entreated in vain. Captain Bartholomew said it was mere folly to +think there was any chance of saving a man's life, who had been so long +tossed about on the water, it would be only detaining him for nothing; +his ship was already too full either for comfort or profit, and he would +not do it. + +Fire flashed from the dark eyes of Mordaunt at the captain's positive +and careless language, and he spoke again with all the spirited +eloquence of a British sailor. He did not spare the cruel recklessness +that could thus refuse to save a fellow-creature's life, merely because +it might occasion a little delay and trouble. Captain Bartholomew looked +at him in astonishment; he little expected such a burst of indignant +feeling from one whose melancholy and love of solitude he had despised; +and, without answering a word, led the way to the deck, looked in the +direction of the plank, which had now floated near enough to the ship +for the body of Edward to be clearly visible upon it, and then instantly +commanded a boat to be lowered and bring it on board. + +"It will be but taking him out of the sea to plunge him back again, +Señor," he said, in Spanish, to the Lieutenant, who was now anxiously +watching the proceedings of the sailors, who, more active than their +captain, had carefully laid the plank and its burden at the bottom of +the boat, and were now rapidly rowing to the ship. "Never was death more +clearly imprinted on a man's countenance than it is there, but have your +own will; only do not ask me to keep a dead man on board, I should have +my men mutiny in a twinkling." + +Mordaunt made him no answer, but hastened towards the gangway, where the +men were now ascending. They carefully unloosed the bonds that attached +the body to the plank, and laid him on a pile of cushions where the +light of the setting sun shone full on his face and form. One glance +sufficed for Mordaunt to perceive he was an English officer; another +caused him to start some paces back in astonishment. As the youth thus +lay, the deadly paleness of his countenance, the extreme fairness of his +throat and part of his neck, which, as the sailors hastily untied his +neckcloth and opened his jacket, were fully exposed to view, the +beautifully formed brow strewed by thick masses of golden curls gave him +so much the appearance of a delicate female, that the sailors looked +humorously at each other, as if wondering what right he had to a +sailor's jacket; but Mordaunt's eyes never moved from him. Thoughts came +crowding over him, so full of youth, of home and joy, that tears gushed +to his eyes, tears which had not glistened there for many a long year; +and yet he knew not wherefore, he knew not, he could not, had he been +asked, have defined the cause of that strong emotion; but the more he +looked upon that beautiful face, the faster and thicker came those +visions on his soul. Memories came rushing back, days of his fresh and +happy boyhood, affections, long slumbering, recalled in all their +purity, and his bosom yearned towards home, as if no time had elapsed +since last he had beheld it, as if he should find all those he loved +even as he had left them. And what had brought them back? who was the +youth on whom he gazed, and towards whom he felt affection strangely and +suddenly aroused, affection so powerful, he could not shake it off? +Nothing in all probability to him; and vainly he sought to account for +the emotions those bright features awakened within him. Rousing himself, +as symptoms of life began to appear in the exhausted form before him, he +desired that the youth might be carried to his own cabin. He was his +countryman, he said; an officer of equal rank it appeared, from his +epaulette, and he should not feel comfortable were he under the care of +any other. On bearing him from the deck to the cabin, a small volume +fell from his loosened vest, which Mordaunt raised from the ground with +some curiosity, to know what could be so precious to a youthful sailor. +It was a pocket Bible, so much resembling one Mordaunt possessed +himself, that scarcely knowing what he was about, he drew it from his +pocket to compare them. "How can I be so silly?" he thought; "is there +anything strange in two English Bibles resembling each other?" He +replaced his own, opened the other, and started in increased amazement. +"Charles Manvers!" he cried, as that name met his eye. "Merciful +heaven! who is this youth? to whom would this Bible ever have been +given?" So great was his agitation, that it was with difficulty he read +the words which were written beneath. + +"Edward Fortescue! oh, when will that name rival his to whom this book +once belonged? I may be as brave a sailor, but what will make me as good +a man? This Sacred Book, he loved it, and so will I." Underneath, and +evidently added at a later period, was the following: + +"I began to read this for the sake of those beloved ones to whom I knew +it was all in all. I thought, for its own sake, it would never have +become the dear and sacred volume they regarded it, but I am mistaken; +how often has it soothed me in my hour of temptation, guided me in my +duties, restrained my angry moments, and brought me penitent and humble +to the footstool of my God. Oh, my beloved Ellen, had this been my +companion three years ago as it is now, what misery I should have spared +you." + +Other memorandums in the same style were written in the blank leaves +which appeared attached for the purpose, but it so happened that not one +of them solved the mystery which so completely puzzled Mordaunt. The +name of Fortescue was utterly unknown to him, and increased the mystery +of the youth's having produced such a strange effect upon his mind. +There were many names introduced in these memorandums, but they +explained nothing; one only struck him, it was one which in his hours of +suffering, of slavery, ever sounded in his ear, the fondly-remembered +name of her whom he longed to clasp to his aching heart--it was +_Emmeline_; and as he read it, the same gush of memory came over him as +when he first gazed on Edward. In vain reason whispered there were many, +very many Emmelines in his native land; that name only brought one to +his remembrance. Though recovering, the youth was still much too weak +and exhausted to attempt speaking, and Mordaunt watched by his couch for +one day and two nights, ere the surgeon permitted him to ask a question +or Edward to answer it. Often, however, during that interval had the +young stranger turned his bright blue eyes with a look of intelligence +and feeling on him who attended him with the care of a father, and the +colour, the expression of those eyes seemed to thrill to Mordaunt's +heart, and speak even yet more forcibly of days gone by. + +"Let me write but two lines, to tell Captain Seaforth I am safe and +well," said Edward impetuously, as he sprung with renewed spirits from +the couch on which he had been so long an unwilling prisoner. + +"And how send it, my young friend? There is not a vessel within sight on +the wide sea." + +Edward uttered an exclamation of impatience, then instantly checking +himself, said, with a smile-- + +"Forgive me, sir; I should think only of my merciful preservation, and +of endeavouring to express in some manner my obligations to you, to +whose generous exertions, blessed as they were by heaven, I owe my life. +Oh, would that my aunt and sister were near me, their gratitude for the +preservation of one whom they perhaps too fondly and too partially love, +would indeed be gratifying to feelings such as yours. I can feel what I +owe you, Lieutenant Mordaunt, but I cannot express myself sufficiently +in words." + +"In the name of heaven, young man, in pity tell me who you are!" gasped +Mordaunt, almost inarticulately, as he grasped Edward's hand and gazed +intently on his face; for every word he spoke, heightened by the +kindling animation of his features, appeared to render that +extraordinary likeness yet more perfect. + +"Edward Fortescue is my name." + +"But your mother's, boy,--your mother's? I ask not from idle curiosity." + +"She was the youngest daughter of Lord Delmont, Eleanor Manvers." + +Mordaunt gazed yet more intently on the youth, then hoarsely murmuring, +"I knew it,--it was no fancy," sunk back almost overpowered with +momentary agitation. Recovering himself almost instantly, and before +Edward could give vent to his surprise and sympathy in words, he asked, +"Is Lord Delmont yet alive? I knew him once; he was a kind old man." His +lip quivered, so as almost to prevent the articulation of his words. + +"Oh, no; the departure of my mother for India was a trial he never +recovered, and the intelligence that his only son, a noble and gallant +officer, perished with the crew of the Leander, finally broke his heart; +he never held up his head again, and died a very few months afterwards." + +Mordaunt buried his face in his hands, and for several minutes remained +silent, as if struggling with some powerful emotion, then asked, "You +spoke only of your aunt and sister. Does not your mother live?" + +"She died when I was little more than eleven years old, and my sister +scarcely ten. My father, Colonel Fortescue, dying in India, she could +not bear to remain there, but we were compelled to take refuge off the +coast of Wales from the storms which had arisen, and then she had only +time to give us to the care of her sister, for whom she had sent, and +died in her arms." + +"And is it her sister, or your father's, of whom you spoke just now?" + +"Hers--Mrs. Hamilton." + +"Hamilton, and she lives still! you said you knew her," repeated +Mordaunt, suddenly springing up and speaking in a tone of animation, +that bewildered Edward almost as much as his former agitation. "Speak of +her, young man; tell me something of her. Oh, it is long since I have +heard her name." + +"Did you know my aunt? I have never heard her mention your name, +Lieutenant Mordaunt." + +"Very likely not," he replied, and a faint smile played round his lip, +creating an expression which made young Fortescue start, for the +features seemed familiar to him. "It was only in my boyhood that I knew +her, and she was kind to me. We do not easily forget the associations of +our boyhood, my young friend, particularly when manhood has been a +dreary blank, or tinged with pain. In my hours of slavery, the smile and +look of Emmeline Manvers has often haunted my waking and my sleeping +dreams; but she is married--is in all probability a happy wife and +loving mother; prosperity is around her, and it is most likely she has +forgotten the boy to whom her kindness was so dear." + +"Hours of slavery?" asked Edward, for those words had alone riveted his +attention. "Can you, a free and British sailor, have ever been a slave?" + +"Even so, my young friend; for seven years I languished in the +loathsome dungeons of Algiers, and the last sixteen years have been a +slave." + +Edward grasped his hand with an uncontrollable impulse, while at the +same moment he clenched his sword, and his countenance expressed the +powerful indignation of his young and gallant spirit, though words for +the moment he had none. Lieutenant Mordaunt again smiled--that smile +which by some indefinable power inspired Edward with affection and +esteem. + +"I am free now, my gallant boy," he said; "free as if the galling +fetters of slavery had never bowed down my neck. Another day you shall +hear more. Now gratify me by some account of your aunt; speak of +her--tell me if she have children--if her husband still lives. If Mrs. +Hamilton is still the same gentle, affectionate being--the same firm, +unflinching character, when duty called her, as the Emmeline Manvers it +was once my joy to know." + +With an animation that again riveted the eyes of Lieutenant Mordaunt on +his countenance, Edward eagerly entered on the subject. No other could +have been dearer to him; Mordaunt could have fixed on few which would +thus have called forth the eloquence of his young companion. Sailor as +he was, truly enthusiastic in his profession, yet home to Edward still +possessed invincible attractions, and the devoted affection, gratitude, +and reverence he felt for his aunt appeared to increase with his years. +Neither Percy nor Herbert could have loved her more. He spoke as he +felt; he told of all he owed her, and not only himself but his orphan +sister; he said that as a mother she had been to them both, that never +once had she made the slightest difference between them and her own +children. He painted in vivid colours the domestic joys of Oakwood, the +affectionate harmony that reigned there, till Mordaunt felt his eyes +glisten with emotion, and ere that conversation ceased, all that +affection which for many a long and weary year had pined for some one on +which to expend its force, now centred in the noble youth of whose +preservation he had been so strangely and providentially an instrument. +To Edward it was not in the least strange, that any one who had once +known his aunt, it mattered not how many years previous, should still +retain a lively remembrance of her, and wish to know more concerning +her, and his feelings were strongly excited towards one, whose interest +in all that concerned her was evidently so great. His first letter to +his family, which he enclosed in one to his captain, spoke very much of +Lieutenant Mordaunt, wondering that his aunt had never mentioned one who +remembered her so well. This letter, as we know, was never received, and +the next he wrote was too hurried to enter into particulars, except +those that related to himself alone. When he again wrote home, he had +become so attached and so used to Mordaunt, that he fancied he must be +as well known to his family as himself, and though he mentioned his name +repeatedly, he did not think of inquiring anything concerning him. + +The able activity as a sailor, the graceful, courteous manner of Edward +as a man, soon won him the hearts of Captain Bartholomew and all his +crew. Ever the first when there was anything to be done on board or on +shore, lively, high-spirited, and condescending, his appearance on deck +after any absence was generally acknowledged with respect. The various +characters thus presented to his notice in the Spanish crew, the many +ports he touched at, afforded him continual and exciting amusement, +although his thoughts very often lingered on his darling "Gem," with the +ardent desire to be once more doing his duty on her decks. But amid all +these changing scenes, Edward and his friend, diverse as were their ages +and apparently their dispositions, became almost inseparable. An +irresistible impulse urged Edward repeatedly to talk to him of his home, +till Mordaunt became intimately acquainted with every member of the +family. Of Herbert, Edward would speak with enthusiasm; he little knew, +poor fellow, that the cousin whose character he almost venerated was +gone to his last home, that he should never see him more. Letters +detailing that melancholy event had been forwarded to the Gem, arriving +there just one week after the young sailor's disappearance; and, when +informed of his safety, Captain Seaforth, then on his way to England, +had no opportunity of forwarding them to him. His repeated mention of +Herbert in his letters home, his anxious desire to hear something of +him, were most painful to his family, and Ellen was more than ever +anxious he should receive the account ere he returned. + +Among other subjects discussed between them, Mordaunt once asked Edward +who now bore the title of Lord Delmont, and had appeared somewhat +agitated when told the title was now extinct, and had become so from the +melancholy death of the promising young nobleman on whom it had +devolved. + +"Sir George Wilmot is out in his prognostication then," he observed, +after a pause. "I remember, when a youngster under his command, hearing +him repeatedly prophesy that a Delmont would revive the honour of his +ancient house by naval fame. Poor Charles was ever his favourite amongst +us." + +"You were my uncle's messmate then," said Edward, in a tone of surprise +and joy. "Why did you not tell me this before, that I might ask all the +questions I long to know concerning him?" + +"And what have you heard of Charles to call for this extreme interest?" +replied Mordaunt, with his peculiar smile. "I should have thought that +long ere this my poor friend had been forgotten in his native land." + +"Forgotten! and by a sister who doted on him; who has never ceased to +lament his melancholy fate; who ever held him up to my young fancy as +one of those whom it should be my glory to resemble. Did you know my +aunt, as, by two or three things I have heard you say, I fancy you must, +you could never suspect her of forgetting one she loved as she did her +brother. My uncle Charles is enshrined in her memory too fondly for time +to efface it." + +Tears rose to Mordaunt's eager eyes at these words; he turned aside a +moment to conceal his agitation, then asked if Sir George Wilmot ever +spoke of Manvers. Animatedly Edward related the old Admiral's agitation +the first night he had seen him at Oakwood; how feelingly he had spoken +of one, whom he said he had ever regarded as the adopted son of his +affections, the darling of his childless years, his gallant, merry +Charles. Mordaunt twined his arm in Edward's, and looked up in his face, +as if to thank him for the consolation his words imparted. Again was +there an expression in his countenance, which sent a thrill to the young +man's heart, but vainly he tried to discover wherefore. + +We may here perhaps relate in a very few words Mordaunt's tale of +suffering, which he imparted at different times to Edward. The wreck of +the vessel to which he belonged had cast him, with one or two others of +his hapless companions, on the coast of Morocco and Algiers. There they +were seized by the cruel Moors, and carried as spies before the Dey, and +by his command immured in the dungeons of the fortress where many +unhappy captives were also confined, and had been for many years. For +eight years he was an inmate of these horrible prisons, a sickening +witness of many of those tortures and cruelties which were inflicted on +his fellow-prisoners, and often on himself. All those at all acquainted +with the bombardment of Algiers, so ably carried on by Admiral Sir +Edward Pellew, afterwards Viscount Exmouth, an entreprise which was +entered on to avenge the atrocious indignities practised by the Dey on +all the unfortunate foreigners that visited his coast, can well imagine +the sufferings Mordaunt had not only to witness but to endure. On the +first report of a hostile fleet appearing off the coast of Barbary, the +most active and able of the prisoners were marched out to various +markets and there sold as slaves. Mordaunt was one of these: +imprisonment and suffering had not quenched his youthful spirit, nor so +bowed his frame as to render him incapable of energy. Scarcely twenty +when this cruel reverse of fortune overtook him, the tortures of his +mind during the eight, nearly nine, years of his captivity may be better +conceived than described. He had entered prison a boy, with all the +fresh, elastic buoyancy of youth, he quitted it a man; but, oh, how was +that manhood's prime, to which in his visions of futurity he had looked +with such bright anticipation as the zenith of his naval fame, now +about to pass? as a slave; exposed to increased oppression and indignity +on account of his religion, which he had inwardly vowed never to give +up. He secured the Bible, which had first been a treasure to him merely +as the gift of a beloved sister, and throughout all his change of +destiny it was never taken from him. To submit calmly to slavery, +Mordaunt felt at first his spirit never could, and various were the +schemes he planned, and in part executed, towards obtaining his freedom, +but all were eventually frustrated by the observation of his masters, +who were too well accustomed to insubordination on the part of their +slaves for such attempts to cause them much trouble or uneasiness. Still +Mordaunt despaired not; still was the hope of freedom uppermost in his +breast, even when he became the property of a Turk, who, had he been but +a Christian, Mordaunt declared, must have commanded his reverence if not +his affection. Five times he had been exposed for sale, and each master +had appeared to him more cruel and oppressive than the last. To relate +all he suffered would occupy a much larger portion of our tale than we +could allow, but they were such that any one but Mordaunt would have +felt comparative contentment and happiness when changed for the service +of Mahommed Ali, an officer of eminence in the court of Tunis. He was +indeed one who might well exemplify the assertion, that in all religions +there is some good. Suffering and sorrow were aliens from his roof, +misery approached not his doors, and Mordaunt had, in fact, been +purchased from motives of compassion, which his evident wretchedness, +both bodily and mental, had excited; to cure his bodily ills no kindly +attention was spared, but vainly Mahommed Ali sought to lessen the load +of anguish he saw imprinted on the brow of his Christian captive. +Mordaunt's noble spirit was touched by the indulgence and kindness he +received, and he made no effort to escape, for he felt it would be but +an ungenerous, dishonourable return--but still he was a slave. No +fetters galled his limbs, but the fetters of slavery galled his spirits +with a deep anguish; no taskmaster was now set over him with the knotted +whip, to spur on each slackening effort; but the groan which no bodily +suffering could wring, which he had suppressed, lest his persecutors +should triumph, now burst from his sorrowing heart, and scalding drops +stole down his cheeks, when he deemed no eye was near. Slavery, slavery +seemed his for ever, and each fond vision of his native land and all he +loved but added to the burden on his soul. + +Mahommed at length became so deeply interested in his Christian slave, +that he offered him freedom, wealth, distinction, his own friendship and +support, all on the one, he thought, simple and easy condition of giving +up his country and his faith, and embracing the one holy creed of +Mahomet. In kindness was the offer made, but mournfully, yet with a +steadiness that gave no hope of change, was it refused; vainly Mahommed +urged the happiness its acceptance would bring, that he knew not all he +so rashly refused; still he wavered not, and Ali with a weary heart gave +up the attempt. Time passed, but its fleeting years reconciled not +Mordaunt to his situation, nor lessened the kindly interest he excited +in the heart of the good old man; and when at length it happened that +Mordaunt, almost unconsciously to himself, became the fortunate +instrument of reconciling some affairs of his master, which were in +confusion, and had been so for years, when, among many other unexpected +services which it had been in his power to perform, he rescued the +favourite son of Mahommed from an infuriated tiger, which had +unexpectedly sprung upon him during a hunting expedition, the old man +could contain his wishes no longer, but gave him his freedom on the +spot. Unconditional liberty to return to his native land was very soon +after accorded, and loading him with rich gifts, Ali himself accompanied +him to the deck of the Alma, which was the only vessel then starting +from the coast of Guinea, where Mahommed in general resided. Mordaunt +was too impatient to wait for an English vessel, nor did he wish to +incur the risk of encountering any hostile to his interests, by crossing +the country and embarking from Algiers or Tunis. While in Africa he felt +that the chain of slavery still hovered round his neck. He could not +feel himself once more a freeborn Briton till he was indeed on the +bounding ocean. + +Once on the way to Europe, there was hope, even though that way was by +America. He parted from his former master, now his friend, with a +feeling of regret; but the fresh breezes, the consciousness he stood on +deck free as the wind, free as the ocean that bore him onward to his +native land, removed from his mind all lingering dread, and filled his +soul with joy; but the human heart is not now in a state to feel for any +length of time unchecked happiness. Four-and-twenty years had elapsed +since Mordaunt had been imagined dead; six-and-twenty since he had +departed from his native land, and had last beheld his friends he so +dearly loved. He might return, and be by all considered an intruder, +perhaps not recognised, his tale not believed; he might see his family +scattered, all of them with new ties, new joys, and with no place for +the long-absent exile. The thought was anguish, but Mordaunt had weakly +indulged it too long to enable him at first to conquer it, even when +Edward's tale of the fond remembrance in which his uncle was held by all +who had loved him, unconsciously penetrated his soul with a sense of the +injustice he had done his friends, and brought consolation with it. + +These facts, which we have so briefly thrown together, formed most +interesting subjects to Edward many times during his voyage to New York. +Edward hung as in fascination on the stranger's history, innate +nobleness was stamped in every word. More than once the thought struck +him that he was more than what he appeared to be, but Edward knew he had +a slight tendency towards romance in his composition, and fearful of +lowering himself in the estimation of his newfound friend by the avowal +of such fanciful sentiments, he kept them to himself. + +At length the wished-for port to both the Englishmen (New York) was +gained, and their passage secured in the first packet sailing for +England. Edward's heart beat high with anticipated pleasure; he longed +to introduce his new friend to his family, and his bright anticipations +shed a kindred glow over the mind of Mordaunt, who had now become so +devotedly attached to the youth, that he could scarcely bear him out of +his sight; and had he wanted fresh incentive to affection, the deep +affliction of the young sailor on receiving the intelligence of his +cousin Herbert's death, would have been sufficient. Edward had one day +sought the post-office, declaring, however, that it was quite +impossible such increased joy could be in store for him, as a letter +from home. There were two instead of one: one from his aunt and uncle, +the other from his sister; the black seal painfully startled him. +Mourning for poor Mary is over long ere this, he thought, and scarcely +had he strength to break the seal, and when he had read the fatal news, +he sat for some time as if overwhelmed with the sudden and unexpected +blow. + +Mordaunt's words of consolation fell at first unheeded on his ear; it +was not for Herbert alone he sorrowed, it was for his aunt. He knew how +devotedly she loved her son, and though she did not write much on the +actual loss she had sustained, yet every word seemed to reach his heart, +and Edward leaned his head upon the paper, and wept like a child. +Herbert, the bright, the good, the gentle companion of his boyhood, the +faithful friend of his maturer years, had he indeed gone--his place +would know him no more? And oh, how desolate must Oakwood seem. Percy, +though in affection for his parents and his family, in his devoted +attention to their comfort, equalled only by his brother, yet never +could he be to Oakwood as Herbert. He was as the brilliant planet, +shedding lustre indeed on all over whom it gleamed, but never still, +continually roving, changing its course, as if its light would be more +glittering from such unsteady movements; but Herbert was as the mild and +lucid star, stationary in its appointed orbit, gilding all things with +its mellow light, but darting its most intense and radiant lustre on +that home which was to him indeed the centre-point of love. Such was the +description of his two cousins given by Edward to his sympathising +companion, and Mordaunt looked on the young sailor in wondering +admiration. Eagerly, delightedly, he had perused the letters, which +Edward intrusted to him; that of Mrs. Hamilton was pressed to his lips, +but engrossed in his own thoughts, Edward observed him not. Sadness +lingered on Edward's heart during the whole of that voyage homeward; his +conversation was tinged with the same spirit, but it brought out so many +points of his character, which in his joyous moods Mordaunt never could +have discovered, that the links of that strangely-aroused affection +became even stronger than before. Edward returned his regard with all +the warmth of his enthusiastic nature strengthened by the manner in +which his letters from home alluded to Lieutenant Mordaunt as his +preserver; and before their voyage was completed, Mordaunt, in +compliance with the young man's earnest entreaty, consented to accompany +him, in the first place, to Richmond, whence Edward promised, after +introducing him to his family, and finding him a safe harbour there, he +would leave no stone unturned to discover every possible information +concerning Mordaunt's family. That same peculiar smile curled the +stranger's lips as Edward thus animatedly spoke, and he promised +unqualified compliance. + +Having thus brought Edward and his friend within but a few weeks' voyage +to England, we may now leave them and return to Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton, +who were both rejoicing in the improved looks of their niece at +Richmond. + +The delightful calmness of their beautiful retreat, the suspension of +all anxiety, the total change of scene which was around them, had done +much towards restoring peace, not only to Ellen but to her aunt. The +feeling that she was now indeed called upon to fulfil the promise she +had made to Herbert, that the enjoyment and cheerfulness of home +depended on her alone, had inspired exertions which had partially +enabled her to conquer her own grief; and every week seemed to bring +forward some new quality, of which her relatives imagined they must have +been ignorant before. Ellen's character was one not to attract at first, +but to win affection slowly but surely; her merits were not dazzling, it +was generally long before they were all discovered, but when they were, +they ever commanded reverence and love. In all her children Mrs. +Hamilton felt indeed her cares fully repaid, and in Ellen more, far more +than she had ventured to anticipate. Thus left alone in her filial +cares, Ellen's character appeared different to what it had been when one +of many. Steady, quiet cheerfulness was restored to the hearts of all +who now composed the small domestic circle of Mr. Hamilton's family; +each had their private moments when sorrow for the loss of their beloved +Herbert was indeed recalled in all its bitterness, but such sacred hours +never were permitted to tinge their daily lives with gloom. + +They were now in daily expectation of St. Eval's return to England, with +Miss Manvers, who, at Mrs. Hamilton's particular request, was to join +their family party. An understanding had taken place between her and +Percy, but not yet did either intend their engagement to be known. The +sympathy and affection of Louisa were indeed most soothing to Percy in +this affliction, which, even when months had passed, he could not +conquer, but he could not think of entering into the bonds of marriage, +even with the woman he sincerely loved, till his heart could, in some +degree, recover the deep wound which the death of his only brother had +so painfully inflicted. To his parents indeed, and all his family, he +revealed his engagement, and Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton anxiously anticipated +the return of Lord and Lady St. Eval, to introduce them to the intended +bride of their only son. Their intention was to remain at Richmond till +the spring, when Arthur and his wife would pay their promised visit at +Oakwood, instead of spending the Christmas with them--an arrangement +Emmeline had herself suggested; because, she said, if she and her +husband were away, the family party which had ever assembled at Oakwood +during that festive season would be broken up, and Herbert's absence be +less painfully felt. Mrs. Hamilton noticed it to none, but her +penetration discovered the cause of this change in Emmeline's +intentions, and tears of delicious feeling filled her eyes, as for a +moment she permitted that gentle and affectionate girl to occupy that +thought which she was about to bestow on Herbert. + +"We have received interesting news this morning, my dear Arthur," Mrs. +Hamilton said, as her husband entered the parlour, where she and Ellen +were seated. "Lucy Harcourt is returning to England, and has requested +us to look out for a little cottage for her near Oakwood. The severe +illness, and finally the death of her cousin, Mr. Seymour, has been the +cause of my not hearing from her so long. Poor fellow, he has been for +so many years such a sad sufferer, that a peaceful death must indeed be +a blessed release." + +"It was a peaceful death, Lucy writes, mournfully but resignedly; she +says she cannot be sufficiently thankful that he was spared long enough +to see his daughters would both be happy under her charge. That she had +gained their young affections, and that, as far as mortal eye could see, +by leaving them entirely under her guardianship and maternal care, he +had provided for their happiness. He said this almost with his last +breath; and poor Lucy says that, among her many consolations in this +trying time, this assertion was not one of the least precious to her +heart." + +"No doubt it was. To be the friend and adopted mother of his children +must be one of the many blessings created for herself by her noble +conduct in youth. I am glad now my prophecy was not verified, and that +she never became his wife." + +"Did you ever think she would, uncle?" asked Ellen, surprised. + +"I fancied Seymour must have discovered her affection, and then +admiration on his part would have done the rest. It is, I own, much +better as it is; his children will love her more, regarding her in the +light of his sister and their aunt, than had she become their +stepmother. But why did you seem so surprised at my prophecy, Nelly? Was +there anything very impossible in their union?" + +"Not impossible; but I do not think it likely Miss Harcourt would have +betrayed her affection, at the very time when she was endeavouring to +soothe her cousin for the loss of a beloved wife. She was much more +likely to conceal it, even more effectually than she had ever done +before. Nor do I think it probable Mr. Seymour, accustomed from his very +earliest years to regard her as a sister, could ever succeed in looking +on her in any other light." + +"You seem well skilled in the history of the human heart, my little +Ellen," said her uncle, smiling. "Do you think it then quite impossible +for cousins to love?" + +Ellen bent lower over her embroidery-frame, for she felt a tell-tale +flush was rising to her cheek, and without looking up, replied calmly-- + +"Miss Harcourt is a proof that such love can and does exist--more often, +perhaps, in a woman's heart. In a man seldom, unless educated and living +entirely apart from each other." + +"I think you are right, Ellen," said her aunt. "I never thought, with +your uncle, that Lucy would become Mr. Seymour's wife." + +"Had I prophesied such a thing, uncle, what would you have called me?" +said Ellen, looking up archly from her frame, for the momentary flush +had gone. + +"That it was the prophecy of a most romantic young lady, much more like +Emmeline's heroics than the quiet, sober Ellen," he answered, in the +same tone; "but as my own idea, of course it is wisdom itself. But jokes +apart, as you are so skilled in the knowledge of the human heart, my +dear Ellen, you must know I entered this room to-day for the purpose of +probing your own." + +"Mine!" exclaimed the astonished girl, turning suddenly pale; "what do +you mean?" + +"Only that the Rev. Ernest Lacy has been with me this morning entreating +my permission to address you, and indeed making proposals for your hand. +I told him that my permission he could have, with my earnest wishes for +his success, and that I did not doubt your aunt's consent would be as +readily given. Do not look so terribly alarmed; I told him I could not +let the matter proceed any farther without first speaking to you." + +"Pray let it go no farther, then, my dear uncle," said Ellen, very +earnestly, as her needle fell from her hand, and she turned her eyes +beseechingly on her uncle's face. "I thank Mr. Lacy for the high opinion +he must have of me in making me this offer, but indeed I cannot accept +it. Do not, by your consent, let him encourage hopes which must end in +disappointment." + +"My approbation I cannot withdraw, Ellen, for most sincerely do I esteem +the young man; and there are few whom I would so gladly behold united to +my family as himself. Why do you so positively refuse to hear him? You +may not know him sufficiently now, I grant you, to love him, yet believe +me, the more you know him the more will you find in him both to esteem +and love." + +"I do not doubt it, my dear uncle. He is one among the young men who +visit here whom I most highly esteem, and I should be sorry to lose his +friendship by the refusal of his hand." + +"But why not allow him to plead for himself? You are not one of those +romantic beings, Ellen, who often refuse an excellent offer, because +they imagine they are not violently in love." + +"Pray do not condemn me as such, my dear uncle; indeed, it is not the +case. Mr. Lacy, the little I know of him, appears to possess every +virtue calculated to make an excellent husband. I know no fault to which +I can bring forward any objection; but"-- + +"But what, my dear niece? Surely, you are not afraid of speaking freely +before your aunt and myself?" + +"No, uncle; but I have little to say except that I have no wish to +marry; that it would be more pain to leave you and my aunt than marriage +could ever compensate." + +"Why, Nelly, do you mean to devote yourself to us all your young life, +old and irritable as we shall in all probability become? think again, my +dear girl, many enjoyments, much happiness, as far as human eye can see, +await the wife of Lacy. Emmeline, you are silent; do you not agree with +me in wishing to behold our gentle Ellen the wife of one so universally +beloved as this young clergyman?" + +"Not if her wishes lead her to remain with us, my husband," replied Mrs. +Hamilton, impressively. She had not spoken before, for she had been too +attentively observing the fluctuation of Ellen's countenance; but now +her tone was such as to check the forced smile with which her niece had +tried to reply to Mr. Hamilton's suggestion of becoming old and +irritable, and bring the painfully-checked tears back to her eyes, too +powerfully to be restrained. She tried to retain her calmness, but the +effort was vain, and springing from her seat, she flew to the couch +where her aunt sat, and kneeling by her side, buried her face on her +shoulder, and murmured, almost inaudibly,-- + +"Oh, do not, do not bid me leave you, I am happy here; but elsewhere, +oh, I should be so very, very wretched. I own Mr. Lacy is all that I +could wish for in a husband; precious, indeed, would be his love to any +girl who could return it, but not to me; oh, not to one who can give him +nothing in return." + +She paused abruptly; the crimson had mounted to both cheek and brow, +and the choking sob prevented farther utterance. + +Mrs. Hamilton pressed her lips to Ellen's heated brow in silence, while +her husband looked at his niece in silent amazement. + +"Are your affections then given to another, my dear child?" he said, +gently and tenderly; "but why this overwhelming grief, my Ellen? Surely, +you do not believe we could thwart the happiness of one so dear to us, +by refusing our consent to the man of your choice, if he be worthy of +you? Speak, then, my dear girl, without reserve; who has so secretly +gained your young affections, that for his sake every other offer is +rejected?" + +Ellen raised her head and looked mournfully in her uncle's face. She +tried to obey, but voice for the moment failed. + +"_My love is given to the dead_" she murmured at length, clasping her +aunt's hands in hers, the words slowly falling from her parched lips; +then added, hurriedly, "oh, do not reprove my weakness, I thought my +secret never would have passed my lips in life, but wherefore should I +hide it now? It is no sin to love the dead, though had he lived, never +would I have ceased to struggle till this wild pang was conquered, till +calmly I could have beheld him happy with the wife of his choice, of his +love. Oh, condemn me not for loving one who never thought of me save as +a sister; one whom I knew from his boyhood loved another. None on earth +can tell how I have struggled to subdue myself. I knew not my own heart +till it was too late to school it into apathy. He has gone, but while +my heart still clings to Herbert only, oh, can I give my hand unto +another?" + +"Herbert!" burst from Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton at the same instant, and +Ellen, turning from their glance, hid her flushing and paling cheek in +her hands; for a moment there was silence, and then Mrs. Hamilton drew +the agitated girl closer to her, and murmuring, in a tone of intense +feeling, "my poor, poor Ellen!" mingled a mother's tears with those of +her niece. Mr. Hamilton looked on them both with extreme emotion; his +mind's eye rapidly glanced over the past, and in an instant he saw what +a heavy load of suffering must have been his niece's portion from the +first moment she awoke to the consciousness of her ill-fated love; and +how had she borne it? so uncomplainingly, so cheerfully, that no one +could suspect that inward sorrow. When cheering himself and his wife +under their deep affliction, it was with her own heart breaking all the +while. When inciting Herbert to exertion, during that painful trial +occasioned by his Mary's letter, when doing everything in her power to +secure his happiness, what must have been her own feelings? Yes, in very +truth she had loved, loved with all the purity, the self-devotedness of +woman; and Mr. Hamilton felt that which at the moment he could not +speak. He raised his niece from the ground, where she still knelt beside +her aunt, folded her to his bosom, kissed her tearful cheek, and placing +her in Mrs. Hamilton's arms, hastily left the room. + +The same thoughts had likewise occupied the mind of her aunt, as Ellen +still seemed to cling to her for support and comfort; but they were +mingled with a sensation almost amounting to self-reproach at her own +blindness in not earlier discovering the truth. Why not imagine Ellen's +affections fixed on Herbert as on Arthur Myrvin? both were equally +probable. She could now well understand Ellen's agitation when Herbert's +engagement with Mary was published, when he performed the marriage +ceremony for Arthur and Emmeline; and when Mrs. Hamilton recalled how +completely Ellen had appeared to forget herself, in devotedness to her; +how, instead of weakly sinking beneath her severe trials, she had borne +up through all, had suppressed her own suffering to alleviate those of +others, was it strange, that admiration and respect should mingle with +the love she bore her? that from that hour Ellen appeared dearer to her +aunt than she had ever done before? Nor was it only on this account her +affection increased. For the sake of her beloved son it was that her +niece refused to marry; for love of him, even though he had departed, +her heart rejected every other love; and the fond mother unconsciously +felt soothed, consoled. It seemed a tribute to the memory of her sainted +boy, that he was thus beloved, and she who had thus loved him--oh, was +there not some new and precious link between them? + +It was some time before either could give vent in words to the feelings +that swelled within. Ellen's tears fell fast and unrestrainedly on the +bosom of her aunt, who sought not to check them, for she knew how +blessed they must be to one who so seldom wept; and they were blessed, +for a heavy weight seemed removed from the orphan's heart, the torturing +secret was revealed; she might weep now without restraint, and never +more would her conduct appear mysterious either to her aunt or uncle. +They now knew it was no caprice that bade her refuse every offer of +marriage that was made her. How that treasured secret had escaped her +she knew not; she had been carried on by an impulse she could neither +resist nor understand. At the first, a sensation of shame had +overpowered her, that she could thus have given words to an unrequited +affection; but ere long, the gentle soothing of her aunt caused that +painful feeling to pass away. Consoling, indeed, was the voice of +sympathy on a subject which to another ear had never been disclosed. It +was some little time ere she could conquer her extreme agitation, her +overcharged heart released from its rigorous restraint, appeared to +spurn all effort of control; but after that day no violent emotion +disturbed the calm serenity that resumed its sway. Never again was the +subject alluded to in that little family circle, but the whole conduct +of her aunt and uncle evinced they felt for and with their Ellen; +confidence increased between them, and after the first few days, the +orphan's life was more calmly happy than it had been for many a long +year. + +The return of Lord St. Eval's family to England, and their meeting with +Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton, was attended with some alloy. Caroline and her +parents had not met since the death of Herbert, and that affliction +appeared at the first moment recalled in all its bitterness. The +presence of a comparative stranger, as was Miss Manvers, did much +towards calming the excited feelings of each, and the exertions of Lord +St. Eval and Ellen restored composure and cheerfulness sooner than they +could have anticipated. + +With Miss Manvers Mrs. Hamilton was much pleased. Gentle and unassuming, +she won her way to every heart that knew her; she was the only remaining +scion of Mrs. Hamilton's own family, and she felt pleased that by her +union with Percy the families of Manvers and Hamilton would be yet more +closely connected. She had regretted much, at a former time, the +extinction of the line of Delmont; for she had recalled those visions of +her girlhood, when she had looked to her brother to support the ancient +line, and gilding it with naval honours, bid it stand forth as it had +done some centuries before. Mrs. Hamilton had but little of what is +termed family pride, but these feelings were associated with the brother +whom she had so dearly loved, and whose loss she so painfully deplored. + +The season of Christmas passed more cheerfully than Ellen had dared to +hope. The scene was entirely changed; never before had they passed a +Christmas anywhere but at Oakwood, and that simple circumstance +prevented the void in that domestic circle from being so sadly felt. +That Herbert was in the thoughts of all his family, that it was an +effort for them to retain the cheerfulness which in them was ever the +characteristic of the season, we will not deny, but affliction took not +from the calm beauty which ever rested round Mr. Hamilton's hearth. All +appeared as if an even more hallowed and mellowed light was cast around +them; for it displayed, even more powerfully than when unalloyed +prosperity was their portion, the true beauty of the religious +character. Herbert and Mary were not lost to them; they were but removed +to another sphere, that eternal Home, to which all who loved them looked +with an eye of faith. + +Sir George Wilmot was the only guest at Richmond during the Christmas +season, but so long had he been a friend of the family and of Lord +Delmont's, when Mrs. Hamilton was a mere child, that he could scarcely +be looked on in the light of a mere guest. The kind old man had sorrowed +deeply for Herbert's death, had felt himself attracted even more +irresistibly to his friends in their sorrow than even in their joy, and +so constantly had he been invited to make his stay at Mr. Hamilton's +residence, wherever that might be, that he often declared he had now no +other home. The tale of Edward's peril interested him much; he would +make Ellen repeat it over and over again, and admire the daring rashness +which urged the young sailor not to defer his return to his commander, +even though a storm was threatening around him; and when Mr. Hamilton +related the story of Ellen's fortitude in bearing as she did this +painful suspense, the old man would conceal his admiration of his young +friend under a joke, and laughingly protest she was as fitted to be a +gallant sailor as her noble brother. + +On the character of the young heir of Oakwood the death of his brother +appeared to have made an impression, which neither time nor +circumstances could efface. He was not outwardly sad, but his volatile +nature appeared departed. He was no longer the same wild, boisterous +youth, ever on the look-out for some change, some new diversion or +practical joke, which had been his characteristics while Herbert lived. +A species of quiet dignity was now his own, combined with a devotedness +to his parents, which before had never been so distinctly visible. He +had ever loved them, ever sought their happiness, their wishes in +preference to his own. Herbert himself had not surpassed him in filial +love and reverence, but now, though his feelings were the same, their +expression was different; cheerful and animated he still was, but the +ringing laugh which had so often echoed through the halls of Oakwood had +gone. It seemed as if the death of a brother so beloved, had suddenly +transformed Percy Hamilton from the wild and thoughtless +pleasure-seeking, joke-loving lad into the calm and serious man. To the +eyes of his family, opposite as the brothers in youth had been, there +were now many points of Herbert's character reflected upon Percy, and +dearer than ever he became; and the love which had been excited in the +gentle heart of Louisa Manvers by the wild spirits, the animation, the +harmless recklessness, the freedom of thought and word, which had +characterised Percy, when she first knew him, was purified and +heightened by the calm dignity, the more serious thought, the solid +qualities of the virtuous and honourable man. + +Lieutenant Fortescue was now daily expected in England, much to the +delight of his family and Sir George Wilmot, who declared he should have +no peace till he was introduced to the preserver of his gallant boy, as +he chose to call Edward. Lieutenant Mordaunt; he never heard of such a +name, and he was quite sure he had never been a youngster in his +cockpit. "What does he mean by saying he knows me, that he sailed with +me, when a mid? he must be some impostor, Mistress Nell, take my word +for it," Sir George would laughingly say, and vow vengeance on Ellen, +for daring to doubt the excellence of his memory; as she one day +ventured to hint that it was so very many years, it was quite impossible +Sir George could remember the names of all the middies under him. It was +much more probable, Sir George would retort, that slavery had +bewildered the poor man's understanding, and that he fancied he was +acquainted with the first English names he heard. + +"Never mind, Nell, he has been a slave, poor fellow, so we will not +treat him as an impostor, the first moment he reaches his native land," +was the general conclusion of the old Admiral's jokes, as each day +increased his impatience for Edward's return. + +He was gratified at length, and as generally happens, when least +expected, for protesting he would not be impatient any more, he amused +himself by setting little Lord Lyle on his knee, and was so amused by +the child's playful prattle and joyous laugh, that he forgot to watch at +the window, which was his general post. Ellen was busily engaged in +nursing Caroline's babe, now about six months old. + +"Give me Mary, Ellen," said the young Earl, entering the room, with +pleasure visibly impressed on his features. "You will have somebody else +to kiss in a moment, and unless you can bear joy as composedly as you +can sorrow, why I tremble for the fate of my little Mary." + +"What do you mean, St. Eval? you shall not take my baby from me, unless +you can give me a better reason." + +"I mean that Edward will be here in five minutes, if he be not already. +Ah, Ellen, you will resign Mary now. Come to me, little lady," and the +young father caught his child from Ellen's trembling hands, and dancing +her high in the air, was rewarded by her loud crow of joy. + +In another minute, Edward was in the room, and clasped to his sister's +beating heart. It was an agitating moment, for it seemed to Ellen's +excited fancy that Edward was indeed restored to her from the dead, he +had not merely returned from a long and dangerous voyage. The young +sailor, as he released her from his embrace, looked with an uncontrolled +impulse round the room. All were not there he loved; he did not miss +Emmeline, but Herbert--oh, his gentle voice was not heard amongst the +many that crowded round to greet him. He looked on his aunt, her deep +mourning robe, he thought her paler, thinner than he had ever seen her +before, and the impetuous young man could not be restrained, he flung +himself within her extended arms, and burst into tears. + +Mr. Hamilton hastened towards them. "Our beloved Herbert is happy," he +said, solemnly, as he wrung his nephew's hands. "Let us not mourn for +him now, Edward, but rather rejoice, as were he amongst us he would do, +gratefully rejoice that the same gracious hand which removed him in love +to a brighter world was stretched over you in your hour of peril, and +preserved you to those who so dearly love you. You, too, we might for a +time have lost, my beloved Edward. Shall we not rejoice that you are +spared us? Emmeline, my own Emmeline, think on the blessings still +surrounding us." + +His impressive words had their effect on both his agitated auditors. +Edward gently withdrew himself from the detaining arms of his aunt; he +pressed a long, lingering kiss upon her cheek, and hastily conquering +his emotion, clasped Sir George Wilmot's extended hand, after a few +minutes' silence, greeted all his cousins with his accustomed warmth, +and spoke as usual. + +There had been one unseen, unthought-of spectator of this little scene; +all had been too much startled and affected at Edward's unexpected burst +of sorrow, to think of the stranger who had entered the room with him; +but that stranger had looked around him, more particularly on Mrs. +Hamilton, with feelings of intensity utterly depriving him of either +speech or motion. Years had passed lightly over Mrs. Hamilton's head; +she had borne trials, cares, and sorrows, as all her fellow-creatures, +but her burden had ever been cast upon Him who had promised to sustain +her, and therefore on her it had not weighed so heavily; and years had +neither bent that graceful figure, nor robbed her features of their +bloom. Hers had never been extraordinary beauty, it had been the +expression only, which was ever the charm in her, an expression of +purity of thought and deed, of gentle unassuming piety. Time cannot +triumph over that beauty which is reflected from the soul; and Mordaunt +gazed on her till he could scarcely restrain himself from rushing +forward, and clasping her to his bosom, proclaim aloud who and what he +was; but he did command himself, though his limbs trembled under him, +and he was thankful that as yet he was unobserved. He looked on the +blooming family around him--they were children, and yet to them he was +as the dead; and now would she indeed remember him? Edward suddenly +recalled the presence of his friend, and springing towards him, with an +exclamation of regret at his neglect, instantly attracted the attention +of all, and Mordaunt suddenly found himself the centre of a group, who +were listening with much interest to Edward's animated account of all he +owed him, a recital which Mordaunt vainly endeavoured to suppress, by +declaring he had done nothing worth speaking of. Mrs. Hamilton joined +her husband in welcoming the stranger, with that grace and kindness so +peculiarly her own. She thanked him warmly for the care he had taken, +and the exertions he had made for her nephew; and as she did so, the +colour so completely faded from Mordaunt's sunburnt cheek, that Edward, +declaring he was ill and exhausted by the exertions he had made from the +first moment of their landing at Portsmouth, entreated him to retire to +the chamber which had been prepared for him, but this Mordaunt refused, +saying he was perfectly well. + +"It is long I have heard the voice of kindness in my native tongue--long +since English faces and English hearts have thus blessed me, and would +you bid me leave them, my young friend?" + +His mournful voice thrilled to Mrs. Hamilton's heart, as he laid his +hand appealingly on Edward's arm. + +"Not for worlds," replied the young sailor, cheerfully. "Sir George +Wilmot, my dear aunt, have you any recollection of my good friend here? +he says he knew you both when he was a boy." + +Sir George Wilmot's eyes had never moved from Mordaunt since he had +withdrawn his attention from Edward, and he now replied somewhat +gravely-- + +"Of the name of Mordaunt I have no recollection as being borne by any +youngsters on board my ship, but those features seem strangely familiar +to me. I beg your pardon, sir, but have you always borne that name?" + +"From the time I can remember, Sir George; but this may perhaps convince +you I have been on board your ship. Was there not one amongst us in the +cockpit, a young lad whom you ever treated with distinguished favour, +whom, however unworthy, you ever held up to his comrades as a pattern of +all that was excellent in a seaman and a youth, whom you ever loved and +treated as a son? I was near him when he flung himself in the sea, with +a sword in his mouth, and entering the enemy's ship by one of the +cabin-windows, fought his way to the quarter-deck, and hauling down the +French standard, retained his post till relieved by his comrades; and +when the fight was over, hung back and gave to others the meed of praise +you were so eager to bestow. Have you forgotten this, Sir George?" + +"No!" replied the Admiral, with sudden animation. "Often have I recalled +that day, one amongst the many in which my Charles distinguished +himself." + +"And you told him he would rise to eminence ere many years had +passed--the name of Delmont would rival that of Nelson ere his career +had run." + +The old Admiral looked on the stranger with increased astonishment and +agitation. + +"Delmont! you knew my brother, then, Lieutenant Mordaunt," Mrs. Hamilton +could not refrain from saying. "Many, many years have passed, yet tell +me when you saw him last." + +"I was with him in his last voyage, lady," replied the stranger, in a +low and peculiar voice, for it was evidently an effort to retain his +calmness. Six-and-twenty years have gone by since the Leander left the +coasts of England never to return; six-and-twenty years since I set foot +in my native land." + +"And did all indeed perish, save yourself? Were you alone saved? saw you +my brother after the vessel sunk?" inquired Mrs. Hamilton, hurriedly, +laying her trembling hand on the stranger's arm, scarcely conscious of +what she did. "He too might be spared even as yourself; but oh, death +were preferable to lingering on his years in slavery." + +"Alas! my Emmeline, wherefore indulge in such fallacious hope?" said her +husband, tenderly, for he saw she was excessively agitated. + +"Mrs. Hamilton," said Sir George Wilmot, earnestly, speaking at the same +moment, "Emmeline, child of my best, my earliest friend, look on those +features, look well; do you not know them? six-and-twenty years have +done their work, yet surely not sufficiently to conceal him from your +eyes. Have you not seen that flashing eye, that curling lip before? look +well ere you decide." + +"Lady, Charles Manvers lives!" murmured the stranger, in the voice of +one whom strong emotion deprived of utterance, and he pushed from his +brow the hair which thickly clustered there and in part concealed the +natural expression of his features, and gazed on her face. A gleam of +sunshine at this instant threw a sudden glow upon his countenance, and +Mr. Hamilton started forward, and an exclamation of astonishment, of +pleasure escaped his lips, but Mrs. Hamilton's eyes moved not from the +stranger's face. + +"Emmeline, my sister, my own sister, will you not know me? can you not +believe that Charles is spared?" he exclaimed, in a tone of excited +feeling. + +"Oh, God, it is Charles himself?" she sobbed, and sunk almost fainting +in his embrace; convulsively the brother pressed her to his bosom. It +seemed as if the happiness of that moment was too great for reality, as +if it were but some dream of bliss; scarcely was he conscious of the +warm greeting he received; the uncontrollable emotion of the old +Admiral, who, as he wrung his hand again and again, wept like a child. +His brain seemed to reel, and every object danced before his eyes, he +was alone sensible that he held his sister in his arms, that sister whom +he had loved even more devotedly, more constantly in his hours of +slavery, than when she had been ever near him. Her counsels, her example +had had but little apparent effect on him when a wild and reckless boy +at his father's house, but they had sustained him in his affliction; it +was then he knew the value of those serious thoughts and feelings his +sister had so laboured to inculcate, and associated as they were with +her, she became dearer each time he felt himself supported, under his +many trials, by fervent prayer and that implicit trust, of which she had +so often spoken. + +In wondering astonishment the younger members of the family had regarded +this little scene some minutes before the truth had flashed on the mind +of Mrs. Hamilton. Both St. Eval and Percy had guessed who in reality the +stranger was, and waited in some anxiety for the effect that recognition +would have on Mrs. Hamilton, whom Edward had already considerably +agitated. With characteristic delicacy of feeling, all then left the +room, Sir George Wilmot and Mr. Hamilton alone remaining with the +long-separated brother and sister. + +"My uncle Charles himself! Fool, idiot that I was never to discover this +before!" had been Edward's exclamation, in a tone of unrestrained joy. + +A short time sufficed to restore all to comparative composure, but a +longer interval was required for Charles Manvers, whom we must now term +Lord Delmont, to ask and to answer the innumerable questions which were +naturally called forth by his unexpected return; much had he to hear and +much to tell, even leaving, as he said he would, the history of his +adventures in Algiers to amuse two or three winter evenings, when all +his family were around him. + +"All my family," he repeated, in a tone of deep feeling. "Do I say this? +I, the isolated, desolate being I imagined myself; I, who believed so +many years had passed, that I should remain unrecognised, unloved, +forgotten. Reproach me not, my sister, the misery I occasioned myself, +the emotions of this moment are punishment enough. And are all those +whom I saw here yours, Hamilton?" he continued, more cheerfully. "Oh, +let me claim their love; I know them all already, for Edward has long +ere this made me acquainted with them, both individually and as the +united members of one affectionate family; I long to judge for myself if +his account be indeed correct, though I doubt it not. Poor fellow, I +deserve his reproaches for continuing my deception to him so long." + +"And why was that name assumed at all, dear Charles?" inquired Mr. +Hamilton. "Why not resume your own when the chains of slavery were +broken?" + +"And how dare you say Mordaunt was yours as long as you can remember?" +demanded Sir George, holding up his hand in a threatening attitude, as +if the full-grown man before him were still the slight stripling he last +remembered him. "Deception was never permitted on my decks, Master +Charles." + +Mrs. Hamilton smiled. + +"Nor have I practised it, Sir George," he replied. "Mordaunt was my +name, as my sister can vouch. Charles Mordaunt Manvers I was christened, +Mordaunt being the name of my godfather, between whom and my father, +however, a dispute arose, when I was about seven years old, completely +setting aside old friendship and causing them to be at enmity till Sir +Henry Mordaunt's death. The tale was repeated to me when I was about ten +years old, much exaggerated of course, and I declared I would bear his +name no longer. I remember well my gentle sister Emmeline's entreaties +and persuasions that I would not interfere, that I knew nothing about +the quarrel, and had no right to be so angry. However, I carried my +point, as I generally did, with my too indulgent parent, and therefore +from that time I was only known as Charles Manvers, for my father could +not bear the name spoken before him. Do you not remember it, Emmeline?" + +"Perfectly well, now it is recalled, though I candidly own I had +forgotten the circumstance." + +"But, still, why was Manvers disused?" Mr. Hamilton again inquired. + +"For perhaps an unjust and foolish fancy, my dear friend. I could not +enjoy my freedom, because of the thought I mentioned before. I knew not +if my beloved father still lived, nor who bore the title of Lord +Delmont, which, if he were no more, was mine by inheritance; for +four-and-twenty years I had heard nothing of all whom I loved, they +looked on me as dead: they might be scattered, dispersed; instead of +joy, my return might bring with it sorrow, vexation, discontent. It was +for this reason I relinquished the name of Manvers, and adopted the one +I had well-nigh forgotten as being mine by an equal right; I wished to +visit my native land unknown, and bearing that name, any inquiries I +might have made would be unsuspected." + +Surrounded by those whom in waking and sleeping dreams he had so long +loved, the clouds which had overhung Lord Delmont's mind as a thick +mist, even when he found himself free, dissolved before the calm +sunshine of domestic love. A sense of happiness pervaded his heart, +happiness chastened by a deep feeling of gratitude to Him who had +ordained it. Affected he was almost to tears, as the manner of his +nephew and nieces towards him unconsciously betrayed how affectionately +they had ever been taught to regard his memory. Rapidly he became +acquainted with each and all, and eagerly looked forward to the arrival +of Emmeline and her husband to look on them likewise as his own; but +though Edward laughingly protested he should tremble now for the +continuance of his uncle's preference towards himself, he ever retained +his place. He had been the first known; his society, his soothing words, +his animated buoyancy of spirit, his strong affection and respect for +his uncle's memory when he believed him dead, and perhaps the +freemasonry of brother sailors, had bound him to Lord Delmont's heart +with ties too strong to be riven. The more he heard of, and the more he +associated with him in the intimacy of home, the stronger these feelings +became; and Edward on his part unconsciously increased them by his +devotedness to his uncle himself, the manner with which he ever treated +Mrs. Hamilton, and his conduct to his sister whose quiet unselfish +happiness at his return, and thus accompanied, was indeed heightened, +more than she herself a few months previous could have believed +possible. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + +Our little narrative must here transport the reader to a small cottage +in the picturesque village of Llangwillan, where, about three months +after the events we have narrated, Lilla Grahame sat one evening in +solitude, and it seemed in sorrow. The room in which she was seated was +small, but furnished and adorned with the refined and elegant taste of +one whose rank appeared much higher than the general occupants of such a +dwelling. A large window, reaching to the ground, opened on a smooth and +sloping lawn, which was adorned by most beautiful flowers. It led to a +small gate opening on a long, narrow lane, which led to the Vicarage, +leaving the little church and its picturesque burying-ground a little to +the right; the thick grove which surrounded it forming a leafy yet +impenetrable wall to one side of the garden. There were many very pretty +tombs in this churchyard; perhaps its beauty consisted in its extreme +neatness, and the flowers that the vicar, Mr. Myrvin, took so much +pleasure in carefully preserving. One lowly grave, beneath a large and +spreading yew, was never passed unnoticed. A plain marble stone denoted +that there lay one, who had once been the brightest amid the bright, the +brilliant star of a lordly circle. The name, her age, and two simple +verses were there inscribed; but around that humble grave there were +sweet flowers flourishing more luxuriantly than in any other part of +the churchyard; the climbing honeysuckle twined its odoriferous clusters +up the dark trunk of the storm-resisting yew. Roses of various kinds +intermingled with the lowly violet, the snowdrop, lily of the valley, +the drooping convolvulus, which, closing its petals for a time, is a fit +emblem of that sleep which, closing our eyes on earth, reopens them in +heaven, beneath the general warmth of the sun of righteousness. These +flowers were sacred in the eyes of the villagers, and their children +were charged not to despoil them; and too deep was their reverence for +their minister, and too sacred was that little spot of earth, even to +their uncultured eyes, for those commands ever to be disobeyed. But it +was not to Mr. Myrvin's care alone that part of the churchyard owed its +beauty. It had ever been distinguished from the rest by the flowers +around it; but it was only the last two years they had flourished so +luxuriantly; the hand of Lilla Grahame watered and tended them with +unceasing care. In the early morning or the calm twilight she was seen +beside the grave, and many might have believed that there reposed the +ashes of a near and dear relation, but it was not so. Lilla had never +seen and never known the lovely being whose last home she thus +affectionately tended. It was dear to her from its association with him +whom she loved, there her thoughts could wander to him; and surely the +love thus cherished beside the dead must have been purity itself. + +It was the hour that Lilla usually sought the churchyard, but she came +not, and the lengthening shadows of a soft and lovely May evening fell +around the graceful figure of a tall and elegant young man, in naval +uniform, who lingered beside the grave; pensive, it seemed, yet scarcely +melancholy. His fine expressive countenance seemed to breathe of +happiness proceeding from the heart, chastened and softened by holier +thoughts. A smile of deep feeling encircled his lips as he looked on the +flowers, which in this season were just bursting into beautiful bloom; +and plucking an early violet, he pressed it to his lips and placed it +next his heart. "Doubly precious," he said, internally, "planted by the +hand of her I love, it flourished on my mother's grave. Oh, my mother, +would that you could behold your Edward now; that your blessing could be +mine. It cannot be, and thrice blessed as I am, why should I seek for +more?" A few moments longer he lingered, then turned in the direction of +the Vicarage. + +Lilla's spirits harmonized not as they generally did with the calm +beauty of nature around her. Anxious and sorrowful, her tears more than +once fell slowly and unheeded on her work; but little improvement had +taken place in her father's temper. She had much, very much to bear, +even though she knew he loved her, and that his chief cares were for +her; retirement had not relieved his irritated spirit. Had he, instead +of retreating from, mingled as formerly in, the world, he might have +been much happier, for he would have found the dishonourable conduct of +his son had not tarnished his own. He had been too long and too well +known as the soul of honour and integrity, for one doubt or aspersion to +be cast upon his name. Lady Helen's injudicious conduct towards her +children was indeed often blamed, and Grahame's own severity much +regretted, but it was much more of sympathy he now commanded than scorn +or suspicion, and all his friends lamented his retirement. Had not +Lilla's spirits been naturally elastic, they must have bent beneath +these continued and painful trials; her young heart often felt breaking, +but the sense of religion, the excellent principles instilled both by +Mrs. Douglas and Mrs. Hamilton now had their full effect, and sustained +her amidst all. She never wavered in her duty to her father; she never +complained even in her letters to her dearest and most confidential +friends. + +"Have you thought on the subject we spoke of last night, Lilla?" asked +her father, entering suddenly, and seating himself gloomily on a chair +some paces from her. His daughter started as she saw him, for the first +tone of his voice betrayed he was more than usually irritable and +gloomy. + +"Yes, father, I have," she replied, somewhat timidly. + +"And what is your answer?" + +"I fear you will be displeased, my dear father; but indeed I cannot +answer differently to last night." + +"You are still resolved then to refuse Philip Clapperton?" + +Lilla was silent. + +"And pray may I ask the cause of your fastidiousness, Miss Grahame? Your +burst of tears last night made a very pretty scene no doubt, but they +gave me no proper answer." + +"It is not only that I cannot love Mr. Clapperton, father, but I cannot +respect him." + +"And pray why not? I tell you, Lilla, blunt, even coarse, if you like, +as he is, unpolished, hasty, yet he has a better heart by far than many +of those more elegant and attractive sprigs of nobility, amongst which +perhaps your romantic fancy has wandered, as being the only husbands +fitted for you." + +"You do me injustice, father. I have never indulged in such romantic +visions, but I cannot willingly unite my fate with one in whom I see no +fixed principle of action--one who owns no guide but pleasure. His heart +may be good, I doubt it not; but I cannot respect one who spends his +whole life in fox-hunting, drinking, and all the pleasures peculiar to +the members of country clubs." + +"In other words, a plain, honest-speaking, English gentleman is not fine +enough for you. What harm is there in the amusements you have +enumerated? Why should not a fox-hunter make as good a husband as any +other member of society?" + +Lilla looked at her father in astonishment. These were not always his +sentiments she painfully thought. + +"I do not mean to condemn these amusements, my dear father, but when +they are carried on without either principle or religion. How can I +venture to intrust my happiness to such a man?" + +"And where do you expect to find either principle or religion now? Not +in those polished circles, where I can perceive your hopes are fixed. +Girl, banish such hopes. Not one amongst them would unite himself to the +sister of that dishonoured outcast Cecil Grahame." + +Grahame's whole frame shook as he pronounced his son's name, but +sternness still characterised his voice. + +"Never would I unite myself with one who considered himself degraded by +an union with our family, father, be assured," said Lilla, earnestly. +"My hopes are not high. I have thought little of marriage, and till I am +sought, have no wish to leave this sequestered spot, believe me." + +"And who, think you, will seek you here? You had better banish such idle +hopes, for they will end in disappointment." + +"Be it so, then," Lilla replied, calmly, though had her father been near +her, he would have seen her cheek suddenly become pale and her eyelids +quiver, as if by the pressure of a tear. "Is marriage a thing so +indispensable, that you would compel me to leave you, my dear father?" + +"To you it is indispensable; when once you have lost the name you now +hold, the world and all its pleasures will be spread before you, the +stain will be remembered no more; your life need not be spent in gloom +and exile like this." + +"And what, then, will become of you?" + +"Of me! who cares. What am I, and what have I ever been to either of my +children, that they should care for me? I scorn the mere act of duty, +and which of you can love me? no, Lilla, not even you." + +"Father, you do me wrong; oh, do not speak such cruel words," said +Lilla, springing from her seat, and flinging herself on her knees by her +father's side. "Have I indeed so failed in testimonies of love, that you +can for one instant believe it is only the duty of a child I feel and +practise? Oh, my father, do me not such harsh injustice; could you read +my inmost heart, you would see how full it is of love and reverence for +you, though I have not always courage to express it. Ask of me any, +every proof but this, and I will do it, but, oh, do not command me to +wed Mr. Clapperton; why, oh, why would you thus seek to send me from +you?" + +"I speak but for your happiness, Lilla;" his voice was somewhat +softened. "You cannot be happy now with one so harsh, irritable, cruel +as, I know, I am too often." + +"And would you compare the occasional irritation proceeding from the +failing health of a beloved father, with the fierce passion and constant +impatience of a husband, with whom I could not have one idea in common, +whom I could neither love nor reverence, to whom even my duty would be +wretchedness? oh, my father, can you compare the two? Think of Mrs. +Greville: Philip Clapperton ever reminds me of Mr. Greville, of what at +least he must have been in his youth, and would you sentence me to all +the misery that has been poor Mrs. Greville's lot and her children's +likewise?" + +"You do not know enough of Clapperton to judge him thus harshly, Lilla; +I know him better, and I cannot see the faults against which you are so +inveterate. Your sister chose a husband for herself, and how has she +fared? is she happy?" + +"Annie cannot be happy, father, even if her husband were of a very +different character. She disobeyed; a parent's blessing hallowed not her +nuptials, and strange indeed would it be were her lot otherwise; but +though I cannot love the husband of your choice, you may trust me, +father, without your consent and blessing, I will never marry." + +"Do not say you _cannot_ love Philip Clapperton, Lilla; when once his +wife, you could not fail to do so. I would see you united to one who +loves you, my child, ere your affections are bestowed on another, who +may be less willing to return them." + +Grahame spoke in a tone of such unwonted softness, that the tears now +rolled unchecked down Lilla's cheeks. Her ingenuous nature could not be +restrained; she felt as if, were she still silent, she would be +deceiving him, and hiding her face in her hand, she almost inaudibly +said-- + +"For that, then, it is too late, father; I cannot love Mr. Clapperton, +because--because I love another." + +"Ha!" exclaimed Grahame, starting, then laying his trembling hand on +Lilla's head, he continued, struggling with strong emotion, "this, then, +is the cause of your determined refusal. Poor child, poor child, what +misery have you formed for yourself!" + +"And wherefore misery, my father?" replied Lilla, raising her head +somewhat proudly, and speaking as firmly as her tears would permit. +"Your child would not have loved had she not deemed her affections +sought, ay, and valued too. Think not I would degrade myself by giving +my heart to any one who deemed me or my father beneath his notice. If +ever eye or act can speak, I do not love in vain." + +"And would you believe in trifles such as these?" asked her father, +sorrowfully. "Alas! poor child, words are often false, still less can +you rely on the language of the eye. Has anything like an understanding +taken place between you?" + +"Alas! my father, no; and yet--and yet--oh, I know he loves me." + +"And so he may, my child, and yet break his own heart and yours, poor +guileless girl, rather than unite himself with the dishonoured and the +base. Lilla, my own Lilla, I have been harsh and cruel; it is because I +feel too keenly perhaps the gall in which your wretched brother's +conduct has steeped your life and mine; mine will soon pass away, but +the dark shadow will linger still round you, my child, and condemn you +to wretchedness; I cannot, cannot bear that thought!" and he struck his +clenched hand against his brow. "Why on the innocent should fall the +chastisement of the guilty? My child, my child, oh, banish from your +unsuspecting heart the hopes of love returned. Where in this selfish +world will you find one to love you so for yourself alone, that family +and fortune are as naught?" + +"Why judge so harshly of your sex, Mr. Grahame?" said a rich and +thrilling voice, in unexpected answer to his words, and the same young +man whom we before mentioned as lingering by a village grave, stepping +lightly from the terrace on which the large window opened into the room, +stood suddenly before the astonished father and his child. On the latter +the effect of his presence was almost electric. The rich crimson mantled +at once over cheek and brow and neck, a faint cry burst from her lips, +and as the thought flashed across her, that her perhaps too presumptuous +hopes of love returned had been overheard, as well as her father's +words, she suddenly burst into tears of mingled feeling, and darting by +the intruder, passed by the way he had entered into the garden; but even +when away from him, composure for a time returned not. She forgot +entirely that no name had been spoken either by her father or by herself +to designate him whom she confessed she loved; her only feeling was, +she had betrayed a truth, which from him she would ever have concealed, +till he indeed had sought it; and injured modesty now gave her so much +pain, it permitted her not to rejoice in this unexpected appearance of +one whom she had not seen since she had believed him dead. She knew the +churchyard was at this period of the evening quite deserted, and almost +unconscious what she was about, she hastily tied on her bonnet, and with +the speed of a young fawn, she bounded through the narrow lane, and +rested not till she found herself seated beside her favourite grave; +there she gave full vent to the thoughts in which pleasure and confusion +somewhat strangely and painfully mingled. + +"Can you, will you forgive this unceremonious and, I fear, unwished-for +intrusion?" was the young stranger's address to Grahame, when he had +recovered from the agitation which Lilla's emotion had called forth, he +scarcely knew wherefore. "To me you have ever extended the hand of +friendship, Mr. Grahame, however severe upon the world in general, and +will you refuse it now, when my errand here is to seek an even nearer +and a dearer name?" + +"You are welcome, ever welcome to my humble home, my dear boy, for your +own sake, and for those dear to you," replied Grahame, with a return of +former warmth and cordiality. "More than usually welcome I may say, +Edward, as this is your first visit here since your rescue from the +bowels of the great deep. You look confused and heated, and as if you +would much rather run after your old companion than stay with me, but +indeed I cannot spare you yet, I have so many questions to ask you." + +"Forgive me, Mr. Grahame, but indeed you must hear me first." + +"I came here to speak to you on a subject nearest my heart, and till +that is told, till from your lips I know my fate, do not, for pity, ask +me to speak on any other. I meant not to have entered so abruptly on my +mission, but that which Mr. Myrvin has imparted to me, and what I +undesignedly overheard as I stood unseen on that terrace, have taken +from me all the eloquence with which I meant to plead my cause." + +"Speak in your own proper person, Edward, and then I may perhaps hear +you," replied Grahame, from whom the sight of his young friend appeared +to have banished all misanthropy. "What I can, however, have to do with +your fate, I know not, except that I will acquit you of all intentional +eaves-dropping, if it be that which troubles you; and what can Mr. +Myrvin have said to rob you of eloquence?" + +"He told me that--that you had encouraged Philip Clapperton's addresses +to Lil--to Miss Grahame," answered Edward, with increasing agitation, +for he perceived, what was indeed the truth, that Grahame had not the +least idea of his intentions. + +"And what can that have to do with you, young man?" inquired Grahame, +somewhat haughtily, and his brow darkened. "You have not seen Lilla, to +be infected with her prejudices, and in what manner can my wishes with +regard to my daughter on that head concern you?" + +"In what manner? Mr. Grahame, I came hither with my aunt's and uncle's +blessing on my purpose, to seek from you your gentle daughter's hand. I +am not a man of many words, and all I had to say appears to have +departed, and left me speechless. I came here to implore your consent, +for without it I knew 'twere vain to think or hope to make your Lilla +mine. I came to plead to you, and armed with your blessing, plead my +cause to her, and you ask me how Mr. Myrvin's intelligence can affect +me. Speak, then, at once; in pity to that weakness which makes me feel +as if my lasting happiness or misery depends upon your answer." + +"And do you, Edward, do you love my poor child?" asked the father, with +a quivering lip and glistening eye, as he laid his hand, which trembled, +on the young man's shoulder. + +"Love her? oh, Mr. Grahame, she has been the bright beaming star that +has shone on my ocean course for many a long year. I know not when I +first began to love, but from my cousin Caroline's wedding-day the +thoughts of Lilla lingered with me, and gilded many a vision of domestic +peace and love, and each time I looked on her bright face, and marked +her kindling spirit, heard and responded inwardly to her animated voice, +I felt that she was dearer still; and when again I saw her in her +sorrow, and sought with Ellen to soothe and cheer her, oh, no one can +know the pain it was to restrain the absorbing wish to ask her, if +indeed one day she would be mine, but that was no time to speak of love. +Besides, I knew not if I had the means to offer her a comfortable home, +I knew not how long I might be spared to linger near her; but now, when +of both I am assured, wherefore should I hesitate longer? With the +title of captain, that for which I have so long pined, I am at liberty +to retire on half-pay, till farther orders; the adopted son and +acknowledged heir to my uncle, Lord Delmont, I have now enough to offer +her my hand, without one remaining scruple. You are silent. Oh, Mr. +Grahame, must I plead in vain?" + +"And would you marry her, would you indeed take my child as your chosen +bride?" faltered Grahame, deeply moved. "Honoured, titled as you are, my +poor, portionless Lilla is no meet bride for you." + +"Perish honours and title too, if they could deprive me of the gentle +girl I love!" exclaimed the young captain, impetuously. "Do not speak +thus, Mr. Grahame. In what was my lamented father better than +yourself--my mother than Lady Helen? and if she were in very truth my +inferior in birth, the virtues and beauty of Lilla Grahame would do +honour to the proudest peer of this proud land." + +"My boy, my gallant boy!" sobbed the agitated father, his irritability +gone, dissolved, like the threatening cloud of a summer day beneath some +genial sunbeam, and as he wrung Captain Fortescue's hand again and again +in his, the tears streamed like an infant's down his cheek. + +"_Will_ I consent, _will_ I give you my blessing? Oh, to see you the +husband of my poor child would be _too, too_ much happiness, happiness +wholly, utterly undeserved. But, oh, Edward, can Mr. Hamilton, can Lord +Delmont consent to your union with one, whose only brother is a +disgraced, dishonoured outcast, whose father is a selfish, irritable +misanthrope?" + +"Can the misconduct of Cecil cast in the eyes of the just and good one +shadow on the fair fame of his sister? No, my dear sir; it is you who +have looked somewhat unkindly and unjustly on the world, as when you +mingle again with your friends, in company with your children, you will +not fail, with your usual candour, to acknowledge. A selfish, irritable +misanthrope," he added, archly smiling. "You cannot terrify me, Mr. +Grahame. I know the charge is false, and I dread it not." + +"Ask me not to join the world again," said Grahame, hoarsely; "in all +else, the duties of my children shall be as laws, but that"-- + +"Well, well, we will not urge it now, my dear sir," replied the young +sailor, cheerfully; then added, with the eager agitation of affection, +"But Lilla, my Lilla. Oh, may I hope that she will in truth be mine? Oh, +have I, can I have been too presumptuous in the thought I have not loved +in vain?" + +"Away with you, and seek the answer from her own lips," said Mr. +Grahame, with more of his former manner than he had yet evinced, for he +now entertained not one doubt as to Edward being the chosen one on whom +his daughter's young affections had been so firmly fixed. "Go to her, my +boy; she will not fly a second time, so like a startled hare, from your +approach; tell her, had she told her father Edward Fortescue was the +worthy object of her love, he would not thus have thrown a damp upon her +young heart, he would not have condemned him as being incapable of +loving her for herself alone. Tell her, too, the name of Philip +Clapperton shall offend her no more. Away with you, my boy." + +Edward awaited not a second bidding. In a very few minutes the whole +garden had been searched, and Miss Grahame inquired for all over the +house, then he bounded through the lane, and scarcely five minutes after +he had quitted Mr. Grahame, he stood by the side of Lilla; the +consciousness that she had confessed her love, that he might have +overheard it, was still paramount in her modest bosom, and she would +have avoided him, but quickly was her design prevented. Rapidly, almost +incoherently, was the conversation of the last half hour repeated, and +with all the eloquence of his enthusiastic nature, Edward pleaded his +cause, and, need it be said, not in vain. Lilla neither wished nor +sought to conceal her feelings, and long, long did those two young and +animated beings remain in sweet and heartfelt commune beside that lowly +grave. + +"What place so fitted where to pledge our troth, my Lilla, as by my +mother's resting-place?" said Edward. "Would that she could look upon us +now and smile her blessing." + +Happily indeed flew those evening hours unheeded by the young lovers. +Grahame, on the entrance of his happy child, folded her to his bosom; +his blessing descended on her head, mingled with tears, which sprung at +once from a father's love and self-reproach at all the suffering his +irritability had occasioned her. And that evening Lilla indeed felt that +all her sorrows, all her struggles, all her dutiful forbearance, were +rewarded. Not only was her long-cherished love returned, not only did +she feel that in a few short months she should be her Edward's own, that +he, the brave, the gallant, honoured sailor, had chosen her in +preference to any of those fairer and nobler maidens with whom he had +so often associated, but her father, her dear father, was more like +himself than he had been since her mother's death. He looked, he spoke +the Montrose Grahame we have known him in former years. Edward had ever +been a favourite with him, but he and Lilla had been so intimate from +their earliest childhood, that he had never thought of him as a son; and +when the truth was known, so truly did Grahame rejoice, that the +bitterness in his earthly cup was well-nigh drowned by its present +sweetness. + +Innumerable were the questions both Lilla and Grahame had to ask, and +Edward answered all with that peculiar joyousness which ever threw a +charm around him. The adventures of his voyage, his dangers, the +extraordinary means of his long-lost uncle being instrumental in his +preservation, Lord Delmont's varied tale, all was animatedly discussed +till a late hour. A smile was on Grahame's lip, as his now awakened eye +recalled the drooping spirits and fading cheek of his Lilla during those +three months of suspense, when Captain Fortescue was supposed drowned, +and the equally strange and sudden restoration to health and +cheerfulness when Ellen's letter was received, detailing her brother's +safety. Lilla's streaming eyes were hid on her lover's shoulder as he +detailed his danger, but quickly her tears were kissed away; +thankfulness that he was indeed spared, again filled her heart, and the +bright smile returned. He accounted for not seeking them earlier by the +fact that, while they remained at Richmond, his uncle, whose health from +long-continued suffering was but weakly established, could not bear him +out of his sight, and that he had entreated him not to leave him till +they returned to Oakwood. This, young Fortescue afterwards discovered, +was to give Lord Delmont time for the gratification of his wishes, +which, from the time he had heard the line of Delmont was extinct, had +occupied his mind. Many of his father's old friends recognised him at +once. His father's and his sister's friends were eager to see and pay +him every attention in their power. He found himself ever a welcome and +a courted guest, and happiness, so long a stranger from his breast, now +faded not again. To adopt Edward as his son, to leave him heir to his +title and estate, was now, as it had been from the first moment he +recognised his nephew, the dearest wish of his heart, "if it were only +to fulfil Sir George Wilmot's prophecy," he jestingly told the old +Admiral, who, with Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton, warmly seconded his wishes. +The necessary formula met with no opposition, and the same day that gave +to Edward his promotion of captain, informed him of the secretly-formed +and secretly-acted-upon desire of his uncle. + +In the time of Edward's grandfather, the Delmont estates, as some of our +readers may remember, were, from the carelessness of stewards and the +complete negligence of their lord, in such an embarrassed state, as +barely to return a sufficient income for the expenses of Lord Delmont's +establishment. Affairs, however, were not in a worse state than that a +little energy and foresight might remedy. The guardian of Henry Manvers, +who, as we know already, became Lord Delmont when only three years old, +had acted his part with so much straightforwardness and trust, that when +Manvers came of age he found his estates in such a thriving condition, +that he was a very much richer nobleman than many of his predecessors +had been. Well able to discern true merit, and grateful for the +services already rendered, his guardian, by his earnest entreaty, +remained his agent during his residence with his mother and sister in +Switzerland. There, living very much within his income, his fortune +accumulated, and by his early death it fell to the Crown, from which +Lord Delmont, on his return from his weary years of slavery, received it +with the title of earl, bestowed to prove that the tale of a British +sailor's sufferings and indignities had not fallen unheeded on the royal +ear. The long-banished seaman was presented to his Majesty by the Duke +of Clarence himself, and had no need to regret the gracious interview. +His intentions concerning the young officer Captain Fortescue met with +an unqualified approval. Ardently loving his profession, the royal Duke +thought the more naval heroes filled the nobility of his country the +better for England, and an invitation to Bushy Park was soon afterwards +forwarded, both to Lord Delmont and his gallant nephew. + +Edward, already well-nigh beside himself by his unexpected promotion, no +longer knew how to contain the exuberance of his spirits, much to the +amusement of his domestic circle; particularly to his quiet, gentle +sister, who, as she looked on her brother, felt how truly, how +inexpressibly her happiness increased with his prosperity. She too had +wound herself round the heart of her uncle; she loved him, first for his +partiality to her brother, but quickly her affection was extended to +himself. Mrs. Hamilton had related to him every particular of her +history, with which he had been deeply and painfully affected, and as he +quickly perceived how much his sister's gentle firmness and constant +watchfulness had done towards forming the character of not only Edward +and Ellen but of her own children, his admiration for her hourly +increased. + +A very few days brought Lord Delmont and his niece Ellen to Mr. +Grahame's cottage, and Lilla's delight at seeing Ellen was only second +to that she felt when Edward came. The presence, the cordial greeting of +Lord Delmont removed from the mind of Grahame every remaining doubt of +his approbation of the bride his nephew had chosen. As a faithful +historian, however, I must acknowledge the wishes of Lord Delmont had +pointed out Lady Emily Lyle as the most suitable connection for Edward. +Lady Florence he would have preferred, but there were many whispers +going about that she was engaged to the handsome young baronet Sir +Walter Cameron, who, by the death of his uncle Sir Hector, had lately +inherited some extensive estates in the south-west of Scotland. When, +however, Lord Delmont perceived his nephew's affections were irrevocably +fixed, and he heard from his sister's lips the character of Lilla +Grahame, he made no opposition, but consented with much warmth and +willingness. He was not only content, but resolved on being introduced +to Miss Grahame as soon as possible, without, however, saying a word to +Edward of his intentions. He took Ellen with him, he said, to convoy him +safely and secure him a welcome reception; neither of which, she assured +him, he needed, though she very gladly accompanied him. + +A few weeks passed too quickly by, imparting happiness even to Ellen, +for had she been permitted the liberty of choosing a wife for her +Edward, Lilla Grahame would have been her choice. Deeply and almost +painfully affected had she been indeed, when her brother first sought +her to reveal the secret of his love. + +"I cannot," he said, "I will not marry without your sympathy, your +approval, my sister--my more than sister, my faithful friend, my gentle +monitress, for such you have ever been to me," and he folded her in his +arms with a brother's love, and Ellen had concealed upon his manly bosom +the glistening tears, whose source she scarcely knew. "I would have you +love my wife, not only for my sake but for herself alone. Never will I +marry one who will refuse to look on you with the reverential affection +your brother does. Lilla Grahame does this, my Ellen; it was her girlish +affection for you that first attracted my attention to her. She will +regard you as I do; she will teach her children, if it please heaven to +grant us any, to look on you even as I would; her heart and home will be +as open to my beloved sister as mine. Speak then, my ever-cherished, +ever faithful friend; tell me if, in seeking Lilla, your sympathy, your +blessing will be mine." + +Tears of joy choked her utterance, but quickly recovering herself, Ellen +answered him in a manner calculated indeed to increase his happiness, +and her presence at Llangwillan satisfied every wish. + +Unable to resist the eloquent entreaties of all his friends and the +appealing eyes of his child, Grahame at last consented to spend the +month which was to intervene ere his daughter's nuptials, at Oakwood. +That period Edward intended to employ in visiting the ancient hall on +the Delmont estate, which for the last three months had been in a state +of active preparation for the reception of its long-absent master. It +was beautifully situated in the vicinity of the New Forest, Hampshire. +There Edward was to take his bride, considering the whole estate, his +uncle declared, already as his own, as he did not mean to be a fixture +there, but live alternately with his sister and his nephew. Oakwood +should see quite as much of him as Beech Hill, and young people were +better alone, particularly the first year of their marriage. Vainly +Edward and Lilla sought to combat his resolution; the only concession +they could obtain was, that when their honeymoon was over, he and Ellen +would pay them a visit, just to see how they were getting on. + +"You must never marry, Nelly, for I don't know what my sister will do +without you," said Lord Delmont, laughing. + +"Be assured, uncle Charles, I never will. I love the freedom of this old +hall much too well; and, unless my aunt absolutely sends me away, I +shall not go." + +"And that she never will, Ellen," said Lilla earnestly. "She said the +other day she did not know how she should ever spare you even to us; but +you must come to us very often, dearest Ellen. I shall never perform my +part well as mistress of the large establishment with which Edward +threatens me, without your counsel and support" + +"I will not come at all, if you and Edward lay your wise heads together, +as you already seem inclined to do, to win me by flattery," replied +Ellen, playfully, endeavouring to look grave, though she refused not the +kiss of peace for which Lilla looked up so appealingly. + +The first week in July was fixed for the celebration of the two +marriages in Mr. Hamilton's family. As both Edward and Percy wished the +ceremony should take place in the parish church of Oakwood, and be +performed by Archdeacon Howard, it was agreed the same day should +witness both bridals; and that Miss Manvers, who had been residing at +Castle Terryn with the Earl and Countess St. Eval, should accompany them +to Oakwood a few days previous. Young Hamilton took his bride to Paris, +to which capital he had been intrusted with some government commission. +It was not till the end of July he had originally intended his nuptials +should take place; but he did not choose to leave England for an +uncertain period without his Louisa, and consequently it was agreed +their honeymoon should be passed in France. It may be well to mention +here that Mr. Hamilton had effected the exchange he desired, and that +Arthur Myrvin and his beloved Emmeline were now comfortably installed in +the Rectory, which had been so long the residence of Mr. Howard; and +that Myrvin now performed his pastoral duties in a manner that reflected +happiness not only on his parishioners, but on all his friends, and +enabled him to enjoy that true peace springing from a satisfied +conscience. He trod in the steps of his lamented friend; he knew not +himself how often his poor yet contented flock compared him in their +humble cottages with Herbert, and that in their eyes he did not lose by +the comparison. Some, indeed, would say, "It is all Master Herbert's +example, and the society of that sweet young creature, Miss Emmeline, +that has made him what he is." But whatever might be the reason, Arthur +was universally beloved; and that the village favourite, Miss Emmeline, +who had grown up amongst them from infancy, was their Rector's +wife--that she still mingled amongst them, the same gentle, loveable +being she had ever been--that it was to her and not to a stranger, they +were ever at liberty to seek for relief in trouble, or sympathy in joy, +was indeed a source of unbounded pleasure. And Emmeline was happy, +truly, gratefully happy; never did she regret the choice she had made, +nor envy her family the higher stations of life it was theirs to fill. +She had not a wish beyond the homes of those she loved; her husband was +all in all to her, her child a treasure for which she could not be +sufficiently thankful. She was still the same playful, guileless being +to her family which she had ever been; but to strangers a greater degree +of dignity characterised her deportment, and commanded their involuntary +respect. The home of Arthur Myrvin was indeed one over which peace and +love had entwined their roseate wings; a lowly yet a beauteous spot, +over which the storms of the busy troubled world might burst, but never +reach; and for other sorrows, piety and submission were alike their +watchword and their safeguard. Lord St. Eval was the only person who +regretted Arthur's promotion to the rectory of Oakwood, as it deprived +him, he declared, of his chaplain, his vicar, and his friend. However, +he willingly accepted a friend of Mr. Hamilton's to supply his place, a +clergyman not much beyond the prime of life; one who for seven years had +devoted himself, laboriously and unceasingly, to a poor and unprofitable +parish in one of the Feroe Islands; in the service of Mr. Hamilton he +had been employed, though voluntarily he had accepted, nay, eloquently +he had pleaded for the office. To those of our readers who are +acquainted with the story of Home Influence, the Rev. Henry Morton is no +stranger. They may remember that he accompanied Mr. Hamilton on his +perilous expedition, and had joyfully consented to remaining there till +the young Christian, Wilson, was capable of undertaking the ministry. He +had done so; his pupil promised fair to reward his every care, and +preserve his countrymen in that state of peace, prosperity, and virtue, +to which they had been brought by the unceasing cares of Morton; and +that worthy man returned to his native land seven years after he had +quitted it, improved not only in inward peace but in health, and +consequently appearances. A perceptible lameness was now the only +remains of what had been before painful deformity. The bracing air of +the island had invigorated his nerves; the consciousness that he was +active in the service of his fellow-creatures removed from his mind the +morbid sensibility that had formerly so oppressed him; and Mr. and Mrs. +Hamilton perceived, with benevolent pleasure, that life was to him no +longer a burden. He had become a cheerful, happy member of society, +willing to enjoy the blessings that now surrounded him with a truly +chastened, grateful spirit: Oakwood and Castle Terryn were ever +enlivened when he was present. After the cold and barren living at +Feroe, exiled as he there had been from any of his own rank in life, the +Vicarage at Castle Terryn and the society those duties included, formed +to him indeed a happy resting-place; while his many excellent qualities +soon reconciled St. Eval and his Countess to Myrvin's desertion, as they +called his accepting the rectory at Oakwood. No untoward event occurred +to prevent the celebration of Percy and Edward's bridals as intended. +They took place, attended with all that chastened joy and innocent +festivity which might have been expected from the characters of those +principally concerned. No cloud obscured the happiness of the +affectionate united family, which witnessed these gladdening nuptials. +Each might, perhaps, in secret have felt there was one blank in every +heart, that when thus united, there was still a void on earth. In their +breasts the fond memory of Herbert lingered still. Mr. Grahame forgot +his moroseness, though he had resolved on returning to his cottage in +Wales. He could feel nothing but delight as he looked on his Lilla in +her chaste and simple bridal robes, and felt that of her he might indeed +be proud. Fondly he dried the tear that fell from her bright eyes, as +she clung to him in parting, and promised to see her soon, very soon at +Beech Hill. + +It was the amusement of the village gossips for many a long evening to +discuss over and over again the various merits of the two brides; some +preferring the tearful, blushing Lilla, others the pale, yet composed +and dignified demeanour of Miss Manvers. Some said Captain Fortescue +looked much more agitated than he did when he saved his uncle's life off +Dartmouth, some years before; it was marvellously strange for a brave +young officer such as he, to be so flustered at such a simple thing as +taking a pretty girl for better or worse. And Mr. Percy Hamilton, some +said, was very much too serious for such a joyous occasion; if they had +been Miss Manvers they should not have liked it, and so unlike himself, +too. + +"Hold your tongue, silly woman," a venerable old man interposed, at this +part of the conversation, "the poor lad's thoughts were with his +brother, to whom this day would have been as great a source of joy as +to himself. He has not been the same man since dear Master Herbert's +death, and no wonder, poor fellow." + +This observation effectually put an end to the remarks on Percy's +demeanour, and some owned, after all, marriage was somehow a solemn +ceremony, and it was better to be too serious at such a time than too +gay. + +Percy and his bride stayed a week in London, and thence proceeded to +Paris, which place, a very short scrutiny convinced Percy was internally +in no quiet condition; some disturbance, he was convinced, was +threatening, though of what nature he could not at first comprehend. He +had not, however, left England a fortnight before his family were +alarmed by the reports which so quickly flew over to our island of that +extraordinary revolution which in three short days completely changed +the sovereign dynasty of France, and threatened a renewal of those +horrors which had deluged that fair capital with blood in the time of +the unfortunate Louis XVI. We have neither space nor inclination to +enter into such details; some extracts of a letter from Percy, which Mr. +Hamilton received, after a week of extreme anxiety on his account, we +feel, however, compelled to transcribe, as the ultimate fates of two +individuals, whose names have more than once been mentioned in the +course of these memoirs, may there perhaps be discovered. + +"Your anxiety, my dearest mother, and that of my father and Ellen, I can +well understand, but for myself I had no fear. Had I been alone, I +believe a species of pleasurable excitement would have been the +prevailing feeling, but for my Louisa I did tremble very often; the +scenes passing around us were to a gentle eye and feeling heart terrible +indeed, and so suddenly they had come upon us, we had no time to attempt +retreat to a place of greater safety. Cannonballs were flying in all +directions, shattering the windows, killing some, and fearfully wounding +many others; for several hours I concealed Louisa in the cellar, which +was the only secure abode our house presented. Mounted guards, to the +number of six or seven hundred, were dashing down the various streets, +with a noise like thunder, diversified only by the clash of arms, the +shrieks of the wounded, and the fierce cries of the populace. It was +indeed terrible--the butchery of lives has indeed been awful; in these +sanguinary conflicts between desperate men, pent up in narrow streets, +innocent lives have also been taken, for it was next to impossible to +distinguish between those who took an active part in the affray, and +those who were merely paralysed spectators. In their own defence the +gendarmes were compelled to fire, and their artillery did fearful havoc +among the people. + + * * * * * + +Crossing the Quai de la Tournelle, at the commencement of the first day, +I was startled by being addressed by name, and turning round, beheld, to +my utter astonishment, Cecil Grahame at my elbow; he was in the uniform +of a gendarme, in which corps, he told me, with some glee, his +brother-in-law, Lord Alphingham, who was high in favour with the French +court, had obtained him a commission; he spoke lightly, and with that +same recklessness of spirit and want of principle which unfortunately +has ever characterised him, declaring he was far better off than he had +ever been in England, which country he hoped never to see again, as he +utterly abhorred the very sight of it. The French people were rather +more agreeable to live with; he could enjoy his pleasures without any +confounded restraint. I suppose he saw how little I sympathised in his +excited spirits, for, with a hoarse laugh and an oath of levity, he +swore that I had not a bit more spirit in me than when I was a +craven-hearted lad, always cringing before the frown of a saintly +father, and therefore no fit companion for a jolly fellow like himself. +'Have you followed Herbert's example, and are you, too, a godly-minded +parson? then, good day, and good riddance to you, my lad,' was the +conclusion of his boisterous speech, and setting spurs to his horse, he +would have galloped off, when I detained him, to ask why he had not +informed his family of his present place of abode and situation. My +blood had boiled as he spoke, that such rude and scurrilous lips should +thus scornfully have spoken my sainted brother's name; passion rose +fierce within me, but I thought of him whose name he spoke, and was +calm. He swore that he had had quite enough of his father's severity, +that he never meant to see his face again. He was now, thank heaven, his +own master, and would take care to remain so; that he had been a fool to +address me, as he might be sure I should tell of his doings, and bring +the old fellow after him. Disgusted beyond measure, yet I could not +forbear asking him if he had heard of his mother's death. Without the +least change of countenance or of voice, he replied-- + +"'Heard of it, man, aye, and forgotten it by this; why it is some +centuries ago. It would have been a good thing for me had she died years +before she did.' + +"'Cecil Grahame!' I exclaimed, in a tone that rung in my ears some +hours afterwards, and I believe made him start, daring even as he was, +'do you know it is your mother of whom you speak? a mother whose only +fault towards you was too much love, a mother whose too fond heart your +cruel conduct broke; are you so completely devoid of feeling that not +even this can move you?' + +"'Pray add to your long list of my good mother's perfections a weakness +that ruined me, that made me the wretch I am,' he wildly exclaimed, and +he clenched his hand and bit his lip till the blood came, while his +cheek became livid with some feeling I could not fathom. He spurred his +horse violently, the spirited animal started forward, a kind of spell +seemed to rivet my eyes upon him. There was a loud report of cannon from +the Place de Grêve, several balls whizzed close by me, evidently fired +to disperse the multitude, who were tumultuously assembling on the Pont +de la Cité, and ere I could recover from the startling effects of the +report, I heard a shrill scream of mortal agony, and Cecil Grahame fell +from his horse a shattered corpse. + + * * * * * + +For several minutes I was wholly unconscious of all that was passing +around me. I stood by the body of the unfortunate young man, quite +insensible to the danger I was incurring from the shot. I could only see +him before my eyes, as I had known him in his boyhood and his earliest +youth, full of fair promises, of hopeful futurity, the darling of his +mother's eye, the pride of his father, spite of his faults; and now what +was he? a mangled corpse, cut off without warning or preparation in his +early youth. But, oh, worse, far worse than all, with the words of +hatred, of defiance on his lips. I sought in vain for life; there was no +sign, no hope. To attempt to rescue the body was vain, the tumult was +increasing fearfully around me; many gendarmes were falling +indiscriminately with the populace, and the countenance of Cecil was so +fearfully disfigured, that to attempt to recognise it when all might +again be quiet would, I knew, be useless. One effort I made, I inquired +for and sought Lord Alphingham's hotel, intending to obtain his +assistance in the proper interment of this unfortunate young man, but in +this was equally frustrated; the hotel was closely shut up. Lord and +Lady Alphingham had, at the earliest threatening of disturbances, +retreated to their chateau in the province of Champagne. I forwarded the +melancholy intelligence to them, and returned to my own hotel sick at +heart with the sight I had witnessed. The fearful tone of his last +words, the agonized shriek, rung in my ears, as the shattered form and +face floated before my eyes, with a tenacity no effort of my own or even +of my Louisa's could dispel. Oh, my mother, what do I not owe you for +guarding me from the temptations that have assailed this wretched young +man, or rather for imprinting on my infant mind those principles which, +with the blessing of our heavenly Father, have thus preserved me. +Naturally, my temper, my passions were like his, in nothing was I his +superior; but it was your hand, your prayers, my mother, planted the +seeds of virtue, your gentle firmness eradicated those faults which, had +they been fostered by indulgence, might have rendered my life like Cecil +Grahame's, and exposed me in the end to a death like his. What would +have availed my father's judicious guidance, my brother's mild example, +had not the soil been prepared by a mother's hand and watered by a +mother's prayers? blessings, a thousand blessings on your head, my +mother! Oh, may my children learn to bless theirs even as I do mine; +they cannot know a purer joy on earth. + + * * * * * + +"We have arrived at Rouen in safety. I am truly thankful to feel my +beloved wife is far from the scene of confusion and danger to which she +has been so unavoidably exposed. I am not deceived in her strength of +nerve, my dear mother; I did not think, when I boasted of it as one of +her truly valuable acquirements, I should so soon have seen it put to +the proof; to her letter to Caroline I refer you for all entertaining +matter. + + * * * * * + +"I have been interrupted by an interview as unexpected as it promises to +be gratifying. One dear to us all may, at length, rejoice there is hope; +but I dare not say too much, for the health of this unhappy young man is +so shattered, he may never yet embrace his mother. But to be more +explicit, I was engaged in writing, unconsciously with the door of my +apartment half open, when I was roused by the voice of the waiter, +exclaiming, 'Not that room, sir, if you please, yours is yonder.' I +looked up and met the glance of a young man, whom, notwithstanding the +long lapse of years, spite of faded form and attenuated features, I +recognised on the instant. It was Alfred Greville. I was far more +surprised and inconceivably more shocked than when Cecil Grahame crossed +my path; I had marked no change in the features or the expression of the +latter, but both in Alfred Greville were so totally altered, that he +stood before me the living image of his sister, a likeness I had never +perceived before. I was too much astonished to address him, and before I +could frame words, he had sprung forward, with a burning flush on his +cheek, and grasping my hand, wildly exclaimed, 'Do not shun me, +Hamilton, I am not yet an utter reprobate. Tell me of my mother; does +she live?" + +"'She does,' I replied; instantly a burst of thanksgiving broke from his +lips, at least so I imagined, from the expression of his features, for +there were no articulate sounds, and a swoon resembling death +immediately followed. Medical assistance was instantly procured, but +though actual insensibility was not of long continuance, he is +pronounced to be in such an utterly exhausted state, that we dare not +encourage hopes for his final recovery; yet still I cannot but believe +he will be spared--spared not only in health, but as a reformed and +better man, to bless that mother whose cares for him, despite long years +of difficulties and sorrow, have never failed. In vain I entreated him +not to exhaust himself by speaking; that I would not leave him, and if +he would only be quiet, he might be better able on the morrow to tell me +all he desired. He would not be checked; he might not, he said, be +spared many hours, and he must speak ere he died. Comparatively +speaking, but little actual vice has stained the conduct of Greville. +Throughout all his career the remembrance of his mother has often, very +often mingled in his gayest hours, and dashed them with remorseful +bitterness. He owns that often of late years her image, and that of his +sister Mary, have risen so mildly, so impressively before him, that he +has flown almost like a maniac from the gay and heartless throngs, to +solitude and silence, and as the thoughts of home and his infancy, when +he first lisped out his boyish prayer by the side of his sister at his +mother's knee, came thronging over him, he has sobbed and wept like a +child. These feelings returned at length so often and so powerfully, +that he felt to resist them was even more difficult and painful than to +break from the flowery chains which his gay companions had woven round +him. He declared his resolution; he resisted ridicule and persuasion. +Almost for the first time in his life he remained steadily firm, and +when he had indeed succeeded, and found himself some distance from the +scenes of luxurious pleasure, he felt himself suddenly endowed with an +elasticity of spirit, which he had not experienced for many a long year. +The last tidings he had received of his mother and sister were that they +were at Paris, and thither he determined to go, having parted from his +companions at Florence. During the greater part of his journey to the +French capital, he fancied his movements were watched by a stranger, +gentlemanly in his appearance, and not refusing to enter into +conversation when Greville accosted him; but still Alfred did not feel +satisfied with his companionship, though to get rid of him seemed an +impossibility, for however he changed his course, the day never passed +without his shadow darkening Greville's path. Within eighty miles of +Paris, however, he lost all traces of him, and he then reproached +himself for indulging in unnecessary fears. He was not in Paris two +days, however, before, to his utter astonishment, he was arrested and +thrown into prison on the charge of forging bank-notes, two years +previous, to a very considerable amount. In vain he protested against +the accusation alleging at that time he had been in Italy and not in +Paris. Notes bearing his own signature, and papers betraying other +misdemeanours, were brought forward, and on their testimony and that of +the stranger, whose name he found to be _Dupont_, he was thrown into +prison to await his trial. To him the whole business was an impenetrable +mystery. To us, my dear father, it is all clear as day. Poor Mrs. +Greville's fears were certainly not without foundation, and when affairs +are somewhat more quiet in Paris, I shall leave no stone unturned to +prove young Greville's perfect innocence to the public, and bring that +wretch Dupont to the same justice to which his hatred would have +condemned the son of his old companion. Alfred's agitation on hearing my +explanation of the circumstance was extreme. The errors of his father +appeared to fall heavily on him, and yet he uttered no word of reproach +on his memory. The relation of his melancholy death, and the misery in +which we found Mrs. Greville and poor Mary affected him so deeply, I +dreaded their effect on his health; but this was nothing to his +wretchedness when, by his repeated questions, he absolutely wrung from +me the tale of his sister's death, his mother's desolation: no words can +portray the extent of his self-reproach. It is misery to look upon him +now, and feel what he might have been, had his mother been indeed +permitted to exercise her rights. There is no happiness for Alfred +Greville this side of the Channel; he pines for home--for his mother's +blessing and forgiveness, and till he receives them, health will not, +cannot return. + + * * * * * + +In prison he remained for six long weary months, with the consciousness +that, amidst the many light companions with whom he had associated, +there was not one to whom he could appeal for friendship and assistance +in his present situation, and the thoughts of his mother and sister +returned with greater force, from the impossibility of learning anything +concerning them. The hope of escaping never left him, and, with the +assistance of a comrade, he finally effected it on the 27th of July, the +confusion of the city aiding him far more effectually than he believed +possible. He came down to Rouen in a coal-barge, so completely +exhausted, that he declared, had not the thought of England and his +mother been uppermost, he would gladly have laid down in the open +streets to die. To England he felt impelled, he scarcely knew wherefore, +save that he looked to us for the information he so ardently desired. +Our family had often been among his waking visions, and this accounts +for the agitation I witnessed when I first looked up. He said he felt he +knew me, but he strove to move or speak in vain; he could not utter the +only question he wished to frame, and was unable to depart without being +convinced if I indeed were Percy Hamilton. + +"'And now I have seen you, what have I learnt?' he said, as he ceased a +tale, more of sorrow than of crime. + +"'That your mother lives,' I replied, 'that she has never ceased to pray +for and love her son, that you can yet be to her a blessing and +support.' + +"Should he wish her sent for, I asked, I knew she would not demand a +second summons. He would not hear of it. + +"'Not while I have life enough to seek her. What, bring her all these +miles to me. My mother, my poor forsaken mother. Oh, no, if indeed I may +not live, if strength be not granted me to seek her, then, then it will +be time enough to think of beseeching her to come to me; but not while a +hope of life remains, speak not of it, Percy. Let her know nothing of +me, nothing, till I can implore her blessing on my knees.'" + + * * * * * + +"I have ceased to argue with him, for he is bent upon it, and perhaps it +is better thus. His mind appears much relieved, he has passed a quiet +night, and this morning the physician finds a wonderful improvement, +wonderful to him perhaps, but not to me." + + * * * * * + +Percy's letters containing the above extracts, were productive of much +interest to his friends at Oakwood. The details of Cecil's death, +alleviated by sympathy, were forwarded to his father and sister. The +words that had preceded his death Mr. Hamilton carefully suppressed from +his friend, and Mr. Grahame, as if dreading to hear anything that could +confirm his son's reckless disposition, asked no particulars. For three +months he buried himself in increased seclusion at Llangwillan, refusing +all invitations, and denying himself steadfastly to all. At the +termination of that period, however, he once more joined his friends, an +altered and a happier man. His misanthropy had departed, and often Mr. +Hamilton remarked to his wife, that the Grahame of fifty resembled the +Grahame of five-and-twenty far more than he had during the intervening +years. Lilla and Edward were sources of such deep interest to him, that +in their society he seemed to forget the misery occasioned by his other +children. The shock of her brother's death was long felt by Lilla; she +sorrowed that he was thus suddenly cut off without time for one thought +of eternity, one word of penitence, of prayer. The affection of her +husband, however, gradually dispelled these melancholy thoughts, and +when Lord Delmont paid his promised visit to his nephew, he found no +abatement in those light and joyous spirits which had at first attracted +him towards Lilla. + +Ellen, at her own particular request, had undertaken to prepare Mrs. +Greville for the return of her son, and the change that had taken place +in him. Each letter from Percy continued his recovery, and here we may +notice, though somewhat out of place, as several months elapsed ere he +was enabled fully to succeed, that, by the active exertions of himself +and of the solicitor his father had originally employed, Dupont was at +length brought to justice, his criminal machinations fully exposed to +view, and the innocence of Alfred Greville, the son of the deceased, as +fully established in the eyes of all men. + +Gently and cautiously Ellen performed her office, and vain would be the +effort to portray the feelings or the fond and desolate mother, as she +anticipated the return of her long-absent, dearly-loved son. Of his own +accord he came back to her; he had tried the pleasures of the world, and +proved them hollow; he had formed friendships with the young, the gay, +the bright, the lovely, and he had found them all wanting in stability +and happiness. Amid them all his heart had yearned for home and for +domestic love; that mother had not prayed in vain. + +Softly and beautifully fell the light of a setting sun around the +pretty little cottage, on the banks of the Dart, which was now the +residence of Mrs. Greville; the lattice was thrown widely back, and the +perfume of unnumbered flowers scented the apartment, which Ellen's hand +had loved to decorate, that Mrs. Greville might often, very often forget +she was indeed alone. It was the early part of September, and a +delicious breeze passed by, bearing health and elasticity upon its wing, +and breathing soft melody amid the trees and shrubs. Softly and calmly +glided the smooth waters at the base of the garden. The green verandah +running round the cottage was filled with beautiful exotics, which +Ellen's hand had transported from the conservatory at Oakwood. It was a +sweet and soothing sight to see how judiciously, how unassumingly Ellen +devoted herself to the desolate mother, without once permitting that +work of love to interfere with her still nearer, still dearer ties at +home. She knew how Herbert would have loved and devoted himself to the +mother of his Mary, and in this, as in all things, she followed in his +steps. Untiringly would she listen to and speak on Mrs. Greville's +favourite theme, her Mary; and now she sat beside her, enlivening by +gentle converse the hours that must intervene ere Alfred came. There was +an expression of such calm, such chastened thanksgiving on Mrs. +Greville's features, changed as they were by years of sorrow, that none +could gaze on her without a kindred feeling stealing over the heart, and +in very truth those feelings seemed reflected on the young and lovely +countenance beside her. A pensive yet a sweet and pleasing smile rested +on Ellen's lips, and her dark eye shone softly bright in the light of +sympathy. Beautiful indeed were the orphan's features, but not the +dazzling beauty of early youth. If a stranger had gazed on her +countenance when in calm repose, he would have thought she had seen +sorrow; but when that beaming smile of true benevolence, that eye of +intellectual and soul-speaking beauty met his glance, as certain would +he have felt that sorrow, whatever it might have been, indeed had lost +its sting. + +"It was such an evening, such an hour my Mary died," Mrs. Greville said, +as she laid her hand in Ellen's. "I thought not then to have reflected +on it with feelings such as now fill my heart. Oh, when I look back on +past years, and recall the prayers I have uttered in tears for my son, +my Alfred, the doubts, the fears that have arisen to check my prayer, I +wonder wherefore am I thus blessed." + +"Our God is a God of truth, and He promiseth to answer prayer, dearest +Mrs. Greville," replied Ellen, earnestly; "and He is a God of love, and +will bless those who seek Him and trust in Him as you have done." + +"He gave me grace to trust in Him, my child. I trusted, I doubted not He +would answer me in another world, but I thought not such blessing was +reserved for me in this. A God of love--ay, in my hour of affliction. I +have felt Him so. Oh, may the blessings of His loving-kindness shower +down upon me, soften yet more my heart to receive His glorious image." + +She ceased to speak, but her lips moved still as in inward prayer. Some +few minutes elapsed, and suddenly the glowing light of the sun was +darkened, as by an intervening shadow. The mother raised her head, and +in another instant her son was at her feet. + +"Mother, can you forgive, receive me? Bid me not go forth--I cannot, +may not leave you." + +"Go forth, my son, my son--oh, never, never!" she cried, and clasping +him to her bosom, the quick glad tears fell fast upon his brow. She +released him to gaze again and again upon his face, and fold him closer +to her heart, to read in those sunken features, that faded form, the +tale that he had come back to her heart and to her home, never, never +more to leave her. + +In that one moment years of error were forgotten. The mother only felt +she hold her son to her heart, a suffering, yet an altered and a better +man; and he, that he knelt once more beside his mother, forgiven and +beloved. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +CONCLUSION + + +And now, what can we more say? Will not the Hamilton family, and those +intimately connected with them, indeed be deemed complete? It was our +intention to trace in the first part of our tale the cares, the joys, +the sorrows of parental love, during the years of childhood and earliest +youth; in the second, to mark the _effect_ of those cares, when those on +whom they were so lavishly bestowed attained a period of life in which +it depends more upon themselves than on their parents to frame their own +happiness or misery, as far, at least, as we ourselves can do so. It may +please our Almighty Father to darken our earthly course by the trial of +adversity, and yet that peace founded on religion, which it was Mr. and +Mrs. Hamilton's first care to inculcate, may seldom be disturbed. It +may please Him to bless us with prosperity, but from characters such as +Annie Grahame happiness is a perpetual exile, which no prosperity has +power to recall. We have followed Mr. Hamilton's family from childhood, +we have known them from their earliest years, and now that it has become +their parts to feel those same cares and joys, and perform those +precious but solemn duties which we have watched in Mrs. Hamilton, our +task is done; and we must bid farewell to those we have known and loved +so long; those whom we have seen the happy inmates of one home, o'er +whom-- + + + "The same fond mother bent at night," + +who shared the same joys, the same cares, whose deepest affections were +confined to their parents and each other, are now scattered in different +parts of their native land, distinct members of society, each with his +own individual cares and joys, with new and precious ties to divide that +heart whose whole affection had once been centred in one spot and in one +circle; and can we be accused in thus terminating our simple annals of +wandering from the real course of life. Is it not thus with very many +families of England? Are not marriage and death twined hand in hand, to +render that home desolate which once resounded with the laugh of many +gleesome hearts, with the glad tones of youthful revelling and joy? +True, in those halls they often meet again, and the hearts of the +parents are not lone, for the family of each child is a source of +inexpressible interest to them; there is still a link, a precious link +to bind them together, but vain and difficult would be the attempt to +continue the history of a family when thus dispersed. Sweet and +pleasing the task to watch the unfledged nestlings while under a +mother's fostering wing, but when they spread their wings and fly, where +is the eye or pen that can follow them on their eager way? + +Once more, but once, we will glance within the halls of Oakwood, and +then will we bid them farewell, for our task will be done, and the last +desires of fancy, we trust, to have appeased. + +It was in the September of the year 1830 we closed our narrative. Let us +then, for one moment, imagine the veil of fancy is upraised on the first +day of the year, 1838, and gaze within that self-same room, which twenty +years before we had seen lighted up on a similar occasion, the +anniversary of a new year, bright with youthful beauty, and enlivened by +the silvery laugh of early childhood. But few, very few, were the +strangers that this night mingled with Mr. Hamilton's family. It was +not, as it had been twenty years previous, a children's ball on which we +glance. It was but the happy reunion of every member of that truly happy +family, and the lovely, mirthful children there assembled were, with the +exception of a very few, closely connected one with another by the near +relationship of brothers, sisters, and cousins. In Mr. and Mrs. +Hamilton, Mrs. Greville, Montrose Grahame, Lucy Harcourt, and Mr. +Morton, who were all present, time had comparatively made but little +difference; but it was in those who twenty years before had so well +acted the part of youthful entertainers to their various guests that the +change was striking, yet far, very far from being mournful. + +On one side might be seen Percy Hamilton, M.P., in earnest yet +pleasurable conversation with Mr. Grahame. It was generally noticed that +these two gentlemen were always talking politics, discussing, whenever +they met, the affairs of the nation, for no senator was more earnest and +interested in his vocation than Percy Hamilton, but certainly on this +night there was no thoughtful gravity of a senator imprinted on his +brow; he was looking and laughing at the childish efforts of the little +Lord Manvers, eldest child of the Earl of Delmont, then in his seventh +year, to emulate the ease and dignity of his cousins, Lord Lyle and +Herbert and Allan Myrvin, some two or three years older than himself, +who, from being rather more often at Oakwood, considered themselves +quite lords of the soil and masters of the ceremonies, during the +present night at least. The Ladies Mary and Gertrude Lyle, distinguished +by the perfect simplicity of their dress, had each twined an arm in that +of the gentle, retiring Caroline Myrvin, and tried to draw her from her +young mother's side, where, somewhat abashed at the number that night +assembled in her grandfather's hall, she seemed determined to remain, +while a younger sister frolicked about the room, making friends with +all, in such wild exuberance of spirits, that Mrs. Myrvin's gentle voice +was more than once raised in playful reproach to reduce her to order, +while her husband and Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton seemed to take delight in +her movements of elasticity and joy. The Countess St. Eval, as majestic +and fascinating in womanhood as her early youth had promised, one moment +watched with a proud yet softly flashing eye the graceful movements of +her son, and the next, was conversing eagerly and gaily with her brother +Percy and the young Earl of Delmont, who were standing near her; seven +years had wrought but little change in him, whom till now we have only +known by the simple designation of Edward Fortescue. Manhood, in his +prime, had rather increased than lessened the extreme beauty of his face +and form; few gazed on him once but turned to gaze again, and the little +smiling cherub of five years, whose soft, round arms were twined round +Miss Fortescue's neck, the Lady Ellen Fortescue, promised fair to +inherit all her father's beauty and peculiar grace, and endeared her to +her young mother's heart with an increased warmth of love, while the +dark flashing eyes of Lord Manvers and his glossy, flowing, ebon curls +rendered him, Edward declared, the perfect likeness of his mother, and +therefore he was the father's pet. Round Mr. Hamilton were grouped, in +attitudes which an artist might have been glad to catch for natural +grace, about three or four younger grandchildren, the eldest not +exceeding four years, who, too young to join in the dance and sports of +their elder brethren, were listening with eager attention to the +entertaining stories grandpapa was relating, calling forth peals of +laughter from his infant auditors, particularly from the fine +curly-headed boy who was installed on the seat of honour, Mr. Hamilton's +knee, being the only child of Percy and Louisa, and consequently the pet +of all. It was to that group Herbert Myrvin wished to confine the +attention of his merry little sister, who, however, did not choose to be +so governed, and frisked about from one group to another, regardless of +her graver brother's warning glances; one minute seated on Mrs. +Hamilton's knee and nestling her little head on her bosom, the next +pulling her uncle Lord St. Eval's coat, to make him turn round and play +with her, and then running away with a wild and ringing laugh. + +"Do not look so anxious, my own Emmeline," Mrs. Hamilton said fondly, +as she met her daughter's glance fixed somewhat anxiously on her little +Minnie, for so she was generally called, to distinguish her from Lady +St. Eval's Mary. "You will have no trouble to check those wild spirits +when there is need to do so; her heart is like your own, and then sweet +is the task of rearing." + +With all the grateful fondness of earlier years did Mrs. Myrvin look up +in her mother's face, as she thus spoke, and press her hand in hers. + +"Not even yet have you ceased to penetrate my thoughts, my dearest +mother," she replied; "from childhood unto the present hour you have +read my countenance as an open book." + +"And have not you, too, learned that lesson, my child? Is it not to you +your gentle, timid Caroline clings most fondly? Is it not to you Herbert +comes with his favourite book, and Allan with his tales of glee? +Minnie's mirth is not complete unless she meets your smile, and even +little Florence looks for some sign of sympathy. You have not found the +task so difficult, that you should wonder I should love it?" + +"For those beloved ones, oh, what would I not do?" said Mrs. Myrvin, in +a tone of animated fervour, and turning her glistening eyes on her +mother, she added, "My own mother, marriage may bring with it new tics, +new joys, but, oh, who can say it severs the first bright links of life +between a mother and a child? it is now, only now, I feel how much you +loved me." + +"May your children be to you what mine have ever been to me, my +Emmeline; I can wish you no greater blessing," replied Mrs. Hamilton, +in a tone of deep emotion, and twining Emmeline's arm in hers, they +joined Mrs. Greville and Miss Harcourt, who were standing together near +the pianoforte, where Edith Seymour, the latter's younger niece, a +pleasing girl of seventeen, was good-naturedly playing the music of the +various dances which Lord Lyle and Herbert Myrvin were calling in rapid +succession. In another part of the room Alfred Greville and Laura +Seymour were engaged in such earnest conversation, that Lord Delmont +indulged in more than one joke at their expense, of which, however, they +were perfectly unconscious; and this had occurred so often, that many of +Mrs. Greville's friends entertained the hope of seeing the happiness now +so softly and calmly imprinted on her expressive features, very shortly +heightened by the union of her now truly estimable son with an amiable +and accomplished young woman, fitted in all respects to supply the place +of the daughter she had lost. + +And what had these seven years done for the Countess of Delmont, who had +completely won the delighted kiss and smiles of Minnie Myrvin, by +joining in all her frolics, and finally accepting Allan's blushing +invitation, and joining the waltz with him, to the admiration of all the +children. The girlish vivacity of Lilla Grahame had not deserted Lady +Dolmont; conjugal and maternal love had indeed softened and subdued a +nature, which in early years had been perhaps too petulant; had +heightened yet chastened sensibility. Never was happiness more visibly +impressed or more keenly felt than by the youthful Countess. Her +husband, in his extreme fondness, had so fostered her at times almost +childish glee, that he might have unfitted her for her duties, had not +the mild counsels, the example of his sister, Miss Fortescue, turned +aside the threatening danger, and to all the fascination of early +childhood Lady Delmont united the more solid and enduring qualities of +pious, well-regulated womanhood. + +"I wonder Charles is not jealous," observed Mrs. Percy Hamilton, +playfully, after admiring to Lord Delmont his wife's peculiar grace in +waltzing. "Allan seems to have claimed her attention entirely." + +"Charles has something better to do," replied his father, laughing, as +the little Lord Manvers flew by him, with his arm twined round his +cousin Gertrude in the inspiring galop, and seemed to have neither ear +nor eye for any one or anything else. "Caroline, do you permit your +daughter to play the coquette so early?" + +"Better at seven than seventeen, Edward, believe me; had she numbered +the latter, I might be rather more uneasy, at present I can admire that +pretty little pair without any such feeling. Gertrude told me to-day, +she did not like to see her cousin Charles so shy, and she should do all +she could to make him as much at home as she and her brother are." + +"She has succeeded, then, admirably," replied Edward, laughing, "for the +little rogue has not much shyness in him now. Herbert and Mary have got +that corner all to themselves; I should like to go slily behind them, +and find out what they are talking about." + +"Try and remember what you used to talk about to your partners in this +very room, some twenty years back, and perhaps recollection will +satisfy your curiosity," said Lady St. Eval, smiling, but faintly, +however; the names Herbert and Mary had recalled a time when those names +had often been joined before, and the silent prayer arose that their +fates might not resemble those whose names they bore, that they might be +spared a longer time to bless those who loved them. + +"Twenty years back, Caroline, what an undertaking. Allan is more like +the madcap I was then, so I can better enter into his feelings of +pleasure. By-the-bye, why are not Mrs. Cameron's family here to-night? I +half expected to meet them here yesterday." + +"They spend this season with Sir Walter and Lady Cameron in Scotland," +replied Lady St. Eval. "Florence declared she would take no excuse; the +Marquis and Marchioness of Malvern, with Emily and Louis, are there +also, and Lady Alford is to join them in a week or two." + +"You were there last summer, were you not?" + +"We were. They are one of the happiest couples I know, and their estate +is most beautiful. Florence declares that, were Sir Walter Scott still +living, she intended to have made him take her for a heroine, her +husband for a hero, and transport them some centuries back, to figure on +that same romantic estate in some very exciting scenes." + +"Had he killed Cameron's first love and rendered him desperate, and made +Florence some consoling spirit, to remove his despair, instead of making +him so unromantically enabled to conquer his passion, because +unreturned. Why I could make as good a story as Sir Walter himself; if +she will reward me liberally, I will set about it." + +"It will never do, Lord Delmont, it is much too common-place," said Mrs. +Percy Hamilton, smiling. "It is a very improper question, I allow, but +who was Sir Walter's first love?" + +"Do you not know? A certain friend of yours whom I torment, by declaring +she is invulnerable to the little god's arrows," he answered, joyously. + +"She may be invulnerable to Cupid, but certainly not to any other kind +of love," remarked Lady St. Eval, as she smilingly pointed out to Mrs. +Percy's notice Miss Fortescue, surrounded by a group of children, and +bearing on her expressive countenance unanswerable evidences of her +interest in the happiness of all around her. + +"And is it possible, after loving _her_ he could love another?" she +exclaimed, in unfeigned astonishment. + +"Disagreeably unromantic, Louisa, is it not?" said Lord Delmont, +laughing heartily; "but what was the poor man to do? Ellen was +inexorable, and refused to bestow on him anything but her friendship." + +"Which he truly values," interrupted Lady St. Eval. "You must allow, +Louisa, he was wise, however free from romance; the character of +Florence, in many points, very much resembles Ellen's. She is one of the +very few whom I do not wonder at his choosing, after what had passed. Do +you know, Edward, Flora Cameron marries in the spring?" + +"I heard something about it; tell me who to." + +She complied, and Percy and Mr. Grahame joining them, the conversation +extended to more general topics. + +"Nay, Allan, dear, do not tease your sister," was Miss Fortesene's +gentle remonstrance, as Allan endeavoured, somewhat roughly, to draw +Minnie from her side, where, however, she clung with a pertinacity no +persuasion or reproach could shake. + +"She will hurt Ellen," replied the boy, sturdily, "and she has no right +to take her place by you." + +"But she may stand here too, there is room for us both," interrupted the +little Ellen, though she did not offer to give up her place in her +aunt's lap to her cousin. + +"Go away, Allan, I choose to stand here, and aunt Ellen says I may," was +Minnie's somewhat impatient rejoinder, as she tried to push her brother +away, though her pretty little features expressed no ill-temper on the +occasion, for she laughed as she spoke. + +"Aunt Ellen promised to dance with me," retorted Allan, "and so I will +not go away unless she comes too." + +"With me, with me!" exclaimed Lord Manvers, bounding forward to join the +group. "She promised three months ago to dance with me." + +"And how often have I not performed that promise, Master Charlie?" +replied Ellen, laughing, "even more often with you than with Allan, so I +must give him the preference first." + +Her good-natured smiles, the voice which betrayed such real interest in +all that pleased her little companions, banished every appearance of +discontent. The magic power of affection and sympathy rendered every +little pleader satisfied and pleased; and, after performing her promise +with Allan, she put the final seal to his enjoyment by confiding the +little bashful Ellen to his especial care; a charge, which Myrvin +declared, caused his son to hold himself up two inches higher than he +had done yet. + +"Ellen, if you do not make yourself as great and deservedly a favourite +with my children as with your brother's and Emmeline's, I shall never +forgive you," said the Earl St. Eval, who had been watching Miss +Fortescue's cheerful gambols with the children for the last half hour, +in extreme amusement, and now joined her. + +"Am I not so already, Eugene?" she said, smiling that peculiar smile of +quiet happiness which was now natural to her countenance. "I should be +sorry if I thought they did not love me equally; for believe me, with +the sole exception of my little namesake and godchild, my nephews and +nieces are all equally dear to me. I have no right to make an exception +even in favour of my little Ellen, but Edward has so often called her +mine, and even Lilla has promised to share her maternal rights with me, +that I really cannot help it. Your children do not see so much of me as +Emmeline's, and that is the reason perhaps they are not quite so free +with me; but believe mo, dear St. Eval, it will not be my fault if they +do not love me." + +"I do believe you," replied the Earl, warmly. "I have but one regret, +Ellen, when I see you loving and beloved by so many little creatures." + +"And what may that be?" + +"That they are not some of them your own, my dear girl. I cannot tell +you how I regret the fact, of which each year the more and more +convinces me, that you are determined ever to remain single. There are +very few in my list of female friends so fitted to adorn the marriage +state, very few who would make a better mother, and I cannot but regret +there are none on whom you seem inclined to bestow those endearing and +invaluable qualities." + +"Regret it then no more, my dear St. Eval," replied Ellen, calmly, yet +with feeling. "I thank you for that high opinion which I believe you +entertain of me, too flattering as it may be; but cease to regret that I +have determined to live an old maid's life. To me, believe me, it has no +terrors. To single women the opportunities of doing good, of making +others happy, are more frequent than those granted to mothers and wives; +and while such is the case, is it not our own fault if we are not happy? +I own that the life of solitude which an old maid's includes, may, if +the heart be so inclined, be equally productive of selfishness, +moroseness of temper, and obstinacy in opinion and judgment, but most +fervently I trust such will never be my attributes. It can never be +while my beloved aunt and uncle are spared to me, which I trust they +will be for many, many years longer; and even should they be removed +before I anticipate, I have so many to love me, so many to dearly love, +that I can have no time, no room for selfishness." + +"Do not mistake me, Ellen," St. Eval replied, earnestly; "I do not wish +to see you married because I dread your becoming like some single women; +with your principles such can never be. Your society--your influence +over the minds of our children--is far too precious to be lightly wished +removed, as it would be were you to marry. It is for your own sake, +dearest Ellen, I regret it, and for the sake of him you might select, +that you, who are so fitted to enjoy and to fulfil them, can never know +the pleasures attendant on the duties of a happy wife and mother; that +by a husband and child, the dearest ties of earth, you will go down to +the grave unloved." + +"You are right, St. Eval, they are the dearest ties on earth; but +pleasures, the pleasures of affection, too, are yet left to us, who may +never know them. Think you not, that to feel it is my place to cheer and +soothe the declining years of those dear and tender guardians of my +infancy must bring with it enjoyment--to see myself welcomed by smiles +of love and words of kindness by all my brothers and sisters--to see +their children flock around me as I enter, each seeking to be the first +to obtain my smile or kiss--to know myself of service to my +fellow-creatures, I mean not in my own rank, but those beneath me--to +feel conscious that in every event of life, particularly in sickness or +in sorrow, if those I so love require my presence, or I feel I may give +them comfort or sympathy, at least I may fly to them, for I shall have +no tie, no dearer or more imperious duty to keep me from them--are not +these considerations enough to render a single life indeed one of +happiness, St. Eval? Even from this calm, unruffled stream of life can I +not gather flowers?" + +"You would gather them wherever you were placed, my dear and +noble-minded Ellen," said the Earl, with a warmth that caused her eye to +glisten. "You are right: with a disposition such as yours, I have no +need to regret you have so steadfastly refused every offer of marriage. +My girls shall come to you in that age when they think matrimony is the +only chance of happiness, and you shall teach them felicity dwells not +so much in outward circumstances as in the temper of the mind. Perhaps, +after all, Ellen, you are happier as it is. You might not find such a +husband as I would wish you, and I should be sorry to see your maternal +cares rewarded as were poor Mrs. Greville's." + +"I rather think, in the blessedness of the present the past is entirely +forgotten," observed Ellen, thoughtfully. "There are cares and sorrows +attendant on the happiest lot; but if a mother does her duty, in my +opinion she seldom fails to obtain her recompense, however long +deferred." + +"You are right, my Ellen," said Mrs. Hamilton, who had been listening to +the conversation some little time unobserved. "There are many sorrows +and many cares inseparable from maternal love, but they are forgotten, +or only remembered to enhance the sweetness of the recompense that ever +follows. Do you not think, to see my children, as I do now around me, +walking in that path which alone can lead to eternal life, and leading +their offspring with them, bringing up so tenderly, so fondly their +children as heirs of immortality, and yet lavishing on me, as on their +father, the love and duty of former years--is not this a precious +recompense for all which for them I may have done or borne? Even as I +watched the departing moments of my Herbert, as I marked the triumphant +and joyful flight of his pure spirit to his heavenly home,--even then +was I not rewarded? I saw the fruit of those lessons I had been +permitted through grace to inculcate; his last breath blessed me, and +was not that enough? Oh, my beloved children, let no difficulties deter +you, no temptation, no selfish suffering prevent your training up the +lovely infants now gambolling around you, in the way that they should +go;--solemn is the charge, awful the responsibility, but sweeter far +than words can give it, the reward which either in life or death will +then be yours." + +"Ah, could we perform our parts as you have yours, dearest mother, then +indeed might we hope it," exclaimed the Countess St. Eval and Mrs. +Myrvin at the same moment, as they drew closer to their mother, the eyes +of both glistening with emotion as they spoke. + +"And if we do reap the happiness of which you spoke, to whom shall we +owe it, mother?" demanded Percy, feelingly; for he too, attracted by his +mother's emotion, had joined the group. "Whose care, under God's +blessing, has made us as we are, and taught us, not only by precept but +example, how to conduct ourselves and our children? yours and my +father's; and if indeed in after years our children look up to us and +bless us as we do you, oh, my mother, the remembrance of you will mingle +with that blessedness, and render it yet purer." + +"Truly have you spoken, my son," said Mr. Hamilton, whose little +companions had about half an hour before been transported to their +nursery. "While sharing with your dear mother the happiness arising from +your conduct, my children, often and often has the remembrance of my +mother entered my heart to chasten and enhance those feelings. Gratitude +to her, reverence of her memory, have mingled with the present joy, and +so will it be with you. Your parents may have descended to the grave +before your children can be to you what you have been to us, but we +shall be remembered. Long, long may you feel as you think on your +mother, my beloved children, and teach your offspring to venerate her +memory, that the path of the just is indeed as a shining light, which +shineth more and more unto the perfect day." + + +THE END. + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mother's Recompense, Volume II. +by Grace Aguilar + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12362 *** diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3561660 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #12362 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/12362) diff --git a/old/12362-8.txt b/old/12362-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..11725af --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12362-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10667 @@ +Project Gutenberg's The Mother's Recompense, Volume II., by Grace Aguilar + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Mother's Recompense, Volume II. + A Sequel to Home Influence in Two Volumes + +Author: Grace Aguilar + +Release Date: May 16, 2004 [EBook #12362] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MOTHER'S RECOMPENSE, *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Franks and the Distributed Proofreaders Team + + + + +THE MOTHER'S RECOMPENSE; + + +A SEQUEL TO HOME INFLUENCE. + + +BY GRACE AGUILAR. + + + + +IN TWO VOLUMES. + +VOL. II. + + +LEIPZIG + +BERNHARD TAUCHNITZ + +1859. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + +"Who amongst this merry party will become sufficiently sober to assist +me in a work of charity?" was Mrs. Hamilton's address, one afternoon, as +she entered her daughter's room, where Emmeline, her young friends Lady +Florence and Lady Emily Lyle, and even the usually quiet Ellen, were +employing themselves in drawing, embroidery, and such light amusements +as diligently as the merry speech, the harmless joke, and the joyous +laugh of truly innocent enjoyment would permit. + +"A case of extreme distress has come before me," she continued, "for +which alms and other relief will not be sufficient; clothing is +principally required. Can any of you consent to put aside these pretty +things for a few days, merely for the sake of obliging me and doing +good? I have set every hand to work, and now for further assistance come +to you. To whom shall I appeal?" + +"To me--to me--to me!" every voice exclaimed spontaneously, and they +eagerly crowded round her to know what she required, what case of +distress had occurred, for whom they were to work. + +Gratified and pleased at their eagerness, Mrs. Hamilton smilingly +imparted all they wished to know. The simple tale drew from the artless +group many exclamations of pity, combined with the earnest desire to +relieve in whatever way their kind friend would dictate, and their task +was received by all with every demonstration of pleasure. + +"You, too, Ellen," said Mrs. Hamilton, smiling; "I thought you once said +you had no time for work." + +"Not for ornamental work, aunt! but I hope you have never asked in vain +for my assistance in such a case as this," answered Ellen, blushing as +she spoke. + +"No, love; my words did you injustice. But you appear to have found time +for ornamental work also, if this very pretty wreath be yours," said +Mrs. Hamilton, bending over her niece's frame, and praising the delicacy +of her flowers. + +"Oh, I have time for any and everything now," exclaimed Ellen, in a tone +of animation, so very unusual, that not only her aunt but her young +companions looked at her with astonishment. + +"Ellen, yon are becoming more and more incomprehensible," said Emmeline, +laughing. "If Edward do not come home soon, as I suspect this +extraordinary mood is occasioned by the anticipation of his arrival, I +am afraid your spirits will carry you half way over the Channel to meet +him. Mamma, take my advice, and keep a strict watch over the person of +your niece." + +"You know, Ellen, you are as full of fun and mischief as I am, quiet and +demure as we once thought you," said Lady Emily. + +"Is she? I am glad of it," said Mrs. Hamilton, playfully. "Do not look +so very much ashamed of your mirth, my dear Ellen, and bend over your +work as if you had been guilty of some extraordinary misdemeanour. You +know how pleased I always am to see you happy, Ellen," she added, in a +lower voice, as she laid her hand sportively on her niece's head, which +was bent down to conceal the confusion Emmeline's words had called +forth. + +Some little time longer Mrs. Hamilton remained with the young party, +entering with her usual kindness into all their pleasures and pursuits, +and left them perhaps even happier than she had found them. + +Ellen's change of manner had been noticed by the whole party assembled +at Oakwood; and by most of them attributed to the anticipation of the +long-absent Edward's return. That indefinable manner which had formerly +pervaded her whole conduct had disappeared. She no longer seemed to have +something weighing on her mind, which Mrs. Hamilton sometimes fancied to +have been the case. Cheerful, animated, at times even joyous, she +appeared a happier being than she had ever been before; and sincerely +her aunt and uncle, who really loved her as their child, rejoiced in the +change, though they knew not, guessed not the real cause. Ingratiating +herself with all, even the stern Duchess of Rothbury, who, with her now +only unmarried daughter, Lady Lucy, had accepted Mrs Hamilton's pressing +invitation to Oakwood, relaxed in her manner towards her; and Sir George +Wilmot, also a resident guest, declared that if Edward were not proud of +his sister on his return, he would do all in his power to hinder his +promotion. + +Mr. Hamilton and his family had employed the greater part of a very +beautiful August in conducting their guests to all the most picturesque +and favourite spots in the vicinity of Oakwood. About a week after the +circumstance we have narrated, St. Eval and Lady Gertrude joined them +in the morning of a proposed excursion, which included the whole party, +with the exception of Mrs. Hamilton and Ellen. The Earl and his sister +had been instantly enlisted as a most agreeable reinforcement; nor was +the young Earl very sorry for an excuse to spend a whole day in enjoying +the beauties of Nature _tête-à-tête_ with his betrothed, who, since the +candid explanation of her agitation on first hearing of Annie's +elopement, for which her knowledge of Lord Alphingham's former marriage +had well accounted, had become if possible dearer than ever; and this +excursion was indeed one of perfect enjoyment to both. + +Ellen, for some unaccountable reason, which her young friends could +neither penetrate nor conceive, refused to accompany them, declaring +that most important business kept her at home. + +"Edward will not come to-day, so do not expect him," had been Emmeline's +parting words. + +The ruralizing party were to dine amid the ruins of Berry Pomeroy, and +were not expected home till dusk, to a substantial tea. + +It might have been seven in the evening that Ellen quietly entered the +library, where her aunt was engaged in writing, and stood by her side in +silence, as if fearful of interrupting by addressing her. + +"Wait a few minutes, my love, and I shall be ready to attend to you, if +you require my assistance in the arrangement of your work," Mrs. +Hamilton said, alluding to the parcel of baby-linen she perceived in her +niece's hand. Ellen smiled and obeyed. In a few minutes Mrs. Hamilton +laid aside her writing, and looked up, as if expecting her niece would +speak. + +"Well, Ellen, what grand difficulty can you not overcome?" + +"None, my dear aunt. My task is done; I only want your approval," +replied Ellen. + +"Done!" repeated her aunt, in an accent of astonishment. "My dear Ellen, +it is impossible; I only gave it you a week ago. You must have worked +all night to finish it" + +"Indeed I have not," replied Ellen, quickly yet earnestly. + +"Then I certainly must examine every little article," said Mrs. +Hamilton, laughing, "or I shall decidedly fancy this extreme rapidity +cannot have been productive of neatness, which last I rather prefer to +the first." + +Ellen submitted her work to her scrutiny, without reply, and remained +kneeling on a stool at her aunt's feet, without any apprehension as to +the sentence that would be pronounced. + +"Really, Ellen, I shall incline to Emmeline's opinion, and believe some +magic is at work within you," was Mrs. Hamilton's observation, as she +folded up the tiny suit with very evident marks of satisfaction. "How +you have acquired the power of working thus neatly and rapidly, when I +have scarcely ever seen a needle in your hand, I cannot comprehend. I +will appoint you my sempstress-general, in addition to bestowing my +really sincere thanks for the assistance you have afforded me." + +Ellen pressed her aunt's hand to her lips in silence, for an emotion +Mrs. Hamilton beheld, but could not understand, choked her voice. + +"What is the matter, love? has anything occurred to annoy you to-day? +You look paler and more sad than usual; tell me what it is." + +"Do you remember what--what chanced--have you forgotten the event that +took place this very day, this very hour, in this very room, three years +ago?" demanded Ellen, almost inaudibly, and her cheek blanched to the +colour of her robe as she spoke. + +"Why recall the painful past at such a moment, my sweet girl? has it not +been redeemed by three years of undeviating rectitude and virtue? I had +hoped the recollection had ere this long ceased to disturb you," replied +Mrs. Hamilton, with much feeling, as she pressed her lips to her niece's +brow. + +"It never can, it never will, unless--unless--" Strong and almost +fearful emotion prevented all she had wished to say, and throwing into +Mrs. Hamilton's lap a small calf-skin pocket-book, she flung her arms +round her neck, and burying her face in her bosom, murmured, in a voice +choked with sobs, "The amount of all I took is there--all--all. Oh, take +it, and let me thus feel it as a debt which I have paid." + +"Ellen, my own Ellen, be composed," entreated Mrs. Hamilton, alarmed by +the extreme agitation she beheld. "Tell me, love, what are the contents +of this pocket-book? why do you entreat me so earnestly to take it?" + +Struggling violently with herself, Ellen tore open the little book, and +placed in her aunt's hand bank notes to the amount of those which had +once been so fatal a temptation. + +"They are mine--all mine. I have gained them honestly; indeed, indeed I +have; I have worked for them. It was to gain time for this I refused to +go out with you last winter. I had hoped my long, long task would have +been done before, but it was not. Oh, I thought I should never, never +gain the whole amount, but I have now; and, oh, tell me I have in part +redeemed my sin; tell me I am more worthy of your love, your kindness; +tell me I am again indeed your own happy Ellen." + +She would have said more, but no words came at her command, and Mrs. +Hamilton remained silent for a few minutes, in surprise and admiration. + +"My Ellen, my own much-loved Ellen!" she exclaimed at length, and tears +of unfeigned emotion mingled with the repeated kisses she imprinted on +her niece's cheek, "this moment has indeed repaid me for all. Little did +I imagine in what manner you were employed, the nature of your tedious +task. How could you contrive to keep it thus secret from me? what time +could you find to work thus laboriously, when not one study or +employment have I seen neglected?" + +"I thought at first I never should succeed," replied Ellen, her strong +emotion greatly calmed; "for while Miss Harcourt remained with us, I had +only two hours before prayers in the morning, and sometimes I have +ventured to sit up an hour or two later at night; but not often, for I +feared you would discover me, and be displeased, for I could not, dared +not tell you in what I was employed. The winter before last I earned so +much from embroidery and finer kinds of work, that I thought I should +have obtained the whole a year ago; but I was disappointed, for here I +could only do plain work, at which I earned but little, for I could not +do it so quickly. I had hoped there would have been no occasion to +refuse your wish, that I should accompany you and Emmeline, but I found +the whole amount was still far from completed, and I was compelled to +act as I did." + +"And is it possible, my Ellen, you have intrusted your secret to no one; +have demanded no sympathy, no encouragement in this long and painful +task?" + +"I could not have accomplished nor did I commence it, without the kind +assistance and advice of Ellis. My dear aunt, I knew, reposed great +confidence in her, and I thought if she did not disapprove of my plan, I +should not be acting so very independently, and that with her assistance +my secret would not be so difficult to keep: she procured me employment. +My name nor my reasons for seeking it were never known to those for whom +I worked." + +"And could she approve of a task such as this, my Ellen? Could she +counsel such painful self-denial and tedious labour?" + +"She did all she could to dissuade, and at first positively refused to +assist me; but at last yielded to my entreaties, for she saw I never +should be happy till I could look on the past more as a debt +than--than--" She paused, then added--"My own spirit rebelled enough; +that was far more difficult to overcome than other dissuasions." + +"And what strong impulse could have urged you to this course of +self-denial, my sweet girl? I know not yet whether I shall not scold you +for this almost needless infliction of pain, and for the deception it +involves towards me," said Mrs. Hamilton, with reproachful tenderness. + +"Forgive me, oh, forgive me that!" exclaimed Ellen, clasping the hand +she held. "I have often and often felt I was deceiving you; failing in +that confidence I had promised you should never have again to demand; +but I dared not tell you, for I knew you would have prohibited the +continuance of my task." + +"I should indeed, my Ellen; and tell me why you have done this. Was it +indeed because you imagined nothing else could atone for the past?" + +"Because I felt--I knew, though I was restored to your favour, your +confidence, my conscience was not at peace, because I had read, '_If the +wicked restore the pledge, give again that which he had robbed, walk in +the statutes of life, without committing iniquity, he shall surely live, +he shall not die_;' and I felt, however I might endeavour to be virtuous +and good, till I had given again that which I had robbed, I dared not +implore the mercy of my God." + +It is impossible to do justice by mere description to the plaintive +eloquence, to the mournfully-expressive voice with which these simple +words were said, betraying at once those thoughts and feelings which had +been so long concealed in Ellen's meek and youthful heart, the hidden +spring from which her every action had emanated; Mrs. Hamilton felt its +power, the sentiment was too exalted, too holy for human praise. She +folded her niece to her bosom. + +"May the Almighty searcher of hearts accept this sacrifice and bless +you, my dear child. Secretly, unostentatiously, it has been done. Pure +must have been the thoughts which were yours when thus employed, when +such was their origin, and we may hope, indeed, they have been accepted. +Had no self-denial attended the payment of your debt, had you merely +entreated your uncle to repay himself from the fortune you possess, I +would not have accepted it; such a payment would neither have been +acceptable to me, nor to Him whom, I firmly believe, my Ellen sought +more to please. But when every action the last few years has proved to +me, the words you repeated have indeed been the foundation of this +self-conquest, I cannot but humbly, trustingly, think it will be an +accepted offering on high. Nor will I refuse to comply with your +request, my dearest Ellen; I will receive that which you have so +perseveringly and so painfully earned; it shall be employed in +purchasing prayers for us all, from those whom it may relieve. Let not +the recollection of the past again disturb you, my sweet child. +Solicitude and pain you indeed once caused me, but this moment has +redeemed it all. Continue thus undeviatingly to follow the blessed path +you have chosen, and our Ellen is and ever will be deserving of all the +love which those to whom she is so dear can lavish upon her." + +For a few minutes there was silence, for the solemnity with which she +spoke had touched a responding chord; but the thoughts of the orphan +arose to heaven, silently petitioning for grace to continue in that +blessed path of which her aunt had spoken, in thankfulness for having +been permitted to conclude her painful task, and thus obtained the +approbation of her more than mother, the relative she so revered and +loved. + +"And this, then, was the long task which your numerous avocations during +the day prevented your completing, and you therefore took the time from +that allotted to recreation and amusement--this, which so strongly +emboldened my little Ellen, that even my coldness had no effect, except +to make her miserable. What do you not deserve for thus deceiving me? I +do not think I know any punishment sufficiently severe." Mrs. Hamilton +had recalled all her playfulness, for she wished to banish every trace +of sadness and emotion from the countenance of her niece. Ellen raised +her head to answer her in her own playful tone, when they were both +startled by the declining light of day being suddenly obscured, as if by +the shadow of a figure standing by the open window near them. It was, +however, so dark, that the outlines of the intruder were alone visible, +and they would have been unrecognised by any, save by the eye of +affection. + +Ellen sprung suddenly to her feet. "Edward!" burst gladly from her lips, +and in another second a fine manly youth had darted through the open +casement, and the long parted brother and sister were in each other's +arms. For a minute only Ellen was pressed in his embrace, and then +releasing her, he turned towards his aunt, and even as a devoted mother, +a fond and dutiful son, they met, for such had they been in the long +years of separation. Frequently had that high-spirited boy been tempted +to error and to sin, but as a talisman had her letters been. He thought +on the years that were passed, on their last interview, when every word +had graven itself upon his heart, on the devotedness of his orphan +sister, the misery he had once occasioned; he thought on these things, +and stood firm,--the tempter fled. He stood before them erect in +youthful beauty, no inward stain bade him turn from those fond looks or +shrink from the entwining arms of his young sister. And, oh, how blessed +is it thus to meet! to feel that vanished years have not estranged us, +distance has not diminished love, that we are to each other even as we +parted; to feel again the fond kiss, to hear once more the accents of a +voice which to us has been for years so still,--a voice that brings +with it the gush of memory! Past days flit before us; feelings, +thoughts, hopes, we deemed were dead, all rise again, summoned by that +secret witchery, the well-remembered though long silent voice. Let +years, long, lingering, saddening years drag on their chain, let youth +have given place to manhood, manhood to age, still will it be the +same--the voice we once have loved, and deemed to us for ever still--oh, +time, and grief, and blighted hope will be forgotten, and youth, in its +undimmed and joyous beauty, its glow of generous feelings, its bright +anticipations, all, all again be ours. + +"Mother; yes, now indeed may I call you mother!" exclaimed Edward, when +the agitation of this sudden meeting had subsided, and he found himself +seated on a sofa between his aunt and sister, clasping the hand of the +former and twining his arm caressingly round the latter. "Now indeed may +I indulge in the joy it is to behold you both again; now may I stand +forth unshrinkingly to meet my uncle's glance, no guilt, or shame, or +fear has cast its mist upon my heart. This was your gift," he drew a +small Bible from his bosom. "I read it, first, because it had been +yours, because it was dear to you, and then came other and holier +thoughts, and I bowed down before the God you worshipped, and implored +His aid to find strength, and He heard me." + +Mrs. Hamilton pressed his hand, but spoke not, and after a brief +silence, Edward, changing his tone and his subject, launched at once, +with all his natural liveliness, into a hurried tale of his voyage to +England. An unusually quick passage gave him and all the youngsters the +opportunity they desired, of returning to their various homes quite +unexpectedly. The vessel had only arrived off Plymouth the previous +night, or rather morning, for it was two o'clock; by noon the ship was +dismantled, the crew dismissed, leave of absence being granted to all. +And for the first time in his life, he laughingly declared he fancied +being the captain's favourite very annoying, as his presence and +assistance were requested at a time when his heart was at Oakwood; +however, he was released at last, procured a horse, and galloped away. +His disasters were not, however, over; his horse fell lame, as if, +Edward said, he felt a seaman was not a fit master for him. He was +necessitated to leave the poor animal to the care of a cottager, and +proceed on foot, avoiding the village, for fear of being recognised +before he desired; he exercised his memory by going through the lanes, +and reached Oakwood by a private entrance. Astonished at seeing the +rooms, by the windows of which he passed, deserted, he began to fear the +family were all in London; but the well-known sound of his aunt's voice +drew him to the library, just as he was seeking the main entrance to +have his doubts solved. He stood for a few minutes gazing on the two +beings who, more vividly than any others, had haunted his dreams by +night and visions by day; he had wished to meet them first, and alone, +and his wish was granted. + +Wrapped in her happy feelings, it was her brother's arm around her, her +brother's voice she heard, Ellen listened to him in trembling eagerness, +scarcely venturing to breathe, lest that dear voice should be still, +lest the hand she clasped should fade away, and she should wake and find +it but a dream of bliss--Edward could not really have returned; and Mrs. +Hamilton felt emotion so powerfully swelling within, as she gazed once +more on the brave preserver of her husband, the child of her sister, her +very image, that it was with difficulty she could ask those many +questions which affection and interest prompted. + +Edward had scarcely, however, finished his tale, before the sound of +many and eager voices, the joyous laugh, and other signs of youthful +hilarity, announced the return of the party from their excursion. Nor +was it long before Emmeline's voice, as usual, sounded in loud laughing +accents for her mother, without whose sympathy no pleasure was complete. + +"Do not disturb yourselves yet, my dear children," Mrs. Hamilton said, +as she rose, knowing well how many, many things the long-separated +orphans must have mutually to tell, and penetrating with that ready +sympathy--the offspring of true kindness--their wish for a short time to +remain alone together. "You shall not be summoned to join us till tea is +quite ready, and if you wish it, Edward," she added, with a smile, "you +shall have the pleasure of startling your uncle and cousins as agreeably +as you did us. I will control my desire to proclaim the happy tidings of +your safe return." + +She left the brother and sister together, sending Robert with, a lamp, +that they might have the gratification of seeing each other, which the +increasing darkness had as yet entirely prevented; and a gratification +to both it was indeed. Edward had left his sister comparatively well, +but with the traces of her severe illness still remaining vividly +impressed upon her features; but now he saw her radiant in health, in +happiness, and beauty so brilliant, he could hardly recognise that fair +and graceful girl for the ailing, drooping child she had once been. Nor +or was the contrast less striking between the Ellen of the present +meeting and the Ellen of the last; then wretchedness, misery, inward +fever, consumed her outward frame, and left its scorching brand upon her +brow. Remorseful anguish had bowed her down; and now he had returned +when her heart was free and light as the mountain breeze, her +self-inspired penance was completed; and nothing now existed to make her +shrink from the delight of devoting hours to her brother. + +"Tell James to go over to the Rectory, with my compliments to Mr. +Howard, and if he be not particularly engaged, I beg he will join us +this evening," said Mrs. Hamilton, a short time after she had left the +library, addressing Martyn, then crossing the hall. + +"Have you any particular wish for our worthy rector this evening, +Emmeline?" demanded Mr. Hamilton, gazing, as he spoke, with admiration +and surprise on the countenance of his wife, whose expressive features +vainly strove to conceal internal happiness. + +"A most earnest desire," she replied, smiling somewhat archly. + +"Indeed, I am curious"-- + +"I am sorry, dear Arthur, for I am no advocate for curiosity, and cannot +indulge it." + +"Ah, papa, there is a gentle hint for you, and a broader one for me," +exclaimed Emmeline, laughing; while conjectures as to what Mrs. +Hamilton's business with the rector could possibly be, employed the time +merrily till the whole party were assembled. + +"You may depend, Emmeline, it is to arrange all the necessary minutiae +for your marriage," said Lord St. Eval, who had been persuaded to remain +at Oakwood that night. "Your mother has selected a husband for you; +and, fearing your opposition, has sent for Mr. Howard that all may be +said and done at once." + +"I hope, then, that I am the man," exclaimed Lord Louis, laughing; +"there is no one else whom she can very well have at heart, not that I +see," he added, looking mischievously round him, while some strange and +painful emotions suddenly checked Emmeline's flow of spirits, and +utterly prevented her replying. + +A flush of crimson dyed her cheek and brow; nay, her fair neck partook +its hue, and she suddenly turned towards her mother, with a glance that +seemed of entreaty. + +"Why, Emmeline, my dear child, you surely cannot believe there is the +least particle of truth in my mischievous son's assertion?" said the +Marchioness of Malvern, pitying, though she wondered at her very evident +distress. + +"And is marriage so very disagreeable to you even in thought?" demanded +Lord St. Eval, still provokingly. + +"The very idea is dreadful; I love my liberty too well," answered +Emmeline, hastily rallying her energies with an effort, and she ran on +in her usual careless style; but her eye glanced on the tall figure of +young Myrvin, as he stood with Herbert at a distant window, and words +and liveliness again for a moment failed. His arms were folded on his +bosom, and his grey eye rested on her with an expression almost of +despair, for the careless words of Lord Louis had reached his heart--"No +one else she can have." + +Lord Louis had forgotten him, or intentionally reminded him that he was +indeed as a cypher in that noble circle; that he might not, dared not +aspire to that fair hand. He gazed on her, and she met his look; and if +that earnest, almost agonized glance betrayed to her young and guileless +bosom that she was beloved, it was not the only secret she that night +discovered. + +Mr. Hamilton was too earnestly engaged in conversation with Sir George +Wilmot to notice the painful confusion of his child; and Mrs. Hamilton +was thinking too deeply and happily on Ellen's conduct and Edward's +return, to bestow the attention that it merited, and consequently it +passed without remark. + +"Mother, I am sorry to be the first to inform you of such a domestic +misfortune," said Percy, soon after entering the room, apparently much +amused, "but Robert has suddenly lost his wits; either something +extraordinary has happened or is about to happen, or the poor fellow has +become bewitched. You smile, mother; on my honour, I think it no smiling +matter." + +"Never mind, Percy; your favourite attendant will, I have no doubt, +recover his senses before the night is over. I am not in the least +anxious," replied his mother, smiling. + +"Percy, your mother has clothed herself to-night in impenetrable +mystery, so do not hope to discover anything through her," said Lord St. +Eval, laughing, and the young men continued gaily conversing with Lady +Gertrude and Caroline, till the entrance of Mr. Howard and the +announcement of tea or supper; of both of which, after a day spent in +the country as this had been, the evening meal partook. + +"Ellen--where is Ellen?" said several voices, as they seated themselves +round the hospitable board, and observed her place was vacant; and Sir +George Wilmot eagerly joined the inquiry. + +"She will join us shortly, Sir George," replied Mrs. Hamilton, and +turning to a servant near her, desired him to let Miss Fortescue know +tea was ready. + +"I will go, madam. Stand back, James, let me pass," exclaimed Robert, +hastily, and he bounded out of the apartment with a most extraordinary +failing of his wonted respect. + +"There, proof positive; did I not tell you the lad was mad," said Percy, +and, as if in confirmation of his words, almost directly after a loud +and joyful shout sounded from the servants' hall. + +Mr. Hamilton looked up inquiringly, and in doing so his eye caught an +object that caused him to start from his seat with an exclamation of +surprise and pleasure; while Percy, leaping over chairs and tables that +stood in his way, unheeding Lord Louis's inquiry, whether Robert had +infected him, shook and shook again the hand of the long-absent +relative, in whom both he and Herbert could only recognise the preserver +of their father. Herbert and his sisters simultaneously left their +seats, and crowded round him. Warmly, affectionately, Edward greeted +them one and all, and rapidly answered the innumerable questions of +Percy; defended his sister from all share in his concealment, of which +Herbert and Emmeline laughingly accused her. The flush of almost painful +bashfulness still lingered on his cheek, as he marked the eyes of all +fixed upon him, strangers as well as friends; but as he turned in the +direction of his aunt, and his eye fell on the venerable figure of his +revered preceptor, who stood aside, enjoying the little scene he beheld, +as the remembrance of the blessed words, the soothing comfort that +impressive voice had spoken in his hour of greatest need, the lessons of +his childhood, his dawning youth, rushed on his mind, control, +hesitation, reserve were all at an end; he broke from the surrounding +and eager group, even from the detaining arm of his sister, sprang +towards him, and clasping both Mr. Howard's hands, his eyes glistened +and his voice quivered, as he exclaimed-- + +"Mr. Howard, too! one of my first, my best, and kindest friends. Ellen +told me not of this unexpected pleasure; this is joy, indeed." + +"A joy to me, too, my dear boy, equally unexpected; we must thank Mrs. +Hamilton for this early meeting. I knew not the pleasure she had +prepared for me," replied Mr. Howard, returning the pressure of Edward's +hand with equal warmth. + +"Nor did any one, my good sir. Never will I say again a lady cannot keep +a secret," said the Marquis of Malvern, jestingly. "Mr. Hamilton, as you +do not seem inclined to honour me, without asking, I must entreat a +formal introduction to that gallant nephew of yours, whose name is not +unknown to naval fame, though as yet but one of her junior officers." + +"I really beg your pardon, my dear Lord; Edward's sudden appearance has +startled me out of all etiquette. To one and all, then, of my good +friends here, allow me to introduce to their indulgent notice this said +Edward Fortescue, midshipman and gallant officer on board His Majesty's +good ship Prince William; and, in order that all reserve may be at an +end between us, I propose a bumper to the health and prosperity of the +wanderer returned." + +"Most excellent, my dear father; one that I will second with all my +heart," exclaimed Percy, eagerly. "For that amphibious animal looks +marvellously like a fish out of water amongst us all: and here we admit +no strangers. Edward, there is a vacant seat reserved for you by my +mother's side, who looks much as if she would choose you for her knight +this evening; and, therefore, though your place in future is amongst the +young ladies, to whom by-and-bye I mean to introduce you by name and +character, we will permit you to sit there to-night. Ellen, my little +coz, where are you? You must be content with looking at your brother, +not sitting by him. I cannot allow such breaches of etiquette; that is +quite impossible." + +"I am perfectly satisfied where I am, Percy," replied his cousin, +laughing, as she obeyed the Marchioness of Malvern's request and seated +herself beside her. Every eye was turned on Ellen with an admiration, +which, had not her thoughts been engrossed with her brother, would have +been actually painful to one of her quick feelings. Lady Malvern longed +to hear from her young favourite, in words, the internal delight which +was so evident in every feature, and by her kindly sympathy succeeded in +her wishes. The young sailor's health was celebrated with enthusiasm; +and Edward gracefully, though briefly, returned his thanks, while the +kindness of all around him, the easy friendliness of those who were +strangers, and the joy of feeling himself once more in the midst of +those he loved, soon placed him perfectly at ease. + +Ellen looked eagerly round her circle of friends, to mark the impression +made by Edward, and even her fond affection was fully satisfied. Sir +George Wilmot had not spoken, but his eye kindled with animation as in +the gallant young sailor he recalled his own youthful days, while some +other sad remembrances kept him silent, and checked his usual hilarity. +Lord Malvern appeared almost as interested as Mr. Hamilton. Lady +Gertrude's kind glance met hers, and told, by its silent eloquence, how +well she sympathised in Ellen's feelings; and Lord St. Eval too, his +smile spoke volumes, though his natural reserve prevented his addressing +Edward, while the young and lively members of the party seemed to find +abundant amusement in the anecdotes and adventures he narrated. Arthur +Myrvin gazed earnestly at him, and for a time banished his own +distressing thoughts in the endeavour to trace in the fine manly youth +before him some likeness to the handsome, yet violent and mischievous +boy he had first and last seen in the village of Llangwillan. + +"I have heard so much of Eward, from my friend Ellen here, that I am +most anxious to cultivate his acquaintance, and trust Castle Malvern +will often be graced by the presence of such a gallant young sailor," +was the Marchioness of Malvern's kind address, after they had adjourned +to the drawing room, as, leaning on the arm of Ellen, she advanced to +the young man, who, from Percy's lively introduction, was playing the +agreeable to Lady Florence and Lady Emily Lyle, while Lord Louis, who +found something in Edward's countenance that promised a kindred feeling +for fun and frolic, was demanding question after question, which Edward +was answering in a manner calculated to excite the continued merriment +of his companions, till a sign from his aunt called him to her side. + +"So I must entreat Admiral Sir George Wilmot to deign to notice my +nephew, it will not be given unasked," she said, approaching the aged +officer, who was sitting a little apart, shading his eyes with his hand, +as if in deep thought. "Sir George, I shall impeach you of high treason +against me, the liege lady of this fortress, that on a night when all is +joy, you, who are generally the gayest, should be sad. What excuse can +you urge in your defence?" + +"Is Edward unworthy of the high privilege of being a sailor, Sir +George?" whispered Ellen, archly, "or is your wrath against me, for not +joining your expedition this morning, to be extended to him? will you +not look on him as a brother seaman?" + +"Nay, Ellen, I must toil through long years of servitude, I must reap +very many laurels, ere I can deserve that title," said Edward. "The name +of Sir George Wilmot is too well known on the broad seas for me to hope +for more than a word of encouragement from him, or to enable me to look +on him with any other feelings than those of the deepest reverence and +respect." + +"Ay, ay, young man, you wish to surprise the old hulk to surrender; +gaily rigged and manned as you are, you think, by a show of homage to +me, to surprise me into paying it to you," said the old man, rousing +himself from his abstraction, and laughing as he spoke. "Do not deny it, +youngster, but I forgive you; for I have been an old fool, Mrs. +Hamilton. I plead guilty, and throw myself on your mercy. You, Mistress +Ellen, you deserve nothing from me, after rejecting every courtly speech +I could think of this morning, to persuade you to crowd sail and steer +out under my guidance instead of remaining safe in harbour. Jokes apart, +if you, young sir, will feel pleasure in the friendship of an old +time-worn servant of his Majesty as I am, I offer you my hand, with all +the warmth and sincerity of our noble profession. For your uncle's sake +as well as your own, my best wishes and my best offices shall be +exercised in tacking on lieutenant to your name." + +"And you will do nothing, then, for _my sake_, Sir George, nor for my +aunt's, whose dignity your sadness has offended?" said Ellen, smiling, +as did Mrs. Hamilton. + +"Your aunt would forgive my sadness, my dear child, did she know its +cause. I was wrong to encourage it, but I could not look on these bright +features," he laid his hand, which trembled, on Edward's arm, "without +seeing again past times peopled with those who have passed away. Mrs. +Hamilton, I thought again the merry favourite of my old friend, your +father, stood before me, the gay, the thoughtless, lovely Eleanor; she +was like him, in the bloom of youth and freshness, when I last beheld +her; and I thought, as mine eye glanced on this well known uniform, +there was another still of whom he reminded me,--the adopted son of my +affections, the darling of my childless years, Charles, my gallant +warm-hearted Charles! Nearly six years was he with me, when his courage +earned him a lieutenant's berth; he changed his quarters and his +commander, and I saw him no more. Such was he; such--oh, I thought +Eleanor and Charles again were before me, and I longed for the friend of +my early years, to recognise in his grandson the features of his +Eleanor, the voice, the laugh, and figure of his Charles. Forgive me, my +dear children, I have frightened away your mirth, and made myself +gloomy." + +There was silence as he ceased, and Sir George was the first to break +it, by addressing Edward with animation, questioning him as to all his +hopes and anticipations with regard to his promotion, which, as his six +years of service were now passed, he allowed to occupy his mind, and in +such conversation all traces of gloom quickly vanished; and Ellen, +interested in their conference, lingered near them in recovered spirits, +till the bell summoned all those who chose to join in the evening +prayer. All attended, except young Myrvin, who had departed. Herbert +felt anxious on his friend's account, for many reasons, which we must +postpone explaining till a future page; suffice it now to say that the +young man's conduct not seeming to be such as his profession demanded, a +degree of scarcely-perceptible, but keenly-felt coldness was displayed +towards him, both by Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Howard. Herbert had this night +remarked that his cheek was pale, his eye almost haggard, and his words +and manner often confused, and he had endeavoured to elicit the cause of +his inward disturbance, but unsuccessfully; the young man, although very +evidently unhappy, appeared to shrink from his confidence, and Herbert, +though grieved, desisted from his friendly office. That night Mr. +Hamilton resigned his place at the reading-desk to the worthy minister, +who, both in public and private worship, knew so well the duties of his +sacred office. He read the chapters of the evening, with a brief but +explanatory commentary on each, and after the usual prayers, broke forth +into a strain of earnest thanksgiving for the safe return of him who, +since he had last addressed his God, surrounded by his family, had been +exposed to the temptations and dangers of the sea, and mercifully +preserved through them all, and permitted to return in joy and peace. +To all, save to the orphans and Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton, his words applied +but to the terrors of the deep, but they well knew where the thoughts of +their minister had wandered; they knew that fervent thanksgiving was +offered up for his preservation from those sins which had been his on +his last return; they knew he blessed his Maker for the promise of +virtue he beheld; His grace had enabled him to overcome temptation, and +return to the home of his boyhood comparatively unstained. + +Edward contrasted his present feelings with those which he had +experienced the first night of his last return, and Ellen thought on +that bitter anguish, the public shame which had been hers in that very +hall, that very night three years before, and the young hearts of both +the orphans were filled with warm and deep thanksgiving. The thoughts of +all were composed and tranquillized when Mr. Howard ceased, and in the +little time that intervened between the conclusion of the service and +the family separating to their rooms, no light and frivolous converse +disturbed the solemn but sad impression on the minds of each. + +"I cannot part from you for the night, my dear cousin," said Edward, +somewhat archly, though in a low voice, as he approached the spot where +Caroline and St. Eval stood, "without offering you my warmest +congratulations on your future prospects, and without requesting an +introduction from _you_ to him, in whom I am to welcome a new relative. +I have been wishing to do so all the evening, but when I was at liberty +I missed you." + +Evidently pleased, Caroline looked up into St. Eval's face, but before +she could speak, the young earl had warmly pressed Edward's hand, and +answered with sincerity and kindness equal to his own. The whole party +very soon afterwards dispersed. + +Were it ours to follow our young and still, in appearance, childlike +friend Emmeline Hamilton to her room that night, we should see that the +smiles which had beamed around her lip had passed away, the flush on her +cheek was no longer there, and one or two bright drops might have been +observed slowly falling on her pale cheek, as she sat in deep musing, +ere she retired to her couch. She had dismissed Fanny, alleging that she +did not require her aid, and her long silky hair loosened from its +confinement, hung carelessly in golden waves around her. Tears fell on +her hand; she started, and flung back her tresses, looked fearfully +around her, and passed her hand across her eyes, as if to check +them--but ineffectually; another, and another fell; she leaned her +crossed arms upon the pillow, and her head drooped on them, and she +wept, wept as she had never wept before, and yet she knew not wherefore; +she was sad, how deeply sad, but that young and guileless spirit knew +not why. Child she was still in looks, in playfulness, in glee; a child +she still believed herself, but she was no child--that age of buoyancy +had fled, and Emmeline was, indeed, a woman, a thinking, feeling, ay, +and loving woman. + +It might have been nearly a week after Edward's return, when, on +entering the library one morning, Mrs. Hamilton observed her husband, +Mr. Howard, and Edward in earnest conference, the latter appearing +somewhat agitated. She would have retreated, imagining her presence +mistimed, but Edward, the instant he perceived her, sprung forward, and +seizing both her hands, exclaimed, in a voice of entreaty-- + +"Dearest aunt, will not you use your influence with my uncle, and +prevail on him to take the sum I have saved at different times, from my +prize-money and other things, to replace that which--which was lost +three years ago. To obtain sufficient, I have denied myself all +unnecessary indulgence; it has checked my natural extravagance; +prevented me, when sometimes I have been strongly tempted to play, or +join my messmates in questionable amusements. In saving that, I have +cured myself of many faults; it has taught me economy and control, for +by the time the whole amount was saved, my wishes and evil inclinations +were conquered. I look on it as a debt which I had bound myself to pay. +I anticipated the pleasure of telling my dear sister, she might banish +the past entirely from her mind, for I would not write a word of my +intentions, lest I should fail in them ere I returned. And now my uncle +refuses to grant my request; Mr. Howard will not second me; and--and I +see how it is," he continued, with a return of former violence in his +manner, as he paced the room, and a flush burned on his cheek, "my uncle +will not consent to look on it as a debt; he will not permit me, even as +far as this will do it, to redeem my sister." + +"You are quite mistaken, my dear boy," replied Mr. Hamilton, mildly. +"Your sister's own conduct has sufficiently proved to me her repentance +and amendment; her gentle virtues and faultless conduct have quite +redeemed the past, and so has yours. I refuse to take your well-earned +savings, merely because they really are not necessary." + +"But if it will give me pleasure, if it will satisfy me. Dearest aunt, +plead for me; you know not the relief it will be," again entreated +Edward, as he paused in his hasty walk, and looked beseechingly in his +aunt's face. + +"Nay, dear Edward, do not demand impossibilities," she replied, smiling, +"I cannot plead for you. That money with which you appear so very eager +to part must return to your own purse; your sister's debt is already +paid." + +"Paid!" repeated Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Howard, in astonishment, while +Edward stood, as if bewildered. "How, and by whom?" + +"By Ellen herself," replied Mrs. Hamilton; and, addressing her husband, +she added, "I should have told you before, but we have been both too +much engaged the last two days to allow any time for private +conversation; and my Ellen had entreated that only you should know her +secret; but she would, I know, have made an exception in Mr. Howard's +favour had I demanded it, for his excellent lessons have in all +probability assisted in making her the character she is; and as for her +brother--why, in charity, he shall know this strange tale," she added, +smiling; and briefly, but with affecting accuracy, she related all that +had passed between her and Ellen on the evening of Edward's return. Mr. +Hamilton and Mr. Howard listened in astonishment, for they knew not the +quiet steadiness, the unwavering firmness of Ellen's private character; +they guessed not the deep remorse which had been her own, nor for how +long it had guided and purified her actions. Edward had concealed his +face in his hands, his arms resting upon the table, for he felt in this +tale of persevering effort and self-denial, in comparison with Ellen's, +as if his had sunk to nothing; the bright lustre of his sister's +character dimmed even to obscurity his own. + +"And have you questioned Ellis? do you know in what manner she contrived +so secretly to render her assistance?" demanded Mr. Hamilton, with much +interest. + +"I have," replied his wife, "I did so that same night; for even Edward's +unexpected return could not banish his sister from my mind. She told me, +that at first she did all she could to turn Ellen from her purpose; but +when she found her resolution was unalterably fixed by some means to +earn sufficient to repay the cause of so much distress, she entered +warmly into her plan; and, with the active assistance of Robert, +procured her work from the baby-linen warehouses at Plymouth. She first +began with the plainest work, but that succeeded so well, finer was +given to her. In London she worked embroidery, purchasing the materials +from her own pocket-money, and consequently largely increasing her +hoard. Spite of her ill-health, the first winter we spent in London, she +perseveringly continued her irksome task, rising even in the coldest +weather at six, the provident care of Ellis causing her fire to be +lighted almost the earliest in the house. Robert was the messenger +employed to and fro, but no one knew her name or rank; for, devoted as +we well know he is to Ellen, he took the trouble of changing his livery +for plain clothes, whenever Ellis sent him on his mission. Her secret +has, indeed, been well preserved both from us and those who employed +her. Many, very many silent tears Ellis believes have fallen over my +poor Ellen's tedious task; many a struggle to adhere to her resolution, +and not throw it aside in despair; and frequently, she told me, after a +long, solitary evening, she has thrown her arms round Ellis's neck, and +wept from exhaustion, and the misery of hope deferred, for at first it +did appear an endless labour; but she persevered unshrinkingly, +combating her wishes to accompany me wherever Emmeline visited." + +"And it was this, then, that caused her determination to remain at home +till next year," observed Mr. Hamilton; "poor child, our harshness was +no sweetener of her task." + +"It was not, indeed; the night of Emmeline's introduction, Ellis says, +she wept as if her heart would break, as if she could not keep her +secret any longer; but she struggled with herself, and conquered; +although many times, during my estrangement, she has longed to confess +all, but the fear that I should forbid her continuing her task +restrained her." + +"I am very glad she persevered in her secret," said Mr. Howard, warmly; +"it is this quiet steady perseverance in a painful duty that has pleased +me far more than even the action itself, guided as that was by proper +feeling. Extraordinary sacrifices of our own formation are not, in +general, as acceptable to Him for whose sake they are ostentatiously +made, as the quiet steady discharge of our destined duties--the one is +apt to beget pride, the other true humility, but this unshaken +resolution in one so young, had its origin from true repentance, and +aided as it has been by the active fulfilment of every duty, +strengthened as it has, no doubt, been by prayer, I cannot but trust her +heavenly Master will look down with an eye of mercy on His young +servant. Look up, Edward; you, too, have done your duty. Why should your +sister's conduct cause this sudden depression, my young friend?" + +"Because," exclaimed he, with an earnestness almost startling, and as +he looked up his eyes glistened with tears, "because all my efforts sink +to nothing beside hers. I deemed myself becoming worthy; that the +conquests over inclination I made would obliterate the past; but what +are my sacrifices compared to hers? Weak, frail, sensitive creature as +she is, thus secretly, laboriously to earn that sum which, because it +required one or two petty sacrifices of inclination, I deemed that I had +so nobly gained. What have been my efforts compared to hers?" + +"Almost as great to you, my dear boy, as hers were to her," said Mr. +Hamilton, kindly; "you, too, have done well. Your past errors have +already, in my mind and in that of Mr. Howard and your aunt's, been +obliterated by the pleasure your late conduct has bestowed. She has not +had the temptations to extravagant pleasure which have been yours; to +save this sum you must have resigned much gratification. You have acted +thus excellently, in part, to regain the good opinion of your friends, +and the kind wish of restoring perfect peace to your sister: in the +first, you have fully succeeded; in the second, when your sister knows +what has been the secret purpose of your life for three long years, her +affections will amply repay you. You are deserving of each other, my +dear Edward; and this moment I do not scruple to say, I am proud to feel +myself so nearly related to those who, young as they both are, have so +nobly and perseveringly performed their duty both to God and man." + +Young Fortescue raised his uncle's hand, wrung it between both his own, +and impetuously darted from the room. + +"That boy would teach me never to despair again, my good friend," said +Mr. Hamilton, addressing the worthy clergyman. "When last he left me I +had learned to hope and yet to fear, for I dreaded his exposure to his +former temptations; and now--glad, indeed, am I to acknowledge myself +vanquished, and to own you were ever in the right." + +Mr. Howard smiled. + +"And now does my husband regret his having adopted my sister's orphans +as his own?" demanded Mrs. Hamilton, entwining her arm in her husband's, +and looking caressingly in his face. + +"No, my dearest wife; once, indeed, when I beheld you in fancy about to +sink beneath the accumulation of misery and anxiety both Edward and +Ellen's conduct occasioned, I did in secret murmur that the will of my +heavenly Father had consigned to us the care of such misguided ones; I +fear I looked on them as the disturbers of family peace and harmony, +when it was the will of my God. I felt indignant and provoked with them, +when I should have bowed submissively to Him. I have been blessed in +them when I deserved it not. You ever trusted, my Emmeline, though far +greater distress was your lot than mine. You never repented of that +kindness which bade your heart bleed for their orphan state, and urged +you to take them to your gentle bosom, and soothe them as your own. I +know that at this moment you have your reward." + +Mrs. Hamilton was prevented from replying by the entrance of Edward, who +eagerly inquired for his sister, alleging he had searched every room in +the house and could not find her. + +"She has gone with Herbert to the village to take the fruits of her own +work, some baby linen, to the poor woman in whose fate I am so +interested," replied Mrs. Hamilton, and turning to her husband, +added--"Now we really are alone, my dear Arthur, will you give a little +of your time to inform me in what manner I can best lay out, for this +unfortunate being's advantage, the sum my Ellen has placed in my hands? +Do not look at me, Edward, as if to implore me to take yours also, for I +mean to be very positive, and say at once I will not." + +"Come with me, my young friend, and we will go and meet Herbert and +Ellen," Mr. Howard said, smiling; "a walk is the best remedy for nerves +fevered as yours are at present, and I should be glad of your company." +And Edward, with eager pleasure, banishing all traces of former +agitation, departed arm in arm with a companion whom he still so revered +and loved, recalling with him reminiscences of his boyhood, and +detailing with animation many incidents of his late trip. This walk, +quiet as it was, was productive, both to Mr. Howard and his pupil, of +extreme pleasure; the former, while he retained all the gravity and +dignity of his holy profession, knew well how to sympathise with youth. +Increased duties in the ministry had caused him to resign the school +which he had kept when we first knew him, to the extreme regret of both +master and pupils. Mr. Howard regarded young people as the tender lambs +of his fold, whom it was his especial charge to train up in the paths of +grace, and guard from all the dangerous and hidden pitfalls of sin; +their parents might neglect, or, ignorant themselves, pursue a mistaken +method, but he was the shepherd placed over the flock, and while +untiringly, zealously, he endeavoured to lead the older members of his +congregation to the only rock of salvation, the younger were the objects +of his especial care. To them all was bright, the world in all its +dangerous, because more pleasurable, labyrinths was before them. He saw, +he knew their perfect ignorance, and he trembled, while he prayed so to +lead them, that the lessons of their minister might check them in the +career of imprudence or of sin. + +"Were I one of the fathers of Rome I should say, _benedicite_, my +children," he said, playfully, as Herbert and Ellen, apparently in +serious yet happy conversation approached and joined them, "but as I am +merely a simple minister of a simple faith, I greet you with the +assurance you are blessed in your charitable office." + +"And how, my kind friend, could you contrive to discover such was our +employment?" replied Herbert, smiling. "Can my mother have been +betraying us?" + +"Oh, she has been a sad traitress this morning, betraying all kinds of +secrets and misdemeanours," said Mr. Howard, laughing, and casting on +Ellen a glance of arch meaning, while Edward could scarcely contain his +impatience to seize his sister's arm and bear her off with him. + +"And we, too, have been hearing many tales of you, Mr. Howard," she +said. "We have heard very many blessings on your name in the cottage we +have left, although, alas! events have occurred there of a very painful +nature." + +"And why, alas, my dear child?" said Mr. Howard, affectionately. "Do you +deem it so sad a thing to die?" + +"It is wrong, I know, to regard it thus, Mr. Howard," replied Ellen; +"but yet, to leave all those we love on earth, to sever the tender cords +of affection binding us unto this world, must be, even to the strongest +and most pious minds, a draught of bitterness." + +"Do not, my dear children," said Mr. Howard, "imagine I deem it wrong to +indulge in earthly affections. Far from it; they are given us to sweeten +life, to draw our hearts in thanksgiving to him who gave them, and thus +indulged are pleasing unto Him. And how did you find poor Nanny to-day?" +he added, after a brief pause. + +"Suffering very much in body, but in a blessed state of mind," replied +Ellen, "which she greatly attributed to you; for she told me, before my +aunt discovered them and placed them where they now are, before she saw +you, death was a trouble awful in anticipation. She had ever tried to do +her duty in life, to remember her Maker in her youth, and believed that +she had succeeded; but when she knew that she must die, all appeared +changed; the aspect of death was different, when seemingly at a distance +to that which it presented when near at hand. She longed for some +minister of the Lord to pray for her, to comfort her in those moments +when suffering prevented serious thoughts, and it was affecting to hear +her bless that charity which had not only placed her soul under your +guidance, but provided also so many bodily comforts." + +"And you have been exercising the duties of the ministry before you have +donned your gown, my dear Herbert," said Mr. Howard, glancing +approvingly on his young friend. "Glad indeed shall I be to hail you as +a young brother in my sacred office; for with you it will be indeed the +service of the heart, and not of interest or compulsion. Would that your +friend Arthur possessed one-half of your earnest zeal, or that you +could inspire him with the same love for his sacred calling which +animates you." + +"I know not what to make of Arthur," said Herbert, somewhat sadly, "he +is strangely, unaccountably changed the last few months. When he was +first settled in his curacy, his conduct was such as to excite the +approbation of both my father and yourself; and now, I greatly fear, +that he is alienating both." + +"Do not condemn him harshly, without good proof, dear Mr. Howard," said +Ellen, earnestly. "I, too, have noticed that he is changed, though I +scarcely know in what manner; but for his father's sake and for mine, do +not treat him coldly before my uncle at least. He has many faults, but +surely some good qualities." + +"I trust he has; but I wish he would not so carefully conceal them, and +suffer his parishioners to have cause to relate so many tales of neglect +and levity in their curate," replied Mr. Howard; "but we will not bring +forward accusations when the accused is not present to defend himself: +and here we are at the Rectory before I had thought we were half way. +Will you come in, my young friends, and share an old man's homely +luncheon?" + +Gladly would they have done so, but Ellen had promised to return to +Oakwood in time for that meal, and was compelled to refuse; adding, that +both her brother and cousin might, for the Rectory was so near one of +the entrances to the park, she could easily return alone; but such was +not Mr. Howard's intention. He knew how Edward longed for a few minutes' +private conversation with his sister, and playfully detaining Herbert, +declaring he could not do without one at least, dismissed the orphans on +their walk, bestowing his parting blessing on Ellen with a warmth that +surprised her at the time, but the meaning of which was fully explained +in the interesting conversation that passed between her and her brother +ere they reached the house, and as the expression of approbation in the +minister she loved, filled her young mind with joy, while the mutual +confidence bestowed in that walk added another bright link to the chain +of affection which bound the souls of that brother and sister so fondly +together. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +It was the hour when all in general retired to rest, and the inmates of +Oakwood had dispersed for the purpose; but this night thoughts of a +mingled and contending nature occupied Mrs. Hamilton's mind, and +prevented all wish for sleep. Her guests had the last week increased, +and the part of hostess had been kindly and pleasingly performed; but +the whole of that day she had longed to be alone, and gladly, gratefully +she hailed that hour which enabled her to be so. Shading her eyes with +her hand, she gave to her thoughts the dominion they demanded. Maternal +ambition, maternal pride, in that silent hour fell before the stronger, +more absorbing power of maternal love. But a few brief hours, and the +child of her anxious cares, of fervent petitions at the throne of grace, +would be no longer an inmate of her father's house, her place in that +happy home would be a void. On the morrow, ay, the morrow, for the +intervening weeks had fled, her child would be another's. True, but few +miles would separate their homes; true, that he on whom that precious +gift would be bestowed, was in all respects the husband she would have +selected for her Caroline, the husband for whom the involuntary prayer +had arisen; virtue and piety, manliness and sincerity were his, besides +these attributes, which to some mothers would have been far more +brilliant, he was noble, even of exalted rank; but all, all these things +were forgotten in the recollection, that on the morrow she must bid +farewell to her cherished treasure, the link, the precious link of +protection would be severed, and for ever. Thoughts of the past mingled +with the present, and softened yet more that fond mother's feelings. +Pain, bitter pain, Caroline had sometimes cost her, but pleasure, +exquisite in its kind, had mingled with it. No longer would it be hers +to watch with trembling joy the dawning virtues which had flourished +beneath her eye; a link would be broken between them, a slender one +indeed, but still broken,--though Mrs. Hamilton reproached herself for +indulging in such feelings of sadness, when so many blessings promised +to gild the lot of her child. And yet, alas! what mother devoted to her +children as she had been, and still was this noble and gentle woman, +could part from a beloved one even for a brief space, even for +happiness, without one pang, selfish as it might be, selfish as perhaps +it was? for anxiety for the future darkened not the prospects of earthly +bliss, her trust in the character of St. Eval was too confiding; it was +only her fond heart which for a time would be so desolate. Her ear would +linger in vain for the voice it loved; her eye seek in sorrow for the +graceful form, the beauteous features on which it had so loved to gaze. +New ties would supply to Caroline the place of all that she had left; +deep springs of fond emotions, such as she had never felt before, would +open in her heart, and then would she still love, would she still look +to that mother, as in childhood and in youth she had done? Vainly she +struggled to subdue these thoughts, and bring forward in their stead the +visions of happiness, which alone had visited her before. Thronging and +tumultuously they came, and tears stole slowly from those mild eyes, +which for herself so seldom wept; while engrossed in her own +reflections, she heard not the soft and careful opening of her door, she +knew not that the beloved object of those tears had entered her room, +and was kneeling beside her. + +"Mother!" murmured Caroline, in a voice tremulous and weak with emotion +equal to her own. Mrs. Hamilton started, and her lip quivered with the +effort she made to smile her greeting. "Mother, my own mother, forgive +my intrusion; I thought not to have found you thus. Oh, deem me not +failing in that deep reverence your goodness, your devotedness, have +taught me to feel for you; if my love would bid me ask you why you weep, +may I not share your sorrow, mother?" + +"These are but selfish tears, my own; selfish, for they fall only when I +think that to-morrow bears my Caroline away, and leaves her mother's +heart for a time so lone and sad, that it will not even think of the +happiness I so fondly trust will be hers, in becoming the bride of him +she loves. Forgive me, my own Caroline; I had no right to weep and call +for these dear signs of sympathy at such a time." + +Silently and tearfully Caroline clung to her mother, and repeatedly +pressed her hand to her lips. + +"And why are you not at rest, my child? you will have but few brief +hours for sleep, scarcely sufficient to recall the truant rose to these +pale cheeks, and the lustre to this suddenly dimmed eye, my Caroline;" +and the mother passed her hand caressingly over her brow, and parted the +luxuriant hair that, loosened from the confining wreath of wild flowers +which had so lately adorned it, hung carelessly around her. She looked +long and wistfully on that young bright face. + +"You ask me why I am not at rest; oh, I could not, I felt I could not +part from you, without imploring your forgiveness for all the past; +without feeling that it was indeed pardoned. Never, never before has my +conduct appeared in such true colours: dark, even to blackness, when +contrasted with yours. Your blessing is my own, it will be mine +to-morrow; but, oh, it will not be hallowed to my heart, did I not +confess that I was--that I am unworthy of all your fondness, mother, and +implore you to forgive the pain I have so often and so wantonly +inflicted upon you. Oh, you know not how bitterly, how reproachfully, my +faults and errors rushed back to my mind, as I sat and thought this was +the last night that Caroline Hamilton would sleep beneath this roof; +that to-morrow we parted, and I left you without once acknowledging I +deserved not half your goodness; without one effort to express the +devoted gratitude, the deep, the reverential love, with which my heart +is filled. Mother, dearest, dearest mother! oh, call me but your +blessing, your comfort,--I never have been thus; wilful and disobedient, +I have poisoned many hours which would otherwise have been sweet. +Mother, my own mother, say only you forgive me--say that no lingering +pang I on my account remains." + +"Forgive you, my beloved! oh, long, long since have every childish fault +and youthful error been forgiven. Could resentment harbour in my heart +so long? could memory linger on moments of pain, when this last year not +one fault, not one failing of duty or of love has stained your conduct? +Even as my other children have you been my blessing, my comfort; the +dearer, when I thought on the doubts and fears of the past. Pain you may +have once caused me; but, oh, you know not how blessedly one proof of +affection, one hour of devotion in a child can obliterate from a +mother's heart the remembrance of months of pain. Think no more of what +is past, my own; remember only that your mother's blessing, her fervent +prayers will hover round you wherever you may be; that, should sickness +and sorrow at any time be your portion, however distant we may be, your +mother will come to soothe and cheer, your mother's bosom will still be +open to receive you." + +Caroline answered not, for her tears fell fast upon the hand she held; +tears not of sorrow but of emotion, blessed in their sadness. She bowed +her head before Mrs. Hamilton, and murmured-- + +"Bless me, my mother!" + +"May the God of infinite love, the Father of unclouded mercies, who hath +been so unchangeably merciful to his servants, look down from His +resplendent throne and bless you, my beloved! May he sanctify and bless +that event, which promises to our darkened eyes so much felicity! May He +guide my child in His own paths, and hearken to her mother's prayer!" + +"We will not separate this night to pray each in solitude, my child; let +us read, and address our heavenly Father together, as we were wont to +do, when it was my task to raise your infant thoughts and simple +prayers to Him who heard and answered. I cannot part from you till these +agitated feelings are more composed, and prayer will best enable them to +be so." + +Willingly, gladly Caroline lingered, and their private devotions, which +ever attended their retiring to rest, were performed together. Their +blessed influence was mutually felt. He whom they so fervently addressed +looked down upon His good and faithful servants, and poured upon the +mother's soul and on that of her child the calm and tranquillizing dew +of His blessing. + +The morning dawned, and common-place as is the expression, yet we must +confess the day was lovely; one of those soft, delicious September days +so well known to all who are acquainted with the climate of Devonshire. +Gaily the sun looked down from his field of stainless azure, and peeped +through the windows of the elegant little room which the taste of her +young bridesmaids had decorated as Caroline's tiring-room for the day, +and his bright rays played on the rich jewels scattered on the toilette, +and decked them with renewed brilliance; and at times his light would +fall full upon the countenance of the young bride, sometimes pensive, at +others, radiant in beaming smiles, as she replied to the kind words of +Lady Gertrude, or in answer to the playful conversation of her younger +bridesmaids, who, full of life, and hope, and innocence, hovered like +fairy spirits round their queen. The tears which had fallen from the +eyes of Emmeline on her sister's neck that morning were dried, yet still +there were some lingering traces of sadness on her fair sweet face, +which she struggled vainly to conceal, but which were regarded as the +sorrow of an affectionate heart thus parting from the sister of its +love. + +And Lilla Grahame, too, was there, smiling with, real and heartfelt +pleasure. She had observed the slight cloud on Emmeline's brow, and with +every affectionate art endeavoured to remove it. + +The toilette of the bride was completed, save her jewels, which Ellen +had entreated might be her office to arrange, and, smilingly, Lady +Florence resigned her place by Caroline's side. + +"For Edward's sake and for mine, dearest Caroline, will you, decked as +you are with jewels so far more precious, yet will you wear this, and +regard it indeed as the offering of the sincerest affection for +yourself, the warmest prayers for your welfare, from those who for so +many years have felt for you as if you were indeed their sister? poor as +is the gift, will you let Edward see it is not rejected?" and Ellen, as +with a flushed cheek and quivering lip she spoke, placed on the arm of +her cousin a bracelet, composed of her own and her brother's hair, and +clasped with chaste yet massive gold. The braid was fine and delicate, +while the striking contrast of the jet black and rich golden hair of +which it was composed, combined with its valuable clasp, rendered it not +an unfit offering on such a day. + +"Is it to remind me of all my unkindness towards you, Ellen, in days +past, of my hour of pride?" replied Caroline, in a low voice, as she +threw her arm caressingly round her cousin, and fondly kissed her. "I +will accept your gift, my dear Ellen, and sometimes look upon it thus." + +"Nay, do not say so, dearest Caroline, or I shall feel inclined to take +it even now from your arm, and never let you see it more; no, rather +let it be a remembrance of those poor orphans, whose lives _you_ have +not done the least to render happy. Gratefully, affectionately, shall we +ever think of you, dear Caroline, and, oh, may this little offering bid +you sometimes think thus, and thus only of us." + +The carriages were rather later than expected, and Lady Gertrude +observing Caroline somewhat pale, though no other sign denoted +agitation, endeavoured, by talking more sportively than usually was her +wont, to while away the time till the important moment arrived. + +It came at length, and Caroline, with a faltering step, entered the +carriage, which conveyed her to the old and venerable church, +accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton and Lady Gertrude, who had promised +to remain near her. The fair girls that held the rank of bridesmaids +followed, and three other carriages contained the invited guests to the +wedding. Not a creature was visible to disturb by acclamations the +bridal party on their route, and take from the calm and holy beauty of +the early morning; but that the day was remembered was clearly visible, +for there were garlands of the brightest, fairest flowers, which must, +by their number and variety, have been culled from many gardens of many +villages, festooning the hedges of the green lanes through which they +passed, and many a gay pennon pendant from oak or stately elm fluttered +in the breeze. All was so still and calm, that ere the carriage stopped +at the church porch Caroline had conquered the inward trembling of her +frame, and her heart thrilled not perhaps so anxiously as did both her +parents', when, leaning on the arm of her proud and happy father, she +walked steadily, even with dignity, up the church, where Mr. Howard, +young Myrvin, Lord St. Eval, his parents, Lord Louis, Percy, Herbert, +and Edward there stood, and a faint but expressive smile played round +her lips, in answer to St. Eval's eager yet silent greeting. He could +not speak, his feelings of happiness were too deep, too ecstatic for +words, but she had but to look on his expressive face, and all, all was +said. + +There was a moment's solemn pause as they knelt beside the altar, and +then the voice of Mr. Howard sounded, and its ever emphatic tones rung +with even more than its usual solemnity on the ears of all the assembled +relatives and friends, with thrilling power on the bride and bridegroom. +Calmly and clearly Caroline responded; her cheek was pale, but her lip +quivered not, and perhaps, in that impressive service, the agitation of +her mother was deeper than her own. She struggled to retain her +composure, she lifted up her soul in earnest prayer, that the blessing +of her God might indeed hallow the ceremony on which she gazed, and ere +her child arose, and led forward by her young enraptured husband, +approached for her parent's blessing and embrace, she was enabled to +give both without any visible emotion, save that her daughter might have +felt the quick pulsations of her fond heart, as she pressed her in her +arms. + +We will not linger on the joyous festivity which pervaded the lordly +halls of Oakwood on this eventful day. + +The hour had come when Caroline, the young Countess of St. Eval, bade +farewell to her paternal home. The nearest relatives of the bride and +bridegroom had assembled with them in a small apartment, at Caroline's +request, for a few minutes, till the carriage was announced, for though +resolved not to betray her feelings, she could not bear to part from +those she loved in public. She had changed her dress for a simple yet +elegant travelling costume, and was now listening with respectful +deference but glistening eyes to the fond words of her mother, who, +twining her arm around her, had drawn her a little apart from the +others, as if her farewell could not be spoken aloud; their attention +was so arrested by a remark of Lord Malvern, and his son's reply, that +they turned towards them. + +"Do not again let me hear you say our Gertrude never looks animated or +interested," the former said, addressing the Marchioness, somewhat +triumphantly. "She is as happy, perhaps, if possible, even happier than +any of us to-day, and, like a good girl, she shows it. Gertrude, love, +is it your brother's happiness reflected upon you?" + +"Let me answer for her, sir," replied St. Eval, eagerly. "You know not +why she has so much reason to look and, I trust, to feel happy. She sees +her own good work, and, noble, virtuous as she is, rejoices in it; +without her, this day would never have dawned for me, Caroline would +never have been mine, and both would have lived in solitary +wretchedness. Yes, dearest Gertrude," he continued, "I feel how much I +owe you, though I say but little. Happy would it be for every man, could +he receive from his sister the comfort, the blessing I have from mine, +and for every woman, were her counsels, like yours, guided by truth +alone." + +"The Earl and Countess of St. Eval left Oakwood about two o'clock, for +their estate in Cornwall, Castle Terryn, in an elegant chariot and four +superb greys, leaving a large party of fashionable friends and +relations to lament their early departure." So spoke the fashionable +chronicle in a paragraph on this marriage in high life, which contained +items and descriptions longer and more graphic than we have any +inclination to transcribe. + +A select party of the Marquis of Malvern's and Mr. Hamilton's friends +remained to dinner, and, at the request of Percy and Lord Louis, dancing +for the younger guests concluded the evening. The day had dawned in joy, +and no clouds disturbed its close. Fatigued, and her thoughts still +clinging to her child, Mrs. Hamilton was glad to seek the retirement of +her own room. Her thoughts turned on her Caroline, and so fondly did +they linger there, that Emmeline's strange diversity of wild spirits and +sudden but overpowering gloom did not occupy her mind as powerfully as +they would otherwise have done; she did not regard them, save as the +effects of excitement natural to such an eventful day; she guessed not +that of all her household the heart of her Emmeline was the heaviest, +her spirits weighed down by a gloom so desponding, so overwhelming, that +sleep for many hours fled from her eyes. She had powerfully exerted +herself during the day, and now in solitude, darkness, and silence, the +reflux of feeling was too violent for that young and, till lately, +thoughtlessly joyous heart to bear. Her heavy eyes and pallid cheeks +attracted notice indeed the following morning, but they were attributed +to fatigue from the gay vigils of the preceding night, and gladly did +the poor girl herself encourage the delusion, and obey her mother's +playful command to lie down for a few hours, as a punishment for +indulging an overplus of excitement. + +Herbert's pleasure, too, the preceding day had been alloyed by anxiety; +and perhaps his solicitude and his sister's sorrow proceeded from one +and the same cause, which our readers will find at length, a few pages +hence, when Arthur Myrvin becomes a prominent object in our history. + +Pleasure, in a variety of festive shapes, but innocent in all, was for +the next month the presiding genius of Oakwood and its vicinity. Lord +Malvern's family remained as guests at Oakwood during that time, and +some few college friends of Percy and Herbert, but Mr. Hamilton's other +friends departed for their respective homes the week following the +marriage. + +The young Earl and Countess of St. Eval meanwhile resided at their +beautiful retreat of Castle Terryn, which the taste of the young Earl +had rendered in every respect a residence suited to the rank and +feelings of those who claimed it as their own. + +Nothing now prevented our young friend Ellen from joining in the +amusements that offered themselves, and she enjoyed them even more than +she had expected, for she was accompanied by her brother, who had +deservedly become an universal favourite, and Mrs. Hamilton had the +pleasure, at length, of seeing not only health but happiness beaming +apparently unclouded on the countenance of her niece. + +Mr. Grahame, for the sake of Lilla, who was becoming dearer each day to +both her parents, for her true character for the first time stood +clearly forth, struggled with his gloom, and accompanied her where-over +her wishes led; and her cheerful spirits, her unpretending manners, and +constant and active affection, manifesting itself in a thousand +different ways, to amuse the couch of her now really ailing mother, did +much to palliate the disappointment and misery the conduct of his elder +daughter had occasioned. + +Herbert's secret was still inviolably kept; no one suspected that he +loved, much less that he was betrothed. Nearly two years had passed of +that long period which must elapse ere Herbert could hope to make Mary +his wife. They had glided quickly, very quickly by, and so too might the +remainder; but there was a dark, foreboding feeling pressing heavily +upon Herbert's heart as he looked forward, that robbed anticipation of +its charm, and rendered him even more pensive than from his boyhood had +been his wont. To strangers, even to his family, he was still the same; +to his God alone he laid his spirit bare. + +Six weeks after the marriage of Caroline, Oakwood and its neighbourhood +was as quiet as it has been when we knew it in former years. + +Lord Malvern's family stayed ten days at Castle Terryn, by the pressing +invitation of the young couple, and then returned to their estate in +Dorsetshire, leaving Lady Gertrude, however, for a few weeks' longer +residence with her brother and his wife. The young men returned to +college. Lilla Grahame remained at home till after the Christmas +vacation, when she was once more to reside with Mrs. Douglas for six +months or a year longer, according to the state of her mother's health, +who no longer wished to quit Moorlands; and therefore her husband gladly +consented to her remain there till Mrs. Hamilton paid her annual visit +to London. About this time also, Ellen, accompanied by her brother, +fulfilled her promise of visiting her old friend, Mr. Myrvin, and +delighted him by making his pretty vicarage her residence till near the +middle of November. Edward, with whom the kind old man was as much +pleased as he had been with his sister, also remained at Llangwillan +during that time, with the exception of three or four flying visits to +Oakwood, and latterly to Castle Terryn, where Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton, +with Emmeline, were staying the few last weeks of his and his sister's +visit at the vicarage. Their company was particularly soothing to Mr. +Myrvin at this period; for the letters of his son were causing him +extreme solicitude, revealing intentions, to understand which we must +for a short period retrace our steps, and thus commence another chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +Young Myrvin had been, at the period of Caroline's marriage, rather more +than a year as Mr. Howard's curate. At first, as we have seen, the +example of Herbert had done much towards reconciling him to a +profession, which was for many reasons opposed to his feelings. When in +the company of his friend, he had imparted to him his struggles with the +pride and ambition which still lurked within him, spite of all his +endeavours and resolutions to conquer and banish them. While Herbert was +near him all was well; his duty was regularly performed, in a manner +that satisfied his rector, and sufficiently rewarded Mr. Hamilton for +the interest he had taken in his and his father's welfare; but when +Herbert left Oakwood, Arthur's distaste for his occupation returned with +renewed strength, to which newly-dawning emotions added weight. Most +painfully had Arthur, when first intimate with Mr. Hamilton, +endeavoured to guard himself from the danger to his peace, which he +felt existed in the society of beings so amiable and attractive as were +his daughters; but his efforts were vain, as our readers may have +already discovered. There was a nameless, an indescribable charm in the +appearance and manner of Emmeline which he could not resist. It was some +few months ere the whole extent of evil was discovered, not perhaps +entirely till Emmeline returned to London, and Oakwood was desolate, +painfully desolate to the young man, who, when lingering within its +ancient walls, forgot everything around him, save the bright and +beautiful being who was to him its charm. When, however, that fair form +had departed from his sight, he was awakened to the delusive nature of +his hopes, and with the knowledge, exquisite even in its despair, that +he loved Emmeline Hamilton, his profession became more and more +distasteful. Had he followed the paths of ambition, as his inclination +prompted, had he but had the means of seeking some station whence he +might at length have risen to eminence, he cared not what the obstacles, +his union with her might not have been so difficult to overcome, or, at +least, he might not have met her; and did he wish that such had been the +case? no; misery in its most agonizing shape stood before him, and yet +the cause of that misery was the one bright star that appeared to gild +his lot. + +A poor curate of a country parish, with no resources but his salary to +increase his scanty means, no power of rendering himself of consequence +in the eyes of the world; and, alas! the fruit of many years' hard +labour from father to son--one-half of which might have rendered him +sufficiently independent to have chosen his own profession--was gone. +Poor as he was, could he ever look forward to possess the hand of +Emmeline? he felt the utter impossibility, and bitterly he knew he loved +but to despair. These contending feelings diverted his thoughts as may +well be supposed, and caused him to be careless in the discharge of his +clerical duties, abrupt and strange in his manner with Mr. Howard; and +unfortunately there was one in the village who was ready to turn the +simplest circumstance to the young curate's disadvantage. + +It was not likely the sinful and licentious man who, by Mr. Hamilton's +active exertions, had not only been dispossessed of the living of +Llangwillan, but very nearly of his gown also, would permit these, what +he termed injuries, to pass unavenged. Against the elder Myrvin he felt +his efforts would be unavailing, nor did he feel inclined to try a +second time, when he had once been foiled; but Arthur he believed a +surer mark. A farm of some consequence was to be let on Mr. Hamilton's +estate; it was very easy to settle in it a man lower in rank, but hard, +unrelenting as himself, an unprincipled instrument of his will. The +business was done, and the new neighbour, prepossessing in appearance +and manners, speedily ingratiated himself with all, and even obtained, +by a semblance of hard-working industry, and regular attendance at +public worship, seconded by quiet and unobtrusive conduct, the notice +and regard of his landlord, Mr. Hamilton. + +This man had entered his farm about four or five months after Arthur had +been installed as Mr. Howard's curate, and cautiously and yet +successfully he executed the wily requirements of his employer. So +guardedly did he work, that no one could trace to him, who ever spoke +as the friend of their curate, the prejudice which had slowly but surely +penetrated the mind of every man against him, and interpreted his +simplest action in the worst light. There were some rumours afloat of +misdemeanours during his college life; it mattered not whether they were +true or false, they were received and encouraged by the credulous. He +was a Welshman too, full of evil qualities, and clothed with +invulnerable pride, which last idea was unfortunately confirmed by +Myrvin's distaste for his profession, which prevented his entering into +the joys and sorrows of his parishioners, mingling familiarly and kindly +with them as a minister of God should do. + +How or when this prejudice began, or what was its origin, not one of the +good folks of the village could have told, for they really did not know; +but still it existed, and Arthur knew it. He felt himself disliked, and +instead of endeavouring to conciliate good-will and remove prejudice, +his mind was in such a fevered state of excitement, that he indulged in +every bitter feeling toward those with whom he had to deal, and shrunk +yet more from the performance of his duty. Instances of careless neglect +were often found, and became magnified in the relation. The young curate +was not always at hand when his presence was principally required; he +never left directions where he might be found. Abuse crept into that +parish, which in the time of his predecessor had been one of the most +orderly in Mr. Hamilton's domains--abuses in the younger inhabitants, at +which old men looked grave, and cited the neglect of their curate as the +cause, though to what abuses young Myrvin had given countenance all +would have found it difficult to tell. That he did not rebuke them it +was true; he did not perhaps observe them, but it was said, and justly, +he must have been strangely blind not to do so. + +The villagers understood not that preoccupation of mind which does +indeed render us blind to all things, save to the one intense subject of +thought. + +Complaints were made to and heard by the rector, who, faithful to his +trust, visited the parish, made inquiries, heard tales concerning his +curate that startled his charity, and finally spoke severely to Arthur +on his careless and neglectful conduct. It would have been better for +Arthur had pride remained banished during that interview; but, +unfortunately, fired with indignation at anything resembling censure +even from a superior, it returned with full force, and by his haughty +silence with regard to some of the charges brought against him, his +ill-disguised contempt of others, confirmed every evil report concerning +him which Mr. Howard had heard. Mildly he requested that the future +might atone for the past, and that Myrvin would remember the sacred post +he held. The unhappy young man heard him without reply; but when the +rector had departed, he strove to think soberly on the charges brought +against him, and look within himself to know if he deserved them. +Neglect and carelessness--yes, he had given cause for both. Other +accusations of much graver import he dismissed at once, satisfied that +the very thought of such vices had never even for one moment stained his +mind, and as secure in his own integrity and right feeling, as he was +aware of the prejudice against him, he determined--as, alas! how many in +such cases do--not to alter his general conduct, lest it should be said +he tacitly admitted the truth of every report against him. Had he only +been accused of neglect in parochial duties, he might perhaps, if his +troubled spirit had permitted him, have endeavoured to attend more +closely to them; but his pride prevented him from striving to obtain the +good-will of those who seemed only alive to every circumstance tending +to his disadvantage. Would he endeavour to conciliate those whom he well +knew disliked him? no; the very act of so doing would be brought against +him, and sternly he resolved that haughtiness and pride should still +characterise his deportment. What mattered it what people thought or +said, if it was untrue? he cared not; the world was a wilderness to his +excited and irritated fancy, in which there bloomed but one sweet +flower, too pure, too beautiful for him to touch. It was his doom he +thought to grovel on the earth, hers to shine like a star in the sphere +above him. + +Not long after Mr. Howard's interview with his curate, Mr. Hamilton's +family and his guests arrived at Oakwood, and Herbert eagerly sought his +friend. He was shocked at the change he perceived in his appearance, +which, though marked, was yet quite indescribable; that Arthur was +unhappy, that his profession was more than ever distasteful to him, he +soon discovered; but the real cause of these feelings he tried in vain +to probe. He saw, with the deepest regret, that all his former +exhortations on the subject, his earnest entreaties that Arthur would +persevere till he brought a willing heart as an offering to his Maker, +all had been without effect; but yet his kind heart could not cast away +his friend, opposite as were their feelings on a subject which to +Herbert was of vital importance. It was strange that a character such +as Herbert Hamilton should have selected Arthur Myrvin for his chosen +friend, yet so it was. It might have been pity, sympathy, which had +first excited this friendship. The indignation he felt at the +unjustifiable treatment Arthur had received while a servitor at college +had excited an interest, which had at first completely blinded him to +his many faults; and when they were discovered, the ardent desire and +hope that he might be of service in removing them from the otherwise +noble character of his friend still preserved and, indeed, heightened +his regard. Though frequently disappointed during his absence, at the +brevity and sometimes even confused style of Arthur's letters, he had +buoyed himself up with the hope that his representations had had their +effect, and he should find him, on his return, reconciled and happy in +the exercise of his duties. Again he urged, with a kindness of manner +that caused Arthur to wring his hand, and then pace the room in +ill-concealed agony, the necessity, now that he had indeed taken orders, +of endeavouring to do his Master's work on earth, of forcing his +rebellious spirit to submission. Arthur listened to him attentively, +sadly; but vainly Herbert strove to instil in him a portion of that +heavenly love which was to him the main-spring of his life. Arthur loved +with an intensity, which utterly prevented his looking up to heaven as +the goal, to reach which all earthly toil was welcome; and still not +even to Herbert did he breathe one syllable of the fire that was +inwardly consuming him. Had he been any one but Herbert Hamilton, the +unhappy young man would have sought and found relief in his confidence; +but not to the brother of the being he loved, oh, not to him--he could +not, dared not. + +"Herbert," he would say, in a voice hoarse with contending feelings, +"did I dare betray the secret of this tortured heart, the true cause of +my misery, you would pity, even if you condemned me; but ask it not--ask +it not, it shall never pass my lips; one thing only I beseech you, and I +do so from the regard you have ever seemed to feel for me. However you +may hear my character traduced, my very conduct may confirm every evil +report, yet believe them not; I may be miserable, imprudent, mad, but +never, never believe the name of Arthur Myrvin is stained with vice or +guilt. Herbert, promise me this, and come what may, one friend, at +least, is mine." + +Herbert gazed on him with doubt, astonishment, and sorrow, yet an +irresistible impulse urged him to promise all he asked, and Myrvin +looked relieved; but painfully he felt, though he noticed it not to his +friend, that the manner of Mr. Hamilton towards him was changed; +cordiality and kindness had given place to coldness and reserve. + +The whirl of a gay and happy London season had produced no change in the +outward appearance and demeanour of Emmeline Hamilton. It had not been +to her the ordeal it had been to her sister. She came forth from the gay +world the same pure, innocent being as she had entered it. Admired she +was by all with whom she was associated, but her smile was not sought +for, her conversation not courted, as had been Caroline's, therefore her +temptations had not been so great, but she was universally beloved. + +Her mother sometimes wondered that Emmeline, keenly susceptible as she +was to every other emotion, should still remain so insensible to +anything resembling love. "She is indeed still the same innocent and +darling child," she thought, and rested in pleased and satisfied +security. She little knew, penetrating even as she was, that those young +affections were already unconsciously engaged, that one manly figure, +one melancholy yet expressive face utterly prevented the reception of +any other. Emmeline knew not herself the extent of influence that secret +image had obtained; she guessed not the whole truth until that night +when her marriage had been jestingly alluded to, and then it burst upon +her, stunning her young mind with a sense of scarcely-defined yet most +painful consciousness. Arthur Myrvin had looked to Emmeline's return to +Oakwood with many mingled feelings; she might be perhaps, even as her +sister, a betrothed bride; he might have to witness, perhaps to +officiate at her nuptials; he might see her courted, receiving +attentions from and bestowing smiles on others, not casting one look or +one thought on him, who for her would have gladly died. The idea was +agony, and it was the sufferings occasioned by the anticipation of ideal +misery that had produced the change in face and form which Herbert had +beheld and regretted. + +They met, and as if fortune favoured their secret but mutual affection, +alone, the first time since Emmeline had returned from London. +Unaccustomed to control, and at that time quite unconscious she had +anything to conceal, though wondering why every pulse should throb, and +her cheek so flush and pale, her agitation of manner, her expressed and +evidently felt sorrow for the traces of suffering she beheld, sunk as +balm on the sorrowing heart of the young man, and his first three or +four interviews with her were productive of a happiness so exquisite, +that it almost succeeded in banishing his gloom; but short indeed was +that period of relief. Speedily he saw her, as he had expected, +surrounded by gay young men of wealth and station. He felt they looked +down on him; they thought not of him, as a rival he was unworthy, as +incapable of loving a being so exalted; but in the midst of these +wretched thoughts there arose one, that for a brief space was so bright, +so glad, so beautiful, that while it lasted every object partook its +rays. He marked her, he looked, with eyes rendered clear from jealousy, +for some sign, it mattered not how small, to say she preferred the +society of others to his own; ready as he was to look on the darkest +side of things, he felt the hesitating glance, the timid tone with which +she had latterly addressed him, contrary as it was to the mischievous +playfulness which had formerly marked her intercourse with him, was +dearer, oh, how much dearer than the gaiety in which she had indulged +with others. This change in her manner was unremarked by her family. + +The eye of love, however, looked on those slight signs in a very +different light. Did she, could she love one so unworthy? The very idea +seemed to make him feel as a new and better man. He covered his eyes +with his hands, lest any outward sign should break that blessed +illusion, and then he started, and returning recollection brought with +it momentary despair. Did she even love him--were even her parents to +consent,--his own,--for his vivid and excited fancy for one minute +imagined what in more sober moments he knew was impossible--yet even +were such difficulties removed, would he, could he take that fair and +fragile creature from a home of luxury and every comfort to poverty? +What had he to support a wife? How could they live, and what hope had +he of increasing in any way his fortune? Was he not exciting her +affections to reduce them, like his own, to despair? And could she, +beautiful and delicate as she was, could she bear the deprivation of his +lot? She would never marry without the consent of her parents, and their +approval would never be his, and even if it were, he had nothing, not +the slightest hope of gaining anything wherewith to support her; and +she, if indeed she loved him, he should see her droop and sink before +his eyes, and that he could not bear; his own misery might be endured, +but not hers. No! He paced the small apartment with reckless and +disordered steps. His own doom was fixed, nothing could now prevent +it--but hers, it might not be too late. He would withdraw from her +sight, he would leave her presence, and for ever; break the spell that +bound him near her. Ere that hasty walk in his narrow room was +completed, his resolution was fixed; he would resign his curacy, and +depart from the dangerous fascinations hovering round him. + +Yet still he lingered. If he had been too presumptuous in thinking thus +of Emmeline--if he were indeed nothing to her, why should he inflict +this anguish on himself? Why need he tear himself from her? The night of +Edward's return, while in one sense it caused him misery, by the random +remark of Lord Louis, yet, by the agitation of Emmeline, the pang was +softened, though he was strengthened in his resolve. Four days +afterwards, the very evening of that day when Mr. Howard had alluded to +his neglect of duties, before Herbert and his cousins, he tendered his +resignation, coldly and proudly refusing any explanation, or assigning +any reason for so doing, except that he wished to obtain a situation as +tutor in any nobleman or gentleman's family about to travel. So greatly +had the mind of Mr. Howard been prejudiced against the unhappy young +man, by the false representations of his parishioners, that he rather +rejoiced at Myrvin's determination, having more than once feared, if his +conduct did not alter, he should be himself compelled to dismiss him +from his curacy. But while pleased at being spared a task so adverse to +his benevolent nature, he yet could not refrain from regarding this +strange and apparently sudden resolution as a tacit avowal of many of +those errors with which he was charged. + +Feeling thus, it will be no subject of surprise that Mr. Howard accepted +his curate's resignation; but while he did so, he could not refrain from +giving the young man some kind and good advice as to his future life, +which Arthur, aware the rector regarded him through the medium of +prejudice, received not in the same kind spirit as it was offered. He +listened silently indeed, but with an air of pride which checked all Mr. +Howard's really kind intentions in his favour. + +The rector, aware that Mr. Hamilton would be annoyed and displeased at +this circumstance, did not inform him of Myrvin's intentions till some +few weeks after Caroline's marriage, not indeed till he felt compelled +by the wish to obtain his approval of a young clergyman who had been his +pupil, and was eager to secure any situation near Mr. Howard, and to +whom therefore the curacy Arthur had resigned would be indeed a most +welcome gift. Mr. Hamilton was even more disturbed, when all was told +him, than Mr. Howard had expected. It seemed as if Arthur had forgotten +every tie of gratitude which Mr. Hamilton's services to his father, even +forgetting those to himself, certainly demanded. His determined +resolution to assign no reason for his proceeding but the one above +mentioned, told against him, and Mr. Hamilton, aware of the many evil +reports flying about concerning the young man, immediately imagined that +he resigned the curacy fearing discovery of misdemeanours which might +end even more seriously. + +Herbert, too, was deeply pained that his friend had left him to learn +such important intelligence from the lips of another instead of +imparting it himself. It explained all the apparent contradictions of +Arthur's conduct the last month, but it surprised and grieved him, yet +the mystery caused him both anxiety and sadness, for Myrvin was +evidently determined in no way to solve it. That he was unhappy in no +ordinary degree, was to the eye of friendship very evident, not only in +the frequent wildness of his manner, but in the haggard cheek and +bloodshot eye; and sympathy thus ever kept alive in one so keenly +susceptible of the woes of others as was Herbert Hamilton, sympathy +continually excited, prevented all decrease of interest and regard. +Percy was irritated and annoyed; Myrvin had disappointed him. His +conduct, in return for Mr. Hamilton's kindness, appeared as ungrateful +as unaccountable, and this caused the more fiery temper of the young +heir of Oakwood to ignite and burst forth in a flame in the presence of +Arthur, whose meek forbearance and, he now began to fancy, silent +suffering tamed him after a brief period, and caused him, with his usual +frankness and quick transition of mood, to make him an apology for his +violence. He was touched by the young man's manner, but they continued +not on the same terms of friendly intimacy as formerly. + +Mrs. Hamilton's charitable nature, heightened also by Herbert's +unchanging regard, would not permit her to credit the tales that were +abroad concerning him. She regretted his determination, for it appeared +like wilfully casting away the friendship and interest of those who were +likely to do him service. She guessed not the real motive of his +resolve, if she had, she would have honoured even as she now regarded +him with pity; but almost for the first time the penetration of Mrs. +Hamilton was at fault. Emmeline's feelings, even as those of Arthur, +were successfully concealed; from her brother Herbert she had first +heard of Myrvin's intentions. She listened in silence, but her lip +quivered and her cheek grew pale; and when she sought the solitude of +her own room, tears relieved her, and enabled her to act up to her +determination, cost what it might, to be the same playful, merry girl +before her parents as was her wont, not that she meant in any way to +deceive them, but she had learned that she loved Arthur Myrvin, and knew +also that to become his wife, situated as they were, was a thing +impossible. + +Had Emmeline really been the romantic girl so generally believed, she +would now have done all in her power to overcome every difficulty, by +regarding poverty as the only criterion of true love; she would have fed +her imagination with visions of herself and Arthur; combating manfully +against evil, so they shared it together; she would have robed poverty +with an imaginary halo, and welcomed it, rejoicing to become his wife, +but such were not her feelings. The careful hand of maternal love had +done its work, and though enthusiasm and romance were generally the +characteristics most clearly visible, yet there was a fund of good and +sober sense within, that few suspected, and of which even her parents +knew not the extent, and that plain sense effectually prevented her ever +becoming the victim of imagination. + +Emmeline loved Arthur Myrvin, loved him with an intensity, a fervour, +which only those who possess a similar enthusiastic temperament can +understand. She felt convinced she was not indifferent to him; but agony +as it was to her young heart to part from him, in all probability for +ever, yet she honoured his resolution; she knew, she felt its origin, +and she rejoiced that he went of his own accord, ere their secret +feelings were discovered. + +Notwithstanding all her endeavours, her spirits flagged, and at the +conclusion of the Oakwood festivities she appeared so pale and thin, +that Mrs. Hamilton consulted Mr. Maitland. Emmeline had resisted, as +much as she could without failure of duty, all appeal to medical advice, +and it was with trembling she awaited his opinion; when, however, it was +given, she rejoiced that he had been consulted, for had her parents +entertained any suspicions of the real cause, it would have completely +banished them. He said she was merely suffering from the effects of a +lengthened period of excitement, that quiet and regularity of pursuits +would in all probability restore both health and spirits. A smile, faint +and apparently without meaning, played round her lips as her mother +repeated what he had said, and playfully declared she should most +strictly adhere to his advice. + +Arthur had shrunk from the task of acquainting his father with his +intentions, for he well knew they would give him pain, and cause him +extreme solicitude, and he postponed doing so till his plans for the +future were determined. He had even requested Ellen and Edward, who were +still his friends, to say but little concerning him during their stay at +Llangwillan; but if they revealed his intentions, he implored them to +use all their influence with his father to reconcile him to this bitter +disappointment of his cherished hopes. He had determined not to return +to Llangwillan, he felt he could not bear to see his parent with the +consciousness that he had acted contrary to his wishes; he would not +therefore do so till he had succeeded in obtaining the situation he so +earnestly desired. But as the period when he should resign his curacy +now rapidly approached, he no longer refrained from writing to his +father, and Ellen proved her regard for both father and son, by +affectionately endeavouring to soothe Mr. Myrvin's disappointment and +solicitude, which were, as his son expected, extreme. She succeeded, at +length, in persuading him, that could he obtain the situation he so much +desired, Arthur would be more likely to advance than in retaining his +present occupation. + +The period of Arthur's departure came a few days before Christmas. He +went to bid Mr. Hamilton farewell the very morning on which that +gentleman intended riding over to Exeter to meet Ellen and her brother, +on their return from Llangwillan. To Arthur this interview was indeed a +painful one. From the moment his resolution to depart had been fixed, +that moment the blessed truth had strangely and suddenly burst upon him +that he was beloved; a new spirit appeared to dawn within, and midst +the deep agony it was to feel he was parting for ever from a being he so +dearly loved, there was a glow of approving conscience that nerved him +to its endurance. It was this which had enabled him to conquer his +irritation at Percy's violence, and the grief it was to feel that +Herbert too must doubt him. He esteemed, he loved, was deeply grateful +to Mr. Hamilton, and his evident displeasure was hard to bear; yet even +that he had borne, strengthened by secret yet honourable incentives. But +that morning, his heart throbbing with ill-concealed anguish, for the +following day he would he miles from Oakwood, never, never to behold +Emmeline again, his frame weakened, his blood fevered from the +long-continued mental struggle, the stern address of Mr. Hamilton stung +him to the quick. + +Mr. Hamilton was not one of those who could disguise his sentiments. If +interested at all in the fortunes of another, he felt he must speak, +however severe in some cases his words might seem. As the chosen friend +of his son--the victim for a time of oppression and injury--young Myrvin +had excited his interest too powerfully for him entirely to abandon it +even now, and therefore he spoke plainly to him even as he thought. + +"You are casting from you," he said, "a friend who was both able and +willing to assist you, apparently without the slightest regret, even +with indifference. As the chosen and dear companion of my valued son, +your interests were mine, and gladly would I have done all in my power +to forward your views, had your conduct been such as I expected and +required, but such it appears has been far from the case. Your +unaccountable resignation of a situation, which, though not one of +great emolument, was yet of value, unhappily confirms every evil report +I have heard. The same unsteady and wavering spirit which urges you to +travel, instead of permitting you to remain contented in the quiet +discharge of sacred duties, may lead you yet more into error, and I warn +you as a friend, govern it in time. You may deem me intrusive in my +remarks, I speak but for your own good, young man; and though your +forgetfulness of the sacred nature of your profession could not fail to +lessen my esteem and regard, yet for your father's sake I would implore +you to remember that your calling involves duties of the most solemn +nature, and renders you a much more responsible being both in the sight +of God and man." + +Arthur answered him not. His cheek burned and his heart throbbed, but it +was the father of Emmeline, the benefactor of his father, who spoke, and +he might have spoken more and more severely, but he would have been +unanswered; even to defend his own stainless integrity and innocence he +could not have spoken, the power of speech appeared to have entirely +deserted him. Never could he have been said to hope, but the words he +had heard proved to him that he had lost the esteem and regard of Mr. +Hamilton, and darkened his despair. He fixed his large, dark grey eyes +earnestly on Mr. Hamilton's face, so earnestly, that for some time +afterwards that look was recalled with melancholy feelings; he bent his +head silently yet respectfully, and quitted the room without uttering a +single word. + +Struck by his haggard features, and the deeply mournful tone of his +voice, as he bade her farewell and thanked her for all her kindness, +Mrs. Hamilton, whose kindly nature had never permitted her to share her +husband's prejudice against him, invited him, if his time permitted, to +accompany her on her walk to Moorlands, where she had promised Lady +Helen and Lilla to spend the day during her husband's absence. There was +such extreme kindness in her manner, pervading also her words, that +Arthur felt soothed and comforted, though he found it difficult to +converse with her on the indifferent subjects she started, nor could he +answer her concerning his plans for the future, for with a burning cheek +and faltering voice he owned they were not yet determined. He gazed on +her expressive features, which responded to the interest she expressed, +and he longed to confess the whole truth, and implore her pity, her +forgiveness for having dared to love her child; but with a strong effort +he restrained himself, and they parted, in kindness, indeed, but nothing +more. + +"Emmeline is gone down to the school," said Mrs. Hamilton, unasked, and +thus betraying how entirely she was free from all suspicions of the +truth, "and she goes from thence to see a poor woman in the outskirts of +the village. You must not leave us without wishing her farewell, or she +will think you have not forgiven all the mischievous jokes she has +played off upon you so continually." + +Arthur started, as he looked on her face. Again the wish arose to tell +her all, but it was instantly checked, and bowing with the deepest +reverence, as he pressed in his her offered hand, hastily withdrew. + +Should he indeed see Emmeline, and alone? Her mother's voice had bid him +seek her, but the same motives that bade him resign his curacy, caused +him now to feel the better course would be to fly at once from the +fascination of her presence, lest in a moment of excitement he should be +tempted to betray the secret of his love; but while passion struggled +with duty, the flutter of her dress, as Emmeline suddenly emerged from a +green lane, and walked slowly and, he thought, sadly along, caught his +eye, and decided the contest. + +"I will be guarded; not a word of love shall pass my lips. I will only +gaze on her sweet face, and listen to the kind tones of her dear voice +again, before we part for ever," he thought, and darting forwards, was +speedily walking by her side. He believed himself firm in his purpose, +strong, unwavering in his resolution; but his heart had been wrung to +its inmost core, his spirit bent beneath its deep, wild agony, and at +that moment temptation was too powerful; he could not, oh, he could not +part from her, leave her to believe as others did. Could he bear that +she, for whose smile he would have toiled day and night, to be regarded +with esteem, to obtain but one glance of approbation, could he bear that +she should think of him as the unworthy being he was represented? No! he +felt he could not, and in one moment of unrestrained and passionate +feeling, his love was told, the treasured secret of his breaking heart +revealed. + +Emmeline heard, and every limb of her slight frame trembled, almost +convulsively, with her powerful struggle for composure, with the wish +still to conceal from him the truth that he was to her even as she to +him, dear even as life itself; but the struggle was vain. The anguish +which the sight of his deep wretchedness inflicted on that young and +gentle bosom, which from childhood had ever bled for others' woes, was +too powerful, and led on by an irresistible impulse, she acknowledged +his affections were returned; for she felt did she not speak it, the +extreme agitation she could not hide would at once betray the truth, but +at the same instant she avowed her unhappy love, she told him they must +part and for ever. She conjured him for her sake to adhere to his +resolution, and leave the neighbourhood of Oakwood; she thanked him with +all the deep enthusiasm of her nature, for that regard for her peace +which she felt confident had from the first dictated his resigning his +curacy, and braving the cruel prejudices of all around him, even those +of her own father, rather than betray his secret and her own; rather +than linger near her, to play upon her feelings, and tempt her, in the +intensity of her affection for him, to forget the duty, the gratitude, +the love, she owed her parents. + +"Wherefore should I hide from you that the affection, the esteem you +profess and have proved for me are returned with equal force?" continued +this noble-minded and right-feeling girl, as they neared Mrs. Langford's +cottage, where she felt this interview must cease--she could sustain it +no longer. "I would not, I could not thus wound the kind and generous +heart of one, to whose care I feel I could intrust my earthly happiness; +but as it is, situated as we both are, we must submit to the decrees of +Him, who, in infinite wisdom and mercy, would, by this bitter trial, +evince our love for Him, and try us in the ordeal of adversity and +sorrow. He alone can know the extent of that love we bear each other; +and He, if we implore Him, can alone give us sufficient strength to +obtain the conquest of ourselves. We part, Arthur--and if not for ever, +at least till many years have passed. Forget me, Arthur; you have by the +honourable integrity of your conduct wrung from me a secret I had deemed +would have died with me; for I knew and felt, and so too must you, its +utter, utter hopelessness." + +Her voice for the first time, faltered; audibly, but with a strong +effort, she rallied, "I do not ask from you an explanation of the +rumours to your discredit, which are flying about this neighbourhood, +for not one of them do I believe; you have some secret enemy, whose evil +machinations will, I trust, one day be clearly proved; perhaps you have +been neglectful, heedless, and I may have been the cause. But let not +this be, dear Arthur, let me not have the misery of feeling that an +ill-fated love for one thus separated from you has rendered reckless +that character which is naturally so good, so bright, and noble. Oh, for +my sake, yield not to despair; shake off this lethargy, and prove to the +whole world that they have wronged you, that the fame of Arthur Myrvin +is as stainless as his name." + +Arthur moved not his eyes from her as she thus spoke, every word she +uttered increased the strong devotion he felt towards her; but as the +purity, the nobleness of her character was displayed even clearer than +ever before him, he felt himself unworthy to possess her, and yet that +such a being loved him, avowed her love, acknowledged that to him she +could intrust her earthly happiness without a single doubt, that +knowledge exalted him above himself, soothed that morbid sensitiveness +which had oppressed him, and, ere her sweet voice had ceased to urge him +on to exertion, to trust in Him who had ordained their mutual trial, he +had inwardly resolved to nerve himself to the task, and prove that she +was not deceived in him, that he would deserve her favourable opinion. +He gazed on her as if that look should imprint those fair and childlike +features on the tablet of his memory. + +"I will obey you," he said at length, in a voice hoarse with contending +emotions. "We part, and when I return years hence, it may be to see you +the happy wife of one in all respects more suited to you; but then, even +then, although love for me may have passed away, remember it is you, +whose gentle voice has saved a fellow-creature from the sinful +recklessness of despair; you who have pointed out the path which, I call +heaven and earth to witness, I will leave no means untried till it is +trodden. Had you refused to hear me, had you scorned my affections, left +me in displeasure for my presumption, oh, Emmeline, I might indeed have +become that which I am believed; but now you have inspired me with a new +spirit. The recollection that you have not deemed me so utterly +unworthy, will never, never leave me; it shall cling to me, and if evil +assail me, that fond thought shall overcome temptation. The vain +longings for a more stirring profession shall no more torment me, it is +enough _you_ have not despised me; and however irksome may be my future +duties, they shall be performed with a steadiness and zeal which shall +procure me esteem, if it do no more, and reconcile my conscience to my +justly offended Maker. If, in future years, you chance to hear the name +of Arthur Myrvin spoken in terms of respect and love, you will trace +your own work; and oh, Emmeline, may that thought, that good deed, prove +the blessing I would now call down upon your head." + +He paused in strong and overpowering emotion, and Emmeline sought in +vain for words to reply; they had reached the entrance to Mrs. +Langford's little garden, and now the hour had come when they must part. +"Farewell, dearest Arthur, may God bless you and give you peace! Leave +me now," she added, after a moment's pause. But Arthur could only fix +his eyes mournfully on her face, as though her last look should never +leave him; then, suddenly, he raised her hand to his quivering lip. One +moment, through blinding tears, he gazed on that dear being he loved so +well; yet another moment, and he was gone. + +Emmeline leaned heavily against the little gate, a sickness as of death +for a moment crept over her and paralysed every limb; with a strong +effort she roused herself and entered the cottage, feeling greatly +relieved to find Mrs. Langford was absent. She sunk on a low seat, and +burying her face in her hands, gave way for the first time to a violent +burst of tears; yet she had done her duty, she had acted rightly, and +that thought enabled her to conquer the natural weakness which, for a +short time, completely overpowered her, and when Mrs. Langford returned, +no signs of agitation were evident, except a more than ordinary +paleness, which in her present delicate state of health, was easily +attributable to fatigue. + +Now it so happened that Widow Langford possessed a shrewdness and +penetration of character, which we sometimes find in persons of her +class, but which was in her case so combined, from long residence in Mr. +Hamilton's family, with a delicacy and refinement, that she generally +kept her remarks very much more secret than persons in her sphere of +life usually do. It was fortunate for our poor Emmeline that it was so, +for the widow had chanced to be an unseen witness of Arthur's +impassioned farewell. She heard the concluding words of both, marked the +despairing glance of Arthur, the deadly paleness of her dear Miss +Emmeline, and connecting these facts with previous observations, she +immediately imagined the truth; and with that kindness to which we have +alluded, she retreated and lingered at a neighbour's till she thought +her young lady had had sufficient time to recover her composure, instead +of acting as most people would have done, hastened up to her, under the +idea she was about to faint, and by intrusive solicitations, and yet +more intrusive sympathy in such a matter, betrayed that her secret had +been discovered. + +Mrs. Langford shrunk from acting thus, although this was not the first +time she had suspected the truth. She knew Emmeline's character well, +and doted on her with all the affection a very warm heart could bestow. +Having been head nurse in Mrs. Hamilton's family from Herbert's birth, +she loved them all as her nurslings, but Emmeline's very delicate health +when a baby, appeared to have rendered her the good woman's especial +favourite. + +At the time of Caroline's marriage, Miss Emmeline's future prospects +were, of course, the theme of the servants' hall; some of whom thought +it not at all improbable, that as Miss Hamilton had become a countess, +Miss Emmeline might one day be a marchioness, perhaps even a duchess. +Now Widow Langford thought differently, though she kept her own counsel +and remained silent. Miss Emmeline, she fancied, would be very much +happier in a more humble sphere, and settled down quietly near Oakwood, +than were she to marry some great lord, who would compel her to live +amidst the wear and tear of a gay and fashionable life. Arthur Myrvin +chanced to be a very great favourite of the widow's, and if he could but +get a richer living, and become rather more steady in his character, and +if Miss Emmeline really loved him, as somehow she fancied she did, why +it would not only be a very pretty, but a very happy match, she was +quite sure. + +The good widow was, however, very careful not in the least to betray to +her young lady that she had been a witness of their parting; for, after +an expression of pleasure at seeing her there, an exclamation of +surprise and regret at her pale cheeks, she at once branched off into a +variety of indifferent subjects concerning the village, topics in which +she knew Emmeline was interested, and concluded with-- + +"And so our young curate is, indeed, going to start for Exeter to-night, +in the Totness mail. I am so very sorry, though I do not dare say so to +any of my uncharitable neighbours. I did not think he would go so soon, +poor dear Mr. Myrvin." + +"It is not too soon, nurse, when every tongue has learned to speak +against him," replied Emmeline, calmly, though a sudden flush rose to +her cheek. "He must be glad to feel Mr. Howard no longer requires his +services." + +"But dear Miss Emmeline, you surely do not believe one word of all the +scandalous reports about him?" said the widow, earnestly. + +"I do not wish to do so, nor will I, without more convincing proofs," +replied Emmeline, steadily. "My father, I fear, is deeply prejudiced, +and that, in one of his charitable and kindly feelings, would tell +against him." + +"My master has been imposed on by false tales, my dear young lady; do +not let them do so on you," said the good woman, with an eagerness which +almost surprised her young companion. "I am quite convinced he has some +secret enemy in the parish, I am pretty certain who it is; and I do not +despair one day of exposing all his schemes, and proving Mr. Myrvin is +as well disposed and excellent a young man as any in the parish. I know +who the villain is in this case, and my master shall know it too, one +day." Emmeline struggled to subdue the entreaty that was bursting from +her lips, but entirely she could not, and seizing the widow's hand, she +exclaimed, in a low agitated voice-- + +"Do so; oh, proclaim the falsehood, the cruelty of these reports, and +I--I mean Arthur--Mr. Myrvin will bless you. It is so cruel, in such +early youth, to have one's character defamed, and he has only that on +which to rest; tell me, promise me you will not forget this +determination." + +"To the very best of my ability, Miss Emmeline, I promise you," replied +Mrs. Langford, more and more confirmed in her suspicions. "But do not +excite yourself so much, dear heart. Mr. Maitland said you were to be +kept quite quiet, you know, and you have fatigued yourself so much, you +are trembling like an aspen." + +"My weakness must plead my excuse for my folly, dear nurse," answered +Emmeline, striving by a smile to control two or three tears, which, +spite of all resistance, would chase one another down her pale cheek. +"Do not mind me, I shall get well very soon. And how long do you think +it will be before you succeed in your wish?" + +"Not for some time, my dear young lady, at present. I have only my +suspicions; I must watch cautiously, ere they can be confirmed. I assure +you, I am as anxious that poor young man's character should be cleared +as you can be." + +A faint smile for a moment played round Emmeline's lips, as she pressed +the good woman's hand, and said she was satisfied. A little while longer +she lingered, then rousing herself with a strong effort, she visited, as +she had intended, two or three poor cottages, and forced herself to +listen to and enter with apparent interest on those subjects most +interesting to their inmates. In her solitary walk thence to Moorlands +she strenuously combated with herself, lest her thoughts should adhere +to their loved object, and lifting up her young enthusiastic soul in +fervent faith and love to its Creator, she succeeded at length in +obtaining the composure she desired, and in meeting her mother, at +Moorlands, with a smile and assumed playfulness, which did not fail, +even at Mrs. Hamilton's gentle reproof for her lengthened absence and +over fatigue, to which she attributed the paleness resting on her cheek, +and which even the return of Edward and Ellen to Oakwood, and the many +little pleasures incidental to a reunion, could not chase away. + +Three weeks passed quietly on; Oakwood was once more the seat of +domestic enjoyment. The Earl and Countess St. Eval spent the week of +Christmas with them, which greatly heightened every pleasure, and Mr. +and Mrs. Hamilton, instead of seeking in vain for one dear face in the +happy group around them on the eve of Christmas and the New Year, beheld +beside their peaceful hearth another son, beneath whose fond and gentle +influence the character of Caroline, already chastened, was merging into +beautiful maturity, and often as Mrs. Hamilton gazed on that child of +care and sorrow, yet of deep unfailing love, she felt, indeed, in her a +mother's recompense was already given. + +Edward's leave of absence was extended to a longer period than usual. +His ship had been dismantled, and now lay untenanted with the other +floating castles of the deep. Her officers and men had been dispersed, +and other stations had not yet been assigned to them. Nor did young +Fortescue intend joining a ship again as midshipman; his buoyant +hopes--the expectations of a busy fancy--told him that perhaps the +epaulette of a lieutenant would glitter on his shoulder. On his first +return home he had talked continually of his examination and his +promotion, but as the time neared for him to accompany his uncle to +London for the purpose, his volubility was checked. + +Caroline and her husband returned to Castle Terryn, and scarcely four +weeks after Myrvin's departure, Emmeline received from the hands of Mrs. +Langford an unexpected and most agitating letter. It was from Arthur; +intense mental suffering, in the eyes of her it addressed, breathed +through every line; but that subject, that dear yet forbidden subject, +their avowed and mutual love, was painfully avoided; it had evidently +been a struggle to write thus calmly, impassionately, and Emmeline +blessed him for his care: it merely implored her to use her influence +with St. Eval to obtain his interference with his father on his +(Arthur's) behalf. Lord Malvern he had heard was seeking for a gentleman +to accompany his son Louis as tutor and companion to Germany; there, for +the two following years, to improve his education, and enable him to +obtain a thorough knowledge of the language and literature of the +country. Arthur had applied for the situation, and recognised by the +Marquis as the young clergyman he had so often seen at Oakwood, he +received him with the utmost cordiality and kindness. On being +questioned as to his reasons for resigning his curacy, he frankly owned +that so quiet a life was irksome to him, and a desire to travel had +occasioned the wish to become tutor to any nobleman or gentleman's son +about to do so. He alluded himself to the reports to his prejudice, +avowed with sorrow that neglect of parochial duties was indeed a just +accusation, but from every other, he solemnly assured the Marquis, his +conscience was free. Not one proof of vice or even irregularity of +conduct had been or could be brought against him. He farther informed +Emmeline, that not only the Marquis but the Marchioness and the whole +family appeared much disposed in his favour, particularly Lord Louis, +who declared that if he might not have him for a tutor, he would have no +one else, and not go to Germany or to any school at all. The Marquis had +promised to give him a decided answer as soon as he had consulted Lord +St. Eval on the subject. He knew, Myrvin concluded, that her influence +was great with the Earl, and it was for that reason and that alone he +had ventured to address her. + +Emmeline reflected long and deeply on this letter. Had she listened to +the powerful pleadings of her deep affection, she would have shrunk from +thus using her influence, however small, to send him from England,--yet +could she hesitate? had she indeed forgotten herself to follow that only +path of duty she had pointed out to him? Brief indeed were her moments +of indecision. She wrote instantly to St. Eval in Arthur's favour, but +so guardedly and calmly worded her letter, that no suspicion of any +kinder or more interested feeling than that of her peculiarly generous +and warm-hearted nature could have been suspected, either by St. Eval or +her sister. She excused her boldness in writing thus unadvisedly and +secretly, by admitting that she could not bear that an unjust and +unfounded prejudice should so cruelly mar the prospects of so young and, +she believed, injured a fellow-creature. She was well aware that her +father shared this prejudice, and therefore she entreated St. Eval not +to mention her share in the transaction. + +Lord St. Eval willingly complied with her wishes. She had been, as we +know, ever his favourite. He loved her perfect artlessness and +playfulness, her very enthusiasm rendered her an object of his regard; +besides which, on this point, his opinion coincided with hers. He felt +assured young Myrvin was unhappy--on what account he knew not--but he +was convinced he did not deserve the aspersions cast upon him; and, +directly after the receipt of Emmeline's earnest letter, he came +unexpectedly to the parish, made inquiries, with the assistance of Mrs. +Langford, and returned to Castle Terryn, perfectly satisfied that it +would certainly be no disadvantage to his brother to be placed under the +care and companionship of Arthur Myrvin. He lost no time in imparting +this opinion to his father; and Emmeline very quickly learned that the +whole affair was arranged. Lord Louis was wild with joy that Arthur +Myrvin, whom he had liked at Oakwood, was to be his tutor, instead of +some prim formidable, dominie, and to this news was superadded the +intelligence that, the second week in February, the Rev. Arthur Myrvin +and his noble pupil quitted England for Hanover, where they intended to +make some stay. + +Emmeline heard, and the words "will he not write me one line in farewell +ere he leaves England?" were murmured internally, but were instantly +suppressed, for she knew the very wish was a departure from that line of +stern control she had laid down for herself and him; and that letter, +that dear, that precious letter--precious, for it came from him, though +not one word of love was breathed,--ought not that to be destroyed? Had +she any right now to cherish it, when the aid she sought had been given, +its object gained? Did her parents know she possessed that letter, that +it was dear to her, what would be their verdict? And was she not +deceiving them in thus retaining, thus cherishing a remembrance of him +she had resolved to forget? Emmeline drew forth the precious letter; she +gazed on it long, wistfully, as if in parting from it the pang of +separation with the beloved writer was recalled. She pressed her lips +upon it, and then with stern resolution dropped it into the fire that +blazed upon the hearth; and, with cheek pallid and breath withheld, she +marked the utter annihilation of the first and last memento she +possessed of him she loved. + +Mrs. Hamilton's anxiety on Emmeline's account did not decrease. She +still remained pale and thin, and her spirits more uneven, and that +energy which had formerly been such a marked feature in her character +appeared at times entirely to desert her; and Mr. Maitland, discovering +that the extreme quiet and regularity of life which he had formerly +recommended was not quite so beneficial as he had hoped, changed in a +degree his plan, and advised diversity of recreation, and amusements of +rather more exertion than he had at first permitted. Poor Emmeline +struggled to banish thought, that she might repay by cheerfulness the +tenderness of her parents and cousins, but she was new to sorrow; her +first was indeed a bitter trial, the more so because even from her +mother it was as yet concealed. She succeeded for a time in her wishes, +so far as to gratify her mother by an appearance of her usual +enthusiastic pleasure in the anticipation of a grand ball, given by +Admiral Lord N----, at Plymouth, which it was expected the Duke and +Duchess of Clarence would honour with their presence. Ellen anxiously +hoped her brother would return to Oakwood in time to accompany them. He +had passed his examination with the best success, but on the advice of +Sir Edward Manly, they both lingered in town, in the hope that being on +the spot the young officer would not be forgotten in the list of +promotions. He might, Edward gaily wrote, chance to return to Oakwood a +grade higher than he left it. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +"Ellen, I give you joy!" exclaimed Emmeline, entering the room where her +mother and cousin were sitting one afternoon, and speaking with some of +her former cheerfulness. "There is a carriage coming down the avenue, +and though I cannot quite distinguish it, I have second sight sufficient +to fancy it is papa's. Edward declared he would not tell us when he was +coming home, and therefore there is nothing at all improbable in the +idea, that he will fire a broadside on us, as he calls it, +unexpectedly." + +"I would willingly stand fire, to see him safe anchored off this +coast," replied Ellen, smiling. "Lord N----'s ball will lose half its +charms if he be not there." + +"What! with all your enthusiastic admiration of her Royal Highness, whom +you will have the honour of seeing? For shame, Ellen." + +"My enthusiastic admiration; rather yours, my dear Emmeline. Mine is so +quiet that it does not deserve the name of enthusiasm," replied Ellen, +laughing. "Nor could I have imagined you would have honoured me so far +as to give me an attribute in your eyes so precious." + +"I am getting old and learning wisdom," answered Emmeline, making an +effort to continue her playfulness, "and therefore admire quietness more +than formerly." + +"And therefore you are sometimes so silent and sad, to atone for the +past, my Emmeline," remarked her mother, somewhat sorrowfully. + +"Sad, nay, dearest mother, do me not injustice; I cannot be sad, when so +many, many blessings are around me," replied the affectionate girl. +"Silent I may be sometimes, but that is only because I do not feel quite +so strong perhaps as I once did, and it appears an exertion to rattle on +as I used upon trifling subjects." + +"I shall not be contented, then, my own Emmeline, till that strength +returns, and I hear you delighted, even as of old, with little things +again." + +"And yet you have sometimes smiled at my romance, and bade me think of +self-control, dearest mother. Must I be saucy enough to call you +changeable?" answered Emmeline, smiling, as she looked in her mother's +face. + +Mrs. Hamilton was prevented replying by Ellen's delighted exclamation +that it was her uncle's carriage, and Edward was waving a white +handkerchief, as if impatient to reach them, an impatience which was +speedily satisfied by his arrival, bounding into the room, but suddenly +pausing at the door to permit his uncle and another gentleman's +entrance, to which latter he respectfully raised his cap, and then +sprung forward to clasp the extended hands of his cousin and sister. + +"Allow me to congratulate you, madam," said Sir Edward Manly, after +returning with easy politeness the courteous greeting of Mrs. Hamilton, +"on the promotion of one of the bravest officers and most noble-minded +youths of the British navy, and introduce all here present to Lieutenant +Fortescue, of his Majesty's frigate the Royal Neptune, whose unconquered +and acknowledged dominion over the seas I have not the very slightest +doubt he will be one of the most eager to preserve." + +"Nor can I doubt it, Sir Edward," replied Mrs. Hamilton, smiling, as she +glanced on the flushing cheek of her gallant nephew, adding, as she held +out her hand to him, "God bless you, my dear boy! I do indeed rejoice in +your promotion, for I believe it well deserved." + +"You are right, madam, it is well deserved," replied Sir Edward, with an +accent so marked on the last sentence that the attention of all was +arrested. "Hamilton, I have been silent to you on the subject, for I +wished to speak it first before all those who are so deeply interested +in this young man's fate. The lad," he added, striking his hand frankly +on Edward's shoulder, "the lad whose conscience shrunk from receiving +public testimonials of his worth as a sailor, while his private +character was stained, while there was that upon it which, if known, he +believed would effectually prevent his promotion; who, at the risk of +disappointment to his dearest wishes, of disgrace, want of honour, +possessed sufficient courage to confess to his captain that his +log-book, the first years of his seamanship, told a false tale--the lad, +I say, who can so nobly command himself, is well worthy to govern +others. He who has known so well the evil of disobedience will be firm +in the discipline of his men, while he who is so stern to his own faults +will, I doubt not, be charitable to those of others. The sword presented +to him for his brave preservation of the crew of the Syren will never be +stained by dishonour, while he looks upon it and remembers the past, and +even as in those of my own son, shall I henceforward rejoice in using my +best endeavours to promote the fortunes of Edward Fortescue." + +The return of Edward, the honours he had received, the perfect happiness +beaming on his bright face, all caused Ellen to look forward to the ball +with greater pleasure than she had ever regarded gaiety of that sort +before; and Mrs. Hamilton would sometimes playfully declare that she and +Emmeline had for a time exchanged characters, although Edward's +never-failing liveliness, his odd tales and joyous laugh, had appeared +partly to rouse the latter's usual spirits, and dissipate slightly her +mother's anxiety. + +The festive night arrived, and anticipation itself was not disappointed +in the pleasure it bestowed. All the nobility of the country, for miles +round, had assembled in respect to the royal guests who had honoured +the distinguished commander with their august presence; and Mrs. +Hamilton's natural feelings of pride were indeed gratified that night, +as she glanced on her Caroline, who now appeared in public for the first +time since her marriage, attired in simple elegance, yet with a richness +appropriate to her rank, attracting every eye, even that of their Royal +Highnesses themselves, by the graceful dignity of her tall and +commanding figure, by the quiet repose and polished ease which +characterised her every movement. If Lord St. Eval looked proud of his +young wife, there were few there who would have blamed him. The Lady +Florence Lyle was with her brother, enjoying with unfeigned pleasure, as +did Ellen, and to all appearance Emmeline, the scene before them. + +The brilliant uniforms of the army, and the handsome but less striking +ones of the navy, imparted additional gaiety and splendour to the rooms, +forming picturesque groups, when contrasting with the chaste and elegant +costumes of the fairer sex. But on the fascinating scene we may not +linger, nor attempt to describe the happiness which the festivities +occasioned the entire party, nor on the gratification of Lieutenant +Fortescue, when Sir Edward Manly begged the honour of an introduction +for his young friend to his Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence, who, +with his amiable consort, the Princess Adelaide, had honoured Lord +N----with their august presence. Upon one incident alone we must be +permitted to dwell, as affording a great and unexpected pleasure to our +friend Ellen. + +Edward and Ellen were for some time perfectly unconscious that they were +objects of the most earnest, penetrating scrutiny of a lady, leaning on +the arm of a young and handsome man in regimentals, near them. + +"It must be them; that likeness cannot be that of a stranger," were the +words, uttered in an earnest, persuading tone, addressed by the young +officer to the lady, who might be his mother, which were the first to +attract the attention of the little group, though the speaker appeared +quite unconscious he was overheard. "Let me speak to him, and at least +ask the question." + +"No, no, Walter," the lady replied, in a low tone. "Changed as are our +situations now, I could not wish, even if it be them, to intrude upon +their remembrance." + +An exclamation of suppressed impatience escaped from the lips of the +young man, but instantly checking it, he said, respectfully and +tenderly-- + +"Dearest mother, do not say so, if" (the name was lost) "grew up as she +was a child, she would be glad to welcome the friend of her father, the +companion of her childhood." + +"But it cannot be, Walter; that beautiful girl is not like my poor +child, though her brother may strangely resemble those we have known." + +"Have you not often told me, mother, we never change so much as from +childhood into youth? Ellen was always ill, now she may be well, and +that makes all the difference in the world. I am much mistaken if those +large, mournful eyes can belong to any but"-- + +He paused abruptly; for convinced that they must be the subject of +conversation, and feeling they were listening to language not meant for +their ears, Edward and Ellen turned towards the speakers, who to the +former appeared perfect strangers, not so to the latter. Feelings, +thoughts of her earliest infancy and childhood, came thronging over her +as a spell, as she gazed on the lady's countenance, which, by its +expression, denoted that sorrow had been her portion; it was changed, +much changed from that which it had been; but the rush of memory on +Ellen's young soul told her that face had been seen before. A night of +horror and subsequent suffering flashed before her eyes, in which that +face had beamed in fondness and in soothing kindness over her; that +voice had spoken accents of love in times when even a mother's words +were harsh and cold. + +"Forgive me, sir, but is not your name Fortescue?" inquired the young +man, somewhat hesitatingly, yet frankly, as he met Edward's glance. + +"You have the advantage of me, sir," he replied, with equal frankness; +"such is my name, but yours I cannot guess." + +"I beg your pardon, but am I speaking to the son of Colonel Fortescue, +who fell in India during a skirmish against the natives, nearly ten +years ago?" + +"The same, sir." + +"Then it is--it is Mrs. Cameron; I am not, I knew I could not be +mistaken," exclaimed Ellen, in an accent of delight, and bounding +forward, she clasped the lady's eagerly-extended hand in both hers, and +gazing in her face with eyes glistening with starting tears. "And would +you, could you have passed me, without one word to say my friend, the +wife of my father's dearest friend, was so near to me? you who in my +childhood so often soothed and tended my sufferings, dearest Mrs. +Cameron?" and tears of memory and of feeling fell upon the hand she +held, while young Cameron gazed on her with an admiration which utterly +prevented his replying coherently to the questions, the reminiscences of +former years, when they were playmates together in India, which Edward, +discovering by his sister's exclamation who he was, was now pouring in +his ear. + +"I did not, could not think I should have been thus affectionately, thus +faithfully remembered, my dear Ellen, after a lapse of so many years," +replied Mrs. Cameron, visibly affected at her young companion's warmth. +"I could not imagine the memory of a young child, such as you were when +we parted, would have been so acute." + +"Then my niece must have been all these years mistaken, and you too did +not understand her, though she fancied you did," said Mrs. Hamilton, +with a smile, advancing to relieve Ellen's agitation, which the +association of her long-lamented father with Mrs. Cameron rendered +almost painful. "I could have told you, from the moment she was placed +under my care, that she never would forget those who had once been kind +to her. I have known you so long, from Ellen's report, that glad am I +indeed to make your acquaintance; you to whom my lamented sister was so +much indebted." + +Gratified and soothed by this address, for the sight of Ellen had +awakened many sad associations, she too being now a widow, Mrs. Cameron +rallied her energies, and replied to Mrs. Hamilton, in her naturally +easy and friendly manner. Ellen looked on the black dress she wore, and +turned inquiringly to young Cameron, who answered hurriedly, for he +guessed her thoughts. + +"Ask not of my father, he is beside Colonel Fortescue; he shared his +laurels and his grave." + +An expression of deep sympathy passed over Ellen's countenance, +rendering her features, to the eager glance of the young man, yet more +attractive. + +"You have, I see, much to say and inquire, my dear Ellen," said her +aunt, kindly, as she marked her flushed cheek and eager eye. "Perhaps +Mrs. Cameron will indulge you by retiring with you into one of those +quiet, little refreshment-rooms, where you can talk as much as you +please without remark." + +"Can I ask my dear young friend to resign the pleasures of the dance, +and agreeable companionship of the friends I see thronging round her, to +listen to an old woman's tale?" said Mrs. Cameron, smiling. + +"I think you are answered," replied Mrs. Hamilton, playfully, as Ellen +passed her arm through that of Mrs. Cameron and looked caressingly and +persuadingly in her face. + +Mrs. Cameron's tale was soon told. She had returned to England, for +India had become painful to her, from the many bereavements which had +there unhappily darkened her lot. Captain Cameron had fallen in an +engagement, two or three years after Mrs. Fortescue's departure; and out +of seven apparently healthy children, which had been hers when Ellen +knew her, only three now remained. It was after the death of her eldest +daughter, a promising girl of eighteen, her own health having suffered +so exceedingly from the shock, that her son Walter, fearing for her +life, effected an exchange, and being ordered to return with his +regiment to England--for he now held his father's rank of captain--he +succeeded in persuading his mother to accompany him with his sisters. He +was quartered at Devonport, where it appeared they had been residing +the last eight months, visited, even courted, by most of the military +and naval officers who had known and respected his father; amongst whom +was Lord N--, who had persuaded Mrs. Cameron to so far honour his ball +as there to introduce her daughter Flora, using arguments she could not +resist, and consequently delighting her affectionate children, by once +more appearing in public. + +"And this is Walter, the kind Walter, who used ever to take my part, +though he did scold me for always looking so sad," exclaimed Ellen, +after hearing her friend's tale, and answering all her questions +concerning herself, looking up as she spoke on the young man, who had +again joined them, and blushing with timidity at her boldness in thus +speaking to one who had grown into a stranger. + +The young man's heart throbbed as he heard himself addressed as Walter +by the beautiful girl beside him; and he found it difficult to summon +sufficient courage to ask her to dance with him; frankly, however, she +consented. + +Ellen found pleasure, also, in renewing acquaintance with the timid +Flora, whom she had left a playful child of seven, and who was now +merging into bright and beautiful girlhood; eager to return her kindly +warmth in the delight of finding one of her own age among that +glittering crowd of strangers. + +But few more incidents of note occurred that night; dancing continued +with unabated spirit, even after the departure of the royal guests, and +pleasure was the prevailing feeling to the last. The notice of the Duke, +and the benignant spirit of the Duchess, her gentle and kindly manners, +had penetrated many a young and ardent soul, and fixed at once and +unwaveringly the stamp of future loyalty within. + +Once introduced to Mrs. Cameron, and aware that she resided so near +them, Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton cultivated her acquaintance; speedily they +became intimate. In Mrs. Fortescue's broken and dying narrative, she had +more than once mentioned them as the friends of her husband, and having +been most kind to herself. Edward had alluded to Captain Cameron's care +of him, and parting advice, when about to embark for England; and Ellen +had frequently spoken of Mrs. Cameron's kindness to her when a child. +All those who had shown kindness to her sister were objects of +attraction to Mrs. Hamilton, and the widow speedily became so attached +to her and her amiable family, that, on Walter being suddenly ordered +out to Ireland (which commands, by the way, the young man obeyed with +very evident reluctance), she gladly consented to rent a small +picturesque cottage between Moorlands and Oakwood, an arrangement which +added much to the young people's enjoyment; while the quiet repose of +her present life, the society of Mrs. Hamilton and her worthy husband, +as also that of Mr. Howard, restored the widow to happiness, which had +not been her portion since her husband's death; and now, for the first +time, Mrs. Hamilton became acquainted with those minute particulars +which she had for the last nine years desired to know, concerning the +early childhood of those orphans then committed to her care. That her +sister had been partial, it was very easy to discover; but the extent of +the evil, and the many little trials Ellen's very infancy had to +encounter, were only subjects of conjecture, for she could not bear to +lead them to speak on any topic that might in the least have reflected +on the memory of their mother. + +The intelligence therefore which she now obtained explained all that had +been a matter of mystery and surprise in Ellen's character, and rendered +clearer than ever to Mrs. Hamilton the painful feelings which had in +opening youth actuated her niece's conduct; and often, as she listened +to Mrs. Cameron's account of her infant sufferings and her mother's +harshness and neglect, did Mrs. Hamilton wish such facts had from the +first been known to her; much sorrow, she felt assured, might have been +spared to all. She would perchance have been enabled to have so trained +her and soothed her early-wounded sensibility, that all the wretchedness +of her previous years might have been avoided, but she would not long +allow her mind to dwell on such things. She looked on her niece as +dearer than ever, from the narrative she had heard, and she was thankful +to behold her thus in radiant health and beauty, and, she hoped, in +happiness, although at times there was still a deeper shade of +seriousness than she loved to see imprinted on her brow, and dimming the +lustre of her eye, but it caused her no anxiety. Ellen's character had +never been one of light-hearted glee; it would have been unnatural to +see it now, and she believed that appearance of melancholy to be her +natural disposition, and so too, perhaps, the orphan regarded it +herself. + +A very few weeks after Lord N----'s ball, Edward again departed from +Oakwood to join his ship. He parted gaily with his friends, for he knew +his voyage was to be but a short one; and that now the first and most +toilsome step to promotion had been gained, he should have very many +more opportunities of taking a run home and catching a glimpse, he said, +joyously, of the whole crew who were so dear to him, on board that tough +old ship Oakwood; and Ellen, too, could share his gaiety even the night +previous to his departure, for this was not like either their first or +second parting. She had all to hope and but little to fear; for her +trust was too firmly fixed on Him who had guarded that beloved brother +through so many previous dangers and temptations to bid her waver now. +Even Mrs. Hamilton's anxious bosom trembled not as she parted from the +son of her affections, the preserver of her husband; and though Oakwood +felt dull and gloomy on the first departure of the mischief-loving, +mirthful sailor, it was not the gloom of sorrow. February passed, and +Mrs. Hamilton's solicitude with regard to Emmeline still continued. +There were times when, deceived by her daughter's manner, lively and +playful apparently as usual, she permitted herself to feel less anxious; +but the pale cheek, the dulled eye, the air of languor, and sometimes, +though not often, of depression, which pervaded every movement, very +quickly recalled anxiety and apprehension. Mr. Maitland could not +understand her. If for a moment he imagined it was mental suffering, her +manner was such the next time he saw her as entirely to baffle that +fancy, and convince him that the symptoms which caused Mrs. Hamilton's +alarm were, in reality, of no consequence. Determined to use every +effort to deceive him, lest he should betray to her parents the real +cause of her sufferings, Emmeline generally rallied every effort and +rattled on with him, as from a child she had been accustomed, therefore +it was no wonder the worthy surgeon was deceived; and often, very +often, did the poor girl wish she could deceive herself as easily. It +was now nearly three months since she and young Myrvin had so painfully +parted, and her feelings, instead of diminishing in their intensity, +appeared to become more powerful. She had hoped, by studiously employing +herself, by never indulging in one idle hour, to partially efface his +remembrance, but the effort was fruitless. The letters from Lady +Florence and Lady Emily Lyle became subjects of feverish interest, for +in them alone she heard unprejudiced accounts of Arthur, of whose +praises, they declared, the epistles of their brother Louis were always +full; so much so, Lady Emily said, that she certainly should fall in +love with him, for the purpose of making a romantic story. Sadly did +poor Emmeline feel there was but little romance in her feelings; cold +clinging despair had overcome her. She longed for the comfort of her +mother's sympathy, but his character was not yet cleared. Mr. Hamilton +evidently mistrusted the praises so lavishly bestowed on the young man +by Lord Malvern's family; and how could she defend him, if accused of +presumption towards herself? Presumption there had not been; indeed, his +conduct throughout had done him honour. She fancied her mother would be +displeased, might imagine she had encouraged the feeling of romantic +admiration till it became an ideal passion, and made herself miserable. +Perhaps an unknown yet ever-lingering hope existed within, spite of +despair; perhaps aerial visions would mingle in the darkness, and +Emmeline shrunk, unconsciously, from their utter annihilation by the +stern prohibition of her parents. Such was the constant tenour of her +thoughts; but one moment of excited feeling betrayed that which she had +deemed would never pass her lips. + +But a very few days had elapsed since Edward's departure from Oakwood +when, one afternoon, Mr. Hamilton entered the usual sitting-room of the +family, apparently much disturbed. Mrs. Hamilton and Ellen were engaged +in work, and Emmeline sat at a small table in the embrasure of one of +the deep gothic windows, silently yet busily employed it seemed in +drawing. She knew her father had gone that morning to the village, and +as usual felt uneasy and feverish, fearing, reasonably or unreasonably, +that on his return she would hear something unpleasant concerning +Arthur; as she this day marked the countenance of her father, her heart +throbbed, and her cheek, which had been flushed by the action of +stooping, paled even unto death. + +"What mishap has chanced in the village, that you look so grave, my dear +love?" demanded his wife, playfully. + +"I am perplexed in what matter to act, and grieved, deeply grieved, at +the intelligence I have learned; not only that my prejudice is +confirmed, but that the knowledge I have acquired concerning that +unhappy young man places me in a most awkward situation." + +"You are not speaking very intelligibly, my dear husband, and therefore +I must guess what you mean; I fear it is young Myrvin of whom you +speak," said Mrs. Hamilton, her playfulness gone. + +"They surely have not been again bringing him forward to his discredit?" +observed Ellen, earnestly. "The poor young man is far away; why will +they still endeavour to prejudice you and Mr. Howard against him?" + +"I admire your charity, my dear girl, but, I am sorry to say, in this +case it is unworthily bestowed. There are facts now come to light which, +I fear, unpleasant as will be the task, render it my duty to write to +Lord Malvern. Arthur Myrvin is no fit companion for his son." + +"His poor, poor father!" murmured Ellen, dropping her work, and looking +sorrowfully, yet inquiringly, in her uncle's face. + +"But are they facts, Arthur--are they proved? for that there is unjust +prejudice against him in the village, I am pretty certain." + +"They are so far proved, that, by applying them to him, a mystery in the +village is cleared up, and also his violent haste to quit our +neighbourhood. You remember Mary Brookes?" + +"That poor girl who died, it was said, of such a rapid decline? +Perfectly well." + +"It was not a decline, my dear Emmeline; would that it had been. She was +beautiful, innocent, in conversation and manner far above her station. +There are many to say she loved, and believed, in the fond trust of +devotion, all that the tempter said. She was worthy to be his wife, and +she became his victim. His visits to her old grandmother's cottage I +myself know were frequent. He deserted her, and that wild agony broke +the strings of life which remorse had already loosened; ten days after +Myrvin quitted the village she died, giving birth to an unhappy child of +sin and sorrow. Her grandmother, ever dull in observation and sense, has +been silent, apparently stupefied by the sudden death of her Mary, and +cherishes the poor helpless infant left her by her darling. Suddenly she +has appeared awakened to indignation, and a desire of vengeance on the +destroyer of her child, which I could wish less violent. She implored +me, with almost frantic wildness, to obtain justice from the cruel +villain--accusing him by name, and bringing forward so many proofs, +which the lethargy of grief had before concealed, that I cannot doubt +for one moment who is the father of that poor babe--the cruel, the +heartless destroyer of innocence and life." + +"But is there no evidence but hers? I wish there were, for Dame Williams +is so weak and dull, she may easily be imposed upon," observed Mrs. +Hamilton, thoughtfully. "It is indeed a tale of sorrow; one that I could +wish, if it indeed be true, might not be published, for did it reach his +father's ears"-- + +"It will break his heart, I know it will," interrupted Ellen, with an +uncontrolled burst of feeling. "Oh, do not condemn him without further +proofs," she added, appealingly. + +"Every inquiry I have made confirms the old dame's story," replied Mr. +Hamilton, sadly. "We know Myrvin's life in college, before his change of +rank, was one of reckless gaiety. All say he was more often at Dame +Williams's cottage than at any other. Had he been more attentive to his +duties, we might have believed he sought to soothe by religion poor +Mary's sufferings, but we know such was not his wont. Jefferies +corroborates the old dame's tale, bringing forward circumstances he had +witnessed, too forcibly to doubt. And does not his hasty resignation of +a comfortable home, a promising living, evince his guilt more strongly +than every other proof? Why did he refuse to defend his conduct? Was it +not likely such a crime as this upon his conscience would occasion that +restlessness we all perceived, that extreme haste to depart? he would +not stay to see his victim die, or be charged with a child of sin. There +was a mystery in his sudden departure, but there is none now; it is all +too clear." + +"_It is false!_" burst with startling almost overwhelming power from the +lips of Emmeline, as she sprung with the strength of agony from her +seat, and stood with the suddenness of a vision, before her parents, a +bright hectic spot burning on either cheek, rendering her usually mild +eyes painfully brilliant. She had sat as if spell-bound, drinking in +every word. She _knew_ the tale was false, but yet each word had fallen +like brands of heated iron on her already scorching brain; that they +should dare to breathe such a tale against him, whose fair fame she knew +was unstained, link his pure name with infamy; and her father, too, +believed it. She did not scream, though there was that within which +longed for such relief. She did not faint, though every limb had lost +its power. A moment's strength and energy alike returned, and she +bounded forward. "It is false!" she again exclaimed, and her parents +started in alarm at her agonized tone; "false as the false villain that +dared stain the fair fame of another with his own base crime. Arthur +Myrvin is not the father of that child; Arthur Myrvin was not the +destroyer of Mary Brookes. Go and ask Nurse Langford: she who hung over +poor Mary's dying bed; who received from her own cold lips the name of +the father of her child; she who was alone near her when she died. Ask +her, and she will tell you the wretch, who has prejudiced all minds +against the good, the pure, the noble; the villain, the cruel +despicable villain, who rested not till his base arts had ruined +the--the--virtuous; that Jefferies, the canting hypocrite, the wretched +miscreant, who has won all hearts because he speaks so fair, he, he +alone is guilty. Put the question to him; let Nurse Langford ask him if +the dying spoke falsely when she named him, and his guilt will be +written on his brow. Arthur Myrvin did visit that cottage; Mary had +confessed a crime, she said not what, and implored his prayers; he +soothed her bodily and mental sufferings, he robbed death of its +terrors, and his only grief at leaving the village was, that she would +miss his aid, for that crime could not be confessed to another; and they +dare to accuse him of sin, he who is as good, as pure, as--" For one +second she paused, choked by inward agony, but ere either her father or +mother could address her, she continued, in an even wilder tone,--"Why +did Arthur Myrvin leave this neighbourhood? why did he go hence so +suddenly--so painfully? because, because he loved me--because he knew +that I returned his love, and he saw the utter hopelessness that +surrounded us, and he went forth to do his duty; he left me to forget +him, to obtain peace in forgetfulness of one I may never see +again--forgetfulness! oh, not till my brain ceases to throb will that be +mine. He thought to leave me with his love unspoken, but the words came, +and that very hour we parted. He loved me, he knew I could not be his, +and it was for this his living was resigned, for this he departed; and +had he cause to blush for this? pure, honourable, as was his love, too +noble, too unselfish to urge aught that could bid Emmeline forget her +duty to her parents for love of him; bearing every calumny, even the +prejudice, the harshness of my father, rather than confess he loved me. +He is innocent of every charge that is brought against him--all, all, +save the purest, the most honourable love for me; and, oh, is that +indeed, indeed a crime?" + +She had struggled to the very last to speak calmly, but now sobs, the +more convulsive because the more suppressed, rose choking in her throat, +and rendered the last words almost inaudible. She pressed both hands +against her heart and then her temples, as if to still their painful +throbbings, and speak yet more, but the effort was fruitless, and she +darted wildly, and fled as an arrow from the room. + +Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton looked on each other in painful and alarmed +astonishment, and Ellen, deeply affected, rose hastily, as if with the +intention of following her agitated cousin, but her aunt and uncle +entreated her not, alleging Emmeline would sooner recover alone, asking +her at the same time if she had known anything relative to the +confession they had just heard. She answered truly in the negative. +Emmeline had scarcely ever spoken of young Myrvin in her hearing; but as +the truth was now discovered, many little instances rose to the +recollection of both parents to confirm the avowal of their child, and +increase their now painfully awakened solicitude. Her agitation the +night of Edward's return, when Lord St. Eval laughingly threatened her +with marriage, rose to the recollection of both parents; her extreme +excitement and subsequent depression; her visibly failing health since +Arthur's departure, all, all, too sadly confirmed her words, and +bitterly Mrs. Hamilton reproached herself for never having suspected +the truth before, for permitting the young man to be thus intimate at +her house, heedless of what might ensue, forgetful that Emmeline was +indeed no longer a child, that her temperament was one peculiarly liable +to be thus strongly excited. + +For a few minutes Mr. Hamilton felt pride and anger struggling fiercely +in his bosom against Arthur, for having dared to love one so far above +him as his child, but very quickly his natural kindliness and charity +resumed their sway. Could he wonder at that, love for one so fond, so +gentle, so clinging, as his Emmeline? Would he not have deemed Arthur +cold and strange, had her charms indeed passed him unnoticed and unfelt; +he remembered the forbearance, the extreme temper the unhappy young man +had ever displayed towards him, and suddenly and unconsciously he felt +he must have done him wrong; he had been prejudiced, misguided. If Nurse +Langford's tale was right, and Jefferies had dared to accuse another of +the crime he had himself committed, might he not in the like manner have +prejudiced the whole neighbourhood against Arthur by false reports? But +while from the words of his child every kindly feeling rose up in the +young man's favour, Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton did not feel the less +painfully that Emmeline had indeed spoken rightly: hopelessness was her +lot. It seemed to both impossible that they could ever consent to behold +her the wife of Myrvin, even if his character were cleared of the +stigmas which had been cast upon it. Could they consent to expose their +fragile child, nursed as she had been in the lap of luxury and comfort, +to all the evils and annoyances of poverty? They had naturally +accustomed themselves to anticipate Emmeline's marrying happily in +their own sphere, and they could not thus suddenly consent to the +annihilation of hopes, which had been fondly cherished in the mind of +each. + +Some little time they remained in conversation, and then Mrs. Hamilton +rose to seek the chamber of her suffering child, taking with her indeed +but little comfort, save her husband's earnest assurance that he would +leave no means untried to discover Jefferies' true character, and if +indeed Arthur had been accused unjustly. + +It was with a trembling hand Mrs. Hamilton softly opened Emmeline's +door, and with a heart bleeding at the anguish she beheld, and which she +felt too truly she could not mitigate, she entered, and stood for +several minutes by her side unnoticed and unseen. + +There are some dispositions in which it is acutely painful to witness +sorrow. Those whom we have ever seen radiant in health, in liveliness, +in joy--so full of buoyancy and hope, they seem as if formed for +sunshine alone, as if they could not live in the darkening clouds of woe +or care; whose pleasures have been pure and innocent as their own bright +beauty; who are as yet unknown to the whispering of inwardly working +sin; full of love and gentleness, and sympathy, ever ready to weep for +others, though for themselves tears are unknown; creatures, whose warm +enthusiastic feelings bind them to every heart capable of generous +emotions; those in whom we see life most beautified, most glad. Oh, it +is so sad to see them weep; to feel that even on them sorrow hath cast +its blight, and paled the cheek, and dimmed the laughing eye, the +speaking smile, and the first grief in such as these is agony indeed: +it is the breaking asunder of every former joy. They shrink from +retrospection, for they cannot bear to feel they are not now as then, +and the future shares to them the blackened shadows of the hopeless +present. As susceptible as they are to pleasure so are they to pain; and +raised far above others in the enjoyment of the one, so is their grief +doubled in comparison with those of more happy, because more even +temperaments. So it was with Emmeline; and her mother felt all this as +she stood beside her, watching with tearful sympathy the first real +grief of her darling child. Emmeline had cast herself on her knees +beside her couch; she had buried her face in her hands, while the sobs +that burst incessantly from her swelling bosom shook her frail figure +convulsively; the blue veins in her throat had swelled as if in +suffocation, and her fair hair, loosened from its confinement by her +agitation, hung wildly around her. + +"Emmeline," Mrs. Hamilton said, gently and falteringly, but her child +heard her not, and she twined her arm around her, and tried to draw her +towards her. + +"My own darling Emmeline, speak to me; I cannot bear to see you thus. +Look up, love; for my sake calm this excited feeling." + +"May I not even weep? Would you deny me that poor comfort?" burst almost +passionately from the lips of Emmeline, for every faculty was bewildered +in that suddenly-excited woe. She looked up; her eyes were bloodshot and +haggard, her cheek flushed, and the veins drawn like cords across her +brow. + +"Weep: would your mother forbid you that blessed comfort and relief, my +Emmeline? Could you indeed accuse me of such cruelty?" replied Mrs. +Hamilton, bending over her as she spoke, and removing from those flushed +temples the hair which hung heavy with moisture upon them, and as she +did so Emmeline felt the tears of her mother fall thick and fast on her +own scorching brow. She started from her knees, gazed wildly and +doubtingly upon her, and tottering from exhaustion, would have fallen, +had not Mrs. Hamilton, with a sudden movement, received her in her arms. +For a moment Emmeline struggled as if to break from her embrace, but +then, with a sudden transition of feeling, clasped her arms convulsively +about her mother's neck, and burst into a long and violent but relieving +flood of tears. + +"I meant never, never to have revealed my secret," she exclaimed, in a +voice almost inaudible, as her mother, seating her on a couch near them, +pressed her to her heart, and permitted some minutes to pass away in +that silence of sympathy which to the afflicted is so dear. "And now +that it has been wrung from me, I know not what I do or say. Oh, if I +have spoken aught disrespectfully to you or papa just now, I meant it +not, indeed I did not; but they dared to speak false tales, and I could +not sit calmly to hear them," she added, shuddering. + +"There was nothing in your words, my own love, to give us pain with +regard to ourselves," said Mrs. Hamilton, in her most soothing tone, as +again and again she pressed her quivering lips to that flushed cheek, +and tried to kiss away the now streaming tears. "Do not let that thought +add to your uneasiness, my own darling." + +"And can you forgive me, mother?" and Emmeline buried her face yet more +closely in her mother's bosom. + +"Forgive you, Emmeline! is there indeed aught in your acquaintance with +Arthur Myrvin which demands my forgiveness?" replied her mother, in a +tone of anxiety and almost alarm. + +"Oh, no, no! but you may believe I have encouraged these weak emotions; +that I have wilfully thought on them till I have made myself thus +miserable; that I have called for his love--given him encouragement: +indeed, indeed I have not. I have struggled hard to obtain +forgetfulness--to think of him no more, to regain happiness, but it +would not come. I feel--I know I can never, never be again the joyous +light-hearted girl that I was once; all feels so changed." + +"Do not say so, my own love; this it but the language of despondency, +now too naturally your own; but permit it not to gain too much +ascendency, dearest. Where is my Emmeline's firm, devoted faith in that +merciful Father, who for so many years has gilded her lot with such +unchecked happiness. Darker clouds are now indeed for a time around you, +but His blessing will remove them, love; trust still in Him." + +Emmeline's convulsive sobs were somewhat checked; the fond and gentle +tones of sympathy had their effect on one to whom affection never +pleaded in vain. + +"And why have you so carefully concealed the cause of the sufferings +that were so clearly visible, my Emmeline?" continued her mother, +tenderly. "Could that fear which you once avowed in a letter to Mary, +have mingled in your affection for me? Could fear, indeed, have kept you +silent? Can your too vivid fancy have bid you imagine I should reproach +you, or refuse my sympathy in this sad trial? Your perseverance in +active employments, your strivings for cheerfulness, all must, indeed, +confirm your assertion, that you have not encouraged weakening emotions. +I believe you, my own, and I believe, too, my Emmeline did not give +young Myrvin encouragement. Look up, love, and tell me that you do not +fear your mother--that you do not deem her harsh." + +"Harsh? oh, no, no!" murmured the poor girl, still clinging to her neck, +as if she feared something would part them. "It is I who am capricious, +fanciful, miserable: oh, do not heed my incoherent words. Mother, +dearest mother, oh, let me but feel that you still love me, and I will +teach my heart to be satisfied with that." + +"But if indeed I am not harsh, tell me all, my Emmeline--tell me when +you were first aware you loved Arthur Myrvin; all that has passed +between you. I promise you I will not add to your suffering on his +account by reproaches. Confide in the affection of your mother, and this +trial will not be so hard to bear." + +Struggling to obtain composure and voice, Emmeline obeyed, and +faithfully repeated every circumstance connected with her and Arthur, +with which our readers are well acquainted; touching lightly, indeed, on +their parting interview, which Mrs. Hamilton easily perceived could not +be recalled even now, though some months had passed, without a renewal +of the distress it had caused. Her recital almost unconsciously exalted +the character of Arthur in the mind of Mrs. Hamilton, which was too +generous and kind to remain untouched by conduct so honourable, +forbearing, and praiseworthy. + +"Do not weep any more for the cruel charges against him, my love," she +said, with soothing tenderness, as Emmeline's half-checked tears burst +forth again as she spoke of the agony she in secret endured, when in her +presence his character was traduced. "Your father will now leave no +means untried to discover whether indeed they are true or false. +Insinuations and reports have prejudiced his judgment more than is his +wont. He has gone now to Widow Langford, to hear her tale against +Jefferies, and if this last base charge he has brought against Arthur be +indeed proved against himself, it will be easy to convict him of other +calumnies; for the truth of this once made evident, it is clear that his +base machinations have been the secret engines of the prejudice against +Myrvin, for which no clear foundation has ever yet been discovered. You +will not doubt your father's earnestness in this proceeding, my +Emmeline, and you know him too well to believe he would for one moment +refrain from acknowledging to Mr. Myrvin the injustice he has done him, +if indeed it prove unfounded." + +"And if his character be cleared from all stain--if not a whisper taint +his name, and his true excellence be known to all--oh, may we not hope? +mother, mother, you will not be inexorable; you will not, oh, you will +not condemn your child to misery!" exclaimed Emmeline, in a tone of +excitement, strongly contrasting with the hopelessness which had +breathed in every word before; and, bursting from her mother's detaining +hold, she suddenly knelt before her, and clasped her robe in the +wildness of her entreaty. "You will not refuse to make us happy; you +will not withhold your consent, on which alone depends the future +happiness of your Emmeline. You, who have been so good, so kind, so +fond,--oh, you will not sentence me to woe. Mother, oh, speak to me. I +care not how many years I wait: say, only say that, if his character be +cleared of all they have dared to cast upon it, I shall one day he his. +Do not turn from me, mother. Oh, bid me not despond; and yet and yet, +because he is poor, oh, would you, can you condemn me to despair?" + +"Emmeline, Emmeline, do not wring my heart by these cruel words," +replied Mrs. Hamilton, in a tone of such deep distress, that Emmeline's +imploring glance sunk before it, and feeling there was indeed no hope, +her weakened frame shook with the effort to restrain the bursting tears. +"Do not ask me to promise this; do not give me the bitter pain of +speaking that which you feel at this moment will only add to your +unhappiness. You yourself, by the words you have repeated, behold the +utter impossibility of such an union. Why, why then will you impose on +me the painful task of repeating it? Could I consent to part with you to +one who has not even a settled home to give you, whose labours scarcely +earn sufficient to maintain himself? You know not all the evils of such +an union, my sweet girl. You are not fitted to cope with poverty or +care, to bear with that passionate irritability and restlessness which +characterise young Myrvin, even when weightier charges are removed. And +could we feel ourselves justified in exposing you to privations and +sorrows, which our cooler judgment may perceive, though naturally +concealed from the eye of affection? Seldom, very seldom, are those +marriages happy in which such an extreme disparity exists, more +particularly when, as in this case, the superiority is on the side of +the wife. I know this sounds like cold and worldly reasoning, my +Emmeline; I know that this warm, fond heart revolts in agony from every +word, but do not, do not think me cruel, love, and shrink from my +embrace. How can I implore you, for my sake, still to struggle with +these sad feelings, to put every effort into force to conquer this +unhappy love? and yet my duty bids me do so; for, oh, I cannot part with +you for certain poverty and endless care. Speak to me, my own; promise +me that you will try and be contented with your father's exertions to +clear Arthur's character from all aspersions. You will not ask for +more?" + +There was a moment's pause. Mrs. Hamilton had betrayed in every word the +real distress she suffered in thus speaking, when the gentle pleading of +her woman's heart would have bade her soothe by any and every means her +afflicted child; Emmeline knew this, and even in that moment she could +not bear to feel her mother grieved, and she had been the cause. Filial +devotion, filial duty, for a few minutes struggled painfully with the +fervid passion which shook her inmost soul; but they conquered, and when +she looked up, her tears were checked, and only the deadly paleness of +the cheek, the quivering of the lip and eye, betrayed the deep emotion +that still prevailed within. + +"Be not thus distressed for me, my dear, my too indulgent mother," +replied Emmeline, in a voice that struggled to be composed and firm, +though bodily weakness defied her efforts. "I meant not to have grieved +you, and yet I have done so. Oh, let not my foolish words give you pain, +you whose love would, I know, seek to spare me every suffering. My brain +feels confused and burning now, and I know not what I say; but it will +pass away soon, and then I will try to be all you can wish. You will +not, I know you will not be so cruel as to bid me wed another, and that +knowledge is enough. Let but his character be cleared, and I promise you +I will use every effort to be content. I knew that it was hopeless. Why, +oh, why did I bid your lips confirm it!" and again were those aching +eyes and brow concealed on Mrs. Hamilton's shoulder, while the +despairing calmness of her voice sounded even more acutely painful to +her mother than the extreme suffering it had expressed before. + +"May God in His mercy bless you for this, my darling girl!" escaped +almost involuntarily from Mrs. Hamilton's lips, as the sweet disposition +of her child appeared to shine forth brighter than ever in this complete +surrender of her dearest hopes to the will of her parents. "And oh, that +He may soothe and comfort you will mingle in your mother's prayers. Tell +me but one thing more, my own. Have you never heard from this young man +since you parted?" + +"He wrote to me, imploring me to use my influence with St. Eval, to aid +his obtaining the situation of tutor to Lord Louis," answered Emmeline. +"He did not allude to what had passed between us; his letter merely +contained this entreaty, as if he would thus prove to me that his +intention to quit England, and seek for calmness in the steady +performance of active duties, was not mere profession." + +"Then your representations were the origin of Eugene's interest in +Arthur?" said Mrs. Hamilton, inquiringly. + +Emmeline answered in the affirmative. + +"And did you answer his letter?" + +"No, mamma; it was enough for me and for him, too, his wishes were +granted. I would not indulge my secret wish to do so. Neither you nor +papa, nor indeed any of my family, knew what had passed between us. +Determined as I was to struggle for the conquest of myself, I did not +imagine in keeping that secret I was acting undutifully; but had I +written to him, or cherished, as my weak fondness bade me do, +his--his--why should I hide it--his precious letter, my conscience would +have added its pangs to the sufferings already mine. While that was free +and light, I could still meet your look and smile, and return your kiss, +however I might feel my heart was breaking; but if I had so deceived +you, so disregarded my duty, as to enter into a correspondence with him, +unknown to you, oh, the comfort of your love would have flown from me +for ever." + +"And had my Emmeline indeed sufficient resolution to destroy that +letter?" demanded Mrs. Hamilton, surprise mingling with the admiration +and esteem which, though felt by a mother for a child, might well be +pardoned. + +"It was my duty, mother, and I did it," replied Emmeline, with a +simplicity that filled the eyes of her mother with tears. "Could I +indeed forget those principles of integrity which, from my earliest +infancy, you have so carefully instilled?" + +Mrs. Hamilton clasped her to her bosom, and imprinted kisses of the +fondest affection on her colourless and burning forehead. + +"Well, indeed, are my cares repaid," she exclaimed. "Oh, that my +affection could soothe your sorrows as sweetly as your gentle yet +unwavering adherence to filial love and duty have comforted me. Will +you, for my sake, my own love, continue these painful yet virtuous +efforts at self-conquest, which you commenced merely from a sense of +duty? Will you not glad your mother's heart and let me have the comfort +of beholding you once more my own cheerful, happy Emmeline?" + +"I will try," murmured Emmeline, struggling to smile; but oh, it was so +unlike herself, so lustreless and faint, that Mrs. Hamilton hastily +turned away to hide emotion. The dressing-bell at that instant sounded, +and Emmeline looked an entreaty to which her lips appeared unwilling to +give words. Her mother understood it. + +"I will not ask you to join us at dinner, love. Do not look so +beseechingly, you will recover this agitation sooner and better alone; +and so much confidence have you compelled me to feel in you," she added, +trying to smile and speak playfully, "that I will not ask you to make an +exertion to which you do not feel equal, even if you wish to be alone +the whole evening. I know my Emmeline's solitary moments will not be +spent in vain repinings." + +"You taught me whom to seek for comfort and relief in my childish +sorrows, and I will not, I do not forget that lesson now, mother," +answered Emmeline, faintly yet expressively. "Let me be alone, indeed, a +few hours, and if I can but conquer this feeling of exhaustion, I will +join you at tea." + +Mrs. Hamilton silently embraced and left her, with a heart swelling with +fond emotion, as she thought on the gentle yet decided character of her +child, who from her infancy had scarcely ever caused her pain, still +less anxiety. Now indeed solicitude was hers, for it was evident, alas! +too evident, that Emmeline's affections were unalterably engaged; that +this was not the mere fervour of the moment, a passion that would pass +away with the object, but one that Mrs. Hamilton felt forebodingly would +still continue to exist. Emmeline's was not a disposition to throw off +feelings such as these lightly and easily. Often had her mother inwardly +trembled when she thought of such a sentiment influencing her Emmeline, +and now the dreaded moment had come. How was she to act? She could not +consent to an union such as this would be. Few mothers possessed less +ambition than Mrs. Hamilton, few were so indulgent, so devoted to her +children, but to comply with the poor girl's feverish wishes would be +indeed but folly. Arthur had engaged himself to remain with Lord Louis +Lyle during the period of his residence in Germany, which was at that +time arranged to be three years. The future to young Myrvin must, she +knew, be a blank; years would in all probability elapse ere he could +obtain an advantageous living and means adequate to support a wife and +family; and would it not be greater cruelty to bid Emmeline live on in +lingering and sickening hope, than at once to appeal to her reason, and +entreat her, by the affection she bore her parents, to achieve this +painful conquest of herself, as their consent could not be given. They +felt sad, indeed, thus to add to the suffering of their afflicted child, +yet it was the better way, for had they promised to consent that when he +could support her she should be his own, it might indeed bring relief +for the moment, but it would be but the commencement of a life of +misery; her youth would fade away in that sickening anguish of hope +deferred, more bitter because more lingering than the absolute +infliction of brief though certain suffering. The hearts of both parents +grieved as they thought on all she had endured, and for a brief period +must still endure, but their path of duty once made clear, they swerved +not from it, however it might pain themselves. + +Mrs. Hamilton was right. Emmeline's solitary moments were not spent in +vain repinings; she struggled to compose her thoughts, to cast the +burden of her sorrows upon Him, who in love and mercy had ordained them; +and she did so with that pure, that simple, beautiful faith so +peculiarly her own, and a calm at length stole over her wearied spirit +and exhausted frame, soothing her, even to sleep, with the words of +prayer yet lingering on her lips. She awoke, after above an hour's +slumber, composed in mind, but still feverish in body. Prayer had +brought its blessed influence, but that calm was more the quiescence +proceeding from over-excitement than natural feeling; she felt it so, +and dreaded the return of mental agony, as bodily sufferers await the +periodical paroxysms of pain. She resolved not to give way to the +exhaustion she still felt. She rejoined the family at tea, pale indeed, +but perfectly composed, and even faintly smiling on her father, who, +hastily rising as she languidly and unexpectedly entered the room, +carried her tenderly in his arms to a couch, compelled her to lie down, +and bending over her with that soothing fondness which she so much +loved, retained his seat by her side all the evening, though +participating and frequently inducing her to join in the conversation on +various topics, which Mrs. Hamilton and Ellen seemed determined to +maintain. Once during that evening Emmeline had looked up beseechingly +in her father's face, and that touching, silent eloquence told all she +would have said, far more expressively than words. + +"Justice shall be done, my Emmeline," he replied, gently drawing her to +him, and speaking in a tone that was heard by her alone. "I have been +harsh, prejudiced, as cruelly unjust as blindly imposed on by a +comparative stranger; but I promise you, all shall be impartially +considered. I have done this unfortunate young man much wrong, for I +should have recollected his father has many enemies, and this may be one +of them, seeking from revenge to injure him. I am grateful to Arthur +Myrvin for his forbearance towards myself, for his truly noble conduct +towards you--right principles alone could have dictated both. Mrs. +Langford has confirmed all you said, and informed me of many little +circumstances which if, on a strict examination, I find are founded on +truth, Jefferies' character and base designs will not be difficult to +fathom. Myrvin's character shall be cleared from suspicion, if it be in +my power, my dear girl; rest as confident on my promise to that effect, +as I do on yours, that, this accomplished, _you will ask no more_." + +Emmeline's head rested on his shoulder; he had marked the relief, the +gratitude her sweet face expressed during his first words, but as he +ceased, her eyes were hid upon his bosom, and he could read no more. It +was well for the steadiness of his determination that it was so, for the +wretchedness imprinted on every feature, every line of her countenance, +at his concluding sentence, would have wrung his soul. + +Though persuaded by her parents to retire early, Emmeline did not do so +till the usual hour of separation after prayers. To Ellen's +silently-observing eye she appeared to shrink from being alone, and this +thought haunted her so incessantly, that, instead of composing herself +to rest, she softly traversed the short distance which separated their +apartments, and entered her cousin's room. + +Emmeline was alone, undressed, a large wrapping robe flung carelessly +over her night attire, but instead of reading, which at that hour, and +in that guise, she generally did, that the word of God might be the last +book on which she looked ere she sought her rest, she was leaning +abstractedly over the fire, seated on a low stool, her hands pressed on +her temples, while the flickering flame cast a red and unnatural glare +on those pale cheeks. Ellen advanced, but her cousin moved not at her +entrance, nor even when she knelt by her side, and twined her arms +around her. + +"Will you not go to bed, dearest Emmeline? it is so late, and you have +been so fearfully agitated to-day. Look up and speak to me, my own dear +cousin, or I shall fancy you are hurt with me for permitting so many +hours to pass without coming near you, when I knew you were in +suffering. Oh, you know not how I longed to come, but my aunt said you +had entreated to be left alone. I stood for some minutes by your door, +but all was so still, I thought I should disturb you did I enter. You do +not accuse me of unkindness, Emmeline?" + +Housed by her cousin's affectionate words and imploring voice, Emmeline +resisted not her embrace, but clung to her in silence. + +"You are ill, you are very ill, dearest, dearest Emmeline; do not sit up +thus; for my sake, for your mother's sake, try if sleep will not ease +this aching head," exclaimed Ellen, much alarmed at the burning heat and +quick throbbing of Emmeline's forehead, as it rested on her shoulder. + +"I cannot sleep, Ellen, it is useless to attempt it; I feel as if my +eyes would never close again; as if years had passed over my head since +last night. I thought I could not be more miserable than I was +when--when we parted, and as I have been since; but that was +nothing--nothing to this. I thought I had not indulged in hope, for I +knew that it was vain, but now, now I feel I must have done so, and it +is its utter, utter annihilation that bows me to the earth. Oh, why am I +so changed, I who was once so glad, so free, so full of hope and +happiness, looking forward to days as bright as those that fled; and now +what am I, and what is life? a thing from which all happiness has flown, +but clothed in darker shadows, from its contrast with the past." + +"Oh, do not say so, dearest," replied Ellen, affected almost to tears by +the despairing tone in which these words were said. "The blessing, the +comfort of your parents, your brothers, of all who know you as you are, +do not say your life will be without joy; its most cherished flower, its +most precious gem may have passed away, but others will spring up in +time, to fill that yearning void. You, whose presence ever brings with +it such enjoyment to others, oh, you too will be blessed. You cannot +long continue miserable, when you feel the power you have of making so +many of your fellow-creatures happy. You are ill, exhausted now, and +therefore all around you looks so full of gloom and pain, yet when this +shall have passed, you will not reject the comfort that remains. Have +you not an approving conscience to support you, the consciousness that +you have proved your love and gratitude to the parents you so fondly +love? and think you He, who looks with an eye of favour on the faintest +effort of His creatures, made for His sake, and in His spirit, will +permit this strength to pass unaided? No, dearest, He will assist and +strengthen you; He can take even from this bitter trial its sting." + +"I know it, I feel it," murmured Emmeline, still clinging to her cousin, +as if she found comfort in her presence and her words. "I know well that +this trial in itself is as nothing compared with those endured at this +very hour by thousands of my fellow-creatures, and knowing this makes me +the more wretched, for if I am thus repining and miserable, how dare I +hope my prayers will be heard?" + +"Yet doubt it not, my own Emmeline; our Father in heaven judgeth not as +man judgeth. Man might condemn this appearance of weakness in you now, +but God will not, for he knows the individual strength of His creatures, +and in love and mercy chasteneth accordingly. He knoweth this is a +severe trial for one, young and gentle as you are; and with your heart +lifted up to Him, as I know it is, doubt not that your prayers will be +heard and this pang softened in His own time. I fear my words sound +cold; but oh, would that I could comfort you, dearest," and tears stood +trembling in Ellen's eyes. + +"And you do comfort me, Ellen; oh, I do not feel so very wretched with +you near me as I do alone, though even you cannot guess this extent of +suffering; you know not what it is to love, and yet to feel there is no +hope; no--none," she repeated, in a low murmuring tone, as if to +convince herself that there was indeed none, as she had said; and it was +not strange that thus engrossed, she marked not that a slight shudder +passed through her cousin's frame at her last words; that Ellen's cheek +suddenly vied in its deadly paleness with her own; that the tears dried +up, as if frozen in those large, dark eyes, which were fixed upon her +with an expression she would, had she seen it, have found difficult to +understand; that the pale lip quivered for a few minutes, so as entirely +to prevent her speaking as she had intended. + +"Go to bed, dearest Emmeline, indeed you must not sit up longer," Ellen +said at length, as she folded her arms fondly round her and kissed her +cheek. "When I was ill, you ever wished to dictate to me," she +continued, playfully, "and I was always good and obedient; will you not +act up to your own principle and obey me now? think of your mother, +dearest, how anxious she will be if you are ill. I will not leave you +till you are asleep." + +"No, no, dear Ellen, I will not so abuse your kindness; I will go to +bed. I have been wrong to sit up thus, when I promised mamma to do all I +could to--but, indeed, you must not stay with me, Ellen. I feel so +exhausted, I may perhaps sleep sooner than I expect; but even if I do +not, you must not sit up." + +"Never mind, my love, let me see you obedient, and I will perhaps learn +the same lesson," replied Ellen, playfully, though her cheek retained +its suddenly-acquired paleness. Emmeline no longer resisted, and Ellen +quickly had the relief of seeing her in bed, and her eyes closed, as if +in the hope of obtaining sleep; but after a few minutes they again +opened, and seeing Ellen watching her, she said-- + +"You had better leave me, Ellen, I shall not be able to sleep if I think +you are watching me, and losing your own night's rest. I am not ill, my +dear cousin, I am only miserable, and that will pass away perhaps for a +short time again, as it did this afternoon." + +Ellen again kissed her and closed the curtains, obeying her so far as to +retire to her room, but not to bed; she was much too uneasy to do so. +Emmeline had been in very delicate health for some months, and it +appeared to her observant eyes and mind, that now the cause for her +exertion was removed, by the discovery of her long-treasured secret, +that health had really given way, and she was actually ill in body as +well as mind. The burning heat of her forehead and hand, the quick +pulsation of her temples, had alarmed her as predicting fever; and +Ellen, with that quiet resolution and prompt decision, which now +appeared to form such prominent traits in her character, determined on +returning to her cousin's room as soon as she thought she had fallen +asleep, and remain there during the night; that if she were restless, +uneasy, or wakeful, she might, by her presence, be some comfort, and if +these feverish symptoms continued, be in readiness to send for Mr. +Maitland at the first dawn of morning, without alarming her aunt. + +"You are not formed for sorrow, my poor Emmeline," she said internally, +as she prepared herself for her night's visit by assuming warmer +clothing. "Oh, that your grief may speedily pass away; I cannot bear to +see one so formed for joy as you are grieved. My own sorrows I can bear +without shrinking, without disclosing by one sign what I am internally +suffering. I have been nerved from my earliest years to trial, and it +would be strange indeed did I not seem as you believe me. _I_ know not +what it is to love. _I_ know not the pang of that utter hopelessness +which bows my poor cousin to the earth. Ah, Emmeline, you know not such +_hopelessness_ as mine, gloomy as are your prospects; you can claim the +sympathy, the affection, the consolation, of all those who are dear to +you; there is no need to hide your love, ill-fated as it is, for it is +_returned_--you are beloved; and I, my heart must bleed in secret, for +no such mitigation attends its loss of peace. I dare not seek for +sympathy, or say I love; but why--why am I encouraging these thoughts?" +and she started as if some one could have heard her scarcely-audible +soliloquy. "It is woman's lot to suffer--man's is to _act_, woman's to +_bear_; and such must be mine, and in silence, for even the sympathy of +my dearest relative I dare not ask. Oh, wherefore do I feel it shame to +love one so good, so superior, so holy? because, because he does not +love me, save with a brother's love; and I know he loves another." + +The slight frame of the orphan shook beneath that inward struggle; there +were times, in her hours of solitude, when such thoughts would come, +spite of every effort to expel them, and there was only one way to +obtain that self-control she so much needed, so continually exercised, +till it became a second nature. She became aware her feelings had +obtained undue ascendency, and, sinking on her knees, remained absorbed +in prayer, fervent and heartfelt, truly the outpourings of a contrite +and trusting spirit, confident in the power and mercy to which she +appealed. That anguish passed ere she arose, and every sign of agitation +had left her countenance and voice as she put her resolution into +action, and returned to her cousin. + +Emmeline had awoke from her brief and troubled slumbers, more restless +and feverish than when she had first sought her couch; and, suffering as +she was from that nervous and anxious state peculiar to approaching +fever, the poor girl no longer resisted Ellen's evident determination, +and clasping her hand between her own, now burning with fever, +continually thanked her, in broken and feeble accents, for remaining +with her, assuring her she did not feel so ill or as unhappy as she +should have done had she been alone. Anxious as she was, Ellen would not +arouse her aunt, but at the first break of day she softly entered the +housekeeper's room, and succeeded in arousing without alarming her, +informed her of Emmeline's restless state, and implored her to send at +once for Mr. Maitland. Hastily rising, Ellis accompanied Ellen to her +cousin's room, and instantly decided on complying with her request. The +household were already on the alert, and a servant was speedily +despatched; but, relieved as she was on this point, Ellen would not +comply with the good housekeeper's request to repose herself for a few +hours; she had resolved not to relinquish her post by the bedside of the +young sufferer to any save her aunt herself. Ellis desisted, for a word +from her favourite, almost her darling, as Ellen from many circumstances +had become, was to her always sufficient. + +Mrs. Hamilton and Mr. Maitland met at Emmeline's door, to the +astonishment and at first alarm of the former--an alarm which subsided +into comparative relief, as she listened to Ellen's hurried tale, +although anxiety to a very high degree remained, and with some reason, +for Ellen's fears were not unfounded. Emmeline's fever rapidly and +painfully increased, and for a week her parents hung over her couch +almost despairing of her recovery; their fond hearts almost breaking, as +they heard her sweet voice, in the wild accent of delirious intervals, +calling aloud on Arthur, and beseeching their consent and blessing to +restore her to health; and scarcely less painful was it in her lucid +hours to see her clasp her mother's hands repeatedly, and murmur, in a +voice almost inarticulate from weakness-- + +"Do not be anxious or grieved for me, my own dear mamma, I shall soon +get well, and be your happy Emmeline again. I cannot be miserable, when +I have you and papa and Ellen to love me so tenderly," and then, she +would cling to her mother's neck, and kiss her till she would sink to +sleep upon her bosom, as in infancy and childhood she had so often done; +and dearer than ever did that gentle girl become, in these hours of +suffering, to all who had loved her so fondly before; they had deemed it +almost impossible that affection could in any way be increased, and yet +it was so. Strange must be that heart which can behold a being such as +Emmeline cling to it, as if its protection and its love were now all +that bound her to earth, and still remain unmoved and cold. Affection is +ever strengthened by dependence--dependence at least like this; and +there was something peculiarly touching in Emmeline's present state of +mental weakness. Her parents felt, as they gazed on her, that they had +occasioned the anguish which had prostrated her on a bed of sickness; +and yet their child clung to them as if, in the intensity of her +affection for them, and theirs for her, she would strive to forget her +unhappy love, and be once more happy. + +Time rolled heavily by, and some few weeks passed, ere Emmeline was +sufficiently convalescent to leave her room, and then her pallid +features and attenuated form were such constant and evident proofs of +that mental as well as bodily fever, that Mrs. Hamilton could not look +on her without pain. She was still inwardly restless and uneasy, though +evidently struggling for cheerfulness, and Mr. Maitland, to whom some +necessary particulars of her tale had been told, gave as his opinion, +that some secret anxiety still rested on her mind, which would be much +better removed; the real cause of that solicitude her parents very +easily penetrated. Mr. Hamilton, fearing the effects of excitement in +her still very delicate state, had refrained from telling her all he had +accomplished in young Myrvin's favour during her sickness, but on +hearing Mr. Maitland's report, her parents both felt assured it was for +that information she pined, and therefore determined on instantly giving +her relief. + +It was with the utmost tenderness and caution Mr. Hamilton alluded to +the subject, and seating himself by her couch, playfully asked her if +she would promise him to get well the sooner, if he gratified her by the +pleasing intelligence that Arthur Myrvin's character was cleared, that +his enemy had been discovered, his designs exposed, and himself obliged +to leave the village, and the whole population were now as violently +prejudiced in Arthur's favour, as they had formerly been against him; +provoked also with themselves for their blind folly in receiving and +encouraging the idle reports propagated against him, not one of which +they now perceived were sufficiently well founded to stand before an +impartial statement and accurate examination. + +Had her parents doubted what had weighed on Emmeline's mind, the sudden +light beaming in those saddened eyes, the flush kindling on those pale +cheeks, the rapid movement with which she caught her father's hand, and +looked in his face, as if fearful he would deceive her, all these minute +but striking circumstances must have betrayed the truth. In a voice +almost inarticulate from powerful emotion, she implored him to tell her +every particular, and tenderly he complied. + +He had followed, he said, her advice, and confronted Nurse Langford with +the unprincipled man who had dared accuse a fellow-creature of a crime +in reality committed by himself, and reckless as he was, he had shrunk +in guilt and shame before her accusation, which was indeed the +accusation of the dying, and avowing himself the real perpetrator of the +sin, offered her a large bribe for secrecy, which, as might be expected, +the widow indignantly refused. It was easy to perceive, his arts had +worked on the old woman, Mary's grandmother, to believe him her friend +and Arthur her foe; the poor old creature's failing intellect assisted +his plans, while the reports he had insidiously circulated against the +unfortunate young man also confirmed his tale. Little aware that the +Widow Langford had been almost a mother to the poor girl his villainy +had ruined, and that she was likely to have heard the truth, being quite +unconscious she had attended her dying moments, he published this +falsehood, without any feeling of remorse or shame, hoping by so doing, +effectually to serve his employers, effect the disgrace of Myrvin, and +completely screen himself. Mrs. Langford now found it was time indeed +for her to come forward and perform her promise to Emmeline by proving +young Myrvin's innocence, but hesitated how to commence. She was +therefore both relieved and pleased at the entrance and inquiries of Mr. +Hamilton, and promised to obey his directions faithfully, only imploring +him to clear Mr. Myrvin's character, and expel Farmer Jefferies from the +village, which, from the time of his settling there, she said, had been +one scene of anarchy and confusion; frankly avowing, in answer to a +question of Mr. Hamilton, that it was for Miss Emmeline's sake she was +so anxious; she was sure she was interested in Mr. Myrvin's fate, and +therefore she had mentioned the unhappy fate of poor Mary Brookes, to +prove to her the young man had attended to his duty. Many other +startling proofs of Jefferies' evil conduct had the good widow, by +silent but watchful attention, been enabled to discover, as also +convincing evidence that the young curate had not been so neglectful or +faulty as he had been reported. All her valuable information she now +imparted to her master, to be used by him in any way his discretion +might point out, promising to be ever ready at the slightest notice to +prove all she had alleged. Mr. Hamilton carefully examined every +circumstance, reflected for a brief period on his mode of action, and +finally, assembling all the principal inhabitants around him, in the +public school-room of the village, laid before them all the important +facts he had collected, and besought their impartial judgment. He owned, +he said, that he too had been prejudiced against Mr. Myrvin, whose +life, while among them, many circumstances had combined to render +unhappy, but that now, he heartily repented his injustice, for he felt +convinced the greater part of what had been alleged against him was +false. Those evil reports he proved had all originated from the +machinations of Jefferies, and he implored them to consider whether they +could still regard the words of one, against whom so much evil had now +been proved, as they had formerly done, or could they really prove that +their young curate had in truth been guilty of the misdemeanours with +which he had been charged. + +Mr. Howard, who was present, seconded his words, acknowledging that he +too had been prejudiced, and adding, that he could not feel satisfied +till he had avowed this truth, and asked his young friend's pardon for +the injury he had done him. + +Nothing is more sudden and complete than changes in popular feeling. The +shameful act of Jefferies, in casting on the innocent the stigma of +shame and crime which was his own, was quite enough for the honest and +simple villagers. At once they condemned themselves (which perhaps they +might not have been quite so ready to do, had not Mr. Hamilton and their +rector shown them the example), and not only defended and completely +exculpated Myrvin, but in an incredibly short space of time, so many +anecdotes of the young man's performance of his duty were collected, +that had not Mr. Hamilton been aware of the violent nature of popular +feeling, those defects which still remained, though excused by the +recollection of the mental tortures Myrvin had been enduring, would +undoubtedly have departed, as entirely as every darker shade on his +character had done. + +Convinced that Arthur's attention to parochial affairs, as well as his +conduct in other matters, had been very opposite to that which had been +reported, neither Mr. Howard nor Mr. Hamilton could feel satisfied till +they had written to him, frankly avowing their injustice, and asking his +pardon and forgetfulness of the past, and assuring him that, if his +conduct continued equally worthy of approbation as it was at the present +time, he should ever find in them sincere and active friends. + +Mr. Hamilton felt he had much, very much to say to the young man; but in +what manner to word it he was somewhat perplexed. He could not speak of +his daughter, and yet Myrvin's conduct towards her had created a feeling +of gratitude and admiration which he could not suppress. Many fathers +would have felt indignation only at the young man's presumption, but Mr. +Hamilton was neither so unreasonable nor so completely devoid of +sympathy. It was he himself, he thought, who had acted imprudently in +allowing him to associate so intimately with his daughters, not the +fault of the sufferer. Myrvin had done but his duty indeed, but Mr. +Hamilton knew well there were very few young men who would have acted as +he had done, when conscious that his affection was returned with all the +enthusiasm and devotedness of a disposition such as Emmeline's. How few +but would have played with those feelings, tortured her by persuasions +to forget duty for the sake of love; but Arthur had not done this, and +the father's heart swelled towards him in gratitude and esteem; even +while he knew the hopelessness of his love, he felt for the anguish +which his sympathy told him Arthur must endure. After more deliberation +and thought than he could have believed necessary for such a simple +thing as to write a letter, Mr. Hamilton did achieve his object, +retaining a copy of his epistle, to prove to his child he had been +earnest in his assurances that Arthur's character should be cleared. +Painfully agitated by the tale she had heard, and this unexpected +confidence of her father, Emmeline glanced her eye over the paper, and +read as follows:-- + + +"_To the Rev. Arthur Myrvin, Hanover_. + +"MY DEAR MYRVIN.--You will be no doubt astonished at receiving this +letter, brief as I intend it to be, from one with whom you parted in no +very friendly terms, and who has, I grieve to own, given you but little +reason to believe me your friend. When a man has been unjust and +prejudiced, it becomes his peremptory duty, however pride may rebel, to +do all in his power to atone for it by an honourable reparation, both in +word and deed, towards him he may have injured. Such, my young friend, +is at present our relative position, and I am at a loss to know how best +to express my sense of your honourable conduct and my own injustice, +which occasioned a degree of harshness in my manner towards you when we +separated, which, believe me, I now recall both with regret and pain. +Circumstances have transpired in the parish once under your care, which +have convinced not only me, but all those still more violently +prejudiced against you, that your fair fame was tarnished by the secret +machinations and insidious representations of an enemy, and not by the +faulty nature of your conduct; and knowing this, we most earnestly +appeal to the nobleness of your nature for forgetfulness of the past, +and beg you will endeavour henceforward to regard those as your sincere +friends whom you have unhappily had too much reason to believe +otherwise. + +"For myself, my dear Myrvin, I do not doubt that you will do this, for +candidly I own, that only now I have learned the true nature of your +character. When I first knew you, I was interested in your welfare, as +the chosen friend of my son, and also for your father's sake, now it is +for your own. The different positions we occupy in life, the wide +distance which circumstances place between us, will, I feel sure, +prevent all misconception on your part as to my meaning, and prevent +your drawing from my friendly words conclusions opposite to what I +intend, therefore I do not hesitate to avow that I not only esteem, but +from my heart I thank you, Myrvin, for your indulgence of those +honourable feelings, that perfect integrity which bade you resign your +curacy and depart from Oakwood. I did you wrong, great wrong; words can +but faintly compensate injury, though words have been the weapon by +which that injury has been inflicted, yet I feel confident you will not +retain displeasure, natural as it was; you will consent once more to +look on and appeal, if you should ever require it, to the father of +Herbert as your willing friend. Believe me, that if it be in my power to +assist you, you will never appeal in vain. Lord Malvern, I rejoice to +find, is your staunch friend, and nothing shall be wanting on my part to +render that friendship as permanent as advantageous. Mrs. Hamilton begs +me to inform you, that in this communication of my feelings, I have +transcribed her own. Injustice indeed she never did you; but +admiration, esteem, and gratitude are inmates of her bosom as sincerely +as they are of my own. Continue, my young friend, this unwavering regard +to the high principles of your nature, this steady adherence to duty, +spite of prejudice and wrong, if indeed they should ever again assail +you, and the respecs of your fellow-creatures will be yours as warmly, +as unfeignedly, as is that of + +"Your sincere friend, + +"ARTHUR HAMILTON." + +No word, no sound broke from the parched lips of Emmeline as she ceased +to read. She returned the paper to her father in that same silence, and +turning from his glance, buried her face in her hands. Mr. Hamilton +guessed at once all that was passing in that young and tortured heart; +he drew her to him, and whispered fondly-- + +"Speak to me, my Emmeline. You do not think he can mistake my feelings. +He will not doubt all prejudice is removed." + +"Oh, no, no," she replied, after a severe struggle for composure; "you +have said enough, dear, dear papa. I could not have expected more." + +For a moment she clung to his neck, and covered his cheek with kisses, +then gently withdrawing herself from his arms, quietly but hastily left +the room. For about an hour she might have remained absent, and Mrs. +Hamilton would not disturb her; and when she returned there was no trace +of agitation, pale she was indeed, and her eye had lost its brightness, +but that was too customary now to be deemed the effect of excited +emotion, and no further notice was taken, save that perhaps the manner +of her parents and Ellen towards her that night was even fonder than +usual. + +Once again Mr. Hamilton mentioned Arthur Myrvin; to speak of the +pleasing and satisfactory letters both he and Mr. Howard had received +from him. He addressed himself to Ellen, telling her, Arthur had written +in a manner tending to satisfy even her friendly feelings towards him. +Emmeline joined not in the conversation. Her father did not offer to +show her the letter, and she stilled the yearnings of her young and +loving heart. From that hour the name of Arthur Myrvin was never heard +in the halls of Oakwood. There was no appearance of effort in the +avoidance, but still it was not spoken; not even by Percy and Herbert, +nor by Caroline or her husband. Even the letters of Lady Florence and +Lady Emily Lyle ceased to make him their principal object. Emmeline knew +the volatile nature of the latter, and therefore was not surprised that +she had grown tired of the theme; that Lady Florence should so +completely cease all mention of the tutor of her favourite brother was +rather more strange, but she did so perhaps in her letters to Ellen, and +of that Emmeline had not courage to ask. St. Eval would speak of Lord +Louis, expressing hopes that he was becoming more steady; but it so +chanced that, although at such times Emmeline, spite of herself, ever +longed for somewhat more, the magic name that would have bidden every +pulse throb never reached her ears, and her excited spirit would sink +back in despondency and gloom, increased from the momentary excitement +which expectation had vainly called forth. + +Astonished indeed had Arthur Myrvin been at the receipt of his letters +from Oakwood and the Rectory. Mr. Howard's was productive of +gratification alone; that of Mr. Hamilton afforded even greater +pleasure, combined with a more than equal measure of pain. He had hoped +Emmeline would have answered his letter. She did not, but he knew her +influence had been exercised in his favour; and agony as it was, he +acknowledged she had acted wisely. There was too much devotedness in +Emmeline's character for Myrvin to encourage one lingering doubt that +his affections were returned; and as he thought on her steady discharge +of filial duty, as he recalled their parting interview, and felt she had +not wavered from the path she had pointed out, his own energies, +notwithstanding that still lingering, still acute suffering, were roused +within him, and he resolved he would obey her. She should see her appeal +had not been made in vain; she should never blush for the man she had +honoured with her love; he would endeavour to deserve her esteem, though +they might never meet again. He felt he had been too much the victim of +an ill-fated passion; he had by neglect in trifles encouraged the +prejudice against him, lost himself active and willing friends; this +should no longer be, and Myrvin devoted himself so perseveringly, so +assiduously to his pupil, allowing himself scarcely any time for +solitary thought, that not the keenest observer would have suspected +there was that upon the young man's heart which was poisoning the +buoyancy of youth, robbing life of its joy, and rendering him old before +his time. + +That Mr. Hamilton, the father of his Emmeline, that his feelings should +have thus changed towards him, that he should admire and esteem instead +of condemn, was a matter of truly heartfelt pleasure. Hope would have +shook aloft her elastic wings, and carried him beyond himself, had not +that letter in the same hour dashed to the earth his soaring fancy, and +placed the seal upon his doom. He could not be mistaken; Mr. Hamilton +knew all that had passed between him and Emmeline, and while he +expressed his gratitude for the integrity and forbearance he (Myrvin) +had displayed, he as clearly said their love was hopeless, their union +never could take place. + +Myrvin had known this before, then why did his heart sink in even +deeper, darker despondency as he read? why were his efforts at +cheerfulness so painful, so unavailing? He knew not and yet struggled +on, but weeks, ay, months rolled by, and yet that pang remained +unconquered still. + +And did Emmeline become again in looks and glee as we have known her? +Was she even to her mother's eye again a child? Strangers, even some of +her father's friends, might still have deemed her so; but alas! a +mother's love strove vainly thus to be deceived. Health returned, and +with it appeared to come her wonted enthusiasm, her animated spirits. +Not once did she give way to depression; hers was not that pining +submission which is more pain to behold than decided opposition, that +resignation which has its foundation in pride, not in humility, as its +possessors suppose. Emmeline's submission was none of these. Her duties +as daughter and sister and friend, as well as those to the neighbouring +poor, were, if possible, more actively and perseveringly performed than +they had even been before. Not one of her former favourite employments +was thrown aside. The complete unselfishness of her nature was more +clearly visible than ever, and was it strange that she became dearer +than ever to those with whom she lived? Her parents felt she was twining +herself more and more around their hearts, and beheld, with +inexpressible anguish, that though her young mind was so strong, her +fragile frame was too weak to support the constant struggle. She never +complained; there was no outward failing of health, but there was a +nameless something hovering round her, which even her doting parents +could not define, but which they felt too forcibly to shake off; and +notwithstanding every effort to expel the idea, that nameless something +brought with it alarm--alarm defined indeed too clearly; but of which +even to each other they could not speak. + +Time passed, and Herbert Hamilton, as the period of his ordination was +rapidly approaching, lost many of those painfully foreboding feelings +which for the last three years had so constantly and painfully assailed +him. He felt stronger in health than he had ever remembered to have +done, and the spirit of cheerfulness, and hope, and joy breathing in the +letters of his Mary affected him with the same unalloyed feelings of +anticipated happiness; sensations of holiness, of chastened thanksgiving +pervaded his every thought, the inward struggle appeared passed. There +was a calm upon his young spirit, so soothing and so blessed, that the +future rose before him unsullied by a cloud; anticipation was so bright, +it seemed a foretaste of that glorious heaven, the goal to which he and +his Mary looked--the home they sought together. + +Percy had also obtained honourable distinction at Oxford; his active +spirit would not have permitted him to remain quiet in college so long, +had he not determined to see his brother ordained ere he commenced the +grand tour, to which he looked with much zest, as the completion to his +education, and render him, if he turned it to advantage, in all respects +fitted to serve his country nobly in her senate, the point to which he +had looked, from the first hour he was capable of thought, with an +ardour which increased as that long-desired time approached. + +The disgraceful expulsion of Cecil Grahame from Cambridge opened afresh +that wound in his father's heart which Annie had first inflicted, but +which the conduct of Lilla had succeeded in soothing sufficiently to bid +her hope it would in time be healed. The ill-directed young man had +squandered away the whole of his mother's fortune, and behaved in a +manner that rendered expulsion inevitable. He chose to join the army, +and, with a painfully foreboding heart, his father procured him a +commission in a regiment bound for Ireland, hoping he would be exposed +to fewer temptations there than did he remain in England. + +Lady Helen, as her health continued to decline, felt conscience becoming +more and more upbraiding, its voice would not be stilled. She had known +her duty as a mother; she had seen it beautifully portrayed before her +in Mrs. Hamilton, but she had neglected its performance, and her +chastisement she felt had come. Annie's conduct she had borne, she had +forgiven her, scarcely appearing conscious of the danger her daughter +had escaped; but Cecil was her darling, and his disgrace came upon her +as a thunderbolt, drawing the veil from her eyes, with startling and +bewildering light. She had concealed his childish faults, she had petted +him in every whim, encouraged him in every folly in his youth; to hide +his faults from a severe but not too harsh a judge, she had lowered +herself in the eyes of her husband, and achieved no good. Cecil was +expelled, disgracefully expelled, and the wretched mother, as she +contrasted his college life with that of the young Hamiltons, felt she +had been the cause; she had led him on by the flowery paths of +indulgence to shame and ruin. He came not near her; he joined his +regiment, and left England, without bidding her farewell, and she felt +she should never see him more. From that hour she sunk; disease +increased, and though she still lingered, and months passed, and there +was no change for the worse, yet still both Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton felt +that death was written on her brow, that, however he might loiter on his +way, his destined victim would never again feel the blessedness of +health; and all their efforts were now directed in soothing the +affliction of Grahame, and lead him to console by tenderness the +remaining period of his unhappy wife's existence. They imparted not to +him their fears, but they rested not till their desire was obtained, and +Lady Helen could feel she was not only forgiven but still beloved, and +would be sincerely mourned, both by her husband and Lilla, in whom she +had allowed herself at one time to be so deceived. + +Having now brought the affairs of Oakwood, and all intimately connected +with it, to a point, from which no subject of interest took place for +above a year, at that period we resume our narrative. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +It was a fine summer morning. The windows of a pretty little +sitting-room were thrown wide open, and the light breeze, loaded with +the perfume of a thousand flowers, played refreshingly on the pale cheek +of our young friend Emmeline, who, reclining on a sofa, looked forth on +beautiful nature with mingled sadness and delight. More than a year had +elapsed since we last beheld her, and she was changed, painfully +changed. She still retained her childish expression of countenance, +which ever made her appear younger than in reality she was, but its +ever-varying light, its beautiful glow were gone; yet she complained +not. The smile ever rested on her lips in the presence of her parents; +her voice was ever joyous, and no sigh, no repining word, betrayed the +breaking heart within. She recognised with a full and grateful heart the +blessings still surrounding her, and struggled long and painfully to be +content; but that fond yearning would not be stilled, that deep love no +effort could dispel. Still there were times when those who had never +known her in former years would have pronounced her well, quite well in +health; and Emmeline would smile when such remarks reached her, and +wonder if her parents were so deceived. Sometimes she thought they were, +for the name of Arthur Myrvin was no longer suppressed before her. She +heard of him, of his devotion to his pupil, of the undeviating integrity +and steadiness which characterised him, and promised fair to lead Lord +Louis in the same bright paths; she had heard of Arthur's devoted care +of his pupil during a long and dangerous illness, that he, under Divine +goodness, had been the instrument of saving the youth's life, and +restoring him to health; and if she permitted no sign to betray the +deep, absorbing interest she felt, if her parents imagined he was +forgotten, they knew not the throbbings of her heart. + +She was conversing this morning with Mrs. Cameron, who had learned to +love Emmeline dearly; from being very often at Oakwood, she and her +daughters were looked on by all Mr. Hamilton's children as part of the +family. + +"Is not Flora delighted at the idea of again seeing her brother?" +Emmeline asked, in answer to Mrs. Cameron's information that Walter was +returning with his regiment to England, and in a very few weeks would be +once more an inmate of her home. She answered cheerfully in the +affirmative, and Emmeline again inquired--"Was Captain Cameron at all +acquainted with Cecil Grahame? Did he know the cause of his having been +so disgracefully cashiered?" + +"Their regiments were quartered in such different parts of Ireland," +replied Mrs. Cameron, "that I believe they only met on one occasion, and +then Walter was glad to withdraw from the society of the dissolute young +men by whom Lieutenant Grahame was always surrounded. The cause of his +disgrace appears enveloped in mystery. Walter certainly alluded to it, +but so vaguely, that I did not like to ask further particulars. I +dreaded the effect it would have on Mr. Grahame, but little imagined +poor Lady Helen would have sunk beneath it." + +"I believe few know how she doted on that boy. It was misguided, but +still it was love that caused her to ruin him as she did in his +childhood. From the hour he was expelled from Cambridge, she never held +up her head; it was so cruelly ungrateful of him to set off for Ireland +without once seeking her; and this last stroke was too much for her to +bear. She still hoped, despite her better judgment, that he would in the +end distinguish himself, and she could not meet the disappointment." + +"Did she long survive the intelligence?" + +"Scarcely four-and-twenty hours. Mr. Grahame, feeling unable to command +himself, requested mamma and Lilla to impart to her the distressing +information, which they did most tenderly; but their caution was +entirely fruitless. Her constant inquiry was relative to his present +situation, and when she heard that he had not been seen since he was +cashiered, she sunk into a state of insensibility from which she never +recovered." + +"And Mr. Grahame?" + +"The shock rendered him almost distracted, for it was so sudden. Lady +Helen had become so altered lately, that she was devotedly loved both by +her husband and child; she had been so long ailing, that both Lilla and +her father fondly hoped and believed she would be spared to them still +some years longer, though she might never entirely recover her health. +Mr. Grahame's feelings are stronger than most people imagine, but his +misfortunes have bowed him down even more than I could have believed +possible." + +"They appeared so united and happy, that I do not wonder at it," +observed Mrs. Cameron. "I have seldom seen such devotedness as Lady +Helen received from both her husband and child; she always welcomed +their affectionate attentions as if she felt herself undeserving of +them. I was interested in her, she bore her sufferings so meekly." + +"And poor Lilla, how is she?" + +"She suffers much, but behaves admirably. Ellen says her self-control is +extraordinary, when we remember she was one of those beings who could +never conceal a single feeling. Her poor father seems to look to her now +as his sole blessing and support; she soothes his sorrow so quietly, so +tenderly, and ever tries to prevent his thoughts dwelling on the stigma +which Cecil's disgraceful conduct has cast upon his name. I trust time +will restore that calm tranquillity which he has enjoyed the last year, +but I must own I fear it. If this moody irritability continue, Lilla +will have much to bear, but she will do her duty, and that will bring +its own reward." + +A faint and scarcely audible sigh escaped from Emmeline as she spoke. +Mrs. Cameron, without noticing, asked when she expected her brothers to +return home from London. + +"Herbert takes orders next week, and they return together very soon +afterwards. He is, as you will believe, delighted at the near approach +of an event which has been his guiding star since his boyhood. I never +saw him looking so well or so happy, and Percy shares his joy, and we +shall have him near us, I am happy to say, for he will be the minister +of our own dear parish, which, by Mr. Howard's promotion, will be vacant +about the time he will require it. Mr. Howard says he thinks he should +have turned rebel, and refused the presentation of a valuable living, +with the title of archdeacon attached to his name, if any one but +Herbert were to succeed him here; but as he leaves his flock under his +care, he will not refuse the blessings offered him. He does not go very +far from us, if he had I should have been so very sorry, that even my +brother's succeeding him would not have satisfied me." + +There was a short pause, which was broken by Emmeline saying-- + +"Speaking about Mr. Howard and Herbert has made me forget Percy, dear +fellow. You know how he has raved about the grand tour he is going to +make, all the curiosities he is to see and bring home for me, even to +the dome of St. Peter's or the crater of Vesuvius, if I wish to see +them. He has taken my provoking remarks in good part, and sets off with +Caroline and her husband in July. My sister's health has been so +delicate the last three months, that she is advised to go to Geneva. Her +little boy grows such a darling, I shall miss him almost as much as his +mother." + +"Do you stay with them at Castle Terryn before they go?" + +"I do not think I shall, for at present I seem to dislike the idea of +leaving home. They come to us, I believe, a few weeks hence, in order +that we may be all together, which we could not very well be at St. +Eval's." + +"Has Lord St. Eval quite lost all anxiety on his brother's account? The +physicians said they could never have brought him through it, had it not +been for Mr. Myrvin's prudent and unceasing care." + +"Yes; every letter from Castle Malvern confirms the report, all anxiety +has been over some weeks now; indeed, before the Marquis reached +Hanover, where he received from his son's own lips an affecting and +animated account of his own imprudence, and Mr. Myrvin's heroic as well +as prudent conduct." + +"Was there an accident, then? I thought it was from the fever then +raging in the town." + +"Lord Louis had determined, against his tutor's consent, to join a party +of very gay young men, who wished to leave Hanover for a time and make +an excursion to the sea-shore. Mr. Myrvin, who did not quite approve of +some of the young gentlemen who were to join the party, remonstrated, +but in vain. Lord Louis was obstinate, and Mr. Myrvin, finding all his +efforts fruitless, accompanied his pupil, very much to the annoyance of +the whole party, who determined to render his sojourn with them so +distasteful, that he would quickly withdraw himself. Lord Louis, led on +by evil companions, turned against his tutor, who, however, adhered to +his duty unshrinkingly. A sailing match was resolved on, and, +notwithstanding the predictions of Mr. Myrvin, that a violent storm was +coming on and likely to burst over them before half their day's sport +was completed, they set off, taunting him with being afraid of the +water. They declared there was no room for him in their boats, and +pushed off without him. He followed them closely, and fortunate was it +that he did so. The storm burst with fury; the little vessels were most +of them shattered to pieces, and many of the misguided and unfortunate +young men fell victims to their wilful folly. Some, who were good +swimmers, escaped, but Lord Louis had struck his head against a +projecting rock, and, stunned and senseless, must have sunk, had not Mr. +Myrvin been mercifully permitted to bear him to the shore in safety. He +was extremely ill, but in a few weeks recovered sufficiently to return +to Hanover, unconscious, as was Mr. Myrvin, of the virulent fever then +raging there. Already in delicate health, he was almost instantly +attacked by the disease, in its most alarming and contagious form; the +servants fled in terror from the house, only one, his own valet, an +Englishman, remained near him. But Mr. Myrvin never left him; day and +night he attended, soothed, and relieved him. His efforts were, happily, +rewarded: Lord Louis lived and his preceptor escaped all infection. The +Marquis and his son have both written of Mr. Myrvin in the most +gratifying terms; and the Marchioness told mamma she could never in any +way repay the debt of gratitude she owed him." + +Mrs. Cameron was much interested in Emmeline's narrative, and asked if +they were not soon to return to England. + +"They may have already arrived," replied Emmeline. "Florence wrote me a +fortnight ago she was counting the days till their return. I sent a +letter, apparently from her, this morning to Moorlands for Ellen, as I +am not quite sure whether she will return home this evening or not, and +perhaps that contains the intelligence. His mother and sisters will be +overjoyed to have him once more with them, after the dangers he has +passed." + +"Has Mr. Myrvin any family?" + +"Only his father, a truly good, kind, old man, the rector of +Llangwillan." + +"And are you not desirous to see this admirable young man, this devoted +preceptor, my dear Emmeline?" said Mrs. Cameron, smiling. "Will he not +be an excellent hero of romance?" + +Emmeline answered, that as she already knew him, she could not throw +around him the halo of imagination; she was content to admire his +character as it was, without decking him in other charms. Their further +conversation turned upon other and indifferent subjects till Mrs. +Cameron departed. + +The death of Lady Helen and the misconduct of her son had cast such deep +gloom over Moorlands, that not only Emmeline, but both Mr. and Mrs. +Hamilton feared Grahame would never arouse himself from the moody apathy +into which he had fallen. He felt disgrace had fallen on his name, a +stain never to be erased; that all men would shun the father of one so +publicly dishonoured. The extent of Cecil's conduct was scarcely known +even to his father; but that he had used dishonest measures at the +gambling table to discharge enormous debts; that he had behaved +insolently to his superior officers; that it required great interest to +prevent a much harsher sentence than had been his punishment--these +facts were known all over England. The previously unsullied name of +Grahame was now synonymous with infamy; and it was even supposed Cecil +would never show his face in England again. Mr. Grahame shrunk in misery +from encountering the glance even of his friends; he felt as if he too +shared the disgrace of his son, he and his young, his beautiful Lilla; +she whom he had anticipated, with so much pleasure, introducing among +his friends, she was doomed to share with him the solitude, which he +declared was the only fit abode of ignominy; and even to her his manner +was wayward and uncertain--at times almost painfully fond, at others +equally stern and harsh. Lilla's character was changed; she struggled to +bear with him, unrepiningly, dutifully, conscious that the eye of her +God was upon her, however her father might appear insensible to her +affection. + +Even the society of Mr. Howard and Mr. Hamilton was irksome; their +efforts to rouse and cheer him were unavailing, and they could only hope +time would achieve that for which friendship was inadequate. + +Herbert's engagement with Mary Greville still remained untold, but he +looked forward to discovering his long-treasured secret, when he beheld +himself indeed an ordained minister of God; Percy perhaps was in his +confidence, but neither his sisters nor Ellen. Mary's letters were full +of comfort to him; such pure and beautiful affection breathed in every +line, that even the sadness which the few last unconsciously betrayed +did not alarm him. He accounted for it by her reluctance to quit her +beautiful retreat in the Swiss mountains for the confusion and heat of +Paris, where she now resided. A few months previously they had been +visited in their retreat by her father; scarcely more surprised were +they at his appearance than at his manner, which was kinder and more +indulgent than Mary had ever remembered it. For a short time Mrs. +Greville indulged hopes, that their long separation had effected a +change in her husband, and that they should at length be happy together. + +He did not know much about Alfred, he said, except that he was well, and +travelling with some friends in different parts of the Continent. + +Mrs. Greville tried to be satisfied, and her cheering hopes did not +desert her even when her husband expressed a wish that she would reside +with him at Paris. The wish rather confirmed them, as it evinced that he +was no longer indifferent to her own and his child's society. With +joyful alacrity she consented, but in vain endeavoured to banish from +Mary's mind the foreboding fears that appeared to have filled it, from +the hour it was settled they were to leave Monte Rosa. In vain her +mother affectionately represented how much nearer she would be to +Herbert; nothing could remove, though she strove to conquer, this +seemingly uncalled-for and indefinable despondency. + +"I confess my weakness," she wrote to her betrothed, "but I had so often +pictured remaining at Monte Rosa till you came for me, as you had +promised, so often pictured to myself the delight of showing to you my +favourite haunts, ere we left them together for still dearer England, +that I cannot bear to find these visions dispelled without pain. I know +you will tell me I ought to be thankful for this great and happy change +in my father, and bear every privation for the chance of binding him to +us for ever. Do not reprove me, dear Herbert, but there is that about my +father that bids me tremble still, and whispers the calm is not lasting; +in vain I strive against it, but a voice tells me, in thus leaving Monte +Rosa, peace lingers in its beautiful shades, and woe's dark shadow +stands threatening before me." + +Herbert longed to go to her, and thus disperse all these foreboding +fears, but that pleasure the near approach of his ordination prevented; +but fondly he looked forward with unalloyed hope in a few months to seek +his Mary, and at once banish all indefinable sorrow by making her his +own. Not a doubt entered his mind of Mr. Greville's consent, when he +should in person demand it, and he was eager to do so while this +strangely indulgent humour continued. + +The first few months of her residence in Paris were fraught with +happiness for Mrs. Greville. Her husband's manner did not change. They +mingled in society, and the admiration Mary's quiet beauty excited +afforded the greatest pleasure to her mother, and even appeared to +inspire her father with some pride. To the poor girl herself it was +irksome and painful; but she tried to convince herself these feelings +were wrong, and checked them even in her letters to Herbert. + +Ellen returned from Moorlands, where she had been staying with Lilla, +whose affection for her continued unabated; for she found in her society +and sympathy much comfort since her mother's death. There was little +change visible in Ellen. Her health was established, her pensive beauty +unimpaired. Still was she the meek, unassuming, gentle girl she had long +been; still to the eye of strangers somewhat cold and indifferent. Her +inward self was becoming every year more strengthened; she was resolved +to use every effort to _suffer_, without the slightest portion of +bitterness impregnating her sentiments towards her fellow-creatures, or +the world in general. Her lot she _knew_ was to _bear_; her duty she +_felt_ was to _conceal_. + +Ellen, on her return home, gave her cousin the letter which Emmeline had +mentioned as having forwarded to her that morning. It was fraught with +interest, and the anxious eye of Mrs. Hamilton moved not from her +daughter's countenance as she read. Still was it so calm that even she +was puzzled; and again the thought, "Is it for him" she is thus +drooping, fading like a flower before me? is it, indeed, the struggle +between love and duty which has made her thus? crossed her mind, as it +had often, very often done before, and brought with it renewed +perplexity. + +Lady Florence had written in the highest spirits, announcing the return +of her father, Lord Louis, and his tutor; that her brother was looking +quite well and strong, and was the same dear, merry, mischievous boy as +ever; delighted to be in England, abusing all the Germans, and +professing and displaying the most extreme fondness for Mr. Myrvin. + +"He speaks of Mr. Myrvin in terms that bring tears to my eyes, tears of +which, my dear Ellen, I am not at all ashamed. The only drawback to the +life of a soldier, which my brother has now positively resolved on, in +spite of all our persuasions, exists, he says, in the consequent +separation from Mr. Myrvin, and he almost wishes to go to Cambridge, to +chain him to his side; but for Mr. Myrvin's sake, I am glad this will +not be. He is looking ill, very ill, quite different to the Arthur +Myrvin we knew at Oakwood; a change has come over him which I cannot +describe, and even to myself can scarcely define. He is much more +polished in his manner, but it is tinged with such deep melancholy, or +intense thought, I really do not know which it is, that he appears many +years older than when he left England. My father has at length prevailed +on him to resign all idea of again seeking the arduous charge of tutor, +but, with that honest pride which I so much admire and esteem, he has +refused all papa's offers of advancement, only consenting to accept the +living on Eugene's estate, when Louis shall require his services no +longer. I trust the healthy air of Cornwall and the quiet of his parish +will restore him to health, for the care which preserved that of Louis +has, I fear, ruined his own. He goes to London to-morrow to see +Herbert; the society of your cousins cannot fail to do him good. Louis +joins the army in a few months, and then Mr. Myrvin will take possession +of his living; but you will in all probability see them before, as Lord +and Lady St. Eval have sent a pressing invitation for them to come down +to Castle Terryn, and as soon as Mr. Myrvin returns from London, Louis +intends doing so. I want to hear Herbert's opinion of his friend, as my +dismal fancies concerning him may, after all, be only a woman's fancy, +yet looking ill he decidedly is." + +So wrote Lady Florence, and very soon Herbert and Percy's letters home +confirmed all she had said. Either the air of Germany had not been +congenial, or some other cause had so changed his outward appearance and +tinged his manner, that Herbert could not look on him without pain; but +the restless irritation, the haughty indifference which had been his +before he left Oakwood, no longer existed. There was a quiet dignity +about him that prevented all intrusive sympathy, a mild, steady lustre +in his dark grey eye, which so clearly said conscience was at peace, +that Herbert instinctively felt the bonds of friendship stronger than +they had ever been before; he was no longer anxious, for he felt assured +the errors of Arthur's former life were conquered, and he wrote to his +father concerning his friend with all his native eloquence. + +Emmeline made no observation; her young soul was absorbed in an intense +feeling of thanksgiving, that her prayers had been heard. Strength had +been granted him, and he had done his duty; he was esteemed, beloved; +his character was pure and bright; and if the gulf between them +remained impassable, should she murmur, when _all_ for which she had +prayed had been vouchsafed her? But a sterner call of obedience appeared +about to hover over her, from which her young spirit shrunk back +appalled. + +Herbert's anxious wishes were accomplished; there was no longer any +barrier to his earnest prayers to become a servant of his God, and of +service to his fellow-creatures. The six years in which he had laboured +unceasingly, untiringly, to prepare himself for the life which from his +boyhood he had chosen, now appeared but as a passing dream, and as he +knelt before the venerable bishop, his feelings became almost +overpowering. Tears rose in his eyes, and he drooped his head upon his +hands to conceal them. He felt this was no common life on which he +entered, no mere profession, in which he would be at liberty to think +and act as he pleased. Herbert felt that he had vowed himself to do the +work of God; that in it was comprised the good of his fellow-creatures. +The stern conquest of his own rebellious will; that his _actions_, not +his language only, should uphold the glory of his Maker. + +The return of Percy and Herbert brought pleasure to Oakwood, and a week +or two afterwards Lord and Lady St. Eval, with their little boy, +arrived, imparting additional happiness. Emmeline was surprised at +seeing them, for she thought Lord Louis and his preceptor were expected +at Castle Terryn. Lord St. Eval often spoke of his brother, and alluded +to Myrvin, and even hinted his thanks to Emmeline for her exertions in +the latter's favour, when the Marquis was hesitating whether or not to +intrust him with the charge of his son; but on such matters he never +spoke openly, yet not so guardedly as to betray to Emmeline he was +acquainted with her secret. + +Mr. Hamilton had many private conversations both with the young Earl and +his son Herbert, but what the subject was which so engrossed him only +Mrs. Hamilton knew. + +The return of Edward, too, from a short cruise gave additional spirit to +Oakwood. The young sailor had rapidly run through the grades of +lieutenant, and now stood the first on the line; his character both as a +sailor and a man was confirmed. He was as deservedly respected by his +messmates as beloved by his family, and to Ellen he was indeed dear. The +most perfect confidence existed between this affectionate brother and +sister, except on one point, and on that even to Edward she could not +speak; but he had not one thought, one feeling which he concealed from +her, he sought no other friend. Scarcely could Mrs. Cameron and her son +Walter recognise in this amiable young man the headstrong, fiery, +overbearing lad they had known in India. + +The little party at Oakwood had all either walked or ridden out, and +Mrs. Hamilton alone remained at home. She stood by the side of Emmeline, +who was asleep, peacefully and sweetly; a smile bright and beautiful as +of other days, played round her lips. The mother reflected on the words +of Mr. Maitland, who had assured her, the remedy he proposed would be +successful. "Make her happy, remove this weighty load which weighs upon +her heart, and she will live to be the blessing she has ever been to all +who love her." + +Tears of mingled feeling rose to the eyes of Mrs. Hamilton as she +watched her child. Emmeline's lips moved. "Arthur, dear Arthur," she +murmured, a faint flush rising to her cheek, and the smile heightened in +its brilliancy; a few minutes, and her eyes unclosed; a shade of +disappointment passed over her features, a faint sigh struggled to +escape, but it was checked, for she met her mother's fond glance, and +smiled. + +"Why are you not gone out, dearest mother, this lovely evening? why stay +with such a dull companion as I am? Percy and Edward could offer so many +more attractions, and I am sure it is not with their good-will you are +here." + +"Would my Emmeline refuse me the sweet pleasure of watching her, tending +her? believe me, dearest, without you at my side, the park and this +lovely evening would lose half their attractions." + +"Do not say so, my own mother. I am not ill, only lazy, and that you +were not wont to encourage; my eyes would close, spite of all my +efforts. But why should you have the uninteresting task of watching my +slumbers?" + +"Because, dearest, I will not abandon my office, till it is claimed as +the right of another. It will soon be, my Emmeline; but do not send me +from your side, till then." + +"The right of another, dearest mother? whose right will it ever be but +yours? who can ever be to me the tender nurse that you have been?" + +"One who will vow to love, protect, and cherish you; one who loves you, +my own Emmeline, and longs to claim you as his own, and restore, by his +affection, the health and spirits you have lost; one who has the consent +and blessing of your father and myself, and waits but for yours." + +Emmeline started from her recumbent posture. + +"Oh, send me not from you, mother, my own mother! Do not, oh, do not +compel me to marry!" she exclaimed, in a tone of agony. "The affection +of a husband restore my health! oh, no, no, it would break my heart at +once, and you would send me from you but to die. Mother, oh, let me stay +with you. Do not let my father command my obedience; in everything else +I will obey but in this." She hid her face in Mrs. Hamilton's bosom, and +wept bitterly. + +"We will command nothing that can make you miserable, my own," replied +her mother, soothingly. "But you will love him, my Emmeline, you will +love him as he loves you; his fond affection cannot fail to make you +happy. You will learn to know him--to value his noble virtues, his +honourable principles. As his wife, new pleasures, new duties will be +around you. Health will return, and I shall see my Emmeline once more as +she was--my own happy child." + +"And has it indeed gone so far that both you and my father have +consented, and I must disobey and displease my parents, or be miserable +for life?" + +"My child," said Mrs. Hamilton, so solemnly, that Emmeline involuntarily +checked her tears, "my child, you shall never marry the husband we have +chosen for you, unless you can love and be happy with him: sacredly and +irrevocably I promise this. You shall not sacrifice yourself for a +doubtful duty. If, when you have seen and known him, your wishes still +are contrary to ours, we will not demand your obedience. If you still +prefer your mother's home, never, never shall you go from me. Be +comforted, my Emmeline,--do not weep thus. Will you not trust me? If +you cannot love, you shall not marry." + +"But, my father--oh, mamma, will he too promise me this?" + +"Yes, love; doubt him not," and a smile so cheering, so happy, was round +Mrs. Hamilton's lips as she spoke, that Emmeline unconsciously felt +relieved. "We only wish our Emmeline's consent to an introduction to +this estimable young man, who has so long and so faithfully loved her, +and if still she is inexorable we must submit. Could I send you from me +without your free consent? Could I part from you except for happiness?" + +Emmeline threw her arms round her mother's neck. In vain she struggled +to ask who was the young man of whom her mother spoke. Why should she +inquire, when she felt that he never, never could be anything to her? +Bitterly, painfully she struggled to dismiss the thought hastily from +her mind, and gladly hailed the entrance of the nurse with her little +nephew as a relief. Her mother joined her in caressing and playing with +him, and ere he was dismissed the scattered parties had returned, and +there was no opportunity for farther confidential converse. + +It was a happy, merry party at Oakwood, but the presence of Lilla +Grahame was wanting to make it complete. Ellen was constantly with her, +for she would not permit the lively proceedings of home to interfere +with the call of friendship; and in this task of kindness she was +constantly joined by Edward, who would frequently leave gayer amusements +to offer Lilla his company on her walk, and his intelligent +conversation, his many amusing anecdotes, frequently drew a smile from +his young listener, and, combined with Ellen's presence and more quiet +sympathy, raised her spirits, and encouraged her in her painful task of +bearing with, if she could not soothe, her father's still irritable +temperament. Moorlands was to be sold; for Mr. Grahame had resolved on +burying himself and his child in some retired cottage, where his very +existence might be forgotten. In vain Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton combated +this resolution, and entreated him at least to settle near them; gloomy, +almost morose, he still spoke of Wales as the only place where he was +not known, where his name might not be associated with disgrace. Lilla +was just of an age to feel the parting with the kind friends of her +childhood as a most painful trial, but she determined to reconcile +herself to her father's will whatever it might be. + +Captain Cameron too was an agreeable addition to the society of Oakwood; +high-spirited, and naturally joyous, Percy liked him as a kindred +spirit; and reserved, though intelligent, Herbert found many points of +his character assimilate with his. Mrs. Cameron's station in life had +been somewhat raised since her return to England. Sir Hector Cameron, +her husband's elder brother, childless and widowed, found his morose and +somewhat miserly disposition softened, and his wish to know his +brother's family became too powerful to be resisted. He had seen Walter +in Ireland, and admired the young man ere he knew who he was; a farther +acquaintance, ere he discovered himself as his uncle, heightened these +good impressions, and Walter, to his utter astonishment, found himself +suddenly the heir to a rich baronetcy, and his mother and sisters +comfortably provided for. He rejoiced at his good fortune, but not at +the baronetcy itself; not for the many pleasures which, as Sir Hector's +heir, now stood temptingly before him, but because he might now indeed +encourage an affection, which he had once believed was as hopeless as it +was intense. + +There is but one person whom we knew in a former page whose fate we have +omitted to mention; it may be well to do so here, ere we proceed +regularly with our narrative. The high-minded, unselfish, truth-loving +Lady Gertrude Lyle had at length, to the great joy of her parents, +consented to reward long years of silent devotion, by bestowing her hand +on the Marquis of Alford. They were married, and need we say that they +were happy? Lady Gertrude's love to her husband increased with each +passing year, and he, as time passed on, missed nothing of that bright +example of goodness, of piety, and virtue, which had led him to deserve +her love. + +"Emmeline, dearest, put on your prettiest dress to-night, and confine +those flowing curls with some tasteful wreath," said Mr. Hamilton, +playfully addressing his daughter, about a week after the conversation +with her mother. The dressing-bell had sounded, and the various inmates +of Oakwood were obeying its summons as he spoke, and Caroline laughingly +asked her father how long he had taken such an interest in dress. "Does +your ladyship think I never do?" he replied, with mock gravity. + +"Do you remember when my dear father's own hand wreathed a sprig of +scarlet geranium in my hair, some ten years ago, when I was a vain and +wilful girl?" replied the young Countess, without heeding his question, +and looking up with fond affection in his face. "Ah, papa, no flower, +even when formed of gems, ever gave me so much pleasure as that." + +"Not even when placed within these glossy curls by St. Eval's hand? Are +you not jealous, Eugene?" + +"Not in the least, my dear sir," replied the Earl, laughing. "I have +heard of that flower, and the good effects it produced." + +"You have heard of it, have you? I should have fancied my Caroline had +long ere this forgotten it." + +Lady St. Eval smiled reproachfully as she quitted the room, and Mr. +Hamilton, turning to Emmeline, took her hand fondly, and said, "Why does +my Emmeline look so grave? Does she not approve of her father taking an +interest in her dress? But it is not for me I wish you to look pretty +to-night, I will confess; for another, Emmeline, one whom I expect you +will, for my sake, do all in your power to please, and--and love. Do not +start, my child, the task will not be very difficult." He kissed her +cheek with a cheerful smile, and left her, motionless and pale, every +feature expressive of passive endurance, her hands clasped tightly on +her heart. Emmeline sat before her mirror, and permitted Fanny to +arrange her beautiful hair as she would; to her it mattered not. The +words of her father alone rung in her ears. That night sealed her fate. +Fanny spoke, for she was alarmed at her young lady's manner, but +Emmeline answered as if she had heard her not, and the business of the +toilette passed in silence. Yet so well had it been performed, so fair +and lovely did that gentle girl look, as she entered the drawing-room, +that every eye was fixed on her in admiration. The graceful folds of an +Indian muslin dress enveloped her slight form, and a wreath of lilies +of the valley, twined with the smallest pink rose-buds, confined her +luxuriant hair; a scarcely perceptible blush was on her cheeks, and her +eyes, continually wandering round the room, as if in search for some +unseen object, shone with unusual brilliancy. Her father whispered, as +he found himself near her-- + +"I do not expect my friend will arrive till late, my little Emmy, but +look as pretty then as you do now, and I shall be satisfied." + +She was relieved, but intelligence met her ear, ere dinner was +concluded, that rendered it a fearful struggle to retain her composure. +Mrs. Cameron's family, Mr. Howard, and one or two others, she knew were +coming in the evening, but that Lord St. Eval expected his brother Louis +to arrive at Oakwood by eight or nine o'clock that same evening, was +indeed information startling in the extreme. Would he not be accompanied +by his preceptor? Would she not see him, from whom she had so long been +parted? see him, to whom her heart was given, and in his presence be +introduced to the husband of her parents' choice? + +Mrs. Hamilton watched her with extreme uneasiness, and when dinner was +over, whispered, as it seemed, an earnest entreaty in her husband's ear. +He shook his head in sportive refusal; she still appeared anxious, but +acquiesced. The hours passed on. Emmeline for a few minutes had retired, +for the happiness, the gaiety around her, pressed with over-powering +heaviness on her heart; she had turned from it almost unconsciously. +"Why, oh, why did I not confess to mamma that I could not wed another, +because I still loved Arthur? why was I so foolish as to fear to confess +the truth, we should not then have met? Why have I been so weak to hide +these miserable feelings even from my mother? how can I expect her +sympathy, when she knows them not?" + +So she thought, but it was now too late. The affectionate caresses, the +kind voice of her cousin Ellen roused her; controlling herself, she took +Ellen's arm, and together they entered the drawing-room. She saw no +strangers, all were familiar to her eye, and rallying her spirits, she +entered into conversation with St. Eval, who hastened up to her as she +entered. Ellen joined the dancers. + +"I wonder why we all seem so gay and happy to-night," said St. Eval. +"Look at Captain Cameron and our pretty demure cousin Ellen, Emmeline; I +never saw such devotion in my life. Take my word for it, that will be a +match one of these days, and a very pretty one. Cameron is a good +fellow, and if ever any one were smitten, he is." + +"But Ellen's admiration of his character is rather too open and freely +expressed for him to hope his affection, if he do love, is returned. No, +Eugene, Captain Cameron may be attracted, I grant you, but I do not +fancy he will be Ellen's choice." + +"Do you know any whom you think will?" + +"What a question," she said, smiling, "to tempt me to betray my cousin's +secrets, if she had any, but candidly I must admit that as yet I know +none. It is a strange fancy, but I often think Ellen will be an old +maid." + +"Why, is she so precise, so prim, so opinionated, so crabbed? For shame, +Emmeline, even to hint such a thing." + +"Nay, St. Eval, the shame is rather yours, for daring to associate such +terms with a single woman. To go through life alone, without sympathy, +without any call for natural affections, always appears at first sight +rather melancholy than otherwise; but why should dislike and prejudice +be added to them? I cannot think that a woman's remaining unmarried is +any proof of her being unamiable." + +"Indeed, I am not so unjust," said the Earl, smiling; "when old maids +conduct themselves properly, I esteem them quite as much and more than +some married women. But still Ellen shall not be an old maid; she is too +pretty and too good, and would bless any man who may be happy enough to +gain her affections and esteem. But you, Emmeline, you, surely, will not +be an old maid, though you are so warm in their defence." + +"My lot is not in my own hands--do not speak of that, Eugene," she said, +with a quivering lip; and hastily turning from his gaze, she added, "as +you seem to know everybody's concerns in the room, what are Mrs. Cameron +and Florence talking so intently about?" + +"On the old subject: my madcap brother Louis and his sage tutor. By the +bye, Emmy, I have never asked what you think of Myrvin's conduct in this +affair; did he not behave admirably?" + +"He did but his duty," replied Emmeline, firmly. "He acted but as every +man of generous feelings would have done; it was his duty, for he had +pledged himself to the care of his pupil, and could he have left him in +his sickness? The dictates of common humanity, the social duties of life +would have prevented him." + +"What a pity Florence does not hear you, such calm reasoning would +destroy all the glow of romance which she has thrown around these +incidents. But indeed you do not give Myrvin his due, every man does not +perform his duty." + +"Every man _ought_, and when he does not, he is wrong; as when he does, +he is right." + +"But this is contrary to your own principle, Emmeline. What has become +of the enthusiasm which once bade you condemn all such cold judgments, +such scanty praise? Once upon a time, you would have looked on such +conduct very differently." + +Emmeline turned away, but St. Eval saw her eyes were swimming in tears. +He continued, sportively-- + +"Be assured, I will tell Myrvin as soon as I see him." + +"I beg you will not, my lord," Emmeline said, struggling to retain her +calmness; but failing, she added, entreatingly, "dearest Eugene, if you +have any regard for me, do not repeat my words; let them pass with the +subject, it has engrossed us quite enough." + +St. Eval shook his head in playful reproof. They sat apart from the +dancers, and feeling neither her words nor any subsequent agitation +could be remarked, she placed her trembling hand in St. Eval's, and +said, almost inarticulately-- + +"Eugene, tell me, does Arthur--Mr. Myrvin accompany Lord Louis to-night? +Do not deceive me." + +"He does," he replied instantly, "and what detains them I cannot +understand. But fear nothing, dearest Emmeline, I know all; you may +trust me, fear nothing. And now your promise--the quadrille is formed, +they only wait for us." + +"I know all, fear nothing," Emmeline internally repeated, her whole +frame trembling with agitation, as kindly and encouragingly St. Eval +led her to the place assigned them. She forced herself to think only on +the dance, on the amusing anecdotes he was telling her, on the light +laugh, the ready jest that were sparkling around her. Her natural grace +in dancing forsook her not, nor did she refuse her sister's request, +when the quadrille was finished, that she would take out her harp. She +seated herself at the instrument and commenced. + +Music had not lost its charm, rapt in the exquisite air she was playing, +it seemed to soothe her agitated feelings, and bid her forget her usual +timidity. All were silent, for the air was so sweet, so plaintive, not a +voice could have disturbed it; it changed to a quicker, more animated +strain, and at that instant Emmeline beheld Edward and Ellen hastily +rise to greet a young man, who noiselessly yet eagerly came forward to +meet them: it was Lord Louis. Emmeline started, a strong effort alone +enabled her to command herself sufficiently to continue playing, but her +fingers now moved mechanically; every pulse throbbed so violently, and +to her ear so loudly, that she no longer heard the notes she played. All +was a mist before her eyes, and the animated plaudits that greeted her +as she ceased, rung in her ears as unmeaning, unintelligible sounds. +Lord Louis hastily advanced to lead her from the harp, and to tell her +how very glad he was to see her again, though even his usually careless +eye lost its mirthful expression, as he marked the alteration in his +favourite companion. Emmeline tried to smile and answer him in his own +strain, but her smile was sickly and faint, and her voice trembled +audibly as she spoke. She looked round, fearing, yet longing to see +another, but Lord Louis was alone. His preceptor was not near him, but +Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton, St. Eval and Herbert had also left the room. Some +little time passed in animated conversation, still Myrvin did not +appear. + +"You are wanted in the library, dearest Emmeline," said the young +Countess St. Eval. + +"Come with me, Emmeline: foolish girl, 'fear nothing,'" said the Earl, +joyously. + +"Smile, gentle one," he whispered, as she turned her beseeching glance +towards him, "do not greet the husband your parents have selected for +you with a countenance such as this; nay, fear nothing," he repeated, as +her steps faltered, and every limb trembled at his words. Again he +smiled as he had once before during that evening, and for the first time +a gleam of sudden light darted across the bewildered mind of the +agitated girl, but so dazzling were the rays, so overpowering the +brilliancy, from the contrast with the deep gloom which had been there +before, that she could not believe it real; she deemed it some wild +freak of fancy, that sportive fancy which had so long deserted her. St. +Eval hurried on, supporting rather than leading his companion. They +reached the library, and Emmeline's agitation increased almost to +fainting; she leaned more heavily on St. Eval's arm; though her heart +beat almost audibly, and her cheek vied in its paleness with a marble +statue near her, not a word betrayed her emotion. There were many lights +within the library, a group was gathered round the centre table, but to +Emmeline all was indistinct, not one amongst them could she recognise. +Her father hastened towards her, he took her trembling hand in his, and +led her gently forward. + +"Look up, my beloved," he said, tenderly, "we have sent for you to +ratify the consent your mother and I have given, given on condition, +that if yours be withheld, ours also is void. But will the long years of +silent love and uncomplaining suffering for your sake, plead in vain to +one so gentle as yourself? Look up, my Emmeline, and tell me, if the +fond affection, the tender cares of him whom we have chosen, will not +indeed prove the best restorative we can bestow?" + +She did look up, and the quick gushing flow of blood dyed her pallid +cheek with crimson, and lit up her soft eyes with their wonted lustre. +There was one tall, manly form beside her, gazing on her with such +devoted love, that she saw not how pale were those expressive features, +what a deep impress of long suffering was on that high and noble brow. +She heard naught but that deep rich voice pronounce her name, and call +her "his own, own Emmeline," for she had sunk in his extended arms, she +had hidden her face upon his shoulder and wept. + +"Are we forgiven, Emmeline, dearest?" said Mrs. Hamilton, fondly, after +a long pause, which many mingled feelings had occasioned. Her child +withdrew for a moment from the arms of her betrothed, and flung herself +upon her neck. "Your father bound me by a promise not to reveal his +secret, and I kept it well till this evening; for did you not deserve +some punishment, my child, for believing even for a single moment your +parents would have rewarded your unwavering discharge of a most painful +duty, your unhesitating submission to our will, by forcing you to bestow +your hand upon another, when your heart was already engaged? No, my own +Emmeline, we could not have been so cruel. Take her, my dear Arthur; +freely, fearlessly I consign her happiness to your charge, for indeed +you have well deserved her." + +We need not lift the veil from the brief interview which the +consideration of Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton afforded to the lovers, it is +enough that they were happy, happy in the consciousness not of present +joy alone, but of duty unshrinkingly performed, of pain endured with +unrepining fortitude; unalloyed in its purity indeed was their +happiness, for it was the recompense of virtue. + +When the tidings of what had passed were made known, there were few who +did not feel as if some individual joy had been imparted. The universal +sympathy occasioned by the happiness of a being so generally beloved as +Emmeline shed new animation over the little party. And Ellen, the gentle +affectionate Ellen, did not she rejoice? She did, unfeignedly, +sincerely, but there was a pang of bitterness mingled with it which she +vainly struggled to subdue. + +"Can you consent to live in the humble vicarage of my estate, Emmeline?" +whispered the young Earl in her ear, as she relinquished the arm of +Arthur, whom Edward, Percy, and Ellen were eagerly surrounding. "You +have often admired it. Will it serve you for a home, think you? if not, +name what alterations you will like, and they shall be done, even as if +Aladdin's wonderful genii had performed it." + +"Dearest Eugene," said Emmeline, "I feel it is to you, to your generous +pleadings in Arthur's favour, I greatly owe this happiness. Will you not +let me thank you for that, instead of asking more?" + +"No, little fairy, I will do no such thing, for I only spoke the truth, +and that, Emmeline, 'was but my _duty_,' and demands no thanks or praise +whatever; and as I have selected my friend Myrvin to supply the place of +my late vicar, who was promoted last week to a better living, to see +everything prepared for his comfort, and that of his wife, is also +mine." + +"Nay, spare me, dear St. Eval; I will plead guilty of not giving Arthur +his due, if you will promise me not always to torment me with duty. I +was unjust and unkind." + +"No, dearest Emmy, you were neither unjust nor unkind; you only said one +thing and meant another, and as _I_ know _why_ you did so, I forgive +you." + +Mrs. Cameron's family and the other guests having departed, and only Mr. +Hamilton's own circle lingering in the drawing-room, some surprise was +occasioned to all except Mrs. Hamilton and Percy, by Mr. Hamilton +suddenly laying his hand gently on Herbert's shoulder, and saying +earnestly, though somewhat playfully-- + +"One surprise and one cause for congratulation we might, I think, deem +sufficient for _one_ evening, but I intend being the happy messenger of +another event, which may chance to be even more surprising, and +certainly not less joyful. I beg you will all offer Mrs. Hamilton and +myself your warmest congratulations, for the same day that gives us a +new son will, I trust, bestow on us an other daughter. This quiet young +man intends taking unto himself a wife; and as it may be some little +time ere we can bring her home from France, the best thing we can do is +to anticipate two marriages in one day." + +"Herbert, my true English bred and English feeling cousin, marry a +French woman, by my good sword, you shall not," said Edward, laughing, +when the universal surprise and joy which this information had excited +had somewhat subsided. The eager question who was Herbert's choice, was +asked by Caroline and Emmeline together. + +"Fear nothing, Master Lieutenant," St. Eval said, ere Herbert could +reply; "my wits, though a landsman, are not quite so blunt as yours, and +I guess better than you do. Is it possible no one here can tell? has my +demure brother Herbert's secret never been suspected? Caroline, what has +become of your penetration; and Emmeline, your romance? Ellen, cannot +you guess?" + +"Yes," she replied, instantly, though as she spoke a sudden crimson rose +to her cheek, which, though unnoticed, had been, while Mr. Hamilton +spoke, pale as death. + +"May you, may you be happy, dearest Herbert," she added, calmly, as she +extended her hand to him; "few are so fitted to make you so, few can so +truly sympathise in your feelings as Mary Greville." + +"You are right, you are right, Ellen," said Lady Emily Lyle, as Herbert +warmly pressed his cousin's hand, and thanked her in that low thrilling +voice so peculiarly his own; and then, with a countenance radiant with +animated joy, turned towards the little group, and thanking them for the +joy with which his Mary's name was universally greeted, turned to Edward +and asked, with a smile, if Mary were not sufficiently English to +content him. + +"Quite, quite; I would even go over to France for the sake of bringing +her to England in my gallant Gem," replied the young sailor. "She is +the best wife you could have chosen, Herbert, for you were ever +alongside, even in your boyish days; and it would have been a sin and +shame for you to have married any one else. Percy, why do not you follow +such an excellent example?" + +"I--because a bachelor's life has not yet lost its charms for me, +Edward! I like my own ease, my own pleasure best, and wish to be free a +short time longer," replied the young man, stretching himself on a sofa, +with a comic air of _nonchalance_ and affectation; then starting up, he +added, theatrically, "I am going to be a senator, a senator; and how in +the world can I think of matrimony but as a state of felicity unsuited +to such a hard-working fellow as I am, or rather mean to be." + +"I commend you for the correction in your speech, Percy," said his +mother, smiling. "_Mean to be_ and _am_, are two very different things." + +"But in me may chance so to amalgamate as to become the same. Mother, +who would believe you could be so severe? But I forgive you; one of +these days you will regret your injustice: that smile says I wish I may. +Well, we shall see. And now, lords and ladies, to bed, to bed. I have +swallowed such large draughts of surprise to-night, I can bear no more. +A kind good night to all. Myrvin," he called out from the hall, "if you +are as early to-morrow as you were at Oxford, we will be off to +Trevilion and inspect your new vicarage before breakfast, and back by +night." + +"Not to-morrow, Arthur," entreated Emmeline, in a low voice, as he +followed her from the room. + +"Not to-morrow, dearest," he replied, tenderly, as he drew her to his +bosom, and bade God bless her. + +The other members of the family also separated, Ellen one of the last, +for Lady Emily at first detained her in some trifling converse, and Mrs. +Hamilton was telling her of something she wished her niece to do for her +the next morning. Ellen was standing in the shade as her aunt spoke; all +had left the room except Edward and themselves, and humming a lively +air, the former was departing, when, turning round to wish his sister +good night, the light flashed full upon her face, and there was +something in its expression, in its almost unearthly paleness, that made +him suddenly start and cease his song. + +"Merciful heaven! Ellen, what is the matter? You look like a ghost." + +"Do not be silly, Edward, there is nothing the matter. I am quite well, +only warm," she replied, struggling to smile, but her voice was so +choked, her smile so unnatural, that not only her brother but her aunt +was alarmed. + +"You are deceiving us, my dear girl, you are not well. Are you in pain, +dearest?" she said, hastening towards her. + +Ellen had borne up well when unnoticed; but the voice of kindness, the +fond caress her aunt bestowed completely overpowered her, and, sinking +on a chair, she burst into tears. + +"It is nothing, indeed it is nothing, my dear aunt," she said, with a +strong effort checking the bursting sob. "I have felt the heat very +oppressive all the evening, it is only that which makes me so foolish." + +"I hope it is only the heat, my Ellen," replied Mrs. Hamilton, fondly, +suspicion flashing across her mind, not indeed of the truth, but +something near akin to it. For a few minutes Ellen leaned her head +silently against her aunt, who continued bending over her, then +returning her affectionate kiss, shook hands with her brother, assured +him she was quite well, and quietly left the room. + +"Now, then, I know indeed my fate," Ellen murmured internally, as her +aching head rested on a sleepless pillow, and her clasped hands were +pressed against her heart to stop its suffocating throbs. "Why am I thus +overwhelmed, as if I had ever hoped, as if this were unexpected? Have I +not known it, have I not felt that she would ever be his choice? that I +was mad enough to love one, who from his boyhood loved another. Why has +it fallen on me as a shock for which I was utterly unprepared? What has +become of my many resolutions? Why should the task be more difficult now +than it has been? I feel as if life were irksome to me, as if all I +loved were turned to that bitterness of spirit against which I have +striven, as if I could dash from my poor cousin's lips the cup of +unexpected happiness she has only this evening tasted. Oh, merciful +Father! forsake me not now, let me not feel thus, only fill my heart +with love and charity, take from me this bitterness and envy. It is Thou +that dispenseth this bitter cup. Father, I recognise Thy hand, and would +indeed resign myself to Thee. Oh, enable me to do so; teach me to love +Thee alone, to do Thy work, to subdue myself, and in thankfulness +receive the many blessings still around me; let me but see _them_ happy. +Oh, my Father, let Thy choicest blessings be his lot, and for me" it was +a bitter struggle, but ere the night had passed that young spirit had +conquered, had uttered fervently, trustingly, heartfully,--"for me, oh, +my Father, let Thy will be done." And Ellen joined the breakfast-table +the following morning calm and cheerful; there was no trace of internal +suffering, no sign to betray even to her aunt all that she endured. She +entered cheerfully into all Emmeline's happiness, accompanied her and +Arthur, with Lord and Lady St. Eval, to Trevilion, and entered into +every suggested plan, as if indeed no other thoughts engrossed her. +Arthur and Emmeline found in her an active and affectionate friend, and +the respect and love with which she felt herself regarded seemed to +soothe, while it urged her on to increased exertion. Mrs. Hamilton +watched her anxiously; she had at first fancied Arthur was the object of +her niece's regard, but this idea was not strengthened, and though she +felt assured such was not the real cause of Ellen's agitation that +eventful evening, she could not, and did not guess the truth. + +The revealing a long-treasured secret, the laying bare feelings of the +heart, which have so long been concealed, even to our dearest friends, +does not always produce happiness; there is a blank within us, a +yearning after something we know not what, and the spirit loses for a +time its elasticity. It may be that the treasured secret has been so +long enshrined in our innermost souls, we have felt it so long as only +our own, that when we betray it to others, it is as if we parted from a +friend; it is no longer our own, we can no longer hold sweet communion +with it, for the voice of the world hath also reached it, and though at +first its revealing is joy, it is followed by a sorrow. So Herbert felt, +when the excitement of congratulation, of the warm sympathy of his +friends had given place to solicitude and thought. Mary had been so +long the shrine of his secret, fondest thoughts, he had so long indulged +in delicious fancies, known to few others save himself, that now they +had been intruded on even by the voice of gratulation, they would no +longer throng around. It was strange that on this night, when his choice +had been so warmly approved of by all his friends, when words of such +heartfelt kindness had been lavished in his ear, that the same dull +foreboding of future evil, of suffering, of death, pressed heavily on +him, as in earlier years it had been so wont to do. He struggled against +it; he would not listen to its voice, but it would have sway. Donned it +was not indeed, but from its mystery more saddening. Herbert wrestled +with himself in fervent prayer; that night was to him almost as +sleepless as it was to his cousin Ellen, but the cause of her weary +watching was, alas! too well defined. The bright sun, the joyous voices +of his brother and cousin beneath his window, roused Herbert from these +thoughts, and ere the day had passed, he had partly recovered the usual +tenor of his mind, though its buoyancy was still subdued, and its secret +temperament somewhat sad, but to his family he seemed as usual. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +Some weeks passed, and Emmeline's health was rapidly returning; her +spirits were more like those of her girlhood, subdued indeed by past +suffering, but only so far subdued as to render her, if possible, still +dearer to all those who loved her; and she, too, beheld with delight the +colour returning to her Arthur's cheek, his step regaining its +elasticity; and there was a manly dignity about him now which, when she +first loved, she had not seen, but which she felt rendered him still +dearer, for she could look up to him for support, she could feel +dependence on his stronger and more decisive character. + +Each week confirmed Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton in the wisdom of their +decision, by revealing more clearly Myrvin's character. He was more +devoted to the duties of his clerical profession; pride, haughtiness, +that dislike to mingle with his parishioners, had all departed, and as +they observed how warmly and delightedly their Emmeline entered into his +many plans for doing good, for increasing the happiness of the villagers +under his spiritual charge, they felt that her domestic virtues, her +gentle disposition, were far more suited to the wife of a clergyman, +than to that life of bustling gaiety which might perhaps, under other +circumstances, have been her portion. + +"Are there not responsibilities attached to a clergyman's wife?" she +once asked her mother. "I feel as if so much depended upon _me_ to +render him respected and beloved, that I sometimes fear I may fail in my +duty, and, through ignorance, not intentional, perhaps bring discredit +on his name. Dearest mother, how can I prevent this?" + +"These fears are natural to one of your character, my Emmeline, but they +will quickly pass away. You would be more likely to fail in the duties +of fashionable life, than in those which you will soon have to fulfil. +Occupation which, had you been more fashionably educated, must have been +irksome, will to you remain the pleasures they have ever been, +heightened and encouraged by the sympathy of your husband. A wife to be +truly happy and virtuous, must entirely forget _self_; a truth which the +partner of a country clergyman should ever remember, as his family is +larger, more constant in their calls upon her attention and sympathy, +and sometimes her exertions are less productive of satisfaction and +pleasure, than those of many other stations in life. Her own demeanour +should be alike gentle, unassuming, persuasive, yet dignified, so that +her actions may assist and uphold her husband's doctrines more than her +language. You have but to follow the principles of Christianity and the +dictates of your own heart, my Emmeline, and your duty will be done, +almost unconsciously to yourself." + +The only drawback to Emmeline's happiness was, that Lord and Lady St. +Eval were obliged to leave England ere her marriage could be solemnized, +the health of the latter prohibiting further delay. They did not expect +to be absent much more than a twelvemonth, and the Earl, laughingly, +told Emmeline, if she would defer her wedding till then, he would +promise to be present; to that, however, none of the parties concerned +seemed inclined to consent, and St. Eval owned he would much rather, on +his return, see her comfortably settled at the Vicarage, where +preparations were rapidly advancing. Percy, however, promised to defer +his intended tour till his favourite sister should be Myrvin's bride, +and Edward, on leaving to join his ship, declared, if wind and tide were +not very contrary, he, too, would take a run down and dance at her +wedding. + +A short time after the departure of the Earl and Countess, and Edward, +Ellen received from the hand of her cousin Herbert a letter, which for +the moment caused her some emotion. She felt his eyes were fixed upon +her with a peculiar expression, and shrinking from them, she was +hastening to her own room to answer the letter there, when Herbert +called after her-- + +"Do not run away from me, Nelly; whatever be your answer, I am to be the +bearer." + +Returning instantly, she asked, with cheek suddenly paled and lip +compressed, "Are you then aware of the contents of this letter, Herbert; +are you in Captain Cameron's confidence?" + +"To both demands I am happy enough to answer, yes, Ellen," he replied, +smiling archly. "Captain Cameron has made me his father confessor, and +in return, I have promised to use all my influence in his favour, to +tell you what his letter may perhaps have but incoherently expressed: +that he loves you, Ellen, devotedly, faithfully; that he feels life +without you, however brilliant in appearance, will be a blank. I +promised him I would play the lover well, and indeed, my dear cousin, +his affection and esteem for you do not admit a single doubt." + +"I am sorry for it," said Ellen, calmly, "very sorry, as it is not in my +power to return those feelings, and consequently I am compelled to give +him pain. I am grateful, very grateful for the high opinion, the kind +feelings, his letter expresses towards me. I shall never cease to +respect and value him as a friend, but more I cannot give." + +"Nay, Ellen, take time to consider of his offer; do not refuse him at +once thus decidedly. You say you respect him. I know you admire his +conduct, both as a son and brother, and as a man. What objections are +there so great as to call for this decided and instant refusal?" + +"Simply because, as a husband, I can never love him." + +"Never is a long day, Ellen. You surely have not so much romance in your +composition as to refuse a young man possessing every virtue which can +make a woman happy, merely because he does not excite any very violent +passion? Do you not know there are some dispositions which never love to +the full extent of the word, and yet are perhaps happier in the marriage +state than those who do? Now you may be one of these, Ellen." + +"It may be so," she said, still calmly, though a deep flush stained her +cheek. Herbert had spoken playfully, but there was that in his words +which, to a heart seared as was hers, was productive of intense +suffering. + +"It may be so perhaps; I shall never meet one to love, as I believe a +husband ought to be loved, yet that would not satisfy my conscience for +accepting Walter. I trust I am not romantic, Herbert, but I will say, +that the vow to love, honour, and obey, to think only of him, demands +something more than the mere cold esteem which some may deem sufficient +for happiness. Walter _is_ an estimable young man, one who will make any +woman happy, and deeply indeed I regret that he has chosen one who can +only return his warm devoted affection with the comparatively chilling +sentiments of friendship and esteem. I would not do his kind heart so +much wrong as to accept him." + +"But take time, Ellen, give him some hope. You can urge no objections +against him, and his family are dear to you. He has told me that from +his childhood he loved you, that your remembrance never left him, and +when again he met you, his fanciful visions became a beautiful and +palpable reality; give him, at least, some time for hope. It is +impossible, with a heart disengaged as yours, to associate intimately +with him and not love him." + +"A heart disengaged as mine! how know you that, Herbert?" said his +cousin, with a smile, which would have deceived the most penetrating +eye. "Are you not presuming too far in your inspection of my heart, +seeking in rather a roundabout way, to obtain my entire confidence?" + +"No, dearest Ellen, I speak and feel in this business but as Edward +would, were he in my place; your happiness is as dear to me as it is to +him. We have for very many years been to each other as a brother and +sister, and, believe me, in urging your acceptance of this good young +man, I seek but your welfare alone." + +"I believe you, my dear cousin," replied Ellen, frankly holding out her +hand, which Herbert warmly pressed. "But indeed, in this instance, you +are deceived. An union with Walter Cameron would not form my happiness, +worthy as he is,--suitable as the world would deem such a match in all +respects; and sorry as I am to inflict pain and disappointment on the +companion of my childhood, as also, I fear, on his kind mother, I cannot +be his wife." + +"And if your affections be already engaged, far be it from me to urge +you farther; but"-- + +"I said not that they were, Herbert," interrupted Ellen, steadily +fixing, as she spoke, her large eyes unshrinkingly on her cousin's face. +Herbert felt fairly puzzled, he could not read her heart; he would have +asked her confidence, he would have promised to do all in his power to +forward her happiness, but there was something around her that, while it +called forth his almost unconscious respect, entirely checked all +farther question. He did not fancy that she loved another, and yet why +this determined rejection of a young man whom he knew she esteemed. + +"I am only grieving you by continuing the subject," he said; "and +therefore grant me your forgiveness, dearest Ellen, and your final +answer to Cameron, and it shall be resumed no more." + +"I have nothing to forgive, Herbert," replied Ellen, somewhat +mournfully. + +She sat a few minutes longer, in saddened thought, gazing on the open +letter, and then quitted the room and sought her own. She softly closed +the door, secured it, and then sinking on a low seat beside her couch, +buried her pale face in her hands, and for a few minutes remained +overwhelmed by that intensity of secret and tearless suffering. It was +called forth afresh by this interview with her cousin: to hear his lips +plead thus eloquently the cause of another; to hear him say that perhaps +she was one of those who would never love to its full extent. When her +young heart felt bursting beneath the load of deep affection pressing +there, one sweet alone mingled in that cup of bitterness, Herbert +guessed not, suspected not the truth. She had succeeded well in +concealing the anguish called forth by unrequited love, and she would +struggle on. + +"Never, never shall it be known that I have given this rebellious heart +to one who seeks it not. No, no, that tale shall live and die with me; +no one shall know how low I have fallen. Poor Walter! he will think I +cannot feel for his unreturned affection, when I know too well its pang; +and why should I not be happy with him, why live on in lingering +wretchedness, when, perhaps as a wife, new duties might rouse me from +this lethargy? Away from Herbert I might forget--be reconciled; but +swear to love Walter when I have no love to give--return his affection +by indifference--oh, no, no, I will not be so guilty." + +Ellen again hid her eyes in her hands, and thought long and painfully. +Pride urged her to accept young Cameron, but every better feeling +revolted from it. She started from that posture of despondency, and, +with a bursting heart, answered Walter's eloquent appeal. Kindness +breathed in every line she wrote--regard for his welfare--esteem for his +character; but she calmly yet decidedly rejected his addresses. She was +grieved, she said, most deeply grieved that anything in her manner +towards him had encouraged his hopes. She had acted but as she felt, +looking on the companion of her early childhood, the son of her father's +and her own kind friend, as a brother and a friend, in which light she +hoped he would ever permit her to regard him. Hope found no +resting-place in her letter, but it breathed such true and gentle +sympathy and kindness, that Walter could not but feel soothed, even in +the midst of disappointment. Ellen paused ere she sealed her letter; she +could not bear to act, even in this matter, without confiding in her +aunt; that Captain Cameron had proposed and been rejected, she felt +assured, report would soon convey to her ears. Why not then seek her +herself? The task of writing had calmed her heart. Taking, therefore, +Walter's letter and her own, she repaired to her aunt's dressing-room, +and fortunately found her alone. Mrs. Hamilton looked earnestly at her +as she entered, but she made no observation till, in compliance with +Ellen's request, she perused the letters offered to her. + +"Have you reflected sufficiently on your decision, my Ellen?" she said, +after thanking her for the confidence she reposed in her. "Have you +thought well on the estimable character of this young man? Far be it +from me to urge or persuade you in such an important matter as marriage, +but you have not, I trust, answered this letter on the impulse of the +moment?" + +"No, aunt, I have not indeed. Herbert has been most earnestly pleading +Captain Cameron's cause, and I have thought on all he has said, and the +little I can bring forward to combat it, but still I have refused him, +because as a husband I can never love him. I honour all his good +qualities. I cannot remember one fault or failing in his character, +which might render a wife unhappy. I grieve for his disappointment, but +I should not think I was doing either him or myself justice, to accept +him merely on these considerations. Herbert, I know, considers me +romantic, and perhaps unkind towards his friend; but painful as such an +idea is, I cannot act otherwise than I have done." + +"Do not let that idea, then, continue to give you pain, my dear girl; +your manner towards Walter has never expressed more than kindness and +friendly regard. If I had seen anything like encouragement to him on +your part, do you not think I should have called you to account long +ago?" she added, with a smile, as Ellen, much relieved, kissed her in +silence. "Our young folks have, I know sometimes in sport, allied your +name with his, but I have generally checked them. Walter I certainly did +fancy admired you, but I did not imagine the feeling so decided as it +has proved. I will not blame your decision, though perhaps it may not be +a very wise one. Marriage is too serious a thing to be entered upon +lightly, and if you cannot love Walter as a husband, why you are quite +right not to accept him. I am not so eager to part with my Ellen as to +advise her marrying, whether she likes it or not. I shall soon have only +you to cheer my old age, you know. Do not look so pained and sad, love; +it is not thus young ladies in general refuse an offer. Go and give your +letter to Herbert, tell him it has my unqualified approval, and then +return to me. I marked some beautiful passages in one of our favourite +authors the other day and you shall read them to me. Now run away, and +come back quickly." + +Ellen obeyed gladly and gratefully, and was enabled playfully to return +the smile with which Herbert received her letter and his mother's +message. Mrs. Hamilton felt more and more convinced that her suspicions +were correct, and that her niece's affections were unhappily engaged. +She thought again and again who could be their object, and still she +fancied it was Arthur Myrvin. She scarcely knew why herself, except from +Ellen's agitation the night of his arrival at Oakwood, and engagement +with Emmeline. That Herbert was the object was to her so improbable, +that the idea never crossed her mind. They had lived so long as brother +and sister, they had from their earliest childhood so intimately +associated with each other, Ellen and Edward were to her so like her own +children, that not once did she imagine Ellen loved her cousin. She +watched her closely, and she was more and more convinced that she had +something to conceal. She was certain her decided rejection of Walter +proceeded from her affections being already engaged, which had also +blinded her to his attentions; and she was convinced also that Ellen +loved in vain, and therefore, though she longed to console and soothe +her, she resolved not to speak to her on the subject, and wring from her +a secret which, when once betrayed, though revealed to her alone, might +be still more painful to endure. Mrs. Hamilton's manner was so kind, so +soothing, so calculated to support and strengthen, that Ellen more than +once wondered whether her aunt had indeed discovered her secret; but she +could not speak of it. She could not even to the being she loved best on +earth, with the exception of one, thus lay bare her aching heart. Often +and often she longed to throw herself in the arms of her aunt and weep, +but she controlled the impulse, and bore on in silence and outward +cheerfulness; strengthened in her efforts by the conviction that Herbert +knew not, imagined not the truth. + +Young Cameron was grieved and disappointed, for his love for Ellen was +indeed sincere, but he could not mistake her letter; he saw there was no +hope, her expressions of friendship and kindness were soothing and +gratifying, they prevented all bitterness of feeling, and he determined +to preserve the friendship and brotherly regard which she so frankly +proffered. + +Mrs. Cameron was at first somewhat hurt at Ellen's decided rejection of +her son, but she could not long retain any emotion of coolness towards +her, she could not resist the affectionate manner of Ellen, and all was +soon as usual between them. A visit with Percy to Castle Malvern, at +Lord Louis's earnest entreaty, to Walter was an agreeable change, though +it had at first been a struggle to rouse himself sufficiently. There the +character and conversation of Lady Florence Lyle, to his excited fancy, +so much resembled Ellen's, that unconsciously he felt soothed and happy. +From Castle Malvern, he joined his regiment with Lord Louis, who had +received a commission in the same troop, and by the time Captain Cameron +returned to Oakwood, he could associate with Ellen as a friend and a +brother. Above a year, it is true, elapsed before that time, and in that +period events had occurred at Oakwood, as unexpected as they were +mournful--but we will not anticipate. + +Soon after Lord and Lady St. Eval's departure for Italy, Mr. Grahame, +despite the entreaties of his friends, even the silent eloquence of +Lilla's appealing eyes, put his resolution into force, and retired to +Wales. He had paid to the last farthing all his misguided son's +honourable and dishonourable debts; and this proceeding, as might be +expected, left him so reduced in fortune as to demand the greatest +economy to live with any comfort. To such an evil Grahame seemed +insensible; his only wish was to escape from the eye and tongue of the +world. A mistaken view with regard to his child also urged him on. Why +should he expose her to the attentions of the young noblemen so +constantly visiting at Mr. Hamilton's house, when, he felt assured, +however eagerly his alliance would once have been courted, now not one +would unite himself to the sister of a publicly disgraced and privately +dishonoured man? No, it was better for her to be far away; and though +her mild submission to his wishes, notwithstanding the pain he knew it +was to part from her friends at Oakwood, rendered her dearer to him than +ever, still he wavered not in his resolution. The entreaties of Arthur +Myrvin, Emmeline, and Ellen did, however, succeed in persuading him to +fix his place of retirement at Llangwillan, so that all connection would +not be so completely broken between them, as were he to seek some more +distant part of the country. Llangwillan, Arthur urged, was scarcely +known to the world at large, but it was to them, and they might hope +sometimes, to see them; for he, Emmeline, and Ellen would often visit +his father. Grahame consented, to the great joy of his child, who felt +more than himself the force of Myrvin's arguments. + +"Mr. Myrvin is such a dear, good, old man, you cannot fail to love him, +Lilla," Ellen said, soothingly, as the day of parting neared. "You must +ask him to show you the little cottage where the first eight weeks of my +residence in England were passed, and make friends with the old widow +and her daughter for my sake; you will find them willing enough to talk +about us and my poor mother, if you once speak on the subject. And my +mother's grave, dear Lilla, you will visit that sometimes, will you not? +and not permit a weed to mingle with the flowers Arthur planted around +it after we left, to distinguish it, he said, from every other grave. It +shall be your charge, dearest Lilla, and Edward and I will thank you for +it; he never goes to Llangwillan without passing an hour of each day by +that little humble mound." + +"Edward, does he ever come to Llangwillan?" Lilla suddenly asked, her +tears checked, and every feature expressive of such animated hope, that +Ellen looked at her for a moment in astonishment, and then smilingly +answered in the affirmative. Lilla clasped her hands in sudden joy, and +then, as if ashamed, hid her face, burning with blushes, on Ellen's +hand. Her companion stooped down to kiss her brow, and continued talking +of her brother for some time longer. + +From that day Ellen observed Lilla regained her usual animation, her eye +sparkled, and her cheek often flushed, as if from some secret thought; +her spirits only fell at the hour of parting, and Ellen felt assured +they would quickly rise again, and the first packet she received from +Llangwillan confirmed the supposition. Mrs. Hamilton was surprised, but +Ellen was not. + +Preparations were now actively making for Herbert's visit to France, +thence to bring home his betrothed. His father and Percy had both +resolved on accompanying him, and Mrs. Hamilton and Emmeline and Arthur +anxiously anticipated the return of their long-absent friends. + +A longer time than usual had elapsed between Mary's letters, and +Herbert's anxiety was becoming more and more intense. Two or three of +his letters had remained unanswered; there were no tidings of either +herself or her mother. St. Eval had determined on not visiting Paris +till his return from Switzerland, as his solicitude to arrive at his +journey's end, and commence the prescribed remedies for Caroline would, +he was quite sure, destroy all his pleasure. In vain his wife laughed at +his hurry and his fears; much as he wished to see Mary, he was +determined, and Caroline no farther opposed him. Through them, then, +Herbert could receive no tidings; he had not heard since that event, +which he believed would have been as much joy to Mary as to +himself--his ordination. He struggled with his own anxiety that the +intervening obstacles to his journey should not deprive him of serenity +and trust, but the inward fever was ravaging within. Only one short +week, and then he departed; ere, however, that time came, he received a +letter, and with a sickening feeling of indefinable dread recognised the +handwriting of his Mary. He left the breakfast-parlour to peruse it +alone, and it was long before he returned to his family. They felt +anxious, they knew not why; even Arthur and Emmeline were silent, and +the ever-restless Percy remained leaning over a newspaper, as if +determined not to move till his brother returned. A similar feeling +appeared to detain his father, who did not seek the library as usual. +Ellen appeared earnestly engaged in some communications from Lady +Florence Lyle, and Mrs. Hamilton was perusing a letter from Caroline, +which the same post had brought. + +With a sudden spring Percy started from his seat, exclaiming, in a tone +that betrayed unconsciously much internal anxiety-- + +"What in the world is Herbert about? He cannot have gone out without +bringing us some intelligence. Robert, has Mr. Herbert gone out?" he +called loudly to the servant, who was passing the open window. + +"No, sir," was the reply; "he is still in his room." + +"Then there will I seek him," he added, impetuously; but he was +prevented by the entrance of Herbert himself, and Percy started from him +in astonishment and alarm. + +There was not a particle of colour on his cheek or lips; his eyes +burned as with fever, and his lips quivered as in some unutterable +anguish. + +"Read," he said, in a voice so hoarse and unnatural, it startled even +more than his appearance, and he placed the letter in his father's hand. +"Father, read, and tell them all--I cannot. It is over!" he continued, +sinking on a stool at his mother's feet, and laying his aching head on +her lap. "My beautiful dream is over, and what is the waking? +wretchedness, unutterable wretchedness! My God, my God, Thy hand is +heavy upon me, yet I would submit." He clasped his mother's hands +convulsively in his, he drooped his head upon them, and his slight frame +shook beneath the agony, which for hours he had been struggling to +subdue. Mrs. Hamilton clasped him to her bosom; she endeavoured to speak +words of hope and comfort. + +Silence deep and solemn fell over that little party; it was so fearful +to see Herbert thus--the gentle, the self-controlled, the exalted +Herbert thus bowed down even to the earth; he, whose mind ever seemed +raised above this world; he, who to his family was ever a being of a +brighter, holier sphere. If he bent thus beneath the pressure of earthly +sorrow, what must that sorrow be? His family knew the depth of feeling +existing in his breast, which the world around them never could suspect, +and they looked on him and trembled. Myrvin raised him from the arms of +his mother, and bore him to the nearest couch, and Mrs. Hamilton wiped +from his damp brow the starting dew. Tears of alarm and sympathy were +streaming from the eyes of Emmeline, and Myrvin resigned his post to +Percy, to comfort her. But Ellen wept not; pale as Herbert, her features +expressed suffering almost as keen as his, and yet she dared not do as +her heart desired, fly to his side and speak the words that love +dictated. What was her voice to him? _she_ had no power to soothe. + +Deep and varied emotions passed rapidly over Mr. Hamilton's countenance +as he read the letter which had caused this misery. Percy could trace +upon his features pity, sorrow, scorn, indignation, almost loathing, +follow one another rapidly and powerfully, and even more violently did +those emotions agitate him when the truth was known. + +"It was an old tale, and often told, but that took not from its +bitterness," Mary wrote, from a bed of suffering such as she had never +before endured; for weeks she had been insensible to thought or action, +but she had resolved no one but herself should inform her Herbert of all +that had transpired, no hand but her own should trace her despairing +words. They had lived, as we know, calmly at Paris, so peaceably, that +Mrs. Greville had indulged in brighter hopes for the future than had +ever before engrossed her. Mr. Greville spent much of his time from +home, accompanying, however, his wife and daughter to their evening +amusements, and always remained present when they received company in +return. They lived in a style of more lavish expenditure than Mrs. +Greville at all approved of. Her husband, however, only laughed +good-humouredly whenever she ventured to remonstrate, and told her not +to trouble herself or Mary about such things; they had enough, and he +would take care that sufficiency should not fail. A dim foreboding +crossed Mrs. Greville's mind at these words; but her husband's manner, +though careless, preventing all further expostulation, she was +compelled to suppress, if she could not conquer, her anxiety. At +length, the storm that Mary had long felt was brooding in this unnatural +calm, burst over her, and opened Mrs. Greville's eyes at once. + +Among their most constant but least welcome visitors was a Monsieur +Dupont, a man of polished manners certainly, the superficial polish of +the Frenchman, but of no other attraction, and even in that there was +something about him to Mary particularly repulsive. He had seen some +threescore years; his countenance, in general inexpressive, at times +betrayed that strong and evil passions were working at his heart. He was +said to be very rich, though some reports had gone about that his +fortune had all been amassed by gambling in no very honourable manner. +With this man Mr. Greville was continually associated; they were seldom +seen apart, and being thus the favourite of the master, he was +constantly at the house. To Mrs. Greville as to Mary he was an object of +indefinable yet strong aversion, and willingly would they have always +denied themselves, and thus escaped his odious presence. Once they had +done so, but the storm of fury that burst from Mr. Greville intimidated +both; they felt some little concession on their parts was demanded to +preserve peace, and Monsieur Dupont continued his visits. + +To this man, publicly known as unprincipled, selfish, incapable of one +exalted or generous feeling, Greville had sworn to give his gentle and +unoffending child; this man he sternly commanded Mary to receive as her +husband, and prepare herself for her marriage within a month. + +As if a thunderbolt had fallen, Mary and her mother listened to these +terrible words, and scarcely had the latter sufficient courage to +inform her unpitying husband of their child's engagement with Herbert +Hamilton. For Mary's sake, she struggled and spoke, but her fears were +not without foundation. A horrid imprecation on Mr. Hamilton and his +family burst instantly from the lips of the now infuriated Greville; he +had chosen for many years to fancy himself deeply injured by that +gentleman, and, with an oath too fearful to be written, he solemnly +swore that Mary should never be the wife of Herbert; he would rather see +her dead. Louder and louder grew his passion, but Mrs. Greville heard +him not. Mary had dropped as if lifeless at his feet. She had sprung up +as if to arrest the imprecation on her father's lips, but when his +dreadful oath reached her ears, her senses happily forsook her, and it +was long, very long before she woke to consciousness and thought. Mrs. +Greville hung in agony over the couch of her unhappy child; scarcely +could she pray or wish for her recovery, for she knew there was no hope. +Her husband had let fall hints of being so deeply pledged to Dupont, +that his liberty or perhaps his life depended on his union with Mary, +and could she wish her child to live to be the wife of such a man, yet +could she see her die? What pen can describe the anguish of that fond +mother, as for weeks she watched and tended her senseless child, or the +contending feelings that wrung her heart when Mary woke again to +consciousness and misery, and asked her, in a voice almost inarticulate +from weakness, what had happened--why she was thus? Truth gradually +broke upon her mind, and Mary too soon remembered all. The physician +said she was recovering, that she would quickly be enabled to leave her +bed and go about as usual. Greville swore he would no longer be +prevented seeing her, and Mary made no opposition to his entrance. +Calmly and passively she heard all he had to say; what he told her then +she did not repeat in writing to Herbert. She merely said that she had +implored him to wait till her health was a little more restored; not to +force her to become the wife of Dupont, till she could stand _without +support_ beside the altar, and he had consented. + +"Be comforted, then, my beloved Herbert," she wrote, as she concluded +this brief tale of suffering. "They buoy me up with hopes that in a very +few months I shall be as well as ever I was. I smile, for I know the +blight has fallen, and I shall never stand beside an earthly altar; all +I pray is, that death may not linger till my father's patience be +exhausted, and he vent on my poor mother all the reproaches which my +lingering illness will, I know, call forth. Oh, my beloved Herbert, +there are moments when I think the bitterness of death is passed, when I +am so calm, so happy, I feel as if I had already reached the confines of +my blissful, my eternal home; but this is not always granted me. There +are times when I can think only on the happiness I had once hoped to +share with you when heaven itself seemed dimmed by the blessedness I had +anticipated on earth. Herbert, I shall never be another's wife, and it +will not be misery to think of me in heaven. Oh, no, we shall meet there +soon, very soon, never, never more to part. Why does my pen linger? +Alas! it cannot trace the word farewell. Yet why does it so weakly +shrink? 'tis but for a brief space, and we shall meet where that word is +never heard, where sorrow and sighing shall be no more. Farewell, then, +my beloved Herbert, beloved faithfully, unchangeably in death as you +have been in life. I know my last prayer to you is granted ere even it +is spoken: you will protect and think of my poor mother; you will not +permit her to droop and die of a broken heart, with no kind voice to +soothe and cheer. I feel she will in time be happy; and oh, the +unutterable comfort of that confiding trust. Once more, and for the last +time, farewell, my beloved; think only that your Mary is in heaven, that +her spirit, redeemed and blessed, waits for thee near the Saviour's +throne, and be comforted. We shall meet again." + +No sound broke the stillness when that sad letter had been perused. Mr. +Hamilton had bowed his head upon his hands, for he could not speak of +comfort; the long years of domestic bliss which had been his portion, +made him feel bitterly the trial which the heart of his son was doomed +to endure. And how was he to aid? Could he seek Greville, and condescend +to use persuasions, arguments to force from him his consent? With +clenched hand and knitted brow Percy stood, his thoughts forcibly drawn +from the sufferers by the bitter indignation he felt towards the +heartless, cruel man who had occasioned all. Mrs. Hamilton could think +only of her son, of Mary, whom she had so long loved as her own child, +and the longing to behold her once again, to speak the words of soothing +and of love, with which her heart felt bursting. Emmeline could only +weep, that such should be the fate of one whom from her childhood she +had loved, and whom she had lately anticipated with so much delight +receiving as a sister. For some minutes Ellen sat in deep and painful +thought, then starting up, she flew to the side of her uncle, and +clasping his hand, entreated-- + +"Go to Paris, my dear uncle; go yourself, and see this relentless man; +speak with him, know why he has commanded Mary to receive this Dupont as +her husband; perhaps you may render Herbert's claims as valuable in his +eyes. He has no cause of strife with you; he will hear you, I know he +will; his fury was called forth because he thought Herbert stood in the +way of his wishes. Prove to him the happiness, the life of his child, of +yours, depend on their union. He cannot, he will not refuse to hear you. +Oh, do not hesitate, go to him, my dear uncle; all may not be so +desperate as at this distance we may fancy." + +"My father may as well plead to the hard flint as to Alfred Greville's +feelings," muttered Percy. "Ellen, you know not what you ask; would you +have my father debase himself to a wretch like that?" + +"'Tis Mr. Greville who will be debased, and not my uncle, Percy. The +world might think him humbled to plead to such a man, but they would +think falsely; he is raised above the cringing crowd, who from false +pride would condemn the child of virtue to misery and death, because +they would not bear with the vices of the parent. Were Mary, were Mrs. +Greville in any point otherwise than they are, I would not thus plead, +for there would be no necessity. She could not be so dear to Herbert. I +do not ask my uncle to humble himself; I ask him but to reason with Mr. +Greville, to convince him of his error." + +"What says my Herbert?" demanded Mr. Hamilton, gazing with astonishment +on his niece's animated features, and almost wondering at her unwonted +eloquence. + +"That she has spoken well, and may God in Heaven bless her for the +thought!" exclaimed Herbert, who had roused himself to listen to her +earnest words, and now, with sudden energy, sprung up. "Father, let us +go. Ellen has spoken justly; he will listen to you, he will not hear my +entreaties unmoved. I have never offended him; he is, indeed, a harsh +and cruel man, one whom I would gladly shun, but the father of Mary. Oh, +let us seek him, for her sake we will plead; he will wake from his +dream, he will know he has been in error. Oh, my father, let us go. She +may yet be saved to live and bless me." + +He sunk back on the sofa, and burst into tears. Hope had suddenly sprung +up from the dark void which had been in his heart. Mrs. Hamilton could +not check that suddenly-excited hope, but she did not share it, for she +felt it came but to deceive. She whispered gentle and consoling words, +she spoke of comfort that she could not feel. But once his energies +aroused, they did not fail him. To go instantly to Paris, to seek Mr. +Greville, and plead his own cause, aided by his father's influence, +acknowledge he had been wrong in not asking his consent before, such +thoughts now alone occupied his mind, and Mr. Hamilton could not check +them, though, even as his wife, he shared not his son's sanguine +expectations. That he had once possessed more influence than any one +else over Mr. Greville he well knew; but he thought with Percy, the +dislike felt towards him originated from this, and that it was more than +probable he would remain firm in his refusal to triumph over both +himself and his son; yet he could not hesitate to comply with Herbert's +wishes. Ellen's suggestion had roused him to exertion, and he should not +be permitted to sink back into despondency, at least they should meet. + +It would be difficult to define Ellen's feelings as she beheld her +work, and marked the effect of her words upon her cousin. Not a particle +of selfishness mingled in her feelings, but that deep pang was yet +unconquered. Herbert's manner to her was even kinder, more affectionate +than usual, during the few days that intervened ere they parted, as if +he felt that she had drawn aside the dark veil of impenetrable gloom, +and summoned hope to rise again; and could she see or feel this unmoved? +Still was she calm and tranquil, and she would speak of Mary and of +brighter hopes, and no emotion was betrayed in her pale cheek or in that +tearless eye. + +Percy accompanied his father and brother. They travelled rapidly, and a +favourable voyage enabled them to reach Paris in a shorter time than +usual. Mr. Hamilton had insisted on seeking Mr. Greville's mansion at +first alone, and Percy controlled his own feelings. To calm the strong +emotion, the deep anxiety, that now he was indeed in the same city as +his Mary, almost overpowered Herbert; the struggle for composure, for +resignation to whatever might be the will of his God, was too powerful +for his exhausted strength. Sleep had only visited him by snatches, +short and troubled, since he had received Mary's letter; the long +interval which elapsed ere Mr. Hamilton returned was productive of even +keener suffering than he had yet endured. Hope had sunk powerless before +anxiety; the strength of mind which had borne him up so long was giving +way beneath the exhaustion of bodily powers, which Percy saw with alarm +and sorrow; his eyes had lost their lustre, and were becoming dim and +haggard; more than once he observed a slight shudder pass through his +frame, and felt his words of cheering and of comfort fell unheeded on +his brother's ear. At length Mr. Hamilton returned. + +"She lives, my son," were the first words he uttered, but his tone was +not joyful; "our beloved and gentle Mary yet lives, and soon, very soon +you shall meet, not to part on earth again." + +Herbert gazed wildly in his face, he clasped his hands convulsively, and +then he bowed his head in a deep and fervent burst of thanksgiving. + +"And Greville," said Percy, impatiently, "has he so soon consented? +father, you have not descended to entreaties, and to such a man?" + +"Percy, peace," said his father, gravely. "With Mr. Greville I have +enchanged no words. Thank God, I sought not his house with any hostile +intention, with any irritation urging me against him. Percy, he is dead, +and let his faults die with him." + +"Dead!" repeated the young man, shocked and astonished, and Herbert +started up. His lip quivered with the vain effort to ask an explanation. + +It was even so, that very morning Greville had breathed his last, with +all his sins upon his head, for no time had been allowed him either for +repentance or atonement. A few days after Mary had written to Herbert, +her father had been brought home senseless, and dreadfully injured, by a +fall from his horse. His constitution, shattered by intemperance and +continued dissipation, was not proof against the fever that ensued; +delirium never left him. For five days Mrs. Greville and Mary watched +over his couch. His ravings were dreadful; he would speak of Dupont, at +one time, with imprecations; at others, as if imploring him to forbear. +He would entreat his child to forgive him; and then, with fearful +convulsions, appear struggling with the effort to drag her to the altar. +Mary heard, and her slight frame shook and withered each day faster than +the last, but she moved not from her father's side. In vain Mrs. +Greville watched for some returning consciousness, for some sign to say +he died in peace. Alas! there was none. He expired in convulsions; and +scarcely had his wife and child recovered the awful scene, when the +entrance of the hated Dupont roused them to exertion. He came to claim +Mary as his promised wife, or send them forth as beggars. The house and +all that it contained, even to their jewels, were his; for Greville had +died, owing him debts to an amount which even the sale of all they +possessed could not entirely repay. He had it in his power to arrest the +burial of the scarcely cold corpse, to stain the name of the dead with +undying infamy; and he vowed that he would use his power to its utmost +extent, if Mary's consent were not instantly given. Four-and-twenty +hours he gave her to decide, and departed, leaving inexpressible +wretchedness behind him, on the part of Mrs. Greville, and the calm +stupor of exhaustion and despair pervading Mary's every faculty. + +"My child, my child, it shall not be; you shall not be that heartless +villain's wife. I have health; I can work, teach, do anything to support +us, and why, oh, why should you be thus sacrificed? Mary, Mary, you will +live, my child, to bless your desolate and wretched mother. Oh, my God, +my God, why hast thou thus forsaken me? I have trusted in thee, and wilt +thou thus fail me? To whom can I appeal--what friend have I near me?" + +"Mother, do not speak thus," exclaimed Mary, roused from the lethargy +of exhaustion by her mother's despairing words, and she flung herself on +her knees beside her, and threw her arms around her. "Mother, my own +mother, the God of the widow and the fatherless is still our friend; He +hath not forsaken us, though for a time His countenance is darkened +towards us. Oh, he will have mercy; He will raise us up a friend--I +feel, I know He will. He will relieve us. Let us but trust in Him, +mother; let us not fail now. Oh, let us pray to Him, and He will +answer." + +The eyes of the good and gentle girl were lit up with sudden radiance. +Her pallid cheek was faintly flushed; her whole countenance and tone +expressed the enthusiasm, the holiness which had characterised her whole +life. Mrs. Greville clasped her faded form convulsively to her aching +bosom, and, drooping her head, wept long and freely. + +"Father, I have sinned," she murmured; "oh, have mercy." + +An hour passed, and neither Mary nor her mother moved from that posture +of affliction, yet of prayer. They heard not the sound of many voices +below, nor a rapid footstep on the stairs. The opening of the door +aroused them, but Mary looked not up; she clung closer to her mother, +for she feared to gaze again on Dupont. A wild exclamation of joy, of +thanksgiving, bursting from Mrs. Greville's lips startled her; for a +moment she trembled, yet she could not be mistaken, that tone was joy. +Slowly she looked on the intruder. Wildly she sprung up--she clasped her +hands together. + +"My God, I thank thee, we are saved!" broke from her parched lips, and +she sunk senseless at Mr. Hamilton's feet. + +Emissaries of wickedness were not wanting to convey the intelligence +very quickly to Dupont's ear, that Mrs. and Miss Greville had departed +from the Rue Royale, under the protection of an English gentleman, who +had stationed two of his servants at their house to protect Mr. +Greville's body from insult, and give him information of all that took +place during his absence. Furiously enraged, Dupont hastened to know the +truth of these reports, and a scene of fierce altercation took place +between him and Mr. Hamilton. The calm, steady firmness of his +unexpected opponent daunted Dupont as much as his cool sarcastic +bitterness galled him to the quick. The character of the man was known; +he was convinced he dared not bring down shame on the memory of +Greville, without inculpating himself, without irretrievably injuring +his own character, and however he might use that threat as his weapon to +compel Mary's submission, Mr. Hamilton was perfectly easy on that head. +Dupont's cowardly nature very soon evinced itself. A few words from Mr. +Hamilton convinced him that his true character had been penetrated, and +dreading exposure, he changed his ground and his tone, acknowledged he +had been too violent, but that his admiration for Miss Greville had been +the sole cause; expressed deep sorrow for Mr. Greville's melancholy end, +disavowed all intention of preventing the interment of the body, and +finally consented to liquidate all debts, save those which the sale of +the house and furniture might suffice to discharge. + +Scarcely could Mr. Hamilton command his indignation during this +interview, or listen to Dupont's professions, excuses, defences, and +concessions, without losing temper. He would not consent to be under any +obligation: if M. Dupont could _prove_ that more was owing than that +which he had consented to receive, it should be paid directly, but he +should institute inquiries as to the legality of his claims, and +carefully examine all the papers of the deceased. + +"It was not at all necessary," Dupont replied. "The sum he demanded was +due for debts of honour, which he had a slip of paper in Greville's own +handwriting to prove." + +Mr. Hamilton made no further reply, and they parted with nothing decided +on either side, Dupont only repeating his extreme distress at having +caused Miss Greville so much unnecessary pain; that had he known she was +engaged to another, he would never have persisted in his suit, and +deeply regretted he had been so deceived. + +Mr. Hamilton heard him with an unchanging countenance, and gravely and +formally bowed him out of the house. He then placed his seal on the lock +of a small cabinet, which Mrs. Greville's one faithful English servant +informed him contained all his master's private papers, dismissed the +French domestics, and charging the Englishmen to be careful in their +watch that no strangers should be admitted, he hastened to impart to his +anxiously-expecting sons all the important business he had transacted. + +Early the following morning Mr. Hamilton received intelligence which +very much annoyed and startled him. Notwithstanding the vigilant watch +of the three Englishmen stationed at Mr. Greville's house, the cabinet, +which contained all his private papers, was gone. The men declared +again and again, no one could have entered the house without their +knowledge, or removed such a thing as that without some noise. Mr. +Hamilton went instantly with them to the house; how it had been taken he +could not discover, but it was so small that Mr. Hamilton felt it could +easily have been removed; and he had no doubt that Dupont had bribed one +of the dismissed servants, who was well acquainted with every secret of +the house, to purloin it for him, and Dupont he instantly determined on +charging with the atrocious theft. Dupont, however, had decamped, he was +nowhere to be found; but he had desired an agent to receive from Mr. +Hamilton's hands the payment of the debts he still claimed, and from +this man it was endeavoured by many questions to discover some traces of +his employer, but all in vain. M. Dupont had left Paris, he said, the +previous evening. + +Mr. Hamilton was not satisfied, and, consequently, seeking an able +solicitor, put the affair into his hands, and desired that he would use +every means in his power to obtain the restoration of the papers. That +Dupont had it in his power farther to injure the widow and child of the +deceased he did not believe; he rather thought that his extreme desire +to obtain them proceeded from a consciousness that they betrayed some of +his own evil deeds, yet he could not feel easy till they were either +regained, or he knew that they were destroyed. Mrs. Greville earnestly +wished their recovery, for she feared they might, through the similarity +of names, bring some evil on her son, towards whom her fond heart yet +painfully yearned, though years had passed since she had seen, and many +weary months since she had heard of him. Her fears on this head +rendered both Mr. Hamilton and Percy still more active in their +proceedings, and both determined on remaining at Paris even after +Herbert and Mrs. Greville, with Mary, had left for England. + +And what did Herbert feel as he looked on the fearful change in her he +loved? Not yet did he think that she must die; that beaming eye, that +radiant cheek, that soft, sweet smile--oh, could such things tell of +death to him who loved? He held her to his heart, and only knew that he +was blessed. + +And Mary, she was happy; the past seemed as a dim and troubled vision; +the smile of him she loved was ever near her, his low sweet voice was +sounding in her ear. A calm had stolen over her, a holy soothing calm. +She did not speak her thoughts to Herbert, for she saw that he still +hoped on; they were together, and the present was enough. But silently +she prayed that his mind might be so prepared, so chastened, that when +his eyes were opened, the truth might not be so terrible to bear. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +It was indeed a day of happiness that beheld the arrival of Mrs. +Greville and Mary at Oakwood, unalloyed to them, but not so, alas! to +those who received them. Mrs. Hamilton pressed the faded form of Mary to +her heart, she kissed her repeatedly, but it was long before she could +speak the words of greeting; she looked on her and on her son, and tears +rose so thick and fast, she was compelled to turn away to hide them. +Ellen alone retained her calmness. In the fond embrace that had passed +between her and Mary, it is true her lip had quivered and her cheek had +paled, but her agitation passed unnoticed. + +"It was _her_ voice, my Mary, that roused me to exertion, it was her +representations that bade me not despair," whispered Herbert, as he hung +over Mary's couch that evening, and perceived Ellen busily employed in +arranging her pillows. "When, overwhelmed by the deep misery occasioned +by your letter, I had no power to act, it was her ready thought that +dictated to my father the course he so successfully pursued." Mary +pressed the hand of Ellen within both her own, and looked up gratefully +in her face. A faint smile played round the orphan's lips, but she made +no observation in reply. + +A very few weeks elapsed before the dreaded truth forced itself upon the +minds of all, even on her mother, that Mary was sinking, surely sinking, +there was no longer hope. Devotedly as her friends loved her, they could +not sorrow, before her they could not weep. She was spared all bodily +suffering save that proceeding from debility, so extreme she could not +walk across the room without assistance. No pain distorted the +expression of her features, which, in this hour of approaching death, +looked more lovely than they had ever seemed before; her soft blue eye +beamed at times with a celestial light, and her fair hair shaded a brow +and cheek so transparent, every blue vein could be clearly seen. One +thought alone gave her pain, her Herbert she felt was still unprepared. + +He was speaking one day of the future, anticipating the time when the +Rectory would receive her as its gentle mistress, and of the many things +which occupied his thoughts for the furtherance of her comfort, when +Mary laid her hand gently on his arm, and, with a smile of peculiar +sweetness, said-- + +"Do not think any more of such things, my beloved; the mansion which +will behold our blessed union is already furnished and prepared; I may +seek it first, but it will be but to render it even yet more desirable +to you." + +Herbert looked on her face to read the meaning of her words; he read +them, alas! too plainly, but voice utterly failed. + +"Look not on me thus," she continued, in that same pleading and soothing +tone. "Our mansion is prepared for us above; below, my Herbert, oh, +think not it will ever receive me. Why should I hesitate to speak the +truth? The blessed Saviour, to whose arms I so soon shall go, will give +you strength to bear this; He hath promised that He will, my own +Herbert, my first, my only love. My Saviour calls me, and to Him, oh, +can you not without tears resign me?" + +"Mary," murmured the unhappy Herbert, "Mary, oh, do not, do not torture +me. You will not die; you will not leave me desolate." + +"I shall not die, but live, my beloved--live, oh, in such blessedness! +'tis but a brief, brief parting, Herbert, to meet and love eternally." + +"You are ill, you are weak, my own Mary, and thus death is ever present +to your mind; but you will recover, oh, I know, I feel you will. My God +will hear my prayers." + +"And He will grant them, Herbert--oh, doubt Him not, grant them, even in +my removal. He takes me not from you, my Herbert, He but places me, +where to seek me, you must look to and love but Him alone; and will you +shrink from this? Will that spirit, vowed to His service from your +earliest boyhood, now murmur at His will? Oh, no, no; my Herbert will +yet support and strengthen his Mary, I know, I feel he will. Forgive me +if I have pained you, my best love; but I could bear no other lips than +mine to tell you, that on earth I may not live--but a brief space more, +and I shall be called away. You must not mourn for me, my Herbert; I die +so happy, oh, so very happy!" + +Herbert had sunk on his knees beside her couch; he drooped his head upon +his hands, and a strong convulsion shook his frame. He uttered no sound, +he spoke no word, but Mary could read the overwhelming anguish that +bowed his spirit to the earth. The words were spoken; he knew that she +must die, and Mary raised her mild eyes to heaven, and clasped her hands +in earnest prayer for him. "Forsake him not now, oh God; support him +now; oh, give him strength to meet Thy will," was the import of her +prayer. Long was that deep, deep stillness, but when Herbert looked up +again he was calm. + +"May God in heaven bless you, my beloved," he said, and imprinted a long +fervent kiss upon her forehead. "You have taught me my Saviour's will, +and I will meet it. May He forgive--" His words failed him; again he +held her to his heart, and then he sat by her side and read from the +Book of Life, of peace, of comfort, those passages which might calm this +anguish and strengthen her; he read till sleep closed the eyes of his +beloved. Yes, she was the idol of his young affections; he felt her +words were true, and when she was gone there would be naught to bind his +spirit to this world. + +It would be needless to lift the veil from Herbert's moments of +solitary prayer. Those who have followed him through his boyhood and +traced his character need no description of his feelings. We know the +intensity of his earthly affections, the strength and force of his every +emotion, the depth and holiness of his spiritual sentiments, and vain +then would be the attempt to portray his private moments in this dread +trial: yet before his family he was calm, before his Mary cheerful. She +felt her prayers were heard, he was, he would be yet more supported, and +her last pang was soothed. + +Mr. Hamilton had returned from France, unsuccessful, however, in his +wish to obtain the restitution of Greville's papers. Dupont had +concealed his measures so artfully, and with such efficacy, that no +traces were discovered regarding him, and Mr. Hamilton felt it was no +use to remain himself, confident in the integrity and abilities of the +solicitor to whom he had intrusted the whole affair; he was +unaccompanied, however, by Percy, who, as his sister's wedding was, from +Mary's illness, postponed, determined on paying Lord and Lady St. Eval a +visit at Geneva. + +As Emmeline's engagement with Arthur very frequently engrossed her time, +Ellen had devoted herself assiduously as Mary's constant nurse, and well +and tenderly she performed her office. There was no selfishness in her +feelings, deeply, unfeignedly she sorrowed, and willingly, gladly would +she have laid down her life to preserve Mary's, that this fearful trial +might be removed from Herbert. To spare him one pang, oh, what would she +not have endured. Controlled and calm, who could have guessed the chaos +of contending feeling that was passing within; who, that had seen the +gentle smile with which she would receive Herbert's impassioned thanks +for her care of his Mary, could have suspected the thrill, the pang +those simple words occasioned. Mary alone of those around her, except +Mrs. Hamilton, was not deceived. She loved Ellen, had long done so, and +the affectionate attention she so constantly received from her had drawn +the bonds of friendship closer. She felt convinced she was not happy, +that there was something heavy on her mind, and the quick intellect of a +vivid fancy and loving nature guessed the truth. Her wish to see her +happy became so powerful, that she could not control it. She fancied +that Ellen might be herself deceived, and that the object of her +affections once known, all difficulties would be smoothed. The idea that +her last act might be to secure the happiness of Ellen, was so soothing +to her grateful and affectionate feelings, that, after dwelling on it +some time, she took the first opportunity of being alone with her friend +to seek her confidence. + +"No, dearest, do not read to me," she said, one evening, in answer to +Ellen's question. "I would rather talk with you; do not look anxious, I +will not fatigue myself. Come, and sit by me, dear Ellen, it is of you +that I would speak." + +"Of me?" repeated Ellen, surprised. "Nay, dearest Mary, can you not find +a more interesting subject?" + +"No, love, for you are often in my thoughts; the approach of death has, +I think, sharpened every faculty, for I see and read trifles clearer +than I ever did before; and I can read through all that calm control and +constant smile that you are not happy, my kind Ellen; and will you think +me a rude intruder on your thoughts if I ask you why?" + +"Do you not remember, Mary, I was ever unlike others?" replied Ellen, +shrinking from her penetrating gaze. "I never knew what it was to be +lively and joyous even as a child, and as years increase, is it likely +that I should? I am contented with my lot, and with so many blessings +around, should I not be ungrateful were I otherwise?" + +"You evade my question, Ellen, and convince me more and more that I am +right. Ah, you know not how my last hour would be soothed, could I feel +that I had done aught to restore happiness to one who has been to me the +blessing you have been, dear Ellen." + +"Think not of it, dearest Mary," said Ellen. "I ought to be happy, very +happy, and if I am not, it is my own wayward temper. You cannot give me +happiness, Mary; do not let the thought of me disturb you, dearest, kind +as is your wish, it is unavailing." + +"Do not say so, Ellen; we are apt to look on sorrow, while it is +confined to our own anxious breasts, as incurable and lasting; but when +once it is confessed, how quickly do difficulties vanish, and the grief +is often gone before we are aware it is departing. Do not, dearest, +magnify it by the encouragement which solitary thought bestows." + +"Are there not some sorrows, Mary, which are better ever concealed? Does +not the opening of a wound often make it bleed afresh, whereas, hidden +in our own heart, it remains closed till time has healed it." + +"Some there are," said Mary, "which are indeed irremediable, but"--she +paused a moment, then slightly raising herself on her couch, she threw +her arm round Ellen's neck, and said, in a low yet deeply expressive +voice--"is your love, indeed, so hopeless, my poor Ellen? Oh, no, it +cannot be; surely, there is not one whom you have known sufficiently to +give your precious love, can look on you and not return it." + +Ellen started, a deep and painful flush rose for a moment to her cheek, +she struggled to speak calmly, to deny the truth of Mary's suspicion, +but she could not, the secret of her heart was too suddenly exposed +before her, and she burst into tears. How quickly will a word, a tone +destroy the well-maintained calmness of years; how strangely and +suddenly will the voice of sympathy lift from the heart its veil. + +"You have penetrated my secret," she said, and her voice faltered, "and +I will not deny it; but oh, Mary, let us speak no more of it. When a +woman is weak enough to bestow her affections on one who never sought, +who will never seek them, surely the more darkly they are hidden, the +better for her own peace as well as character. My love was not called +for. I never had aught to hope; and if that unrequited affection be the +destroyer of my happiness, it has sprung from my own weakness, and I +alone have but to bear it." + +"But is there no hope, Ellen--none? Do not think so, dearest. If his +affections be still disengaged, is there not hope they may one day be +yours?" + +"No, Mary, none. I knew his affections were engaged; I knew he never +could be mine, and yet I loved him. Oh, Mary, do not scorn my weakness; +you have wrung my secret from me, do not, oh, do not betray me. There is +no shame in loving one so good, so holy, and yet--and yet--Mary, dearest +Mary, promise me you will not speak it--I cannot rest unless you do; let +it pass your lips to _none_." + +"It shall not, my Ellen; be calm, your secret shall die with me, +dearest," replied Mary, earnestly, for Ellen's feelings completely +overpowered her, and bursting sobs choked her utterance. + +"For me there is no hope. Oh, could I but see him happy, I should ask no +more; but, oh, to see him miserable, and feel I have no power to +soothe--when--" She paused abruptly, again the burning blood dyed her +cheeks, even her temples with crimson. Mary's eyes were fixed upon her +in sympathy, in love; Ellen fancied in surprise, yet suspicion. With one +powerful effort she conquered herself, she forced back the scalding +tears, the convulsive sob, and bending over Mary, pressed her trembling +lips upon her pale brow. + +"Let us speak no more of this, dearest Mary," she said, in a low calm +voice. "May God bless you for your intended kindness. It is over now. +Forgive me, dearest Mary, I have agitated and disturbed you." + +"Nay, forgive me, my sweet Ellen. It is I who have given you pain, and +should ask your forgiveness. I thought not of such utter hopelessness. I +had hoped that, ere I departed, I might have seen the dawn of happiness +for you; but I see, I feel now that cannot be. My own Ellen, I need not +tell you the comfort, the blessed comfort of prayer." + +For a few minutes there was silence. Ellen had clasped the hand of Mary, +and turned aside her head to conceal the tears that slowly stole down +her cheek. The entrance of Emmeline was a relief to both, and Ellen left +the room; and when she returned, even to Mary's awakened eyes, there +were no traces of agitation. Each week produced a visible change in +Mary; she became weaker and weaker, but her mind retained its energy, +and often her sorrowing friends feared she would pass from the detaining +grasp of love, ere they were aware of the actual moment of her +departure. One evening she begged that all the family might assemble in +her room; she felt stronger, and wished to see them altogether again. +Her wish was complied with, and she joined so cheerfully in the +conversation that passed around, that her mother and Herbert forgot +anxiety. It was a soft and lovely evening; her couch, at her own +request, had been drawn to the open window, and the dying girl looked +forth on the beautiful scene beneath. The trees bore the rich full green +of summer, save where the brilliantly setting sun tinged them with hues +of gold and crimson. Part of the river was also discernible at this +point, lying in the bosom of trees, as a small lake, on which the +heavens were reflected in all their surpassing splendour. The sun, or +rather its remaining beams, rested on the brow of a hill, which, lying +in the deepest shadow, formed a superb contrast with the flood of liquid +gold that bathed its brow. Clouds of purple, gold, crimson, in some +parts fading into pink, floated slowly along the azure heavens, and the +perfect stillness that reigned around completed the enchantment of the +scene. + +"Look up, my Mary, and mark those clouds of light," said Herbert. "See +the splendour of their hues, the unstained blue beyond; beautiful as is +earth, it shows not such exquisite beauty as yon heaven displays, even +to our mortal sight, nor calls such feelings of adoration forth. What +then will it be when that blue arch is rent asunder, and the effulgent +glory of the Maker of that heaven burst upon our view?" + +"Blessed, oh, how blessed are those who, conducted by the Lamb of God, +can share that glory," answered Mary, with sudden energy. "Who can speak +the unutterable love which, while the beauteous earth yet retains the +traces of an awful curse, hath washed from man his sin, and takes from +death its sting?" + +"And is it this thought, this faith which supports you now, my Mary?" +demanded Herbert, with that deep tenderness of one so peculiarly his +own. + +"It is, it is," she answered, fervently, "My sins are washed away; my +prayers are heard, for my Saviour pleads, and my home is prepared on +high amid the redeemed and the saved. Oh, blessed be the God of truth +that hath granted me this faith"--she paused a minute, then added--"and +heard my prayer, my beloved Herbert, and permitted me thus to die in my +native land, surrounded by those I love!" + +She leaned her head on Herbert's bosom, and for some time remained +silent; then looking up, said cheerfully, "Do you remember, Emmeline, +when we were together some few years ago, we always said such a scene +and hour as this only wanted music to make it perfect? I feel as if all +those fresh delightful feelings of girlhood had come over me again. +Bring your harp and sing to me, dearest, those words you read to me the +other day." + +"Nay, Mary, will it not disturb you?" said Emmeline, kneeling by her +couch, and kissing the thin hand extended to her. + +"No, dearest, not your soft, sweet voice, it will soothe and give me +pleasure. I feel stronger and better to-night than I have done for some +time. Sing to me, but only those words, dear Emmy; all others would +neither suit this scene nor my feelings." + +For a moment Emmeline hesitated, and looked towards her mother and Mrs. +Greville. Neither was inclined to make any objection to her request, and +on the appearance of her harp, under the superintendence of Arthur, +Emmeline prepared to comply. She placed the instrument at the further +end of the apartment, that the notes might fall softer on Mary's ear, +and sung, in a sweet and plaintive voice, the following words:-- + + "Remember me! ah, not with sorrow, + 'Tis but sleep to wake in bliss. + Life's gayest hours can seek to borrow + Vainly such a dream as this. + + Ah, see, 'tis heaven itself revealing + To my dimmed and failing sight; + And hark! 'tis angels' voices stealing + Through the starry veil of night. + + Come, brother, come; ah, quickly sever + The cold links of earth's dull chain; + Come to thy home, where thou wilt never + Pain or sorrow feel again. + + Come, brother, come; we spread before thee + Visions of thy blissful home; + Heed not, if Death's cold pang come o'er thee, + It will but bid thee haste and come! + + Ah, yes, I see bright forms are breaking + Through the mist that veils mine eyes; + Now gladly, gladly, earth forsaking, + Take, oh, take me to the skies. + +The mournful strain ceased, and there was silence. Emmeline had adapted +the words to that beautiful air of Weber's, the last composition of his +gifted mind. Mary's head still rested on the bosom of Herbert, her hand +clasped his. Evening was darkening into twilight, or the expression of +her countenance might have been remarked as changed--more spiritual, as +if the earthly shell had shared the beatified glory of the departing +spirit. She fixed her fading eyes on Ellen, who was kneeling by her +couch, steadily and calmly, but Ellen saw her not, for in that hour her +eyes were fixed, as in fascination on the form of Herbert, as he bent +over his beloved. The dying girl saw that mournful glance, and a gleam +of intelligence passed over her beautiful features. She extended one +hand to Ellen, who clasped it fondly, and then she tried to draw it +towards Herbert. She looked up in his face, as if to explain the meaning +of the action, but voice and strength utterly failed, and Ellen's hand +dropped from her grasp. + +"Kiss me, Herbert, I would sleep," she said, so faintly, Herbert alone +heard it. Their lips met in one long lingering kiss, and then Mary +drooped her head again upon his bosom, and seemed to sleep so gently, so +sweetly, her friends held their breath lest they should disturb her. +Nearly half an hour passed and still there was no movement. The full +soft light of an unclouded moon fell within that silent chamber, and +gilded the forms of Mary and Herbert with a silvery halo, that seemed to +fall from heaven itself upon them. Mary's head had fallen slightly +forward, and her long luxuriant hair, escaped from its confinement, +concealed her features as a veil of shadowy gold. Gently and tenderly +Herbert raised her head, so as to rest upon his arm; as he did so her +hair fell back and fully exposed her countenance. A faint cry broke from +his parched lips, and Ellen started in agony to her feet. + +"Hush, hush, my Mary sleeps," Mrs. Greville said; but Mr. Hamilton +gently drew her from the couch and from the room. Her eyes were closed; +a smile illumined that sweet face, as in sleep it had so often done, and +that soft and shadowy light took from her features all the harsher tale +of death. Yes, she did sleep sweetly and calmly, but her pure spirit had +departed. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +It was long, very long ere Mr. Hamilton's family recovered the shock of +Mary's death. She had been so long loved, living amongst them from her +birth, her virtues and gentleness were so well known and appreciated by +every member. She had been by Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton so long considered +as their child, by her betrothment with their Herbert, that they +sorrowed for her as if indeed she had been bound to them by that tender +tie; and her poor mother now indeed felt desolate: her only treasure, +her precious, almost idolized Mary, was taken from her, and she was +childless, for of Alfred she had long ceased to receive intelligence. +She bowed her head, earnestly striving for submission, but it was long, +long ere peace returned; soothed she was indeed by the tender kindness +of her friends; but what on earth can soothe a bereaved and doting +mother? Emmeline, Ellen, Herbert, even Arthur Myrvin, treated her with +all the love and reverence of children, but neither could fill the +aching void within. On Herbert indeed her spirit rested with more +fondness than on any other object, but it was with a foreboding love; +she looked on him and trembled. It was a strange and affecting sight, +could any one have looked on those two afflicted ones: to hear Herbert +speak words of holy comfort to the mother of his Mary, to hear him speak +of hope, of resignation, mark the impress of that heavenly virtue on +his pale features; his grief was all internal, not a word escaped his +lips, not a thought of repining crossed his chastened mind. The extent +of that deep anguish was seen alone in his fading form, in his pallid +features; but it was known only to the Searcher of all hearts. He had +wished to perform the last office to his Mary, but his father and +Archdeacon Howard conjured him to abandon the idea, and suffer the +latter to take his place. All were bathed in tears during that solemn +and awful service. Scarcely could Mr. Howard command his voice +throughout, and his concluding words were wholly inaudible. But no +movement was observable in Herbert's slight and boyish form; enveloped +in his long mourning robe, his features could not be seen, but there was +somewhat around him that created in the breasts of all who beheld him a +sensation of reverence. All departed from the lowly grave, but Herbert +yet remained motionless and silent. His father and Myrvin gently sought +to lead him away, but scarcely had he proceeded two paces, when he sunk +down on the grass in a long and deathlike swoon; so painfully had it the +appearance of death, that his father and friends believed for a time his +spirit had indeed fled to seek his Mary; but he recovered. There was +such an aspect of serenity and submission on his countenance, that all +who loved him would have been at peace, had not the thought pressed +heavily on their minds that such feelings were not long for earth. + +These fainting fits returned at intervals, and Mrs. Hamilton, whilst she +struggled to lift up her soul in undying faith to the God of Love, and +resignedly commit into His hands the life and death of her beloved son, +yet every time she gazed on him, while lying insensible before her, felt +more and more how difficult was the lesson she so continually strove to +learn; how hard it would be to part from him, if indeed he were called +away. She compared her lot with Mrs. Greville's, and thought how much +greater was her trial; and yet she, too, was a mother, and though so +many other gifts were vouchsafed her, Herbert was as dear to her as Mary +had been to Mrs. Greville. Must she lose him now, now that the fruit she +had so fondly cherished, watched as it expanded from the infant germ, +had bloomed so richly to repay her care, would he be taken from her now +that every passing month appeared to increase his love for her and hers +for him? for Herbert clung to his mother in this dread hour of +affliction with increasing fondness. True, he never spoke the extent of +his feelings even to her, but his manner betrayed how much he loved her, +how deeply he felt her sympathy, which said that next to his God, he +leaned on her. + +At first Mr. Hamilton wished his son to resign the Rectory and join his +brother and sister at Geneva, and then accompany Percy on his travels; +but mournfully yet steadily Herbert rejected this plan. + +"No, father," he said. "My duties as a son and brother, as well as the +friend and father of the flock committed to my charge, will be far more +soothing and beneficial, believe me, than travelling in far distant +lands. My health is at present such, that my home and the beloved +friends of my infancy appear dearer to me than ever, and I cannot part +from them to seek happiness elsewhere. I will do all in my power, by the +steady discharge of my many and interesting duties, to preserve my +health and restore peace and contentment. I seek not to resign my charge +in this world till my Saviour calls me; His work has yet to be done on, +earth, and till He dismisses me, I will cheerfully perform it; till then +do not ask me to forsake it." + +Mr. Hamilton wrung his son's hand in silence, and never again urged his +departure. + +There was no selfishness in Herbert's sorrow; he was still the devoted +son, the affectionate brother, the steady friend to his own immediate +circle; and to the poor committed to his spiritual charge, he was in +truth, as he had said he would be, a father and a friend. In soothing +the sufferings of others, his own became less bitterly severe; in +bidding others hope, and watch, and pray, he found his own spirit +strengthened and its frequent struggles calmed. With such unwavering +steadiness were his duties performed, that his bodily sufferings never +could have been discovered, had not those alarming faints sometimes +overpowered him in the cottages he visited ere his duties were +completed; and he was thankful, when such was the case, that it occurred +when from home, that his mother was thus sometimes spared anxiety. He +would walk on quietly home, remain some little time in his own chamber, +and then join his family cheerful and composed as usual, that no one +might suspect he had been ill. + +Arthur Myrvin often gazed on his friend with emotions of admiration, +almost amounting to awe. His love for Emmeline was the strongest feeling +of his heart, and when for a moment he fancied her snatched from him, as +Mary had been from Herbert, he felt he knew he could not have acted like +his friend: he must have flown from scenes, every trace of which could +speak of the departed, or, if he had remained, he could not, as Herbert +did, have attended to his duties, have been like him so calm. + +In the society of his cousin Ellen, Herbert found both solace and +pleasure. She had been so devoted to the departed, that he felt he loved +her more fondly than he had ever done, and he would seek her as the +companion of a walk, and give her directions as to the cottages he +sometimes wished her to visit, with a portion of his former animation, +but Ellen never permitted herself to be deceived; it was still a +brother's love, she knew it never could be more, and she struggled long +to control, if not to banish, the throb of joy that ever filled her +bosom when she perceived there were times she had power to call the +smile to Herbert's pensive features. + +Percy's letters were such as to soothe his brother by his affectionate +sympathy; to betray more powerfully than ever to Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton +how dear to each other were their sons, how pure and consoling was the +friendship subsisting between them, and on other points to give much +pleasure to all his family. Caroline's health was much improved; her +little son, Percy declared, was such a nice, merry fellow, and so +handsome, that he was quite sure he resembled in all respects what he, +Percy Hamilton, must have been at the venerable age of two years. He +said farther, that as Lord and Lady St. Eval were going to make the tour +of the principal cities of Europe, he should remain with them and be +contented with what they saw, instead of rambling alone all over the +world, as he had intended. At first Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton were somewhat +surprised at this decision, but knowing the nature of their son, began +to fancy that a certain Miss Manvers had something to do with it, the +sister of Lord Delmont, the Earl St. Eval's most intimate friend, and +the chosen friend of Mary Greville during her residence at Monte Rosa. +In Lord Delmont's will he had left the Earl guardian of his sister +during the year that intervened before her coming of age, an office +which rendered St. Eval still more intimate with the family. On his way +to Geneva he had heard from Miss Manvers of her mother's death, and that +she was residing with an English family on the banks of the Lake. The +information that her brother's friends, and indeed her own, with his +wife and family, intended spending some little time at Geneva, was a +source of so much pleasure, that after a little hesitation she accepted +the earnest invitation of both the Earl and his lady, and gladly and +gratefully consented to reside with them during their stay in +Switzerland, and then accompany them on their intended tour. + +The strong affection Percy bore his brother rendered him long unable to +regain his usual mirth and flow of spirits, and he found the +conversation of Louisa Manvers even more pleasing than ever. Mary had +made her perfectly acquainted with Herbert, and therefore, though she +had never seen him, she was well enabled to enter into the deep +affliction the loss of his betrothed must have occasioned him. Percy +could speak to her as often as he pleased of his brother and Mary, and +ever found sympathy and interest attached to the subject. Thus the idea +of travelling alone, when his sister's family offered such attractions, +became absolutely irksome to him, and he was pleased to see that his +plan of joining them was not disagreeable to Miss Manvers. Mr. Hamilton +sent his unqualified approval of Percy's intentions, and Herbert also +wrote sufficiently of himself to satisfy the anxious affection of his +brother. + +There was only one disappointing clause in Percy's plans, and he +regretted it himself, and even hinted that if his sister still very much +wished it, he would give up his intention, and return home in time to be +present, as he had promised, at her wedding. He wrote in his usual +affectionate strain both to Emmeline and Myrvin, but neither was selfish +enough to wish such a sacrifice. + +At Herbert's earnest entreaty, the marriage of his sister was, however, +fixed rather earlier than she had intended. It was not, he said, as if +their marriage was to be like Caroline's, the signal for a long course +of gaiety and pleasure; that Emmeline had always determined on only her +own family being present, and everything would be so quiet, he was sure +there could be no necessity for a longer postponement. + +"My Mary wished to have beheld your union," his lip trembled as he +spoke; "had not her illness so rapidly increased she wished to have been +present, and could she now speak her wishes, it would be to bid you be +happy--no longer to defer your union for her sake. Do not defer it, dear +Emmeline," he added, in a somewhat sadder tone, "we know not the events +of an hour, and wherefore should we delay? it will be such joy to me to +unite my friend and my sister, to pour forth on their love the blessing +of the Lord." + +There was something so inexpressibly sweet yet mournful in his +concluding words, that Emmeline, unable to restrain the impulse, leaned +upon his neck and wept. + +"Do not chide my weakness, Herbert," she tried to say, "these are not +tears of unmingled sadness; oh, could I but see you happy." + +"And you will, my sweet sister: soon--very soon, I shall be happy, +quite--quite happy," he added, in a lower tone, as he fondly kissed her +brow. + +Emmeline had not marked the tone of his concluding words, she had not +seen the expression of his features; but Ellen had, and a cold yet +indefinable thrill passed through her heart, and left a pang behind, +which she could not conquer the whole of that day. She understood it +not, for she _would_ not understand. + +Urged on, however, a few days afterwards, during a walk with Herbert, +she asked him why he was so anxious the ceremony should take place +without delay. + +"Because, my dear Ellen, I look forward to the performance of this +ceremony as a source of pleasure which I could not bear to resign to +another." + +"To another, Herbert; what do you mean? Do you think of following my +uncle's advice, and resigning your duties for a time, for the purpose of +travel?" + +"No, Ellen; those duties will not be resigned till I am called away; +they are sources of enjoyment and consolation too pure to be given up. I +do not wish my sister's wedding to be deferred, for I know not how soon +my Saviour may call me to Himself." + +"May we not all urge that plea, my dear cousin?" said Ellen; "and yet in +your sermon last Sunday, you told us to do all things soberly, to give +due reflection to things of weight, particularly those in which temporal +and eternal interests were united; not to enter rashly and hastily into +engagements, not too quickly to put off the garb of mourning, and plunge +once more into the haunts of pleasure." She paused. + +"I did say all this, Ellen, I own; but it has not much to do with our +present subject. Emmeline's engagement with Arthur has not been entered +on rashly or in haste. She does not throw off the garb of mourning to +forget the serious thoughts it may have encouraged; and though you are +right, we none of us can know how soon we may be called away, yet, +surely, it behoves those unto whom the dart has sped, the mandate been +given, to set their house in order for they shall surely die, and not +live the usual period of mortals." + +"But who can tell this, Herbert? who are so favoured as to know the +actual moment when the dart has sped and how soon it will reach them? +should we not all live as if death were near?" + +"Undoubtedly, we should so order our souls, as ever to be ready to +render them back to Him who gave them; but we cannot always so arrange +our worldly matters, as we should, did we know the actual moment of +death's appearance; our business may require constant care, we may have +dear objects for whom it is our duty to provide, to the best of our +power, and did we know when we should die, these things would lose the +interest they demand. Death should, indeed, be ever present to our +minds; it should follow us in our joy as in our sorrow, and never will +it come as a dark and gloomy shadow to those who in truth believe; but +wise and merciful is the decree that conceals from us the moment of our +departure. Were the gates of Heaven thus visible, how tame and cold +would this world appear; how few would be the ties we should form, how +insignificant would seem those duties which on earth we are commanded to +perform. No, to prepare our souls to be ready at a minute's warning to +return to their heavenly home is the duty of all. More is not expected +from those in perfect health; but, Ellen, when a mortal disease is +consuming this earthly tabernacle, when, though Death linger, he is +already seen, ay, and even felt approaching, then should we not wind up +our worldly affairs, instead of wilfully blinding our eyes to the truth, +as, alas! too many do? Then should we not 'watch and pray' yet more, not +only for ourselves, but those dearest to us, and do all in our power to +secure their happiness, ere we are called away?" + +Ellen could not answer. She understood too well his meaning; a sickness +as of death crept over her, but with an effort she subdued that deadly +faintness; she would have spoken on other things, but her tongue was +parched and dry. + +Engrossed in his own solemn feelings, in the wish to prepare his cousin +for the truth, Herbert perceived not her agitation, and, after a +minute's pause, continued tenderly-- + +"My own cousin, death to you is, I know, not terrible; why then should I +hesitate to impart tidings which to me are full of bliss? The shaft +which bore away my Mary, also entered my heart, and implanted in me the +disease which no mortal skill can cure. Do not chide me for entertaining +an unfounded fancy. Ellen, dear Ellen, I look to you, under heaven, to +support my mother under this affliction. I look to your fond cares to +subdue the pang of parting. You alone of her children will be left near +her, and you can do much to comfort and soothe not only her, but my +father; they will mourn for me, nature will speak, though I go to joy +inexpressible, unutterable! Ellen, speak to me; will you not do this, my +sister, my friend?" + +"Give me but a moment," she murmured almost inaudibly, as, overpowered +by increasing faintness, she sunk down on a grassy bank near them, and +buried her face in her hands. Minutes rolled by, and still there was +silence. Herbert sat down beside her, threw his arm around her, and +pressed a brother's kiss upon her cold, damp brow. She started and would +have risen, but strength failed; for a moment her head leaned against +his bosom, and a burst of tears relieved her. "Forgive me, Herbert," she +said, striving at once for composure and voice. "Oh, weak as I am, do +not repent your confidence. It was unexpected, sudden; the idea of +parting was sharper than at the first moment I could bear, but it will +soon be over, very, very soon; do not doubt me, Herbert." She fixed her +mournful eyes upon his face, and her cheek was very pale, "Yes," she +said, with returning strength, "trust me, dear Herbert, I will be to my +aunt, my more than mother, ever as you wish. My every care, my every +energy shall be employed to soften that deep anguish which--" She could +not complete the sentence, but quickly added, "the deep debt of +gratitude I owe her, not a whole life can repay. Long have I felt it, +long wished to devote myself to her and to my uncle, and this charge has +confirmed me in my resolution. Yes, dearest Herbert, while Ellen lives, +never, never shall my beloved aunt be lonely." + +Herbert understood not the entire signification of his cousin's words; +he knew not, that simple as they were to his ears, to her they were a +vow sacred and irrevocable. She knew she could never, never love +another, and there was something strangely soothing in the thought, that +it was his last request that consecrated her to his mother, to her +benefactress. To feel that, in endeavouring to repay the dept of +gratitude she owed, she could associate Herbert intimately with her +every action, so to perform his last charge, that could he look down +from heaven it would be to bless her. + +Herbert knew not the intensity of Ellen's feelings, still less did he +imagine he was the object of her ill-fated affection. Never once had +such a suspicion crossed his mind; that she loved him he doubted not, +but he thought it was as Emmeline loved. He trusted in her strength of +character, and therefore had he spoken openly; and could Ellen regret +his confidence, when she found that after that painful day, her society +appeared dearer, more consoling to him than ever? + +Although some members of her family could not be present at Emmeline's +wedding, a hasty visit from Edward was a source of joy to all. He was +about to sail to the shores of Africa in a small frigate, in which he +had been promoted to the second in command, an honour which had elevated +his spirits even beyond their usual buoyancy. He had been much shocked +and grieved at his sister's account of Mary's death, and Herbert's deep +affliction; but after he had been at home a few days, the influence of +his natural light-heartedness extended over all, and rendered Oakwood +more cheerful than it had been since the melancholy event we have +narrated. + +To Lilla Grahame it was indeed a pleasure to revisit Oakwood, +particularly when Lieutenant Fortescue was amongst its inmates. Edward's +manner was gallantly courteous to all his fair friends; a stranger might +have found it difficult to say which was his favourite, but there was +something about both him and Miss Grahame which very often called from +Ellen a smile. + +It was an interesting group assembled in the old parish church on the +day that united our favourite Emmeline with her long-beloved Arthur, but +it was far from being a day of unmingled gladness. Deep and chastened as +was the individual and mutual happiness of the young couple, they could +neither of them forget that there was a beloved one wanting; that they +had once hoped the same day that beheld their nuptials would have +witnessed also those of Herbert and his Mary. + +Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton had looked with some degree of dread to this day, +as one of painful recollection to Herbert; but he, perhaps of all who +were around him, was the most composed, and as the impressive ceremony +continued, he thought only of those dear ones whose fate he thus united; +he felt only the solemn import of the prayers he said, and his large and +beautiful eyes glistened with enthusiasm as in former days. It would +have been a sweet group for a skilful painter, those three principal +figures beside the altar. Herbert, as we have described him; Emmeline, +in her simple garb of white, her slight figure and peculiarly feminine +expression of countenance causing her to appear very many years younger +than in reality she was; and Arthur, too, his manly features radiant +with chastened yet perfect happiness, seemed well fitted to be the +protector, the friend of the gentle being who so soon would call him +husband, and look to him alone for happiness. Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton +rejoiced that their beloved child was at length blessed in the +gratification of her long-cherished, long-controlled hopes; that, as far +as human eye could penetrate, they had secured her happiness by giving +her to the man she loved. There was one other kneeling beside the altar +on whom Mrs. Hamilton looked with no small anxiety, for the emotion she +perceived, appeared to confirm the idea that it was indeed Arthur Myrvin +who had engrossed the affections of her niece. There are mysteries in +the human heart for which we seek in vain to account; associations and +sympathies that come often uncalled-for and unwished. Ellen knew not +wherefore the scene she witnessed pressed strangely on her heart; she +struggled against the feeling, and she might perhaps have succeeded in +concealing her inward emotions, but suddenly she looked on Herbert. She +marked him radiant, it seemed, in health and animation, his words +flashed across her mind; soon would the hue of death be on that cheek, +the light of that eye be dimmed, that sweet and thrilling voice be +hushed on earth for ever; that beautiful form bent down as a flower, +"the wind passeth over it and it is gone, and the place thereof shall +know it no more;" and thus would it soon be with him she loved. The gush +of feeling mocked all her efforts at control, Ellen buried her face in +her hands, and her slight frame shook, and the low choking sob was +distinctly heard in the brief silence that followed the words, "Those +whom God hath joined let no man put asunder." + +Arthur, at Emmeline's own desire, conducted his bride at once to the +small yet comfortable home which had been prepared for her in his +vicarage on Lord St. Eval's estate. That her residence was so near them +was a great source of pleasure to both her parents, and the feeling that +her home was in the centre of all she loved, not only so near the +beloved guardians of her infancy but Caroline and St. Eval, would have +added to her cup of joy, had it not been already full to overflowing; +the pang of parting was thus soothed to both mother and child. Even more +than Caroline, Mrs. Hamilton felt she should miss the gentle girl, who +scarcely from her infancy had given her one moment's pain; but in the +happiness of her child she too was blessed, and thankfully she raised +her voice to Him whose blessing, in the rearing of her children, she had +so constantly and fervently implored, and the mother's fond and yearning +heart was comforted. + +Though Ellen had smiled, and seemed to every eye but that of her +watchful aunt the same as usual the whole of that day, yet Mrs. Hamilton +could not resist the impulse that bade her seek her when all had retired +to their separate apartments. Ellen had been gone some time, but she was +sitting in a posture of deep thought, in which she had sunk on first +entering her room. She did not observe her aunt, and Mrs. Hamilton +traced many tears slowly, almost one by one, fall upon her +tightly-clasped hands, ere she found voice to speak. + +"Ellen, my sweet child!" + +Ellen sprung up, she threw herself into those extended arms, and hid her +tearful eyes on her aunt's bosom. + +"I have but you now, my own Ellen, to cheer my old age and enliven our +deserted hearth. You must not leave me yet, dearest. I cannot part with +you." + +"Oh, no, no; I will never, never leave you. Your home shall be my home, +my more than mother; and where you go, Ellen will follow," she murmured, +speaking unconsciously in the spirit of one of the sweetest characters +the Sacred Book presents. "Do not ask me to leave you; indeed, indeed, +no home will be to me like yours." + +"Speak not, then, so despondingly, my Ellen," replied Mrs. Hamilton, +fondly kissing her. "Never shall you leave me without your own full and +free consent. Do you remember, love, when I first promised that?" she +continued, playfully; for she sought not to draw from Ellen the secret +of her love, she only wished to soothe, to cheer, to tell her, however +unrequited might be her affections, still she was not desolate, and when +she left her, fully had she succeeded. Ellen was comforted, though she +scarcely knew wherefore. + +Some few months passed after the marriage of Emmeline, and the domestic +peace of Oakwood yet remained undisturbed. There were times when Ellen +hoped she had been deceived, that Herbert had been deceived himself. But +Myrvin dared not hope; he was not with his friend as constantly as Ellen +was, and almost every time he beheld him he fancied he perceived an +alarming change. + +About this time a malignant disease broke out in the neighbourhood of +the Dart, whose awful ravages it appeared as if no medical aid was +adequate to stop. In Herbert Hamilton's parish the mortality was +dreadful, and his duties were consequently increased, painfully to +himself and alarmingly to his family. A superhuman strength seemed, +however, suddenly granted him. Whole days, frequently whole nights, he +spent in the cottages of the afflicted poor. Soothing, encouraging, +compelling even the hardened and impenitent to own the power of the +religion he taught; bidding even them bow in unfeigned penitence at the +footstool of their Redeemer, and robbing death, in very truth, of its +sting. The young, the old, men in their prime, were carried off. The +terrible destroyer knew no distinction of age or sex or rank. Many a +young child would cease its wailing cry of suffering when its beloved +pastor entered the lowly cot, and with the fondness of a parent, with +that smile of pitying love which few hearts can resist, would seek to +soothe the bodily anguish, while at the same moment he taught the young +soul that death was not terrible; that it was but a few moments of pain +to end in everlasting bliss; that they were going to Him who had said +"Suffer little children to come unto me, for of such is the kingdom of +heaven." From the old, Herbert would learn many a lesson of piety and +resignation, and feel that attendance on such beds of death was in truth +a blessing to himself. + +Fearlessly, for her trust was fixed on the Rock of Righteousness, did +Ellen second the exertions of her cousin in this time of general +affliction. There were many who sought to deter her, for they whispered +the disease was contagious, but Ellen heeded them not, nor did Mrs. +Hamilton, herself so active in seasons of distress, seek to dissuade +her. "The arm of my God is around me, alike in the cottages of the dying +as in the fancied security of Oakwood," she said one day to Herbert, who +trembled for her safety, though for himself no fears had ever entered +his mind. "If it is His will that I too should feel His chastening rod, +it will find me though I should never leave my home; my trust is in Him. +I go in the humble hope to do His work, and He will not forsake me, +Herbert." + +Herbert trembled for her no more, and an active and judicious assistant +did he find her. For six weeks the disease continued unabated; about +that time it began to decline, and hopes were entertained that it was +indeed departing. + +There was moisture in the eyes of the young minister, as he looked +around him one Sabbath evening on the diminished number of his +congregation; so many of whom were either clad in mourning, or bore on +their countenance the marks of recent suffering, over the last victim +the whole family at Oakwood had sincerely mourned, for it was that kind +old woman whom we have mentioned more than once as being connected with +the affairs we have related. Nurse Langford had gone to her last home, +and both Ellen and Herbert dreaded writing the intelligence to her +affectionate son, who was now in Percy's service. She had been buried +only the day previous. Her seat was exactly opposite the pulpit, where +she had so often said it was such a blessing to look on the face of her +dear Master Herbert, and hear such blessed truths from his lips. She now +was gone. Herbert looked on her vacant seat, and it was then his eyes +glistened in starting tears. He had seen his cousin look towards the +same place, and though her veil was closely drawn down, he _felt_ her +tears were falling fast and thick upon her book. More than usually +eloquent was the young clergyman that day, in the discourse he had +selected as most appropriate to the feelings of those present. He spoke +of death, and, with an eloquence affecting in its pure simplicity, he +alluded to the loss of those we love. "Wherefore should I say loss, my +brethren?" he said, in conclusion. "They have but departed to mansions +of undying joy: to earth they may be lost, but not to us. Oh, no, God +cursed the ground for man's sake--it is fading, perishable! There will +be a new heaven and a new earth, but the spirit which God breathed +within us shall not see corruption. Released from this earthly shell, we +shall again behold those who have departed first; they will meet us +rejoicing, singing aloud the praises of that unutterable love that +redeemed and saved us, removing the curse pronounced on man, even as on +earth, making us heirs of eternal life, of everlasting glory! My +brethren, Death has been amongst us, but how clothed? to us who remain, +perhaps for a time in sadness; but to those who have triumphantly +departed, even as an angel of light, guiding them to the portals of +heaven. Purified by suffering and repentance, their garments white as +snow, they encircle the throne of their Saviour; and those whose lives +below were those of toil and long suffering, are now among the blessed. +Shall we then weep for them, my friends? Surely not. Let us think of +them, and follow in their paths, that our last end may be like theirs, +that we may rejoin them, never again to part! + +"Are there any here who fear to die? Are there any who shrink and +tremble when they think they may be the next it may please the Lord to +call? My Christian brethren, think awhile, and such thoughts will cease +to appal you. To the heathen alone is death the evil spirit, the +blackening shadow which, when called to mind, will poison his dearest +joys! To us, brethren, what is it? In pain it tells us of ease; in +strife or tumult, that the grave is a place of quiet; in the weariness +of exhausted spirits, that the end of all these things is at hand. Who +ever found perfect joy on earth? Are we not restless, even in the midst +of happiness? Death tells us of a purer happiness, in which there is no +weariness, no satiety. When we look around on those we love, when we +feel the blessings of affection, death tells us that we shall love them +still better in heaven! Is death then so terrible? Oh, let us think on +it thus in life and health, and in the solitude and silence of our +chamber such thoughts will not depart from us. Let these reflections +pervade us as we witness the dying moments of those we love, and we +shall find even for us death has no sting; for we shall meet again in a +world where death and time shall be no more! Oh, my beloved brethren, +let us go home, and in our closets thank God that His chastening hand +appears about to be removed from us, and so beseech Him to enlighten our +eyes to look on death, and so to give us that faith, which alone can +make us whole, and give us peace, that we may say with the venerable +Simeon, 'Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine +eyes have seen thy salvation.'" + +He ceased, and a solemn stillness reigned within the church. For a +moment the young clergyman bowed his head in silent prayer upon his +book, and then he raised his clasped hands on high, and, in a voice of +almost unearthly sweetness and power, gave the parting benediction. The +flush was observed to fade from his cheek, the lustre depart from his +eye; he raised his hand languidly to his damp brow, and in another +minute Mr. Hamilton darted from his seat, and received his son in his +arms, in a long and deathlike swoon, That same evening beheld Herbert +Hamilton, the beloved, the good, stretched on his couch a victim to the +same fearful disease, to remove the sting of which he had so long and +perseveringly laboured. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +There was joy in the superb hotel at Frankfort-sur-Maine which served as +the temporary residence of Lord St. Eval's family, domestic joy, for the +danger which had threatened the young Countess in her confinement had +passed away, and she and her beautiful babe were doing as well as the +fond heart of a father and husband could desire. They had been at +Frankfort for the last two months, at which place, however, Percy +Hamilton had not been stationary, taking advantage of this pause in St. +Eval's intended plans, by seeing as much of Germany as he could during +that time; and short as it was, his energetic mind had derived more +improvement and pleasure in the places he had visited, than many who had +lingered over the same space of ground more than double the time. +Intelligence that Caroline was not quite so well as her friends wished, +aided perhaps by his secret desire to see again her gentle companion, +Percy determined for a short time to return to Frankfort, till his +sister's health was perfectly restored, and they might be again enabled +to travel together. His almost unexpected arrival added to the happiness +of the young Earl's domestic circle, and there was somewhat in his arch +yet expressive glance, as he received his baby niece from the arms of +Miss Manvers, and imprinted a light kiss on the infant's sleeping +features, that dyed her cheek with blushes, and bade her heart beat +quick with an indefinable sense of pleasure. + +The sisterly friendship of Louisa Manvers had been a source of real +gratification to both the Earl St. Eval and his Countess during their +travels, more particularly now, when the health of the latter required +such kindly tending. Mrs. Hamilton had deeply regretted the +impossibility of her being with her child at such a time; the letter +Lord St. Eval had despatched was, however, calculated to disperse all +her anxiety, the danger appearing after the letter had gone, and not +lasting sufficiently long to justify his writing again. They were +sitting round the breakfast-table the morning after Percy's return, +lengthening the usual time of the meal by lively and intelligent +conversation; Miss Manvers was presiding at the table, and Percy did not +feel the least inclined to move, declaring he would wait for his English +despatches, if there were any, before he went out. The post happened to +be rather late that morning, a circumstance, wonderful to say, which did +not occasion Percy annoyance. It came in, however, at length, bringing +several papers for Lord St. Eval and his wife, from the Malvern family, +but only two from Oakwood, one, in the handwriting of Ellen, to Percy, +and one for Robert Langford, evidently from Mr Hamilton. + +"This is most extraordinary," Percy said, much surprised. "My mother +not written to Caroline, and none from Herbert to me; his duties are +increased, I know, but surely he could find time to write to me." + +"Mrs. Hamilton has written to Caroline since her confinement, and so did +all her family four or five days ago," said Lord St. Eval, but his words +fell unheeded on the ear of Percy, who had hastily torn open his +cousin's letter, and glanced his eye over its contents. Engaged in his +own letters, the Earl did not observe the agitation of his friend, but +Miss Manvers saw his hand tremble so violently, that he could scarcely +hold the paper. + +"Merciful heaven! Mr. Hamilton--Percy, what is the matter?" she +exclaimed, suddenly losing all her wonted reserve, as she remarked his +strange emotion, and her words, connected with the low groan that burst +from Percy's heart, effectually roused the Earl's attention. + +"Hamilton, speak; are there ill news from Oakwood? In mercy, speak!" he +said, almost as much agitated as his friend. + +"Herbert," was all Percy could articulate, "Herbert, my brother; oh God, +he is dying, and I am not near him. Read, St. Eval, for pity; I cannot +see the words. Is there yet time--can I reach England in time? or is +this only a preparation to tell me he is--is dead?" + +"He lives, Percy; there may be yet time, if you set off at once," +exclaimed the Earl, who saw the necessity of rousing his friend to +exertion, for the sudden blow had bewildered his every faculty. He +started up wildly, and was darting from the room, when he suddenly +paused-- + +"Keep it from Caroline--tell her not now, it will kill her," he cried. +"May God in heaven bless you for those tears!" he continued, springing +towards Louisa, and clasping her hands convulsively in his, as the sight +of her unfeigned emotion caused the hot tears slowly to trickle down his +own cheek, and his lip quivered, till he could scarcely speak the words +of parting. "Oh, think of me; I go to the dying bed of him, whom I had +hoped would one day have been to you a brother--would have joined--" He +paused in overwhelming emotion, took the hand of the trembling girl, +raised it to his lips, and darted from the apartment. + +St. Eval hastily followed him, for he saw Percy was in no state to think +of anything himself, and the letter Robert had received, telling him of +the death of his mother, rendered him almost as incapable of exertion as +his master; but as soon as he heard the cause of Percy's very visible +but at first incomprehensible agitation, his own deep affliction was at +once subdued; he was ready and active in Percy's service. That Mr. +Hamilton should thus have written to him, to alleviate the blow of a +parent's death, to comfort him when his own son lay on a dying bed, +penetrated at once the heart of the young man, and urged him to +exertion. + +Day and night Percy travelled; but we must outstrip even his rapid +course, and conduct our readers to Oakwood, the evening of the second +day after Percy's arrival at Ostend. + +Herbert Hamilton lay on his couch, the cold hand of Death upon his brow; +but instead of robing his features with a ghastly hue, it had spread +over them even more than usual beauty. Reduced he was to a mere shadow, +but his prayers in his days of health and life had been heard; the +delirium of fever had passed, and he met death unshrinkingly, his mind +retaining even more than its wonted powers. It was the Sabbath evening, +and all around him was still and calm. For the first two days after the +delirium had departed, his mind had still been darkened, restless, and +uneasy. Perseveringly as he had laboured in his calling, he had felt in +those darker days the utter nothingness of his own works, how wholly +insufficient they had been to secure his salvation; and the love of his +God, the infinite atonement in which he so steadily believed, shone not +with sufficient brightness to remove this painful darkness. Death was +very near, and it no longer seemed the angel of light he had ever +regarded it; but on the Saturday the mist was mercifully dispelled from +his mind, the clouds dispersed, and faith shone forth with a brilliancy, +a lustre overpowering; it told of heaven with an eloquence that banished +every other thought, and Herbert's bodily sufferings were felt no +longer; the confines of heaven were gained--but a brief space, one +mortal struggle, and he would meet his Mary at the footstool of his God. + +With solemn impressiveness, yet affecting tenderness, Archdeacon Howard +had administered the sacrament to him, whom he regarded at once as +pupil, friend, and brother; and the whole family of the dying youth, at +his own particular request, had shared it with him. Exhausted by the +earnestness in which he had joined in the solemn service, Herbert now +lay with one hand clasped in his mother's, who sat by his side, her head +bent over his, and her whole countenance, save when the gaze of her son +was turned towards her, expressive of tearless, heart-rending sorrow, +struggling for resignation to the will of Him, who called her Herbert +to Himself. Emmeline was kneeling by her mother's side. Mr. Hamilton +leaned against the wall, pale and still; it was only the agonized +expression of his manly features that betrayed he was a living being. On +the left side of the dying youth stood Arthur Myrvin, who, from the +moment of his arrival at Oakwood, had never once left Herbert's couch, +night and day he remained beside him; and near Arthur, but yet closer to +her cousin, knelt the orphan, her eyes tearless indeed, but her whole +countenance so haggard and wan, that had not all been engrossed in +individual suffering, it could not have passed unobserved. The tall, +venerable figure of the Archdeacon, as he stood a little aloof from the +principal figures, completed the painful group. + +"My own mother, your Herbert is so happy, so very happy! you must not +weep for me, mother. Oh, it is your fostering love and care, the +remembrance of all your tenderness from my infancy, gilding my boyhood +with sunshine, my manhood with such refreshing rays--it is that which is +resting on my heart, and I would give it words and thank and bless you, +but I cannot. And my father, too, my beloved, my revered father--oh, but +little have I done to repay your tender care, my brother and sisters' +love, but my Father in heaven will bless--bless you all; I know, I feel +He will." + +"Percy," repeated the dying youth, a gleam of light kindling in his eye +and flushing his cheek. "Is there indeed a hope that I may see him, that +I may trace those beloved features once again?" + +He closed his eyes, and his lips moved in silent yet fervent prayer, +that wish was still powerful within; it was the only thought of earth +that lingered. + +"Tell him," he said, and his voice sounded weaker and weaker, "tell him, +Herbert's last prayer was for him, that he was in my last thoughts; tell +him to seek for comfort at the foot of that Throne where we have so +often knelt together. Oh, let him not sorrow, for I shall be happy--oh, +so happy!" + +Again he was silent, and for a much longer interval; but when he +reopened his eyes, they were fixed on Ellen. + +"My sister, my kind and tender nurse, what shall I say to you?" he said, +languidly, but in a tone that thrilled to her aching heart. "I can but +commend you to His care, who can take from grief its sting, even as He +hath clothed this moment in victory. May His spirit rest upon you, +Ellen, and give you peace. May He bless you, not only for your +affectionate kindness towards me, but to her who went before me. You +will not forget, Ellen." His glance wandered from his cousin to his +mother, and then returned to her. She bowed her head upon his extended +hand, but her choking voice could speak no word. "Caroline, too, she +will weep for me, but St. Eval will dry her tears; tell them I did not +forget them; that my love and blessing is theirs even as if they had +been around me. Emmeline, Arthur,--Mr. Howard, oh, where are you? my +eyes are dim, my voice is failing, yet"-- + +"I am here, my beloved son," said the Archdeacon, and Herbert fixed a +kind glance upon his face, and leaned his head against him. + +"I would tell you, that it is the sense of the Divine presence, of love, +unutterable, infinite, inexhaustible, that has taken all anguish from +this moment. My spirit rises triumphant, secure of eternal salvation, +triumphing in the love of Him who died for me. Oh, Death, well may I +say, where is thy sting? oh, grave, where is thy victory? they are +passed; heaven is opening. Oh, bliss unutterable, undying!" He sunk back +utterly exhausted, but the expression of his countenance still evinced +the internal triumph of his soul. + +A faint sound, as of the distant trampling of horses, suddenly came upon +the ear. Nearer, nearer still, and a flush of excitement rose to +Herbert's cheek. "Percy--can it be? My God, I thank thee for this +mercy!" + +Arthur darted from the room, as the sound appeared rapidly approaching; +evidently it was a horse urged to its utmost speed, and it could be none +other save Percy. Arthur flew across the hall, and through the entrance, +which had been flung widely open, as the figure of the young heir of +Oakwood had been recognised by the streaming eyes of the faithful +Morris, who stood by his young master's stirrup, but without uttering a +word. Percy's tongue clove to the roof of his mouth; his eyes were +bloodshot and haggard. He had no power to ask a question, and it was +only the appearance of Myrvin, his entreaty that he would be calm ere +Herbert saw him, that roused him to exertion. His brother yet lived; it +was enough, and in another minute he stood on the threshold of Herbert's +room. With an overpowering effort the dying youth raised himself on his +couch, and extended his arms towards him. + +"Percy, my own Percy, this is kind," he said, and his voice suddenly +regained its wonted power. Percy sprung towards him, and the brothers +were clasped in each other's arms. No word did Percy speak, but his +choking sobs were heard; there was no movement in the drooping form of +his brother to say that he had heard the sound; he did not raise his +head from Percy's shoulder, or seek to speak of comfort. + +"Speak to me, oh, once again, but once more, Herbert!" exclaimed Percy. +Fearful agony was in his voice, but, oh, it could not rouse the _dead_: +Herbert Hamilton had departed. His last wish on earth was fulfilled. It +was but the lifeless form of his beloved brother that Percy held in the +stern grasp of despairing woe. It was long ere the truth was known, and +when it was, there was no sound of wailing heard within the chamber, no +cry of sorrow broke the solemn stillness. For him they could not weep, +and for themselves, oh, it was a grief too deep for tears. + + * * * * * + +We will not linger on the first few weeks that passed over the inmates +of Oakwood after the death of one we have followed so long, and beheld +so fondly and deservedly beloved. Silent and profound was that sorrow, +but it was the sorrow of those who, in all things, both great and small, +beheld the hand of a God of love. Could the faith, the truth, which from +her girlhood's years had distinguished Mrs. Hamilton, desert her now? +Would her husband permit her to look to him for support and consolation +under this deep affliction, and yet not find it? No; they looked up to +their God; they rejoiced that so peaceful, so blessed had been the death +of their beloved one. His last words to them came again and again on the +heart of each parent as soothing balm, of which nor time nor +circumstance could deprive them. For the sake of each other, they +exerted themselves, an example followed by their children; but each felt +years must pass ere the loss they had sustained would lose its pang, ere +they could cease to miss the being they had so dearly loved, who had +been such a brilliant light in their domestic circle--brilliant, yet how +gentle; not one that was ever sparkling, ever changing, but of a soft +and steady lustre. On earth that light had set, but in heaven it was +dawning never to set again. + +For some few weeks the family remained all together, as far at least as +Arthur's ministerial duties permitted. Mr. Hamilton wished much to see +that living, now vacant by the death of his son, transferred to Myrvin, +and he exerted himself towards effecting an exchange. Ere, however, +Percy could return to the Continent, or Emmeline return to her husband's +home, the sudden and alarming illness of Mrs. Hamilton detained them +both at Oakwood. The fever which had been raging in the village, and +which had hastened the death of Herbert, had also entered the household +of Mrs. Hamilton. Resolved that no affliction of her own should +interfere with those duties of benevolence, to exercise which was her +constant practice, Mrs. Hamilton had compelled herself to exertion +beyond the strength of a frame already wearied and exhausted by +long-continued but forcibly-suppressed anxiety, and three weeks after +the death of her son she too was stretched on a bed of suffering, which, +for the first few days during the violence of the fever, her afflicted +family believed might also be of death. In this trying time, it was to +Ellen that not only her cousin but even her uncle turned, by her example +to obtain more control and strength. No persuasions could induce her to +leave the side of her aunt's couch, or resign to another the painful yet +soothing task of nursing. Young and inexperienced she was, but her +strong affection for her aunt, heightened by some other feeling which +was hidden in her own breast, endowed her at once with strength to +endure continued fatigue, with an experience that often made Mr. +Maitland contemplate her with astonishment. From the period of Herbert's +death, Ellen had placed her feelings under a restraint that utterly +prevented all relief in tears. She was never seen to weep; every feature +had indeed spoken the deep affliction that was hers, but it never +interfered with the devoted care she manifested towards her aunt. +Silently yet perseveringly she laboured to soften the intense suffering +in the mother's heart; it was on her neck Mrs. Hamilton had first wept +freely and relievingly, and as she clasped the orphan to her bosom, had +lifted up her heart in thanksgiving that such a precious gift was yet +preserved her, how little did even she imagine all that was passing in +Ellen's heart; that Herbert to her young fancy had been how much dearer +than a brother; that she mourned not only a cousin's loss, but one round +whom her first affections had been twined with an intensity that death +alone could sever. How little could she guess the continued struggle +pressing on that young mind, the anguish of her solitary moments, ere +she could by prayer so calm her bursting heart as to appear the composed +and tranquil being she ever seemed before the family. Mrs. Hamilton +could only feel that the comfort her niece bestowed in this hour of +affliction, her controlled yet sympathising conduct, repaid her for all +the care and sorrow Ellen once had caused. Never had she regretted she +had taken the orphans to her heart and cherished them as her own; but +now it was she felt the Lord had indeed returned the blessing tenfold in +her own bosom; and still more did she feel this in the long and painful +convalescence that followed her brief but severe attack of fever, when +Ellen was the only one of her children remaining near her. + +Completely worn out by previous anxiety, the subsequent affliction, and, +finally, her mother's dangerous illness, Emmeline's health appeared so +shattered, that as soon as the actual danger was passed, Myrvin insisted +on her going with him, for change of air and scene, to Llangwillan, a +proposal that both her father and Mr. Maitland seconded; trembling for +the precious girl so lately made his own, Arthur resisted her entreaties +to remain a little longer at Oakwood, and conveyed her at once to his +father's vicarage, where time and improved tidings of her mother +restored at length the bloom to her cheek and the smile to her lip. + +It was strange to observe the difference of character which opposite +circumstances and opposite treatment in their infant years had made in +these two cousins. Emmeline and Ellen, had they been brought up from +babes together, and the same discipline extended to each, would, in all +probability, have in after years displayed precisely the same +disposition; but though weak indulgence had never been extended to +Emmeline, prosperity unalloyed, save in the affair with Arthur Myrvin, +had been her portion. Affection and caresses had been ever lavished +almost unconsciously upon her, but instead of cherishing faults, such +treatment had formed her happiness, and had encouraged and led her on +in the paths of virtue. Every thought and feeling were expressed without +disguise; she had been so accustomed to think aloud to her mother from +childhood, so accustomed to give vent to her little vexations in words, +her sorrows in tears, which were quickly dried, that as years increased, +she found it a very difficult task either to restrain her sentiments or +control her feelings. Her mind could not be called weak, for in her +affection for Arthur Myrvin, as we have seen, when there was a +peremptory call for exertion or self-control, it was ever heard and +attended to. Her health indeed suffered, but that very fact proved the +mind was stronger than the frame; though when she marked Ellen's +superior composure and coolness, Emmeline would sometimes bitterly +reproach herself. From her birth, Ellen had been initiated in sorrow, +her infant years had been one scene of trial. Never caressed by her +mother or those around her, save when her poor father was near, she had +learned to bury every affectionate yearning deep within her own little +heart, every childish sentiment was carefully concealed, and her +father's death, the horrors of that night, appeared to have placed the +seal on her character, infant as she was. She was scarcely ten when she +became an inmate of her aunt's family, but then it was too late for her +character to become as Emmeline's. The impression had been made on the +yielding wax, and now it could not be effaced. Many circumstances +contributed to strengthen this impression, as in the first portion of +this history we have seen. Adversity had made Ellen as she was, and +self-control had become her second nature, long before she knew the +meaning of the word. + +The intelligence of Herbert's death, though deferred till St. Eval +thought his wife enabled to bear it with some composure, had, however, +so completely thrown her back, that she was quite unequal to travel to +England, as her wishes had instantly dictated, and her husband was +compelled to keep up a constant system of deception with regard to her +mother's illness, lest she should insist, weak as she was, on +immediately flying to her aid. As soon as sufficient strength returned +for Mrs. Hamilton to express her wishes, she entreated Percy to rejoin +his sister, that all alarm on her account might subside. The thought of +her child was still uppermost in the mother's mind, though her excessive +debility compelled her to lie motionless for hours on her couch, +scarcely sensible of anything passing around her, or that her husband +and Ellen hardly for one moment left her side. The plan succeeded, +Caroline recovered soon after Percy's arrival; and at the earnest +message Percy bore her from her mother, that she would not think of +returning to England till her health was quite restored, she consented +leisurely to take the celebrated excursion down the Rhine, ere she +returned home. + +It would have seemed as though no other grief could be the portion of +Ellen, but another sorrow was impending over her, which, while it +lasted, was a source of distress inferior only to Herbert's death. +Entering the library one morning, she was rather surprised to find not +only Mr. Maitland but Archdeacon Howard with her uncle. + +The former was now too constantly a visitor at the Hall to occasion +individually much surprise, but it was the expression on the +countenances of each that created alarm. Mr. Hamilton appeared +struggling with some strong and painful emotion, and had started as +Ellen entered the room, while he looked imploringly towards the +Archdeacon, as if seeking his counsel and assistance. + +"Can we indeed trust her?" Mr. Maitland said, doubtingly, and in a low +voice, as he looked sadly upon Ellen. "Can we he sure these melancholy +tidings will be for the present inviolably kept from Mrs. Hamilton, for +suspense such as this, in her present state of health, might produce +consequences on which I tremble to think?" + +"You may depend upon me, Mr. Maitland," Ellen said, firmly, as she came +forward. "What new affliction can have happened of which you so dread my +aunt being informed? Oh, do not deceive me. I have heard enough to make +fancy perhaps more dreadful than reality, Mr. Howard. My dear uncle, +will you not trust me?" + +"My poor Ellen," her uncle said, in a faltering voice, "you have indeed +borne sorrow well; but this will demand even a greater share of +fortitude. All is not yet known, there may be hope, but I dare not +encourage it. Tell her, Howard," he added, hastily, shrinking from her +sorrowful glance, "I cannot." + +"Is it of Edward you would tell me? Oh, what of him?" she exclaimed. +"Oh, tell me at once, Mr. Howard, indeed, indeed, I can bear it." + +With the tenderness of a father, Mr. Howard gently and soothingly told +her that letters had that morning arrived from Edward's captain, +informing them that the young lieutenant had been despatched with a +boat's crew, on a message to a ship stationed about twelve miles +southward, towards the Cape of Good Hope; a storm had arisen as the +night darkened, but still Captain Seaforth had felt no uneasiness, +imagining his young officer had deemed it better remaining on board the +Stranger all night, though somewhat contrary to his usual habits of +promptness and activity. As the day, however, waned to noon, and still +Lieutenant Fortescue did not appear, the captain despatched another boat +to know why he tarried. The sea was still raging in fury from the last +night's storm, but the foaming billows had never before detained Edward +from his duty. With increasing anxiety, Captain Seaforth paced the deck +for several hours, until indeed the last boat he had sent returned. He +scanned the crew with an eye that never failed him, and saw with dismay, +that neither his lieutenant nor one of his men were amongst them. +Horror-stricken and distressed, the sailors related that, despite every +persuasion of the captain of the Stranger, Lieutenant Fortescue had +resolved on returning to the Gem the moment his message had been +delivered and the answer given; his men had seconded him, though many +signs denoted that as the evening advanced, so too would the impending +storm. Twilight was darkening around him when, urged on by a mistaken +sense of duty, the intrepid young man descended into the boat, and not +half an hour afterwards the storm came on with terrific violence, and +the pitchy darkness had entirely frustrated every effort of the crew of +the Stranger to trace the boat. Morning dawned, and brought with it some +faint confirmation of the fate which all had dreaded. Some spars on +which the name of the Gem was impressed, and which were easily +recognised as belonging to the long-boat, floated on the foaming waves, +and the men sent out to reconnoitre had discovered the dead body of one +of the unfortunate sailors, who the evening previous had been so full of +life and mirth, clinging to some sea-weed; while a hat bearing the name +of Edward Fortescue, caused the painful suspicion that the young and +gallant officer had shared the same fate. Every inquiry was set afloat, +every exertion made, to discover something more certain concerning him, +but without any effect. Some faint hope there yet existed, that he might +have been picked up by one of the ships which were continually passing +and repassing on that course; and Captain Seaforth concluded his +melancholy narration by entreating Mr. Hamilton not to permit himself to +despair, as hope there yet was, though but faint. Evidently he wrote as +he felt, not merely to calm the minds of Edward's sorrowing friends, but +Mr. Hamilton could not share these sanguine expectations. Mystery had +also enveloped the fate of his brother-in-law, Charles Manvers; long, +very long, had he hoped that he lived, that he would yet return; but +year after year had passed, till four-and-twenty had rolled by, and +still there were no tidings. Well did he remember the heart-sickening +that had attended his hopes deferred, the anguish of suspense which for +many weary months had been the portion of his wife, and he thought it +almost better for Ellen to believe her brother dead, than to live on in +the indulgence of hopes that might have no foundation; yet how could he +tell her he was dead, when there was one gleam of hope, however faint. +Well did he know the devoted affection which the orphans bore to each +other. He gazed on her in deep commiseration, as in unbroken silence she +listened to the tenderly-told tale; and, drawing her once more to his +bosom as Mr. Howard ceased, he fondly and repeatedly kissed her brow, +as he entreated her not to despair; Edward might yet be saved. No word +came from Ellen's parched lips, but he felt the cold shudder of +suffering pass through her frame. Several minutes passed, and still she +raised not her head. Impressively the venerable clergyman addressed her +in tones and words that never failed to find their way to the orphan's +heart. He spoke of a love and mercy that sent these continued trials to +mark her as more peculiarly His own. He told of comfort, that even in +such a moment she could feel. He bade her cease not to pray for her +brother's safety; that nothing was too great for the power or the mercy +of the Lord; that however it might appear impossible to worldly minds +that he could be saved, yet if the Almighty's hand had been stretched +forth, a hundred storms might have passed him by unhurt; yet he bade her +not entertain too sanguine hopes. "Place our beloved Edward and yourself +in the hands of our Father in heaven, my child; implore Him for strength +to meet His will, whatever it may be, and if, indeed, He hath taken him +in mercy to a happier world, He will give you strength and grace to meet +His ordinance of love; but if hope still lingers, check it not--he may +be spared. Be comforted, then, my child, and for the sake of the beloved +relative yet spared you, try and compose your agitated spirits. We may +trust to your care in retaining this fresh grief from her, I know we +may." + +"You are right. Mr. Howard; oh, may God bless you for your kindness!" +said the almost heart-broken girl, as she raised her head and placed her +trembling hands in his. Her cheeks were colourless as marble, but the +long dark fringes that rested on them were unwetted by tears; she had +forcibly sent them back. Her heart throbbed almost to suffocation, but +she would not listen to its anguish. The form of Herbert seemed to flit +before her and remind her of her promise, that her every care, her every +energy should be devoted to his mother; and that remembrance, +strengthened as it was by Mr. Howard's words, nerved her to the painful +duty which was now hers to perform. "You may indeed trust me. My Father +in heaven will support me, and give me strength to conceal this +intelligence effectually, till my beloved aunt is enabled to hear it +with composure. Do not fear me, Mr. Maitland; it is not in my own +strength I trust, for that I feel too painfully at this moment is less +than nothing. My dearest uncle, will you not trust your Ellen?" + +She turned towards him as she spoke, and Mr. Hamilton felt the tears +glisten in his eyes as he met the upturned glance of the afflicted +orphan--now indeed, as it seemed, so utterly alone. + +"Yes I do and ever will trust you, my beloved Ellen," he said, with +emotion. "May God grant you His blessing in this most painful duty. To +Him I commend you, my child; I would speak of comfort and hope, but He +alone can give them." + +"And He _will_," replied Ellen, in a low, steady voice; and gently +withdrawing her hand from Mr. Howard's, she softly but quickly left the +library. But half an hour elapsed, and Ellen was once more seated by her +aunt's couch. The struggle of that half hour we will not follow; it was +too sacred, too painful to be divulged, and many, many solitary hours +were thus spent in suffering, known only to herself and to her God. + +"You have been long away from me, my Ellen, or else my selfish wish to +have you again near me has made me think so," Mrs. Hamilton said that +eventful morning. + +"Have you then missed me, my dear aunt? I am glad of it, for comfort as +it is to be allowed to remain always with yon, it is even greater +pleasure to think you like to have me near you," replied Ellen. + +"Can I do otherwise, my own Ellen? Where can I find a nurse so tender, +affectionate, and attentive as you are? Who would know so well how to +cheer and soothe me as the child whose smallest action proves how much +she loves me?" + +Tears glistened in the eyes of Ellen as her aunt spoke, for if she had +wanted fresh incentive for exertion, those simple words would have given +it. Oh, how much encouragement may be given in one sentence from those +we love; how is every effort to please lightened by the consciousness it +is appreciated; how is every duty sweetened when we feel we are beloved. + +Mrs. Hamilton knew not how that expression of her feelings had fallen on +the torn heart of her niece; she guessed not one-half Ellen endured in +secret for her sake, but she felt, and showed she felt, the full value +of the unremitting affectionate attentions she received. + +Days, weeks passed by; at length, Mrs. Hamilton's extreme debility began +to give place to the more restless weariness of convalescence. It was +comparatively an easy task to sit in continued silence by the couch, +actively yet quietly to anticipate her faintest wish, and attend to all +the duties of nurse, which demanded no exertion in the way of talking, +and other efforts at amusement; there were then very many hours that +Ellen's saddened thoughts could dwell on the painful past. + +She struggled to behold heaven's mercy in affliction, and rapidly, more +rapidly than she was herself aware of, was this young and gentle girl +progressing in the paths of grace. Had Herbert and Mary both lived and +been united, Ellen would, in all probability, have at length so +conquered her feelings, as to have been happy in the marriage state, and +though she could not have bestowed the first freshness of young +affection, she would ever have so felt and acted as to be in very truth, +as Lord St. Eval had said, a treasure to any man who had the felicity to +call her his. Had her cousin indeed married, Ellen might have felt it +incumbent on her as an actual duty so to conquer herself; but now that +he was dead she felt it no sin to love, in devoting herself to his +parents in their advancing age, partly for his sake, in associating him +with all she did for them, and for all whom he loved; there was no sin +now in all this, but she felt it would be a crime to give her hand to +another, when her whole heart was thus devoted to the dead. There was +something peculiarly soothing to the grateful and affectionate feelings +with which she regarded her aunt and uncle; that she perhaps would be +the only one of all those who had-- + + "Played + Beneath the same green tree, + Whose voices mingled as they prayed + Around one parent knee"-- + +would remain with nothing to divert her attention from the pleasing task +of soothing and cheering their advancing years, and her every effort was +now turned towards making her _single_ life, indeed, one of +_blessedness_, by works of good and thoughts of love towards all with +whom she might associate; but in these visions her brother had ever +intimately mingled. She had pictured herself beholding and rejoicing in +his happiness, loving his children as her own, being to them a second +mother. She had fancied herself ever received with joy, a welcome inmate +of her Edward's home, and so strongly had her imagination become +impressed with this idea, that its annihilation appeared to heighten the +anguish with which the news of his untimely fate had overwhelmed her. He +was gone; and it seemed as if she had never, never felt so utterly +desolate before; as if advancing years had entirely lost the soft and +gentle colouring with which they had so lately been invested. It seemed +but a very short interval since she had seen him, the lovely, playful +child, his mother's pet, the admiration of all who looked on him; then +he stood before her, the handsome, manly boy she had parted with, when +he first left the sheltering roof of Oakwood, to become a sailor. Then, +shuddering, she recalled him when they had met again, after a lapse of +suffering in the young life of each; and her too sensitive fancy +conjured up the thought that her fault had not yet been sufficiently +chastised, that he was taken from her because she had loved him too +well; because her deep intense affection for him had caused her once to +forget the mandate of her God. In the deep agony of that thought, it +seemed as if she lived over again those months of suffering, which in a +former pages we have endeavoured to describe. + +Humbled to the dust, she recognised the chastising hand of her Maker, +and as if it had only now been committed, she acknowledged and repented +the transgression a moment's powerful temptation had forced her to +commit. Had there been one to whom she could have confessed these +feelings, whose soothing friendship would have whispered it was needless +and uncalled-for to enhance the suffering of Edward's fate by such +self-reproach, Ellen's young heart would have been relieved; but from +that beloved relative who might have consoled and alleviated her grief, +this bitter trial she must still conceal. Mr. Hamilton dared not +encourage the hope which he had never felt but his bosom swelled with +love and almost veneration for the gentle being, to whose care Mr. +Maitland had assured him the recovery of his beloved wife was, under +Providence, greatly owing. He longed to speak of comfort; but, alas! +what could he say? he would have praised, encouraged, but there was that +about his niece that utterly forbade it; for it silently yet +impressively told whence that sustaining strength arose. + +It was when Mrs. Hamilton was beginning to recover, that still more +active exertions on the part of Ellen were demanded. Every effort was +now made to prevent her relapsing into that despondency which +convalescence so often engenders, however we may strive to resist it. +She was ready at a minute's notice to comply with and often to +anticipate her aunt's most faintly-hinted wishes; she would read to her, +sing her favourite airs, or by a thousand little winning arts +unconsciously entice the interest of her aunt to her various pursuits, +as had been her wont in former days. There was no appearance of effort +on her part, and Mrs. Hamilton insensibly, at first, but surely felt +that with her strength her habitual cheerfulness was returning, and +fervently she blessed her God for this abundant mercy. No exertion on +her side was wanting to become to her husband and household as she had +been before the death of her beloved son; she felt the beauteous flower +was transplanted above; the hand of the reaper had laid it low, though +the eye of faith beheld it in perfect undying loveliness, and though the +mother's heart yet sorrowed, 'twas a sorrow now in which no pain was +mingled. + +One evening they had been speaking, among other subjects, of Lilla +Grahame, whose letters, Mrs. Hamilton had observed, were not written in +her usual style. Too well did Ellen guess the reason; once only the poor +girl had alluded to Edward's supposed fate, but that once had more than +sufficiently betrayed to Ellen's quickly-excited sympathy the true +nature of her feelings towards him. As Lilla had not, however, written +in perfect confidence, but still as if she feared to write too much on +emotions she scarcely understood herself, Ellen had not answered her as +she would otherwise have done. That her sympathy was Lilla's was very +clearly evident, but as the secrecy preserved towards Mrs. Hamilton had +been made known to her by Emmeline, she had not written again on the +subject, but yet Ellen was not deceived; in every letter she received +she could easily penetrate where Lilla's anxious thoughts were +wandering. Of Cecil Grahame there were still no tidings, and, all +circumstances considered, it did not seem strange she should often be +sorrowful and anxious. On dismissing this subject, Mrs. Hamilton had +asked Ellen to sing to her, and selected, as a very old favourite, "The +Graves of the Household." She had always forgotten it, she said, before, +when Ellen wished her to select one she preferred. She was surprised +that Ellen had not reminded her of it, as it had once been an equal +favourite with her. For a moment Ellen hesitated, and then hastened to +the piano. In a low, sweet, yet unfaltering voice, she complied with her +aunt's request; once only her lip quivered, for she could not sing that +verse without the thought of Edward. + + "The sea, the blue lone sea, hath one, + He lies where pearls lie deep; + He was the loved of all, yet none + O'er his low bed may weep." + +Mr. Hamilton unobserved had entered the room, and now stood with folded +arms and mournful glance, alternately regarding his wife and niece. Mr. +Maitland had that morning told him there was not now the slightest +danger remaining, and he rather advised that Mrs. Hamilton should be +informed of what had passed, lest the painful intelligence should come +upon her when quite unprepared. He had striven for composure, and he now +entered expressly to execute this painful task; he had marked the +suffering imprinted on his niece's face, and he could continue the +deception no longer. On the conclusion of her song, Ellen reseated +herself on the stool she had occupied at her aunt's feet, her heart too +full to speak. + +"Why are you so silent, my dear husband?" Mrs. Hamilton said, addressing +him, and who almost started at her address. "May I know the subject of +such very deep thought?" + +"Ellen, partly," he replied, and he spoke the truth. "I was thinking how +pale and thin she looks, and how much she has lately had to distress and +cause her anxiety." + +"She has, indeed, and therefore the sooner we can leave Oakwood for a +few months, as we intended, the better. I have been a long and +troublesome patient, my Ellen, and all your efforts to restore me to +perfect health will he quite ineffectual unless I see the colour return +to your cheek, and your step resume its elasticity." + +"Do not fear for me, my beloved aunt; indeed I am quite well," answered +Ellen, not daring to look up, lest her tears should be discovered. + +"You are right, my Emmeline," suddenly exclaimed Mr. Hamilton, rousing +himself with a strong effort, and advancing to the couch where his wife +sat, he threw his arms around her. "You do not yet know all that our +Ellen has in secret borne for your sake. You do not yet know the deep +affliction which is the real cause of that alteration in her health, +which only now you are beginning to discover. Oh, my beloved wife, I +have feared to tell you, but now that strength is returning, I may +hesitate no longer; for her sake you will bear these cruel tidings even +as she has done. Will you not comfort her? Will you--" The sudden +opening of the door arrested the words upon his lips. Touched by +indefinable alarm, Mrs. Hamilton's hand grasped his without the power of +speech. Ellen had risen, for she felt she could not hear those sad words +again spoken. + +It was James the footman who entered, and he placed a letter in her +hand. She looked at the direction, a faint cry broke from her lips; she +tore it open, gazed on the signature, and sunk senseless on the floor. +She who had borne suffering so well, who had successfully struggled to +conceal every trace of emotion, when affliction was her allotted +portion, was now too weak to bear the sudden transition from such +bitter grief to overwhelming joy. Mr. Hamilton sprung forward; he could +not arrest her fall, but his eye had caught the well-known writing of +him he had believed lay buried in the ocean, and conquering her own +extreme agitation, Mrs. Hamilton compelled herself to think of nothing +but restoring the still senseless girl to life. A few, very few words +told her all. At first Mr. Hamilton's words had been almost inarticulate +from the thankfulness that filled his heart. It was long ere Ellen awoke +to consciousness. Her slight frame was utterly exhausted by its +continued conflict with the mind within, and now that joy had come, that +there was no more need for control or sorrow, her extraordinary energy +of character for the moment fled, and left her in very truth the weak +and loving woman. Before she could restore life to Ellen's inanimate +form, Mrs. Hamilton had time to hear that simple tale of silent +suffering, to feel her bosom glow in increasing love and gratitude +towards the gentle being who for her sake had endured so much. + +"Was it but a dream, or did I not read that Edward lived, was +spared,--that he was not drowned? Oh, tell me, my brain seems still to +swim. Did they not give me a letter signed by him himself? Oh, was it +only fancy?" + +"It is truth, my beloved; the Almighty mercifully stretched forth His +arm and saved him. Should we not give Him thanks, my child?" + +Like dew upon the arid desert, or healing balm to a throbbing wound, so +did those few and simple words fall on Ellen's ear; but the fervent +thanksgiving that rose swelling in her heart, wanted not words to render +it acceptable to Him, whose unbounded mercy she thus acknowledged and +adored. + +Mrs. Hamilton pressed her closer to her bosom, again and again she +kissed her, and tried to speak the words of affectionate soothing, which +seldom failed to restore Ellen to composure. + +"You told me once, my Ellen, that you never, never could repay the large +debt of gratitude you seemed to think you owed me. Do you remember my +saying you could not tell that one day you might make me your debtor, +and are not my words truth? Did I not prophesy rightly? What do I not +owe you, my own love, for sparing me so much anxiety and wretchedness? +Look up and smile, my Ellen, and let us try if we can listen composedly +to our dear Edward's account of his providential escape. If he were near +me I would scold him for giving you such inexpressible joy so suddenly." + +Ellen did look up and did smile, a bright beaming smile of chastened +happiness, and again and again did she read over that letter, as if it +were tidings too blessed to be believed, as if it could not be Edward +himself who had written. His letter was hasty, nor did he enter into +very many particulars, which, to render a particular part of our tale +intelligible, we must relate at large in another chapter. This epistle +was dated from Rio Janeiro, and written evidently under the idea that +his sister had received a former letter containing every minutiae of his +escape, which he had forwarded to her, under cover to Captain Seaforth, +only seven days after his supposed death. Had the captain received this +letter, all anxiety would have been spared, for as he did not write to +Mr. Hamilton for above a week after Edward's disappearance, it would +have reached him first; it was therefore very clear it had been lost on +its way, and Edward fearing such might be the case, from the uncertain +method by which it had been sent, wrote again. He had quite recovered, +he said, all ill effects from being so long floating in the water on a +narrow plank; that he was treated with marked kindness and attention by +all the crew of the Alma, a Spanish vessel bound to Rio Janeiro and +thence to New York, particularly by an Englishman, Lieutenant Mordaunt, +to whose energetic exertions he said he greatly owed his preservation; +for it was he who had prevailed on the captain to lower a boat, to +discover what that strange object was floating on the waves. He +continued, there was something about Lieutenant Mordaunt he could not +define, but which had the power of irresistibly attracting his respect, +if not affection. His story he believed was uncommon, but he had not yet +heard it all, and had no time to repeat it, as he was writing in great +haste. Affectionately he hoped no alarm amongst his friends had been +entertained on his account, that it would not be long before he returned +home; for as soon as the slow-sailing Spaniard could finish her affairs +with the ports along the coast of Spanish America and reach New York, +Lieutenant Mordaunt and himself had determined on quitting her, and +returning to England by the first packet that sailed. A letter to New +York might reach him, but it was a chance; therefore he did not expect +to receive any certain intelligence of home--a truth which only made him +the more anxious to reach it. + +Quickly the news that Edward Fortescue lived, and was returning home in +perfect health, extended far and wide, and brought joy to all who heard +it. A messenger was instantly despatched to Trevilion Vicarage to +impart the joyful intelligence to Arthur and Emmeline, and the next day +saw them both at Oakwood to rejoice with Ellen at this unexpected but +most welcome news. There was not one who had been aware of the suspense +Mr. Hamilton and Ellen had been enduring who did not sympathise in their +relief. Even Mrs. Greville left her solitary home to seek the friends of +her youth: she had done so previously when affliction was their portion. +She had more than once shared Ellen's anxious task of nursing, when Mrs. +Hamilton's fever had been highest; kindly and judiciously she had +soothed in grief, and Mrs. Greville's character was too unselfish to +refuse her sympathy in joy. + +A few weeks after the receipt of that letter, Mr. Hamilton, his wife, +and Ellen removed to a beautiful little villa in the neighbourhood of +Richmond, where they intended to pass some of the winter months. A +change was desirable, indeed requisite for all. But a short interval had +passed since the death of their beloved Herbert, and there were many +times when the parents' hearts yet painfully bled, and each felt +retirement, the society of each other, and sometimes of their most +valued friends, the exercise of domestic and religious duties, would be +the most efficient means of acquiring that peace of which even the +greatest affliction cannot deprive the truly religious mind. At +Christmas, St. Eval had promised his family should join them, and all +looked forward to that period with pleasure. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + +Although we are as much averse to retrospection in a tale as our readers +can be, yet to retrace our steps for a short interval is a necessity. +Edward had written highly of Lieutenant Mordaunt, but as he happens to +be a personage of rather more consequence to him than young Fortescue +imagined, we must be allowed to introduce him more intimately to our +readers. + +It was the evening after that in which Lieutenant Fortescue had so +rashly encountered the storm, that a Spanish vessel, of ill-shaped bulk +and of some hundred tons, was slowly pursuing her course from the coast +of Guinea towards Rio Janeiro. The sea was calm, almost motionless, +compared with its previous fearful agitation. The sailors were gaily +employed in their various avocations, declaring loudly that this respite +of calm was entirely owing to the interposition of St. Jago in their +favour, he being the saint to whom they had last appealed during the +continuance of the tempest. Aloof from the crew, and leaning against a +mast, stood one apparently very different to those by whom he was +surrounded. It was an English countenance, but embrowned almost to a +swarthy hue, from continued exposure to a tropical sun. Tall and +remarkably well formed, he might well have been supposed of noble birth; +there were, however, traces of long-continued suffering imprinted on his +manly face and in his form, which sometimes was slightly bent, as if +from weakness rather than from age. His dark brown hair was in many +parts silvered with grey, which made him appear as if he had seen some +fifty years at least; though at times, by the expression of his +countenance, he might have been thought full ten years younger. +Melancholy was the characteristic of his features; but his eye would +kindle and that cheek flush, betraying that a high, warm spirit still +lurked within, one which a keen observer might have fancied had been +suppressed by injury and suffering. It was in truth a countenance on +which a physiognomist or painter would have loved to dwell, for both +would have found in it an interest they could scarcely have defined. + +Thus resting in meditative silence, Lieutenant Mordaunt's attention was +attracted by a strange object floating on the now calm ocean. There were +no ships near, and Mordaunt felt his eyes fascinated in that direction, +and looking still more attentively, he felt convinced it was a human +body secured to a plank. He sought the captain instantly, and used every +persuasion humanity could dictate to urge him to lower a boat. For some +time he entreated in vain. Captain Bartholomew said it was mere folly to +think there was any chance of saving a man's life, who had been so long +tossed about on the water, it would be only detaining him for nothing; +his ship was already too full either for comfort or profit, and he would +not do it. + +Fire flashed from the dark eyes of Mordaunt at the captain's positive +and careless language, and he spoke again with all the spirited +eloquence of a British sailor. He did not spare the cruel recklessness +that could thus refuse to save a fellow-creature's life, merely because +it might occasion a little delay and trouble. Captain Bartholomew looked +at him in astonishment; he little expected such a burst of indignant +feeling from one whose melancholy and love of solitude he had despised; +and, without answering a word, led the way to the deck, looked in the +direction of the plank, which had now floated near enough to the ship +for the body of Edward to be clearly visible upon it, and then instantly +commanded a boat to be lowered and bring it on board. + +"It will be but taking him out of the sea to plunge him back again, +Señor," he said, in Spanish, to the Lieutenant, who was now anxiously +watching the proceedings of the sailors, who, more active than their +captain, had carefully laid the plank and its burden at the bottom of +the boat, and were now rapidly rowing to the ship. "Never was death more +clearly imprinted on a man's countenance than it is there, but have your +own will; only do not ask me to keep a dead man on board, I should have +my men mutiny in a twinkling." + +Mordaunt made him no answer, but hastened towards the gangway, where the +men were now ascending. They carefully unloosed the bonds that attached +the body to the plank, and laid him on a pile of cushions where the +light of the setting sun shone full on his face and form. One glance +sufficed for Mordaunt to perceive he was an English officer; another +caused him to start some paces back in astonishment. As the youth thus +lay, the deadly paleness of his countenance, the extreme fairness of his +throat and part of his neck, which, as the sailors hastily untied his +neckcloth and opened his jacket, were fully exposed to view, the +beautifully formed brow strewed by thick masses of golden curls gave him +so much the appearance of a delicate female, that the sailors looked +humorously at each other, as if wondering what right he had to a +sailor's jacket; but Mordaunt's eyes never moved from him. Thoughts came +crowding over him, so full of youth, of home and joy, that tears gushed +to his eyes, tears which had not glistened there for many a long year; +and yet he knew not wherefore, he knew not, he could not, had he been +asked, have defined the cause of that strong emotion; but the more he +looked upon that beautiful face, the faster and thicker came those +visions on his soul. Memories came rushing back, days of his fresh and +happy boyhood, affections, long slumbering, recalled in all their +purity, and his bosom yearned towards home, as if no time had elapsed +since last he had beheld it, as if he should find all those he loved +even as he had left them. And what had brought them back? who was the +youth on whom he gazed, and towards whom he felt affection strangely and +suddenly aroused, affection so powerful, he could not shake it off? +Nothing in all probability to him; and vainly he sought to account for +the emotions those bright features awakened within him. Rousing himself, +as symptoms of life began to appear in the exhausted form before him, he +desired that the youth might be carried to his own cabin. He was his +countryman, he said; an officer of equal rank it appeared, from his +epaulette, and he should not feel comfortable were he under the care of +any other. On bearing him from the deck to the cabin, a small volume +fell from his loosened vest, which Mordaunt raised from the ground with +some curiosity, to know what could be so precious to a youthful sailor. +It was a pocket Bible, so much resembling one Mordaunt possessed +himself, that scarcely knowing what he was about, he drew it from his +pocket to compare them. "How can I be so silly?" he thought; "is there +anything strange in two English Bibles resembling each other?" He +replaced his own, opened the other, and started in increased amazement. +"Charles Manvers!" he cried, as that name met his eye. "Merciful +heaven! who is this youth? to whom would this Bible ever have been +given?" So great was his agitation, that it was with difficulty he read +the words which were written beneath. + +"Edward Fortescue! oh, when will that name rival his to whom this book +once belonged? I may be as brave a sailor, but what will make me as good +a man? This Sacred Book, he loved it, and so will I." Underneath, and +evidently added at a later period, was the following: + +"I began to read this for the sake of those beloved ones to whom I knew +it was all in all. I thought, for its own sake, it would never have +become the dear and sacred volume they regarded it, but I am mistaken; +how often has it soothed me in my hour of temptation, guided me in my +duties, restrained my angry moments, and brought me penitent and humble +to the footstool of my God. Oh, my beloved Ellen, had this been my +companion three years ago as it is now, what misery I should have spared +you." + +Other memorandums in the same style were written in the blank leaves +which appeared attached for the purpose, but it so happened that not one +of them solved the mystery which so completely puzzled Mordaunt. The +name of Fortescue was utterly unknown to him, and increased the mystery +of the youth's having produced such a strange effect upon his mind. +There were many names introduced in these memorandums, but they +explained nothing; one only struck him, it was one which in his hours of +suffering, of slavery, ever sounded in his ear, the fondly-remembered +name of her whom he longed to clasp to his aching heart--it was +_Emmeline_; and as he read it, the same gush of memory came over him as +when he first gazed on Edward. In vain reason whispered there were many, +very many Emmelines in his native land; that name only brought one to +his remembrance. Though recovering, the youth was still much too weak +and exhausted to attempt speaking, and Mordaunt watched by his couch for +one day and two nights, ere the surgeon permitted him to ask a question +or Edward to answer it. Often, however, during that interval had the +young stranger turned his bright blue eyes with a look of intelligence +and feeling on him who attended him with the care of a father, and the +colour, the expression of those eyes seemed to thrill to Mordaunt's +heart, and speak even yet more forcibly of days gone by. + +"Let me write but two lines, to tell Captain Seaforth I am safe and +well," said Edward impetuously, as he sprung with renewed spirits from +the couch on which he had been so long an unwilling prisoner. + +"And how send it, my young friend? There is not a vessel within sight on +the wide sea." + +Edward uttered an exclamation of impatience, then instantly checking +himself, said, with a smile-- + +"Forgive me, sir; I should think only of my merciful preservation, and +of endeavouring to express in some manner my obligations to you, to +whose generous exertions, blessed as they were by heaven, I owe my life. +Oh, would that my aunt and sister were near me, their gratitude for the +preservation of one whom they perhaps too fondly and too partially love, +would indeed be gratifying to feelings such as yours. I can feel what I +owe you, Lieutenant Mordaunt, but I cannot express myself sufficiently +in words." + +"In the name of heaven, young man, in pity tell me who you are!" gasped +Mordaunt, almost inarticulately, as he grasped Edward's hand and gazed +intently on his face; for every word he spoke, heightened by the +kindling animation of his features, appeared to render that +extraordinary likeness yet more perfect. + +"Edward Fortescue is my name." + +"But your mother's, boy,--your mother's? I ask not from idle curiosity." + +"She was the youngest daughter of Lord Delmont, Eleanor Manvers." + +Mordaunt gazed yet more intently on the youth, then hoarsely murmuring, +"I knew it,--it was no fancy," sunk back almost overpowered with +momentary agitation. Recovering himself almost instantly, and before +Edward could give vent to his surprise and sympathy in words, he asked, +"Is Lord Delmont yet alive? I knew him once; he was a kind old man." His +lip quivered, so as almost to prevent the articulation of his words. + +"Oh, no; the departure of my mother for India was a trial he never +recovered, and the intelligence that his only son, a noble and gallant +officer, perished with the crew of the Leander, finally broke his heart; +he never held up his head again, and died a very few months afterwards." + +Mordaunt buried his face in his hands, and for several minutes remained +silent, as if struggling with some powerful emotion, then asked, "You +spoke only of your aunt and sister. Does not your mother live?" + +"She died when I was little more than eleven years old, and my sister +scarcely ten. My father, Colonel Fortescue, dying in India, she could +not bear to remain there, but we were compelled to take refuge off the +coast of Wales from the storms which had arisen, and then she had only +time to give us to the care of her sister, for whom she had sent, and +died in her arms." + +"And is it her sister, or your father's, of whom you spoke just now?" + +"Hers--Mrs. Hamilton." + +"Hamilton, and she lives still! you said you knew her," repeated +Mordaunt, suddenly springing up and speaking in a tone of animation, +that bewildered Edward almost as much as his former agitation. "Speak of +her, young man; tell me something of her. Oh, it is long since I have +heard her name." + +"Did you know my aunt? I have never heard her mention your name, +Lieutenant Mordaunt." + +"Very likely not," he replied, and a faint smile played round his lip, +creating an expression which made young Fortescue start, for the +features seemed familiar to him. "It was only in my boyhood that I knew +her, and she was kind to me. We do not easily forget the associations of +our boyhood, my young friend, particularly when manhood has been a +dreary blank, or tinged with pain. In my hours of slavery, the smile and +look of Emmeline Manvers has often haunted my waking and my sleeping +dreams; but she is married--is in all probability a happy wife and +loving mother; prosperity is around her, and it is most likely she has +forgotten the boy to whom her kindness was so dear." + +"Hours of slavery?" asked Edward, for those words had alone riveted his +attention. "Can you, a free and British sailor, have ever been a slave?" + +"Even so, my young friend; for seven years I languished in the +loathsome dungeons of Algiers, and the last sixteen years have been a +slave." + +Edward grasped his hand with an uncontrollable impulse, while at the +same moment he clenched his sword, and his countenance expressed the +powerful indignation of his young and gallant spirit, though words for +the moment he had none. Lieutenant Mordaunt again smiled--that smile +which by some indefinable power inspired Edward with affection and +esteem. + +"I am free now, my gallant boy," he said; "free as if the galling +fetters of slavery had never bowed down my neck. Another day you shall +hear more. Now gratify me by some account of your aunt; speak of +her--tell me if she have children--if her husband still lives. If Mrs. +Hamilton is still the same gentle, affectionate being--the same firm, +unflinching character, when duty called her, as the Emmeline Manvers it +was once my joy to know." + +With an animation that again riveted the eyes of Lieutenant Mordaunt on +his countenance, Edward eagerly entered on the subject. No other could +have been dearer to him; Mordaunt could have fixed on few which would +thus have called forth the eloquence of his young companion. Sailor as +he was, truly enthusiastic in his profession, yet home to Edward still +possessed invincible attractions, and the devoted affection, gratitude, +and reverence he felt for his aunt appeared to increase with his years. +Neither Percy nor Herbert could have loved her more. He spoke as he +felt; he told of all he owed her, and not only himself but his orphan +sister; he said that as a mother she had been to them both, that never +once had she made the slightest difference between them and her own +children. He painted in vivid colours the domestic joys of Oakwood, the +affectionate harmony that reigned there, till Mordaunt felt his eyes +glisten with emotion, and ere that conversation ceased, all that +affection which for many a long and weary year had pined for some one on +which to expend its force, now centred in the noble youth of whose +preservation he had been so strangely and providentially an instrument. +To Edward it was not in the least strange, that any one who had once +known his aunt, it mattered not how many years previous, should still +retain a lively remembrance of her, and wish to know more concerning +her, and his feelings were strongly excited towards one, whose interest +in all that concerned her was evidently so great. His first letter to +his family, which he enclosed in one to his captain, spoke very much of +Lieutenant Mordaunt, wondering that his aunt had never mentioned one who +remembered her so well. This letter, as we know, was never received, and +the next he wrote was too hurried to enter into particulars, except +those that related to himself alone. When he again wrote home, he had +become so attached and so used to Mordaunt, that he fancied he must be +as well known to his family as himself, and though he mentioned his name +repeatedly, he did not think of inquiring anything concerning him. + +The able activity as a sailor, the graceful, courteous manner of Edward +as a man, soon won him the hearts of Captain Bartholomew and all his +crew. Ever the first when there was anything to be done on board or on +shore, lively, high-spirited, and condescending, his appearance on deck +after any absence was generally acknowledged with respect. The various +characters thus presented to his notice in the Spanish crew, the many +ports he touched at, afforded him continual and exciting amusement, +although his thoughts very often lingered on his darling "Gem," with the +ardent desire to be once more doing his duty on her decks. But amid all +these changing scenes, Edward and his friend, diverse as were their ages +and apparently their dispositions, became almost inseparable. An +irresistible impulse urged Edward repeatedly to talk to him of his home, +till Mordaunt became intimately acquainted with every member of the +family. Of Herbert, Edward would speak with enthusiasm; he little knew, +poor fellow, that the cousin whose character he almost venerated was +gone to his last home, that he should never see him more. Letters +detailing that melancholy event had been forwarded to the Gem, arriving +there just one week after the young sailor's disappearance; and, when +informed of his safety, Captain Seaforth, then on his way to England, +had no opportunity of forwarding them to him. His repeated mention of +Herbert in his letters home, his anxious desire to hear something of +him, were most painful to his family, and Ellen was more than ever +anxious he should receive the account ere he returned. + +Among other subjects discussed between them, Mordaunt once asked Edward +who now bore the title of Lord Delmont, and had appeared somewhat +agitated when told the title was now extinct, and had become so from the +melancholy death of the promising young nobleman on whom it had +devolved. + +"Sir George Wilmot is out in his prognostication then," he observed, +after a pause. "I remember, when a youngster under his command, hearing +him repeatedly prophesy that a Delmont would revive the honour of his +ancient house by naval fame. Poor Charles was ever his favourite amongst +us." + +"You were my uncle's messmate then," said Edward, in a tone of surprise +and joy. "Why did you not tell me this before, that I might ask all the +questions I long to know concerning him?" + +"And what have you heard of Charles to call for this extreme interest?" +replied Mordaunt, with his peculiar smile. "I should have thought that +long ere this my poor friend had been forgotten in his native land." + +"Forgotten! and by a sister who doted on him; who has never ceased to +lament his melancholy fate; who ever held him up to my young fancy as +one of those whom it should be my glory to resemble. Did you know my +aunt, as, by two or three things I have heard you say, I fancy you must, +you could never suspect her of forgetting one she loved as she did her +brother. My uncle Charles is enshrined in her memory too fondly for time +to efface it." + +Tears rose to Mordaunt's eager eyes at these words; he turned aside a +moment to conceal his agitation, then asked if Sir George Wilmot ever +spoke of Manvers. Animatedly Edward related the old Admiral's agitation +the first night he had seen him at Oakwood; how feelingly he had spoken +of one, whom he said he had ever regarded as the adopted son of his +affections, the darling of his childless years, his gallant, merry +Charles. Mordaunt twined his arm in Edward's, and looked up in his face, +as if to thank him for the consolation his words imparted. Again was +there an expression in his countenance, which sent a thrill to the young +man's heart, but vainly he tried to discover wherefore. + +We may here perhaps relate in a very few words Mordaunt's tale of +suffering, which he imparted at different times to Edward. The wreck of +the vessel to which he belonged had cast him, with one or two others of +his hapless companions, on the coast of Morocco and Algiers. There they +were seized by the cruel Moors, and carried as spies before the Dey, and +by his command immured in the dungeons of the fortress where many +unhappy captives were also confined, and had been for many years. For +eight years he was an inmate of these horrible prisons, a sickening +witness of many of those tortures and cruelties which were inflicted on +his fellow-prisoners, and often on himself. All those at all acquainted +with the bombardment of Algiers, so ably carried on by Admiral Sir +Edward Pellew, afterwards Viscount Exmouth, an entreprise which was +entered on to avenge the atrocious indignities practised by the Dey on +all the unfortunate foreigners that visited his coast, can well imagine +the sufferings Mordaunt had not only to witness but to endure. On the +first report of a hostile fleet appearing off the coast of Barbary, the +most active and able of the prisoners were marched out to various +markets and there sold as slaves. Mordaunt was one of these: +imprisonment and suffering had not quenched his youthful spirit, nor so +bowed his frame as to render him incapable of energy. Scarcely twenty +when this cruel reverse of fortune overtook him, the tortures of his +mind during the eight, nearly nine, years of his captivity may be better +conceived than described. He had entered prison a boy, with all the +fresh, elastic buoyancy of youth, he quitted it a man; but, oh, how was +that manhood's prime, to which in his visions of futurity he had looked +with such bright anticipation as the zenith of his naval fame, now +about to pass? as a slave; exposed to increased oppression and indignity +on account of his religion, which he had inwardly vowed never to give +up. He secured the Bible, which had first been a treasure to him merely +as the gift of a beloved sister, and throughout all his change of +destiny it was never taken from him. To submit calmly to slavery, +Mordaunt felt at first his spirit never could, and various were the +schemes he planned, and in part executed, towards obtaining his freedom, +but all were eventually frustrated by the observation of his masters, +who were too well accustomed to insubordination on the part of their +slaves for such attempts to cause them much trouble or uneasiness. Still +Mordaunt despaired not; still was the hope of freedom uppermost in his +breast, even when he became the property of a Turk, who, had he been but +a Christian, Mordaunt declared, must have commanded his reverence if not +his affection. Five times he had been exposed for sale, and each master +had appeared to him more cruel and oppressive than the last. To relate +all he suffered would occupy a much larger portion of our tale than we +could allow, but they were such that any one but Mordaunt would have +felt comparative contentment and happiness when changed for the service +of Mahommed Ali, an officer of eminence in the court of Tunis. He was +indeed one who might well exemplify the assertion, that in all religions +there is some good. Suffering and sorrow were aliens from his roof, +misery approached not his doors, and Mordaunt had, in fact, been +purchased from motives of compassion, which his evident wretchedness, +both bodily and mental, had excited; to cure his bodily ills no kindly +attention was spared, but vainly Mahommed Ali sought to lessen the load +of anguish he saw imprinted on the brow of his Christian captive. +Mordaunt's noble spirit was touched by the indulgence and kindness he +received, and he made no effort to escape, for he felt it would be but +an ungenerous, dishonourable return--but still he was a slave. No +fetters galled his limbs, but the fetters of slavery galled his spirits +with a deep anguish; no taskmaster was now set over him with the knotted +whip, to spur on each slackening effort; but the groan which no bodily +suffering could wring, which he had suppressed, lest his persecutors +should triumph, now burst from his sorrowing heart, and scalding drops +stole down his cheeks, when he deemed no eye was near. Slavery, slavery +seemed his for ever, and each fond vision of his native land and all he +loved but added to the burden on his soul. + +Mahommed at length became so deeply interested in his Christian slave, +that he offered him freedom, wealth, distinction, his own friendship and +support, all on the one, he thought, simple and easy condition of giving +up his country and his faith, and embracing the one holy creed of +Mahomet. In kindness was the offer made, but mournfully, yet with a +steadiness that gave no hope of change, was it refused; vainly Mahommed +urged the happiness its acceptance would bring, that he knew not all he +so rashly refused; still he wavered not, and Ali with a weary heart gave +up the attempt. Time passed, but its fleeting years reconciled not +Mordaunt to his situation, nor lessened the kindly interest he excited +in the heart of the good old man; and when at length it happened that +Mordaunt, almost unconsciously to himself, became the fortunate +instrument of reconciling some affairs of his master, which were in +confusion, and had been so for years, when, among many other unexpected +services which it had been in his power to perform, he rescued the +favourite son of Mahommed from an infuriated tiger, which had +unexpectedly sprung upon him during a hunting expedition, the old man +could contain his wishes no longer, but gave him his freedom on the +spot. Unconditional liberty to return to his native land was very soon +after accorded, and loading him with rich gifts, Ali himself accompanied +him to the deck of the Alma, which was the only vessel then starting +from the coast of Guinea, where Mahommed in general resided. Mordaunt +was too impatient to wait for an English vessel, nor did he wish to +incur the risk of encountering any hostile to his interests, by crossing +the country and embarking from Algiers or Tunis. While in Africa he felt +that the chain of slavery still hovered round his neck. He could not +feel himself once more a freeborn Briton till he was indeed on the +bounding ocean. + +Once on the way to Europe, there was hope, even though that way was by +America. He parted from his former master, now his friend, with a +feeling of regret; but the fresh breezes, the consciousness he stood on +deck free as the wind, free as the ocean that bore him onward to his +native land, removed from his mind all lingering dread, and filled his +soul with joy; but the human heart is not now in a state to feel for any +length of time unchecked happiness. Four-and-twenty years had elapsed +since Mordaunt had been imagined dead; six-and-twenty since he had +departed from his native land, and had last beheld his friends he so +dearly loved. He might return, and be by all considered an intruder, +perhaps not recognised, his tale not believed; he might see his family +scattered, all of them with new ties, new joys, and with no place for +the long-absent exile. The thought was anguish, but Mordaunt had weakly +indulged it too long to enable him at first to conquer it, even when +Edward's tale of the fond remembrance in which his uncle was held by all +who had loved him, unconsciously penetrated his soul with a sense of the +injustice he had done his friends, and brought consolation with it. + +These facts, which we have so briefly thrown together, formed most +interesting subjects to Edward many times during his voyage to New York. +Edward hung as in fascination on the stranger's history, innate +nobleness was stamped in every word. More than once the thought struck +him that he was more than what he appeared to be, but Edward knew he had +a slight tendency towards romance in his composition, and fearful of +lowering himself in the estimation of his newfound friend by the avowal +of such fanciful sentiments, he kept them to himself. + +At length the wished-for port to both the Englishmen (New York) was +gained, and their passage secured in the first packet sailing for +England. Edward's heart beat high with anticipated pleasure; he longed +to introduce his new friend to his family, and his bright anticipations +shed a kindred glow over the mind of Mordaunt, who had now become so +devotedly attached to the youth, that he could scarcely bear him out of +his sight; and had he wanted fresh incentive to affection, the deep +affliction of the young sailor on receiving the intelligence of his +cousin Herbert's death, would have been sufficient. Edward had one day +sought the post-office, declaring, however, that it was quite +impossible such increased joy could be in store for him, as a letter +from home. There were two instead of one: one from his aunt and uncle, +the other from his sister; the black seal painfully startled him. +Mourning for poor Mary is over long ere this, he thought, and scarcely +had he strength to break the seal, and when he had read the fatal news, +he sat for some time as if overwhelmed with the sudden and unexpected +blow. + +Mordaunt's words of consolation fell at first unheeded on his ear; it +was not for Herbert alone he sorrowed, it was for his aunt. He knew how +devotedly she loved her son, and though she did not write much on the +actual loss she had sustained, yet every word seemed to reach his heart, +and Edward leaned his head upon the paper, and wept like a child. +Herbert, the bright, the good, the gentle companion of his boyhood, the +faithful friend of his maturer years, had he indeed gone--his place +would know him no more? And oh, how desolate must Oakwood seem. Percy, +though in affection for his parents and his family, in his devoted +attention to their comfort, equalled only by his brother, yet never +could he be to Oakwood as Herbert. He was as the brilliant planet, +shedding lustre indeed on all over whom it gleamed, but never still, +continually roving, changing its course, as if its light would be more +glittering from such unsteady movements; but Herbert was as the mild and +lucid star, stationary in its appointed orbit, gilding all things with +its mellow light, but darting its most intense and radiant lustre on +that home which was to him indeed the centre-point of love. Such was the +description of his two cousins given by Edward to his sympathising +companion, and Mordaunt looked on the young sailor in wondering +admiration. Eagerly, delightedly, he had perused the letters, which +Edward intrusted to him; that of Mrs. Hamilton was pressed to his lips, +but engrossed in his own thoughts, Edward observed him not. Sadness +lingered on Edward's heart during the whole of that voyage homeward; his +conversation was tinged with the same spirit, but it brought out so many +points of his character, which in his joyous moods Mordaunt never could +have discovered, that the links of that strangely-aroused affection +became even stronger than before. Edward returned his regard with all +the warmth of his enthusiastic nature strengthened by the manner in +which his letters from home alluded to Lieutenant Mordaunt as his +preserver; and before their voyage was completed, Mordaunt, in +compliance with the young man's earnest entreaty, consented to accompany +him, in the first place, to Richmond, whence Edward promised, after +introducing him to his family, and finding him a safe harbour there, he +would leave no stone unturned to discover every possible information +concerning Mordaunt's family. That same peculiar smile curled the +stranger's lips as Edward thus animatedly spoke, and he promised +unqualified compliance. + +Having thus brought Edward and his friend within but a few weeks' voyage +to England, we may now leave them and return to Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton, +who were both rejoicing in the improved looks of their niece at +Richmond. + +The delightful calmness of their beautiful retreat, the suspension of +all anxiety, the total change of scene which was around them, had done +much towards restoring peace, not only to Ellen but to her aunt. The +feeling that she was now indeed called upon to fulfil the promise she +had made to Herbert, that the enjoyment and cheerfulness of home +depended on her alone, had inspired exertions which had partially +enabled her to conquer her own grief; and every week seemed to bring +forward some new quality, of which her relatives imagined they must have +been ignorant before. Ellen's character was one not to attract at first, +but to win affection slowly but surely; her merits were not dazzling, it +was generally long before they were all discovered, but when they were, +they ever commanded reverence and love. In all her children Mrs. +Hamilton felt indeed her cares fully repaid, and in Ellen more, far more +than she had ventured to anticipate. Thus left alone in her filial +cares, Ellen's character appeared different to what it had been when one +of many. Steady, quiet cheerfulness was restored to the hearts of all +who now composed the small domestic circle of Mr. Hamilton's family; +each had their private moments when sorrow for the loss of their beloved +Herbert was indeed recalled in all its bitterness, but such sacred hours +never were permitted to tinge their daily lives with gloom. + +They were now in daily expectation of St. Eval's return to England, with +Miss Manvers, who, at Mrs. Hamilton's particular request, was to join +their family party. An understanding had taken place between her and +Percy, but not yet did either intend their engagement to be known. The +sympathy and affection of Louisa were indeed most soothing to Percy in +this affliction, which, even when months had passed, he could not +conquer, but he could not think of entering into the bonds of marriage, +even with the woman he sincerely loved, till his heart could, in some +degree, recover the deep wound which the death of his only brother had +so painfully inflicted. To his parents indeed, and all his family, he +revealed his engagement, and Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton anxiously anticipated +the return of Lord and Lady St. Eval, to introduce them to the intended +bride of their only son. Their intention was to remain at Richmond till +the spring, when Arthur and his wife would pay their promised visit at +Oakwood, instead of spending the Christmas with them--an arrangement +Emmeline had herself suggested; because, she said, if she and her +husband were away, the family party which had ever assembled at Oakwood +during that festive season would be broken up, and Herbert's absence be +less painfully felt. Mrs. Hamilton noticed it to none, but her +penetration discovered the cause of this change in Emmeline's +intentions, and tears of delicious feeling filled her eyes, as for a +moment she permitted that gentle and affectionate girl to occupy that +thought which she was about to bestow on Herbert. + +"We have received interesting news this morning, my dear Arthur," Mrs. +Hamilton said, as her husband entered the parlour, where she and Ellen +were seated. "Lucy Harcourt is returning to England, and has requested +us to look out for a little cottage for her near Oakwood. The severe +illness, and finally the death of her cousin, Mr. Seymour, has been the +cause of my not hearing from her so long. Poor fellow, he has been for +so many years such a sad sufferer, that a peaceful death must indeed be +a blessed release." + +"It was a peaceful death, Lucy writes, mournfully but resignedly; she +says she cannot be sufficiently thankful that he was spared long enough +to see his daughters would both be happy under her charge. That she had +gained their young affections, and that, as far as mortal eye could see, +by leaving them entirely under her guardianship and maternal care, he +had provided for their happiness. He said this almost with his last +breath; and poor Lucy says that, among her many consolations in this +trying time, this assertion was not one of the least precious to her +heart." + +"No doubt it was. To be the friend and adopted mother of his children +must be one of the many blessings created for herself by her noble +conduct in youth. I am glad now my prophecy was not verified, and that +she never became his wife." + +"Did you ever think she would, uncle?" asked Ellen, surprised. + +"I fancied Seymour must have discovered her affection, and then +admiration on his part would have done the rest. It is, I own, much +better as it is; his children will love her more, regarding her in the +light of his sister and their aunt, than had she become their +stepmother. But why did you seem so surprised at my prophecy, Nelly? Was +there anything very impossible in their union?" + +"Not impossible; but I do not think it likely Miss Harcourt would have +betrayed her affection, at the very time when she was endeavouring to +soothe her cousin for the loss of a beloved wife. She was much more +likely to conceal it, even more effectually than she had ever done +before. Nor do I think it probable Mr. Seymour, accustomed from his very +earliest years to regard her as a sister, could ever succeed in looking +on her in any other light." + +"You seem well skilled in the history of the human heart, my little +Ellen," said her uncle, smiling. "Do you think it then quite impossible +for cousins to love?" + +Ellen bent lower over her embroidery-frame, for she felt a tell-tale +flush was rising to her cheek, and without looking up, replied calmly-- + +"Miss Harcourt is a proof that such love can and does exist--more often, +perhaps, in a woman's heart. In a man seldom, unless educated and living +entirely apart from each other." + +"I think you are right, Ellen," said her aunt. "I never thought, with +your uncle, that Lucy would become Mr. Seymour's wife." + +"Had I prophesied such a thing, uncle, what would you have called me?" +said Ellen, looking up archly from her frame, for the momentary flush +had gone. + +"That it was the prophecy of a most romantic young lady, much more like +Emmeline's heroics than the quiet, sober Ellen," he answered, in the +same tone; "but as my own idea, of course it is wisdom itself. But jokes +apart, as you are so skilled in the knowledge of the human heart, my +dear Ellen, you must know I entered this room to-day for the purpose of +probing your own." + +"Mine!" exclaimed the astonished girl, turning suddenly pale; "what do +you mean?" + +"Only that the Rev. Ernest Lacy has been with me this morning entreating +my permission to address you, and indeed making proposals for your hand. +I told him that my permission he could have, with my earnest wishes for +his success, and that I did not doubt your aunt's consent would be as +readily given. Do not look so terribly alarmed; I told him I could not +let the matter proceed any farther without first speaking to you." + +"Pray let it go no farther, then, my dear uncle," said Ellen, very +earnestly, as her needle fell from her hand, and she turned her eyes +beseechingly on her uncle's face. "I thank Mr. Lacy for the high opinion +he must have of me in making me this offer, but indeed I cannot accept +it. Do not, by your consent, let him encourage hopes which must end in +disappointment." + +"My approbation I cannot withdraw, Ellen, for most sincerely do I esteem +the young man; and there are few whom I would so gladly behold united to +my family as himself. Why do you so positively refuse to hear him? You +may not know him sufficiently now, I grant you, to love him, yet believe +me, the more you know him the more will you find in him both to esteem +and love." + +"I do not doubt it, my dear uncle. He is one among the young men who +visit here whom I most highly esteem, and I should be sorry to lose his +friendship by the refusal of his hand." + +"But why not allow him to plead for himself? You are not one of those +romantic beings, Ellen, who often refuse an excellent offer, because +they imagine they are not violently in love." + +"Pray do not condemn me as such, my dear uncle; indeed, it is not the +case. Mr. Lacy, the little I know of him, appears to possess every +virtue calculated to make an excellent husband. I know no fault to which +I can bring forward any objection; but"-- + +"But what, my dear niece? Surely, you are not afraid of speaking freely +before your aunt and myself?" + +"No, uncle; but I have little to say except that I have no wish to +marry; that it would be more pain to leave you and my aunt than marriage +could ever compensate." + +"Why, Nelly, do you mean to devote yourself to us all your young life, +old and irritable as we shall in all probability become? think again, my +dear girl, many enjoyments, much happiness, as far as human eye can see, +await the wife of Lacy. Emmeline, you are silent; do you not agree with +me in wishing to behold our gentle Ellen the wife of one so universally +beloved as this young clergyman?" + +"Not if her wishes lead her to remain with us, my husband," replied Mrs. +Hamilton, impressively. She had not spoken before, for she had been too +attentively observing the fluctuation of Ellen's countenance; but now +her tone was such as to check the forced smile with which her niece had +tried to reply to Mr. Hamilton's suggestion of becoming old and +irritable, and bring the painfully-checked tears back to her eyes, too +powerfully to be restrained. She tried to retain her calmness, but the +effort was vain, and springing from her seat, she flew to the couch +where her aunt sat, and kneeling by her side, buried her face on her +shoulder, and murmured, almost inaudibly,-- + +"Oh, do not, do not bid me leave you, I am happy here; but elsewhere, +oh, I should be so very, very wretched. I own Mr. Lacy is all that I +could wish for in a husband; precious, indeed, would be his love to any +girl who could return it, but not to me; oh, not to one who can give him +nothing in return." + +She paused abruptly; the crimson had mounted to both cheek and brow, +and the choking sob prevented farther utterance. + +Mrs. Hamilton pressed her lips to Ellen's heated brow in silence, while +her husband looked at his niece in silent amazement. + +"Are your affections then given to another, my dear child?" he said, +gently and tenderly; "but why this overwhelming grief, my Ellen? Surely, +you do not believe we could thwart the happiness of one so dear to us, +by refusing our consent to the man of your choice, if he be worthy of +you? Speak, then, my dear girl, without reserve; who has so secretly +gained your young affections, that for his sake every other offer is +rejected?" + +Ellen raised her head and looked mournfully in her uncle's face. She +tried to obey, but voice for the moment failed. + +"_My love is given to the dead_" she murmured at length, clasping her +aunt's hands in hers, the words slowly falling from her parched lips; +then added, hurriedly, "oh, do not reprove my weakness, I thought my +secret never would have passed my lips in life, but wherefore should I +hide it now? It is no sin to love the dead, though had he lived, never +would I have ceased to struggle till this wild pang was conquered, till +calmly I could have beheld him happy with the wife of his choice, of his +love. Oh, condemn me not for loving one who never thought of me save as +a sister; one whom I knew from his boyhood loved another. None on earth +can tell how I have struggled to subdue myself. I knew not my own heart +till it was too late to school it into apathy. He has gone, but while +my heart still clings to Herbert only, oh, can I give my hand unto +another?" + +"Herbert!" burst from Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton at the same instant, and +Ellen, turning from their glance, hid her flushing and paling cheek in +her hands; for a moment there was silence, and then Mrs. Hamilton drew +the agitated girl closer to her, and murmuring, in a tone of intense +feeling, "my poor, poor Ellen!" mingled a mother's tears with those of +her niece. Mr. Hamilton looked on them both with extreme emotion; his +mind's eye rapidly glanced over the past, and in an instant he saw what +a heavy load of suffering must have been his niece's portion from the +first moment she awoke to the consciousness of her ill-fated love; and +how had she borne it? so uncomplainingly, so cheerfully, that no one +could suspect that inward sorrow. When cheering himself and his wife +under their deep affliction, it was with her own heart breaking all the +while. When inciting Herbert to exertion, during that painful trial +occasioned by his Mary's letter, when doing everything in her power to +secure his happiness, what must have been her own feelings? Yes, in very +truth she had loved, loved with all the purity, the self-devotedness of +woman; and Mr. Hamilton felt that which at the moment he could not +speak. He raised his niece from the ground, where she still knelt beside +her aunt, folded her to his bosom, kissed her tearful cheek, and placing +her in Mrs. Hamilton's arms, hastily left the room. + +The same thoughts had likewise occupied the mind of her aunt, as Ellen +still seemed to cling to her for support and comfort; but they were +mingled with a sensation almost amounting to self-reproach at her own +blindness in not earlier discovering the truth. Why not imagine Ellen's +affections fixed on Herbert as on Arthur Myrvin? both were equally +probable. She could now well understand Ellen's agitation when Herbert's +engagement with Mary was published, when he performed the marriage +ceremony for Arthur and Emmeline; and when Mrs. Hamilton recalled how +completely Ellen had appeared to forget herself, in devotedness to her; +how, instead of weakly sinking beneath her severe trials, she had borne +up through all, had suppressed her own suffering to alleviate those of +others, was it strange, that admiration and respect should mingle with +the love she bore her? that from that hour Ellen appeared dearer to her +aunt than she had ever done before? Nor was it only on this account her +affection increased. For the sake of her beloved son it was that her +niece refused to marry; for love of him, even though he had departed, +her heart rejected every other love; and the fond mother unconsciously +felt soothed, consoled. It seemed a tribute to the memory of her sainted +boy, that he was thus beloved, and she who had thus loved him--oh, was +there not some new and precious link between them? + +It was some time before either could give vent in words to the feelings +that swelled within. Ellen's tears fell fast and unrestrainedly on the +bosom of her aunt, who sought not to check them, for she knew how +blessed they must be to one who so seldom wept; and they were blessed, +for a heavy weight seemed removed from the orphan's heart, the torturing +secret was revealed; she might weep now without restraint, and never +more would her conduct appear mysterious either to her aunt or uncle. +They now knew it was no caprice that bade her refuse every offer of +marriage that was made her. How that treasured secret had escaped her +she knew not; she had been carried on by an impulse she could neither +resist nor understand. At the first, a sensation of shame had +overpowered her, that she could thus have given words to an unrequited +affection; but ere long, the gentle soothing of her aunt caused that +painful feeling to pass away. Consoling, indeed, was the voice of +sympathy on a subject which to another ear had never been disclosed. It +was some little time ere she could conquer her extreme agitation, her +overcharged heart released from its rigorous restraint, appeared to +spurn all effort of control; but after that day no violent emotion +disturbed the calm serenity that resumed its sway. Never again was the +subject alluded to in that little family circle, but the whole conduct +of her aunt and uncle evinced they felt for and with their Ellen; +confidence increased between them, and after the first few days, the +orphan's life was more calmly happy than it had been for many a long +year. + +The return of Lord St. Eval's family to England, and their meeting with +Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton, was attended with some alloy. Caroline and her +parents had not met since the death of Herbert, and that affliction +appeared at the first moment recalled in all its bitterness. The +presence of a comparative stranger, as was Miss Manvers, did much +towards calming the excited feelings of each, and the exertions of Lord +St. Eval and Ellen restored composure and cheerfulness sooner than they +could have anticipated. + +With Miss Manvers Mrs. Hamilton was much pleased. Gentle and unassuming, +she won her way to every heart that knew her; she was the only remaining +scion of Mrs. Hamilton's own family, and she felt pleased that by her +union with Percy the families of Manvers and Hamilton would be yet more +closely connected. She had regretted much, at a former time, the +extinction of the line of Delmont; for she had recalled those visions of +her girlhood, when she had looked to her brother to support the ancient +line, and gilding it with naval honours, bid it stand forth as it had +done some centuries before. Mrs. Hamilton had but little of what is +termed family pride, but these feelings were associated with the brother +whom she had so dearly loved, and whose loss she so painfully deplored. + +The season of Christmas passed more cheerfully than Ellen had dared to +hope. The scene was entirely changed; never before had they passed a +Christmas anywhere but at Oakwood, and that simple circumstance +prevented the void in that domestic circle from being so sadly felt. +That Herbert was in the thoughts of all his family, that it was an +effort for them to retain the cheerfulness which in them was ever the +characteristic of the season, we will not deny, but affliction took not +from the calm beauty which ever rested round Mr. Hamilton's hearth. All +appeared as if an even more hallowed and mellowed light was cast around +them; for it displayed, even more powerfully than when unalloyed +prosperity was their portion, the true beauty of the religious +character. Herbert and Mary were not lost to them; they were but removed +to another sphere, that eternal Home, to which all who loved them looked +with an eye of faith. + +Sir George Wilmot was the only guest at Richmond during the Christmas +season, but so long had he been a friend of the family and of Lord +Delmont's, when Mrs. Hamilton was a mere child, that he could scarcely +be looked on in the light of a mere guest. The kind old man had sorrowed +deeply for Herbert's death, had felt himself attracted even more +irresistibly to his friends in their sorrow than even in their joy, and +so constantly had he been invited to make his stay at Mr. Hamilton's +residence, wherever that might be, that he often declared he had now no +other home. The tale of Edward's peril interested him much; he would +make Ellen repeat it over and over again, and admire the daring rashness +which urged the young sailor not to defer his return to his commander, +even though a storm was threatening around him; and when Mr. Hamilton +related the story of Ellen's fortitude in bearing as she did this +painful suspense, the old man would conceal his admiration of his young +friend under a joke, and laughingly protest she was as fitted to be a +gallant sailor as her noble brother. + +On the character of the young heir of Oakwood the death of his brother +appeared to have made an impression, which neither time nor +circumstances could efface. He was not outwardly sad, but his volatile +nature appeared departed. He was no longer the same wild, boisterous +youth, ever on the look-out for some change, some new diversion or +practical joke, which had been his characteristics while Herbert lived. +A species of quiet dignity was now his own, combined with a devotedness +to his parents, which before had never been so distinctly visible. He +had ever loved them, ever sought their happiness, their wishes in +preference to his own. Herbert himself had not surpassed him in filial +love and reverence, but now, though his feelings were the same, their +expression was different; cheerful and animated he still was, but the +ringing laugh which had so often echoed through the halls of Oakwood had +gone. It seemed as if the death of a brother so beloved, had suddenly +transformed Percy Hamilton from the wild and thoughtless +pleasure-seeking, joke-loving lad into the calm and serious man. To the +eyes of his family, opposite as the brothers in youth had been, there +were now many points of Herbert's character reflected upon Percy, and +dearer than ever he became; and the love which had been excited in the +gentle heart of Louisa Manvers by the wild spirits, the animation, the +harmless recklessness, the freedom of thought and word, which had +characterised Percy, when she first knew him, was purified and +heightened by the calm dignity, the more serious thought, the solid +qualities of the virtuous and honourable man. + +Lieutenant Fortescue was now daily expected in England, much to the +delight of his family and Sir George Wilmot, who declared he should have +no peace till he was introduced to the preserver of his gallant boy, as +he chose to call Edward. Lieutenant Mordaunt; he never heard of such a +name, and he was quite sure he had never been a youngster in his +cockpit. "What does he mean by saying he knows me, that he sailed with +me, when a mid? he must be some impostor, Mistress Nell, take my word +for it," Sir George would laughingly say, and vow vengeance on Ellen, +for daring to doubt the excellence of his memory; as she one day +ventured to hint that it was so very many years, it was quite impossible +Sir George could remember the names of all the middies under him. It was +much more probable, Sir George would retort, that slavery had +bewildered the poor man's understanding, and that he fancied he was +acquainted with the first English names he heard. + +"Never mind, Nell, he has been a slave, poor fellow, so we will not +treat him as an impostor, the first moment he reaches his native land," +was the general conclusion of the old Admiral's jokes, as each day +increased his impatience for Edward's return. + +He was gratified at length, and as generally happens, when least +expected, for protesting he would not be impatient any more, he amused +himself by setting little Lord Lyle on his knee, and was so amused by +the child's playful prattle and joyous laugh, that he forgot to watch at +the window, which was his general post. Ellen was busily engaged in +nursing Caroline's babe, now about six months old. + +"Give me Mary, Ellen," said the young Earl, entering the room, with +pleasure visibly impressed on his features. "You will have somebody else +to kiss in a moment, and unless you can bear joy as composedly as you +can sorrow, why I tremble for the fate of my little Mary." + +"What do you mean, St. Eval? you shall not take my baby from me, unless +you can give me a better reason." + +"I mean that Edward will be here in five minutes, if he be not already. +Ah, Ellen, you will resign Mary now. Come to me, little lady," and the +young father caught his child from Ellen's trembling hands, and dancing +her high in the air, was rewarded by her loud crow of joy. + +In another minute, Edward was in the room, and clasped to his sister's +beating heart. It was an agitating moment, for it seemed to Ellen's +excited fancy that Edward was indeed restored to her from the dead, he +had not merely returned from a long and dangerous voyage. The young +sailor, as he released her from his embrace, looked with an uncontrolled +impulse round the room. All were not there he loved; he did not miss +Emmeline, but Herbert--oh, his gentle voice was not heard amongst the +many that crowded round to greet him. He looked on his aunt, her deep +mourning robe, he thought her paler, thinner than he had ever seen her +before, and the impetuous young man could not be restrained, he flung +himself within her extended arms, and burst into tears. + +Mr. Hamilton hastened towards them. "Our beloved Herbert is happy," he +said, solemnly, as he wrung his nephew's hands. "Let us not mourn for +him now, Edward, but rather rejoice, as were he amongst us he would do, +gratefully rejoice that the same gracious hand which removed him in love +to a brighter world was stretched over you in your hour of peril, and +preserved you to those who so dearly love you. You, too, we might for a +time have lost, my beloved Edward. Shall we not rejoice that you are +spared us? Emmeline, my own Emmeline, think on the blessings still +surrounding us." + +His impressive words had their effect on both his agitated auditors. +Edward gently withdrew himself from the detaining arms of his aunt; he +pressed a long, lingering kiss upon her cheek, and hastily conquering +his emotion, clasped Sir George Wilmot's extended hand, after a few +minutes' silence, greeted all his cousins with his accustomed warmth, +and spoke as usual. + +There had been one unseen, unthought-of spectator of this little scene; +all had been too much startled and affected at Edward's unexpected burst +of sorrow, to think of the stranger who had entered the room with him; +but that stranger had looked around him, more particularly on Mrs. +Hamilton, with feelings of intensity utterly depriving him of either +speech or motion. Years had passed lightly over Mrs. Hamilton's head; +she had borne trials, cares, and sorrows, as all her fellow-creatures, +but her burden had ever been cast upon Him who had promised to sustain +her, and therefore on her it had not weighed so heavily; and years had +neither bent that graceful figure, nor robbed her features of their +bloom. Hers had never been extraordinary beauty, it had been the +expression only, which was ever the charm in her, an expression of +purity of thought and deed, of gentle unassuming piety. Time cannot +triumph over that beauty which is reflected from the soul; and Mordaunt +gazed on her till he could scarcely restrain himself from rushing +forward, and clasping her to his bosom, proclaim aloud who and what he +was; but he did command himself, though his limbs trembled under him, +and he was thankful that as yet he was unobserved. He looked on the +blooming family around him--they were children, and yet to them he was +as the dead; and now would she indeed remember him? Edward suddenly +recalled the presence of his friend, and springing towards him, with an +exclamation of regret at his neglect, instantly attracted the attention +of all, and Mordaunt suddenly found himself the centre of a group, who +were listening with much interest to Edward's animated account of all he +owed him, a recital which Mordaunt vainly endeavoured to suppress, by +declaring he had done nothing worth speaking of. Mrs. Hamilton joined +her husband in welcoming the stranger, with that grace and kindness so +peculiarly her own. She thanked him warmly for the care he had taken, +and the exertions he had made for her nephew; and as she did so, the +colour so completely faded from Mordaunt's sunburnt cheek, that Edward, +declaring he was ill and exhausted by the exertions he had made from the +first moment of their landing at Portsmouth, entreated him to retire to +the chamber which had been prepared for him, but this Mordaunt refused, +saying he was perfectly well. + +"It is long I have heard the voice of kindness in my native tongue--long +since English faces and English hearts have thus blessed me, and would +you bid me leave them, my young friend?" + +His mournful voice thrilled to Mrs. Hamilton's heart, as he laid his +hand appealingly on Edward's arm. + +"Not for worlds," replied the young sailor, cheerfully. "Sir George +Wilmot, my dear aunt, have you any recollection of my good friend here? +he says he knew you both when he was a boy." + +Sir George Wilmot's eyes had never moved from Mordaunt since he had +withdrawn his attention from Edward, and he now replied somewhat +gravely-- + +"Of the name of Mordaunt I have no recollection as being borne by any +youngsters on board my ship, but those features seem strangely familiar +to me. I beg your pardon, sir, but have you always borne that name?" + +"From the time I can remember, Sir George; but this may perhaps convince +you I have been on board your ship. Was there not one amongst us in the +cockpit, a young lad whom you ever treated with distinguished favour, +whom, however unworthy, you ever held up to his comrades as a pattern of +all that was excellent in a seaman and a youth, whom you ever loved and +treated as a son? I was near him when he flung himself in the sea, with +a sword in his mouth, and entering the enemy's ship by one of the +cabin-windows, fought his way to the quarter-deck, and hauling down the +French standard, retained his post till relieved by his comrades; and +when the fight was over, hung back and gave to others the meed of praise +you were so eager to bestow. Have you forgotten this, Sir George?" + +"No!" replied the Admiral, with sudden animation. "Often have I recalled +that day, one amongst the many in which my Charles distinguished +himself." + +"And you told him he would rise to eminence ere many years had +passed--the name of Delmont would rival that of Nelson ere his career +had run." + +The old Admiral looked on the stranger with increased astonishment and +agitation. + +"Delmont! you knew my brother, then, Lieutenant Mordaunt," Mrs. Hamilton +could not refrain from saying. "Many, many years have passed, yet tell +me when you saw him last." + +"I was with him in his last voyage, lady," replied the stranger, in a +low and peculiar voice, for it was evidently an effort to retain his +calmness. Six-and-twenty years have gone by since the Leander left the +coasts of England never to return; six-and-twenty years since I set foot +in my native land." + +"And did all indeed perish, save yourself? Were you alone saved? saw you +my brother after the vessel sunk?" inquired Mrs. Hamilton, hurriedly, +laying her trembling hand on the stranger's arm, scarcely conscious of +what she did. "He too might be spared even as yourself; but oh, death +were preferable to lingering on his years in slavery." + +"Alas! my Emmeline, wherefore indulge in such fallacious hope?" said her +husband, tenderly, for he saw she was excessively agitated. + +"Mrs. Hamilton," said Sir George Wilmot, earnestly, speaking at the same +moment, "Emmeline, child of my best, my earliest friend, look on those +features, look well; do you not know them? six-and-twenty years have +done their work, yet surely not sufficiently to conceal him from your +eyes. Have you not seen that flashing eye, that curling lip before? look +well ere you decide." + +"Lady, Charles Manvers lives!" murmured the stranger, in the voice of +one whom strong emotion deprived of utterance, and he pushed from his +brow the hair which thickly clustered there and in part concealed the +natural expression of his features, and gazed on her face. A gleam of +sunshine at this instant threw a sudden glow upon his countenance, and +Mr. Hamilton started forward, and an exclamation of astonishment, of +pleasure escaped his lips, but Mrs. Hamilton's eyes moved not from the +stranger's face. + +"Emmeline, my sister, my own sister, will you not know me? can you not +believe that Charles is spared?" he exclaimed, in a tone of excited +feeling. + +"Oh, God, it is Charles himself?" she sobbed, and sunk almost fainting +in his embrace; convulsively the brother pressed her to his bosom. It +seemed as if the happiness of that moment was too great for reality, as +if it were but some dream of bliss; scarcely was he conscious of the +warm greeting he received; the uncontrollable emotion of the old +Admiral, who, as he wrung his hand again and again, wept like a child. +His brain seemed to reel, and every object danced before his eyes, he +was alone sensible that he held his sister in his arms, that sister whom +he had loved even more devotedly, more constantly in his hours of +slavery, than when she had been ever near him. Her counsels, her example +had had but little apparent effect on him when a wild and reckless boy +at his father's house, but they had sustained him in his affliction; it +was then he knew the value of those serious thoughts and feelings his +sister had so laboured to inculcate, and associated as they were with +her, she became dearer each time he felt himself supported, under his +many trials, by fervent prayer and that implicit trust, of which she had +so often spoken. + +In wondering astonishment the younger members of the family had regarded +this little scene some minutes before the truth had flashed on the mind +of Mrs. Hamilton. Both St. Eval and Percy had guessed who in reality the +stranger was, and waited in some anxiety for the effect that recognition +would have on Mrs. Hamilton, whom Edward had already considerably +agitated. With characteristic delicacy of feeling, all then left the +room, Sir George Wilmot and Mr. Hamilton alone remaining with the +long-separated brother and sister. + +"My uncle Charles himself! Fool, idiot that I was never to discover this +before!" had been Edward's exclamation, in a tone of unrestrained joy. + +A short time sufficed to restore all to comparative composure, but a +longer interval was required for Charles Manvers, whom we must now term +Lord Delmont, to ask and to answer the innumerable questions which were +naturally called forth by his unexpected return; much had he to hear and +much to tell, even leaving, as he said he would, the history of his +adventures in Algiers to amuse two or three winter evenings, when all +his family were around him. + +"All my family," he repeated, in a tone of deep feeling. "Do I say this? +I, the isolated, desolate being I imagined myself; I, who believed so +many years had passed, that I should remain unrecognised, unloved, +forgotten. Reproach me not, my sister, the misery I occasioned myself, +the emotions of this moment are punishment enough. And are all those +whom I saw here yours, Hamilton?" he continued, more cheerfully. "Oh, +let me claim their love; I know them all already, for Edward has long +ere this made me acquainted with them, both individually and as the +united members of one affectionate family; I long to judge for myself if +his account be indeed correct, though I doubt it not. Poor fellow, I +deserve his reproaches for continuing my deception to him so long." + +"And why was that name assumed at all, dear Charles?" inquired Mr. +Hamilton. "Why not resume your own when the chains of slavery were +broken?" + +"And how dare you say Mordaunt was yours as long as you can remember?" +demanded Sir George, holding up his hand in a threatening attitude, as +if the full-grown man before him were still the slight stripling he last +remembered him. "Deception was never permitted on my decks, Master +Charles." + +Mrs. Hamilton smiled. + +"Nor have I practised it, Sir George," he replied. "Mordaunt was my +name, as my sister can vouch. Charles Mordaunt Manvers I was christened, +Mordaunt being the name of my godfather, between whom and my father, +however, a dispute arose, when I was about seven years old, completely +setting aside old friendship and causing them to be at enmity till Sir +Henry Mordaunt's death. The tale was repeated to me when I was about ten +years old, much exaggerated of course, and I declared I would bear his +name no longer. I remember well my gentle sister Emmeline's entreaties +and persuasions that I would not interfere, that I knew nothing about +the quarrel, and had no right to be so angry. However, I carried my +point, as I generally did, with my too indulgent parent, and therefore +from that time I was only known as Charles Manvers, for my father could +not bear the name spoken before him. Do you not remember it, Emmeline?" + +"Perfectly well, now it is recalled, though I candidly own I had +forgotten the circumstance." + +"But, still, why was Manvers disused?" Mr. Hamilton again inquired. + +"For perhaps an unjust and foolish fancy, my dear friend. I could not +enjoy my freedom, because of the thought I mentioned before. I knew not +if my beloved father still lived, nor who bore the title of Lord +Delmont, which, if he were no more, was mine by inheritance; for +four-and-twenty years I had heard nothing of all whom I loved, they +looked on me as dead: they might be scattered, dispersed; instead of +joy, my return might bring with it sorrow, vexation, discontent. It was +for this reason I relinquished the name of Manvers, and adopted the one +I had well-nigh forgotten as being mine by an equal right; I wished to +visit my native land unknown, and bearing that name, any inquiries I +might have made would be unsuspected." + +Surrounded by those whom in waking and sleeping dreams he had so long +loved, the clouds which had overhung Lord Delmont's mind as a thick +mist, even when he found himself free, dissolved before the calm +sunshine of domestic love. A sense of happiness pervaded his heart, +happiness chastened by a deep feeling of gratitude to Him who had +ordained it. Affected he was almost to tears, as the manner of his +nephew and nieces towards him unconsciously betrayed how affectionately +they had ever been taught to regard his memory. Rapidly he became +acquainted with each and all, and eagerly looked forward to the arrival +of Emmeline and her husband to look on them likewise as his own; but +though Edward laughingly protested he should tremble now for the +continuance of his uncle's preference towards himself, he ever retained +his place. He had been the first known; his society, his soothing words, +his animated buoyancy of spirit, his strong affection and respect for +his uncle's memory when he believed him dead, and perhaps the +freemasonry of brother sailors, had bound him to Lord Delmont's heart +with ties too strong to be riven. The more he heard of, and the more he +associated with him in the intimacy of home, the stronger these feelings +became; and Edward on his part unconsciously increased them by his +devotedness to his uncle himself, the manner with which he ever treated +Mrs. Hamilton, and his conduct to his sister whose quiet unselfish +happiness at his return, and thus accompanied, was indeed heightened, +more than she herself a few months previous could have believed +possible. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + +Our little narrative must here transport the reader to a small cottage +in the picturesque village of Llangwillan, where, about three months +after the events we have narrated, Lilla Grahame sat one evening in +solitude, and it seemed in sorrow. The room in which she was seated was +small, but furnished and adorned with the refined and elegant taste of +one whose rank appeared much higher than the general occupants of such a +dwelling. A large window, reaching to the ground, opened on a smooth and +sloping lawn, which was adorned by most beautiful flowers. It led to a +small gate opening on a long, narrow lane, which led to the Vicarage, +leaving the little church and its picturesque burying-ground a little to +the right; the thick grove which surrounded it forming a leafy yet +impenetrable wall to one side of the garden. There were many very pretty +tombs in this churchyard; perhaps its beauty consisted in its extreme +neatness, and the flowers that the vicar, Mr. Myrvin, took so much +pleasure in carefully preserving. One lowly grave, beneath a large and +spreading yew, was never passed unnoticed. A plain marble stone denoted +that there lay one, who had once been the brightest amid the bright, the +brilliant star of a lordly circle. The name, her age, and two simple +verses were there inscribed; but around that humble grave there were +sweet flowers flourishing more luxuriantly than in any other part of +the churchyard; the climbing honeysuckle twined its odoriferous clusters +up the dark trunk of the storm-resisting yew. Roses of various kinds +intermingled with the lowly violet, the snowdrop, lily of the valley, +the drooping convolvulus, which, closing its petals for a time, is a fit +emblem of that sleep which, closing our eyes on earth, reopens them in +heaven, beneath the general warmth of the sun of righteousness. These +flowers were sacred in the eyes of the villagers, and their children +were charged not to despoil them; and too deep was their reverence for +their minister, and too sacred was that little spot of earth, even to +their uncultured eyes, for those commands ever to be disobeyed. But it +was not to Mr. Myrvin's care alone that part of the churchyard owed its +beauty. It had ever been distinguished from the rest by the flowers +around it; but it was only the last two years they had flourished so +luxuriantly; the hand of Lilla Grahame watered and tended them with +unceasing care. In the early morning or the calm twilight she was seen +beside the grave, and many might have believed that there reposed the +ashes of a near and dear relation, but it was not so. Lilla had never +seen and never known the lovely being whose last home she thus +affectionately tended. It was dear to her from its association with him +whom she loved, there her thoughts could wander to him; and surely the +love thus cherished beside the dead must have been purity itself. + +It was the hour that Lilla usually sought the churchyard, but she came +not, and the lengthening shadows of a soft and lovely May evening fell +around the graceful figure of a tall and elegant young man, in naval +uniform, who lingered beside the grave; pensive, it seemed, yet scarcely +melancholy. His fine expressive countenance seemed to breathe of +happiness proceeding from the heart, chastened and softened by holier +thoughts. A smile of deep feeling encircled his lips as he looked on the +flowers, which in this season were just bursting into beautiful bloom; +and plucking an early violet, he pressed it to his lips and placed it +next his heart. "Doubly precious," he said, internally, "planted by the +hand of her I love, it flourished on my mother's grave. Oh, my mother, +would that you could behold your Edward now; that your blessing could be +mine. It cannot be, and thrice blessed as I am, why should I seek for +more?" A few moments longer he lingered, then turned in the direction of +the Vicarage. + +Lilla's spirits harmonized not as they generally did with the calm +beauty of nature around her. Anxious and sorrowful, her tears more than +once fell slowly and unheeded on her work; but little improvement had +taken place in her father's temper. She had much, very much to bear, +even though she knew he loved her, and that his chief cares were for +her; retirement had not relieved his irritated spirit. Had he, instead +of retreating from, mingled as formerly in, the world, he might have +been much happier, for he would have found the dishonourable conduct of +his son had not tarnished his own. He had been too long and too well +known as the soul of honour and integrity, for one doubt or aspersion to +be cast upon his name. Lady Helen's injudicious conduct towards her +children was indeed often blamed, and Grahame's own severity much +regretted, but it was much more of sympathy he now commanded than scorn +or suspicion, and all his friends lamented his retirement. Had not +Lilla's spirits been naturally elastic, they must have bent beneath +these continued and painful trials; her young heart often felt breaking, +but the sense of religion, the excellent principles instilled both by +Mrs. Douglas and Mrs. Hamilton now had their full effect, and sustained +her amidst all. She never wavered in her duty to her father; she never +complained even in her letters to her dearest and most confidential +friends. + +"Have you thought on the subject we spoke of last night, Lilla?" asked +her father, entering suddenly, and seating himself gloomily on a chair +some paces from her. His daughter started as she saw him, for the first +tone of his voice betrayed he was more than usually irritable and +gloomy. + +"Yes, father, I have," she replied, somewhat timidly. + +"And what is your answer?" + +"I fear you will be displeased, my dear father; but indeed I cannot +answer differently to last night." + +"You are still resolved then to refuse Philip Clapperton?" + +Lilla was silent. + +"And pray may I ask the cause of your fastidiousness, Miss Grahame? Your +burst of tears last night made a very pretty scene no doubt, but they +gave me no proper answer." + +"It is not only that I cannot love Mr. Clapperton, father, but I cannot +respect him." + +"And pray why not? I tell you, Lilla, blunt, even coarse, if you like, +as he is, unpolished, hasty, yet he has a better heart by far than many +of those more elegant and attractive sprigs of nobility, amongst which +perhaps your romantic fancy has wandered, as being the only husbands +fitted for you." + +"You do me injustice, father. I have never indulged in such romantic +visions, but I cannot willingly unite my fate with one in whom I see no +fixed principle of action--one who owns no guide but pleasure. His heart +may be good, I doubt it not; but I cannot respect one who spends his +whole life in fox-hunting, drinking, and all the pleasures peculiar to +the members of country clubs." + +"In other words, a plain, honest-speaking, English gentleman is not fine +enough for you. What harm is there in the amusements you have +enumerated? Why should not a fox-hunter make as good a husband as any +other member of society?" + +Lilla looked at her father in astonishment. These were not always his +sentiments she painfully thought. + +"I do not mean to condemn these amusements, my dear father, but when +they are carried on without either principle or religion. How can I +venture to intrust my happiness to such a man?" + +"And where do you expect to find either principle or religion now? Not +in those polished circles, where I can perceive your hopes are fixed. +Girl, banish such hopes. Not one amongst them would unite himself to the +sister of that dishonoured outcast Cecil Grahame." + +Grahame's whole frame shook as he pronounced his son's name, but +sternness still characterised his voice. + +"Never would I unite myself with one who considered himself degraded by +an union with our family, father, be assured," said Lilla, earnestly. +"My hopes are not high. I have thought little of marriage, and till I am +sought, have no wish to leave this sequestered spot, believe me." + +"And who, think you, will seek you here? You had better banish such idle +hopes, for they will end in disappointment." + +"Be it so, then," Lilla replied, calmly, though had her father been near +her, he would have seen her cheek suddenly become pale and her eyelids +quiver, as if by the pressure of a tear. "Is marriage a thing so +indispensable, that you would compel me to leave you, my dear father?" + +"To you it is indispensable; when once you have lost the name you now +hold, the world and all its pleasures will be spread before you, the +stain will be remembered no more; your life need not be spent in gloom +and exile like this." + +"And what, then, will become of you?" + +"Of me! who cares. What am I, and what have I ever been to either of my +children, that they should care for me? I scorn the mere act of duty, +and which of you can love me? no, Lilla, not even you." + +"Father, you do me wrong; oh, do not speak such cruel words," said +Lilla, springing from her seat, and flinging herself on her knees by her +father's side. "Have I indeed so failed in testimonies of love, that you +can for one instant believe it is only the duty of a child I feel and +practise? Oh, my father, do me not such harsh injustice; could you read +my inmost heart, you would see how full it is of love and reverence for +you, though I have not always courage to express it. Ask of me any, +every proof but this, and I will do it, but, oh, do not command me to +wed Mr. Clapperton; why, oh, why would you thus seek to send me from +you?" + +"I speak but for your happiness, Lilla;" his voice was somewhat +softened. "You cannot be happy now with one so harsh, irritable, cruel +as, I know, I am too often." + +"And would you compare the occasional irritation proceeding from the +failing health of a beloved father, with the fierce passion and constant +impatience of a husband, with whom I could not have one idea in common, +whom I could neither love nor reverence, to whom even my duty would be +wretchedness? oh, my father, can you compare the two? Think of Mrs. +Greville: Philip Clapperton ever reminds me of Mr. Greville, of what at +least he must have been in his youth, and would you sentence me to all +the misery that has been poor Mrs. Greville's lot and her children's +likewise?" + +"You do not know enough of Clapperton to judge him thus harshly, Lilla; +I know him better, and I cannot see the faults against which you are so +inveterate. Your sister chose a husband for herself, and how has she +fared? is she happy?" + +"Annie cannot be happy, father, even if her husband were of a very +different character. She disobeyed; a parent's blessing hallowed not her +nuptials, and strange indeed would it be were her lot otherwise; but +though I cannot love the husband of your choice, you may trust me, +father, without your consent and blessing, I will never marry." + +"Do not say you _cannot_ love Philip Clapperton, Lilla; when once his +wife, you could not fail to do so. I would see you united to one who +loves you, my child, ere your affections are bestowed on another, who +may be less willing to return them." + +Grahame spoke in a tone of such unwonted softness, that the tears now +rolled unchecked down Lilla's cheeks. Her ingenuous nature could not be +restrained; she felt as if, were she still silent, she would be +deceiving him, and hiding her face in her hand, she almost inaudibly +said-- + +"For that, then, it is too late, father; I cannot love Mr. Clapperton, +because--because I love another." + +"Ha!" exclaimed Grahame, starting, then laying his trembling hand on +Lilla's head, he continued, struggling with strong emotion, "this, then, +is the cause of your determined refusal. Poor child, poor child, what +misery have you formed for yourself!" + +"And wherefore misery, my father?" replied Lilla, raising her head +somewhat proudly, and speaking as firmly as her tears would permit. +"Your child would not have loved had she not deemed her affections +sought, ay, and valued too. Think not I would degrade myself by giving +my heart to any one who deemed me or my father beneath his notice. If +ever eye or act can speak, I do not love in vain." + +"And would you believe in trifles such as these?" asked her father, +sorrowfully. "Alas! poor child, words are often false, still less can +you rely on the language of the eye. Has anything like an understanding +taken place between you?" + +"Alas! my father, no; and yet--and yet--oh, I know he loves me." + +"And so he may, my child, and yet break his own heart and yours, poor +guileless girl, rather than unite himself with the dishonoured and the +base. Lilla, my own Lilla, I have been harsh and cruel; it is because I +feel too keenly perhaps the gall in which your wretched brother's +conduct has steeped your life and mine; mine will soon pass away, but +the dark shadow will linger still round you, my child, and condemn you +to wretchedness; I cannot, cannot bear that thought!" and he struck his +clenched hand against his brow. "Why on the innocent should fall the +chastisement of the guilty? My child, my child, oh, banish from your +unsuspecting heart the hopes of love returned. Where in this selfish +world will you find one to love you so for yourself alone, that family +and fortune are as naught?" + +"Why judge so harshly of your sex, Mr. Grahame?" said a rich and +thrilling voice, in unexpected answer to his words, and the same young +man whom we before mentioned as lingering by a village grave, stepping +lightly from the terrace on which the large window opened into the room, +stood suddenly before the astonished father and his child. On the latter +the effect of his presence was almost electric. The rich crimson mantled +at once over cheek and brow and neck, a faint cry burst from her lips, +and as the thought flashed across her, that her perhaps too presumptuous +hopes of love returned had been overheard, as well as her father's +words, she suddenly burst into tears of mingled feeling, and darting by +the intruder, passed by the way he had entered into the garden; but even +when away from him, composure for a time returned not. She forgot +entirely that no name had been spoken either by her father or by herself +to designate him whom she confessed she loved; her only feeling was, +she had betrayed a truth, which from him she would ever have concealed, +till he indeed had sought it; and injured modesty now gave her so much +pain, it permitted her not to rejoice in this unexpected appearance of +one whom she had not seen since she had believed him dead. She knew the +churchyard was at this period of the evening quite deserted, and almost +unconscious what she was about, she hastily tied on her bonnet, and with +the speed of a young fawn, she bounded through the narrow lane, and +rested not till she found herself seated beside her favourite grave; +there she gave full vent to the thoughts in which pleasure and confusion +somewhat strangely and painfully mingled. + +"Can you, will you forgive this unceremonious and, I fear, unwished-for +intrusion?" was the young stranger's address to Grahame, when he had +recovered from the agitation which Lilla's emotion had called forth, he +scarcely knew wherefore. "To me you have ever extended the hand of +friendship, Mr. Grahame, however severe upon the world in general, and +will you refuse it now, when my errand here is to seek an even nearer +and a dearer name?" + +"You are welcome, ever welcome to my humble home, my dear boy, for your +own sake, and for those dear to you," replied Grahame, with a return of +former warmth and cordiality. "More than usually welcome I may say, +Edward, as this is your first visit here since your rescue from the +bowels of the great deep. You look confused and heated, and as if you +would much rather run after your old companion than stay with me, but +indeed I cannot spare you yet, I have so many questions to ask you." + +"Forgive me, Mr. Grahame, but indeed you must hear me first." + +"I came here to speak to you on a subject nearest my heart, and till +that is told, till from your lips I know my fate, do not, for pity, ask +me to speak on any other. I meant not to have entered so abruptly on my +mission, but that which Mr. Myrvin has imparted to me, and what I +undesignedly overheard as I stood unseen on that terrace, have taken +from me all the eloquence with which I meant to plead my cause." + +"Speak in your own proper person, Edward, and then I may perhaps hear +you," replied Grahame, from whom the sight of his young friend appeared +to have banished all misanthropy. "What I can, however, have to do with +your fate, I know not, except that I will acquit you of all intentional +eaves-dropping, if it be that which troubles you; and what can Mr. +Myrvin have said to rob you of eloquence?" + +"He told me that--that you had encouraged Philip Clapperton's addresses +to Lil--to Miss Grahame," answered Edward, with increasing agitation, +for he perceived, what was indeed the truth, that Grahame had not the +least idea of his intentions. + +"And what can that have to do with you, young man?" inquired Grahame, +somewhat haughtily, and his brow darkened. "You have not seen Lilla, to +be infected with her prejudices, and in what manner can my wishes with +regard to my daughter on that head concern you?" + +"In what manner? Mr. Grahame, I came hither with my aunt's and uncle's +blessing on my purpose, to seek from you your gentle daughter's hand. I +am not a man of many words, and all I had to say appears to have +departed, and left me speechless. I came here to implore your consent, +for without it I knew 'twere vain to think or hope to make your Lilla +mine. I came to plead to you, and armed with your blessing, plead my +cause to her, and you ask me how Mr. Myrvin's intelligence can affect +me. Speak, then, at once; in pity to that weakness which makes me feel +as if my lasting happiness or misery depends upon your answer." + +"And do you, Edward, do you love my poor child?" asked the father, with +a quivering lip and glistening eye, as he laid his hand, which trembled, +on the young man's shoulder. + +"Love her? oh, Mr. Grahame, she has been the bright beaming star that +has shone on my ocean course for many a long year. I know not when I +first began to love, but from my cousin Caroline's wedding-day the +thoughts of Lilla lingered with me, and gilded many a vision of domestic +peace and love, and each time I looked on her bright face, and marked +her kindling spirit, heard and responded inwardly to her animated voice, +I felt that she was dearer still; and when again I saw her in her +sorrow, and sought with Ellen to soothe and cheer her, oh, no one can +know the pain it was to restrain the absorbing wish to ask her, if +indeed one day she would be mine, but that was no time to speak of love. +Besides, I knew not if I had the means to offer her a comfortable home, +I knew not how long I might be spared to linger near her; but now, when +of both I am assured, wherefore should I hesitate longer? With the +title of captain, that for which I have so long pined, I am at liberty +to retire on half-pay, till farther orders; the adopted son and +acknowledged heir to my uncle, Lord Delmont, I have now enough to offer +her my hand, without one remaining scruple. You are silent. Oh, Mr. +Grahame, must I plead in vain?" + +"And would you marry her, would you indeed take my child as your chosen +bride?" faltered Grahame, deeply moved. "Honoured, titled as you are, my +poor, portionless Lilla is no meet bride for you." + +"Perish honours and title too, if they could deprive me of the gentle +girl I love!" exclaimed the young captain, impetuously. "Do not speak +thus, Mr. Grahame. In what was my lamented father better than +yourself--my mother than Lady Helen? and if she were in very truth my +inferior in birth, the virtues and beauty of Lilla Grahame would do +honour to the proudest peer of this proud land." + +"My boy, my gallant boy!" sobbed the agitated father, his irritability +gone, dissolved, like the threatening cloud of a summer day beneath some +genial sunbeam, and as he wrung Captain Fortescue's hand again and again +in his, the tears streamed like an infant's down his cheek. + +"_Will_ I consent, _will_ I give you my blessing? Oh, to see you the +husband of my poor child would be _too, too_ much happiness, happiness +wholly, utterly undeserved. But, oh, Edward, can Mr. Hamilton, can Lord +Delmont consent to your union with one, whose only brother is a +disgraced, dishonoured outcast, whose father is a selfish, irritable +misanthrope?" + +"Can the misconduct of Cecil cast in the eyes of the just and good one +shadow on the fair fame of his sister? No, my dear sir; it is you who +have looked somewhat unkindly and unjustly on the world, as when you +mingle again with your friends, in company with your children, you will +not fail, with your usual candour, to acknowledge. A selfish, irritable +misanthrope," he added, archly smiling. "You cannot terrify me, Mr. +Grahame. I know the charge is false, and I dread it not." + +"Ask me not to join the world again," said Grahame, hoarsely; "in all +else, the duties of my children shall be as laws, but that"-- + +"Well, well, we will not urge it now, my dear sir," replied the young +sailor, cheerfully; then added, with the eager agitation of affection, +"But Lilla, my Lilla. Oh, may I hope that she will in truth be mine? Oh, +have I, can I have been too presumptuous in the thought I have not loved +in vain?" + +"Away with you, and seek the answer from her own lips," said Mr. +Grahame, with more of his former manner than he had yet evinced, for he +now entertained not one doubt as to Edward being the chosen one on whom +his daughter's young affections had been so firmly fixed. "Go to her, my +boy; she will not fly a second time, so like a startled hare, from your +approach; tell her, had she told her father Edward Fortescue was the +worthy object of her love, he would not thus have thrown a damp upon her +young heart, he would not have condemned him as being incapable of +loving her for herself alone. Tell her, too, the name of Philip +Clapperton shall offend her no more. Away with you, my boy." + +Edward awaited not a second bidding. In a very few minutes the whole +garden had been searched, and Miss Grahame inquired for all over the +house, then he bounded through the lane, and scarcely five minutes after +he had quitted Mr. Grahame, he stood by the side of Lilla; the +consciousness that she had confessed her love, that he might have +overheard it, was still paramount in her modest bosom, and she would +have avoided him, but quickly was her design prevented. Rapidly, almost +incoherently, was the conversation of the last half hour repeated, and +with all the eloquence of his enthusiastic nature, Edward pleaded his +cause, and, need it be said, not in vain. Lilla neither wished nor +sought to conceal her feelings, and long, long did those two young and +animated beings remain in sweet and heartfelt commune beside that lowly +grave. + +"What place so fitted where to pledge our troth, my Lilla, as by my +mother's resting-place?" said Edward. "Would that she could look upon us +now and smile her blessing." + +Happily indeed flew those evening hours unheeded by the young lovers. +Grahame, on the entrance of his happy child, folded her to his bosom; +his blessing descended on her head, mingled with tears, which sprung at +once from a father's love and self-reproach at all the suffering his +irritability had occasioned her. And that evening Lilla indeed felt that +all her sorrows, all her struggles, all her dutiful forbearance, were +rewarded. Not only was her long-cherished love returned, not only did +she feel that in a few short months she should be her Edward's own, that +he, the brave, the gallant, honoured sailor, had chosen her in +preference to any of those fairer and nobler maidens with whom he had +so often associated, but her father, her dear father, was more like +himself than he had been since her mother's death. He looked, he spoke +the Montrose Grahame we have known him in former years. Edward had ever +been a favourite with him, but he and Lilla had been so intimate from +their earliest childhood, that he had never thought of him as a son; and +when the truth was known, so truly did Grahame rejoice, that the +bitterness in his earthly cup was well-nigh drowned by its present +sweetness. + +Innumerable were the questions both Lilla and Grahame had to ask, and +Edward answered all with that peculiar joyousness which ever threw a +charm around him. The adventures of his voyage, his dangers, the +extraordinary means of his long-lost uncle being instrumental in his +preservation, Lord Delmont's varied tale, all was animatedly discussed +till a late hour. A smile was on Grahame's lip, as his now awakened eye +recalled the drooping spirits and fading cheek of his Lilla during those +three months of suspense, when Captain Fortescue was supposed drowned, +and the equally strange and sudden restoration to health and +cheerfulness when Ellen's letter was received, detailing her brother's +safety. Lilla's streaming eyes were hid on her lover's shoulder as he +detailed his danger, but quickly her tears were kissed away; +thankfulness that he was indeed spared, again filled her heart, and the +bright smile returned. He accounted for not seeking them earlier by the +fact that, while they remained at Richmond, his uncle, whose health from +long-continued suffering was but weakly established, could not bear him +out of his sight, and that he had entreated him not to leave him till +they returned to Oakwood. This, young Fortescue afterwards discovered, +was to give Lord Delmont time for the gratification of his wishes, +which, from the time he had heard the line of Delmont was extinct, had +occupied his mind. Many of his father's old friends recognised him at +once. His father's and his sister's friends were eager to see and pay +him every attention in their power. He found himself ever a welcome and +a courted guest, and happiness, so long a stranger from his breast, now +faded not again. To adopt Edward as his son, to leave him heir to his +title and estate, was now, as it had been from the first moment he +recognised his nephew, the dearest wish of his heart, "if it were only +to fulfil Sir George Wilmot's prophecy," he jestingly told the old +Admiral, who, with Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton, warmly seconded his wishes. +The necessary formula met with no opposition, and the same day that gave +to Edward his promotion of captain, informed him of the secretly-formed +and secretly-acted-upon desire of his uncle. + +In the time of Edward's grandfather, the Delmont estates, as some of our +readers may remember, were, from the carelessness of stewards and the +complete negligence of their lord, in such an embarrassed state, as +barely to return a sufficient income for the expenses of Lord Delmont's +establishment. Affairs, however, were not in a worse state than that a +little energy and foresight might remedy. The guardian of Henry Manvers, +who, as we know already, became Lord Delmont when only three years old, +had acted his part with so much straightforwardness and trust, that when +Manvers came of age he found his estates in such a thriving condition, +that he was a very much richer nobleman than many of his predecessors +had been. Well able to discern true merit, and grateful for the +services already rendered, his guardian, by his earnest entreaty, +remained his agent during his residence with his mother and sister in +Switzerland. There, living very much within his income, his fortune +accumulated, and by his early death it fell to the Crown, from which +Lord Delmont, on his return from his weary years of slavery, received it +with the title of earl, bestowed to prove that the tale of a British +sailor's sufferings and indignities had not fallen unheeded on the royal +ear. The long-banished seaman was presented to his Majesty by the Duke +of Clarence himself, and had no need to regret the gracious interview. +His intentions concerning the young officer Captain Fortescue met with +an unqualified approval. Ardently loving his profession, the royal Duke +thought the more naval heroes filled the nobility of his country the +better for England, and an invitation to Bushy Park was soon afterwards +forwarded, both to Lord Delmont and his gallant nephew. + +Edward, already well-nigh beside himself by his unexpected promotion, no +longer knew how to contain the exuberance of his spirits, much to the +amusement of his domestic circle; particularly to his quiet, gentle +sister, who, as she looked on her brother, felt how truly, how +inexpressibly her happiness increased with his prosperity. She too had +wound herself round the heart of her uncle; she loved him, first for his +partiality to her brother, but quickly her affection was extended to +himself. Mrs. Hamilton had related to him every particular of her +history, with which he had been deeply and painfully affected, and as he +quickly perceived how much his sister's gentle firmness and constant +watchfulness had done towards forming the character of not only Edward +and Ellen but of her own children, his admiration for her hourly +increased. + +A very few days brought Lord Delmont and his niece Ellen to Mr. +Grahame's cottage, and Lilla's delight at seeing Ellen was only second +to that she felt when Edward came. The presence, the cordial greeting of +Lord Delmont removed from the mind of Grahame every remaining doubt of +his approbation of the bride his nephew had chosen. As a faithful +historian, however, I must acknowledge the wishes of Lord Delmont had +pointed out Lady Emily Lyle as the most suitable connection for Edward. +Lady Florence he would have preferred, but there were many whispers +going about that she was engaged to the handsome young baronet Sir +Walter Cameron, who, by the death of his uncle Sir Hector, had lately +inherited some extensive estates in the south-west of Scotland. When, +however, Lord Delmont perceived his nephew's affections were irrevocably +fixed, and he heard from his sister's lips the character of Lilla +Grahame, he made no opposition, but consented with much warmth and +willingness. He was not only content, but resolved on being introduced +to Miss Grahame as soon as possible, without, however, saying a word to +Edward of his intentions. He took Ellen with him, he said, to convoy him +safely and secure him a welcome reception; neither of which, she assured +him, he needed, though she very gladly accompanied him. + +A few weeks passed too quickly by, imparting happiness even to Ellen, +for had she been permitted the liberty of choosing a wife for her +Edward, Lilla Grahame would have been her choice. Deeply and almost +painfully affected had she been indeed, when her brother first sought +her to reveal the secret of his love. + +"I cannot," he said, "I will not marry without your sympathy, your +approval, my sister--my more than sister, my faithful friend, my gentle +monitress, for such you have ever been to me," and he folded her in his +arms with a brother's love, and Ellen had concealed upon his manly bosom +the glistening tears, whose source she scarcely knew. "I would have you +love my wife, not only for my sake but for herself alone. Never will I +marry one who will refuse to look on you with the reverential affection +your brother does. Lilla Grahame does this, my Ellen; it was her girlish +affection for you that first attracted my attention to her. She will +regard you as I do; she will teach her children, if it please heaven to +grant us any, to look on you even as I would; her heart and home will be +as open to my beloved sister as mine. Speak then, my ever-cherished, +ever faithful friend; tell me if, in seeking Lilla, your sympathy, your +blessing will be mine." + +Tears of joy choked her utterance, but quickly recovering herself, Ellen +answered him in a manner calculated indeed to increase his happiness, +and her presence at Llangwillan satisfied every wish. + +Unable to resist the eloquent entreaties of all his friends and the +appealing eyes of his child, Grahame at last consented to spend the +month which was to intervene ere his daughter's nuptials, at Oakwood. +That period Edward intended to employ in visiting the ancient hall on +the Delmont estate, which for the last three months had been in a state +of active preparation for the reception of its long-absent master. It +was beautifully situated in the vicinity of the New Forest, Hampshire. +There Edward was to take his bride, considering the whole estate, his +uncle declared, already as his own, as he did not mean to be a fixture +there, but live alternately with his sister and his nephew. Oakwood +should see quite as much of him as Beech Hill, and young people were +better alone, particularly the first year of their marriage. Vainly +Edward and Lilla sought to combat his resolution; the only concession +they could obtain was, that when their honeymoon was over, he and Ellen +would pay them a visit, just to see how they were getting on. + +"You must never marry, Nelly, for I don't know what my sister will do +without you," said Lord Delmont, laughing. + +"Be assured, uncle Charles, I never will. I love the freedom of this old +hall much too well; and, unless my aunt absolutely sends me away, I +shall not go." + +"And that she never will, Ellen," said Lilla earnestly. "She said the +other day she did not know how she should ever spare you even to us; but +you must come to us very often, dearest Ellen. I shall never perform my +part well as mistress of the large establishment with which Edward +threatens me, without your counsel and support" + +"I will not come at all, if you and Edward lay your wise heads together, +as you already seem inclined to do, to win me by flattery," replied +Ellen, playfully, endeavouring to look grave, though she refused not the +kiss of peace for which Lilla looked up so appealingly. + +The first week in July was fixed for the celebration of the two +marriages in Mr. Hamilton's family. As both Edward and Percy wished the +ceremony should take place in the parish church of Oakwood, and be +performed by Archdeacon Howard, it was agreed the same day should +witness both bridals; and that Miss Manvers, who had been residing at +Castle Terryn with the Earl and Countess St. Eval, should accompany them +to Oakwood a few days previous. Young Hamilton took his bride to Paris, +to which capital he had been intrusted with some government commission. +It was not till the end of July he had originally intended his nuptials +should take place; but he did not choose to leave England for an +uncertain period without his Louisa, and consequently it was agreed +their honeymoon should be passed in France. It may be well to mention +here that Mr. Hamilton had effected the exchange he desired, and that +Arthur Myrvin and his beloved Emmeline were now comfortably installed in +the Rectory, which had been so long the residence of Mr. Howard; and +that Myrvin now performed his pastoral duties in a manner that reflected +happiness not only on his parishioners, but on all his friends, and +enabled him to enjoy that true peace springing from a satisfied +conscience. He trod in the steps of his lamented friend; he knew not +himself how often his poor yet contented flock compared him in their +humble cottages with Herbert, and that in their eyes he did not lose by +the comparison. Some, indeed, would say, "It is all Master Herbert's +example, and the society of that sweet young creature, Miss Emmeline, +that has made him what he is." But whatever might be the reason, Arthur +was universally beloved; and that the village favourite, Miss Emmeline, +who had grown up amongst them from infancy, was their Rector's +wife--that she still mingled amongst them, the same gentle, loveable +being she had ever been--that it was to her and not to a stranger, they +were ever at liberty to seek for relief in trouble, or sympathy in joy, +was indeed a source of unbounded pleasure. And Emmeline was happy, +truly, gratefully happy; never did she regret the choice she had made, +nor envy her family the higher stations of life it was theirs to fill. +She had not a wish beyond the homes of those she loved; her husband was +all in all to her, her child a treasure for which she could not be +sufficiently thankful. She was still the same playful, guileless being +to her family which she had ever been; but to strangers a greater degree +of dignity characterised her deportment, and commanded their involuntary +respect. The home of Arthur Myrvin was indeed one over which peace and +love had entwined their roseate wings; a lowly yet a beauteous spot, +over which the storms of the busy troubled world might burst, but never +reach; and for other sorrows, piety and submission were alike their +watchword and their safeguard. Lord St. Eval was the only person who +regretted Arthur's promotion to the rectory of Oakwood, as it deprived +him, he declared, of his chaplain, his vicar, and his friend. However, +he willingly accepted a friend of Mr. Hamilton's to supply his place, a +clergyman not much beyond the prime of life; one who for seven years had +devoted himself, laboriously and unceasingly, to a poor and unprofitable +parish in one of the Feroe Islands; in the service of Mr. Hamilton he +had been employed, though voluntarily he had accepted, nay, eloquently +he had pleaded for the office. To those of our readers who are +acquainted with the story of Home Influence, the Rev. Henry Morton is no +stranger. They may remember that he accompanied Mr. Hamilton on his +perilous expedition, and had joyfully consented to remaining there till +the young Christian, Wilson, was capable of undertaking the ministry. He +had done so; his pupil promised fair to reward his every care, and +preserve his countrymen in that state of peace, prosperity, and virtue, +to which they had been brought by the unceasing cares of Morton; and +that worthy man returned to his native land seven years after he had +quitted it, improved not only in inward peace but in health, and +consequently appearances. A perceptible lameness was now the only +remains of what had been before painful deformity. The bracing air of +the island had invigorated his nerves; the consciousness that he was +active in the service of his fellow-creatures removed from his mind the +morbid sensibility that had formerly so oppressed him; and Mr. and Mrs. +Hamilton perceived, with benevolent pleasure, that life was to him no +longer a burden. He had become a cheerful, happy member of society, +willing to enjoy the blessings that now surrounded him with a truly +chastened, grateful spirit: Oakwood and Castle Terryn were ever +enlivened when he was present. After the cold and barren living at +Feroe, exiled as he there had been from any of his own rank in life, the +Vicarage at Castle Terryn and the society those duties included, formed +to him indeed a happy resting-place; while his many excellent qualities +soon reconciled St. Eval and his Countess to Myrvin's desertion, as they +called his accepting the rectory at Oakwood. No untoward event occurred +to prevent the celebration of Percy and Edward's bridals as intended. +They took place, attended with all that chastened joy and innocent +festivity which might have been expected from the characters of those +principally concerned. No cloud obscured the happiness of the +affectionate united family, which witnessed these gladdening nuptials. +Each might, perhaps, in secret have felt there was one blank in every +heart, that when thus united, there was still a void on earth. In their +breasts the fond memory of Herbert lingered still. Mr. Grahame forgot +his moroseness, though he had resolved on returning to his cottage in +Wales. He could feel nothing but delight as he looked on his Lilla in +her chaste and simple bridal robes, and felt that of her he might indeed +be proud. Fondly he dried the tear that fell from her bright eyes, as +she clung to him in parting, and promised to see her soon, very soon at +Beech Hill. + +It was the amusement of the village gossips for many a long evening to +discuss over and over again the various merits of the two brides; some +preferring the tearful, blushing Lilla, others the pale, yet composed +and dignified demeanour of Miss Manvers. Some said Captain Fortescue +looked much more agitated than he did when he saved his uncle's life off +Dartmouth, some years before; it was marvellously strange for a brave +young officer such as he, to be so flustered at such a simple thing as +taking a pretty girl for better or worse. And Mr. Percy Hamilton, some +said, was very much too serious for such a joyous occasion; if they had +been Miss Manvers they should not have liked it, and so unlike himself, +too. + +"Hold your tongue, silly woman," a venerable old man interposed, at this +part of the conversation, "the poor lad's thoughts were with his +brother, to whom this day would have been as great a source of joy as +to himself. He has not been the same man since dear Master Herbert's +death, and no wonder, poor fellow." + +This observation effectually put an end to the remarks on Percy's +demeanour, and some owned, after all, marriage was somehow a solemn +ceremony, and it was better to be too serious at such a time than too +gay. + +Percy and his bride stayed a week in London, and thence proceeded to +Paris, which place, a very short scrutiny convinced Percy was internally +in no quiet condition; some disturbance, he was convinced, was +threatening, though of what nature he could not at first comprehend. He +had not, however, left England a fortnight before his family were +alarmed by the reports which so quickly flew over to our island of that +extraordinary revolution which in three short days completely changed +the sovereign dynasty of France, and threatened a renewal of those +horrors which had deluged that fair capital with blood in the time of +the unfortunate Louis XVI. We have neither space nor inclination to +enter into such details; some extracts of a letter from Percy, which Mr. +Hamilton received, after a week of extreme anxiety on his account, we +feel, however, compelled to transcribe, as the ultimate fates of two +individuals, whose names have more than once been mentioned in the +course of these memoirs, may there perhaps be discovered. + +"Your anxiety, my dearest mother, and that of my father and Ellen, I can +well understand, but for myself I had no fear. Had I been alone, I +believe a species of pleasurable excitement would have been the +prevailing feeling, but for my Louisa I did tremble very often; the +scenes passing around us were to a gentle eye and feeling heart terrible +indeed, and so suddenly they had come upon us, we had no time to attempt +retreat to a place of greater safety. Cannonballs were flying in all +directions, shattering the windows, killing some, and fearfully wounding +many others; for several hours I concealed Louisa in the cellar, which +was the only secure abode our house presented. Mounted guards, to the +number of six or seven hundred, were dashing down the various streets, +with a noise like thunder, diversified only by the clash of arms, the +shrieks of the wounded, and the fierce cries of the populace. It was +indeed terrible--the butchery of lives has indeed been awful; in these +sanguinary conflicts between desperate men, pent up in narrow streets, +innocent lives have also been taken, for it was next to impossible to +distinguish between those who took an active part in the affray, and +those who were merely paralysed spectators. In their own defence the +gendarmes were compelled to fire, and their artillery did fearful havoc +among the people. + + * * * * * + +Crossing the Quai de la Tournelle, at the commencement of the first day, +I was startled by being addressed by name, and turning round, beheld, to +my utter astonishment, Cecil Grahame at my elbow; he was in the uniform +of a gendarme, in which corps, he told me, with some glee, his +brother-in-law, Lord Alphingham, who was high in favour with the French +court, had obtained him a commission; he spoke lightly, and with that +same recklessness of spirit and want of principle which unfortunately +has ever characterised him, declaring he was far better off than he had +ever been in England, which country he hoped never to see again, as he +utterly abhorred the very sight of it. The French people were rather +more agreeable to live with; he could enjoy his pleasures without any +confounded restraint. I suppose he saw how little I sympathised in his +excited spirits, for, with a hoarse laugh and an oath of levity, he +swore that I had not a bit more spirit in me than when I was a +craven-hearted lad, always cringing before the frown of a saintly +father, and therefore no fit companion for a jolly fellow like himself. +'Have you followed Herbert's example, and are you, too, a godly-minded +parson? then, good day, and good riddance to you, my lad,' was the +conclusion of his boisterous speech, and setting spurs to his horse, he +would have galloped off, when I detained him, to ask why he had not +informed his family of his present place of abode and situation. My +blood had boiled as he spoke, that such rude and scurrilous lips should +thus scornfully have spoken my sainted brother's name; passion rose +fierce within me, but I thought of him whose name he spoke, and was +calm. He swore that he had had quite enough of his father's severity, +that he never meant to see his face again. He was now, thank heaven, his +own master, and would take care to remain so; that he had been a fool to +address me, as he might be sure I should tell of his doings, and bring +the old fellow after him. Disgusted beyond measure, yet I could not +forbear asking him if he had heard of his mother's death. Without the +least change of countenance or of voice, he replied-- + +"'Heard of it, man, aye, and forgotten it by this; why it is some +centuries ago. It would have been a good thing for me had she died years +before she did.' + +"'Cecil Grahame!' I exclaimed, in a tone that rung in my ears some +hours afterwards, and I believe made him start, daring even as he was, +'do you know it is your mother of whom you speak? a mother whose only +fault towards you was too much love, a mother whose too fond heart your +cruel conduct broke; are you so completely devoid of feeling that not +even this can move you?' + +"'Pray add to your long list of my good mother's perfections a weakness +that ruined me, that made me the wretch I am,' he wildly exclaimed, and +he clenched his hand and bit his lip till the blood came, while his +cheek became livid with some feeling I could not fathom. He spurred his +horse violently, the spirited animal started forward, a kind of spell +seemed to rivet my eyes upon him. There was a loud report of cannon from +the Place de Grêve, several balls whizzed close by me, evidently fired +to disperse the multitude, who were tumultuously assembling on the Pont +de la Cité, and ere I could recover from the startling effects of the +report, I heard a shrill scream of mortal agony, and Cecil Grahame fell +from his horse a shattered corpse. + + * * * * * + +For several minutes I was wholly unconscious of all that was passing +around me. I stood by the body of the unfortunate young man, quite +insensible to the danger I was incurring from the shot. I could only see +him before my eyes, as I had known him in his boyhood and his earliest +youth, full of fair promises, of hopeful futurity, the darling of his +mother's eye, the pride of his father, spite of his faults; and now what +was he? a mangled corpse, cut off without warning or preparation in his +early youth. But, oh, worse, far worse than all, with the words of +hatred, of defiance on his lips. I sought in vain for life; there was no +sign, no hope. To attempt to rescue the body was vain, the tumult was +increasing fearfully around me; many gendarmes were falling +indiscriminately with the populace, and the countenance of Cecil was so +fearfully disfigured, that to attempt to recognise it when all might +again be quiet would, I knew, be useless. One effort I made, I inquired +for and sought Lord Alphingham's hotel, intending to obtain his +assistance in the proper interment of this unfortunate young man, but in +this was equally frustrated; the hotel was closely shut up. Lord and +Lady Alphingham had, at the earliest threatening of disturbances, +retreated to their chateau in the province of Champagne. I forwarded the +melancholy intelligence to them, and returned to my own hotel sick at +heart with the sight I had witnessed. The fearful tone of his last +words, the agonized shriek, rung in my ears, as the shattered form and +face floated before my eyes, with a tenacity no effort of my own or even +of my Louisa's could dispel. Oh, my mother, what do I not owe you for +guarding me from the temptations that have assailed this wretched young +man, or rather for imprinting on my infant mind those principles which, +with the blessing of our heavenly Father, have thus preserved me. +Naturally, my temper, my passions were like his, in nothing was I his +superior; but it was your hand, your prayers, my mother, planted the +seeds of virtue, your gentle firmness eradicated those faults which, had +they been fostered by indulgence, might have rendered my life like Cecil +Grahame's, and exposed me in the end to a death like his. What would +have availed my father's judicious guidance, my brother's mild example, +had not the soil been prepared by a mother's hand and watered by a +mother's prayers? blessings, a thousand blessings on your head, my +mother! Oh, may my children learn to bless theirs even as I do mine; +they cannot know a purer joy on earth. + + * * * * * + +"We have arrived at Rouen in safety. I am truly thankful to feel my +beloved wife is far from the scene of confusion and danger to which she +has been so unavoidably exposed. I am not deceived in her strength of +nerve, my dear mother; I did not think, when I boasted of it as one of +her truly valuable acquirements, I should so soon have seen it put to +the proof; to her letter to Caroline I refer you for all entertaining +matter. + + * * * * * + +"I have been interrupted by an interview as unexpected as it promises to +be gratifying. One dear to us all may, at length, rejoice there is hope; +but I dare not say too much, for the health of this unhappy young man is +so shattered, he may never yet embrace his mother. But to be more +explicit, I was engaged in writing, unconsciously with the door of my +apartment half open, when I was roused by the voice of the waiter, +exclaiming, 'Not that room, sir, if you please, yours is yonder.' I +looked up and met the glance of a young man, whom, notwithstanding the +long lapse of years, spite of faded form and attenuated features, I +recognised on the instant. It was Alfred Greville. I was far more +surprised and inconceivably more shocked than when Cecil Grahame crossed +my path; I had marked no change in the features or the expression of the +latter, but both in Alfred Greville were so totally altered, that he +stood before me the living image of his sister, a likeness I had never +perceived before. I was too much astonished to address him, and before I +could frame words, he had sprung forward, with a burning flush on his +cheek, and grasping my hand, wildly exclaimed, 'Do not shun me, +Hamilton, I am not yet an utter reprobate. Tell me of my mother; does +she live?" + +"'She does,' I replied; instantly a burst of thanksgiving broke from his +lips, at least so I imagined, from the expression of his features, for +there were no articulate sounds, and a swoon resembling death +immediately followed. Medical assistance was instantly procured, but +though actual insensibility was not of long continuance, he is +pronounced to be in such an utterly exhausted state, that we dare not +encourage hopes for his final recovery; yet still I cannot but believe +he will be spared--spared not only in health, but as a reformed and +better man, to bless that mother whose cares for him, despite long years +of difficulties and sorrow, have never failed. In vain I entreated him +not to exhaust himself by speaking; that I would not leave him, and if +he would only be quiet, he might be better able on the morrow to tell me +all he desired. He would not be checked; he might not, he said, be +spared many hours, and he must speak ere he died. Comparatively +speaking, but little actual vice has stained the conduct of Greville. +Throughout all his career the remembrance of his mother has often, very +often mingled in his gayest hours, and dashed them with remorseful +bitterness. He owns that often of late years her image, and that of his +sister Mary, have risen so mildly, so impressively before him, that he +has flown almost like a maniac from the gay and heartless throngs, to +solitude and silence, and as the thoughts of home and his infancy, when +he first lisped out his boyish prayer by the side of his sister at his +mother's knee, came thronging over him, he has sobbed and wept like a +child. These feelings returned at length so often and so powerfully, +that he felt to resist them was even more difficult and painful than to +break from the flowery chains which his gay companions had woven round +him. He declared his resolution; he resisted ridicule and persuasion. +Almost for the first time in his life he remained steadily firm, and +when he had indeed succeeded, and found himself some distance from the +scenes of luxurious pleasure, he felt himself suddenly endowed with an +elasticity of spirit, which he had not experienced for many a long year. +The last tidings he had received of his mother and sister were that they +were at Paris, and thither he determined to go, having parted from his +companions at Florence. During the greater part of his journey to the +French capital, he fancied his movements were watched by a stranger, +gentlemanly in his appearance, and not refusing to enter into +conversation when Greville accosted him; but still Alfred did not feel +satisfied with his companionship, though to get rid of him seemed an +impossibility, for however he changed his course, the day never passed +without his shadow darkening Greville's path. Within eighty miles of +Paris, however, he lost all traces of him, and he then reproached +himself for indulging in unnecessary fears. He was not in Paris two +days, however, before, to his utter astonishment, he was arrested and +thrown into prison on the charge of forging bank-notes, two years +previous, to a very considerable amount. In vain he protested against +the accusation alleging at that time he had been in Italy and not in +Paris. Notes bearing his own signature, and papers betraying other +misdemeanours, were brought forward, and on their testimony and that of +the stranger, whose name he found to be _Dupont_, he was thrown into +prison to await his trial. To him the whole business was an impenetrable +mystery. To us, my dear father, it is all clear as day. Poor Mrs. +Greville's fears were certainly not without foundation, and when affairs +are somewhat more quiet in Paris, I shall leave no stone unturned to +prove young Greville's perfect innocence to the public, and bring that +wretch Dupont to the same justice to which his hatred would have +condemned the son of his old companion. Alfred's agitation on hearing my +explanation of the circumstance was extreme. The errors of his father +appeared to fall heavily on him, and yet he uttered no word of reproach +on his memory. The relation of his melancholy death, and the misery in +which we found Mrs. Greville and poor Mary affected him so deeply, I +dreaded their effect on his health; but this was nothing to his +wretchedness when, by his repeated questions, he absolutely wrung from +me the tale of his sister's death, his mother's desolation: no words can +portray the extent of his self-reproach. It is misery to look upon him +now, and feel what he might have been, had his mother been indeed +permitted to exercise her rights. There is no happiness for Alfred +Greville this side of the Channel; he pines for home--for his mother's +blessing and forgiveness, and till he receives them, health will not, +cannot return. + + * * * * * + +In prison he remained for six long weary months, with the consciousness +that, amidst the many light companions with whom he had associated, +there was not one to whom he could appeal for friendship and assistance +in his present situation, and the thoughts of his mother and sister +returned with greater force, from the impossibility of learning anything +concerning them. The hope of escaping never left him, and, with the +assistance of a comrade, he finally effected it on the 27th of July, the +confusion of the city aiding him far more effectually than he believed +possible. He came down to Rouen in a coal-barge, so completely +exhausted, that he declared, had not the thought of England and his +mother been uppermost, he would gladly have laid down in the open +streets to die. To England he felt impelled, he scarcely knew wherefore, +save that he looked to us for the information he so ardently desired. +Our family had often been among his waking visions, and this accounts +for the agitation I witnessed when I first looked up. He said he felt he +knew me, but he strove to move or speak in vain; he could not utter the +only question he wished to frame, and was unable to depart without being +convinced if I indeed were Percy Hamilton. + +"'And now I have seen you, what have I learnt?' he said, as he ceased a +tale, more of sorrow than of crime. + +"'That your mother lives,' I replied, 'that she has never ceased to pray +for and love her son, that you can yet be to her a blessing and +support.' + +"Should he wish her sent for, I asked, I knew she would not demand a +second summons. He would not hear of it. + +"'Not while I have life enough to seek her. What, bring her all these +miles to me. My mother, my poor forsaken mother. Oh, no, if indeed I may +not live, if strength be not granted me to seek her, then, then it will +be time enough to think of beseeching her to come to me; but not while a +hope of life remains, speak not of it, Percy. Let her know nothing of +me, nothing, till I can implore her blessing on my knees.'" + + * * * * * + +"I have ceased to argue with him, for he is bent upon it, and perhaps it +is better thus. His mind appears much relieved, he has passed a quiet +night, and this morning the physician finds a wonderful improvement, +wonderful to him perhaps, but not to me." + + * * * * * + +Percy's letters containing the above extracts, were productive of much +interest to his friends at Oakwood. The details of Cecil's death, +alleviated by sympathy, were forwarded to his father and sister. The +words that had preceded his death Mr. Hamilton carefully suppressed from +his friend, and Mr. Grahame, as if dreading to hear anything that could +confirm his son's reckless disposition, asked no particulars. For three +months he buried himself in increased seclusion at Llangwillan, refusing +all invitations, and denying himself steadfastly to all. At the +termination of that period, however, he once more joined his friends, an +altered and a happier man. His misanthropy had departed, and often Mr. +Hamilton remarked to his wife, that the Grahame of fifty resembled the +Grahame of five-and-twenty far more than he had during the intervening +years. Lilla and Edward were sources of such deep interest to him, that +in their society he seemed to forget the misery occasioned by his other +children. The shock of her brother's death was long felt by Lilla; she +sorrowed that he was thus suddenly cut off without time for one thought +of eternity, one word of penitence, of prayer. The affection of her +husband, however, gradually dispelled these melancholy thoughts, and +when Lord Delmont paid his promised visit to his nephew, he found no +abatement in those light and joyous spirits which had at first attracted +him towards Lilla. + +Ellen, at her own particular request, had undertaken to prepare Mrs. +Greville for the return of her son, and the change that had taken place +in him. Each letter from Percy continued his recovery, and here we may +notice, though somewhat out of place, as several months elapsed ere he +was enabled fully to succeed, that, by the active exertions of himself +and of the solicitor his father had originally employed, Dupont was at +length brought to justice, his criminal machinations fully exposed to +view, and the innocence of Alfred Greville, the son of the deceased, as +fully established in the eyes of all men. + +Gently and cautiously Ellen performed her office, and vain would be the +effort to portray the feelings or the fond and desolate mother, as she +anticipated the return of her long-absent, dearly-loved son. Of his own +accord he came back to her; he had tried the pleasures of the world, and +proved them hollow; he had formed friendships with the young, the gay, +the bright, the lovely, and he had found them all wanting in stability +and happiness. Amid them all his heart had yearned for home and for +domestic love; that mother had not prayed in vain. + +Softly and beautifully fell the light of a setting sun around the +pretty little cottage, on the banks of the Dart, which was now the +residence of Mrs. Greville; the lattice was thrown widely back, and the +perfume of unnumbered flowers scented the apartment, which Ellen's hand +had loved to decorate, that Mrs. Greville might often, very often forget +she was indeed alone. It was the early part of September, and a +delicious breeze passed by, bearing health and elasticity upon its wing, +and breathing soft melody amid the trees and shrubs. Softly and calmly +glided the smooth waters at the base of the garden. The green verandah +running round the cottage was filled with beautiful exotics, which +Ellen's hand had transported from the conservatory at Oakwood. It was a +sweet and soothing sight to see how judiciously, how unassumingly Ellen +devoted herself to the desolate mother, without once permitting that +work of love to interfere with her still nearer, still dearer ties at +home. She knew how Herbert would have loved and devoted himself to the +mother of his Mary, and in this, as in all things, she followed in his +steps. Untiringly would she listen to and speak on Mrs. Greville's +favourite theme, her Mary; and now she sat beside her, enlivening by +gentle converse the hours that must intervene ere Alfred came. There was +an expression of such calm, such chastened thanksgiving on Mrs. +Greville's features, changed as they were by years of sorrow, that none +could gaze on her without a kindred feeling stealing over the heart, and +in very truth those feelings seemed reflected on the young and lovely +countenance beside her. A pensive yet a sweet and pleasing smile rested +on Ellen's lips, and her dark eye shone softly bright in the light of +sympathy. Beautiful indeed were the orphan's features, but not the +dazzling beauty of early youth. If a stranger had gazed on her +countenance when in calm repose, he would have thought she had seen +sorrow; but when that beaming smile of true benevolence, that eye of +intellectual and soul-speaking beauty met his glance, as certain would +he have felt that sorrow, whatever it might have been, indeed had lost +its sting. + +"It was such an evening, such an hour my Mary died," Mrs. Greville said, +as she laid her hand in Ellen's. "I thought not then to have reflected +on it with feelings such as now fill my heart. Oh, when I look back on +past years, and recall the prayers I have uttered in tears for my son, +my Alfred, the doubts, the fears that have arisen to check my prayer, I +wonder wherefore am I thus blessed." + +"Our God is a God of truth, and He promiseth to answer prayer, dearest +Mrs. Greville," replied Ellen, earnestly; "and He is a God of love, and +will bless those who seek Him and trust in Him as you have done." + +"He gave me grace to trust in Him, my child. I trusted, I doubted not He +would answer me in another world, but I thought not such blessing was +reserved for me in this. A God of love--ay, in my hour of affliction. I +have felt Him so. Oh, may the blessings of His loving-kindness shower +down upon me, soften yet more my heart to receive His glorious image." + +She ceased to speak, but her lips moved still as in inward prayer. Some +few minutes elapsed, and suddenly the glowing light of the sun was +darkened, as by an intervening shadow. The mother raised her head, and +in another instant her son was at her feet. + +"Mother, can you forgive, receive me? Bid me not go forth--I cannot, +may not leave you." + +"Go forth, my son, my son--oh, never, never!" she cried, and clasping +him to her bosom, the quick glad tears fell fast upon his brow. She +released him to gaze again and again upon his face, and fold him closer +to her heart, to read in those sunken features, that faded form, the +tale that he had come back to her heart and to her home, never, never +more to leave her. + +In that one moment years of error were forgotten. The mother only felt +she hold her son to her heart, a suffering, yet an altered and a better +man; and he, that he knelt once more beside his mother, forgiven and +beloved. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +CONCLUSION + + +And now, what can we more say? Will not the Hamilton family, and those +intimately connected with them, indeed be deemed complete? It was our +intention to trace in the first part of our tale the cares, the joys, +the sorrows of parental love, during the years of childhood and earliest +youth; in the second, to mark the _effect_ of those cares, when those on +whom they were so lavishly bestowed attained a period of life in which +it depends more upon themselves than on their parents to frame their own +happiness or misery, as far, at least, as we ourselves can do so. It may +please our Almighty Father to darken our earthly course by the trial of +adversity, and yet that peace founded on religion, which it was Mr. and +Mrs. Hamilton's first care to inculcate, may seldom be disturbed. It +may please Him to bless us with prosperity, but from characters such as +Annie Grahame happiness is a perpetual exile, which no prosperity has +power to recall. We have followed Mr. Hamilton's family from childhood, +we have known them from their earliest years, and now that it has become +their parts to feel those same cares and joys, and perform those +precious but solemn duties which we have watched in Mrs. Hamilton, our +task is done; and we must bid farewell to those we have known and loved +so long; those whom we have seen the happy inmates of one home, o'er +whom-- + + + "The same fond mother bent at night," + +who shared the same joys, the same cares, whose deepest affections were +confined to their parents and each other, are now scattered in different +parts of their native land, distinct members of society, each with his +own individual cares and joys, with new and precious ties to divide that +heart whose whole affection had once been centred in one spot and in one +circle; and can we be accused in thus terminating our simple annals of +wandering from the real course of life. Is it not thus with very many +families of England? Are not marriage and death twined hand in hand, to +render that home desolate which once resounded with the laugh of many +gleesome hearts, with the glad tones of youthful revelling and joy? +True, in those halls they often meet again, and the hearts of the +parents are not lone, for the family of each child is a source of +inexpressible interest to them; there is still a link, a precious link +to bind them together, but vain and difficult would be the attempt to +continue the history of a family when thus dispersed. Sweet and +pleasing the task to watch the unfledged nestlings while under a +mother's fostering wing, but when they spread their wings and fly, where +is the eye or pen that can follow them on their eager way? + +Once more, but once, we will glance within the halls of Oakwood, and +then will we bid them farewell, for our task will be done, and the last +desires of fancy, we trust, to have appeased. + +It was in the September of the year 1830 we closed our narrative. Let us +then, for one moment, imagine the veil of fancy is upraised on the first +day of the year, 1838, and gaze within that self-same room, which twenty +years before we had seen lighted up on a similar occasion, the +anniversary of a new year, bright with youthful beauty, and enlivened by +the silvery laugh of early childhood. But few, very few, were the +strangers that this night mingled with Mr. Hamilton's family. It was +not, as it had been twenty years previous, a children's ball on which we +glance. It was but the happy reunion of every member of that truly happy +family, and the lovely, mirthful children there assembled were, with the +exception of a very few, closely connected one with another by the near +relationship of brothers, sisters, and cousins. In Mr. and Mrs. +Hamilton, Mrs. Greville, Montrose Grahame, Lucy Harcourt, and Mr. +Morton, who were all present, time had comparatively made but little +difference; but it was in those who twenty years before had so well +acted the part of youthful entertainers to their various guests that the +change was striking, yet far, very far from being mournful. + +On one side might be seen Percy Hamilton, M.P., in earnest yet +pleasurable conversation with Mr. Grahame. It was generally noticed that +these two gentlemen were always talking politics, discussing, whenever +they met, the affairs of the nation, for no senator was more earnest and +interested in his vocation than Percy Hamilton, but certainly on this +night there was no thoughtful gravity of a senator imprinted on his +brow; he was looking and laughing at the childish efforts of the little +Lord Manvers, eldest child of the Earl of Delmont, then in his seventh +year, to emulate the ease and dignity of his cousins, Lord Lyle and +Herbert and Allan Myrvin, some two or three years older than himself, +who, from being rather more often at Oakwood, considered themselves +quite lords of the soil and masters of the ceremonies, during the +present night at least. The Ladies Mary and Gertrude Lyle, distinguished +by the perfect simplicity of their dress, had each twined an arm in that +of the gentle, retiring Caroline Myrvin, and tried to draw her from her +young mother's side, where, somewhat abashed at the number that night +assembled in her grandfather's hall, she seemed determined to remain, +while a younger sister frolicked about the room, making friends with +all, in such wild exuberance of spirits, that Mrs. Myrvin's gentle voice +was more than once raised in playful reproach to reduce her to order, +while her husband and Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton seemed to take delight in +her movements of elasticity and joy. The Countess St. Eval, as majestic +and fascinating in womanhood as her early youth had promised, one moment +watched with a proud yet softly flashing eye the graceful movements of +her son, and the next, was conversing eagerly and gaily with her brother +Percy and the young Earl of Delmont, who were standing near her; seven +years had wrought but little change in him, whom till now we have only +known by the simple designation of Edward Fortescue. Manhood, in his +prime, had rather increased than lessened the extreme beauty of his face +and form; few gazed on him once but turned to gaze again, and the little +smiling cherub of five years, whose soft, round arms were twined round +Miss Fortescue's neck, the Lady Ellen Fortescue, promised fair to +inherit all her father's beauty and peculiar grace, and endeared her to +her young mother's heart with an increased warmth of love, while the +dark flashing eyes of Lord Manvers and his glossy, flowing, ebon curls +rendered him, Edward declared, the perfect likeness of his mother, and +therefore he was the father's pet. Round Mr. Hamilton were grouped, in +attitudes which an artist might have been glad to catch for natural +grace, about three or four younger grandchildren, the eldest not +exceeding four years, who, too young to join in the dance and sports of +their elder brethren, were listening with eager attention to the +entertaining stories grandpapa was relating, calling forth peals of +laughter from his infant auditors, particularly from the fine +curly-headed boy who was installed on the seat of honour, Mr. Hamilton's +knee, being the only child of Percy and Louisa, and consequently the pet +of all. It was to that group Herbert Myrvin wished to confine the +attention of his merry little sister, who, however, did not choose to be +so governed, and frisked about from one group to another, regardless of +her graver brother's warning glances; one minute seated on Mrs. +Hamilton's knee and nestling her little head on her bosom, the next +pulling her uncle Lord St. Eval's coat, to make him turn round and play +with her, and then running away with a wild and ringing laugh. + +"Do not look so anxious, my own Emmeline," Mrs. Hamilton said fondly, +as she met her daughter's glance fixed somewhat anxiously on her little +Minnie, for so she was generally called, to distinguish her from Lady +St. Eval's Mary. "You will have no trouble to check those wild spirits +when there is need to do so; her heart is like your own, and then sweet +is the task of rearing." + +With all the grateful fondness of earlier years did Mrs. Myrvin look up +in her mother's face, as she thus spoke, and press her hand in hers. + +"Not even yet have you ceased to penetrate my thoughts, my dearest +mother," she replied; "from childhood unto the present hour you have +read my countenance as an open book." + +"And have not you, too, learned that lesson, my child? Is it not to you +your gentle, timid Caroline clings most fondly? Is it not to you Herbert +comes with his favourite book, and Allan with his tales of glee? +Minnie's mirth is not complete unless she meets your smile, and even +little Florence looks for some sign of sympathy. You have not found the +task so difficult, that you should wonder I should love it?" + +"For those beloved ones, oh, what would I not do?" said Mrs. Myrvin, in +a tone of animated fervour, and turning her glistening eyes on her +mother, she added, "My own mother, marriage may bring with it new tics, +new joys, but, oh, who can say it severs the first bright links of life +between a mother and a child? it is now, only now, I feel how much you +loved me." + +"May your children be to you what mine have ever been to me, my +Emmeline; I can wish you no greater blessing," replied Mrs. Hamilton, +in a tone of deep emotion, and twining Emmeline's arm in hers, they +joined Mrs. Greville and Miss Harcourt, who were standing together near +the pianoforte, where Edith Seymour, the latter's younger niece, a +pleasing girl of seventeen, was good-naturedly playing the music of the +various dances which Lord Lyle and Herbert Myrvin were calling in rapid +succession. In another part of the room Alfred Greville and Laura +Seymour were engaged in such earnest conversation, that Lord Delmont +indulged in more than one joke at their expense, of which, however, they +were perfectly unconscious; and this had occurred so often, that many of +Mrs. Greville's friends entertained the hope of seeing the happiness now +so softly and calmly imprinted on her expressive features, very shortly +heightened by the union of her now truly estimable son with an amiable +and accomplished young woman, fitted in all respects to supply the place +of the daughter she had lost. + +And what had these seven years done for the Countess of Delmont, who had +completely won the delighted kiss and smiles of Minnie Myrvin, by +joining in all her frolics, and finally accepting Allan's blushing +invitation, and joining the waltz with him, to the admiration of all the +children. The girlish vivacity of Lilla Grahame had not deserted Lady +Dolmont; conjugal and maternal love had indeed softened and subdued a +nature, which in early years had been perhaps too petulant; had +heightened yet chastened sensibility. Never was happiness more visibly +impressed or more keenly felt than by the youthful Countess. Her +husband, in his extreme fondness, had so fostered her at times almost +childish glee, that he might have unfitted her for her duties, had not +the mild counsels, the example of his sister, Miss Fortescue, turned +aside the threatening danger, and to all the fascination of early +childhood Lady Delmont united the more solid and enduring qualities of +pious, well-regulated womanhood. + +"I wonder Charles is not jealous," observed Mrs. Percy Hamilton, +playfully, after admiring to Lord Delmont his wife's peculiar grace in +waltzing. "Allan seems to have claimed her attention entirely." + +"Charles has something better to do," replied his father, laughing, as +the little Lord Manvers flew by him, with his arm twined round his +cousin Gertrude in the inspiring galop, and seemed to have neither ear +nor eye for any one or anything else. "Caroline, do you permit your +daughter to play the coquette so early?" + +"Better at seven than seventeen, Edward, believe me; had she numbered +the latter, I might be rather more uneasy, at present I can admire that +pretty little pair without any such feeling. Gertrude told me to-day, +she did not like to see her cousin Charles so shy, and she should do all +she could to make him as much at home as she and her brother are." + +"She has succeeded, then, admirably," replied Edward, laughing, "for the +little rogue has not much shyness in him now. Herbert and Mary have got +that corner all to themselves; I should like to go slily behind them, +and find out what they are talking about." + +"Try and remember what you used to talk about to your partners in this +very room, some twenty years back, and perhaps recollection will +satisfy your curiosity," said Lady St. Eval, smiling, but faintly, +however; the names Herbert and Mary had recalled a time when those names +had often been joined before, and the silent prayer arose that their +fates might not resemble those whose names they bore, that they might be +spared a longer time to bless those who loved them. + +"Twenty years back, Caroline, what an undertaking. Allan is more like +the madcap I was then, so I can better enter into his feelings of +pleasure. By-the-bye, why are not Mrs. Cameron's family here to-night? I +half expected to meet them here yesterday." + +"They spend this season with Sir Walter and Lady Cameron in Scotland," +replied Lady St. Eval. "Florence declared she would take no excuse; the +Marquis and Marchioness of Malvern, with Emily and Louis, are there +also, and Lady Alford is to join them in a week or two." + +"You were there last summer, were you not?" + +"We were. They are one of the happiest couples I know, and their estate +is most beautiful. Florence declares that, were Sir Walter Scott still +living, she intended to have made him take her for a heroine, her +husband for a hero, and transport them some centuries back, to figure on +that same romantic estate in some very exciting scenes." + +"Had he killed Cameron's first love and rendered him desperate, and made +Florence some consoling spirit, to remove his despair, instead of making +him so unromantically enabled to conquer his passion, because +unreturned. Why I could make as good a story as Sir Walter himself; if +she will reward me liberally, I will set about it." + +"It will never do, Lord Delmont, it is much too common-place," said Mrs. +Percy Hamilton, smiling. "It is a very improper question, I allow, but +who was Sir Walter's first love?" + +"Do you not know? A certain friend of yours whom I torment, by declaring +she is invulnerable to the little god's arrows," he answered, joyously. + +"She may be invulnerable to Cupid, but certainly not to any other kind +of love," remarked Lady St. Eval, as she smilingly pointed out to Mrs. +Percy's notice Miss Fortescue, surrounded by a group of children, and +bearing on her expressive countenance unanswerable evidences of her +interest in the happiness of all around her. + +"And is it possible, after loving _her_ he could love another?" she +exclaimed, in unfeigned astonishment. + +"Disagreeably unromantic, Louisa, is it not?" said Lord Delmont, +laughing heartily; "but what was the poor man to do? Ellen was +inexorable, and refused to bestow on him anything but her friendship." + +"Which he truly values," interrupted Lady St. Eval. "You must allow, +Louisa, he was wise, however free from romance; the character of +Florence, in many points, very much resembles Ellen's. She is one of the +very few whom I do not wonder at his choosing, after what had passed. Do +you know, Edward, Flora Cameron marries in the spring?" + +"I heard something about it; tell me who to." + +She complied, and Percy and Mr. Grahame joining them, the conversation +extended to more general topics. + +"Nay, Allan, dear, do not tease your sister," was Miss Fortesene's +gentle remonstrance, as Allan endeavoured, somewhat roughly, to draw +Minnie from her side, where, however, she clung with a pertinacity no +persuasion or reproach could shake. + +"She will hurt Ellen," replied the boy, sturdily, "and she has no right +to take her place by you." + +"But she may stand here too, there is room for us both," interrupted the +little Ellen, though she did not offer to give up her place in her +aunt's lap to her cousin. + +"Go away, Allan, I choose to stand here, and aunt Ellen says I may," was +Minnie's somewhat impatient rejoinder, as she tried to push her brother +away, though her pretty little features expressed no ill-temper on the +occasion, for she laughed as she spoke. + +"Aunt Ellen promised to dance with me," retorted Allan, "and so I will +not go away unless she comes too." + +"With me, with me!" exclaimed Lord Manvers, bounding forward to join the +group. "She promised three months ago to dance with me." + +"And how often have I not performed that promise, Master Charlie?" +replied Ellen, laughing, "even more often with you than with Allan, so I +must give him the preference first." + +Her good-natured smiles, the voice which betrayed such real interest in +all that pleased her little companions, banished every appearance of +discontent. The magic power of affection and sympathy rendered every +little pleader satisfied and pleased; and, after performing her promise +with Allan, she put the final seal to his enjoyment by confiding the +little bashful Ellen to his especial care; a charge, which Myrvin +declared, caused his son to hold himself up two inches higher than he +had done yet. + +"Ellen, if you do not make yourself as great and deservedly a favourite +with my children as with your brother's and Emmeline's, I shall never +forgive you," said the Earl St. Eval, who had been watching Miss +Fortescue's cheerful gambols with the children for the last half hour, +in extreme amusement, and now joined her. + +"Am I not so already, Eugene?" she said, smiling that peculiar smile of +quiet happiness which was now natural to her countenance. "I should be +sorry if I thought they did not love me equally; for believe me, with +the sole exception of my little namesake and godchild, my nephews and +nieces are all equally dear to me. I have no right to make an exception +even in favour of my little Ellen, but Edward has so often called her +mine, and even Lilla has promised to share her maternal rights with me, +that I really cannot help it. Your children do not see so much of me as +Emmeline's, and that is the reason perhaps they are not quite so free +with me; but believe mo, dear St. Eval, it will not be my fault if they +do not love me." + +"I do believe you," replied the Earl, warmly. "I have but one regret, +Ellen, when I see you loving and beloved by so many little creatures." + +"And what may that be?" + +"That they are not some of them your own, my dear girl. I cannot tell +you how I regret the fact, of which each year the more and more +convinces me, that you are determined ever to remain single. There are +very few in my list of female friends so fitted to adorn the marriage +state, very few who would make a better mother, and I cannot but regret +there are none on whom you seem inclined to bestow those endearing and +invaluable qualities." + +"Regret it then no more, my dear St. Eval," replied Ellen, calmly, yet +with feeling. "I thank you for that high opinion which I believe you +entertain of me, too flattering as it may be; but cease to regret that I +have determined to live an old maid's life. To me, believe me, it has no +terrors. To single women the opportunities of doing good, of making +others happy, are more frequent than those granted to mothers and wives; +and while such is the case, is it not our own fault if we are not happy? +I own that the life of solitude which an old maid's includes, may, if +the heart be so inclined, be equally productive of selfishness, +moroseness of temper, and obstinacy in opinion and judgment, but most +fervently I trust such will never be my attributes. It can never be +while my beloved aunt and uncle are spared to me, which I trust they +will be for many, many years longer; and even should they be removed +before I anticipate, I have so many to love me, so many to dearly love, +that I can have no time, no room for selfishness." + +"Do not mistake me, Ellen," St. Eval replied, earnestly; "I do not wish +to see you married because I dread your becoming like some single women; +with your principles such can never be. Your society--your influence +over the minds of our children--is far too precious to be lightly wished +removed, as it would be were you to marry. It is for your own sake, +dearest Ellen, I regret it, and for the sake of him you might select, +that you, who are so fitted to enjoy and to fulfil them, can never know +the pleasures attendant on the duties of a happy wife and mother; that +by a husband and child, the dearest ties of earth, you will go down to +the grave unloved." + +"You are right, St. Eval, they are the dearest ties on earth; but +pleasures, the pleasures of affection, too, are yet left to us, who may +never know them. Think you not, that to feel it is my place to cheer and +soothe the declining years of those dear and tender guardians of my +infancy must bring with it enjoyment--to see myself welcomed by smiles +of love and words of kindness by all my brothers and sisters--to see +their children flock around me as I enter, each seeking to be the first +to obtain my smile or kiss--to know myself of service to my +fellow-creatures, I mean not in my own rank, but those beneath me--to +feel conscious that in every event of life, particularly in sickness or +in sorrow, if those I so love require my presence, or I feel I may give +them comfort or sympathy, at least I may fly to them, for I shall have +no tie, no dearer or more imperious duty to keep me from them--are not +these considerations enough to render a single life indeed one of +happiness, St. Eval? Even from this calm, unruffled stream of life can I +not gather flowers?" + +"You would gather them wherever you were placed, my dear and +noble-minded Ellen," said the Earl, with a warmth that caused her eye to +glisten. "You are right: with a disposition such as yours, I have no +need to regret you have so steadfastly refused every offer of marriage. +My girls shall come to you in that age when they think matrimony is the +only chance of happiness, and you shall teach them felicity dwells not +so much in outward circumstances as in the temper of the mind. Perhaps, +after all, Ellen, you are happier as it is. You might not find such a +husband as I would wish you, and I should be sorry to see your maternal +cares rewarded as were poor Mrs. Greville's." + +"I rather think, in the blessedness of the present the past is entirely +forgotten," observed Ellen, thoughtfully. "There are cares and sorrows +attendant on the happiest lot; but if a mother does her duty, in my +opinion she seldom fails to obtain her recompense, however long +deferred." + +"You are right, my Ellen," said Mrs. Hamilton, who had been listening to +the conversation some little time unobserved. "There are many sorrows +and many cares inseparable from maternal love, but they are forgotten, +or only remembered to enhance the sweetness of the recompense that ever +follows. Do you not think, to see my children, as I do now around me, +walking in that path which alone can lead to eternal life, and leading +their offspring with them, bringing up so tenderly, so fondly their +children as heirs of immortality, and yet lavishing on me, as on their +father, the love and duty of former years--is not this a precious +recompense for all which for them I may have done or borne? Even as I +watched the departing moments of my Herbert, as I marked the triumphant +and joyful flight of his pure spirit to his heavenly home,--even then +was I not rewarded? I saw the fruit of those lessons I had been +permitted through grace to inculcate; his last breath blessed me, and +was not that enough? Oh, my beloved children, let no difficulties deter +you, no temptation, no selfish suffering prevent your training up the +lovely infants now gambolling around you, in the way that they should +go;--solemn is the charge, awful the responsibility, but sweeter far +than words can give it, the reward which either in life or death will +then be yours." + +"Ah, could we perform our parts as you have yours, dearest mother, then +indeed might we hope it," exclaimed the Countess St. Eval and Mrs. +Myrvin at the same moment, as they drew closer to their mother, the eyes +of both glistening with emotion as they spoke. + +"And if we do reap the happiness of which you spoke, to whom shall we +owe it, mother?" demanded Percy, feelingly; for he too, attracted by his +mother's emotion, had joined the group. "Whose care, under God's +blessing, has made us as we are, and taught us, not only by precept but +example, how to conduct ourselves and our children? yours and my +father's; and if indeed in after years our children look up to us and +bless us as we do you, oh, my mother, the remembrance of you will mingle +with that blessedness, and render it yet purer." + +"Truly have you spoken, my son," said Mr. Hamilton, whose little +companions had about half an hour before been transported to their +nursery. "While sharing with your dear mother the happiness arising from +your conduct, my children, often and often has the remembrance of my +mother entered my heart to chasten and enhance those feelings. Gratitude +to her, reverence of her memory, have mingled with the present joy, and +so will it be with you. Your parents may have descended to the grave +before your children can be to you what you have been to us, but we +shall be remembered. Long, long may you feel as you think on your +mother, my beloved children, and teach your offspring to venerate her +memory, that the path of the just is indeed as a shining light, which +shineth more and more unto the perfect day." + + +THE END. + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mother's Recompense, Volume II. +by Grace Aguilar + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MOTHER'S RECOMPENSE, *** + +***** This file should be named 12362-8.txt or 12362-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/2/3/6/12362/ + +Produced by Charles Franks and the Distributed Proofreaders Team + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Mother's Recompense, Volume II. + A Sequel to Home Influence in Two Volumes + +Author: Grace Aguilar + +Release Date: May 16, 2004 [EBook #12362] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MOTHER'S RECOMPENSE, *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Franks and the Distributed Proofreaders Team + + + + +THE MOTHER'S RECOMPENSE; + + +A SEQUEL TO HOME INFLUENCE. + + +BY GRACE AGUILAR. + + + + +IN TWO VOLUMES. + +VOL. II. + + +LEIPZIG + +BERNHARD TAUCHNITZ + +1859. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + +"Who amongst this merry party will become sufficiently sober to assist +me in a work of charity?" was Mrs. Hamilton's address, one afternoon, as +she entered her daughter's room, where Emmeline, her young friends Lady +Florence and Lady Emily Lyle, and even the usually quiet Ellen, were +employing themselves in drawing, embroidery, and such light amusements +as diligently as the merry speech, the harmless joke, and the joyous +laugh of truly innocent enjoyment would permit. + +"A case of extreme distress has come before me," she continued, "for +which alms and other relief will not be sufficient; clothing is +principally required. Can any of you consent to put aside these pretty +things for a few days, merely for the sake of obliging me and doing +good? I have set every hand to work, and now for further assistance come +to you. To whom shall I appeal?" + +"To me--to me--to me!" every voice exclaimed spontaneously, and they +eagerly crowded round her to know what she required, what case of +distress had occurred, for whom they were to work. + +Gratified and pleased at their eagerness, Mrs. Hamilton smilingly +imparted all they wished to know. The simple tale drew from the artless +group many exclamations of pity, combined with the earnest desire to +relieve in whatever way their kind friend would dictate, and their task +was received by all with every demonstration of pleasure. + +"You, too, Ellen," said Mrs. Hamilton, smiling; "I thought you once said +you had no time for work." + +"Not for ornamental work, aunt! but I hope you have never asked in vain +for my assistance in such a case as this," answered Ellen, blushing as +she spoke. + +"No, love; my words did you injustice. But you appear to have found time +for ornamental work also, if this very pretty wreath be yours," said +Mrs. Hamilton, bending over her niece's frame, and praising the delicacy +of her flowers. + +"Oh, I have time for any and everything now," exclaimed Ellen, in a tone +of animation, so very unusual, that not only her aunt but her young +companions looked at her with astonishment. + +"Ellen, yon are becoming more and more incomprehensible," said Emmeline, +laughing. "If Edward do not come home soon, as I suspect this +extraordinary mood is occasioned by the anticipation of his arrival, I +am afraid your spirits will carry you half way over the Channel to meet +him. Mamma, take my advice, and keep a strict watch over the person of +your niece." + +"You know, Ellen, you are as full of fun and mischief as I am, quiet and +demure as we once thought you," said Lady Emily. + +"Is she? I am glad of it," said Mrs. Hamilton, playfully. "Do not look +so very much ashamed of your mirth, my dear Ellen, and bend over your +work as if you had been guilty of some extraordinary misdemeanour. You +know how pleased I always am to see you happy, Ellen," she added, in a +lower voice, as she laid her hand sportively on her niece's head, which +was bent down to conceal the confusion Emmeline's words had called +forth. + +Some little time longer Mrs. Hamilton remained with the young party, +entering with her usual kindness into all their pleasures and pursuits, +and left them perhaps even happier than she had found them. + +Ellen's change of manner had been noticed by the whole party assembled +at Oakwood; and by most of them attributed to the anticipation of the +long-absent Edward's return. That indefinable manner which had formerly +pervaded her whole conduct had disappeared. She no longer seemed to have +something weighing on her mind, which Mrs. Hamilton sometimes fancied to +have been the case. Cheerful, animated, at times even joyous, she +appeared a happier being than she had ever been before; and sincerely +her aunt and uncle, who really loved her as their child, rejoiced in the +change, though they knew not, guessed not the real cause. Ingratiating +herself with all, even the stern Duchess of Rothbury, who, with her now +only unmarried daughter, Lady Lucy, had accepted Mrs Hamilton's pressing +invitation to Oakwood, relaxed in her manner towards her; and Sir George +Wilmot, also a resident guest, declared that if Edward were not proud of +his sister on his return, he would do all in his power to hinder his +promotion. + +Mr. Hamilton and his family had employed the greater part of a very +beautiful August in conducting their guests to all the most picturesque +and favourite spots in the vicinity of Oakwood. About a week after the +circumstance we have narrated, St. Eval and Lady Gertrude joined them +in the morning of a proposed excursion, which included the whole party, +with the exception of Mrs. Hamilton and Ellen. The Earl and his sister +had been instantly enlisted as a most agreeable reinforcement; nor was +the young Earl very sorry for an excuse to spend a whole day in enjoying +the beauties of Nature _tete-a-tete_ with his betrothed, who, since the +candid explanation of her agitation on first hearing of Annie's +elopement, for which her knowledge of Lord Alphingham's former marriage +had well accounted, had become if possible dearer than ever; and this +excursion was indeed one of perfect enjoyment to both. + +Ellen, for some unaccountable reason, which her young friends could +neither penetrate nor conceive, refused to accompany them, declaring +that most important business kept her at home. + +"Edward will not come to-day, so do not expect him," had been Emmeline's +parting words. + +The ruralizing party were to dine amid the ruins of Berry Pomeroy, and +were not expected home till dusk, to a substantial tea. + +It might have been seven in the evening that Ellen quietly entered the +library, where her aunt was engaged in writing, and stood by her side in +silence, as if fearful of interrupting by addressing her. + +"Wait a few minutes, my love, and I shall be ready to attend to you, if +you require my assistance in the arrangement of your work," Mrs. +Hamilton said, alluding to the parcel of baby-linen she perceived in her +niece's hand. Ellen smiled and obeyed. In a few minutes Mrs. Hamilton +laid aside her writing, and looked up, as if expecting her niece would +speak. + +"Well, Ellen, what grand difficulty can you not overcome?" + +"None, my dear aunt. My task is done; I only want your approval," +replied Ellen. + +"Done!" repeated her aunt, in an accent of astonishment. "My dear Ellen, +it is impossible; I only gave it you a week ago. You must have worked +all night to finish it" + +"Indeed I have not," replied Ellen, quickly yet earnestly. + +"Then I certainly must examine every little article," said Mrs. +Hamilton, laughing, "or I shall decidedly fancy this extreme rapidity +cannot have been productive of neatness, which last I rather prefer to +the first." + +Ellen submitted her work to her scrutiny, without reply, and remained +kneeling on a stool at her aunt's feet, without any apprehension as to +the sentence that would be pronounced. + +"Really, Ellen, I shall incline to Emmeline's opinion, and believe some +magic is at work within you," was Mrs. Hamilton's observation, as she +folded up the tiny suit with very evident marks of satisfaction. "How +you have acquired the power of working thus neatly and rapidly, when I +have scarcely ever seen a needle in your hand, I cannot comprehend. I +will appoint you my sempstress-general, in addition to bestowing my +really sincere thanks for the assistance you have afforded me." + +Ellen pressed her aunt's hand to her lips in silence, for an emotion +Mrs. Hamilton beheld, but could not understand, choked her voice. + +"What is the matter, love? has anything occurred to annoy you to-day? +You look paler and more sad than usual; tell me what it is." + +"Do you remember what--what chanced--have you forgotten the event that +took place this very day, this very hour, in this very room, three years +ago?" demanded Ellen, almost inaudibly, and her cheek blanched to the +colour of her robe as she spoke. + +"Why recall the painful past at such a moment, my sweet girl? has it not +been redeemed by three years of undeviating rectitude and virtue? I had +hoped the recollection had ere this long ceased to disturb you," replied +Mrs. Hamilton, with much feeling, as she pressed her lips to her niece's +brow. + +"It never can, it never will, unless--unless--" Strong and almost +fearful emotion prevented all she had wished to say, and throwing into +Mrs. Hamilton's lap a small calf-skin pocket-book, she flung her arms +round her neck, and burying her face in her bosom, murmured, in a voice +choked with sobs, "The amount of all I took is there--all--all. Oh, take +it, and let me thus feel it as a debt which I have paid." + +"Ellen, my own Ellen, be composed," entreated Mrs. Hamilton, alarmed by +the extreme agitation she beheld. "Tell me, love, what are the contents +of this pocket-book? why do you entreat me so earnestly to take it?" + +Struggling violently with herself, Ellen tore open the little book, and +placed in her aunt's hand bank notes to the amount of those which had +once been so fatal a temptation. + +"They are mine--all mine. I have gained them honestly; indeed, indeed I +have; I have worked for them. It was to gain time for this I refused to +go out with you last winter. I had hoped my long, long task would have +been done before, but it was not. Oh, I thought I should never, never +gain the whole amount, but I have now; and, oh, tell me I have in part +redeemed my sin; tell me I am more worthy of your love, your kindness; +tell me I am again indeed your own happy Ellen." + +She would have said more, but no words came at her command, and Mrs. +Hamilton remained silent for a few minutes, in surprise and admiration. + +"My Ellen, my own much-loved Ellen!" she exclaimed at length, and tears +of unfeigned emotion mingled with the repeated kisses she imprinted on +her niece's cheek, "this moment has indeed repaid me for all. Little did +I imagine in what manner you were employed, the nature of your tedious +task. How could you contrive to keep it thus secret from me? what time +could you find to work thus laboriously, when not one study or +employment have I seen neglected?" + +"I thought at first I never should succeed," replied Ellen, her strong +emotion greatly calmed; "for while Miss Harcourt remained with us, I had +only two hours before prayers in the morning, and sometimes I have +ventured to sit up an hour or two later at night; but not often, for I +feared you would discover me, and be displeased, for I could not, dared +not tell you in what I was employed. The winter before last I earned so +much from embroidery and finer kinds of work, that I thought I should +have obtained the whole a year ago; but I was disappointed, for here I +could only do plain work, at which I earned but little, for I could not +do it so quickly. I had hoped there would have been no occasion to +refuse your wish, that I should accompany you and Emmeline, but I found +the whole amount was still far from completed, and I was compelled to +act as I did." + +"And is it possible, my Ellen, you have intrusted your secret to no one; +have demanded no sympathy, no encouragement in this long and painful +task?" + +"I could not have accomplished nor did I commence it, without the kind +assistance and advice of Ellis. My dear aunt, I knew, reposed great +confidence in her, and I thought if she did not disapprove of my plan, I +should not be acting so very independently, and that with her assistance +my secret would not be so difficult to keep: she procured me employment. +My name nor my reasons for seeking it were never known to those for whom +I worked." + +"And could she approve of a task such as this, my Ellen? Could she +counsel such painful self-denial and tedious labour?" + +"She did all she could to dissuade, and at first positively refused to +assist me; but at last yielded to my entreaties, for she saw I never +should be happy till I could look on the past more as a debt +than--than--" She paused, then added--"My own spirit rebelled enough; +that was far more difficult to overcome than other dissuasions." + +"And what strong impulse could have urged you to this course of +self-denial, my sweet girl? I know not yet whether I shall not scold you +for this almost needless infliction of pain, and for the deception it +involves towards me," said Mrs. Hamilton, with reproachful tenderness. + +"Forgive me, oh, forgive me that!" exclaimed Ellen, clasping the hand +she held. "I have often and often felt I was deceiving you; failing in +that confidence I had promised you should never have again to demand; +but I dared not tell you, for I knew you would have prohibited the +continuance of my task." + +"I should indeed, my Ellen; and tell me why you have done this. Was it +indeed because you imagined nothing else could atone for the past?" + +"Because I felt--I knew, though I was restored to your favour, your +confidence, my conscience was not at peace, because I had read, '_If the +wicked restore the pledge, give again that which he had robbed, walk in +the statutes of life, without committing iniquity, he shall surely live, +he shall not die_;' and I felt, however I might endeavour to be virtuous +and good, till I had given again that which I had robbed, I dared not +implore the mercy of my God." + +It is impossible to do justice by mere description to the plaintive +eloquence, to the mournfully-expressive voice with which these simple +words were said, betraying at once those thoughts and feelings which had +been so long concealed in Ellen's meek and youthful heart, the hidden +spring from which her every action had emanated; Mrs. Hamilton felt its +power, the sentiment was too exalted, too holy for human praise. She +folded her niece to her bosom. + +"May the Almighty searcher of hearts accept this sacrifice and bless +you, my dear child. Secretly, unostentatiously, it has been done. Pure +must have been the thoughts which were yours when thus employed, when +such was their origin, and we may hope, indeed, they have been accepted. +Had no self-denial attended the payment of your debt, had you merely +entreated your uncle to repay himself from the fortune you possess, I +would not have accepted it; such a payment would neither have been +acceptable to me, nor to Him whom, I firmly believe, my Ellen sought +more to please. But when every action the last few years has proved to +me, the words you repeated have indeed been the foundation of this +self-conquest, I cannot but humbly, trustingly, think it will be an +accepted offering on high. Nor will I refuse to comply with your +request, my dearest Ellen; I will receive that which you have so +perseveringly and so painfully earned; it shall be employed in +purchasing prayers for us all, from those whom it may relieve. Let not +the recollection of the past again disturb you, my sweet child. +Solicitude and pain you indeed once caused me, but this moment has +redeemed it all. Continue thus undeviatingly to follow the blessed path +you have chosen, and our Ellen is and ever will be deserving of all the +love which those to whom she is so dear can lavish upon her." + +For a few minutes there was silence, for the solemnity with which she +spoke had touched a responding chord; but the thoughts of the orphan +arose to heaven, silently petitioning for grace to continue in that +blessed path of which her aunt had spoken, in thankfulness for having +been permitted to conclude her painful task, and thus obtained the +approbation of her more than mother, the relative she so revered and +loved. + +"And this, then, was the long task which your numerous avocations during +the day prevented your completing, and you therefore took the time from +that allotted to recreation and amusement--this, which so strongly +emboldened my little Ellen, that even my coldness had no effect, except +to make her miserable. What do you not deserve for thus deceiving me? I +do not think I know any punishment sufficiently severe." Mrs. Hamilton +had recalled all her playfulness, for she wished to banish every trace +of sadness and emotion from the countenance of her niece. Ellen raised +her head to answer her in her own playful tone, when they were both +startled by the declining light of day being suddenly obscured, as if by +the shadow of a figure standing by the open window near them. It was, +however, so dark, that the outlines of the intruder were alone visible, +and they would have been unrecognised by any, save by the eye of +affection. + +Ellen sprung suddenly to her feet. "Edward!" burst gladly from her lips, +and in another second a fine manly youth had darted through the open +casement, and the long parted brother and sister were in each other's +arms. For a minute only Ellen was pressed in his embrace, and then +releasing her, he turned towards his aunt, and even as a devoted mother, +a fond and dutiful son, they met, for such had they been in the long +years of separation. Frequently had that high-spirited boy been tempted +to error and to sin, but as a talisman had her letters been. He thought +on the years that were passed, on their last interview, when every word +had graven itself upon his heart, on the devotedness of his orphan +sister, the misery he had once occasioned; he thought on these things, +and stood firm,--the tempter fled. He stood before them erect in +youthful beauty, no inward stain bade him turn from those fond looks or +shrink from the entwining arms of his young sister. And, oh, how blessed +is it thus to meet! to feel that vanished years have not estranged us, +distance has not diminished love, that we are to each other even as we +parted; to feel again the fond kiss, to hear once more the accents of a +voice which to us has been for years so still,--a voice that brings +with it the gush of memory! Past days flit before us; feelings, +thoughts, hopes, we deemed were dead, all rise again, summoned by that +secret witchery, the well-remembered though long silent voice. Let +years, long, lingering, saddening years drag on their chain, let youth +have given place to manhood, manhood to age, still will it be the +same--the voice we once have loved, and deemed to us for ever still--oh, +time, and grief, and blighted hope will be forgotten, and youth, in its +undimmed and joyous beauty, its glow of generous feelings, its bright +anticipations, all, all again be ours. + +"Mother; yes, now indeed may I call you mother!" exclaimed Edward, when +the agitation of this sudden meeting had subsided, and he found himself +seated on a sofa between his aunt and sister, clasping the hand of the +former and twining his arm caressingly round the latter. "Now indeed may +I indulge in the joy it is to behold you both again; now may I stand +forth unshrinkingly to meet my uncle's glance, no guilt, or shame, or +fear has cast its mist upon my heart. This was your gift," he drew a +small Bible from his bosom. "I read it, first, because it had been +yours, because it was dear to you, and then came other and holier +thoughts, and I bowed down before the God you worshipped, and implored +His aid to find strength, and He heard me." + +Mrs. Hamilton pressed his hand, but spoke not, and after a brief +silence, Edward, changing his tone and his subject, launched at once, +with all his natural liveliness, into a hurried tale of his voyage to +England. An unusually quick passage gave him and all the youngsters the +opportunity they desired, of returning to their various homes quite +unexpectedly. The vessel had only arrived off Plymouth the previous +night, or rather morning, for it was two o'clock; by noon the ship was +dismantled, the crew dismissed, leave of absence being granted to all. +And for the first time in his life, he laughingly declared he fancied +being the captain's favourite very annoying, as his presence and +assistance were requested at a time when his heart was at Oakwood; +however, he was released at last, procured a horse, and galloped away. +His disasters were not, however, over; his horse fell lame, as if, +Edward said, he felt a seaman was not a fit master for him. He was +necessitated to leave the poor animal to the care of a cottager, and +proceed on foot, avoiding the village, for fear of being recognised +before he desired; he exercised his memory by going through the lanes, +and reached Oakwood by a private entrance. Astonished at seeing the +rooms, by the windows of which he passed, deserted, he began to fear the +family were all in London; but the well-known sound of his aunt's voice +drew him to the library, just as he was seeking the main entrance to +have his doubts solved. He stood for a few minutes gazing on the two +beings who, more vividly than any others, had haunted his dreams by +night and visions by day; he had wished to meet them first, and alone, +and his wish was granted. + +Wrapped in her happy feelings, it was her brother's arm around her, her +brother's voice she heard, Ellen listened to him in trembling eagerness, +scarcely venturing to breathe, lest that dear voice should be still, +lest the hand she clasped should fade away, and she should wake and find +it but a dream of bliss--Edward could not really have returned; and Mrs. +Hamilton felt emotion so powerfully swelling within, as she gazed once +more on the brave preserver of her husband, the child of her sister, her +very image, that it was with difficulty she could ask those many +questions which affection and interest prompted. + +Edward had scarcely, however, finished his tale, before the sound of +many and eager voices, the joyous laugh, and other signs of youthful +hilarity, announced the return of the party from their excursion. Nor +was it long before Emmeline's voice, as usual, sounded in loud laughing +accents for her mother, without whose sympathy no pleasure was complete. + +"Do not disturb yourselves yet, my dear children," Mrs. Hamilton said, +as she rose, knowing well how many, many things the long-separated +orphans must have mutually to tell, and penetrating with that ready +sympathy--the offspring of true kindness--their wish for a short time to +remain alone together. "You shall not be summoned to join us till tea is +quite ready, and if you wish it, Edward," she added, with a smile, "you +shall have the pleasure of startling your uncle and cousins as agreeably +as you did us. I will control my desire to proclaim the happy tidings of +your safe return." + +She left the brother and sister together, sending Robert with, a lamp, +that they might have the gratification of seeing each other, which the +increasing darkness had as yet entirely prevented; and a gratification +to both it was indeed. Edward had left his sister comparatively well, +but with the traces of her severe illness still remaining vividly +impressed upon her features; but now he saw her radiant in health, in +happiness, and beauty so brilliant, he could hardly recognise that fair +and graceful girl for the ailing, drooping child she had once been. Nor +or was the contrast less striking between the Ellen of the present +meeting and the Ellen of the last; then wretchedness, misery, inward +fever, consumed her outward frame, and left its scorching brand upon her +brow. Remorseful anguish had bowed her down; and now he had returned +when her heart was free and light as the mountain breeze, her +self-inspired penance was completed; and nothing now existed to make her +shrink from the delight of devoting hours to her brother. + +"Tell James to go over to the Rectory, with my compliments to Mr. +Howard, and if he be not particularly engaged, I beg he will join us +this evening," said Mrs. Hamilton, a short time after she had left the +library, addressing Martyn, then crossing the hall. + +"Have you any particular wish for our worthy rector this evening, +Emmeline?" demanded Mr. Hamilton, gazing, as he spoke, with admiration +and surprise on the countenance of his wife, whose expressive features +vainly strove to conceal internal happiness. + +"A most earnest desire," she replied, smiling somewhat archly. + +"Indeed, I am curious"-- + +"I am sorry, dear Arthur, for I am no advocate for curiosity, and cannot +indulge it." + +"Ah, papa, there is a gentle hint for you, and a broader one for me," +exclaimed Emmeline, laughing; while conjectures as to what Mrs. +Hamilton's business with the rector could possibly be, employed the time +merrily till the whole party were assembled. + +"You may depend, Emmeline, it is to arrange all the necessary minutiae +for your marriage," said Lord St. Eval, who had been persuaded to remain +at Oakwood that night. "Your mother has selected a husband for you; +and, fearing your opposition, has sent for Mr. Howard that all may be +said and done at once." + +"I hope, then, that I am the man," exclaimed Lord Louis, laughing; +"there is no one else whom she can very well have at heart, not that I +see," he added, looking mischievously round him, while some strange and +painful emotions suddenly checked Emmeline's flow of spirits, and +utterly prevented her replying. + +A flush of crimson dyed her cheek and brow; nay, her fair neck partook +its hue, and she suddenly turned towards her mother, with a glance that +seemed of entreaty. + +"Why, Emmeline, my dear child, you surely cannot believe there is the +least particle of truth in my mischievous son's assertion?" said the +Marchioness of Malvern, pitying, though she wondered at her very evident +distress. + +"And is marriage so very disagreeable to you even in thought?" demanded +Lord St. Eval, still provokingly. + +"The very idea is dreadful; I love my liberty too well," answered +Emmeline, hastily rallying her energies with an effort, and she ran on +in her usual careless style; but her eye glanced on the tall figure of +young Myrvin, as he stood with Herbert at a distant window, and words +and liveliness again for a moment failed. His arms were folded on his +bosom, and his grey eye rested on her with an expression almost of +despair, for the careless words of Lord Louis had reached his heart--"No +one else she can have." + +Lord Louis had forgotten him, or intentionally reminded him that he was +indeed as a cypher in that noble circle; that he might not, dared not +aspire to that fair hand. He gazed on her, and she met his look; and if +that earnest, almost agonized glance betrayed to her young and guileless +bosom that she was beloved, it was not the only secret she that night +discovered. + +Mr. Hamilton was too earnestly engaged in conversation with Sir George +Wilmot to notice the painful confusion of his child; and Mrs. Hamilton +was thinking too deeply and happily on Ellen's conduct and Edward's +return, to bestow the attention that it merited, and consequently it +passed without remark. + +"Mother, I am sorry to be the first to inform you of such a domestic +misfortune," said Percy, soon after entering the room, apparently much +amused, "but Robert has suddenly lost his wits; either something +extraordinary has happened or is about to happen, or the poor fellow has +become bewitched. You smile, mother; on my honour, I think it no smiling +matter." + +"Never mind, Percy; your favourite attendant will, I have no doubt, +recover his senses before the night is over. I am not in the least +anxious," replied his mother, smiling. + +"Percy, your mother has clothed herself to-night in impenetrable +mystery, so do not hope to discover anything through her," said Lord St. +Eval, laughing, and the young men continued gaily conversing with Lady +Gertrude and Caroline, till the entrance of Mr. Howard and the +announcement of tea or supper; of both of which, after a day spent in +the country as this had been, the evening meal partook. + +"Ellen--where is Ellen?" said several voices, as they seated themselves +round the hospitable board, and observed her place was vacant; and Sir +George Wilmot eagerly joined the inquiry. + +"She will join us shortly, Sir George," replied Mrs. Hamilton, and +turning to a servant near her, desired him to let Miss Fortescue know +tea was ready. + +"I will go, madam. Stand back, James, let me pass," exclaimed Robert, +hastily, and he bounded out of the apartment with a most extraordinary +failing of his wonted respect. + +"There, proof positive; did I not tell you the lad was mad," said Percy, +and, as if in confirmation of his words, almost directly after a loud +and joyful shout sounded from the servants' hall. + +Mr. Hamilton looked up inquiringly, and in doing so his eye caught an +object that caused him to start from his seat with an exclamation of +surprise and pleasure; while Percy, leaping over chairs and tables that +stood in his way, unheeding Lord Louis's inquiry, whether Robert had +infected him, shook and shook again the hand of the long-absent +relative, in whom both he and Herbert could only recognise the preserver +of their father. Herbert and his sisters simultaneously left their +seats, and crowded round him. Warmly, affectionately, Edward greeted +them one and all, and rapidly answered the innumerable questions of +Percy; defended his sister from all share in his concealment, of which +Herbert and Emmeline laughingly accused her. The flush of almost painful +bashfulness still lingered on his cheek, as he marked the eyes of all +fixed upon him, strangers as well as friends; but as he turned in the +direction of his aunt, and his eye fell on the venerable figure of his +revered preceptor, who stood aside, enjoying the little scene he beheld, +as the remembrance of the blessed words, the soothing comfort that +impressive voice had spoken in his hour of greatest need, the lessons of +his childhood, his dawning youth, rushed on his mind, control, +hesitation, reserve were all at an end; he broke from the surrounding +and eager group, even from the detaining arm of his sister, sprang +towards him, and clasping both Mr. Howard's hands, his eyes glistened +and his voice quivered, as he exclaimed-- + +"Mr. Howard, too! one of my first, my best, and kindest friends. Ellen +told me not of this unexpected pleasure; this is joy, indeed." + +"A joy to me, too, my dear boy, equally unexpected; we must thank Mrs. +Hamilton for this early meeting. I knew not the pleasure she had +prepared for me," replied Mr. Howard, returning the pressure of Edward's +hand with equal warmth. + +"Nor did any one, my good sir. Never will I say again a lady cannot keep +a secret," said the Marquis of Malvern, jestingly. "Mr. Hamilton, as you +do not seem inclined to honour me, without asking, I must entreat a +formal introduction to that gallant nephew of yours, whose name is not +unknown to naval fame, though as yet but one of her junior officers." + +"I really beg your pardon, my dear Lord; Edward's sudden appearance has +startled me out of all etiquette. To one and all, then, of my good +friends here, allow me to introduce to their indulgent notice this said +Edward Fortescue, midshipman and gallant officer on board His Majesty's +good ship Prince William; and, in order that all reserve may be at an +end between us, I propose a bumper to the health and prosperity of the +wanderer returned." + +"Most excellent, my dear father; one that I will second with all my +heart," exclaimed Percy, eagerly. "For that amphibious animal looks +marvellously like a fish out of water amongst us all: and here we admit +no strangers. Edward, there is a vacant seat reserved for you by my +mother's side, who looks much as if she would choose you for her knight +this evening; and, therefore, though your place in future is amongst the +young ladies, to whom by-and-bye I mean to introduce you by name and +character, we will permit you to sit there to-night. Ellen, my little +coz, where are you? You must be content with looking at your brother, +not sitting by him. I cannot allow such breaches of etiquette; that is +quite impossible." + +"I am perfectly satisfied where I am, Percy," replied his cousin, +laughing, as she obeyed the Marchioness of Malvern's request and seated +herself beside her. Every eye was turned on Ellen with an admiration, +which, had not her thoughts been engrossed with her brother, would have +been actually painful to one of her quick feelings. Lady Malvern longed +to hear from her young favourite, in words, the internal delight which +was so evident in every feature, and by her kindly sympathy succeeded in +her wishes. The young sailor's health was celebrated with enthusiasm; +and Edward gracefully, though briefly, returned his thanks, while the +kindness of all around him, the easy friendliness of those who were +strangers, and the joy of feeling himself once more in the midst of +those he loved, soon placed him perfectly at ease. + +Ellen looked eagerly round her circle of friends, to mark the impression +made by Edward, and even her fond affection was fully satisfied. Sir +George Wilmot had not spoken, but his eye kindled with animation as in +the gallant young sailor he recalled his own youthful days, while some +other sad remembrances kept him silent, and checked his usual hilarity. +Lord Malvern appeared almost as interested as Mr. Hamilton. Lady +Gertrude's kind glance met hers, and told, by its silent eloquence, how +well she sympathised in Ellen's feelings; and Lord St. Eval too, his +smile spoke volumes, though his natural reserve prevented his addressing +Edward, while the young and lively members of the party seemed to find +abundant amusement in the anecdotes and adventures he narrated. Arthur +Myrvin gazed earnestly at him, and for a time banished his own +distressing thoughts in the endeavour to trace in the fine manly youth +before him some likeness to the handsome, yet violent and mischievous +boy he had first and last seen in the village of Llangwillan. + +"I have heard so much of Eward, from my friend Ellen here, that I am +most anxious to cultivate his acquaintance, and trust Castle Malvern +will often be graced by the presence of such a gallant young sailor," +was the Marchioness of Malvern's kind address, after they had adjourned +to the drawing room, as, leaning on the arm of Ellen, she advanced to +the young man, who, from Percy's lively introduction, was playing the +agreeable to Lady Florence and Lady Emily Lyle, while Lord Louis, who +found something in Edward's countenance that promised a kindred feeling +for fun and frolic, was demanding question after question, which Edward +was answering in a manner calculated to excite the continued merriment +of his companions, till a sign from his aunt called him to her side. + +"So I must entreat Admiral Sir George Wilmot to deign to notice my +nephew, it will not be given unasked," she said, approaching the aged +officer, who was sitting a little apart, shading his eyes with his hand, +as if in deep thought. "Sir George, I shall impeach you of high treason +against me, the liege lady of this fortress, that on a night when all is +joy, you, who are generally the gayest, should be sad. What excuse can +you urge in your defence?" + +"Is Edward unworthy of the high privilege of being a sailor, Sir +George?" whispered Ellen, archly, "or is your wrath against me, for not +joining your expedition this morning, to be extended to him? will you +not look on him as a brother seaman?" + +"Nay, Ellen, I must toil through long years of servitude, I must reap +very many laurels, ere I can deserve that title," said Edward. "The name +of Sir George Wilmot is too well known on the broad seas for me to hope +for more than a word of encouragement from him, or to enable me to look +on him with any other feelings than those of the deepest reverence and +respect." + +"Ay, ay, young man, you wish to surprise the old hulk to surrender; +gaily rigged and manned as you are, you think, by a show of homage to +me, to surprise me into paying it to you," said the old man, rousing +himself from his abstraction, and laughing as he spoke. "Do not deny it, +youngster, but I forgive you; for I have been an old fool, Mrs. +Hamilton. I plead guilty, and throw myself on your mercy. You, Mistress +Ellen, you deserve nothing from me, after rejecting every courtly speech +I could think of this morning, to persuade you to crowd sail and steer +out under my guidance instead of remaining safe in harbour. Jokes apart, +if you, young sir, will feel pleasure in the friendship of an old +time-worn servant of his Majesty as I am, I offer you my hand, with all +the warmth and sincerity of our noble profession. For your uncle's sake +as well as your own, my best wishes and my best offices shall be +exercised in tacking on lieutenant to your name." + +"And you will do nothing, then, for _my sake_, Sir George, nor for my +aunt's, whose dignity your sadness has offended?" said Ellen, smiling, +as did Mrs. Hamilton. + +"Your aunt would forgive my sadness, my dear child, did she know its +cause. I was wrong to encourage it, but I could not look on these bright +features," he laid his hand, which trembled, on Edward's arm, "without +seeing again past times peopled with those who have passed away. Mrs. +Hamilton, I thought again the merry favourite of my old friend, your +father, stood before me, the gay, the thoughtless, lovely Eleanor; she +was like him, in the bloom of youth and freshness, when I last beheld +her; and I thought, as mine eye glanced on this well known uniform, +there was another still of whom he reminded me,--the adopted son of my +affections, the darling of my childless years, Charles, my gallant +warm-hearted Charles! Nearly six years was he with me, when his courage +earned him a lieutenant's berth; he changed his quarters and his +commander, and I saw him no more. Such was he; such--oh, I thought +Eleanor and Charles again were before me, and I longed for the friend of +my early years, to recognise in his grandson the features of his +Eleanor, the voice, the laugh, and figure of his Charles. Forgive me, my +dear children, I have frightened away your mirth, and made myself +gloomy." + +There was silence as he ceased, and Sir George was the first to break +it, by addressing Edward with animation, questioning him as to all his +hopes and anticipations with regard to his promotion, which, as his six +years of service were now passed, he allowed to occupy his mind, and in +such conversation all traces of gloom quickly vanished; and Ellen, +interested in their conference, lingered near them in recovered spirits, +till the bell summoned all those who chose to join in the evening +prayer. All attended, except young Myrvin, who had departed. Herbert +felt anxious on his friend's account, for many reasons, which we must +postpone explaining till a future page; suffice it now to say that the +young man's conduct not seeming to be such as his profession demanded, a +degree of scarcely-perceptible, but keenly-felt coldness was displayed +towards him, both by Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Howard. Herbert had this night +remarked that his cheek was pale, his eye almost haggard, and his words +and manner often confused, and he had endeavoured to elicit the cause of +his inward disturbance, but unsuccessfully; the young man, although very +evidently unhappy, appeared to shrink from his confidence, and Herbert, +though grieved, desisted from his friendly office. That night Mr. +Hamilton resigned his place at the reading-desk to the worthy minister, +who, both in public and private worship, knew so well the duties of his +sacred office. He read the chapters of the evening, with a brief but +explanatory commentary on each, and after the usual prayers, broke forth +into a strain of earnest thanksgiving for the safe return of him who, +since he had last addressed his God, surrounded by his family, had been +exposed to the temptations and dangers of the sea, and mercifully +preserved through them all, and permitted to return in joy and peace. +To all, save to the orphans and Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton, his words applied +but to the terrors of the deep, but they well knew where the thoughts of +their minister had wandered; they knew that fervent thanksgiving was +offered up for his preservation from those sins which had been his on +his last return; they knew he blessed his Maker for the promise of +virtue he beheld; His grace had enabled him to overcome temptation, and +return to the home of his boyhood comparatively unstained. + +Edward contrasted his present feelings with those which he had +experienced the first night of his last return, and Ellen thought on +that bitter anguish, the public shame which had been hers in that very +hall, that very night three years before, and the young hearts of both +the orphans were filled with warm and deep thanksgiving. The thoughts of +all were composed and tranquillized when Mr. Howard ceased, and in the +little time that intervened between the conclusion of the service and +the family separating to their rooms, no light and frivolous converse +disturbed the solemn but sad impression on the minds of each. + +"I cannot part from you for the night, my dear cousin," said Edward, +somewhat archly, though in a low voice, as he approached the spot where +Caroline and St. Eval stood, "without offering you my warmest +congratulations on your future prospects, and without requesting an +introduction from _you_ to him, in whom I am to welcome a new relative. +I have been wishing to do so all the evening, but when I was at liberty +I missed you." + +Evidently pleased, Caroline looked up into St. Eval's face, but before +she could speak, the young earl had warmly pressed Edward's hand, and +answered with sincerity and kindness equal to his own. The whole party +very soon afterwards dispersed. + +Were it ours to follow our young and still, in appearance, childlike +friend Emmeline Hamilton to her room that night, we should see that the +smiles which had beamed around her lip had passed away, the flush on her +cheek was no longer there, and one or two bright drops might have been +observed slowly falling on her pale cheek, as she sat in deep musing, +ere she retired to her couch. She had dismissed Fanny, alleging that she +did not require her aid, and her long silky hair loosened from its +confinement, hung carelessly in golden waves around her. Tears fell on +her hand; she started, and flung back her tresses, looked fearfully +around her, and passed her hand across her eyes, as if to check +them--but ineffectually; another, and another fell; she leaned her +crossed arms upon the pillow, and her head drooped on them, and she +wept, wept as she had never wept before, and yet she knew not wherefore; +she was sad, how deeply sad, but that young and guileless spirit knew +not why. Child she was still in looks, in playfulness, in glee; a child +she still believed herself, but she was no child--that age of buoyancy +had fled, and Emmeline was, indeed, a woman, a thinking, feeling, ay, +and loving woman. + +It might have been nearly a week after Edward's return, when, on +entering the library one morning, Mrs. Hamilton observed her husband, +Mr. Howard, and Edward in earnest conference, the latter appearing +somewhat agitated. She would have retreated, imagining her presence +mistimed, but Edward, the instant he perceived her, sprung forward, and +seizing both her hands, exclaimed, in a voice of entreaty-- + +"Dearest aunt, will not you use your influence with my uncle, and +prevail on him to take the sum I have saved at different times, from my +prize-money and other things, to replace that which--which was lost +three years ago. To obtain sufficient, I have denied myself all +unnecessary indulgence; it has checked my natural extravagance; +prevented me, when sometimes I have been strongly tempted to play, or +join my messmates in questionable amusements. In saving that, I have +cured myself of many faults; it has taught me economy and control, for +by the time the whole amount was saved, my wishes and evil inclinations +were conquered. I look on it as a debt which I had bound myself to pay. +I anticipated the pleasure of telling my dear sister, she might banish +the past entirely from her mind, for I would not write a word of my +intentions, lest I should fail in them ere I returned. And now my uncle +refuses to grant my request; Mr. Howard will not second me; and--and I +see how it is," he continued, with a return of former violence in his +manner, as he paced the room, and a flush burned on his cheek, "my uncle +will not consent to look on it as a debt; he will not permit me, even as +far as this will do it, to redeem my sister." + +"You are quite mistaken, my dear boy," replied Mr. Hamilton, mildly. +"Your sister's own conduct has sufficiently proved to me her repentance +and amendment; her gentle virtues and faultless conduct have quite +redeemed the past, and so has yours. I refuse to take your well-earned +savings, merely because they really are not necessary." + +"But if it will give me pleasure, if it will satisfy me. Dearest aunt, +plead for me; you know not the relief it will be," again entreated +Edward, as he paused in his hasty walk, and looked beseechingly in his +aunt's face. + +"Nay, dear Edward, do not demand impossibilities," she replied, smiling, +"I cannot plead for you. That money with which you appear so very eager +to part must return to your own purse; your sister's debt is already +paid." + +"Paid!" repeated Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Howard, in astonishment, while +Edward stood, as if bewildered. "How, and by whom?" + +"By Ellen herself," replied Mrs. Hamilton; and, addressing her husband, +she added, "I should have told you before, but we have been both too +much engaged the last two days to allow any time for private +conversation; and my Ellen had entreated that only you should know her +secret; but she would, I know, have made an exception in Mr. Howard's +favour had I demanded it, for his excellent lessons have in all +probability assisted in making her the character she is; and as for her +brother--why, in charity, he shall know this strange tale," she added, +smiling; and briefly, but with affecting accuracy, she related all that +had passed between her and Ellen on the evening of Edward's return. Mr. +Hamilton and Mr. Howard listened in astonishment, for they knew not the +quiet steadiness, the unwavering firmness of Ellen's private character; +they guessed not the deep remorse which had been her own, nor for how +long it had guided and purified her actions. Edward had concealed his +face in his hands, his arms resting upon the table, for he felt in this +tale of persevering effort and self-denial, in comparison with Ellen's, +as if his had sunk to nothing; the bright lustre of his sister's +character dimmed even to obscurity his own. + +"And have you questioned Ellis? do you know in what manner she contrived +so secretly to render her assistance?" demanded Mr. Hamilton, with much +interest. + +"I have," replied his wife, "I did so that same night; for even Edward's +unexpected return could not banish his sister from my mind. She told me, +that at first she did all she could to turn Ellen from her purpose; but +when she found her resolution was unalterably fixed by some means to +earn sufficient to repay the cause of so much distress, she entered +warmly into her plan; and, with the active assistance of Robert, +procured her work from the baby-linen warehouses at Plymouth. She first +began with the plainest work, but that succeeded so well, finer was +given to her. In London she worked embroidery, purchasing the materials +from her own pocket-money, and consequently largely increasing her +hoard. Spite of her ill-health, the first winter we spent in London, she +perseveringly continued her irksome task, rising even in the coldest +weather at six, the provident care of Ellis causing her fire to be +lighted almost the earliest in the house. Robert was the messenger +employed to and fro, but no one knew her name or rank; for, devoted as +we well know he is to Ellen, he took the trouble of changing his livery +for plain clothes, whenever Ellis sent him on his mission. Her secret +has, indeed, been well preserved both from us and those who employed +her. Many, very many silent tears Ellis believes have fallen over my +poor Ellen's tedious task; many a struggle to adhere to her resolution, +and not throw it aside in despair; and frequently, she told me, after a +long, solitary evening, she has thrown her arms round Ellis's neck, and +wept from exhaustion, and the misery of hope deferred, for at first it +did appear an endless labour; but she persevered unshrinkingly, +combating her wishes to accompany me wherever Emmeline visited." + +"And it was this, then, that caused her determination to remain at home +till next year," observed Mr. Hamilton; "poor child, our harshness was +no sweetener of her task." + +"It was not, indeed; the night of Emmeline's introduction, Ellis says, +she wept as if her heart would break, as if she could not keep her +secret any longer; but she struggled with herself, and conquered; +although many times, during my estrangement, she has longed to confess +all, but the fear that I should forbid her continuing her task +restrained her." + +"I am very glad she persevered in her secret," said Mr. Howard, warmly; +"it is this quiet steady perseverance in a painful duty that has pleased +me far more than even the action itself, guided as that was by proper +feeling. Extraordinary sacrifices of our own formation are not, in +general, as acceptable to Him for whose sake they are ostentatiously +made, as the quiet steady discharge of our destined duties--the one is +apt to beget pride, the other true humility, but this unshaken +resolution in one so young, had its origin from true repentance, and +aided as it has been by the active fulfilment of every duty, +strengthened as it has, no doubt, been by prayer, I cannot but trust her +heavenly Master will look down with an eye of mercy on His young +servant. Look up, Edward; you, too, have done your duty. Why should your +sister's conduct cause this sudden depression, my young friend?" + +"Because," exclaimed he, with an earnestness almost startling, and as +he looked up his eyes glistened with tears, "because all my efforts sink +to nothing beside hers. I deemed myself becoming worthy; that the +conquests over inclination I made would obliterate the past; but what +are my sacrifices compared to hers? Weak, frail, sensitive creature as +she is, thus secretly, laboriously to earn that sum which, because it +required one or two petty sacrifices of inclination, I deemed that I had +so nobly gained. What have been my efforts compared to hers?" + +"Almost as great to you, my dear boy, as hers were to her," said Mr. +Hamilton, kindly; "you, too, have done well. Your past errors have +already, in my mind and in that of Mr. Howard and your aunt's, been +obliterated by the pleasure your late conduct has bestowed. She has not +had the temptations to extravagant pleasure which have been yours; to +save this sum you must have resigned much gratification. You have acted +thus excellently, in part, to regain the good opinion of your friends, +and the kind wish of restoring perfect peace to your sister: in the +first, you have fully succeeded; in the second, when your sister knows +what has been the secret purpose of your life for three long years, her +affections will amply repay you. You are deserving of each other, my +dear Edward; and this moment I do not scruple to say, I am proud to feel +myself so nearly related to those who, young as they both are, have so +nobly and perseveringly performed their duty both to God and man." + +Young Fortescue raised his uncle's hand, wrung it between both his own, +and impetuously darted from the room. + +"That boy would teach me never to despair again, my good friend," said +Mr. Hamilton, addressing the worthy clergyman. "When last he left me I +had learned to hope and yet to fear, for I dreaded his exposure to his +former temptations; and now--glad, indeed, am I to acknowledge myself +vanquished, and to own you were ever in the right." + +Mr. Howard smiled. + +"And now does my husband regret his having adopted my sister's orphans +as his own?" demanded Mrs. Hamilton, entwining her arm in her husband's, +and looking caressingly in his face. + +"No, my dearest wife; once, indeed, when I beheld you in fancy about to +sink beneath the accumulation of misery and anxiety both Edward and +Ellen's conduct occasioned, I did in secret murmur that the will of my +heavenly Father had consigned to us the care of such misguided ones; I +fear I looked on them as the disturbers of family peace and harmony, +when it was the will of my God. I felt indignant and provoked with them, +when I should have bowed submissively to Him. I have been blessed in +them when I deserved it not. You ever trusted, my Emmeline, though far +greater distress was your lot than mine. You never repented of that +kindness which bade your heart bleed for their orphan state, and urged +you to take them to your gentle bosom, and soothe them as your own. I +know that at this moment you have your reward." + +Mrs. Hamilton was prevented from replying by the entrance of Edward, who +eagerly inquired for his sister, alleging he had searched every room in +the house and could not find her. + +"She has gone with Herbert to the village to take the fruits of her own +work, some baby linen, to the poor woman in whose fate I am so +interested," replied Mrs. Hamilton, and turning to her husband, +added--"Now we really are alone, my dear Arthur, will you give a little +of your time to inform me in what manner I can best lay out, for this +unfortunate being's advantage, the sum my Ellen has placed in my hands? +Do not look at me, Edward, as if to implore me to take yours also, for I +mean to be very positive, and say at once I will not." + +"Come with me, my young friend, and we will go and meet Herbert and +Ellen," Mr. Howard said, smiling; "a walk is the best remedy for nerves +fevered as yours are at present, and I should be glad of your company." +And Edward, with eager pleasure, banishing all traces of former +agitation, departed arm in arm with a companion whom he still so revered +and loved, recalling with him reminiscences of his boyhood, and +detailing with animation many incidents of his late trip. This walk, +quiet as it was, was productive, both to Mr. Howard and his pupil, of +extreme pleasure; the former, while he retained all the gravity and +dignity of his holy profession, knew well how to sympathise with youth. +Increased duties in the ministry had caused him to resign the school +which he had kept when we first knew him, to the extreme regret of both +master and pupils. Mr. Howard regarded young people as the tender lambs +of his fold, whom it was his especial charge to train up in the paths of +grace, and guard from all the dangerous and hidden pitfalls of sin; +their parents might neglect, or, ignorant themselves, pursue a mistaken +method, but he was the shepherd placed over the flock, and while +untiringly, zealously, he endeavoured to lead the older members of his +congregation to the only rock of salvation, the younger were the objects +of his especial care. To them all was bright, the world in all its +dangerous, because more pleasurable, labyrinths was before them. He saw, +he knew their perfect ignorance, and he trembled, while he prayed so to +lead them, that the lessons of their minister might check them in the +career of imprudence or of sin. + +"Were I one of the fathers of Rome I should say, _benedicite_, my +children," he said, playfully, as Herbert and Ellen, apparently in +serious yet happy conversation approached and joined them, "but as I am +merely a simple minister of a simple faith, I greet you with the +assurance you are blessed in your charitable office." + +"And how, my kind friend, could you contrive to discover such was our +employment?" replied Herbert, smiling. "Can my mother have been +betraying us?" + +"Oh, she has been a sad traitress this morning, betraying all kinds of +secrets and misdemeanours," said Mr. Howard, laughing, and casting on +Ellen a glance of arch meaning, while Edward could scarcely contain his +impatience to seize his sister's arm and bear her off with him. + +"And we, too, have been hearing many tales of you, Mr. Howard," she +said. "We have heard very many blessings on your name in the cottage we +have left, although, alas! events have occurred there of a very painful +nature." + +"And why, alas, my dear child?" said Mr. Howard, affectionately. "Do you +deem it so sad a thing to die?" + +"It is wrong, I know, to regard it thus, Mr. Howard," replied Ellen; +"but yet, to leave all those we love on earth, to sever the tender cords +of affection binding us unto this world, must be, even to the strongest +and most pious minds, a draught of bitterness." + +"Do not, my dear children," said Mr. Howard, "imagine I deem it wrong to +indulge in earthly affections. Far from it; they are given us to sweeten +life, to draw our hearts in thanksgiving to him who gave them, and thus +indulged are pleasing unto Him. And how did you find poor Nanny to-day?" +he added, after a brief pause. + +"Suffering very much in body, but in a blessed state of mind," replied +Ellen, "which she greatly attributed to you; for she told me, before my +aunt discovered them and placed them where they now are, before she saw +you, death was a trouble awful in anticipation. She had ever tried to do +her duty in life, to remember her Maker in her youth, and believed that +she had succeeded; but when she knew that she must die, all appeared +changed; the aspect of death was different, when seemingly at a distance +to that which it presented when near at hand. She longed for some +minister of the Lord to pray for her, to comfort her in those moments +when suffering prevented serious thoughts, and it was affecting to hear +her bless that charity which had not only placed her soul under your +guidance, but provided also so many bodily comforts." + +"And you have been exercising the duties of the ministry before you have +donned your gown, my dear Herbert," said Mr. Howard, glancing +approvingly on his young friend. "Glad indeed shall I be to hail you as +a young brother in my sacred office; for with you it will be indeed the +service of the heart, and not of interest or compulsion. Would that your +friend Arthur possessed one-half of your earnest zeal, or that you +could inspire him with the same love for his sacred calling which +animates you." + +"I know not what to make of Arthur," said Herbert, somewhat sadly, "he +is strangely, unaccountably changed the last few months. When he was +first settled in his curacy, his conduct was such as to excite the +approbation of both my father and yourself; and now, I greatly fear, +that he is alienating both." + +"Do not condemn him harshly, without good proof, dear Mr. Howard," said +Ellen, earnestly. "I, too, have noticed that he is changed, though I +scarcely know in what manner; but for his father's sake and for mine, do +not treat him coldly before my uncle at least. He has many faults, but +surely some good qualities." + +"I trust he has; but I wish he would not so carefully conceal them, and +suffer his parishioners to have cause to relate so many tales of neglect +and levity in their curate," replied Mr. Howard; "but we will not bring +forward accusations when the accused is not present to defend himself: +and here we are at the Rectory before I had thought we were half way. +Will you come in, my young friends, and share an old man's homely +luncheon?" + +Gladly would they have done so, but Ellen had promised to return to +Oakwood in time for that meal, and was compelled to refuse; adding, that +both her brother and cousin might, for the Rectory was so near one of +the entrances to the park, she could easily return alone; but such was +not Mr. Howard's intention. He knew how Edward longed for a few minutes' +private conversation with his sister, and playfully detaining Herbert, +declaring he could not do without one at least, dismissed the orphans on +their walk, bestowing his parting blessing on Ellen with a warmth that +surprised her at the time, but the meaning of which was fully explained +in the interesting conversation that passed between her and her brother +ere they reached the house, and as the expression of approbation in the +minister she loved, filled her young mind with joy, while the mutual +confidence bestowed in that walk added another bright link to the chain +of affection which bound the souls of that brother and sister so fondly +together. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +It was the hour when all in general retired to rest, and the inmates of +Oakwood had dispersed for the purpose; but this night thoughts of a +mingled and contending nature occupied Mrs. Hamilton's mind, and +prevented all wish for sleep. Her guests had the last week increased, +and the part of hostess had been kindly and pleasingly performed; but +the whole of that day she had longed to be alone, and gladly, gratefully +she hailed that hour which enabled her to be so. Shading her eyes with +her hand, she gave to her thoughts the dominion they demanded. Maternal +ambition, maternal pride, in that silent hour fell before the stronger, +more absorbing power of maternal love. But a few brief hours, and the +child of her anxious cares, of fervent petitions at the throne of grace, +would be no longer an inmate of her father's house, her place in that +happy home would be a void. On the morrow, ay, the morrow, for the +intervening weeks had fled, her child would be another's. True, but few +miles would separate their homes; true, that he on whom that precious +gift would be bestowed, was in all respects the husband she would have +selected for her Caroline, the husband for whom the involuntary prayer +had arisen; virtue and piety, manliness and sincerity were his, besides +these attributes, which to some mothers would have been far more +brilliant, he was noble, even of exalted rank; but all, all these things +were forgotten in the recollection, that on the morrow she must bid +farewell to her cherished treasure, the link, the precious link of +protection would be severed, and for ever. Thoughts of the past mingled +with the present, and softened yet more that fond mother's feelings. +Pain, bitter pain, Caroline had sometimes cost her, but pleasure, +exquisite in its kind, had mingled with it. No longer would it be hers +to watch with trembling joy the dawning virtues which had flourished +beneath her eye; a link would be broken between them, a slender one +indeed, but still broken,--though Mrs. Hamilton reproached herself for +indulging in such feelings of sadness, when so many blessings promised +to gild the lot of her child. And yet, alas! what mother devoted to her +children as she had been, and still was this noble and gentle woman, +could part from a beloved one even for a brief space, even for +happiness, without one pang, selfish as it might be, selfish as perhaps +it was? for anxiety for the future darkened not the prospects of earthly +bliss, her trust in the character of St. Eval was too confiding; it was +only her fond heart which for a time would be so desolate. Her ear would +linger in vain for the voice it loved; her eye seek in sorrow for the +graceful form, the beauteous features on which it had so loved to gaze. +New ties would supply to Caroline the place of all that she had left; +deep springs of fond emotions, such as she had never felt before, would +open in her heart, and then would she still love, would she still look +to that mother, as in childhood and in youth she had done? Vainly she +struggled to subdue these thoughts, and bring forward in their stead the +visions of happiness, which alone had visited her before. Thronging and +tumultuously they came, and tears stole slowly from those mild eyes, +which for herself so seldom wept; while engrossed in her own +reflections, she heard not the soft and careful opening of her door, she +knew not that the beloved object of those tears had entered her room, +and was kneeling beside her. + +"Mother!" murmured Caroline, in a voice tremulous and weak with emotion +equal to her own. Mrs. Hamilton started, and her lip quivered with the +effort she made to smile her greeting. "Mother, my own mother, forgive +my intrusion; I thought not to have found you thus. Oh, deem me not +failing in that deep reverence your goodness, your devotedness, have +taught me to feel for you; if my love would bid me ask you why you weep, +may I not share your sorrow, mother?" + +"These are but selfish tears, my own; selfish, for they fall only when I +think that to-morrow bears my Caroline away, and leaves her mother's +heart for a time so lone and sad, that it will not even think of the +happiness I so fondly trust will be hers, in becoming the bride of him +she loves. Forgive me, my own Caroline; I had no right to weep and call +for these dear signs of sympathy at such a time." + +Silently and tearfully Caroline clung to her mother, and repeatedly +pressed her hand to her lips. + +"And why are you not at rest, my child? you will have but few brief +hours for sleep, scarcely sufficient to recall the truant rose to these +pale cheeks, and the lustre to this suddenly dimmed eye, my Caroline;" +and the mother passed her hand caressingly over her brow, and parted the +luxuriant hair that, loosened from the confining wreath of wild flowers +which had so lately adorned it, hung carelessly around her. She looked +long and wistfully on that young bright face. + +"You ask me why I am not at rest; oh, I could not, I felt I could not +part from you, without imploring your forgiveness for all the past; +without feeling that it was indeed pardoned. Never, never before has my +conduct appeared in such true colours: dark, even to blackness, when +contrasted with yours. Your blessing is my own, it will be mine +to-morrow; but, oh, it will not be hallowed to my heart, did I not +confess that I was--that I am unworthy of all your fondness, mother, and +implore you to forgive the pain I have so often and so wantonly +inflicted upon you. Oh, you know not how bitterly, how reproachfully, my +faults and errors rushed back to my mind, as I sat and thought this was +the last night that Caroline Hamilton would sleep beneath this roof; +that to-morrow we parted, and I left you without once acknowledging I +deserved not half your goodness; without one effort to express the +devoted gratitude, the deep, the reverential love, with which my heart +is filled. Mother, dearest, dearest mother! oh, call me but your +blessing, your comfort,--I never have been thus; wilful and disobedient, +I have poisoned many hours which would otherwise have been sweet. +Mother, my own mother, say only you forgive me--say that no lingering +pang I on my account remains." + +"Forgive you, my beloved! oh, long, long since have every childish fault +and youthful error been forgiven. Could resentment harbour in my heart +so long? could memory linger on moments of pain, when this last year not +one fault, not one failing of duty or of love has stained your conduct? +Even as my other children have you been my blessing, my comfort; the +dearer, when I thought on the doubts and fears of the past. Pain you may +have once caused me; but, oh, you know not how blessedly one proof of +affection, one hour of devotion in a child can obliterate from a +mother's heart the remembrance of months of pain. Think no more of what +is past, my own; remember only that your mother's blessing, her fervent +prayers will hover round you wherever you may be; that, should sickness +and sorrow at any time be your portion, however distant we may be, your +mother will come to soothe and cheer, your mother's bosom will still be +open to receive you." + +Caroline answered not, for her tears fell fast upon the hand she held; +tears not of sorrow but of emotion, blessed in their sadness. She bowed +her head before Mrs. Hamilton, and murmured-- + +"Bless me, my mother!" + +"May the God of infinite love, the Father of unclouded mercies, who hath +been so unchangeably merciful to his servants, look down from His +resplendent throne and bless you, my beloved! May he sanctify and bless +that event, which promises to our darkened eyes so much felicity! May He +guide my child in His own paths, and hearken to her mother's prayer!" + +"We will not separate this night to pray each in solitude, my child; let +us read, and address our heavenly Father together, as we were wont to +do, when it was my task to raise your infant thoughts and simple +prayers to Him who heard and answered. I cannot part from you till these +agitated feelings are more composed, and prayer will best enable them to +be so." + +Willingly, gladly Caroline lingered, and their private devotions, which +ever attended their retiring to rest, were performed together. Their +blessed influence was mutually felt. He whom they so fervently addressed +looked down upon His good and faithful servants, and poured upon the +mother's soul and on that of her child the calm and tranquillizing dew +of His blessing. + +The morning dawned, and common-place as is the expression, yet we must +confess the day was lovely; one of those soft, delicious September days +so well known to all who are acquainted with the climate of Devonshire. +Gaily the sun looked down from his field of stainless azure, and peeped +through the windows of the elegant little room which the taste of her +young bridesmaids had decorated as Caroline's tiring-room for the day, +and his bright rays played on the rich jewels scattered on the toilette, +and decked them with renewed brilliance; and at times his light would +fall full upon the countenance of the young bride, sometimes pensive, at +others, radiant in beaming smiles, as she replied to the kind words of +Lady Gertrude, or in answer to the playful conversation of her younger +bridesmaids, who, full of life, and hope, and innocence, hovered like +fairy spirits round their queen. The tears which had fallen from the +eyes of Emmeline on her sister's neck that morning were dried, yet still +there were some lingering traces of sadness on her fair sweet face, +which she struggled vainly to conceal, but which were regarded as the +sorrow of an affectionate heart thus parting from the sister of its +love. + +And Lilla Grahame, too, was there, smiling with, real and heartfelt +pleasure. She had observed the slight cloud on Emmeline's brow, and with +every affectionate art endeavoured to remove it. + +The toilette of the bride was completed, save her jewels, which Ellen +had entreated might be her office to arrange, and, smilingly, Lady +Florence resigned her place by Caroline's side. + +"For Edward's sake and for mine, dearest Caroline, will you, decked as +you are with jewels so far more precious, yet will you wear this, and +regard it indeed as the offering of the sincerest affection for +yourself, the warmest prayers for your welfare, from those who for so +many years have felt for you as if you were indeed their sister? poor as +is the gift, will you let Edward see it is not rejected?" and Ellen, as +with a flushed cheek and quivering lip she spoke, placed on the arm of +her cousin a bracelet, composed of her own and her brother's hair, and +clasped with chaste yet massive gold. The braid was fine and delicate, +while the striking contrast of the jet black and rich golden hair of +which it was composed, combined with its valuable clasp, rendered it not +an unfit offering on such a day. + +"Is it to remind me of all my unkindness towards you, Ellen, in days +past, of my hour of pride?" replied Caroline, in a low voice, as she +threw her arm caressingly round her cousin, and fondly kissed her. "I +will accept your gift, my dear Ellen, and sometimes look upon it thus." + +"Nay, do not say so, dearest Caroline, or I shall feel inclined to take +it even now from your arm, and never let you see it more; no, rather +let it be a remembrance of those poor orphans, whose lives _you_ have +not done the least to render happy. Gratefully, affectionately, shall we +ever think of you, dear Caroline, and, oh, may this little offering bid +you sometimes think thus, and thus only of us." + +The carriages were rather later than expected, and Lady Gertrude +observing Caroline somewhat pale, though no other sign denoted +agitation, endeavoured, by talking more sportively than usually was her +wont, to while away the time till the important moment arrived. + +It came at length, and Caroline, with a faltering step, entered the +carriage, which conveyed her to the old and venerable church, +accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton and Lady Gertrude, who had promised +to remain near her. The fair girls that held the rank of bridesmaids +followed, and three other carriages contained the invited guests to the +wedding. Not a creature was visible to disturb by acclamations the +bridal party on their route, and take from the calm and holy beauty of +the early morning; but that the day was remembered was clearly visible, +for there were garlands of the brightest, fairest flowers, which must, +by their number and variety, have been culled from many gardens of many +villages, festooning the hedges of the green lanes through which they +passed, and many a gay pennon pendant from oak or stately elm fluttered +in the breeze. All was so still and calm, that ere the carriage stopped +at the church porch Caroline had conquered the inward trembling of her +frame, and her heart thrilled not perhaps so anxiously as did both her +parents', when, leaning on the arm of her proud and happy father, she +walked steadily, even with dignity, up the church, where Mr. Howard, +young Myrvin, Lord St. Eval, his parents, Lord Louis, Percy, Herbert, +and Edward there stood, and a faint but expressive smile played round +her lips, in answer to St. Eval's eager yet silent greeting. He could +not speak, his feelings of happiness were too deep, too ecstatic for +words, but she had but to look on his expressive face, and all, all was +said. + +There was a moment's solemn pause as they knelt beside the altar, and +then the voice of Mr. Howard sounded, and its ever emphatic tones rung +with even more than its usual solemnity on the ears of all the assembled +relatives and friends, with thrilling power on the bride and bridegroom. +Calmly and clearly Caroline responded; her cheek was pale, but her lip +quivered not, and perhaps, in that impressive service, the agitation of +her mother was deeper than her own. She struggled to retain her +composure, she lifted up her soul in earnest prayer, that the blessing +of her God might indeed hallow the ceremony on which she gazed, and ere +her child arose, and led forward by her young enraptured husband, +approached for her parent's blessing and embrace, she was enabled to +give both without any visible emotion, save that her daughter might have +felt the quick pulsations of her fond heart, as she pressed her in her +arms. + +We will not linger on the joyous festivity which pervaded the lordly +halls of Oakwood on this eventful day. + +The hour had come when Caroline, the young Countess of St. Eval, bade +farewell to her paternal home. The nearest relatives of the bride and +bridegroom had assembled with them in a small apartment, at Caroline's +request, for a few minutes, till the carriage was announced, for though +resolved not to betray her feelings, she could not bear to part from +those she loved in public. She had changed her dress for a simple yet +elegant travelling costume, and was now listening with respectful +deference but glistening eyes to the fond words of her mother, who, +twining her arm around her, had drawn her a little apart from the +others, as if her farewell could not be spoken aloud; their attention +was so arrested by a remark of Lord Malvern, and his son's reply, that +they turned towards them. + +"Do not again let me hear you say our Gertrude never looks animated or +interested," the former said, addressing the Marchioness, somewhat +triumphantly. "She is as happy, perhaps, if possible, even happier than +any of us to-day, and, like a good girl, she shows it. Gertrude, love, +is it your brother's happiness reflected upon you?" + +"Let me answer for her, sir," replied St. Eval, eagerly. "You know not +why she has so much reason to look and, I trust, to feel happy. She sees +her own good work, and, noble, virtuous as she is, rejoices in it; +without her, this day would never have dawned for me, Caroline would +never have been mine, and both would have lived in solitary +wretchedness. Yes, dearest Gertrude," he continued, "I feel how much I +owe you, though I say but little. Happy would it be for every man, could +he receive from his sister the comfort, the blessing I have from mine, +and for every woman, were her counsels, like yours, guided by truth +alone." + +"The Earl and Countess of St. Eval left Oakwood about two o'clock, for +their estate in Cornwall, Castle Terryn, in an elegant chariot and four +superb greys, leaving a large party of fashionable friends and +relations to lament their early departure." So spoke the fashionable +chronicle in a paragraph on this marriage in high life, which contained +items and descriptions longer and more graphic than we have any +inclination to transcribe. + +A select party of the Marquis of Malvern's and Mr. Hamilton's friends +remained to dinner, and, at the request of Percy and Lord Louis, dancing +for the younger guests concluded the evening. The day had dawned in joy, +and no clouds disturbed its close. Fatigued, and her thoughts still +clinging to her child, Mrs. Hamilton was glad to seek the retirement of +her own room. Her thoughts turned on her Caroline, and so fondly did +they linger there, that Emmeline's strange diversity of wild spirits and +sudden but overpowering gloom did not occupy her mind as powerfully as +they would otherwise have done; she did not regard them, save as the +effects of excitement natural to such an eventful day; she guessed not +that of all her household the heart of her Emmeline was the heaviest, +her spirits weighed down by a gloom so desponding, so overwhelming, that +sleep for many hours fled from her eyes. She had powerfully exerted +herself during the day, and now in solitude, darkness, and silence, the +reflux of feeling was too violent for that young and, till lately, +thoughtlessly joyous heart to bear. Her heavy eyes and pallid cheeks +attracted notice indeed the following morning, but they were attributed +to fatigue from the gay vigils of the preceding night, and gladly did +the poor girl herself encourage the delusion, and obey her mother's +playful command to lie down for a few hours, as a punishment for +indulging an overplus of excitement. + +Herbert's pleasure, too, the preceding day had been alloyed by anxiety; +and perhaps his solicitude and his sister's sorrow proceeded from one +and the same cause, which our readers will find at length, a few pages +hence, when Arthur Myrvin becomes a prominent object in our history. + +Pleasure, in a variety of festive shapes, but innocent in all, was for +the next month the presiding genius of Oakwood and its vicinity. Lord +Malvern's family remained as guests at Oakwood during that time, and +some few college friends of Percy and Herbert, but Mr. Hamilton's other +friends departed for their respective homes the week following the +marriage. + +The young Earl and Countess of St. Eval meanwhile resided at their +beautiful retreat of Castle Terryn, which the taste of the young Earl +had rendered in every respect a residence suited to the rank and +feelings of those who claimed it as their own. + +Nothing now prevented our young friend Ellen from joining in the +amusements that offered themselves, and she enjoyed them even more than +she had expected, for she was accompanied by her brother, who had +deservedly become an universal favourite, and Mrs. Hamilton had the +pleasure, at length, of seeing not only health but happiness beaming +apparently unclouded on the countenance of her niece. + +Mr. Grahame, for the sake of Lilla, who was becoming dearer each day to +both her parents, for her true character for the first time stood +clearly forth, struggled with his gloom, and accompanied her where-over +her wishes led; and her cheerful spirits, her unpretending manners, and +constant and active affection, manifesting itself in a thousand +different ways, to amuse the couch of her now really ailing mother, did +much to palliate the disappointment and misery the conduct of his elder +daughter had occasioned. + +Herbert's secret was still inviolably kept; no one suspected that he +loved, much less that he was betrothed. Nearly two years had passed of +that long period which must elapse ere Herbert could hope to make Mary +his wife. They had glided quickly, very quickly by, and so too might the +remainder; but there was a dark, foreboding feeling pressing heavily +upon Herbert's heart as he looked forward, that robbed anticipation of +its charm, and rendered him even more pensive than from his boyhood had +been his wont. To strangers, even to his family, he was still the same; +to his God alone he laid his spirit bare. + +Six weeks after the marriage of Caroline, Oakwood and its neighbourhood +was as quiet as it has been when we knew it in former years. + +Lord Malvern's family stayed ten days at Castle Terryn, by the pressing +invitation of the young couple, and then returned to their estate in +Dorsetshire, leaving Lady Gertrude, however, for a few weeks' longer +residence with her brother and his wife. The young men returned to +college. Lilla Grahame remained at home till after the Christmas +vacation, when she was once more to reside with Mrs. Douglas for six +months or a year longer, according to the state of her mother's health, +who no longer wished to quit Moorlands; and therefore her husband gladly +consented to her remain there till Mrs. Hamilton paid her annual visit +to London. About this time also, Ellen, accompanied by her brother, +fulfilled her promise of visiting her old friend, Mr. Myrvin, and +delighted him by making his pretty vicarage her residence till near the +middle of November. Edward, with whom the kind old man was as much +pleased as he had been with his sister, also remained at Llangwillan +during that time, with the exception of three or four flying visits to +Oakwood, and latterly to Castle Terryn, where Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton, +with Emmeline, were staying the few last weeks of his and his sister's +visit at the vicarage. Their company was particularly soothing to Mr. +Myrvin at this period; for the letters of his son were causing him +extreme solicitude, revealing intentions, to understand which we must +for a short period retrace our steps, and thus commence another chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +Young Myrvin had been, at the period of Caroline's marriage, rather more +than a year as Mr. Howard's curate. At first, as we have seen, the +example of Herbert had done much towards reconciling him to a +profession, which was for many reasons opposed to his feelings. When in +the company of his friend, he had imparted to him his struggles with the +pride and ambition which still lurked within him, spite of all his +endeavours and resolutions to conquer and banish them. While Herbert was +near him all was well; his duty was regularly performed, in a manner +that satisfied his rector, and sufficiently rewarded Mr. Hamilton for +the interest he had taken in his and his father's welfare; but when +Herbert left Oakwood, Arthur's distaste for his occupation returned with +renewed strength, to which newly-dawning emotions added weight. Most +painfully had Arthur, when first intimate with Mr. Hamilton, +endeavoured to guard himself from the danger to his peace, which he +felt existed in the society of beings so amiable and attractive as were +his daughters; but his efforts were vain, as our readers may have +already discovered. There was a nameless, an indescribable charm in the +appearance and manner of Emmeline which he could not resist. It was some +few months ere the whole extent of evil was discovered, not perhaps +entirely till Emmeline returned to London, and Oakwood was desolate, +painfully desolate to the young man, who, when lingering within its +ancient walls, forgot everything around him, save the bright and +beautiful being who was to him its charm. When, however, that fair form +had departed from his sight, he was awakened to the delusive nature of +his hopes, and with the knowledge, exquisite even in its despair, that +he loved Emmeline Hamilton, his profession became more and more +distasteful. Had he followed the paths of ambition, as his inclination +prompted, had he but had the means of seeking some station whence he +might at length have risen to eminence, he cared not what the obstacles, +his union with her might not have been so difficult to overcome, or, at +least, he might not have met her; and did he wish that such had been the +case? no; misery in its most agonizing shape stood before him, and yet +the cause of that misery was the one bright star that appeared to gild +his lot. + +A poor curate of a country parish, with no resources but his salary to +increase his scanty means, no power of rendering himself of consequence +in the eyes of the world; and, alas! the fruit of many years' hard +labour from father to son--one-half of which might have rendered him +sufficiently independent to have chosen his own profession--was gone. +Poor as he was, could he ever look forward to possess the hand of +Emmeline? he felt the utter impossibility, and bitterly he knew he loved +but to despair. These contending feelings diverted his thoughts as may +well be supposed, and caused him to be careless in the discharge of his +clerical duties, abrupt and strange in his manner with Mr. Howard; and +unfortunately there was one in the village who was ready to turn the +simplest circumstance to the young curate's disadvantage. + +It was not likely the sinful and licentious man who, by Mr. Hamilton's +active exertions, had not only been dispossessed of the living of +Llangwillan, but very nearly of his gown also, would permit these, what +he termed injuries, to pass unavenged. Against the elder Myrvin he felt +his efforts would be unavailing, nor did he feel inclined to try a +second time, when he had once been foiled; but Arthur he believed a +surer mark. A farm of some consequence was to be let on Mr. Hamilton's +estate; it was very easy to settle in it a man lower in rank, but hard, +unrelenting as himself, an unprincipled instrument of his will. The +business was done, and the new neighbour, prepossessing in appearance +and manners, speedily ingratiated himself with all, and even obtained, +by a semblance of hard-working industry, and regular attendance at +public worship, seconded by quiet and unobtrusive conduct, the notice +and regard of his landlord, Mr. Hamilton. + +This man had entered his farm about four or five months after Arthur had +been installed as Mr. Howard's curate, and cautiously and yet +successfully he executed the wily requirements of his employer. So +guardedly did he work, that no one could trace to him, who ever spoke +as the friend of their curate, the prejudice which had slowly but surely +penetrated the mind of every man against him, and interpreted his +simplest action in the worst light. There were some rumours afloat of +misdemeanours during his college life; it mattered not whether they were +true or false, they were received and encouraged by the credulous. He +was a Welshman too, full of evil qualities, and clothed with +invulnerable pride, which last idea was unfortunately confirmed by +Myrvin's distaste for his profession, which prevented his entering into +the joys and sorrows of his parishioners, mingling familiarly and kindly +with them as a minister of God should do. + +How or when this prejudice began, or what was its origin, not one of the +good folks of the village could have told, for they really did not know; +but still it existed, and Arthur knew it. He felt himself disliked, and +instead of endeavouring to conciliate good-will and remove prejudice, +his mind was in such a fevered state of excitement, that he indulged in +every bitter feeling toward those with whom he had to deal, and shrunk +yet more from the performance of his duty. Instances of careless neglect +were often found, and became magnified in the relation. The young curate +was not always at hand when his presence was principally required; he +never left directions where he might be found. Abuse crept into that +parish, which in the time of his predecessor had been one of the most +orderly in Mr. Hamilton's domains--abuses in the younger inhabitants, at +which old men looked grave, and cited the neglect of their curate as the +cause, though to what abuses young Myrvin had given countenance all +would have found it difficult to tell. That he did not rebuke them it +was true; he did not perhaps observe them, but it was said, and justly, +he must have been strangely blind not to do so. + +The villagers understood not that preoccupation of mind which does +indeed render us blind to all things, save to the one intense subject of +thought. + +Complaints were made to and heard by the rector, who, faithful to his +trust, visited the parish, made inquiries, heard tales concerning his +curate that startled his charity, and finally spoke severely to Arthur +on his careless and neglectful conduct. It would have been better for +Arthur had pride remained banished during that interview; but, +unfortunately, fired with indignation at anything resembling censure +even from a superior, it returned with full force, and by his haughty +silence with regard to some of the charges brought against him, his +ill-disguised contempt of others, confirmed every evil report concerning +him which Mr. Howard had heard. Mildly he requested that the future +might atone for the past, and that Myrvin would remember the sacred post +he held. The unhappy young man heard him without reply; but when the +rector had departed, he strove to think soberly on the charges brought +against him, and look within himself to know if he deserved them. +Neglect and carelessness--yes, he had given cause for both. Other +accusations of much graver import he dismissed at once, satisfied that +the very thought of such vices had never even for one moment stained his +mind, and as secure in his own integrity and right feeling, as he was +aware of the prejudice against him, he determined--as, alas! how many in +such cases do--not to alter his general conduct, lest it should be said +he tacitly admitted the truth of every report against him. Had he only +been accused of neglect in parochial duties, he might perhaps, if his +troubled spirit had permitted him, have endeavoured to attend more +closely to them; but his pride prevented him from striving to obtain the +good-will of those who seemed only alive to every circumstance tending +to his disadvantage. Would he endeavour to conciliate those whom he well +knew disliked him? no; the very act of so doing would be brought against +him, and sternly he resolved that haughtiness and pride should still +characterise his deportment. What mattered it what people thought or +said, if it was untrue? he cared not; the world was a wilderness to his +excited and irritated fancy, in which there bloomed but one sweet +flower, too pure, too beautiful for him to touch. It was his doom he +thought to grovel on the earth, hers to shine like a star in the sphere +above him. + +Not long after Mr. Howard's interview with his curate, Mr. Hamilton's +family and his guests arrived at Oakwood, and Herbert eagerly sought his +friend. He was shocked at the change he perceived in his appearance, +which, though marked, was yet quite indescribable; that Arthur was +unhappy, that his profession was more than ever distasteful to him, he +soon discovered; but the real cause of these feelings he tried in vain +to probe. He saw, with the deepest regret, that all his former +exhortations on the subject, his earnest entreaties that Arthur would +persevere till he brought a willing heart as an offering to his Maker, +all had been without effect; but yet his kind heart could not cast away +his friend, opposite as were their feelings on a subject which to +Herbert was of vital importance. It was strange that a character such +as Herbert Hamilton should have selected Arthur Myrvin for his chosen +friend, yet so it was. It might have been pity, sympathy, which had +first excited this friendship. The indignation he felt at the +unjustifiable treatment Arthur had received while a servitor at college +had excited an interest, which had at first completely blinded him to +his many faults; and when they were discovered, the ardent desire and +hope that he might be of service in removing them from the otherwise +noble character of his friend still preserved and, indeed, heightened +his regard. Though frequently disappointed during his absence, at the +brevity and sometimes even confused style of Arthur's letters, he had +buoyed himself up with the hope that his representations had had their +effect, and he should find him, on his return, reconciled and happy in +the exercise of his duties. Again he urged, with a kindness of manner +that caused Arthur to wring his hand, and then pace the room in +ill-concealed agony, the necessity, now that he had indeed taken orders, +of endeavouring to do his Master's work on earth, of forcing his +rebellious spirit to submission. Arthur listened to him attentively, +sadly; but vainly Herbert strove to instil in him a portion of that +heavenly love which was to him the main-spring of his life. Arthur loved +with an intensity, which utterly prevented his looking up to heaven as +the goal, to reach which all earthly toil was welcome; and still not +even to Herbert did he breathe one syllable of the fire that was +inwardly consuming him. Had he been any one but Herbert Hamilton, the +unhappy young man would have sought and found relief in his confidence; +but not to the brother of the being he loved, oh, not to him--he could +not, dared not. + +"Herbert," he would say, in a voice hoarse with contending feelings, +"did I dare betray the secret of this tortured heart, the true cause of +my misery, you would pity, even if you condemned me; but ask it not--ask +it not, it shall never pass my lips; one thing only I beseech you, and I +do so from the regard you have ever seemed to feel for me. However you +may hear my character traduced, my very conduct may confirm every evil +report, yet believe them not; I may be miserable, imprudent, mad, but +never, never believe the name of Arthur Myrvin is stained with vice or +guilt. Herbert, promise me this, and come what may, one friend, at +least, is mine." + +Herbert gazed on him with doubt, astonishment, and sorrow, yet an +irresistible impulse urged him to promise all he asked, and Myrvin +looked relieved; but painfully he felt, though he noticed it not to his +friend, that the manner of Mr. Hamilton towards him was changed; +cordiality and kindness had given place to coldness and reserve. + +The whirl of a gay and happy London season had produced no change in the +outward appearance and demeanour of Emmeline Hamilton. It had not been +to her the ordeal it had been to her sister. She came forth from the gay +world the same pure, innocent being as she had entered it. Admired she +was by all with whom she was associated, but her smile was not sought +for, her conversation not courted, as had been Caroline's, therefore her +temptations had not been so great, but she was universally beloved. + +Her mother sometimes wondered that Emmeline, keenly susceptible as she +was to every other emotion, should still remain so insensible to +anything resembling love. "She is indeed still the same innocent and +darling child," she thought, and rested in pleased and satisfied +security. She little knew, penetrating even as she was, that those young +affections were already unconsciously engaged, that one manly figure, +one melancholy yet expressive face utterly prevented the reception of +any other. Emmeline knew not herself the extent of influence that secret +image had obtained; she guessed not the whole truth until that night +when her marriage had been jestingly alluded to, and then it burst upon +her, stunning her young mind with a sense of scarcely-defined yet most +painful consciousness. Arthur Myrvin had looked to Emmeline's return to +Oakwood with many mingled feelings; she might be perhaps, even as her +sister, a betrothed bride; he might have to witness, perhaps to +officiate at her nuptials; he might see her courted, receiving +attentions from and bestowing smiles on others, not casting one look or +one thought on him, who for her would have gladly died. The idea was +agony, and it was the sufferings occasioned by the anticipation of ideal +misery that had produced the change in face and form which Herbert had +beheld and regretted. + +They met, and as if fortune favoured their secret but mutual affection, +alone, the first time since Emmeline had returned from London. +Unaccustomed to control, and at that time quite unconscious she had +anything to conceal, though wondering why every pulse should throb, and +her cheek so flush and pale, her agitation of manner, her expressed and +evidently felt sorrow for the traces of suffering she beheld, sunk as +balm on the sorrowing heart of the young man, and his first three or +four interviews with her were productive of a happiness so exquisite, +that it almost succeeded in banishing his gloom; but short indeed was +that period of relief. Speedily he saw her, as he had expected, +surrounded by gay young men of wealth and station. He felt they looked +down on him; they thought not of him, as a rival he was unworthy, as +incapable of loving a being so exalted; but in the midst of these +wretched thoughts there arose one, that for a brief space was so bright, +so glad, so beautiful, that while it lasted every object partook its +rays. He marked her, he looked, with eyes rendered clear from jealousy, +for some sign, it mattered not how small, to say she preferred the +society of others to his own; ready as he was to look on the darkest +side of things, he felt the hesitating glance, the timid tone with which +she had latterly addressed him, contrary as it was to the mischievous +playfulness which had formerly marked her intercourse with him, was +dearer, oh, how much dearer than the gaiety in which she had indulged +with others. This change in her manner was unremarked by her family. + +The eye of love, however, looked on those slight signs in a very +different light. Did she, could she love one so unworthy? The very idea +seemed to make him feel as a new and better man. He covered his eyes +with his hands, lest any outward sign should break that blessed +illusion, and then he started, and returning recollection brought with +it momentary despair. Did she even love him--were even her parents to +consent,--his own,--for his vivid and excited fancy for one minute +imagined what in more sober moments he knew was impossible--yet even +were such difficulties removed, would he, could he take that fair and +fragile creature from a home of luxury and every comfort to poverty? +What had he to support a wife? How could they live, and what hope had +he of increasing in any way his fortune? Was he not exciting her +affections to reduce them, like his own, to despair? And could she, +beautiful and delicate as she was, could she bear the deprivation of his +lot? She would never marry without the consent of her parents, and their +approval would never be his, and even if it were, he had nothing, not +the slightest hope of gaining anything wherewith to support her; and +she, if indeed she loved him, he should see her droop and sink before +his eyes, and that he could not bear; his own misery might be endured, +but not hers. No! He paced the small apartment with reckless and +disordered steps. His own doom was fixed, nothing could now prevent +it--but hers, it might not be too late. He would withdraw from her +sight, he would leave her presence, and for ever; break the spell that +bound him near her. Ere that hasty walk in his narrow room was +completed, his resolution was fixed; he would resign his curacy, and +depart from the dangerous fascinations hovering round him. + +Yet still he lingered. If he had been too presumptuous in thinking thus +of Emmeline--if he were indeed nothing to her, why should he inflict +this anguish on himself? Why need he tear himself from her? The night of +Edward's return, while in one sense it caused him misery, by the random +remark of Lord Louis, yet, by the agitation of Emmeline, the pang was +softened, though he was strengthened in his resolve. Four days +afterwards, the very evening of that day when Mr. Howard had alluded to +his neglect of duties, before Herbert and his cousins, he tendered his +resignation, coldly and proudly refusing any explanation, or assigning +any reason for so doing, except that he wished to obtain a situation as +tutor in any nobleman or gentleman's family about to travel. So greatly +had the mind of Mr. Howard been prejudiced against the unhappy young +man, by the false representations of his parishioners, that he rather +rejoiced at Myrvin's determination, having more than once feared, if his +conduct did not alter, he should be himself compelled to dismiss him +from his curacy. But while pleased at being spared a task so adverse to +his benevolent nature, he yet could not refrain from regarding this +strange and apparently sudden resolution as a tacit avowal of many of +those errors with which he was charged. + +Feeling thus, it will be no subject of surprise that Mr. Howard accepted +his curate's resignation; but while he did so, he could not refrain from +giving the young man some kind and good advice as to his future life, +which Arthur, aware the rector regarded him through the medium of +prejudice, received not in the same kind spirit as it was offered. He +listened silently indeed, but with an air of pride which checked all Mr. +Howard's really kind intentions in his favour. + +The rector, aware that Mr. Hamilton would be annoyed and displeased at +this circumstance, did not inform him of Myrvin's intentions till some +few weeks after Caroline's marriage, not indeed till he felt compelled +by the wish to obtain his approval of a young clergyman who had been his +pupil, and was eager to secure any situation near Mr. Howard, and to +whom therefore the curacy Arthur had resigned would be indeed a most +welcome gift. Mr. Hamilton was even more disturbed, when all was told +him, than Mr. Howard had expected. It seemed as if Arthur had forgotten +every tie of gratitude which Mr. Hamilton's services to his father, even +forgetting those to himself, certainly demanded. His determined +resolution to assign no reason for his proceeding but the one above +mentioned, told against him, and Mr. Hamilton, aware of the many evil +reports flying about concerning the young man, immediately imagined that +he resigned the curacy fearing discovery of misdemeanours which might +end even more seriously. + +Herbert, too, was deeply pained that his friend had left him to learn +such important intelligence from the lips of another instead of +imparting it himself. It explained all the apparent contradictions of +Arthur's conduct the last month, but it surprised and grieved him, yet +the mystery caused him both anxiety and sadness, for Myrvin was +evidently determined in no way to solve it. That he was unhappy in no +ordinary degree, was to the eye of friendship very evident, not only in +the frequent wildness of his manner, but in the haggard cheek and +bloodshot eye; and sympathy thus ever kept alive in one so keenly +susceptible of the woes of others as was Herbert Hamilton, sympathy +continually excited, prevented all decrease of interest and regard. +Percy was irritated and annoyed; Myrvin had disappointed him. His +conduct, in return for Mr. Hamilton's kindness, appeared as ungrateful +as unaccountable, and this caused the more fiery temper of the young +heir of Oakwood to ignite and burst forth in a flame in the presence of +Arthur, whose meek forbearance and, he now began to fancy, silent +suffering tamed him after a brief period, and caused him, with his usual +frankness and quick transition of mood, to make him an apology for his +violence. He was touched by the young man's manner, but they continued +not on the same terms of friendly intimacy as formerly. + +Mrs. Hamilton's charitable nature, heightened also by Herbert's +unchanging regard, would not permit her to credit the tales that were +abroad concerning him. She regretted his determination, for it appeared +like wilfully casting away the friendship and interest of those who were +likely to do him service. She guessed not the real motive of his +resolve, if she had, she would have honoured even as she now regarded +him with pity; but almost for the first time the penetration of Mrs. +Hamilton was at fault. Emmeline's feelings, even as those of Arthur, +were successfully concealed; from her brother Herbert she had first +heard of Myrvin's intentions. She listened in silence, but her lip +quivered and her cheek grew pale; and when she sought the solitude of +her own room, tears relieved her, and enabled her to act up to her +determination, cost what it might, to be the same playful, merry girl +before her parents as was her wont, not that she meant in any way to +deceive them, but she had learned that she loved Arthur Myrvin, and knew +also that to become his wife, situated as they were, was a thing +impossible. + +Had Emmeline really been the romantic girl so generally believed, she +would now have done all in her power to overcome every difficulty, by +regarding poverty as the only criterion of true love; she would have fed +her imagination with visions of herself and Arthur; combating manfully +against evil, so they shared it together; she would have robed poverty +with an imaginary halo, and welcomed it, rejoicing to become his wife, +but such were not her feelings. The careful hand of maternal love had +done its work, and though enthusiasm and romance were generally the +characteristics most clearly visible, yet there was a fund of good and +sober sense within, that few suspected, and of which even her parents +knew not the extent, and that plain sense effectually prevented her ever +becoming the victim of imagination. + +Emmeline loved Arthur Myrvin, loved him with an intensity, a fervour, +which only those who possess a similar enthusiastic temperament can +understand. She felt convinced she was not indifferent to him; but agony +as it was to her young heart to part from him, in all probability for +ever, yet she honoured his resolution; she knew, she felt its origin, +and she rejoiced that he went of his own accord, ere their secret +feelings were discovered. + +Notwithstanding all her endeavours, her spirits flagged, and at the +conclusion of the Oakwood festivities she appeared so pale and thin, +that Mrs. Hamilton consulted Mr. Maitland. Emmeline had resisted, as +much as she could without failure of duty, all appeal to medical advice, +and it was with trembling she awaited his opinion; when, however, it was +given, she rejoiced that he had been consulted, for had her parents +entertained any suspicions of the real cause, it would have completely +banished them. He said she was merely suffering from the effects of a +lengthened period of excitement, that quiet and regularity of pursuits +would in all probability restore both health and spirits. A smile, faint +and apparently without meaning, played round her lips as her mother +repeated what he had said, and playfully declared she should most +strictly adhere to his advice. + +Arthur had shrunk from the task of acquainting his father with his +intentions, for he well knew they would give him pain, and cause him +extreme solicitude, and he postponed doing so till his plans for the +future were determined. He had even requested Ellen and Edward, who were +still his friends, to say but little concerning him during their stay at +Llangwillan; but if they revealed his intentions, he implored them to +use all their influence with his father to reconcile him to this bitter +disappointment of his cherished hopes. He had determined not to return +to Llangwillan, he felt he could not bear to see his parent with the +consciousness that he had acted contrary to his wishes; he would not +therefore do so till he had succeeded in obtaining the situation he so +earnestly desired. But as the period when he should resign his curacy +now rapidly approached, he no longer refrained from writing to his +father, and Ellen proved her regard for both father and son, by +affectionately endeavouring to soothe Mr. Myrvin's disappointment and +solicitude, which were, as his son expected, extreme. She succeeded, at +length, in persuading him, that could he obtain the situation he so much +desired, Arthur would be more likely to advance than in retaining his +present occupation. + +The period of Arthur's departure came a few days before Christmas. He +went to bid Mr. Hamilton farewell the very morning on which that +gentleman intended riding over to Exeter to meet Ellen and her brother, +on their return from Llangwillan. To Arthur this interview was indeed a +painful one. From the moment his resolution to depart had been fixed, +that moment the blessed truth had strangely and suddenly burst upon him +that he was beloved; a new spirit appeared to dawn within, and midst +the deep agony it was to feel he was parting for ever from a being he so +dearly loved, there was a glow of approving conscience that nerved him +to its endurance. It was this which had enabled him to conquer his +irritation at Percy's violence, and the grief it was to feel that +Herbert too must doubt him. He esteemed, he loved, was deeply grateful +to Mr. Hamilton, and his evident displeasure was hard to bear; yet even +that he had borne, strengthened by secret yet honourable incentives. But +that morning, his heart throbbing with ill-concealed anguish, for the +following day he would he miles from Oakwood, never, never to behold +Emmeline again, his frame weakened, his blood fevered from the +long-continued mental struggle, the stern address of Mr. Hamilton stung +him to the quick. + +Mr. Hamilton was not one of those who could disguise his sentiments. If +interested at all in the fortunes of another, he felt he must speak, +however severe in some cases his words might seem. As the chosen friend +of his son--the victim for a time of oppression and injury--young Myrvin +had excited his interest too powerfully for him entirely to abandon it +even now, and therefore he spoke plainly to him even as he thought. + +"You are casting from you," he said, "a friend who was both able and +willing to assist you, apparently without the slightest regret, even +with indifference. As the chosen and dear companion of my valued son, +your interests were mine, and gladly would I have done all in my power +to forward your views, had your conduct been such as I expected and +required, but such it appears has been far from the case. Your +unaccountable resignation of a situation, which, though not one of +great emolument, was yet of value, unhappily confirms every evil report +I have heard. The same unsteady and wavering spirit which urges you to +travel, instead of permitting you to remain contented in the quiet +discharge of sacred duties, may lead you yet more into error, and I warn +you as a friend, govern it in time. You may deem me intrusive in my +remarks, I speak but for your own good, young man; and though your +forgetfulness of the sacred nature of your profession could not fail to +lessen my esteem and regard, yet for your father's sake I would implore +you to remember that your calling involves duties of the most solemn +nature, and renders you a much more responsible being both in the sight +of God and man." + +Arthur answered him not. His cheek burned and his heart throbbed, but it +was the father of Emmeline, the benefactor of his father, who spoke, and +he might have spoken more and more severely, but he would have been +unanswered; even to defend his own stainless integrity and innocence he +could not have spoken, the power of speech appeared to have entirely +deserted him. Never could he have been said to hope, but the words he +had heard proved to him that he had lost the esteem and regard of Mr. +Hamilton, and darkened his despair. He fixed his large, dark grey eyes +earnestly on Mr. Hamilton's face, so earnestly, that for some time +afterwards that look was recalled with melancholy feelings; he bent his +head silently yet respectfully, and quitted the room without uttering a +single word. + +Struck by his haggard features, and the deeply mournful tone of his +voice, as he bade her farewell and thanked her for all her kindness, +Mrs. Hamilton, whose kindly nature had never permitted her to share her +husband's prejudice against him, invited him, if his time permitted, to +accompany her on her walk to Moorlands, where she had promised Lady +Helen and Lilla to spend the day during her husband's absence. There was +such extreme kindness in her manner, pervading also her words, that +Arthur felt soothed and comforted, though he found it difficult to +converse with her on the indifferent subjects she started, nor could he +answer her concerning his plans for the future, for with a burning cheek +and faltering voice he owned they were not yet determined. He gazed on +her expressive features, which responded to the interest she expressed, +and he longed to confess the whole truth, and implore her pity, her +forgiveness for having dared to love her child; but with a strong effort +he restrained himself, and they parted, in kindness, indeed, but nothing +more. + +"Emmeline is gone down to the school," said Mrs. Hamilton, unasked, and +thus betraying how entirely she was free from all suspicions of the +truth, "and she goes from thence to see a poor woman in the outskirts of +the village. You must not leave us without wishing her farewell, or she +will think you have not forgiven all the mischievous jokes she has +played off upon you so continually." + +Arthur started, as he looked on her face. Again the wish arose to tell +her all, but it was instantly checked, and bowing with the deepest +reverence, as he pressed in his her offered hand, hastily withdrew. + +Should he indeed see Emmeline, and alone? Her mother's voice had bid him +seek her, but the same motives that bade him resign his curacy, caused +him now to feel the better course would be to fly at once from the +fascination of her presence, lest in a moment of excitement he should be +tempted to betray the secret of his love; but while passion struggled +with duty, the flutter of her dress, as Emmeline suddenly emerged from a +green lane, and walked slowly and, he thought, sadly along, caught his +eye, and decided the contest. + +"I will be guarded; not a word of love shall pass my lips. I will only +gaze on her sweet face, and listen to the kind tones of her dear voice +again, before we part for ever," he thought, and darting forwards, was +speedily walking by her side. He believed himself firm in his purpose, +strong, unwavering in his resolution; but his heart had been wrung to +its inmost core, his spirit bent beneath its deep, wild agony, and at +that moment temptation was too powerful; he could not, oh, he could not +part from her, leave her to believe as others did. Could he bear that +she, for whose smile he would have toiled day and night, to be regarded +with esteem, to obtain but one glance of approbation, could he bear that +she should think of him as the unworthy being he was represented? No! he +felt he could not, and in one moment of unrestrained and passionate +feeling, his love was told, the treasured secret of his breaking heart +revealed. + +Emmeline heard, and every limb of her slight frame trembled, almost +convulsively, with her powerful struggle for composure, with the wish +still to conceal from him the truth that he was to her even as she to +him, dear even as life itself; but the struggle was vain. The anguish +which the sight of his deep wretchedness inflicted on that young and +gentle bosom, which from childhood had ever bled for others' woes, was +too powerful, and led on by an irresistible impulse, she acknowledged +his affections were returned; for she felt did she not speak it, the +extreme agitation she could not hide would at once betray the truth, but +at the same instant she avowed her unhappy love, she told him they must +part and for ever. She conjured him for her sake to adhere to his +resolution, and leave the neighbourhood of Oakwood; she thanked him with +all the deep enthusiasm of her nature, for that regard for her peace +which she felt confident had from the first dictated his resigning his +curacy, and braving the cruel prejudices of all around him, even those +of her own father, rather than betray his secret and her own; rather +than linger near her, to play upon her feelings, and tempt her, in the +intensity of her affection for him, to forget the duty, the gratitude, +the love, she owed her parents. + +"Wherefore should I hide from you that the affection, the esteem you +profess and have proved for me are returned with equal force?" continued +this noble-minded and right-feeling girl, as they neared Mrs. Langford's +cottage, where she felt this interview must cease--she could sustain it +no longer. "I would not, I could not thus wound the kind and generous +heart of one, to whose care I feel I could intrust my earthly happiness; +but as it is, situated as we both are, we must submit to the decrees of +Him, who, in infinite wisdom and mercy, would, by this bitter trial, +evince our love for Him, and try us in the ordeal of adversity and +sorrow. He alone can know the extent of that love we bear each other; +and He, if we implore Him, can alone give us sufficient strength to +obtain the conquest of ourselves. We part, Arthur--and if not for ever, +at least till many years have passed. Forget me, Arthur; you have by the +honourable integrity of your conduct wrung from me a secret I had deemed +would have died with me; for I knew and felt, and so too must you, its +utter, utter hopelessness." + +Her voice for the first time, faltered; audibly, but with a strong +effort, she rallied, "I do not ask from you an explanation of the +rumours to your discredit, which are flying about this neighbourhood, +for not one of them do I believe; you have some secret enemy, whose evil +machinations will, I trust, one day be clearly proved; perhaps you have +been neglectful, heedless, and I may have been the cause. But let not +this be, dear Arthur, let me not have the misery of feeling that an +ill-fated love for one thus separated from you has rendered reckless +that character which is naturally so good, so bright, and noble. Oh, for +my sake, yield not to despair; shake off this lethargy, and prove to the +whole world that they have wronged you, that the fame of Arthur Myrvin +is as stainless as his name." + +Arthur moved not his eyes from her as she thus spoke, every word she +uttered increased the strong devotion he felt towards her; but as the +purity, the nobleness of her character was displayed even clearer than +ever before him, he felt himself unworthy to possess her, and yet that +such a being loved him, avowed her love, acknowledged that to him she +could intrust her earthly happiness without a single doubt, that +knowledge exalted him above himself, soothed that morbid sensitiveness +which had oppressed him, and, ere her sweet voice had ceased to urge him +on to exertion, to trust in Him who had ordained their mutual trial, he +had inwardly resolved to nerve himself to the task, and prove that she +was not deceived in him, that he would deserve her favourable opinion. +He gazed on her as if that look should imprint those fair and childlike +features on the tablet of his memory. + +"I will obey you," he said at length, in a voice hoarse with contending +emotions. "We part, and when I return years hence, it may be to see you +the happy wife of one in all respects more suited to you; but then, even +then, although love for me may have passed away, remember it is you, +whose gentle voice has saved a fellow-creature from the sinful +recklessness of despair; you who have pointed out the path which, I call +heaven and earth to witness, I will leave no means untried till it is +trodden. Had you refused to hear me, had you scorned my affections, left +me in displeasure for my presumption, oh, Emmeline, I might indeed have +become that which I am believed; but now you have inspired me with a new +spirit. The recollection that you have not deemed me so utterly +unworthy, will never, never leave me; it shall cling to me, and if evil +assail me, that fond thought shall overcome temptation. The vain +longings for a more stirring profession shall no more torment me, it is +enough _you_ have not despised me; and however irksome may be my future +duties, they shall be performed with a steadiness and zeal which shall +procure me esteem, if it do no more, and reconcile my conscience to my +justly offended Maker. If, in future years, you chance to hear the name +of Arthur Myrvin spoken in terms of respect and love, you will trace +your own work; and oh, Emmeline, may that thought, that good deed, prove +the blessing I would now call down upon your head." + +He paused in strong and overpowering emotion, and Emmeline sought in +vain for words to reply; they had reached the entrance to Mrs. +Langford's little garden, and now the hour had come when they must part. +"Farewell, dearest Arthur, may God bless you and give you peace! Leave +me now," she added, after a moment's pause. But Arthur could only fix +his eyes mournfully on her face, as though her last look should never +leave him; then, suddenly, he raised her hand to his quivering lip. One +moment, through blinding tears, he gazed on that dear being he loved so +well; yet another moment, and he was gone. + +Emmeline leaned heavily against the little gate, a sickness as of death +for a moment crept over her and paralysed every limb; with a strong +effort she roused herself and entered the cottage, feeling greatly +relieved to find Mrs. Langford was absent. She sunk on a low seat, and +burying her face in her hands, gave way for the first time to a violent +burst of tears; yet she had done her duty, she had acted rightly, and +that thought enabled her to conquer the natural weakness which, for a +short time, completely overpowered her, and when Mrs. Langford returned, +no signs of agitation were evident, except a more than ordinary +paleness, which in her present delicate state of health, was easily +attributable to fatigue. + +Now it so happened that Widow Langford possessed a shrewdness and +penetration of character, which we sometimes find in persons of her +class, but which was in her case so combined, from long residence in Mr. +Hamilton's family, with a delicacy and refinement, that she generally +kept her remarks very much more secret than persons in her sphere of +life usually do. It was fortunate for our poor Emmeline that it was so, +for the widow had chanced to be an unseen witness of Arthur's +impassioned farewell. She heard the concluding words of both, marked the +despairing glance of Arthur, the deadly paleness of her dear Miss +Emmeline, and connecting these facts with previous observations, she +immediately imagined the truth; and with that kindness to which we have +alluded, she retreated and lingered at a neighbour's till she thought +her young lady had had sufficient time to recover her composure, instead +of acting as most people would have done, hastened up to her, under the +idea she was about to faint, and by intrusive solicitations, and yet +more intrusive sympathy in such a matter, betrayed that her secret had +been discovered. + +Mrs. Langford shrunk from acting thus, although this was not the first +time she had suspected the truth. She knew Emmeline's character well, +and doted on her with all the affection a very warm heart could bestow. +Having been head nurse in Mrs. Hamilton's family from Herbert's birth, +she loved them all as her nurslings, but Emmeline's very delicate health +when a baby, appeared to have rendered her the good woman's especial +favourite. + +At the time of Caroline's marriage, Miss Emmeline's future prospects +were, of course, the theme of the servants' hall; some of whom thought +it not at all improbable, that as Miss Hamilton had become a countess, +Miss Emmeline might one day be a marchioness, perhaps even a duchess. +Now Widow Langford thought differently, though she kept her own counsel +and remained silent. Miss Emmeline, she fancied, would be very much +happier in a more humble sphere, and settled down quietly near Oakwood, +than were she to marry some great lord, who would compel her to live +amidst the wear and tear of a gay and fashionable life. Arthur Myrvin +chanced to be a very great favourite of the widow's, and if he could but +get a richer living, and become rather more steady in his character, and +if Miss Emmeline really loved him, as somehow she fancied she did, why +it would not only be a very pretty, but a very happy match, she was +quite sure. + +The good widow was, however, very careful not in the least to betray to +her young lady that she had been a witness of their parting; for, after +an expression of pleasure at seeing her there, an exclamation of +surprise and regret at her pale cheeks, she at once branched off into a +variety of indifferent subjects concerning the village, topics in which +she knew Emmeline was interested, and concluded with-- + +"And so our young curate is, indeed, going to start for Exeter to-night, +in the Totness mail. I am so very sorry, though I do not dare say so to +any of my uncharitable neighbours. I did not think he would go so soon, +poor dear Mr. Myrvin." + +"It is not too soon, nurse, when every tongue has learned to speak +against him," replied Emmeline, calmly, though a sudden flush rose to +her cheek. "He must be glad to feel Mr. Howard no longer requires his +services." + +"But dear Miss Emmeline, you surely do not believe one word of all the +scandalous reports about him?" said the widow, earnestly. + +"I do not wish to do so, nor will I, without more convincing proofs," +replied Emmeline, steadily. "My father, I fear, is deeply prejudiced, +and that, in one of his charitable and kindly feelings, would tell +against him." + +"My master has been imposed on by false tales, my dear young lady; do +not let them do so on you," said the good woman, with an eagerness which +almost surprised her young companion. "I am quite convinced he has some +secret enemy in the parish, I am pretty certain who it is; and I do not +despair one day of exposing all his schemes, and proving Mr. Myrvin is +as well disposed and excellent a young man as any in the parish. I know +who the villain is in this case, and my master shall know it too, one +day." Emmeline struggled to subdue the entreaty that was bursting from +her lips, but entirely she could not, and seizing the widow's hand, she +exclaimed, in a low agitated voice-- + +"Do so; oh, proclaim the falsehood, the cruelty of these reports, and +I--I mean Arthur--Mr. Myrvin will bless you. It is so cruel, in such +early youth, to have one's character defamed, and he has only that on +which to rest; tell me, promise me you will not forget this +determination." + +"To the very best of my ability, Miss Emmeline, I promise you," replied +Mrs. Langford, more and more confirmed in her suspicions. "But do not +excite yourself so much, dear heart. Mr. Maitland said you were to be +kept quite quiet, you know, and you have fatigued yourself so much, you +are trembling like an aspen." + +"My weakness must plead my excuse for my folly, dear nurse," answered +Emmeline, striving by a smile to control two or three tears, which, +spite of all resistance, would chase one another down her pale cheek. +"Do not mind me, I shall get well very soon. And how long do you think +it will be before you succeed in your wish?" + +"Not for some time, my dear young lady, at present. I have only my +suspicions; I must watch cautiously, ere they can be confirmed. I assure +you, I am as anxious that poor young man's character should be cleared +as you can be." + +A faint smile for a moment played round Emmeline's lips, as she pressed +the good woman's hand, and said she was satisfied. A little while longer +she lingered, then rousing herself with a strong effort, she visited, as +she had intended, two or three poor cottages, and forced herself to +listen to and enter with apparent interest on those subjects most +interesting to their inmates. In her solitary walk thence to Moorlands +she strenuously combated with herself, lest her thoughts should adhere +to their loved object, and lifting up her young enthusiastic soul in +fervent faith and love to its Creator, she succeeded at length in +obtaining the composure she desired, and in meeting her mother, at +Moorlands, with a smile and assumed playfulness, which did not fail, +even at Mrs. Hamilton's gentle reproof for her lengthened absence and +over fatigue, to which she attributed the paleness resting on her cheek, +and which even the return of Edward and Ellen to Oakwood, and the many +little pleasures incidental to a reunion, could not chase away. + +Three weeks passed quietly on; Oakwood was once more the seat of +domestic enjoyment. The Earl and Countess St. Eval spent the week of +Christmas with them, which greatly heightened every pleasure, and Mr. +and Mrs. Hamilton, instead of seeking in vain for one dear face in the +happy group around them on the eve of Christmas and the New Year, beheld +beside their peaceful hearth another son, beneath whose fond and gentle +influence the character of Caroline, already chastened, was merging into +beautiful maturity, and often as Mrs. Hamilton gazed on that child of +care and sorrow, yet of deep unfailing love, she felt, indeed, in her a +mother's recompense was already given. + +Edward's leave of absence was extended to a longer period than usual. +His ship had been dismantled, and now lay untenanted with the other +floating castles of the deep. Her officers and men had been dispersed, +and other stations had not yet been assigned to them. Nor did young +Fortescue intend joining a ship again as midshipman; his buoyant +hopes--the expectations of a busy fancy--told him that perhaps the +epaulette of a lieutenant would glitter on his shoulder. On his first +return home he had talked continually of his examination and his +promotion, but as the time neared for him to accompany his uncle to +London for the purpose, his volubility was checked. + +Caroline and her husband returned to Castle Terryn, and scarcely four +weeks after Myrvin's departure, Emmeline received from the hands of Mrs. +Langford an unexpected and most agitating letter. It was from Arthur; +intense mental suffering, in the eyes of her it addressed, breathed +through every line; but that subject, that dear yet forbidden subject, +their avowed and mutual love, was painfully avoided; it had evidently +been a struggle to write thus calmly, impassionately, and Emmeline +blessed him for his care: it merely implored her to use her influence +with St. Eval to obtain his interference with his father on his +(Arthur's) behalf. Lord Malvern he had heard was seeking for a gentleman +to accompany his son Louis as tutor and companion to Germany; there, for +the two following years, to improve his education, and enable him to +obtain a thorough knowledge of the language and literature of the +country. Arthur had applied for the situation, and recognised by the +Marquis as the young clergyman he had so often seen at Oakwood, he +received him with the utmost cordiality and kindness. On being +questioned as to his reasons for resigning his curacy, he frankly owned +that so quiet a life was irksome to him, and a desire to travel had +occasioned the wish to become tutor to any nobleman or gentleman's son +about to do so. He alluded himself to the reports to his prejudice, +avowed with sorrow that neglect of parochial duties was indeed a just +accusation, but from every other, he solemnly assured the Marquis, his +conscience was free. Not one proof of vice or even irregularity of +conduct had been or could be brought against him. He farther informed +Emmeline, that not only the Marquis but the Marchioness and the whole +family appeared much disposed in his favour, particularly Lord Louis, +who declared that if he might not have him for a tutor, he would have no +one else, and not go to Germany or to any school at all. The Marquis had +promised to give him a decided answer as soon as he had consulted Lord +St. Eval on the subject. He knew, Myrvin concluded, that her influence +was great with the Earl, and it was for that reason and that alone he +had ventured to address her. + +Emmeline reflected long and deeply on this letter. Had she listened to +the powerful pleadings of her deep affection, she would have shrunk from +thus using her influence, however small, to send him from England,--yet +could she hesitate? had she indeed forgotten herself to follow that only +path of duty she had pointed out to him? Brief indeed were her moments +of indecision. She wrote instantly to St. Eval in Arthur's favour, but +so guardedly and calmly worded her letter, that no suspicion of any +kinder or more interested feeling than that of her peculiarly generous +and warm-hearted nature could have been suspected, either by St. Eval or +her sister. She excused her boldness in writing thus unadvisedly and +secretly, by admitting that she could not bear that an unjust and +unfounded prejudice should so cruelly mar the prospects of so young and, +she believed, injured a fellow-creature. She was well aware that her +father shared this prejudice, and therefore she entreated St. Eval not +to mention her share in the transaction. + +Lord St. Eval willingly complied with her wishes. She had been, as we +know, ever his favourite. He loved her perfect artlessness and +playfulness, her very enthusiasm rendered her an object of his regard; +besides which, on this point, his opinion coincided with hers. He felt +assured young Myrvin was unhappy--on what account he knew not--but he +was convinced he did not deserve the aspersions cast upon him; and, +directly after the receipt of Emmeline's earnest letter, he came +unexpectedly to the parish, made inquiries, with the assistance of Mrs. +Langford, and returned to Castle Terryn, perfectly satisfied that it +would certainly be no disadvantage to his brother to be placed under the +care and companionship of Arthur Myrvin. He lost no time in imparting +this opinion to his father; and Emmeline very quickly learned that the +whole affair was arranged. Lord Louis was wild with joy that Arthur +Myrvin, whom he had liked at Oakwood, was to be his tutor, instead of +some prim formidable, dominie, and to this news was superadded the +intelligence that, the second week in February, the Rev. Arthur Myrvin +and his noble pupil quitted England for Hanover, where they intended to +make some stay. + +Emmeline heard, and the words "will he not write me one line in farewell +ere he leaves England?" were murmured internally, but were instantly +suppressed, for she knew the very wish was a departure from that line of +stern control she had laid down for herself and him; and that letter, +that dear, that precious letter--precious, for it came from him, though +not one word of love was breathed,--ought not that to be destroyed? Had +she any right now to cherish it, when the aid she sought had been given, +its object gained? Did her parents know she possessed that letter, that +it was dear to her, what would be their verdict? And was she not +deceiving them in thus retaining, thus cherishing a remembrance of him +she had resolved to forget? Emmeline drew forth the precious letter; she +gazed on it long, wistfully, as if in parting from it the pang of +separation with the beloved writer was recalled. She pressed her lips +upon it, and then with stern resolution dropped it into the fire that +blazed upon the hearth; and, with cheek pallid and breath withheld, she +marked the utter annihilation of the first and last memento she +possessed of him she loved. + +Mrs. Hamilton's anxiety on Emmeline's account did not decrease. She +still remained pale and thin, and her spirits more uneven, and that +energy which had formerly been such a marked feature in her character +appeared at times entirely to desert her; and Mr. Maitland, discovering +that the extreme quiet and regularity of life which he had formerly +recommended was not quite so beneficial as he had hoped, changed in a +degree his plan, and advised diversity of recreation, and amusements of +rather more exertion than he had at first permitted. Poor Emmeline +struggled to banish thought, that she might repay by cheerfulness the +tenderness of her parents and cousins, but she was new to sorrow; her +first was indeed a bitter trial, the more so because even from her +mother it was as yet concealed. She succeeded for a time in her wishes, +so far as to gratify her mother by an appearance of her usual +enthusiastic pleasure in the anticipation of a grand ball, given by +Admiral Lord N----, at Plymouth, which it was expected the Duke and +Duchess of Clarence would honour with their presence. Ellen anxiously +hoped her brother would return to Oakwood in time to accompany them. He +had passed his examination with the best success, but on the advice of +Sir Edward Manly, they both lingered in town, in the hope that being on +the spot the young officer would not be forgotten in the list of +promotions. He might, Edward gaily wrote, chance to return to Oakwood a +grade higher than he left it. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +"Ellen, I give you joy!" exclaimed Emmeline, entering the room where her +mother and cousin were sitting one afternoon, and speaking with some of +her former cheerfulness. "There is a carriage coming down the avenue, +and though I cannot quite distinguish it, I have second sight sufficient +to fancy it is papa's. Edward declared he would not tell us when he was +coming home, and therefore there is nothing at all improbable in the +idea, that he will fire a broadside on us, as he calls it, +unexpectedly." + +"I would willingly stand fire, to see him safe anchored off this +coast," replied Ellen, smiling. "Lord N----'s ball will lose half its +charms if he be not there." + +"What! with all your enthusiastic admiration of her Royal Highness, whom +you will have the honour of seeing? For shame, Ellen." + +"My enthusiastic admiration; rather yours, my dear Emmeline. Mine is so +quiet that it does not deserve the name of enthusiasm," replied Ellen, +laughing. "Nor could I have imagined you would have honoured me so far +as to give me an attribute in your eyes so precious." + +"I am getting old and learning wisdom," answered Emmeline, making an +effort to continue her playfulness, "and therefore admire quietness more +than formerly." + +"And therefore you are sometimes so silent and sad, to atone for the +past, my Emmeline," remarked her mother, somewhat sorrowfully. + +"Sad, nay, dearest mother, do me not injustice; I cannot be sad, when so +many, many blessings are around me," replied the affectionate girl. +"Silent I may be sometimes, but that is only because I do not feel quite +so strong perhaps as I once did, and it appears an exertion to rattle on +as I used upon trifling subjects." + +"I shall not be contented, then, my own Emmeline, till that strength +returns, and I hear you delighted, even as of old, with little things +again." + +"And yet you have sometimes smiled at my romance, and bade me think of +self-control, dearest mother. Must I be saucy enough to call you +changeable?" answered Emmeline, smiling, as she looked in her mother's +face. + +Mrs. Hamilton was prevented replying by Ellen's delighted exclamation +that it was her uncle's carriage, and Edward was waving a white +handkerchief, as if impatient to reach them, an impatience which was +speedily satisfied by his arrival, bounding into the room, but suddenly +pausing at the door to permit his uncle and another gentleman's +entrance, to which latter he respectfully raised his cap, and then +sprung forward to clasp the extended hands of his cousin and sister. + +"Allow me to congratulate you, madam," said Sir Edward Manly, after +returning with easy politeness the courteous greeting of Mrs. Hamilton, +"on the promotion of one of the bravest officers and most noble-minded +youths of the British navy, and introduce all here present to Lieutenant +Fortescue, of his Majesty's frigate the Royal Neptune, whose unconquered +and acknowledged dominion over the seas I have not the very slightest +doubt he will be one of the most eager to preserve." + +"Nor can I doubt it, Sir Edward," replied Mrs. Hamilton, smiling, as she +glanced on the flushing cheek of her gallant nephew, adding, as she held +out her hand to him, "God bless you, my dear boy! I do indeed rejoice in +your promotion, for I believe it well deserved." + +"You are right, madam, it is well deserved," replied Sir Edward, with an +accent so marked on the last sentence that the attention of all was +arrested. "Hamilton, I have been silent to you on the subject, for I +wished to speak it first before all those who are so deeply interested +in this young man's fate. The lad," he added, striking his hand frankly +on Edward's shoulder, "the lad whose conscience shrunk from receiving +public testimonials of his worth as a sailor, while his private +character was stained, while there was that upon it which, if known, he +believed would effectually prevent his promotion; who, at the risk of +disappointment to his dearest wishes, of disgrace, want of honour, +possessed sufficient courage to confess to his captain that his +log-book, the first years of his seamanship, told a false tale--the lad, +I say, who can so nobly command himself, is well worthy to govern +others. He who has known so well the evil of disobedience will be firm +in the discipline of his men, while he who is so stern to his own faults +will, I doubt not, be charitable to those of others. The sword presented +to him for his brave preservation of the crew of the Syren will never be +stained by dishonour, while he looks upon it and remembers the past, and +even as in those of my own son, shall I henceforward rejoice in using my +best endeavours to promote the fortunes of Edward Fortescue." + +The return of Edward, the honours he had received, the perfect happiness +beaming on his bright face, all caused Ellen to look forward to the ball +with greater pleasure than she had ever regarded gaiety of that sort +before; and Mrs. Hamilton would sometimes playfully declare that she and +Emmeline had for a time exchanged characters, although Edward's +never-failing liveliness, his odd tales and joyous laugh, had appeared +partly to rouse the latter's usual spirits, and dissipate slightly her +mother's anxiety. + +The festive night arrived, and anticipation itself was not disappointed +in the pleasure it bestowed. All the nobility of the country, for miles +round, had assembled in respect to the royal guests who had honoured +the distinguished commander with their august presence; and Mrs. +Hamilton's natural feelings of pride were indeed gratified that night, +as she glanced on her Caroline, who now appeared in public for the first +time since her marriage, attired in simple elegance, yet with a richness +appropriate to her rank, attracting every eye, even that of their Royal +Highnesses themselves, by the graceful dignity of her tall and +commanding figure, by the quiet repose and polished ease which +characterised her every movement. If Lord St. Eval looked proud of his +young wife, there were few there who would have blamed him. The Lady +Florence Lyle was with her brother, enjoying with unfeigned pleasure, as +did Ellen, and to all appearance Emmeline, the scene before them. + +The brilliant uniforms of the army, and the handsome but less striking +ones of the navy, imparted additional gaiety and splendour to the rooms, +forming picturesque groups, when contrasting with the chaste and elegant +costumes of the fairer sex. But on the fascinating scene we may not +linger, nor attempt to describe the happiness which the festivities +occasioned the entire party, nor on the gratification of Lieutenant +Fortescue, when Sir Edward Manly begged the honour of an introduction +for his young friend to his Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence, who, +with his amiable consort, the Princess Adelaide, had honoured Lord +N----with their august presence. Upon one incident alone we must be +permitted to dwell, as affording a great and unexpected pleasure to our +friend Ellen. + +Edward and Ellen were for some time perfectly unconscious that they were +objects of the most earnest, penetrating scrutiny of a lady, leaning on +the arm of a young and handsome man in regimentals, near them. + +"It must be them; that likeness cannot be that of a stranger," were the +words, uttered in an earnest, persuading tone, addressed by the young +officer to the lady, who might be his mother, which were the first to +attract the attention of the little group, though the speaker appeared +quite unconscious he was overheard. "Let me speak to him, and at least +ask the question." + +"No, no, Walter," the lady replied, in a low tone. "Changed as are our +situations now, I could not wish, even if it be them, to intrude upon +their remembrance." + +An exclamation of suppressed impatience escaped from the lips of the +young man, but instantly checking it, he said, respectfully and +tenderly-- + +"Dearest mother, do not say so, if" (the name was lost) "grew up as she +was a child, she would be glad to welcome the friend of her father, the +companion of her childhood." + +"But it cannot be, Walter; that beautiful girl is not like my poor +child, though her brother may strangely resemble those we have known." + +"Have you not often told me, mother, we never change so much as from +childhood into youth? Ellen was always ill, now she may be well, and +that makes all the difference in the world. I am much mistaken if those +large, mournful eyes can belong to any but"-- + +He paused abruptly; for convinced that they must be the subject of +conversation, and feeling they were listening to language not meant for +their ears, Edward and Ellen turned towards the speakers, who to the +former appeared perfect strangers, not so to the latter. Feelings, +thoughts of her earliest infancy and childhood, came thronging over her +as a spell, as she gazed on the lady's countenance, which, by its +expression, denoted that sorrow had been her portion; it was changed, +much changed from that which it had been; but the rush of memory on +Ellen's young soul told her that face had been seen before. A night of +horror and subsequent suffering flashed before her eyes, in which that +face had beamed in fondness and in soothing kindness over her; that +voice had spoken accents of love in times when even a mother's words +were harsh and cold. + +"Forgive me, sir, but is not your name Fortescue?" inquired the young +man, somewhat hesitatingly, yet frankly, as he met Edward's glance. + +"You have the advantage of me, sir," he replied, with equal frankness; +"such is my name, but yours I cannot guess." + +"I beg your pardon, but am I speaking to the son of Colonel Fortescue, +who fell in India during a skirmish against the natives, nearly ten +years ago?" + +"The same, sir." + +"Then it is--it is Mrs. Cameron; I am not, I knew I could not be +mistaken," exclaimed Ellen, in an accent of delight, and bounding +forward, she clasped the lady's eagerly-extended hand in both hers, and +gazing in her face with eyes glistening with starting tears. "And would +you, could you have passed me, without one word to say my friend, the +wife of my father's dearest friend, was so near to me? you who in my +childhood so often soothed and tended my sufferings, dearest Mrs. +Cameron?" and tears of memory and of feeling fell upon the hand she +held, while young Cameron gazed on her with an admiration which utterly +prevented his replying coherently to the questions, the reminiscences of +former years, when they were playmates together in India, which Edward, +discovering by his sister's exclamation who he was, was now pouring in +his ear. + +"I did not, could not think I should have been thus affectionately, thus +faithfully remembered, my dear Ellen, after a lapse of so many years," +replied Mrs. Cameron, visibly affected at her young companion's warmth. +"I could not imagine the memory of a young child, such as you were when +we parted, would have been so acute." + +"Then my niece must have been all these years mistaken, and you too did +not understand her, though she fancied you did," said Mrs. Hamilton, +with a smile, advancing to relieve Ellen's agitation, which the +association of her long-lamented father with Mrs. Cameron rendered +almost painful. "I could have told you, from the moment she was placed +under my care, that she never would forget those who had once been kind +to her. I have known you so long, from Ellen's report, that glad am I +indeed to make your acquaintance; you to whom my lamented sister was so +much indebted." + +Gratified and soothed by this address, for the sight of Ellen had +awakened many sad associations, she too being now a widow, Mrs. Cameron +rallied her energies, and replied to Mrs. Hamilton, in her naturally +easy and friendly manner. Ellen looked on the black dress she wore, and +turned inquiringly to young Cameron, who answered hurriedly, for he +guessed her thoughts. + +"Ask not of my father, he is beside Colonel Fortescue; he shared his +laurels and his grave." + +An expression of deep sympathy passed over Ellen's countenance, +rendering her features, to the eager glance of the young man, yet more +attractive. + +"You have, I see, much to say and inquire, my dear Ellen," said her +aunt, kindly, as she marked her flushed cheek and eager eye. "Perhaps +Mrs. Cameron will indulge you by retiring with you into one of those +quiet, little refreshment-rooms, where you can talk as much as you +please without remark." + +"Can I ask my dear young friend to resign the pleasures of the dance, +and agreeable companionship of the friends I see thronging round her, to +listen to an old woman's tale?" said Mrs. Cameron, smiling. + +"I think you are answered," replied Mrs. Hamilton, playfully, as Ellen +passed her arm through that of Mrs. Cameron and looked caressingly and +persuadingly in her face. + +Mrs. Cameron's tale was soon told. She had returned to England, for +India had become painful to her, from the many bereavements which had +there unhappily darkened her lot. Captain Cameron had fallen in an +engagement, two or three years after Mrs. Fortescue's departure; and out +of seven apparently healthy children, which had been hers when Ellen +knew her, only three now remained. It was after the death of her eldest +daughter, a promising girl of eighteen, her own health having suffered +so exceedingly from the shock, that her son Walter, fearing for her +life, effected an exchange, and being ordered to return with his +regiment to England--for he now held his father's rank of captain--he +succeeded in persuading his mother to accompany him with his sisters. He +was quartered at Devonport, where it appeared they had been residing +the last eight months, visited, even courted, by most of the military +and naval officers who had known and respected his father; amongst whom +was Lord N--, who had persuaded Mrs. Cameron to so far honour his ball +as there to introduce her daughter Flora, using arguments she could not +resist, and consequently delighting her affectionate children, by once +more appearing in public. + +"And this is Walter, the kind Walter, who used ever to take my part, +though he did scold me for always looking so sad," exclaimed Ellen, +after hearing her friend's tale, and answering all her questions +concerning herself, looking up as she spoke on the young man, who had +again joined them, and blushing with timidity at her boldness in thus +speaking to one who had grown into a stranger. + +The young man's heart throbbed as he heard himself addressed as Walter +by the beautiful girl beside him; and he found it difficult to summon +sufficient courage to ask her to dance with him; frankly, however, she +consented. + +Ellen found pleasure, also, in renewing acquaintance with the timid +Flora, whom she had left a playful child of seven, and who was now +merging into bright and beautiful girlhood; eager to return her kindly +warmth in the delight of finding one of her own age among that +glittering crowd of strangers. + +But few more incidents of note occurred that night; dancing continued +with unabated spirit, even after the departure of the royal guests, and +pleasure was the prevailing feeling to the last. The notice of the Duke, +and the benignant spirit of the Duchess, her gentle and kindly manners, +had penetrated many a young and ardent soul, and fixed at once and +unwaveringly the stamp of future loyalty within. + +Once introduced to Mrs. Cameron, and aware that she resided so near +them, Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton cultivated her acquaintance; speedily they +became intimate. In Mrs. Fortescue's broken and dying narrative, she had +more than once mentioned them as the friends of her husband, and having +been most kind to herself. Edward had alluded to Captain Cameron's care +of him, and parting advice, when about to embark for England; and Ellen +had frequently spoken of Mrs. Cameron's kindness to her when a child. +All those who had shown kindness to her sister were objects of +attraction to Mrs. Hamilton, and the widow speedily became so attached +to her and her amiable family, that, on Walter being suddenly ordered +out to Ireland (which commands, by the way, the young man obeyed with +very evident reluctance), she gladly consented to rent a small +picturesque cottage between Moorlands and Oakwood, an arrangement which +added much to the young people's enjoyment; while the quiet repose of +her present life, the society of Mrs. Hamilton and her worthy husband, +as also that of Mr. Howard, restored the widow to happiness, which had +not been her portion since her husband's death; and now, for the first +time, Mrs. Hamilton became acquainted with those minute particulars +which she had for the last nine years desired to know, concerning the +early childhood of those orphans then committed to her care. That her +sister had been partial, it was very easy to discover; but the extent of +the evil, and the many little trials Ellen's very infancy had to +encounter, were only subjects of conjecture, for she could not bear to +lead them to speak on any topic that might in the least have reflected +on the memory of their mother. + +The intelligence therefore which she now obtained explained all that had +been a matter of mystery and surprise in Ellen's character, and rendered +clearer than ever to Mrs. Hamilton the painful feelings which had in +opening youth actuated her niece's conduct; and often, as she listened +to Mrs. Cameron's account of her infant sufferings and her mother's +harshness and neglect, did Mrs. Hamilton wish such facts had from the +first been known to her; much sorrow, she felt assured, might have been +spared to all. She would perchance have been enabled to have so trained +her and soothed her early-wounded sensibility, that all the wretchedness +of her previous years might have been avoided, but she would not long +allow her mind to dwell on such things. She looked on her niece as +dearer than ever, from the narrative she had heard, and she was thankful +to behold her thus in radiant health and beauty, and, she hoped, in +happiness, although at times there was still a deeper shade of +seriousness than she loved to see imprinted on her brow, and dimming the +lustre of her eye, but it caused her no anxiety. Ellen's character had +never been one of light-hearted glee; it would have been unnatural to +see it now, and she believed that appearance of melancholy to be her +natural disposition, and so too, perhaps, the orphan regarded it +herself. + +A very few weeks after Lord N----'s ball, Edward again departed from +Oakwood to join his ship. He parted gaily with his friends, for he knew +his voyage was to be but a short one; and that now the first and most +toilsome step to promotion had been gained, he should have very many +more opportunities of taking a run home and catching a glimpse, he said, +joyously, of the whole crew who were so dear to him, on board that tough +old ship Oakwood; and Ellen, too, could share his gaiety even the night +previous to his departure, for this was not like either their first or +second parting. She had all to hope and but little to fear; for her +trust was too firmly fixed on Him who had guarded that beloved brother +through so many previous dangers and temptations to bid her waver now. +Even Mrs. Hamilton's anxious bosom trembled not as she parted from the +son of her affections, the preserver of her husband; and though Oakwood +felt dull and gloomy on the first departure of the mischief-loving, +mirthful sailor, it was not the gloom of sorrow. February passed, and +Mrs. Hamilton's solicitude with regard to Emmeline still continued. +There were times when, deceived by her daughter's manner, lively and +playful apparently as usual, she permitted herself to feel less anxious; +but the pale cheek, the dulled eye, the air of languor, and sometimes, +though not often, of depression, which pervaded every movement, very +quickly recalled anxiety and apprehension. Mr. Maitland could not +understand her. If for a moment he imagined it was mental suffering, her +manner was such the next time he saw her as entirely to baffle that +fancy, and convince him that the symptoms which caused Mrs. Hamilton's +alarm were, in reality, of no consequence. Determined to use every +effort to deceive him, lest he should betray to her parents the real +cause of her sufferings, Emmeline generally rallied every effort and +rattled on with him, as from a child she had been accustomed, therefore +it was no wonder the worthy surgeon was deceived; and often, very +often, did the poor girl wish she could deceive herself as easily. It +was now nearly three months since she and young Myrvin had so painfully +parted, and her feelings, instead of diminishing in their intensity, +appeared to become more powerful. She had hoped, by studiously employing +herself, by never indulging in one idle hour, to partially efface his +remembrance, but the effort was fruitless. The letters from Lady +Florence and Lady Emily Lyle became subjects of feverish interest, for +in them alone she heard unprejudiced accounts of Arthur, of whose +praises, they declared, the epistles of their brother Louis were always +full; so much so, Lady Emily said, that she certainly should fall in +love with him, for the purpose of making a romantic story. Sadly did +poor Emmeline feel there was but little romance in her feelings; cold +clinging despair had overcome her. She longed for the comfort of her +mother's sympathy, but his character was not yet cleared. Mr. Hamilton +evidently mistrusted the praises so lavishly bestowed on the young man +by Lord Malvern's family; and how could she defend him, if accused of +presumption towards herself? Presumption there had not been; indeed, his +conduct throughout had done him honour. She fancied her mother would be +displeased, might imagine she had encouraged the feeling of romantic +admiration till it became an ideal passion, and made herself miserable. +Perhaps an unknown yet ever-lingering hope existed within, spite of +despair; perhaps aerial visions would mingle in the darkness, and +Emmeline shrunk, unconsciously, from their utter annihilation by the +stern prohibition of her parents. Such was the constant tenour of her +thoughts; but one moment of excited feeling betrayed that which she had +deemed would never pass her lips. + +But a very few days had elapsed since Edward's departure from Oakwood +when, one afternoon, Mr. Hamilton entered the usual sitting-room of the +family, apparently much disturbed. Mrs. Hamilton and Ellen were engaged +in work, and Emmeline sat at a small table in the embrasure of one of +the deep gothic windows, silently yet busily employed it seemed in +drawing. She knew her father had gone that morning to the village, and +as usual felt uneasy and feverish, fearing, reasonably or unreasonably, +that on his return she would hear something unpleasant concerning +Arthur; as she this day marked the countenance of her father, her heart +throbbed, and her cheek, which had been flushed by the action of +stooping, paled even unto death. + +"What mishap has chanced in the village, that you look so grave, my dear +love?" demanded his wife, playfully. + +"I am perplexed in what matter to act, and grieved, deeply grieved, at +the intelligence I have learned; not only that my prejudice is +confirmed, but that the knowledge I have acquired concerning that +unhappy young man places me in a most awkward situation." + +"You are not speaking very intelligibly, my dear husband, and therefore +I must guess what you mean; I fear it is young Myrvin of whom you +speak," said Mrs. Hamilton, her playfulness gone. + +"They surely have not been again bringing him forward to his discredit?" +observed Ellen, earnestly. "The poor young man is far away; why will +they still endeavour to prejudice you and Mr. Howard against him?" + +"I admire your charity, my dear girl, but, I am sorry to say, in this +case it is unworthily bestowed. There are facts now come to light which, +I fear, unpleasant as will be the task, render it my duty to write to +Lord Malvern. Arthur Myrvin is no fit companion for his son." + +"His poor, poor father!" murmured Ellen, dropping her work, and looking +sorrowfully, yet inquiringly, in her uncle's face. + +"But are they facts, Arthur--are they proved? for that there is unjust +prejudice against him in the village, I am pretty certain." + +"They are so far proved, that, by applying them to him, a mystery in the +village is cleared up, and also his violent haste to quit our +neighbourhood. You remember Mary Brookes?" + +"That poor girl who died, it was said, of such a rapid decline? +Perfectly well." + +"It was not a decline, my dear Emmeline; would that it had been. She was +beautiful, innocent, in conversation and manner far above her station. +There are many to say she loved, and believed, in the fond trust of +devotion, all that the tempter said. She was worthy to be his wife, and +she became his victim. His visits to her old grandmother's cottage I +myself know were frequent. He deserted her, and that wild agony broke +the strings of life which remorse had already loosened; ten days after +Myrvin quitted the village she died, giving birth to an unhappy child of +sin and sorrow. Her grandmother, ever dull in observation and sense, has +been silent, apparently stupefied by the sudden death of her Mary, and +cherishes the poor helpless infant left her by her darling. Suddenly she +has appeared awakened to indignation, and a desire of vengeance on the +destroyer of her child, which I could wish less violent. She implored +me, with almost frantic wildness, to obtain justice from the cruel +villain--accusing him by name, and bringing forward so many proofs, +which the lethargy of grief had before concealed, that I cannot doubt +for one moment who is the father of that poor babe--the cruel, the +heartless destroyer of innocence and life." + +"But is there no evidence but hers? I wish there were, for Dame Williams +is so weak and dull, she may easily be imposed upon," observed Mrs. +Hamilton, thoughtfully. "It is indeed a tale of sorrow; one that I could +wish, if it indeed be true, might not be published, for did it reach his +father's ears"-- + +"It will break his heart, I know it will," interrupted Ellen, with an +uncontrolled burst of feeling. "Oh, do not condemn him without further +proofs," she added, appealingly. + +"Every inquiry I have made confirms the old dame's story," replied Mr. +Hamilton, sadly. "We know Myrvin's life in college, before his change of +rank, was one of reckless gaiety. All say he was more often at Dame +Williams's cottage than at any other. Had he been more attentive to his +duties, we might have believed he sought to soothe by religion poor +Mary's sufferings, but we know such was not his wont. Jefferies +corroborates the old dame's tale, bringing forward circumstances he had +witnessed, too forcibly to doubt. And does not his hasty resignation of +a comfortable home, a promising living, evince his guilt more strongly +than every other proof? Why did he refuse to defend his conduct? Was it +not likely such a crime as this upon his conscience would occasion that +restlessness we all perceived, that extreme haste to depart? he would +not stay to see his victim die, or be charged with a child of sin. There +was a mystery in his sudden departure, but there is none now; it is all +too clear." + +"_It is false!_" burst with startling almost overwhelming power from the +lips of Emmeline, as she sprung with the strength of agony from her +seat, and stood with the suddenness of a vision, before her parents, a +bright hectic spot burning on either cheek, rendering her usually mild +eyes painfully brilliant. She had sat as if spell-bound, drinking in +every word. She _knew_ the tale was false, but yet each word had fallen +like brands of heated iron on her already scorching brain; that they +should dare to breathe such a tale against him, whose fair fame she knew +was unstained, link his pure name with infamy; and her father, too, +believed it. She did not scream, though there was that within which +longed for such relief. She did not faint, though every limb had lost +its power. A moment's strength and energy alike returned, and she +bounded forward. "It is false!" she again exclaimed, and her parents +started in alarm at her agonized tone; "false as the false villain that +dared stain the fair fame of another with his own base crime. Arthur +Myrvin is not the father of that child; Arthur Myrvin was not the +destroyer of Mary Brookes. Go and ask Nurse Langford: she who hung over +poor Mary's dying bed; who received from her own cold lips the name of +the father of her child; she who was alone near her when she died. Ask +her, and she will tell you the wretch, who has prejudiced all minds +against the good, the pure, the noble; the villain, the cruel +despicable villain, who rested not till his base arts had ruined +the--the--virtuous; that Jefferies, the canting hypocrite, the wretched +miscreant, who has won all hearts because he speaks so fair, he, he +alone is guilty. Put the question to him; let Nurse Langford ask him if +the dying spoke falsely when she named him, and his guilt will be +written on his brow. Arthur Myrvin did visit that cottage; Mary had +confessed a crime, she said not what, and implored his prayers; he +soothed her bodily and mental sufferings, he robbed death of its +terrors, and his only grief at leaving the village was, that she would +miss his aid, for that crime could not be confessed to another; and they +dare to accuse him of sin, he who is as good, as pure, as--" For one +second she paused, choked by inward agony, but ere either her father or +mother could address her, she continued, in an even wilder tone,--"Why +did Arthur Myrvin leave this neighbourhood? why did he go hence so +suddenly--so painfully? because, because he loved me--because he knew +that I returned his love, and he saw the utter hopelessness that +surrounded us, and he went forth to do his duty; he left me to forget +him, to obtain peace in forgetfulness of one I may never see +again--forgetfulness! oh, not till my brain ceases to throb will that be +mine. He thought to leave me with his love unspoken, but the words came, +and that very hour we parted. He loved me, he knew I could not be his, +and it was for this his living was resigned, for this he departed; and +had he cause to blush for this? pure, honourable, as was his love, too +noble, too unselfish to urge aught that could bid Emmeline forget her +duty to her parents for love of him; bearing every calumny, even the +prejudice, the harshness of my father, rather than confess he loved me. +He is innocent of every charge that is brought against him--all, all, +save the purest, the most honourable love for me; and, oh, is that +indeed, indeed a crime?" + +She had struggled to the very last to speak calmly, but now sobs, the +more convulsive because the more suppressed, rose choking in her throat, +and rendered the last words almost inaudible. She pressed both hands +against her heart and then her temples, as if to still their painful +throbbings, and speak yet more, but the effort was fruitless, and she +darted wildly, and fled as an arrow from the room. + +Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton looked on each other in painful and alarmed +astonishment, and Ellen, deeply affected, rose hastily, as if with the +intention of following her agitated cousin, but her aunt and uncle +entreated her not, alleging Emmeline would sooner recover alone, asking +her at the same time if she had known anything relative to the +confession they had just heard. She answered truly in the negative. +Emmeline had scarcely ever spoken of young Myrvin in her hearing; but as +the truth was now discovered, many little instances rose to the +recollection of both parents to confirm the avowal of their child, and +increase their now painfully awakened solicitude. Her agitation the +night of Edward's return, when Lord St. Eval laughingly threatened her +with marriage, rose to the recollection of both parents; her extreme +excitement and subsequent depression; her visibly failing health since +Arthur's departure, all, all, too sadly confirmed her words, and +bitterly Mrs. Hamilton reproached herself for never having suspected +the truth before, for permitting the young man to be thus intimate at +her house, heedless of what might ensue, forgetful that Emmeline was +indeed no longer a child, that her temperament was one peculiarly liable +to be thus strongly excited. + +For a few minutes Mr. Hamilton felt pride and anger struggling fiercely +in his bosom against Arthur, for having dared to love one so far above +him as his child, but very quickly his natural kindliness and charity +resumed their sway. Could he wonder at that, love for one so fond, so +gentle, so clinging, as his Emmeline? Would he not have deemed Arthur +cold and strange, had her charms indeed passed him unnoticed and unfelt; +he remembered the forbearance, the extreme temper the unhappy young man +had ever displayed towards him, and suddenly and unconsciously he felt +he must have done him wrong; he had been prejudiced, misguided. If Nurse +Langford's tale was right, and Jefferies had dared to accuse another of +the crime he had himself committed, might he not in the like manner have +prejudiced the whole neighbourhood against Arthur by false reports? But +while from the words of his child every kindly feeling rose up in the +young man's favour, Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton did not feel the less +painfully that Emmeline had indeed spoken rightly: hopelessness was her +lot. It seemed to both impossible that they could ever consent to behold +her the wife of Myrvin, even if his character were cleared of the +stigmas which had been cast upon it. Could they consent to expose their +fragile child, nursed as she had been in the lap of luxury and comfort, +to all the evils and annoyances of poverty? They had naturally +accustomed themselves to anticipate Emmeline's marrying happily in +their own sphere, and they could not thus suddenly consent to the +annihilation of hopes, which had been fondly cherished in the mind of +each. + +Some little time they remained in conversation, and then Mrs. Hamilton +rose to seek the chamber of her suffering child, taking with her indeed +but little comfort, save her husband's earnest assurance that he would +leave no means untried to discover Jefferies' true character, and if +indeed Arthur had been accused unjustly. + +It was with a trembling hand Mrs. Hamilton softly opened Emmeline's +door, and with a heart bleeding at the anguish she beheld, and which she +felt too truly she could not mitigate, she entered, and stood for +several minutes by her side unnoticed and unseen. + +There are some dispositions in which it is acutely painful to witness +sorrow. Those whom we have ever seen radiant in health, in liveliness, +in joy--so full of buoyancy and hope, they seem as if formed for +sunshine alone, as if they could not live in the darkening clouds of woe +or care; whose pleasures have been pure and innocent as their own bright +beauty; who are as yet unknown to the whispering of inwardly working +sin; full of love and gentleness, and sympathy, ever ready to weep for +others, though for themselves tears are unknown; creatures, whose warm +enthusiastic feelings bind them to every heart capable of generous +emotions; those in whom we see life most beautified, most glad. Oh, it +is so sad to see them weep; to feel that even on them sorrow hath cast +its blight, and paled the cheek, and dimmed the laughing eye, the +speaking smile, and the first grief in such as these is agony indeed: +it is the breaking asunder of every former joy. They shrink from +retrospection, for they cannot bear to feel they are not now as then, +and the future shares to them the blackened shadows of the hopeless +present. As susceptible as they are to pleasure so are they to pain; and +raised far above others in the enjoyment of the one, so is their grief +doubled in comparison with those of more happy, because more even +temperaments. So it was with Emmeline; and her mother felt all this as +she stood beside her, watching with tearful sympathy the first real +grief of her darling child. Emmeline had cast herself on her knees +beside her couch; she had buried her face in her hands, while the sobs +that burst incessantly from her swelling bosom shook her frail figure +convulsively; the blue veins in her throat had swelled as if in +suffocation, and her fair hair, loosened from its confinement by her +agitation, hung wildly around her. + +"Emmeline," Mrs. Hamilton said, gently and falteringly, but her child +heard her not, and she twined her arm around her, and tried to draw her +towards her. + +"My own darling Emmeline, speak to me; I cannot bear to see you thus. +Look up, love; for my sake calm this excited feeling." + +"May I not even weep? Would you deny me that poor comfort?" burst almost +passionately from the lips of Emmeline, for every faculty was bewildered +in that suddenly-excited woe. She looked up; her eyes were bloodshot and +haggard, her cheek flushed, and the veins drawn like cords across her +brow. + +"Weep: would your mother forbid you that blessed comfort and relief, my +Emmeline? Could you indeed accuse me of such cruelty?" replied Mrs. +Hamilton, bending over her as she spoke, and removing from those flushed +temples the hair which hung heavy with moisture upon them, and as she +did so Emmeline felt the tears of her mother fall thick and fast on her +own scorching brow. She started from her knees, gazed wildly and +doubtingly upon her, and tottering from exhaustion, would have fallen, +had not Mrs. Hamilton, with a sudden movement, received her in her arms. +For a moment Emmeline struggled as if to break from her embrace, but +then, with a sudden transition of feeling, clasped her arms convulsively +about her mother's neck, and burst into a long and violent but relieving +flood of tears. + +"I meant never, never to have revealed my secret," she exclaimed, in a +voice almost inaudible, as her mother, seating her on a couch near them, +pressed her to her heart, and permitted some minutes to pass away in +that silence of sympathy which to the afflicted is so dear. "And now +that it has been wrung from me, I know not what I do or say. Oh, if I +have spoken aught disrespectfully to you or papa just now, I meant it +not, indeed I did not; but they dared to speak false tales, and I could +not sit calmly to hear them," she added, shuddering. + +"There was nothing in your words, my own love, to give us pain with +regard to ourselves," said Mrs. Hamilton, in her most soothing tone, as +again and again she pressed her quivering lips to that flushed cheek, +and tried to kiss away the now streaming tears. "Do not let that thought +add to your uneasiness, my own darling." + +"And can you forgive me, mother?" and Emmeline buried her face yet more +closely in her mother's bosom. + +"Forgive you, Emmeline! is there indeed aught in your acquaintance with +Arthur Myrvin which demands my forgiveness?" replied her mother, in a +tone of anxiety and almost alarm. + +"Oh, no, no! but you may believe I have encouraged these weak emotions; +that I have wilfully thought on them till I have made myself thus +miserable; that I have called for his love--given him encouragement: +indeed, indeed I have not. I have struggled hard to obtain +forgetfulness--to think of him no more, to regain happiness, but it +would not come. I feel--I know I can never, never be again the joyous +light-hearted girl that I was once; all feels so changed." + +"Do not say so, my own love; this it but the language of despondency, +now too naturally your own; but permit it not to gain too much +ascendency, dearest. Where is my Emmeline's firm, devoted faith in that +merciful Father, who for so many years has gilded her lot with such +unchecked happiness. Darker clouds are now indeed for a time around you, +but His blessing will remove them, love; trust still in Him." + +Emmeline's convulsive sobs were somewhat checked; the fond and gentle +tones of sympathy had their effect on one to whom affection never +pleaded in vain. + +"And why have you so carefully concealed the cause of the sufferings +that were so clearly visible, my Emmeline?" continued her mother, +tenderly. "Could that fear which you once avowed in a letter to Mary, +have mingled in your affection for me? Could fear, indeed, have kept you +silent? Can your too vivid fancy have bid you imagine I should reproach +you, or refuse my sympathy in this sad trial? Your perseverance in +active employments, your strivings for cheerfulness, all must, indeed, +confirm your assertion, that you have not encouraged weakening emotions. +I believe you, my own, and I believe, too, my Emmeline did not give +young Myrvin encouragement. Look up, love, and tell me that you do not +fear your mother--that you do not deem her harsh." + +"Harsh? oh, no, no!" murmured the poor girl, still clinging to her neck, +as if she feared something would part them. "It is I who am capricious, +fanciful, miserable: oh, do not heed my incoherent words. Mother, +dearest mother, oh, let me but feel that you still love me, and I will +teach my heart to be satisfied with that." + +"But if indeed I am not harsh, tell me all, my Emmeline--tell me when +you were first aware you loved Arthur Myrvin; all that has passed +between you. I promise you I will not add to your suffering on his +account by reproaches. Confide in the affection of your mother, and this +trial will not be so hard to bear." + +Struggling to obtain composure and voice, Emmeline obeyed, and +faithfully repeated every circumstance connected with her and Arthur, +with which our readers are well acquainted; touching lightly, indeed, on +their parting interview, which Mrs. Hamilton easily perceived could not +be recalled even now, though some months had passed, without a renewal +of the distress it had caused. Her recital almost unconsciously exalted +the character of Arthur in the mind of Mrs. Hamilton, which was too +generous and kind to remain untouched by conduct so honourable, +forbearing, and praiseworthy. + +"Do not weep any more for the cruel charges against him, my love," she +said, with soothing tenderness, as Emmeline's half-checked tears burst +forth again as she spoke of the agony she in secret endured, when in her +presence his character was traduced. "Your father will now leave no +means untried to discover whether indeed they are true or false. +Insinuations and reports have prejudiced his judgment more than is his +wont. He has gone now to Widow Langford, to hear her tale against +Jefferies, and if this last base charge he has brought against Arthur be +indeed proved against himself, it will be easy to convict him of other +calumnies; for the truth of this once made evident, it is clear that his +base machinations have been the secret engines of the prejudice against +Myrvin, for which no clear foundation has ever yet been discovered. You +will not doubt your father's earnestness in this proceeding, my +Emmeline, and you know him too well to believe he would for one moment +refrain from acknowledging to Mr. Myrvin the injustice he has done him, +if indeed it prove unfounded." + +"And if his character be cleared from all stain--if not a whisper taint +his name, and his true excellence be known to all--oh, may we not hope? +mother, mother, you will not be inexorable; you will not, oh, you will +not condemn your child to misery!" exclaimed Emmeline, in a tone of +excitement, strongly contrasting with the hopelessness which had +breathed in every word before; and, bursting from her mother's detaining +hold, she suddenly knelt before her, and clasped her robe in the +wildness of her entreaty. "You will not refuse to make us happy; you +will not withhold your consent, on which alone depends the future +happiness of your Emmeline. You, who have been so good, so kind, so +fond,--oh, you will not sentence me to woe. Mother, oh, speak to me. I +care not how many years I wait: say, only say that, if his character be +cleared of all they have dared to cast upon it, I shall one day he his. +Do not turn from me, mother. Oh, bid me not despond; and yet and yet, +because he is poor, oh, would you, can you condemn me to despair?" + +"Emmeline, Emmeline, do not wring my heart by these cruel words," +replied Mrs. Hamilton, in a tone of such deep distress, that Emmeline's +imploring glance sunk before it, and feeling there was indeed no hope, +her weakened frame shook with the effort to restrain the bursting tears. +"Do not ask me to promise this; do not give me the bitter pain of +speaking that which you feel at this moment will only add to your +unhappiness. You yourself, by the words you have repeated, behold the +utter impossibility of such an union. Why, why then will you impose on +me the painful task of repeating it? Could I consent to part with you to +one who has not even a settled home to give you, whose labours scarcely +earn sufficient to maintain himself? You know not all the evils of such +an union, my sweet girl. You are not fitted to cope with poverty or +care, to bear with that passionate irritability and restlessness which +characterise young Myrvin, even when weightier charges are removed. And +could we feel ourselves justified in exposing you to privations and +sorrows, which our cooler judgment may perceive, though naturally +concealed from the eye of affection? Seldom, very seldom, are those +marriages happy in which such an extreme disparity exists, more +particularly when, as in this case, the superiority is on the side of +the wife. I know this sounds like cold and worldly reasoning, my +Emmeline; I know that this warm, fond heart revolts in agony from every +word, but do not, do not think me cruel, love, and shrink from my +embrace. How can I implore you, for my sake, still to struggle with +these sad feelings, to put every effort into force to conquer this +unhappy love? and yet my duty bids me do so; for, oh, I cannot part with +you for certain poverty and endless care. Speak to me, my own; promise +me that you will try and be contented with your father's exertions to +clear Arthur's character from all aspersions. You will not ask for +more?" + +There was a moment's pause. Mrs. Hamilton had betrayed in every word the +real distress she suffered in thus speaking, when the gentle pleading of +her woman's heart would have bade her soothe by any and every means her +afflicted child; Emmeline knew this, and even in that moment she could +not bear to feel her mother grieved, and she had been the cause. Filial +devotion, filial duty, for a few minutes struggled painfully with the +fervid passion which shook her inmost soul; but they conquered, and when +she looked up, her tears were checked, and only the deadly paleness of +the cheek, the quivering of the lip and eye, betrayed the deep emotion +that still prevailed within. + +"Be not thus distressed for me, my dear, my too indulgent mother," +replied Emmeline, in a voice that struggled to be composed and firm, +though bodily weakness defied her efforts. "I meant not to have grieved +you, and yet I have done so. Oh, let not my foolish words give you pain, +you whose love would, I know, seek to spare me every suffering. My brain +feels confused and burning now, and I know not what I say; but it will +pass away soon, and then I will try to be all you can wish. You will +not, I know you will not be so cruel as to bid me wed another, and that +knowledge is enough. Let but his character be cleared, and I promise you +I will use every effort to be content. I knew that it was hopeless. Why, +oh, why did I bid your lips confirm it!" and again were those aching +eyes and brow concealed on Mrs. Hamilton's shoulder, while the +despairing calmness of her voice sounded even more acutely painful to +her mother than the extreme suffering it had expressed before. + +"May God in His mercy bless you for this, my darling girl!" escaped +almost involuntarily from Mrs. Hamilton's lips, as the sweet disposition +of her child appeared to shine forth brighter than ever in this complete +surrender of her dearest hopes to the will of her parents. "And oh, that +He may soothe and comfort you will mingle in your mother's prayers. Tell +me but one thing more, my own. Have you never heard from this young man +since you parted?" + +"He wrote to me, imploring me to use my influence with St. Eval, to aid +his obtaining the situation of tutor to Lord Louis," answered Emmeline. +"He did not allude to what had passed between us; his letter merely +contained this entreaty, as if he would thus prove to me that his +intention to quit England, and seek for calmness in the steady +performance of active duties, was not mere profession." + +"Then your representations were the origin of Eugene's interest in +Arthur?" said Mrs. Hamilton, inquiringly. + +Emmeline answered in the affirmative. + +"And did you answer his letter?" + +"No, mamma; it was enough for me and for him, too, his wishes were +granted. I would not indulge my secret wish to do so. Neither you nor +papa, nor indeed any of my family, knew what had passed between us. +Determined as I was to struggle for the conquest of myself, I did not +imagine in keeping that secret I was acting undutifully; but had I +written to him, or cherished, as my weak fondness bade me do, +his--his--why should I hide it--his precious letter, my conscience would +have added its pangs to the sufferings already mine. While that was free +and light, I could still meet your look and smile, and return your kiss, +however I might feel my heart was breaking; but if I had so deceived +you, so disregarded my duty, as to enter into a correspondence with him, +unknown to you, oh, the comfort of your love would have flown from me +for ever." + +"And had my Emmeline indeed sufficient resolution to destroy that +letter?" demanded Mrs. Hamilton, surprise mingling with the admiration +and esteem which, though felt by a mother for a child, might well be +pardoned. + +"It was my duty, mother, and I did it," replied Emmeline, with a +simplicity that filled the eyes of her mother with tears. "Could I +indeed forget those principles of integrity which, from my earliest +infancy, you have so carefully instilled?" + +Mrs. Hamilton clasped her to her bosom, and imprinted kisses of the +fondest affection on her colourless and burning forehead. + +"Well, indeed, are my cares repaid," she exclaimed. "Oh, that my +affection could soothe your sorrows as sweetly as your gentle yet +unwavering adherence to filial love and duty have comforted me. Will +you, for my sake, my own love, continue these painful yet virtuous +efforts at self-conquest, which you commenced merely from a sense of +duty? Will you not glad your mother's heart and let me have the comfort +of beholding you once more my own cheerful, happy Emmeline?" + +"I will try," murmured Emmeline, struggling to smile; but oh, it was so +unlike herself, so lustreless and faint, that Mrs. Hamilton hastily +turned away to hide emotion. The dressing-bell at that instant sounded, +and Emmeline looked an entreaty to which her lips appeared unwilling to +give words. Her mother understood it. + +"I will not ask you to join us at dinner, love. Do not look so +beseechingly, you will recover this agitation sooner and better alone; +and so much confidence have you compelled me to feel in you," she added, +trying to smile and speak playfully, "that I will not ask you to make an +exertion to which you do not feel equal, even if you wish to be alone +the whole evening. I know my Emmeline's solitary moments will not be +spent in vain repinings." + +"You taught me whom to seek for comfort and relief in my childish +sorrows, and I will not, I do not forget that lesson now, mother," +answered Emmeline, faintly yet expressively. "Let me be alone, indeed, a +few hours, and if I can but conquer this feeling of exhaustion, I will +join you at tea." + +Mrs. Hamilton silently embraced and left her, with a heart swelling with +fond emotion, as she thought on the gentle yet decided character of her +child, who from her infancy had scarcely ever caused her pain, still +less anxiety. Now indeed solicitude was hers, for it was evident, alas! +too evident, that Emmeline's affections were unalterably engaged; that +this was not the mere fervour of the moment, a passion that would pass +away with the object, but one that Mrs. Hamilton felt forebodingly would +still continue to exist. Emmeline's was not a disposition to throw off +feelings such as these lightly and easily. Often had her mother inwardly +trembled when she thought of such a sentiment influencing her Emmeline, +and now the dreaded moment had come. How was she to act? She could not +consent to an union such as this would be. Few mothers possessed less +ambition than Mrs. Hamilton, few were so indulgent, so devoted to her +children, but to comply with the poor girl's feverish wishes would be +indeed but folly. Arthur had engaged himself to remain with Lord Louis +Lyle during the period of his residence in Germany, which was at that +time arranged to be three years. The future to young Myrvin must, she +knew, be a blank; years would in all probability elapse ere he could +obtain an advantageous living and means adequate to support a wife and +family; and would it not be greater cruelty to bid Emmeline live on in +lingering and sickening hope, than at once to appeal to her reason, and +entreat her, by the affection she bore her parents, to achieve this +painful conquest of herself, as their consent could not be given. They +felt sad, indeed, thus to add to the suffering of their afflicted child, +yet it was the better way, for had they promised to consent that when he +could support her she should be his own, it might indeed bring relief +for the moment, but it would be but the commencement of a life of +misery; her youth would fade away in that sickening anguish of hope +deferred, more bitter because more lingering than the absolute +infliction of brief though certain suffering. The hearts of both parents +grieved as they thought on all she had endured, and for a brief period +must still endure, but their path of duty once made clear, they swerved +not from it, however it might pain themselves. + +Mrs. Hamilton was right. Emmeline's solitary moments were not spent in +vain repinings; she struggled to compose her thoughts, to cast the +burden of her sorrows upon Him, who in love and mercy had ordained them; +and she did so with that pure, that simple, beautiful faith so +peculiarly her own, and a calm at length stole over her wearied spirit +and exhausted frame, soothing her, even to sleep, with the words of +prayer yet lingering on her lips. She awoke, after above an hour's +slumber, composed in mind, but still feverish in body. Prayer had +brought its blessed influence, but that calm was more the quiescence +proceeding from over-excitement than natural feeling; she felt it so, +and dreaded the return of mental agony, as bodily sufferers await the +periodical paroxysms of pain. She resolved not to give way to the +exhaustion she still felt. She rejoined the family at tea, pale indeed, +but perfectly composed, and even faintly smiling on her father, who, +hastily rising as she languidly and unexpectedly entered the room, +carried her tenderly in his arms to a couch, compelled her to lie down, +and bending over her with that soothing fondness which she so much +loved, retained his seat by her side all the evening, though +participating and frequently inducing her to join in the conversation on +various topics, which Mrs. Hamilton and Ellen seemed determined to +maintain. Once during that evening Emmeline had looked up beseechingly +in her father's face, and that touching, silent eloquence told all she +would have said, far more expressively than words. + +"Justice shall be done, my Emmeline," he replied, gently drawing her to +him, and speaking in a tone that was heard by her alone. "I have been +harsh, prejudiced, as cruelly unjust as blindly imposed on by a +comparative stranger; but I promise you, all shall be impartially +considered. I have done this unfortunate young man much wrong, for I +should have recollected his father has many enemies, and this may be one +of them, seeking from revenge to injure him. I am grateful to Arthur +Myrvin for his forbearance towards myself, for his truly noble conduct +towards you--right principles alone could have dictated both. Mrs. +Langford has confirmed all you said, and informed me of many little +circumstances which if, on a strict examination, I find are founded on +truth, Jefferies' character and base designs will not be difficult to +fathom. Myrvin's character shall be cleared from suspicion, if it be in +my power, my dear girl; rest as confident on my promise to that effect, +as I do on yours, that, this accomplished, _you will ask no more_." + +Emmeline's head rested on his shoulder; he had marked the relief, the +gratitude her sweet face expressed during his first words, but as he +ceased, her eyes were hid upon his bosom, and he could read no more. It +was well for the steadiness of his determination that it was so, for the +wretchedness imprinted on every feature, every line of her countenance, +at his concluding sentence, would have wrung his soul. + +Though persuaded by her parents to retire early, Emmeline did not do so +till the usual hour of separation after prayers. To Ellen's +silently-observing eye she appeared to shrink from being alone, and this +thought haunted her so incessantly, that, instead of composing herself +to rest, she softly traversed the short distance which separated their +apartments, and entered her cousin's room. + +Emmeline was alone, undressed, a large wrapping robe flung carelessly +over her night attire, but instead of reading, which at that hour, and +in that guise, she generally did, that the word of God might be the last +book on which she looked ere she sought her rest, she was leaning +abstractedly over the fire, seated on a low stool, her hands pressed on +her temples, while the flickering flame cast a red and unnatural glare +on those pale cheeks. Ellen advanced, but her cousin moved not at her +entrance, nor even when she knelt by her side, and twined her arms +around her. + +"Will you not go to bed, dearest Emmeline? it is so late, and you have +been so fearfully agitated to-day. Look up and speak to me, my own dear +cousin, or I shall fancy you are hurt with me for permitting so many +hours to pass without coming near you, when I knew you were in +suffering. Oh, you know not how I longed to come, but my aunt said you +had entreated to be left alone. I stood for some minutes by your door, +but all was so still, I thought I should disturb you did I enter. You do +not accuse me of unkindness, Emmeline?" + +Housed by her cousin's affectionate words and imploring voice, Emmeline +resisted not her embrace, but clung to her in silence. + +"You are ill, you are very ill, dearest, dearest Emmeline; do not sit up +thus; for my sake, for your mother's sake, try if sleep will not ease +this aching head," exclaimed Ellen, much alarmed at the burning heat and +quick throbbing of Emmeline's forehead, as it rested on her shoulder. + +"I cannot sleep, Ellen, it is useless to attempt it; I feel as if my +eyes would never close again; as if years had passed over my head since +last night. I thought I could not be more miserable than I was +when--when we parted, and as I have been since; but that was +nothing--nothing to this. I thought I had not indulged in hope, for I +knew that it was vain, but now, now I feel I must have done so, and it +is its utter, utter annihilation that bows me to the earth. Oh, why am I +so changed, I who was once so glad, so free, so full of hope and +happiness, looking forward to days as bright as those that fled; and now +what am I, and what is life? a thing from which all happiness has flown, +but clothed in darker shadows, from its contrast with the past." + +"Oh, do not say so, dearest," replied Ellen, affected almost to tears by +the despairing tone in which these words were said. "The blessing, the +comfort of your parents, your brothers, of all who know you as you are, +do not say your life will be without joy; its most cherished flower, its +most precious gem may have passed away, but others will spring up in +time, to fill that yearning void. You, whose presence ever brings with +it such enjoyment to others, oh, you too will be blessed. You cannot +long continue miserable, when you feel the power you have of making so +many of your fellow-creatures happy. You are ill, exhausted now, and +therefore all around you looks so full of gloom and pain, yet when this +shall have passed, you will not reject the comfort that remains. Have +you not an approving conscience to support you, the consciousness that +you have proved your love and gratitude to the parents you so fondly +love? and think you He, who looks with an eye of favour on the faintest +effort of His creatures, made for His sake, and in His spirit, will +permit this strength to pass unaided? No, dearest, He will assist and +strengthen you; He can take even from this bitter trial its sting." + +"I know it, I feel it," murmured Emmeline, still clinging to her cousin, +as if she found comfort in her presence and her words. "I know well that +this trial in itself is as nothing compared with those endured at this +very hour by thousands of my fellow-creatures, and knowing this makes me +the more wretched, for if I am thus repining and miserable, how dare I +hope my prayers will be heard?" + +"Yet doubt it not, my own Emmeline; our Father in heaven judgeth not as +man judgeth. Man might condemn this appearance of weakness in you now, +but God will not, for he knows the individual strength of His creatures, +and in love and mercy chasteneth accordingly. He knoweth this is a +severe trial for one, young and gentle as you are; and with your heart +lifted up to Him, as I know it is, doubt not that your prayers will be +heard and this pang softened in His own time. I fear my words sound +cold; but oh, would that I could comfort you, dearest," and tears stood +trembling in Ellen's eyes. + +"And you do comfort me, Ellen; oh, I do not feel so very wretched with +you near me as I do alone, though even you cannot guess this extent of +suffering; you know not what it is to love, and yet to feel there is no +hope; no--none," she repeated, in a low murmuring tone, as if to +convince herself that there was indeed none, as she had said; and it was +not strange that thus engrossed, she marked not that a slight shudder +passed through her cousin's frame at her last words; that Ellen's cheek +suddenly vied in its deadly paleness with her own; that the tears dried +up, as if frozen in those large, dark eyes, which were fixed upon her +with an expression she would, had she seen it, have found difficult to +understand; that the pale lip quivered for a few minutes, so as entirely +to prevent her speaking as she had intended. + +"Go to bed, dearest Emmeline, indeed you must not sit up longer," Ellen +said at length, as she folded her arms fondly round her and kissed her +cheek. "When I was ill, you ever wished to dictate to me," she +continued, playfully, "and I was always good and obedient; will you not +act up to your own principle and obey me now? think of your mother, +dearest, how anxious she will be if you are ill. I will not leave you +till you are asleep." + +"No, no, dear Ellen, I will not so abuse your kindness; I will go to +bed. I have been wrong to sit up thus, when I promised mamma to do all I +could to--but, indeed, you must not stay with me, Ellen. I feel so +exhausted, I may perhaps sleep sooner than I expect; but even if I do +not, you must not sit up." + +"Never mind, my love, let me see you obedient, and I will perhaps learn +the same lesson," replied Ellen, playfully, though her cheek retained +its suddenly-acquired paleness. Emmeline no longer resisted, and Ellen +quickly had the relief of seeing her in bed, and her eyes closed, as if +in the hope of obtaining sleep; but after a few minutes they again +opened, and seeing Ellen watching her, she said-- + +"You had better leave me, Ellen, I shall not be able to sleep if I think +you are watching me, and losing your own night's rest. I am not ill, my +dear cousin, I am only miserable, and that will pass away perhaps for a +short time again, as it did this afternoon." + +Ellen again kissed her and closed the curtains, obeying her so far as to +retire to her room, but not to bed; she was much too uneasy to do so. +Emmeline had been in very delicate health for some months, and it +appeared to her observant eyes and mind, that now the cause for her +exertion was removed, by the discovery of her long-treasured secret, +that health had really given way, and she was actually ill in body as +well as mind. The burning heat of her forehead and hand, the quick +pulsation of her temples, had alarmed her as predicting fever; and +Ellen, with that quiet resolution and prompt decision, which now +appeared to form such prominent traits in her character, determined on +returning to her cousin's room as soon as she thought she had fallen +asleep, and remain there during the night; that if she were restless, +uneasy, or wakeful, she might, by her presence, be some comfort, and if +these feverish symptoms continued, be in readiness to send for Mr. +Maitland at the first dawn of morning, without alarming her aunt. + +"You are not formed for sorrow, my poor Emmeline," she said internally, +as she prepared herself for her night's visit by assuming warmer +clothing. "Oh, that your grief may speedily pass away; I cannot bear to +see one so formed for joy as you are grieved. My own sorrows I can bear +without shrinking, without disclosing by one sign what I am internally +suffering. I have been nerved from my earliest years to trial, and it +would be strange indeed did I not seem as you believe me. _I_ know not +what it is to love. _I_ know not the pang of that utter hopelessness +which bows my poor cousin to the earth. Ah, Emmeline, you know not such +_hopelessness_ as mine, gloomy as are your prospects; you can claim the +sympathy, the affection, the consolation, of all those who are dear to +you; there is no need to hide your love, ill-fated as it is, for it is +_returned_--you are beloved; and I, my heart must bleed in secret, for +no such mitigation attends its loss of peace. I dare not seek for +sympathy, or say I love; but why--why am I encouraging these thoughts?" +and she started as if some one could have heard her scarcely-audible +soliloquy. "It is woman's lot to suffer--man's is to _act_, woman's to +_bear_; and such must be mine, and in silence, for even the sympathy of +my dearest relative I dare not ask. Oh, wherefore do I feel it shame to +love one so good, so superior, so holy? because, because he does not +love me, save with a brother's love; and I know he loves another." + +The slight frame of the orphan shook beneath that inward struggle; there +were times, in her hours of solitude, when such thoughts would come, +spite of every effort to expel them, and there was only one way to +obtain that self-control she so much needed, so continually exercised, +till it became a second nature. She became aware her feelings had +obtained undue ascendency, and, sinking on her knees, remained absorbed +in prayer, fervent and heartfelt, truly the outpourings of a contrite +and trusting spirit, confident in the power and mercy to which she +appealed. That anguish passed ere she arose, and every sign of agitation +had left her countenance and voice as she put her resolution into +action, and returned to her cousin. + +Emmeline had awoke from her brief and troubled slumbers, more restless +and feverish than when she had first sought her couch; and, suffering as +she was from that nervous and anxious state peculiar to approaching +fever, the poor girl no longer resisted Ellen's evident determination, +and clasping her hand between her own, now burning with fever, +continually thanked her, in broken and feeble accents, for remaining +with her, assuring her she did not feel so ill or as unhappy as she +should have done had she been alone. Anxious as she was, Ellen would not +arouse her aunt, but at the first break of day she softly entered the +housekeeper's room, and succeeded in arousing without alarming her, +informed her of Emmeline's restless state, and implored her to send at +once for Mr. Maitland. Hastily rising, Ellis accompanied Ellen to her +cousin's room, and instantly decided on complying with her request. The +household were already on the alert, and a servant was speedily +despatched; but, relieved as she was on this point, Ellen would not +comply with the good housekeeper's request to repose herself for a few +hours; she had resolved not to relinquish her post by the bedside of the +young sufferer to any save her aunt herself. Ellis desisted, for a word +from her favourite, almost her darling, as Ellen from many circumstances +had become, was to her always sufficient. + +Mrs. Hamilton and Mr. Maitland met at Emmeline's door, to the +astonishment and at first alarm of the former--an alarm which subsided +into comparative relief, as she listened to Ellen's hurried tale, +although anxiety to a very high degree remained, and with some reason, +for Ellen's fears were not unfounded. Emmeline's fever rapidly and +painfully increased, and for a week her parents hung over her couch +almost despairing of her recovery; their fond hearts almost breaking, as +they heard her sweet voice, in the wild accent of delirious intervals, +calling aloud on Arthur, and beseeching their consent and blessing to +restore her to health; and scarcely less painful was it in her lucid +hours to see her clasp her mother's hands repeatedly, and murmur, in a +voice almost inarticulate from weakness-- + +"Do not be anxious or grieved for me, my own dear mamma, I shall soon +get well, and be your happy Emmeline again. I cannot be miserable, when +I have you and papa and Ellen to love me so tenderly," and then, she +would cling to her mother's neck, and kiss her till she would sink to +sleep upon her bosom, as in infancy and childhood she had so often done; +and dearer than ever did that gentle girl become, in these hours of +suffering, to all who had loved her so fondly before; they had deemed it +almost impossible that affection could in any way be increased, and yet +it was so. Strange must be that heart which can behold a being such as +Emmeline cling to it, as if its protection and its love were now all +that bound her to earth, and still remain unmoved and cold. Affection is +ever strengthened by dependence--dependence at least like this; and +there was something peculiarly touching in Emmeline's present state of +mental weakness. Her parents felt, as they gazed on her, that they had +occasioned the anguish which had prostrated her on a bed of sickness; +and yet their child clung to them as if, in the intensity of her +affection for them, and theirs for her, she would strive to forget her +unhappy love, and be once more happy. + +Time rolled heavily by, and some few weeks passed, ere Emmeline was +sufficiently convalescent to leave her room, and then her pallid +features and attenuated form were such constant and evident proofs of +that mental as well as bodily fever, that Mrs. Hamilton could not look +on her without pain. She was still inwardly restless and uneasy, though +evidently struggling for cheerfulness, and Mr. Maitland, to whom some +necessary particulars of her tale had been told, gave as his opinion, +that some secret anxiety still rested on her mind, which would be much +better removed; the real cause of that solicitude her parents very +easily penetrated. Mr. Hamilton, fearing the effects of excitement in +her still very delicate state, had refrained from telling her all he had +accomplished in young Myrvin's favour during her sickness, but on +hearing Mr. Maitland's report, her parents both felt assured it was for +that information she pined, and therefore determined on instantly giving +her relief. + +It was with the utmost tenderness and caution Mr. Hamilton alluded to +the subject, and seating himself by her couch, playfully asked her if +she would promise him to get well the sooner, if he gratified her by the +pleasing intelligence that Arthur Myrvin's character was cleared, that +his enemy had been discovered, his designs exposed, and himself obliged +to leave the village, and the whole population were now as violently +prejudiced in Arthur's favour, as they had formerly been against him; +provoked also with themselves for their blind folly in receiving and +encouraging the idle reports propagated against him, not one of which +they now perceived were sufficiently well founded to stand before an +impartial statement and accurate examination. + +Had her parents doubted what had weighed on Emmeline's mind, the sudden +light beaming in those saddened eyes, the flush kindling on those pale +cheeks, the rapid movement with which she caught her father's hand, and +looked in his face, as if fearful he would deceive her, all these minute +but striking circumstances must have betrayed the truth. In a voice +almost inarticulate from powerful emotion, she implored him to tell her +every particular, and tenderly he complied. + +He had followed, he said, her advice, and confronted Nurse Langford with +the unprincipled man who had dared accuse a fellow-creature of a crime +in reality committed by himself, and reckless as he was, he had shrunk +in guilt and shame before her accusation, which was indeed the +accusation of the dying, and avowing himself the real perpetrator of the +sin, offered her a large bribe for secrecy, which, as might be expected, +the widow indignantly refused. It was easy to perceive, his arts had +worked on the old woman, Mary's grandmother, to believe him her friend +and Arthur her foe; the poor old creature's failing intellect assisted +his plans, while the reports he had insidiously circulated against the +unfortunate young man also confirmed his tale. Little aware that the +Widow Langford had been almost a mother to the poor girl his villainy +had ruined, and that she was likely to have heard the truth, being quite +unconscious she had attended her dying moments, he published this +falsehood, without any feeling of remorse or shame, hoping by so doing, +effectually to serve his employers, effect the disgrace of Myrvin, and +completely screen himself. Mrs. Langford now found it was time indeed +for her to come forward and perform her promise to Emmeline by proving +young Myrvin's innocence, but hesitated how to commence. She was +therefore both relieved and pleased at the entrance and inquiries of Mr. +Hamilton, and promised to obey his directions faithfully, only imploring +him to clear Mr. Myrvin's character, and expel Farmer Jefferies from the +village, which, from the time of his settling there, she said, had been +one scene of anarchy and confusion; frankly avowing, in answer to a +question of Mr. Hamilton, that it was for Miss Emmeline's sake she was +so anxious; she was sure she was interested in Mr. Myrvin's fate, and +therefore she had mentioned the unhappy fate of poor Mary Brookes, to +prove to her the young man had attended to his duty. Many other +startling proofs of Jefferies' evil conduct had the good widow, by +silent but watchful attention, been enabled to discover, as also +convincing evidence that the young curate had not been so neglectful or +faulty as he had been reported. All her valuable information she now +imparted to her master, to be used by him in any way his discretion +might point out, promising to be ever ready at the slightest notice to +prove all she had alleged. Mr. Hamilton carefully examined every +circumstance, reflected for a brief period on his mode of action, and +finally, assembling all the principal inhabitants around him, in the +public school-room of the village, laid before them all the important +facts he had collected, and besought their impartial judgment. He owned, +he said, that he too had been prejudiced against Mr. Myrvin, whose +life, while among them, many circumstances had combined to render +unhappy, but that now, he heartily repented his injustice, for he felt +convinced the greater part of what had been alleged against him was +false. Those evil reports he proved had all originated from the +machinations of Jefferies, and he implored them to consider whether they +could still regard the words of one, against whom so much evil had now +been proved, as they had formerly done, or could they really prove that +their young curate had in truth been guilty of the misdemeanours with +which he had been charged. + +Mr. Howard, who was present, seconded his words, acknowledging that he +too had been prejudiced, and adding, that he could not feel satisfied +till he had avowed this truth, and asked his young friend's pardon for +the injury he had done him. + +Nothing is more sudden and complete than changes in popular feeling. The +shameful act of Jefferies, in casting on the innocent the stigma of +shame and crime which was his own, was quite enough for the honest and +simple villagers. At once they condemned themselves (which perhaps they +might not have been quite so ready to do, had not Mr. Hamilton and their +rector shown them the example), and not only defended and completely +exculpated Myrvin, but in an incredibly short space of time, so many +anecdotes of the young man's performance of his duty were collected, +that had not Mr. Hamilton been aware of the violent nature of popular +feeling, those defects which still remained, though excused by the +recollection of the mental tortures Myrvin had been enduring, would +undoubtedly have departed, as entirely as every darker shade on his +character had done. + +Convinced that Arthur's attention to parochial affairs, as well as his +conduct in other matters, had been very opposite to that which had been +reported, neither Mr. Howard nor Mr. Hamilton could feel satisfied till +they had written to him, frankly avowing their injustice, and asking his +pardon and forgetfulness of the past, and assuring him that, if his +conduct continued equally worthy of approbation as it was at the present +time, he should ever find in them sincere and active friends. + +Mr. Hamilton felt he had much, very much to say to the young man; but in +what manner to word it he was somewhat perplexed. He could not speak of +his daughter, and yet Myrvin's conduct towards her had created a feeling +of gratitude and admiration which he could not suppress. Many fathers +would have felt indignation only at the young man's presumption, but Mr. +Hamilton was neither so unreasonable nor so completely devoid of +sympathy. It was he himself, he thought, who had acted imprudently in +allowing him to associate so intimately with his daughters, not the +fault of the sufferer. Myrvin had done but his duty indeed, but Mr. +Hamilton knew well there were very few young men who would have acted as +he had done, when conscious that his affection was returned with all the +enthusiasm and devotedness of a disposition such as Emmeline's. How few +but would have played with those feelings, tortured her by persuasions +to forget duty for the sake of love; but Arthur had not done this, and +the father's heart swelled towards him in gratitude and esteem; even +while he knew the hopelessness of his love, he felt for the anguish +which his sympathy told him Arthur must endure. After more deliberation +and thought than he could have believed necessary for such a simple +thing as to write a letter, Mr. Hamilton did achieve his object, +retaining a copy of his epistle, to prove to his child he had been +earnest in his assurances that Arthur's character should be cleared. +Painfully agitated by the tale she had heard, and this unexpected +confidence of her father, Emmeline glanced her eye over the paper, and +read as follows:-- + + +"_To the Rev. Arthur Myrvin, Hanover_. + +"MY DEAR MYRVIN.--You will be no doubt astonished at receiving this +letter, brief as I intend it to be, from one with whom you parted in no +very friendly terms, and who has, I grieve to own, given you but little +reason to believe me your friend. When a man has been unjust and +prejudiced, it becomes his peremptory duty, however pride may rebel, to +do all in his power to atone for it by an honourable reparation, both in +word and deed, towards him he may have injured. Such, my young friend, +is at present our relative position, and I am at a loss to know how best +to express my sense of your honourable conduct and my own injustice, +which occasioned a degree of harshness in my manner towards you when we +separated, which, believe me, I now recall both with regret and pain. +Circumstances have transpired in the parish once under your care, which +have convinced not only me, but all those still more violently +prejudiced against you, that your fair fame was tarnished by the secret +machinations and insidious representations of an enemy, and not by the +faulty nature of your conduct; and knowing this, we most earnestly +appeal to the nobleness of your nature for forgetfulness of the past, +and beg you will endeavour henceforward to regard those as your sincere +friends whom you have unhappily had too much reason to believe +otherwise. + +"For myself, my dear Myrvin, I do not doubt that you will do this, for +candidly I own, that only now I have learned the true nature of your +character. When I first knew you, I was interested in your welfare, as +the chosen friend of my son, and also for your father's sake, now it is +for your own. The different positions we occupy in life, the wide +distance which circumstances place between us, will, I feel sure, +prevent all misconception on your part as to my meaning, and prevent +your drawing from my friendly words conclusions opposite to what I +intend, therefore I do not hesitate to avow that I not only esteem, but +from my heart I thank you, Myrvin, for your indulgence of those +honourable feelings, that perfect integrity which bade you resign your +curacy and depart from Oakwood. I did you wrong, great wrong; words can +but faintly compensate injury, though words have been the weapon by +which that injury has been inflicted, yet I feel confident you will not +retain displeasure, natural as it was; you will consent once more to +look on and appeal, if you should ever require it, to the father of +Herbert as your willing friend. Believe me, that if it be in my power to +assist you, you will never appeal in vain. Lord Malvern, I rejoice to +find, is your staunch friend, and nothing shall be wanting on my part to +render that friendship as permanent as advantageous. Mrs. Hamilton begs +me to inform you, that in this communication of my feelings, I have +transcribed her own. Injustice indeed she never did you; but +admiration, esteem, and gratitude are inmates of her bosom as sincerely +as they are of my own. Continue, my young friend, this unwavering regard +to the high principles of your nature, this steady adherence to duty, +spite of prejudice and wrong, if indeed they should ever again assail +you, and the respecs of your fellow-creatures will be yours as warmly, +as unfeignedly, as is that of + +"Your sincere friend, + +"ARTHUR HAMILTON." + +No word, no sound broke from the parched lips of Emmeline as she ceased +to read. She returned the paper to her father in that same silence, and +turning from his glance, buried her face in her hands. Mr. Hamilton +guessed at once all that was passing in that young and tortured heart; +he drew her to him, and whispered fondly-- + +"Speak to me, my Emmeline. You do not think he can mistake my feelings. +He will not doubt all prejudice is removed." + +"Oh, no, no," she replied, after a severe struggle for composure; "you +have said enough, dear, dear papa. I could not have expected more." + +For a moment she clung to his neck, and covered his cheek with kisses, +then gently withdrawing herself from his arms, quietly but hastily left +the room. For about an hour she might have remained absent, and Mrs. +Hamilton would not disturb her; and when she returned there was no trace +of agitation, pale she was indeed, and her eye had lost its brightness, +but that was too customary now to be deemed the effect of excited +emotion, and no further notice was taken, save that perhaps the manner +of her parents and Ellen towards her that night was even fonder than +usual. + +Once again Mr. Hamilton mentioned Arthur Myrvin; to speak of the +pleasing and satisfactory letters both he and Mr. Howard had received +from him. He addressed himself to Ellen, telling her, Arthur had written +in a manner tending to satisfy even her friendly feelings towards him. +Emmeline joined not in the conversation. Her father did not offer to +show her the letter, and she stilled the yearnings of her young and +loving heart. From that hour the name of Arthur Myrvin was never heard +in the halls of Oakwood. There was no appearance of effort in the +avoidance, but still it was not spoken; not even by Percy and Herbert, +nor by Caroline or her husband. Even the letters of Lady Florence and +Lady Emily Lyle ceased to make him their principal object. Emmeline knew +the volatile nature of the latter, and therefore was not surprised that +she had grown tired of the theme; that Lady Florence should so +completely cease all mention of the tutor of her favourite brother was +rather more strange, but she did so perhaps in her letters to Ellen, and +of that Emmeline had not courage to ask. St. Eval would speak of Lord +Louis, expressing hopes that he was becoming more steady; but it so +chanced that, although at such times Emmeline, spite of herself, ever +longed for somewhat more, the magic name that would have bidden every +pulse throb never reached her ears, and her excited spirit would sink +back in despondency and gloom, increased from the momentary excitement +which expectation had vainly called forth. + +Astonished indeed had Arthur Myrvin been at the receipt of his letters +from Oakwood and the Rectory. Mr. Howard's was productive of +gratification alone; that of Mr. Hamilton afforded even greater +pleasure, combined with a more than equal measure of pain. He had hoped +Emmeline would have answered his letter. She did not, but he knew her +influence had been exercised in his favour; and agony as it was, he +acknowledged she had acted wisely. There was too much devotedness in +Emmeline's character for Myrvin to encourage one lingering doubt that +his affections were returned; and as he thought on her steady discharge +of filial duty, as he recalled their parting interview, and felt she had +not wavered from the path she had pointed out, his own energies, +notwithstanding that still lingering, still acute suffering, were roused +within him, and he resolved he would obey her. She should see her appeal +had not been made in vain; she should never blush for the man she had +honoured with her love; he would endeavour to deserve her esteem, though +they might never meet again. He felt he had been too much the victim of +an ill-fated passion; he had by neglect in trifles encouraged the +prejudice against him, lost himself active and willing friends; this +should no longer be, and Myrvin devoted himself so perseveringly, so +assiduously to his pupil, allowing himself scarcely any time for +solitary thought, that not the keenest observer would have suspected +there was that upon the young man's heart which was poisoning the +buoyancy of youth, robbing life of its joy, and rendering him old before +his time. + +That Mr. Hamilton, the father of his Emmeline, that his feelings should +have thus changed towards him, that he should admire and esteem instead +of condemn, was a matter of truly heartfelt pleasure. Hope would have +shook aloft her elastic wings, and carried him beyond himself, had not +that letter in the same hour dashed to the earth his soaring fancy, and +placed the seal upon his doom. He could not be mistaken; Mr. Hamilton +knew all that had passed between him and Emmeline, and while he +expressed his gratitude for the integrity and forbearance he (Myrvin) +had displayed, he as clearly said their love was hopeless, their union +never could take place. + +Myrvin had known this before, then why did his heart sink in even +deeper, darker despondency as he read? why were his efforts at +cheerfulness so painful, so unavailing? He knew not and yet struggled +on, but weeks, ay, months rolled by, and yet that pang remained +unconquered still. + +And did Emmeline become again in looks and glee as we have known her? +Was she even to her mother's eye again a child? Strangers, even some of +her father's friends, might still have deemed her so; but alas! a +mother's love strove vainly thus to be deceived. Health returned, and +with it appeared to come her wonted enthusiasm, her animated spirits. +Not once did she give way to depression; hers was not that pining +submission which is more pain to behold than decided opposition, that +resignation which has its foundation in pride, not in humility, as its +possessors suppose. Emmeline's submission was none of these. Her duties +as daughter and sister and friend, as well as those to the neighbouring +poor, were, if possible, more actively and perseveringly performed than +they had even been before. Not one of her former favourite employments +was thrown aside. The complete unselfishness of her nature was more +clearly visible than ever, and was it strange that she became dearer +than ever to those with whom she lived? Her parents felt she was twining +herself more and more around their hearts, and beheld, with +inexpressible anguish, that though her young mind was so strong, her +fragile frame was too weak to support the constant struggle. She never +complained; there was no outward failing of health, but there was a +nameless something hovering round her, which even her doting parents +could not define, but which they felt too forcibly to shake off; and +notwithstanding every effort to expel the idea, that nameless something +brought with it alarm--alarm defined indeed too clearly; but of which +even to each other they could not speak. + +Time passed, and Herbert Hamilton, as the period of his ordination was +rapidly approaching, lost many of those painfully foreboding feelings +which for the last three years had so constantly and painfully assailed +him. He felt stronger in health than he had ever remembered to have +done, and the spirit of cheerfulness, and hope, and joy breathing in the +letters of his Mary affected him with the same unalloyed feelings of +anticipated happiness; sensations of holiness, of chastened thanksgiving +pervaded his every thought, the inward struggle appeared passed. There +was a calm upon his young spirit, so soothing and so blessed, that the +future rose before him unsullied by a cloud; anticipation was so bright, +it seemed a foretaste of that glorious heaven, the goal to which he and +his Mary looked--the home they sought together. + +Percy had also obtained honourable distinction at Oxford; his active +spirit would not have permitted him to remain quiet in college so long, +had he not determined to see his brother ordained ere he commenced the +grand tour, to which he looked with much zest, as the completion to his +education, and render him, if he turned it to advantage, in all respects +fitted to serve his country nobly in her senate, the point to which he +had looked, from the first hour he was capable of thought, with an +ardour which increased as that long-desired time approached. + +The disgraceful expulsion of Cecil Grahame from Cambridge opened afresh +that wound in his father's heart which Annie had first inflicted, but +which the conduct of Lilla had succeeded in soothing sufficiently to bid +her hope it would in time be healed. The ill-directed young man had +squandered away the whole of his mother's fortune, and behaved in a +manner that rendered expulsion inevitable. He chose to join the army, +and, with a painfully foreboding heart, his father procured him a +commission in a regiment bound for Ireland, hoping he would be exposed +to fewer temptations there than did he remain in England. + +Lady Helen, as her health continued to decline, felt conscience becoming +more and more upbraiding, its voice would not be stilled. She had known +her duty as a mother; she had seen it beautifully portrayed before her +in Mrs. Hamilton, but she had neglected its performance, and her +chastisement she felt had come. Annie's conduct she had borne, she had +forgiven her, scarcely appearing conscious of the danger her daughter +had escaped; but Cecil was her darling, and his disgrace came upon her +as a thunderbolt, drawing the veil from her eyes, with startling and +bewildering light. She had concealed his childish faults, she had petted +him in every whim, encouraged him in every folly in his youth; to hide +his faults from a severe but not too harsh a judge, she had lowered +herself in the eyes of her husband, and achieved no good. Cecil was +expelled, disgracefully expelled, and the wretched mother, as she +contrasted his college life with that of the young Hamiltons, felt she +had been the cause; she had led him on by the flowery paths of +indulgence to shame and ruin. He came not near her; he joined his +regiment, and left England, without bidding her farewell, and she felt +she should never see him more. From that hour she sunk; disease +increased, and though she still lingered, and months passed, and there +was no change for the worse, yet still both Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton felt +that death was written on her brow, that, however he might loiter on his +way, his destined victim would never again feel the blessedness of +health; and all their efforts were now directed in soothing the +affliction of Grahame, and lead him to console by tenderness the +remaining period of his unhappy wife's existence. They imparted not to +him their fears, but they rested not till their desire was obtained, and +Lady Helen could feel she was not only forgiven but still beloved, and +would be sincerely mourned, both by her husband and Lilla, in whom she +had allowed herself at one time to be so deceived. + +Having now brought the affairs of Oakwood, and all intimately connected +with it, to a point, from which no subject of interest took place for +above a year, at that period we resume our narrative. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +It was a fine summer morning. The windows of a pretty little +sitting-room were thrown wide open, and the light breeze, loaded with +the perfume of a thousand flowers, played refreshingly on the pale cheek +of our young friend Emmeline, who, reclining on a sofa, looked forth on +beautiful nature with mingled sadness and delight. More than a year had +elapsed since we last beheld her, and she was changed, painfully +changed. She still retained her childish expression of countenance, +which ever made her appear younger than in reality she was, but its +ever-varying light, its beautiful glow were gone; yet she complained +not. The smile ever rested on her lips in the presence of her parents; +her voice was ever joyous, and no sigh, no repining word, betrayed the +breaking heart within. She recognised with a full and grateful heart the +blessings still surrounding her, and struggled long and painfully to be +content; but that fond yearning would not be stilled, that deep love no +effort could dispel. Still there were times when those who had never +known her in former years would have pronounced her well, quite well in +health; and Emmeline would smile when such remarks reached her, and +wonder if her parents were so deceived. Sometimes she thought they were, +for the name of Arthur Myrvin was no longer suppressed before her. She +heard of him, of his devotion to his pupil, of the undeviating integrity +and steadiness which characterised him, and promised fair to lead Lord +Louis in the same bright paths; she had heard of Arthur's devoted care +of his pupil during a long and dangerous illness, that he, under Divine +goodness, had been the instrument of saving the youth's life, and +restoring him to health; and if she permitted no sign to betray the +deep, absorbing interest she felt, if her parents imagined he was +forgotten, they knew not the throbbings of her heart. + +She was conversing this morning with Mrs. Cameron, who had learned to +love Emmeline dearly; from being very often at Oakwood, she and her +daughters were looked on by all Mr. Hamilton's children as part of the +family. + +"Is not Flora delighted at the idea of again seeing her brother?" +Emmeline asked, in answer to Mrs. Cameron's information that Walter was +returning with his regiment to England, and in a very few weeks would be +once more an inmate of her home. She answered cheerfully in the +affirmative, and Emmeline again inquired--"Was Captain Cameron at all +acquainted with Cecil Grahame? Did he know the cause of his having been +so disgracefully cashiered?" + +"Their regiments were quartered in such different parts of Ireland," +replied Mrs. Cameron, "that I believe they only met on one occasion, and +then Walter was glad to withdraw from the society of the dissolute young +men by whom Lieutenant Grahame was always surrounded. The cause of his +disgrace appears enveloped in mystery. Walter certainly alluded to it, +but so vaguely, that I did not like to ask further particulars. I +dreaded the effect it would have on Mr. Grahame, but little imagined +poor Lady Helen would have sunk beneath it." + +"I believe few know how she doted on that boy. It was misguided, but +still it was love that caused her to ruin him as she did in his +childhood. From the hour he was expelled from Cambridge, she never held +up her head; it was so cruelly ungrateful of him to set off for Ireland +without once seeking her; and this last stroke was too much for her to +bear. She still hoped, despite her better judgment, that he would in the +end distinguish himself, and she could not meet the disappointment." + +"Did she long survive the intelligence?" + +"Scarcely four-and-twenty hours. Mr. Grahame, feeling unable to command +himself, requested mamma and Lilla to impart to her the distressing +information, which they did most tenderly; but their caution was +entirely fruitless. Her constant inquiry was relative to his present +situation, and when she heard that he had not been seen since he was +cashiered, she sunk into a state of insensibility from which she never +recovered." + +"And Mr. Grahame?" + +"The shock rendered him almost distracted, for it was so sudden. Lady +Helen had become so altered lately, that she was devotedly loved both by +her husband and child; she had been so long ailing, that both Lilla and +her father fondly hoped and believed she would be spared to them still +some years longer, though she might never entirely recover her health. +Mr. Grahame's feelings are stronger than most people imagine, but his +misfortunes have bowed him down even more than I could have believed +possible." + +"They appeared so united and happy, that I do not wonder at it," +observed Mrs. Cameron. "I have seldom seen such devotedness as Lady +Helen received from both her husband and child; she always welcomed +their affectionate attentions as if she felt herself undeserving of +them. I was interested in her, she bore her sufferings so meekly." + +"And poor Lilla, how is she?" + +"She suffers much, but behaves admirably. Ellen says her self-control is +extraordinary, when we remember she was one of those beings who could +never conceal a single feeling. Her poor father seems to look to her now +as his sole blessing and support; she soothes his sorrow so quietly, so +tenderly, and ever tries to prevent his thoughts dwelling on the stigma +which Cecil's disgraceful conduct has cast upon his name. I trust time +will restore that calm tranquillity which he has enjoyed the last year, +but I must own I fear it. If this moody irritability continue, Lilla +will have much to bear, but she will do her duty, and that will bring +its own reward." + +A faint and scarcely audible sigh escaped from Emmeline as she spoke. +Mrs. Cameron, without noticing, asked when she expected her brothers to +return home from London. + +"Herbert takes orders next week, and they return together very soon +afterwards. He is, as you will believe, delighted at the near approach +of an event which has been his guiding star since his boyhood. I never +saw him looking so well or so happy, and Percy shares his joy, and we +shall have him near us, I am happy to say, for he will be the minister +of our own dear parish, which, by Mr. Howard's promotion, will be vacant +about the time he will require it. Mr. Howard says he thinks he should +have turned rebel, and refused the presentation of a valuable living, +with the title of archdeacon attached to his name, if any one but +Herbert were to succeed him here; but as he leaves his flock under his +care, he will not refuse the blessings offered him. He does not go very +far from us, if he had I should have been so very sorry, that even my +brother's succeeding him would not have satisfied me." + +There was a short pause, which was broken by Emmeline saying-- + +"Speaking about Mr. Howard and Herbert has made me forget Percy, dear +fellow. You know how he has raved about the grand tour he is going to +make, all the curiosities he is to see and bring home for me, even to +the dome of St. Peter's or the crater of Vesuvius, if I wish to see +them. He has taken my provoking remarks in good part, and sets off with +Caroline and her husband in July. My sister's health has been so +delicate the last three months, that she is advised to go to Geneva. Her +little boy grows such a darling, I shall miss him almost as much as his +mother." + +"Do you stay with them at Castle Terryn before they go?" + +"I do not think I shall, for at present I seem to dislike the idea of +leaving home. They come to us, I believe, a few weeks hence, in order +that we may be all together, which we could not very well be at St. +Eval's." + +"Has Lord St. Eval quite lost all anxiety on his brother's account? The +physicians said they could never have brought him through it, had it not +been for Mr. Myrvin's prudent and unceasing care." + +"Yes; every letter from Castle Malvern confirms the report, all anxiety +has been over some weeks now; indeed, before the Marquis reached +Hanover, where he received from his son's own lips an affecting and +animated account of his own imprudence, and Mr. Myrvin's heroic as well +as prudent conduct." + +"Was there an accident, then? I thought it was from the fever then +raging in the town." + +"Lord Louis had determined, against his tutor's consent, to join a party +of very gay young men, who wished to leave Hanover for a time and make +an excursion to the sea-shore. Mr. Myrvin, who did not quite approve of +some of the young gentlemen who were to join the party, remonstrated, +but in vain. Lord Louis was obstinate, and Mr. Myrvin, finding all his +efforts fruitless, accompanied his pupil, very much to the annoyance of +the whole party, who determined to render his sojourn with them so +distasteful, that he would quickly withdraw himself. Lord Louis, led on +by evil companions, turned against his tutor, who, however, adhered to +his duty unshrinkingly. A sailing match was resolved on, and, +notwithstanding the predictions of Mr. Myrvin, that a violent storm was +coming on and likely to burst over them before half their day's sport +was completed, they set off, taunting him with being afraid of the +water. They declared there was no room for him in their boats, and +pushed off without him. He followed them closely, and fortunate was it +that he did so. The storm burst with fury; the little vessels were most +of them shattered to pieces, and many of the misguided and unfortunate +young men fell victims to their wilful folly. Some, who were good +swimmers, escaped, but Lord Louis had struck his head against a +projecting rock, and, stunned and senseless, must have sunk, had not Mr. +Myrvin been mercifully permitted to bear him to the shore in safety. He +was extremely ill, but in a few weeks recovered sufficiently to return +to Hanover, unconscious, as was Mr. Myrvin, of the virulent fever then +raging there. Already in delicate health, he was almost instantly +attacked by the disease, in its most alarming and contagious form; the +servants fled in terror from the house, only one, his own valet, an +Englishman, remained near him. But Mr. Myrvin never left him; day and +night he attended, soothed, and relieved him. His efforts were, happily, +rewarded: Lord Louis lived and his preceptor escaped all infection. The +Marquis and his son have both written of Mr. Myrvin in the most +gratifying terms; and the Marchioness told mamma she could never in any +way repay the debt of gratitude she owed him." + +Mrs. Cameron was much interested in Emmeline's narrative, and asked if +they were not soon to return to England. + +"They may have already arrived," replied Emmeline. "Florence wrote me a +fortnight ago she was counting the days till their return. I sent a +letter, apparently from her, this morning to Moorlands for Ellen, as I +am not quite sure whether she will return home this evening or not, and +perhaps that contains the intelligence. His mother and sisters will be +overjoyed to have him once more with them, after the dangers he has +passed." + +"Has Mr. Myrvin any family?" + +"Only his father, a truly good, kind, old man, the rector of +Llangwillan." + +"And are you not desirous to see this admirable young man, this devoted +preceptor, my dear Emmeline?" said Mrs. Cameron, smiling. "Will he not +be an excellent hero of romance?" + +Emmeline answered, that as she already knew him, she could not throw +around him the halo of imagination; she was content to admire his +character as it was, without decking him in other charms. Their further +conversation turned upon other and indifferent subjects till Mrs. +Cameron departed. + +The death of Lady Helen and the misconduct of her son had cast such deep +gloom over Moorlands, that not only Emmeline, but both Mr. and Mrs. +Hamilton feared Grahame would never arouse himself from the moody apathy +into which he had fallen. He felt disgrace had fallen on his name, a +stain never to be erased; that all men would shun the father of one so +publicly dishonoured. The extent of Cecil's conduct was scarcely known +even to his father; but that he had used dishonest measures at the +gambling table to discharge enormous debts; that he had behaved +insolently to his superior officers; that it required great interest to +prevent a much harsher sentence than had been his punishment--these +facts were known all over England. The previously unsullied name of +Grahame was now synonymous with infamy; and it was even supposed Cecil +would never show his face in England again. Mr. Grahame shrunk in misery +from encountering the glance even of his friends; he felt as if he too +shared the disgrace of his son, he and his young, his beautiful Lilla; +she whom he had anticipated, with so much pleasure, introducing among +his friends, she was doomed to share with him the solitude, which he +declared was the only fit abode of ignominy; and even to her his manner +was wayward and uncertain--at times almost painfully fond, at others +equally stern and harsh. Lilla's character was changed; she struggled to +bear with him, unrepiningly, dutifully, conscious that the eye of her +God was upon her, however her father might appear insensible to her +affection. + +Even the society of Mr. Howard and Mr. Hamilton was irksome; their +efforts to rouse and cheer him were unavailing, and they could only hope +time would achieve that for which friendship was inadequate. + +Herbert's engagement with Mary Greville still remained untold, but he +looked forward to discovering his long-treasured secret, when he beheld +himself indeed an ordained minister of God; Percy perhaps was in his +confidence, but neither his sisters nor Ellen. Mary's letters were full +of comfort to him; such pure and beautiful affection breathed in every +line, that even the sadness which the few last unconsciously betrayed +did not alarm him. He accounted for it by her reluctance to quit her +beautiful retreat in the Swiss mountains for the confusion and heat of +Paris, where she now resided. A few months previously they had been +visited in their retreat by her father; scarcely more surprised were +they at his appearance than at his manner, which was kinder and more +indulgent than Mary had ever remembered it. For a short time Mrs. +Greville indulged hopes, that their long separation had effected a +change in her husband, and that they should at length be happy together. + +He did not know much about Alfred, he said, except that he was well, and +travelling with some friends in different parts of the Continent. + +Mrs. Greville tried to be satisfied, and her cheering hopes did not +desert her even when her husband expressed a wish that she would reside +with him at Paris. The wish rather confirmed them, as it evinced that he +was no longer indifferent to her own and his child's society. With +joyful alacrity she consented, but in vain endeavoured to banish from +Mary's mind the foreboding fears that appeared to have filled it, from +the hour it was settled they were to leave Monte Rosa. In vain her +mother affectionately represented how much nearer she would be to +Herbert; nothing could remove, though she strove to conquer, this +seemingly uncalled-for and indefinable despondency. + +"I confess my weakness," she wrote to her betrothed, "but I had so often +pictured remaining at Monte Rosa till you came for me, as you had +promised, so often pictured to myself the delight of showing to you my +favourite haunts, ere we left them together for still dearer England, +that I cannot bear to find these visions dispelled without pain. I know +you will tell me I ought to be thankful for this great and happy change +in my father, and bear every privation for the chance of binding him to +us for ever. Do not reprove me, dear Herbert, but there is that about my +father that bids me tremble still, and whispers the calm is not lasting; +in vain I strive against it, but a voice tells me, in thus leaving Monte +Rosa, peace lingers in its beautiful shades, and woe's dark shadow +stands threatening before me." + +Herbert longed to go to her, and thus disperse all these foreboding +fears, but that pleasure the near approach of his ordination prevented; +but fondly he looked forward with unalloyed hope in a few months to seek +his Mary, and at once banish all indefinable sorrow by making her his +own. Not a doubt entered his mind of Mr. Greville's consent, when he +should in person demand it, and he was eager to do so while this +strangely indulgent humour continued. + +The first few months of her residence in Paris were fraught with +happiness for Mrs. Greville. Her husband's manner did not change. They +mingled in society, and the admiration Mary's quiet beauty excited +afforded the greatest pleasure to her mother, and even appeared to +inspire her father with some pride. To the poor girl herself it was +irksome and painful; but she tried to convince herself these feelings +were wrong, and checked them even in her letters to Herbert. + +Ellen returned from Moorlands, where she had been staying with Lilla, +whose affection for her continued unabated; for she found in her society +and sympathy much comfort since her mother's death. There was little +change visible in Ellen. Her health was established, her pensive beauty +unimpaired. Still was she the meek, unassuming, gentle girl she had long +been; still to the eye of strangers somewhat cold and indifferent. Her +inward self was becoming every year more strengthened; she was resolved +to use every effort to _suffer_, without the slightest portion of +bitterness impregnating her sentiments towards her fellow-creatures, or +the world in general. Her lot she _knew_ was to _bear_; her duty she +_felt_ was to _conceal_. + +Ellen, on her return home, gave her cousin the letter which Emmeline had +mentioned as having forwarded to her that morning. It was fraught with +interest, and the anxious eye of Mrs. Hamilton moved not from her +daughter's countenance as she read. Still was it so calm that even she +was puzzled; and again the thought, "Is it for him" she is thus +drooping, fading like a flower before me? is it, indeed, the struggle +between love and duty which has made her thus? crossed her mind, as it +had often, very often done before, and brought with it renewed +perplexity. + +Lady Florence had written in the highest spirits, announcing the return +of her father, Lord Louis, and his tutor; that her brother was looking +quite well and strong, and was the same dear, merry, mischievous boy as +ever; delighted to be in England, abusing all the Germans, and +professing and displaying the most extreme fondness for Mr. Myrvin. + +"He speaks of Mr. Myrvin in terms that bring tears to my eyes, tears of +which, my dear Ellen, I am not at all ashamed. The only drawback to the +life of a soldier, which my brother has now positively resolved on, in +spite of all our persuasions, exists, he says, in the consequent +separation from Mr. Myrvin, and he almost wishes to go to Cambridge, to +chain him to his side; but for Mr. Myrvin's sake, I am glad this will +not be. He is looking ill, very ill, quite different to the Arthur +Myrvin we knew at Oakwood; a change has come over him which I cannot +describe, and even to myself can scarcely define. He is much more +polished in his manner, but it is tinged with such deep melancholy, or +intense thought, I really do not know which it is, that he appears many +years older than when he left England. My father has at length prevailed +on him to resign all idea of again seeking the arduous charge of tutor, +but, with that honest pride which I so much admire and esteem, he has +refused all papa's offers of advancement, only consenting to accept the +living on Eugene's estate, when Louis shall require his services no +longer. I trust the healthy air of Cornwall and the quiet of his parish +will restore him to health, for the care which preserved that of Louis +has, I fear, ruined his own. He goes to London to-morrow to see +Herbert; the society of your cousins cannot fail to do him good. Louis +joins the army in a few months, and then Mr. Myrvin will take possession +of his living; but you will in all probability see them before, as Lord +and Lady St. Eval have sent a pressing invitation for them to come down +to Castle Terryn, and as soon as Mr. Myrvin returns from London, Louis +intends doing so. I want to hear Herbert's opinion of his friend, as my +dismal fancies concerning him may, after all, be only a woman's fancy, +yet looking ill he decidedly is." + +So wrote Lady Florence, and very soon Herbert and Percy's letters home +confirmed all she had said. Either the air of Germany had not been +congenial, or some other cause had so changed his outward appearance and +tinged his manner, that Herbert could not look on him without pain; but +the restless irritation, the haughty indifference which had been his +before he left Oakwood, no longer existed. There was a quiet dignity +about him that prevented all intrusive sympathy, a mild, steady lustre +in his dark grey eye, which so clearly said conscience was at peace, +that Herbert instinctively felt the bonds of friendship stronger than +they had ever been before; he was no longer anxious, for he felt assured +the errors of Arthur's former life were conquered, and he wrote to his +father concerning his friend with all his native eloquence. + +Emmeline made no observation; her young soul was absorbed in an intense +feeling of thanksgiving, that her prayers had been heard. Strength had +been granted him, and he had done his duty; he was esteemed, beloved; +his character was pure and bright; and if the gulf between them +remained impassable, should she murmur, when _all_ for which she had +prayed had been vouchsafed her? But a sterner call of obedience appeared +about to hover over her, from which her young spirit shrunk back +appalled. + +Herbert's anxious wishes were accomplished; there was no longer any +barrier to his earnest prayers to become a servant of his God, and of +service to his fellow-creatures. The six years in which he had laboured +unceasingly, untiringly, to prepare himself for the life which from his +boyhood he had chosen, now appeared but as a passing dream, and as he +knelt before the venerable bishop, his feelings became almost +overpowering. Tears rose in his eyes, and he drooped his head upon his +hands to conceal them. He felt this was no common life on which he +entered, no mere profession, in which he would be at liberty to think +and act as he pleased. Herbert felt that he had vowed himself to do the +work of God; that in it was comprised the good of his fellow-creatures. +The stern conquest of his own rebellious will; that his _actions_, not +his language only, should uphold the glory of his Maker. + +The return of Percy and Herbert brought pleasure to Oakwood, and a week +or two afterwards Lord and Lady St. Eval, with their little boy, +arrived, imparting additional happiness. Emmeline was surprised at +seeing them, for she thought Lord Louis and his preceptor were expected +at Castle Terryn. Lord St. Eval often spoke of his brother, and alluded +to Myrvin, and even hinted his thanks to Emmeline for her exertions in +the latter's favour, when the Marquis was hesitating whether or not to +intrust him with the charge of his son; but on such matters he never +spoke openly, yet not so guardedly as to betray to Emmeline he was +acquainted with her secret. + +Mr. Hamilton had many private conversations both with the young Earl and +his son Herbert, but what the subject was which so engrossed him only +Mrs. Hamilton knew. + +The return of Edward, too, from a short cruise gave additional spirit to +Oakwood. The young sailor had rapidly run through the grades of +lieutenant, and now stood the first on the line; his character both as a +sailor and a man was confirmed. He was as deservedly respected by his +messmates as beloved by his family, and to Ellen he was indeed dear. The +most perfect confidence existed between this affectionate brother and +sister, except on one point, and on that even to Edward she could not +speak; but he had not one thought, one feeling which he concealed from +her, he sought no other friend. Scarcely could Mrs. Cameron and her son +Walter recognise in this amiable young man the headstrong, fiery, +overbearing lad they had known in India. + +The little party at Oakwood had all either walked or ridden out, and +Mrs. Hamilton alone remained at home. She stood by the side of Emmeline, +who was asleep, peacefully and sweetly; a smile bright and beautiful as +of other days, played round her lips. The mother reflected on the words +of Mr. Maitland, who had assured her, the remedy he proposed would be +successful. "Make her happy, remove this weighty load which weighs upon +her heart, and she will live to be the blessing she has ever been to all +who love her." + +Tears of mingled feeling rose to the eyes of Mrs. Hamilton as she +watched her child. Emmeline's lips moved. "Arthur, dear Arthur," she +murmured, a faint flush rising to her cheek, and the smile heightened in +its brilliancy; a few minutes, and her eyes unclosed; a shade of +disappointment passed over her features, a faint sigh struggled to +escape, but it was checked, for she met her mother's fond glance, and +smiled. + +"Why are you not gone out, dearest mother, this lovely evening? why stay +with such a dull companion as I am? Percy and Edward could offer so many +more attractions, and I am sure it is not with their good-will you are +here." + +"Would my Emmeline refuse me the sweet pleasure of watching her, tending +her? believe me, dearest, without you at my side, the park and this +lovely evening would lose half their attractions." + +"Do not say so, my own mother. I am not ill, only lazy, and that you +were not wont to encourage; my eyes would close, spite of all my +efforts. But why should you have the uninteresting task of watching my +slumbers?" + +"Because, dearest, I will not abandon my office, till it is claimed as +the right of another. It will soon be, my Emmeline; but do not send me +from your side, till then." + +"The right of another, dearest mother? whose right will it ever be but +yours? who can ever be to me the tender nurse that you have been?" + +"One who will vow to love, protect, and cherish you; one who loves you, +my own Emmeline, and longs to claim you as his own, and restore, by his +affection, the health and spirits you have lost; one who has the consent +and blessing of your father and myself, and waits but for yours." + +Emmeline started from her recumbent posture. + +"Oh, send me not from you, mother, my own mother! Do not, oh, do not +compel me to marry!" she exclaimed, in a tone of agony. "The affection +of a husband restore my health! oh, no, no, it would break my heart at +once, and you would send me from you but to die. Mother, oh, let me stay +with you. Do not let my father command my obedience; in everything else +I will obey but in this." She hid her face in Mrs. Hamilton's bosom, and +wept bitterly. + +"We will command nothing that can make you miserable, my own," replied +her mother, soothingly. "But you will love him, my Emmeline, you will +love him as he loves you; his fond affection cannot fail to make you +happy. You will learn to know him--to value his noble virtues, his +honourable principles. As his wife, new pleasures, new duties will be +around you. Health will return, and I shall see my Emmeline once more as +she was--my own happy child." + +"And has it indeed gone so far that both you and my father have +consented, and I must disobey and displease my parents, or be miserable +for life?" + +"My child," said Mrs. Hamilton, so solemnly, that Emmeline involuntarily +checked her tears, "my child, you shall never marry the husband we have +chosen for you, unless you can love and be happy with him: sacredly and +irrevocably I promise this. You shall not sacrifice yourself for a +doubtful duty. If, when you have seen and known him, your wishes still +are contrary to ours, we will not demand your obedience. If you still +prefer your mother's home, never, never shall you go from me. Be +comforted, my Emmeline,--do not weep thus. Will you not trust me? If +you cannot love, you shall not marry." + +"But, my father--oh, mamma, will he too promise me this?" + +"Yes, love; doubt him not," and a smile so cheering, so happy, was round +Mrs. Hamilton's lips as she spoke, that Emmeline unconsciously felt +relieved. "We only wish our Emmeline's consent to an introduction to +this estimable young man, who has so long and so faithfully loved her, +and if still she is inexorable we must submit. Could I send you from me +without your free consent? Could I part from you except for happiness?" + +Emmeline threw her arms round her mother's neck. In vain she struggled +to ask who was the young man of whom her mother spoke. Why should she +inquire, when she felt that he never, never could be anything to her? +Bitterly, painfully she struggled to dismiss the thought hastily from +her mind, and gladly hailed the entrance of the nurse with her little +nephew as a relief. Her mother joined her in caressing and playing with +him, and ere he was dismissed the scattered parties had returned, and +there was no opportunity for farther confidential converse. + +It was a happy, merry party at Oakwood, but the presence of Lilla +Grahame was wanting to make it complete. Ellen was constantly with her, +for she would not permit the lively proceedings of home to interfere +with the call of friendship; and in this task of kindness she was +constantly joined by Edward, who would frequently leave gayer amusements +to offer Lilla his company on her walk, and his intelligent +conversation, his many amusing anecdotes, frequently drew a smile from +his young listener, and, combined with Ellen's presence and more quiet +sympathy, raised her spirits, and encouraged her in her painful task of +bearing with, if she could not soothe, her father's still irritable +temperament. Moorlands was to be sold; for Mr. Grahame had resolved on +burying himself and his child in some retired cottage, where his very +existence might be forgotten. In vain Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton combated +this resolution, and entreated him at least to settle near them; gloomy, +almost morose, he still spoke of Wales as the only place where he was +not known, where his name might not be associated with disgrace. Lilla +was just of an age to feel the parting with the kind friends of her +childhood as a most painful trial, but she determined to reconcile +herself to her father's will whatever it might be. + +Captain Cameron too was an agreeable addition to the society of Oakwood; +high-spirited, and naturally joyous, Percy liked him as a kindred +spirit; and reserved, though intelligent, Herbert found many points of +his character assimilate with his. Mrs. Cameron's station in life had +been somewhat raised since her return to England. Sir Hector Cameron, +her husband's elder brother, childless and widowed, found his morose and +somewhat miserly disposition softened, and his wish to know his +brother's family became too powerful to be resisted. He had seen Walter +in Ireland, and admired the young man ere he knew who he was; a farther +acquaintance, ere he discovered himself as his uncle, heightened these +good impressions, and Walter, to his utter astonishment, found himself +suddenly the heir to a rich baronetcy, and his mother and sisters +comfortably provided for. He rejoiced at his good fortune, but not at +the baronetcy itself; not for the many pleasures which, as Sir Hector's +heir, now stood temptingly before him, but because he might now indeed +encourage an affection, which he had once believed was as hopeless as it +was intense. + +There is but one person whom we knew in a former page whose fate we have +omitted to mention; it may be well to do so here, ere we proceed +regularly with our narrative. The high-minded, unselfish, truth-loving +Lady Gertrude Lyle had at length, to the great joy of her parents, +consented to reward long years of silent devotion, by bestowing her hand +on the Marquis of Alford. They were married, and need we say that they +were happy? Lady Gertrude's love to her husband increased with each +passing year, and he, as time passed on, missed nothing of that bright +example of goodness, of piety, and virtue, which had led him to deserve +her love. + +"Emmeline, dearest, put on your prettiest dress to-night, and confine +those flowing curls with some tasteful wreath," said Mr. Hamilton, +playfully addressing his daughter, about a week after the conversation +with her mother. The dressing-bell had sounded, and the various inmates +of Oakwood were obeying its summons as he spoke, and Caroline laughingly +asked her father how long he had taken such an interest in dress. "Does +your ladyship think I never do?" he replied, with mock gravity. + +"Do you remember when my dear father's own hand wreathed a sprig of +scarlet geranium in my hair, some ten years ago, when I was a vain and +wilful girl?" replied the young Countess, without heeding his question, +and looking up with fond affection in his face. "Ah, papa, no flower, +even when formed of gems, ever gave me so much pleasure as that." + +"Not even when placed within these glossy curls by St. Eval's hand? Are +you not jealous, Eugene?" + +"Not in the least, my dear sir," replied the Earl, laughing. "I have +heard of that flower, and the good effects it produced." + +"You have heard of it, have you? I should have fancied my Caroline had +long ere this forgotten it." + +Lady St. Eval smiled reproachfully as she quitted the room, and Mr. +Hamilton, turning to Emmeline, took her hand fondly, and said, "Why does +my Emmeline look so grave? Does she not approve of her father taking an +interest in her dress? But it is not for me I wish you to look pretty +to-night, I will confess; for another, Emmeline, one whom I expect you +will, for my sake, do all in your power to please, and--and love. Do not +start, my child, the task will not be very difficult." He kissed her +cheek with a cheerful smile, and left her, motionless and pale, every +feature expressive of passive endurance, her hands clasped tightly on +her heart. Emmeline sat before her mirror, and permitted Fanny to +arrange her beautiful hair as she would; to her it mattered not. The +words of her father alone rung in her ears. That night sealed her fate. +Fanny spoke, for she was alarmed at her young lady's manner, but +Emmeline answered as if she had heard her not, and the business of the +toilette passed in silence. Yet so well had it been performed, so fair +and lovely did that gentle girl look, as she entered the drawing-room, +that every eye was fixed on her in admiration. The graceful folds of an +Indian muslin dress enveloped her slight form, and a wreath of lilies +of the valley, twined with the smallest pink rose-buds, confined her +luxuriant hair; a scarcely perceptible blush was on her cheeks, and her +eyes, continually wandering round the room, as if in search for some +unseen object, shone with unusual brilliancy. Her father whispered, as +he found himself near her-- + +"I do not expect my friend will arrive till late, my little Emmy, but +look as pretty then as you do now, and I shall be satisfied." + +She was relieved, but intelligence met her ear, ere dinner was +concluded, that rendered it a fearful struggle to retain her composure. +Mrs. Cameron's family, Mr. Howard, and one or two others, she knew were +coming in the evening, but that Lord St. Eval expected his brother Louis +to arrive at Oakwood by eight or nine o'clock that same evening, was +indeed information startling in the extreme. Would he not be accompanied +by his preceptor? Would she not see him, from whom she had so long been +parted? see him, to whom her heart was given, and in his presence be +introduced to the husband of her parents' choice? + +Mrs. Hamilton watched her with extreme uneasiness, and when dinner was +over, whispered, as it seemed, an earnest entreaty in her husband's ear. +He shook his head in sportive refusal; she still appeared anxious, but +acquiesced. The hours passed on. Emmeline for a few minutes had retired, +for the happiness, the gaiety around her, pressed with over-powering +heaviness on her heart; she had turned from it almost unconsciously. +"Why, oh, why did I not confess to mamma that I could not wed another, +because I still loved Arthur? why was I so foolish as to fear to confess +the truth, we should not then have met? Why have I been so weak to hide +these miserable feelings even from my mother? how can I expect her +sympathy, when she knows them not?" + +So she thought, but it was now too late. The affectionate caresses, the +kind voice of her cousin Ellen roused her; controlling herself, she took +Ellen's arm, and together they entered the drawing-room. She saw no +strangers, all were familiar to her eye, and rallying her spirits, she +entered into conversation with St. Eval, who hastened up to her as she +entered. Ellen joined the dancers. + +"I wonder why we all seem so gay and happy to-night," said St. Eval. +"Look at Captain Cameron and our pretty demure cousin Ellen, Emmeline; I +never saw such devotion in my life. Take my word for it, that will be a +match one of these days, and a very pretty one. Cameron is a good +fellow, and if ever any one were smitten, he is." + +"But Ellen's admiration of his character is rather too open and freely +expressed for him to hope his affection, if he do love, is returned. No, +Eugene, Captain Cameron may be attracted, I grant you, but I do not +fancy he will be Ellen's choice." + +"Do you know any whom you think will?" + +"What a question," she said, smiling, "to tempt me to betray my cousin's +secrets, if she had any, but candidly I must admit that as yet I know +none. It is a strange fancy, but I often think Ellen will be an old +maid." + +"Why, is she so precise, so prim, so opinionated, so crabbed? For shame, +Emmeline, even to hint such a thing." + +"Nay, St. Eval, the shame is rather yours, for daring to associate such +terms with a single woman. To go through life alone, without sympathy, +without any call for natural affections, always appears at first sight +rather melancholy than otherwise; but why should dislike and prejudice +be added to them? I cannot think that a woman's remaining unmarried is +any proof of her being unamiable." + +"Indeed, I am not so unjust," said the Earl, smiling; "when old maids +conduct themselves properly, I esteem them quite as much and more than +some married women. But still Ellen shall not be an old maid; she is too +pretty and too good, and would bless any man who may be happy enough to +gain her affections and esteem. But you, Emmeline, you, surely, will not +be an old maid, though you are so warm in their defence." + +"My lot is not in my own hands--do not speak of that, Eugene," she said, +with a quivering lip; and hastily turning from his gaze, she added, "as +you seem to know everybody's concerns in the room, what are Mrs. Cameron +and Florence talking so intently about?" + +"On the old subject: my madcap brother Louis and his sage tutor. By the +bye, Emmy, I have never asked what you think of Myrvin's conduct in this +affair; did he not behave admirably?" + +"He did but his duty," replied Emmeline, firmly. "He acted but as every +man of generous feelings would have done; it was his duty, for he had +pledged himself to the care of his pupil, and could he have left him in +his sickness? The dictates of common humanity, the social duties of life +would have prevented him." + +"What a pity Florence does not hear you, such calm reasoning would +destroy all the glow of romance which she has thrown around these +incidents. But indeed you do not give Myrvin his due, every man does not +perform his duty." + +"Every man _ought_, and when he does not, he is wrong; as when he does, +he is right." + +"But this is contrary to your own principle, Emmeline. What has become +of the enthusiasm which once bade you condemn all such cold judgments, +such scanty praise? Once upon a time, you would have looked on such +conduct very differently." + +Emmeline turned away, but St. Eval saw her eyes were swimming in tears. +He continued, sportively-- + +"Be assured, I will tell Myrvin as soon as I see him." + +"I beg you will not, my lord," Emmeline said, struggling to retain her +calmness; but failing, she added, entreatingly, "dearest Eugene, if you +have any regard for me, do not repeat my words; let them pass with the +subject, it has engrossed us quite enough." + +St. Eval shook his head in playful reproof. They sat apart from the +dancers, and feeling neither her words nor any subsequent agitation +could be remarked, she placed her trembling hand in St. Eval's, and +said, almost inarticulately-- + +"Eugene, tell me, does Arthur--Mr. Myrvin accompany Lord Louis to-night? +Do not deceive me." + +"He does," he replied instantly, "and what detains them I cannot +understand. But fear nothing, dearest Emmeline, I know all; you may +trust me, fear nothing. And now your promise--the quadrille is formed, +they only wait for us." + +"I know all, fear nothing," Emmeline internally repeated, her whole +frame trembling with agitation, as kindly and encouragingly St. Eval +led her to the place assigned them. She forced herself to think only on +the dance, on the amusing anecdotes he was telling her, on the light +laugh, the ready jest that were sparkling around her. Her natural grace +in dancing forsook her not, nor did she refuse her sister's request, +when the quadrille was finished, that she would take out her harp. She +seated herself at the instrument and commenced. + +Music had not lost its charm, rapt in the exquisite air she was playing, +it seemed to soothe her agitated feelings, and bid her forget her usual +timidity. All were silent, for the air was so sweet, so plaintive, not a +voice could have disturbed it; it changed to a quicker, more animated +strain, and at that instant Emmeline beheld Edward and Ellen hastily +rise to greet a young man, who noiselessly yet eagerly came forward to +meet them: it was Lord Louis. Emmeline started, a strong effort alone +enabled her to command herself sufficiently to continue playing, but her +fingers now moved mechanically; every pulse throbbed so violently, and +to her ear so loudly, that she no longer heard the notes she played. All +was a mist before her eyes, and the animated plaudits that greeted her +as she ceased, rung in her ears as unmeaning, unintelligible sounds. +Lord Louis hastily advanced to lead her from the harp, and to tell her +how very glad he was to see her again, though even his usually careless +eye lost its mirthful expression, as he marked the alteration in his +favourite companion. Emmeline tried to smile and answer him in his own +strain, but her smile was sickly and faint, and her voice trembled +audibly as she spoke. She looked round, fearing, yet longing to see +another, but Lord Louis was alone. His preceptor was not near him, but +Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton, St. Eval and Herbert had also left the room. Some +little time passed in animated conversation, still Myrvin did not +appear. + +"You are wanted in the library, dearest Emmeline," said the young +Countess St. Eval. + +"Come with me, Emmeline: foolish girl, 'fear nothing,'" said the Earl, +joyously. + +"Smile, gentle one," he whispered, as she turned her beseeching glance +towards him, "do not greet the husband your parents have selected for +you with a countenance such as this; nay, fear nothing," he repeated, as +her steps faltered, and every limb trembled at his words. Again he +smiled as he had once before during that evening, and for the first time +a gleam of sudden light darted across the bewildered mind of the +agitated girl, but so dazzling were the rays, so overpowering the +brilliancy, from the contrast with the deep gloom which had been there +before, that she could not believe it real; she deemed it some wild +freak of fancy, that sportive fancy which had so long deserted her. St. +Eval hurried on, supporting rather than leading his companion. They +reached the library, and Emmeline's agitation increased almost to +fainting; she leaned more heavily on St. Eval's arm; though her heart +beat almost audibly, and her cheek vied in its paleness with a marble +statue near her, not a word betrayed her emotion. There were many lights +within the library, a group was gathered round the centre table, but to +Emmeline all was indistinct, not one amongst them could she recognise. +Her father hastened towards her, he took her trembling hand in his, and +led her gently forward. + +"Look up, my beloved," he said, tenderly, "we have sent for you to +ratify the consent your mother and I have given, given on condition, +that if yours be withheld, ours also is void. But will the long years of +silent love and uncomplaining suffering for your sake, plead in vain to +one so gentle as yourself? Look up, my Emmeline, and tell me, if the +fond affection, the tender cares of him whom we have chosen, will not +indeed prove the best restorative we can bestow?" + +She did look up, and the quick gushing flow of blood dyed her pallid +cheek with crimson, and lit up her soft eyes with their wonted lustre. +There was one tall, manly form beside her, gazing on her with such +devoted love, that she saw not how pale were those expressive features, +what a deep impress of long suffering was on that high and noble brow. +She heard naught but that deep rich voice pronounce her name, and call +her "his own, own Emmeline," for she had sunk in his extended arms, she +had hidden her face upon his shoulder and wept. + +"Are we forgiven, Emmeline, dearest?" said Mrs. Hamilton, fondly, after +a long pause, which many mingled feelings had occasioned. Her child +withdrew for a moment from the arms of her betrothed, and flung herself +upon her neck. "Your father bound me by a promise not to reveal his +secret, and I kept it well till this evening; for did you not deserve +some punishment, my child, for believing even for a single moment your +parents would have rewarded your unwavering discharge of a most painful +duty, your unhesitating submission to our will, by forcing you to bestow +your hand upon another, when your heart was already engaged? No, my own +Emmeline, we could not have been so cruel. Take her, my dear Arthur; +freely, fearlessly I consign her happiness to your charge, for indeed +you have well deserved her." + +We need not lift the veil from the brief interview which the +consideration of Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton afforded to the lovers, it is +enough that they were happy, happy in the consciousness not of present +joy alone, but of duty unshrinkingly performed, of pain endured with +unrepining fortitude; unalloyed in its purity indeed was their +happiness, for it was the recompense of virtue. + +When the tidings of what had passed were made known, there were few who +did not feel as if some individual joy had been imparted. The universal +sympathy occasioned by the happiness of a being so generally beloved as +Emmeline shed new animation over the little party. And Ellen, the gentle +affectionate Ellen, did not she rejoice? She did, unfeignedly, +sincerely, but there was a pang of bitterness mingled with it which she +vainly struggled to subdue. + +"Can you consent to live in the humble vicarage of my estate, Emmeline?" +whispered the young Earl in her ear, as she relinquished the arm of +Arthur, whom Edward, Percy, and Ellen were eagerly surrounding. "You +have often admired it. Will it serve you for a home, think you? if not, +name what alterations you will like, and they shall be done, even as if +Aladdin's wonderful genii had performed it." + +"Dearest Eugene," said Emmeline, "I feel it is to you, to your generous +pleadings in Arthur's favour, I greatly owe this happiness. Will you not +let me thank you for that, instead of asking more?" + +"No, little fairy, I will do no such thing, for I only spoke the truth, +and that, Emmeline, 'was but my _duty_,' and demands no thanks or praise +whatever; and as I have selected my friend Myrvin to supply the place of +my late vicar, who was promoted last week to a better living, to see +everything prepared for his comfort, and that of his wife, is also +mine." + +"Nay, spare me, dear St. Eval; I will plead guilty of not giving Arthur +his due, if you will promise me not always to torment me with duty. I +was unjust and unkind." + +"No, dearest Emmy, you were neither unjust nor unkind; you only said one +thing and meant another, and as _I_ know _why_ you did so, I forgive +you." + +Mrs. Cameron's family and the other guests having departed, and only Mr. +Hamilton's own circle lingering in the drawing-room, some surprise was +occasioned to all except Mrs. Hamilton and Percy, by Mr. Hamilton +suddenly laying his hand gently on Herbert's shoulder, and saying +earnestly, though somewhat playfully-- + +"One surprise and one cause for congratulation we might, I think, deem +sufficient for _one_ evening, but I intend being the happy messenger of +another event, which may chance to be even more surprising, and +certainly not less joyful. I beg you will all offer Mrs. Hamilton and +myself your warmest congratulations, for the same day that gives us a +new son will, I trust, bestow on us an other daughter. This quiet young +man intends taking unto himself a wife; and as it may be some little +time ere we can bring her home from France, the best thing we can do is +to anticipate two marriages in one day." + +"Herbert, my true English bred and English feeling cousin, marry a +French woman, by my good sword, you shall not," said Edward, laughing, +when the universal surprise and joy which this information had excited +had somewhat subsided. The eager question who was Herbert's choice, was +asked by Caroline and Emmeline together. + +"Fear nothing, Master Lieutenant," St. Eval said, ere Herbert could +reply; "my wits, though a landsman, are not quite so blunt as yours, and +I guess better than you do. Is it possible no one here can tell? has my +demure brother Herbert's secret never been suspected? Caroline, what has +become of your penetration; and Emmeline, your romance? Ellen, cannot +you guess?" + +"Yes," she replied, instantly, though as she spoke a sudden crimson rose +to her cheek, which, though unnoticed, had been, while Mr. Hamilton +spoke, pale as death. + +"May you, may you be happy, dearest Herbert," she added, calmly, as she +extended her hand to him; "few are so fitted to make you so, few can so +truly sympathise in your feelings as Mary Greville." + +"You are right, you are right, Ellen," said Lady Emily Lyle, as Herbert +warmly pressed his cousin's hand, and thanked her in that low thrilling +voice so peculiarly his own; and then, with a countenance radiant with +animated joy, turned towards the little group, and thanking them for the +joy with which his Mary's name was universally greeted, turned to Edward +and asked, with a smile, if Mary were not sufficiently English to +content him. + +"Quite, quite; I would even go over to France for the sake of bringing +her to England in my gallant Gem," replied the young sailor. "She is +the best wife you could have chosen, Herbert, for you were ever +alongside, even in your boyish days; and it would have been a sin and +shame for you to have married any one else. Percy, why do not you follow +such an excellent example?" + +"I--because a bachelor's life has not yet lost its charms for me, +Edward! I like my own ease, my own pleasure best, and wish to be free a +short time longer," replied the young man, stretching himself on a sofa, +with a comic air of _nonchalance_ and affectation; then starting up, he +added, theatrically, "I am going to be a senator, a senator; and how in +the world can I think of matrimony but as a state of felicity unsuited +to such a hard-working fellow as I am, or rather mean to be." + +"I commend you for the correction in your speech, Percy," said his +mother, smiling. "_Mean to be_ and _am_, are two very different things." + +"But in me may chance so to amalgamate as to become the same. Mother, +who would believe you could be so severe? But I forgive you; one of +these days you will regret your injustice: that smile says I wish I may. +Well, we shall see. And now, lords and ladies, to bed, to bed. I have +swallowed such large draughts of surprise to-night, I can bear no more. +A kind good night to all. Myrvin," he called out from the hall, "if you +are as early to-morrow as you were at Oxford, we will be off to +Trevilion and inspect your new vicarage before breakfast, and back by +night." + +"Not to-morrow, Arthur," entreated Emmeline, in a low voice, as he +followed her from the room. + +"Not to-morrow, dearest," he replied, tenderly, as he drew her to his +bosom, and bade God bless her. + +The other members of the family also separated, Ellen one of the last, +for Lady Emily at first detained her in some trifling converse, and Mrs. +Hamilton was telling her of something she wished her niece to do for her +the next morning. Ellen was standing in the shade as her aunt spoke; all +had left the room except Edward and themselves, and humming a lively +air, the former was departing, when, turning round to wish his sister +good night, the light flashed full upon her face, and there was +something in its expression, in its almost unearthly paleness, that made +him suddenly start and cease his song. + +"Merciful heaven! Ellen, what is the matter? You look like a ghost." + +"Do not be silly, Edward, there is nothing the matter. I am quite well, +only warm," she replied, struggling to smile, but her voice was so +choked, her smile so unnatural, that not only her brother but her aunt +was alarmed. + +"You are deceiving us, my dear girl, you are not well. Are you in pain, +dearest?" she said, hastening towards her. + +Ellen had borne up well when unnoticed; but the voice of kindness, the +fond caress her aunt bestowed completely overpowered her, and, sinking +on a chair, she burst into tears. + +"It is nothing, indeed it is nothing, my dear aunt," she said, with a +strong effort checking the bursting sob. "I have felt the heat very +oppressive all the evening, it is only that which makes me so foolish." + +"I hope it is only the heat, my Ellen," replied Mrs. Hamilton, fondly, +suspicion flashing across her mind, not indeed of the truth, but +something near akin to it. For a few minutes Ellen leaned her head +silently against her aunt, who continued bending over her, then +returning her affectionate kiss, shook hands with her brother, assured +him she was quite well, and quietly left the room. + +"Now, then, I know indeed my fate," Ellen murmured internally, as her +aching head rested on a sleepless pillow, and her clasped hands were +pressed against her heart to stop its suffocating throbs. "Why am I thus +overwhelmed, as if I had ever hoped, as if this were unexpected? Have I +not known it, have I not felt that she would ever be his choice? that I +was mad enough to love one, who from his boyhood loved another. Why has +it fallen on me as a shock for which I was utterly unprepared? What has +become of my many resolutions? Why should the task be more difficult now +than it has been? I feel as if life were irksome to me, as if all I +loved were turned to that bitterness of spirit against which I have +striven, as if I could dash from my poor cousin's lips the cup of +unexpected happiness she has only this evening tasted. Oh, merciful +Father! forsake me not now, let me not feel thus, only fill my heart +with love and charity, take from me this bitterness and envy. It is Thou +that dispenseth this bitter cup. Father, I recognise Thy hand, and would +indeed resign myself to Thee. Oh, enable me to do so; teach me to love +Thee alone, to do Thy work, to subdue myself, and in thankfulness +receive the many blessings still around me; let me but see _them_ happy. +Oh, my Father, let Thy choicest blessings be his lot, and for me" it was +a bitter struggle, but ere the night had passed that young spirit had +conquered, had uttered fervently, trustingly, heartfully,--"for me, oh, +my Father, let Thy will be done." And Ellen joined the breakfast-table +the following morning calm and cheerful; there was no trace of internal +suffering, no sign to betray even to her aunt all that she endured. She +entered cheerfully into all Emmeline's happiness, accompanied her and +Arthur, with Lord and Lady St. Eval, to Trevilion, and entered into +every suggested plan, as if indeed no other thoughts engrossed her. +Arthur and Emmeline found in her an active and affectionate friend, and +the respect and love with which she felt herself regarded seemed to +soothe, while it urged her on to increased exertion. Mrs. Hamilton +watched her anxiously; she had at first fancied Arthur was the object of +her niece's regard, but this idea was not strengthened, and though she +felt assured such was not the real cause of Ellen's agitation that +eventful evening, she could not, and did not guess the truth. + +The revealing a long-treasured secret, the laying bare feelings of the +heart, which have so long been concealed, even to our dearest friends, +does not always produce happiness; there is a blank within us, a +yearning after something we know not what, and the spirit loses for a +time its elasticity. It may be that the treasured secret has been so +long enshrined in our innermost souls, we have felt it so long as only +our own, that when we betray it to others, it is as if we parted from a +friend; it is no longer our own, we can no longer hold sweet communion +with it, for the voice of the world hath also reached it, and though at +first its revealing is joy, it is followed by a sorrow. So Herbert felt, +when the excitement of congratulation, of the warm sympathy of his +friends had given place to solicitude and thought. Mary had been so +long the shrine of his secret, fondest thoughts, he had so long indulged +in delicious fancies, known to few others save himself, that now they +had been intruded on even by the voice of gratulation, they would no +longer throng around. It was strange that on this night, when his choice +had been so warmly approved of by all his friends, when words of such +heartfelt kindness had been lavished in his ear, that the same dull +foreboding of future evil, of suffering, of death, pressed heavily on +him, as in earlier years it had been so wont to do. He struggled against +it; he would not listen to its voice, but it would have sway. Donned it +was not indeed, but from its mystery more saddening. Herbert wrestled +with himself in fervent prayer; that night was to him almost as +sleepless as it was to his cousin Ellen, but the cause of her weary +watching was, alas! too well defined. The bright sun, the joyous voices +of his brother and cousin beneath his window, roused Herbert from these +thoughts, and ere the day had passed, he had partly recovered the usual +tenor of his mind, though its buoyancy was still subdued, and its secret +temperament somewhat sad, but to his family he seemed as usual. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +Some weeks passed, and Emmeline's health was rapidly returning; her +spirits were more like those of her girlhood, subdued indeed by past +suffering, but only so far subdued as to render her, if possible, still +dearer to all those who loved her; and she, too, beheld with delight the +colour returning to her Arthur's cheek, his step regaining its +elasticity; and there was a manly dignity about him now which, when she +first loved, she had not seen, but which she felt rendered him still +dearer, for she could look up to him for support, she could feel +dependence on his stronger and more decisive character. + +Each week confirmed Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton in the wisdom of their +decision, by revealing more clearly Myrvin's character. He was more +devoted to the duties of his clerical profession; pride, haughtiness, +that dislike to mingle with his parishioners, had all departed, and as +they observed how warmly and delightedly their Emmeline entered into his +many plans for doing good, for increasing the happiness of the villagers +under his spiritual charge, they felt that her domestic virtues, her +gentle disposition, were far more suited to the wife of a clergyman, +than to that life of bustling gaiety which might perhaps, under other +circumstances, have been her portion. + +"Are there not responsibilities attached to a clergyman's wife?" she +once asked her mother. "I feel as if so much depended upon _me_ to +render him respected and beloved, that I sometimes fear I may fail in my +duty, and, through ignorance, not intentional, perhaps bring discredit +on his name. Dearest mother, how can I prevent this?" + +"These fears are natural to one of your character, my Emmeline, but they +will quickly pass away. You would be more likely to fail in the duties +of fashionable life, than in those which you will soon have to fulfil. +Occupation which, had you been more fashionably educated, must have been +irksome, will to you remain the pleasures they have ever been, +heightened and encouraged by the sympathy of your husband. A wife to be +truly happy and virtuous, must entirely forget _self_; a truth which the +partner of a country clergyman should ever remember, as his family is +larger, more constant in their calls upon her attention and sympathy, +and sometimes her exertions are less productive of satisfaction and +pleasure, than those of many other stations in life. Her own demeanour +should be alike gentle, unassuming, persuasive, yet dignified, so that +her actions may assist and uphold her husband's doctrines more than her +language. You have but to follow the principles of Christianity and the +dictates of your own heart, my Emmeline, and your duty will be done, +almost unconsciously to yourself." + +The only drawback to Emmeline's happiness was, that Lord and Lady St. +Eval were obliged to leave England ere her marriage could be solemnized, +the health of the latter prohibiting further delay. They did not expect +to be absent much more than a twelvemonth, and the Earl, laughingly, +told Emmeline, if she would defer her wedding till then, he would +promise to be present; to that, however, none of the parties concerned +seemed inclined to consent, and St. Eval owned he would much rather, on +his return, see her comfortably settled at the Vicarage, where +preparations were rapidly advancing. Percy, however, promised to defer +his intended tour till his favourite sister should be Myrvin's bride, +and Edward, on leaving to join his ship, declared, if wind and tide were +not very contrary, he, too, would take a run down and dance at her +wedding. + +A short time after the departure of the Earl and Countess, and Edward, +Ellen received from the hand of her cousin Herbert a letter, which for +the moment caused her some emotion. She felt his eyes were fixed upon +her with a peculiar expression, and shrinking from them, she was +hastening to her own room to answer the letter there, when Herbert +called after her-- + +"Do not run away from me, Nelly; whatever be your answer, I am to be the +bearer." + +Returning instantly, she asked, with cheek suddenly paled and lip +compressed, "Are you then aware of the contents of this letter, Herbert; +are you in Captain Cameron's confidence?" + +"To both demands I am happy enough to answer, yes, Ellen," he replied, +smiling archly. "Captain Cameron has made me his father confessor, and +in return, I have promised to use all my influence in his favour, to +tell you what his letter may perhaps have but incoherently expressed: +that he loves you, Ellen, devotedly, faithfully; that he feels life +without you, however brilliant in appearance, will be a blank. I +promised him I would play the lover well, and indeed, my dear cousin, +his affection and esteem for you do not admit a single doubt." + +"I am sorry for it," said Ellen, calmly, "very sorry, as it is not in my +power to return those feelings, and consequently I am compelled to give +him pain. I am grateful, very grateful for the high opinion, the kind +feelings, his letter expresses towards me. I shall never cease to +respect and value him as a friend, but more I cannot give." + +"Nay, Ellen, take time to consider of his offer; do not refuse him at +once thus decidedly. You say you respect him. I know you admire his +conduct, both as a son and brother, and as a man. What objections are +there so great as to call for this decided and instant refusal?" + +"Simply because, as a husband, I can never love him." + +"Never is a long day, Ellen. You surely have not so much romance in your +composition as to refuse a young man possessing every virtue which can +make a woman happy, merely because he does not excite any very violent +passion? Do you not know there are some dispositions which never love to +the full extent of the word, and yet are perhaps happier in the marriage +state than those who do? Now you may be one of these, Ellen." + +"It may be so," she said, still calmly, though a deep flush stained her +cheek. Herbert had spoken playfully, but there was that in his words +which, to a heart seared as was hers, was productive of intense +suffering. + +"It may be so perhaps; I shall never meet one to love, as I believe a +husband ought to be loved, yet that would not satisfy my conscience for +accepting Walter. I trust I am not romantic, Herbert, but I will say, +that the vow to love, honour, and obey, to think only of him, demands +something more than the mere cold esteem which some may deem sufficient +for happiness. Walter _is_ an estimable young man, one who will make any +woman happy, and deeply indeed I regret that he has chosen one who can +only return his warm devoted affection with the comparatively chilling +sentiments of friendship and esteem. I would not do his kind heart so +much wrong as to accept him." + +"But take time, Ellen, give him some hope. You can urge no objections +against him, and his family are dear to you. He has told me that from +his childhood he loved you, that your remembrance never left him, and +when again he met you, his fanciful visions became a beautiful and +palpable reality; give him, at least, some time for hope. It is +impossible, with a heart disengaged as yours, to associate intimately +with him and not love him." + +"A heart disengaged as mine! how know you that, Herbert?" said his +cousin, with a smile, which would have deceived the most penetrating +eye. "Are you not presuming too far in your inspection of my heart, +seeking in rather a roundabout way, to obtain my entire confidence?" + +"No, dearest Ellen, I speak and feel in this business but as Edward +would, were he in my place; your happiness is as dear to me as it is to +him. We have for very many years been to each other as a brother and +sister, and, believe me, in urging your acceptance of this good young +man, I seek but your welfare alone." + +"I believe you, my dear cousin," replied Ellen, frankly holding out her +hand, which Herbert warmly pressed. "But indeed, in this instance, you +are deceived. An union with Walter Cameron would not form my happiness, +worthy as he is,--suitable as the world would deem such a match in all +respects; and sorry as I am to inflict pain and disappointment on the +companion of my childhood, as also, I fear, on his kind mother, I cannot +be his wife." + +"And if your affections be already engaged, far be it from me to urge +you farther; but"-- + +"I said not that they were, Herbert," interrupted Ellen, steadily +fixing, as she spoke, her large eyes unshrinkingly on her cousin's face. +Herbert felt fairly puzzled, he could not read her heart; he would have +asked her confidence, he would have promised to do all in his power to +forward her happiness, but there was something around her that, while it +called forth his almost unconscious respect, entirely checked all +farther question. He did not fancy that she loved another, and yet why +this determined rejection of a young man whom he knew she esteemed. + +"I am only grieving you by continuing the subject," he said; "and +therefore grant me your forgiveness, dearest Ellen, and your final +answer to Cameron, and it shall be resumed no more." + +"I have nothing to forgive, Herbert," replied Ellen, somewhat +mournfully. + +She sat a few minutes longer, in saddened thought, gazing on the open +letter, and then quitted the room and sought her own. She softly closed +the door, secured it, and then sinking on a low seat beside her couch, +buried her pale face in her hands, and for a few minutes remained +overwhelmed by that intensity of secret and tearless suffering. It was +called forth afresh by this interview with her cousin: to hear his lips +plead thus eloquently the cause of another; to hear him say that perhaps +she was one of those who would never love to its full extent. When her +young heart felt bursting beneath the load of deep affection pressing +there, one sweet alone mingled in that cup of bitterness, Herbert +guessed not, suspected not the truth. She had succeeded well in +concealing the anguish called forth by unrequited love, and she would +struggle on. + +"Never, never shall it be known that I have given this rebellious heart +to one who seeks it not. No, no, that tale shall live and die with me; +no one shall know how low I have fallen. Poor Walter! he will think I +cannot feel for his unreturned affection, when I know too well its pang; +and why should I not be happy with him, why live on in lingering +wretchedness, when, perhaps as a wife, new duties might rouse me from +this lethargy? Away from Herbert I might forget--be reconciled; but +swear to love Walter when I have no love to give--return his affection +by indifference--oh, no, no, I will not be so guilty." + +Ellen again hid her eyes in her hands, and thought long and painfully. +Pride urged her to accept young Cameron, but every better feeling +revolted from it. She started from that posture of despondency, and, +with a bursting heart, answered Walter's eloquent appeal. Kindness +breathed in every line she wrote--regard for his welfare--esteem for his +character; but she calmly yet decidedly rejected his addresses. She was +grieved, she said, most deeply grieved that anything in her manner +towards him had encouraged his hopes. She had acted but as she felt, +looking on the companion of her early childhood, the son of her father's +and her own kind friend, as a brother and a friend, in which light she +hoped he would ever permit her to regard him. Hope found no +resting-place in her letter, but it breathed such true and gentle +sympathy and kindness, that Walter could not but feel soothed, even in +the midst of disappointment. Ellen paused ere she sealed her letter; she +could not bear to act, even in this matter, without confiding in her +aunt; that Captain Cameron had proposed and been rejected, she felt +assured, report would soon convey to her ears. Why not then seek her +herself? The task of writing had calmed her heart. Taking, therefore, +Walter's letter and her own, she repaired to her aunt's dressing-room, +and fortunately found her alone. Mrs. Hamilton looked earnestly at her +as she entered, but she made no observation till, in compliance with +Ellen's request, she perused the letters offered to her. + +"Have you reflected sufficiently on your decision, my Ellen?" she said, +after thanking her for the confidence she reposed in her. "Have you +thought well on the estimable character of this young man? Far be it +from me to urge or persuade you in such an important matter as marriage, +but you have not, I trust, answered this letter on the impulse of the +moment?" + +"No, aunt, I have not indeed. Herbert has been most earnestly pleading +Captain Cameron's cause, and I have thought on all he has said, and the +little I can bring forward to combat it, but still I have refused him, +because as a husband I can never love him. I honour all his good +qualities. I cannot remember one fault or failing in his character, +which might render a wife unhappy. I grieve for his disappointment, but +I should not think I was doing either him or myself justice, to accept +him merely on these considerations. Herbert, I know, considers me +romantic, and perhaps unkind towards his friend; but painful as such an +idea is, I cannot act otherwise than I have done." + +"Do not let that idea, then, continue to give you pain, my dear girl; +your manner towards Walter has never expressed more than kindness and +friendly regard. If I had seen anything like encouragement to him on +your part, do you not think I should have called you to account long +ago?" she added, with a smile, as Ellen, much relieved, kissed her in +silence. "Our young folks have, I know sometimes in sport, allied your +name with his, but I have generally checked them. Walter I certainly did +fancy admired you, but I did not imagine the feeling so decided as it +has proved. I will not blame your decision, though perhaps it may not be +a very wise one. Marriage is too serious a thing to be entered upon +lightly, and if you cannot love Walter as a husband, why you are quite +right not to accept him. I am not so eager to part with my Ellen as to +advise her marrying, whether she likes it or not. I shall soon have only +you to cheer my old age, you know. Do not look so pained and sad, love; +it is not thus young ladies in general refuse an offer. Go and give your +letter to Herbert, tell him it has my unqualified approval, and then +return to me. I marked some beautiful passages in one of our favourite +authors the other day and you shall read them to me. Now run away, and +come back quickly." + +Ellen obeyed gladly and gratefully, and was enabled playfully to return +the smile with which Herbert received her letter and his mother's +message. Mrs. Hamilton felt more and more convinced that her suspicions +were correct, and that her niece's affections were unhappily engaged. +She thought again and again who could be their object, and still she +fancied it was Arthur Myrvin. She scarcely knew why herself, except from +Ellen's agitation the night of his arrival at Oakwood, and engagement +with Emmeline. That Herbert was the object was to her so improbable, +that the idea never crossed her mind. They had lived so long as brother +and sister, they had from their earliest childhood so intimately +associated with each other, Ellen and Edward were to her so like her own +children, that not once did she imagine Ellen loved her cousin. She +watched her closely, and she was more and more convinced that she had +something to conceal. She was certain her decided rejection of Walter +proceeded from her affections being already engaged, which had also +blinded her to his attentions; and she was convinced also that Ellen +loved in vain, and therefore, though she longed to console and soothe +her, she resolved not to speak to her on the subject, and wring from her +a secret which, when once betrayed, though revealed to her alone, might +be still more painful to endure. Mrs. Hamilton's manner was so kind, so +soothing, so calculated to support and strengthen, that Ellen more than +once wondered whether her aunt had indeed discovered her secret; but she +could not speak of it. She could not even to the being she loved best on +earth, with the exception of one, thus lay bare her aching heart. Often +and often she longed to throw herself in the arms of her aunt and weep, +but she controlled the impulse, and bore on in silence and outward +cheerfulness; strengthened in her efforts by the conviction that Herbert +knew not, imagined not the truth. + +Young Cameron was grieved and disappointed, for his love for Ellen was +indeed sincere, but he could not mistake her letter; he saw there was no +hope, her expressions of friendship and kindness were soothing and +gratifying, they prevented all bitterness of feeling, and he determined +to preserve the friendship and brotherly regard which she so frankly +proffered. + +Mrs. Cameron was at first somewhat hurt at Ellen's decided rejection of +her son, but she could not long retain any emotion of coolness towards +her, she could not resist the affectionate manner of Ellen, and all was +soon as usual between them. A visit with Percy to Castle Malvern, at +Lord Louis's earnest entreaty, to Walter was an agreeable change, though +it had at first been a struggle to rouse himself sufficiently. There the +character and conversation of Lady Florence Lyle, to his excited fancy, +so much resembled Ellen's, that unconsciously he felt soothed and happy. +From Castle Malvern, he joined his regiment with Lord Louis, who had +received a commission in the same troop, and by the time Captain Cameron +returned to Oakwood, he could associate with Ellen as a friend and a +brother. Above a year, it is true, elapsed before that time, and in that +period events had occurred at Oakwood, as unexpected as they were +mournful--but we will not anticipate. + +Soon after Lord and Lady St. Eval's departure for Italy, Mr. Grahame, +despite the entreaties of his friends, even the silent eloquence of +Lilla's appealing eyes, put his resolution into force, and retired to +Wales. He had paid to the last farthing all his misguided son's +honourable and dishonourable debts; and this proceeding, as might be +expected, left him so reduced in fortune as to demand the greatest +economy to live with any comfort. To such an evil Grahame seemed +insensible; his only wish was to escape from the eye and tongue of the +world. A mistaken view with regard to his child also urged him on. Why +should he expose her to the attentions of the young noblemen so +constantly visiting at Mr. Hamilton's house, when, he felt assured, +however eagerly his alliance would once have been courted, now not one +would unite himself to the sister of a publicly disgraced and privately +dishonoured man? No, it was better for her to be far away; and though +her mild submission to his wishes, notwithstanding the pain he knew it +was to part from her friends at Oakwood, rendered her dearer to him than +ever, still he wavered not in his resolution. The entreaties of Arthur +Myrvin, Emmeline, and Ellen did, however, succeed in persuading him to +fix his place of retirement at Llangwillan, so that all connection would +not be so completely broken between them, as were he to seek some more +distant part of the country. Llangwillan, Arthur urged, was scarcely +known to the world at large, but it was to them, and they might hope +sometimes, to see them; for he, Emmeline, and Ellen would often visit +his father. Grahame consented, to the great joy of his child, who felt +more than himself the force of Myrvin's arguments. + +"Mr. Myrvin is such a dear, good, old man, you cannot fail to love him, +Lilla," Ellen said, soothingly, as the day of parting neared. "You must +ask him to show you the little cottage where the first eight weeks of my +residence in England were passed, and make friends with the old widow +and her daughter for my sake; you will find them willing enough to talk +about us and my poor mother, if you once speak on the subject. And my +mother's grave, dear Lilla, you will visit that sometimes, will you not? +and not permit a weed to mingle with the flowers Arthur planted around +it after we left, to distinguish it, he said, from every other grave. It +shall be your charge, dearest Lilla, and Edward and I will thank you for +it; he never goes to Llangwillan without passing an hour of each day by +that little humble mound." + +"Edward, does he ever come to Llangwillan?" Lilla suddenly asked, her +tears checked, and every feature expressive of such animated hope, that +Ellen looked at her for a moment in astonishment, and then smilingly +answered in the affirmative. Lilla clasped her hands in sudden joy, and +then, as if ashamed, hid her face, burning with blushes, on Ellen's +hand. Her companion stooped down to kiss her brow, and continued talking +of her brother for some time longer. + +From that day Ellen observed Lilla regained her usual animation, her eye +sparkled, and her cheek often flushed, as if from some secret thought; +her spirits only fell at the hour of parting, and Ellen felt assured +they would quickly rise again, and the first packet she received from +Llangwillan confirmed the supposition. Mrs. Hamilton was surprised, but +Ellen was not. + +Preparations were now actively making for Herbert's visit to France, +thence to bring home his betrothed. His father and Percy had both +resolved on accompanying him, and Mrs. Hamilton and Emmeline and Arthur +anxiously anticipated the return of their long-absent friends. + +A longer time than usual had elapsed between Mary's letters, and +Herbert's anxiety was becoming more and more intense. Two or three of +his letters had remained unanswered; there were no tidings of either +herself or her mother. St. Eval had determined on not visiting Paris +till his return from Switzerland, as his solicitude to arrive at his +journey's end, and commence the prescribed remedies for Caroline would, +he was quite sure, destroy all his pleasure. In vain his wife laughed at +his hurry and his fears; much as he wished to see Mary, he was +determined, and Caroline no farther opposed him. Through them, then, +Herbert could receive no tidings; he had not heard since that event, +which he believed would have been as much joy to Mary as to +himself--his ordination. He struggled with his own anxiety that the +intervening obstacles to his journey should not deprive him of serenity +and trust, but the inward fever was ravaging within. Only one short +week, and then he departed; ere, however, that time came, he received a +letter, and with a sickening feeling of indefinable dread recognised the +handwriting of his Mary. He left the breakfast-parlour to peruse it +alone, and it was long before he returned to his family. They felt +anxious, they knew not why; even Arthur and Emmeline were silent, and +the ever-restless Percy remained leaning over a newspaper, as if +determined not to move till his brother returned. A similar feeling +appeared to detain his father, who did not seek the library as usual. +Ellen appeared earnestly engaged in some communications from Lady +Florence Lyle, and Mrs. Hamilton was perusing a letter from Caroline, +which the same post had brought. + +With a sudden spring Percy started from his seat, exclaiming, in a tone +that betrayed unconsciously much internal anxiety-- + +"What in the world is Herbert about? He cannot have gone out without +bringing us some intelligence. Robert, has Mr. Herbert gone out?" he +called loudly to the servant, who was passing the open window. + +"No, sir," was the reply; "he is still in his room." + +"Then there will I seek him," he added, impetuously; but he was +prevented by the entrance of Herbert himself, and Percy started from him +in astonishment and alarm. + +There was not a particle of colour on his cheek or lips; his eyes +burned as with fever, and his lips quivered as in some unutterable +anguish. + +"Read," he said, in a voice so hoarse and unnatural, it startled even +more than his appearance, and he placed the letter in his father's hand. +"Father, read, and tell them all--I cannot. It is over!" he continued, +sinking on a stool at his mother's feet, and laying his aching head on +her lap. "My beautiful dream is over, and what is the waking? +wretchedness, unutterable wretchedness! My God, my God, Thy hand is +heavy upon me, yet I would submit." He clasped his mother's hands +convulsively in his, he drooped his head upon them, and his slight frame +shook beneath the agony, which for hours he had been struggling to +subdue. Mrs. Hamilton clasped him to her bosom; she endeavoured to speak +words of hope and comfort. + +Silence deep and solemn fell over that little party; it was so fearful +to see Herbert thus--the gentle, the self-controlled, the exalted +Herbert thus bowed down even to the earth; he, whose mind ever seemed +raised above this world; he, who to his family was ever a being of a +brighter, holier sphere. If he bent thus beneath the pressure of earthly +sorrow, what must that sorrow be? His family knew the depth of feeling +existing in his breast, which the world around them never could suspect, +and they looked on him and trembled. Myrvin raised him from the arms of +his mother, and bore him to the nearest couch, and Mrs. Hamilton wiped +from his damp brow the starting dew. Tears of alarm and sympathy were +streaming from the eyes of Emmeline, and Myrvin resigned his post to +Percy, to comfort her. But Ellen wept not; pale as Herbert, her features +expressed suffering almost as keen as his, and yet she dared not do as +her heart desired, fly to his side and speak the words that love +dictated. What was her voice to him? _she_ had no power to soothe. + +Deep and varied emotions passed rapidly over Mr. Hamilton's countenance +as he read the letter which had caused this misery. Percy could trace +upon his features pity, sorrow, scorn, indignation, almost loathing, +follow one another rapidly and powerfully, and even more violently did +those emotions agitate him when the truth was known. + +"It was an old tale, and often told, but that took not from its +bitterness," Mary wrote, from a bed of suffering such as she had never +before endured; for weeks she had been insensible to thought or action, +but she had resolved no one but herself should inform her Herbert of all +that had transpired, no hand but her own should trace her despairing +words. They had lived, as we know, calmly at Paris, so peaceably, that +Mrs. Greville had indulged in brighter hopes for the future than had +ever before engrossed her. Mr. Greville spent much of his time from +home, accompanying, however, his wife and daughter to their evening +amusements, and always remained present when they received company in +return. They lived in a style of more lavish expenditure than Mrs. +Greville at all approved of. Her husband, however, only laughed +good-humouredly whenever she ventured to remonstrate, and told her not +to trouble herself or Mary about such things; they had enough, and he +would take care that sufficiency should not fail. A dim foreboding +crossed Mrs. Greville's mind at these words; but her husband's manner, +though careless, preventing all further expostulation, she was +compelled to suppress, if she could not conquer, her anxiety. At +length, the storm that Mary had long felt was brooding in this unnatural +calm, burst over her, and opened Mrs. Greville's eyes at once. + +Among their most constant but least welcome visitors was a Monsieur +Dupont, a man of polished manners certainly, the superficial polish of +the Frenchman, but of no other attraction, and even in that there was +something about him to Mary particularly repulsive. He had seen some +threescore years; his countenance, in general inexpressive, at times +betrayed that strong and evil passions were working at his heart. He was +said to be very rich, though some reports had gone about that his +fortune had all been amassed by gambling in no very honourable manner. +With this man Mr. Greville was continually associated; they were seldom +seen apart, and being thus the favourite of the master, he was +constantly at the house. To Mrs. Greville as to Mary he was an object of +indefinable yet strong aversion, and willingly would they have always +denied themselves, and thus escaped his odious presence. Once they had +done so, but the storm of fury that burst from Mr. Greville intimidated +both; they felt some little concession on their parts was demanded to +preserve peace, and Monsieur Dupont continued his visits. + +To this man, publicly known as unprincipled, selfish, incapable of one +exalted or generous feeling, Greville had sworn to give his gentle and +unoffending child; this man he sternly commanded Mary to receive as her +husband, and prepare herself for her marriage within a month. + +As if a thunderbolt had fallen, Mary and her mother listened to these +terrible words, and scarcely had the latter sufficient courage to +inform her unpitying husband of their child's engagement with Herbert +Hamilton. For Mary's sake, she struggled and spoke, but her fears were +not without foundation. A horrid imprecation on Mr. Hamilton and his +family burst instantly from the lips of the now infuriated Greville; he +had chosen for many years to fancy himself deeply injured by that +gentleman, and, with an oath too fearful to be written, he solemnly +swore that Mary should never be the wife of Herbert; he would rather see +her dead. Louder and louder grew his passion, but Mrs. Greville heard +him not. Mary had dropped as if lifeless at his feet. She had sprung up +as if to arrest the imprecation on her father's lips, but when his +dreadful oath reached her ears, her senses happily forsook her, and it +was long, very long before she woke to consciousness and thought. Mrs. +Greville hung in agony over the couch of her unhappy child; scarcely +could she pray or wish for her recovery, for she knew there was no hope. +Her husband had let fall hints of being so deeply pledged to Dupont, +that his liberty or perhaps his life depended on his union with Mary, +and could she wish her child to live to be the wife of such a man, yet +could she see her die? What pen can describe the anguish of that fond +mother, as for weeks she watched and tended her senseless child, or the +contending feelings that wrung her heart when Mary woke again to +consciousness and misery, and asked her, in a voice almost inarticulate +from weakness, what had happened--why she was thus? Truth gradually +broke upon her mind, and Mary too soon remembered all. The physician +said she was recovering, that she would quickly be enabled to leave her +bed and go about as usual. Greville swore he would no longer be +prevented seeing her, and Mary made no opposition to his entrance. +Calmly and passively she heard all he had to say; what he told her then +she did not repeat in writing to Herbert. She merely said that she had +implored him to wait till her health was a little more restored; not to +force her to become the wife of Dupont, till she could stand _without +support_ beside the altar, and he had consented. + +"Be comforted, then, my beloved Herbert," she wrote, as she concluded +this brief tale of suffering. "They buoy me up with hopes that in a very +few months I shall be as well as ever I was. I smile, for I know the +blight has fallen, and I shall never stand beside an earthly altar; all +I pray is, that death may not linger till my father's patience be +exhausted, and he vent on my poor mother all the reproaches which my +lingering illness will, I know, call forth. Oh, my beloved Herbert, +there are moments when I think the bitterness of death is passed, when I +am so calm, so happy, I feel as if I had already reached the confines of +my blissful, my eternal home; but this is not always granted me. There +are times when I can think only on the happiness I had once hoped to +share with you when heaven itself seemed dimmed by the blessedness I had +anticipated on earth. Herbert, I shall never be another's wife, and it +will not be misery to think of me in heaven. Oh, no, we shall meet there +soon, very soon, never, never more to part. Why does my pen linger? +Alas! it cannot trace the word farewell. Yet why does it so weakly +shrink? 'tis but for a brief space, and we shall meet where that word is +never heard, where sorrow and sighing shall be no more. Farewell, then, +my beloved Herbert, beloved faithfully, unchangeably in death as you +have been in life. I know my last prayer to you is granted ere even it +is spoken: you will protect and think of my poor mother; you will not +permit her to droop and die of a broken heart, with no kind voice to +soothe and cheer. I feel she will in time be happy; and oh, the +unutterable comfort of that confiding trust. Once more, and for the last +time, farewell, my beloved; think only that your Mary is in heaven, that +her spirit, redeemed and blessed, waits for thee near the Saviour's +throne, and be comforted. We shall meet again." + +No sound broke the stillness when that sad letter had been perused. Mr. +Hamilton had bowed his head upon his hands, for he could not speak of +comfort; the long years of domestic bliss which had been his portion, +made him feel bitterly the trial which the heart of his son was doomed +to endure. And how was he to aid? Could he seek Greville, and condescend +to use persuasions, arguments to force from him his consent? With +clenched hand and knitted brow Percy stood, his thoughts forcibly drawn +from the sufferers by the bitter indignation he felt towards the +heartless, cruel man who had occasioned all. Mrs. Hamilton could think +only of her son, of Mary, whom she had so long loved as her own child, +and the longing to behold her once again, to speak the words of soothing +and of love, with which her heart felt bursting. Emmeline could only +weep, that such should be the fate of one whom from her childhood she +had loved, and whom she had lately anticipated with so much delight +receiving as a sister. For some minutes Ellen sat in deep and painful +thought, then starting up, she flew to the side of her uncle, and +clasping his hand, entreated-- + +"Go to Paris, my dear uncle; go yourself, and see this relentless man; +speak with him, know why he has commanded Mary to receive this Dupont as +her husband; perhaps you may render Herbert's claims as valuable in his +eyes. He has no cause of strife with you; he will hear you, I know he +will; his fury was called forth because he thought Herbert stood in the +way of his wishes. Prove to him the happiness, the life of his child, of +yours, depend on their union. He cannot, he will not refuse to hear you. +Oh, do not hesitate, go to him, my dear uncle; all may not be so +desperate as at this distance we may fancy." + +"My father may as well plead to the hard flint as to Alfred Greville's +feelings," muttered Percy. "Ellen, you know not what you ask; would you +have my father debase himself to a wretch like that?" + +"'Tis Mr. Greville who will be debased, and not my uncle, Percy. The +world might think him humbled to plead to such a man, but they would +think falsely; he is raised above the cringing crowd, who from false +pride would condemn the child of virtue to misery and death, because +they would not bear with the vices of the parent. Were Mary, were Mrs. +Greville in any point otherwise than they are, I would not thus plead, +for there would be no necessity. She could not be so dear to Herbert. I +do not ask my uncle to humble himself; I ask him but to reason with Mr. +Greville, to convince him of his error." + +"What says my Herbert?" demanded Mr. Hamilton, gazing with astonishment +on his niece's animated features, and almost wondering at her unwonted +eloquence. + +"That she has spoken well, and may God in Heaven bless her for the +thought!" exclaimed Herbert, who had roused himself to listen to her +earnest words, and now, with sudden energy, sprung up. "Father, let us +go. Ellen has spoken justly; he will listen to you, he will not hear my +entreaties unmoved. I have never offended him; he is, indeed, a harsh +and cruel man, one whom I would gladly shun, but the father of Mary. Oh, +let us seek him, for her sake we will plead; he will wake from his +dream, he will know he has been in error. Oh, my father, let us go. She +may yet be saved to live and bless me." + +He sunk back on the sofa, and burst into tears. Hope had suddenly sprung +up from the dark void which had been in his heart. Mrs. Hamilton could +not check that suddenly-excited hope, but she did not share it, for she +felt it came but to deceive. She whispered gentle and consoling words, +she spoke of comfort that she could not feel. But once his energies +aroused, they did not fail him. To go instantly to Paris, to seek Mr. +Greville, and plead his own cause, aided by his father's influence, +acknowledge he had been wrong in not asking his consent before, such +thoughts now alone occupied his mind, and Mr. Hamilton could not check +them, though, even as his wife, he shared not his son's sanguine +expectations. That he had once possessed more influence than any one +else over Mr. Greville he well knew; but he thought with Percy, the +dislike felt towards him originated from this, and that it was more than +probable he would remain firm in his refusal to triumph over both +himself and his son; yet he could not hesitate to comply with Herbert's +wishes. Ellen's suggestion had roused him to exertion, and he should not +be permitted to sink back into despondency, at least they should meet. + +It would be difficult to define Ellen's feelings as she beheld her +work, and marked the effect of her words upon her cousin. Not a particle +of selfishness mingled in her feelings, but that deep pang was yet +unconquered. Herbert's manner to her was even kinder, more affectionate +than usual, during the few days that intervened ere they parted, as if +he felt that she had drawn aside the dark veil of impenetrable gloom, +and summoned hope to rise again; and could she see or feel this unmoved? +Still was she calm and tranquil, and she would speak of Mary and of +brighter hopes, and no emotion was betrayed in her pale cheek or in that +tearless eye. + +Percy accompanied his father and brother. They travelled rapidly, and a +favourable voyage enabled them to reach Paris in a shorter time than +usual. Mr. Hamilton had insisted on seeking Mr. Greville's mansion at +first alone, and Percy controlled his own feelings. To calm the strong +emotion, the deep anxiety, that now he was indeed in the same city as +his Mary, almost overpowered Herbert; the struggle for composure, for +resignation to whatever might be the will of his God, was too powerful +for his exhausted strength. Sleep had only visited him by snatches, +short and troubled, since he had received Mary's letter; the long +interval which elapsed ere Mr. Hamilton returned was productive of even +keener suffering than he had yet endured. Hope had sunk powerless before +anxiety; the strength of mind which had borne him up so long was giving +way beneath the exhaustion of bodily powers, which Percy saw with alarm +and sorrow; his eyes had lost their lustre, and were becoming dim and +haggard; more than once he observed a slight shudder pass through his +frame, and felt his words of cheering and of comfort fell unheeded on +his brother's ear. At length Mr. Hamilton returned. + +"She lives, my son," were the first words he uttered, but his tone was +not joyful; "our beloved and gentle Mary yet lives, and soon, very soon +you shall meet, not to part on earth again." + +Herbert gazed wildly in his face, he clasped his hands convulsively, and +then he bowed his head in a deep and fervent burst of thanksgiving. + +"And Greville," said Percy, impatiently, "has he so soon consented? +father, you have not descended to entreaties, and to such a man?" + +"Percy, peace," said his father, gravely. "With Mr. Greville I have +enchanged no words. Thank God, I sought not his house with any hostile +intention, with any irritation urging me against him. Percy, he is dead, +and let his faults die with him." + +"Dead!" repeated the young man, shocked and astonished, and Herbert +started up. His lip quivered with the vain effort to ask an explanation. + +It was even so, that very morning Greville had breathed his last, with +all his sins upon his head, for no time had been allowed him either for +repentance or atonement. A few days after Mary had written to Herbert, +her father had been brought home senseless, and dreadfully injured, by a +fall from his horse. His constitution, shattered by intemperance and +continued dissipation, was not proof against the fever that ensued; +delirium never left him. For five days Mrs. Greville and Mary watched +over his couch. His ravings were dreadful; he would speak of Dupont, at +one time, with imprecations; at others, as if imploring him to forbear. +He would entreat his child to forgive him; and then, with fearful +convulsions, appear struggling with the effort to drag her to the altar. +Mary heard, and her slight frame shook and withered each day faster than +the last, but she moved not from her father's side. In vain Mrs. +Greville watched for some returning consciousness, for some sign to say +he died in peace. Alas! there was none. He expired in convulsions; and +scarcely had his wife and child recovered the awful scene, when the +entrance of the hated Dupont roused them to exertion. He came to claim +Mary as his promised wife, or send them forth as beggars. The house and +all that it contained, even to their jewels, were his; for Greville had +died, owing him debts to an amount which even the sale of all they +possessed could not entirely repay. He had it in his power to arrest the +burial of the scarcely cold corpse, to stain the name of the dead with +undying infamy; and he vowed that he would use his power to its utmost +extent, if Mary's consent were not instantly given. Four-and-twenty +hours he gave her to decide, and departed, leaving inexpressible +wretchedness behind him, on the part of Mrs. Greville, and the calm +stupor of exhaustion and despair pervading Mary's every faculty. + +"My child, my child, it shall not be; you shall not be that heartless +villain's wife. I have health; I can work, teach, do anything to support +us, and why, oh, why should you be thus sacrificed? Mary, Mary, you will +live, my child, to bless your desolate and wretched mother. Oh, my God, +my God, why hast thou thus forsaken me? I have trusted in thee, and wilt +thou thus fail me? To whom can I appeal--what friend have I near me?" + +"Mother, do not speak thus," exclaimed Mary, roused from the lethargy +of exhaustion by her mother's despairing words, and she flung herself on +her knees beside her, and threw her arms around her. "Mother, my own +mother, the God of the widow and the fatherless is still our friend; He +hath not forsaken us, though for a time His countenance is darkened +towards us. Oh, he will have mercy; He will raise us up a friend--I +feel, I know He will. He will relieve us. Let us but trust in Him, +mother; let us not fail now. Oh, let us pray to Him, and He will +answer." + +The eyes of the good and gentle girl were lit up with sudden radiance. +Her pallid cheek was faintly flushed; her whole countenance and tone +expressed the enthusiasm, the holiness which had characterised her whole +life. Mrs. Greville clasped her faded form convulsively to her aching +bosom, and, drooping her head, wept long and freely. + +"Father, I have sinned," she murmured; "oh, have mercy." + +An hour passed, and neither Mary nor her mother moved from that posture +of affliction, yet of prayer. They heard not the sound of many voices +below, nor a rapid footstep on the stairs. The opening of the door +aroused them, but Mary looked not up; she clung closer to her mother, +for she feared to gaze again on Dupont. A wild exclamation of joy, of +thanksgiving, bursting from Mrs. Greville's lips startled her; for a +moment she trembled, yet she could not be mistaken, that tone was joy. +Slowly she looked on the intruder. Wildly she sprung up--she clasped her +hands together. + +"My God, I thank thee, we are saved!" broke from her parched lips, and +she sunk senseless at Mr. Hamilton's feet. + +Emissaries of wickedness were not wanting to convey the intelligence +very quickly to Dupont's ear, that Mrs. and Miss Greville had departed +from the Rue Royale, under the protection of an English gentleman, who +had stationed two of his servants at their house to protect Mr. +Greville's body from insult, and give him information of all that took +place during his absence. Furiously enraged, Dupont hastened to know the +truth of these reports, and a scene of fierce altercation took place +between him and Mr. Hamilton. The calm, steady firmness of his +unexpected opponent daunted Dupont as much as his cool sarcastic +bitterness galled him to the quick. The character of the man was known; +he was convinced he dared not bring down shame on the memory of +Greville, without inculpating himself, without irretrievably injuring +his own character, and however he might use that threat as his weapon to +compel Mary's submission, Mr. Hamilton was perfectly easy on that head. +Dupont's cowardly nature very soon evinced itself. A few words from Mr. +Hamilton convinced him that his true character had been penetrated, and +dreading exposure, he changed his ground and his tone, acknowledged he +had been too violent, but that his admiration for Miss Greville had been +the sole cause; expressed deep sorrow for Mr. Greville's melancholy end, +disavowed all intention of preventing the interment of the body, and +finally consented to liquidate all debts, save those which the sale of +the house and furniture might suffice to discharge. + +Scarcely could Mr. Hamilton command his indignation during this +interview, or listen to Dupont's professions, excuses, defences, and +concessions, without losing temper. He would not consent to be under any +obligation: if M. Dupont could _prove_ that more was owing than that +which he had consented to receive, it should be paid directly, but he +should institute inquiries as to the legality of his claims, and +carefully examine all the papers of the deceased. + +"It was not at all necessary," Dupont replied. "The sum he demanded was +due for debts of honour, which he had a slip of paper in Greville's own +handwriting to prove." + +Mr. Hamilton made no further reply, and they parted with nothing decided +on either side, Dupont only repeating his extreme distress at having +caused Miss Greville so much unnecessary pain; that had he known she was +engaged to another, he would never have persisted in his suit, and +deeply regretted he had been so deceived. + +Mr. Hamilton heard him with an unchanging countenance, and gravely and +formally bowed him out of the house. He then placed his seal on the lock +of a small cabinet, which Mrs. Greville's one faithful English servant +informed him contained all his master's private papers, dismissed the +French domestics, and charging the Englishmen to be careful in their +watch that no strangers should be admitted, he hastened to impart to his +anxiously-expecting sons all the important business he had transacted. + +Early the following morning Mr. Hamilton received intelligence which +very much annoyed and startled him. Notwithstanding the vigilant watch +of the three Englishmen stationed at Mr. Greville's house, the cabinet, +which contained all his private papers, was gone. The men declared +again and again, no one could have entered the house without their +knowledge, or removed such a thing as that without some noise. Mr. +Hamilton went instantly with them to the house; how it had been taken he +could not discover, but it was so small that Mr. Hamilton felt it could +easily have been removed; and he had no doubt that Dupont had bribed one +of the dismissed servants, who was well acquainted with every secret of +the house, to purloin it for him, and Dupont he instantly determined on +charging with the atrocious theft. Dupont, however, had decamped, he was +nowhere to be found; but he had desired an agent to receive from Mr. +Hamilton's hands the payment of the debts he still claimed, and from +this man it was endeavoured by many questions to discover some traces of +his employer, but all in vain. M. Dupont had left Paris, he said, the +previous evening. + +Mr. Hamilton was not satisfied, and, consequently, seeking an able +solicitor, put the affair into his hands, and desired that he would use +every means in his power to obtain the restoration of the papers. That +Dupont had it in his power farther to injure the widow and child of the +deceased he did not believe; he rather thought that his extreme desire +to obtain them proceeded from a consciousness that they betrayed some of +his own evil deeds, yet he could not feel easy till they were either +regained, or he knew that they were destroyed. Mrs. Greville earnestly +wished their recovery, for she feared they might, through the similarity +of names, bring some evil on her son, towards whom her fond heart yet +painfully yearned, though years had passed since she had seen, and many +weary months since she had heard of him. Her fears on this head +rendered both Mr. Hamilton and Percy still more active in their +proceedings, and both determined on remaining at Paris even after +Herbert and Mrs. Greville, with Mary, had left for England. + +And what did Herbert feel as he looked on the fearful change in her he +loved? Not yet did he think that she must die; that beaming eye, that +radiant cheek, that soft, sweet smile--oh, could such things tell of +death to him who loved? He held her to his heart, and only knew that he +was blessed. + +And Mary, she was happy; the past seemed as a dim and troubled vision; +the smile of him she loved was ever near her, his low sweet voice was +sounding in her ear. A calm had stolen over her, a holy soothing calm. +She did not speak her thoughts to Herbert, for she saw that he still +hoped on; they were together, and the present was enough. But silently +she prayed that his mind might be so prepared, so chastened, that when +his eyes were opened, the truth might not be so terrible to bear. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +It was indeed a day of happiness that beheld the arrival of Mrs. +Greville and Mary at Oakwood, unalloyed to them, but not so, alas! to +those who received them. Mrs. Hamilton pressed the faded form of Mary to +her heart, she kissed her repeatedly, but it was long before she could +speak the words of greeting; she looked on her and on her son, and tears +rose so thick and fast, she was compelled to turn away to hide them. +Ellen alone retained her calmness. In the fond embrace that had passed +between her and Mary, it is true her lip had quivered and her cheek had +paled, but her agitation passed unnoticed. + +"It was _her_ voice, my Mary, that roused me to exertion, it was her +representations that bade me not despair," whispered Herbert, as he hung +over Mary's couch that evening, and perceived Ellen busily employed in +arranging her pillows. "When, overwhelmed by the deep misery occasioned +by your letter, I had no power to act, it was her ready thought that +dictated to my father the course he so successfully pursued." Mary +pressed the hand of Ellen within both her own, and looked up gratefully +in her face. A faint smile played round the orphan's lips, but she made +no observation in reply. + +A very few weeks elapsed before the dreaded truth forced itself upon the +minds of all, even on her mother, that Mary was sinking, surely sinking, +there was no longer hope. Devotedly as her friends loved her, they could +not sorrow, before her they could not weep. She was spared all bodily +suffering save that proceeding from debility, so extreme she could not +walk across the room without assistance. No pain distorted the +expression of her features, which, in this hour of approaching death, +looked more lovely than they had ever seemed before; her soft blue eye +beamed at times with a celestial light, and her fair hair shaded a brow +and cheek so transparent, every blue vein could be clearly seen. One +thought alone gave her pain, her Herbert she felt was still unprepared. + +He was speaking one day of the future, anticipating the time when the +Rectory would receive her as its gentle mistress, and of the many things +which occupied his thoughts for the furtherance of her comfort, when +Mary laid her hand gently on his arm, and, with a smile of peculiar +sweetness, said-- + +"Do not think any more of such things, my beloved; the mansion which +will behold our blessed union is already furnished and prepared; I may +seek it first, but it will be but to render it even yet more desirable +to you." + +Herbert looked on her face to read the meaning of her words; he read +them, alas! too plainly, but voice utterly failed. + +"Look not on me thus," she continued, in that same pleading and soothing +tone. "Our mansion is prepared for us above; below, my Herbert, oh, +think not it will ever receive me. Why should I hesitate to speak the +truth? The blessed Saviour, to whose arms I so soon shall go, will give +you strength to bear this; He hath promised that He will, my own +Herbert, my first, my only love. My Saviour calls me, and to Him, oh, +can you not without tears resign me?" + +"Mary," murmured the unhappy Herbert, "Mary, oh, do not, do not torture +me. You will not die; you will not leave me desolate." + +"I shall not die, but live, my beloved--live, oh, in such blessedness! +'tis but a brief, brief parting, Herbert, to meet and love eternally." + +"You are ill, you are weak, my own Mary, and thus death is ever present +to your mind; but you will recover, oh, I know, I feel you will. My God +will hear my prayers." + +"And He will grant them, Herbert--oh, doubt Him not, grant them, even in +my removal. He takes me not from you, my Herbert, He but places me, +where to seek me, you must look to and love but Him alone; and will you +shrink from this? Will that spirit, vowed to His service from your +earliest boyhood, now murmur at His will? Oh, no, no; my Herbert will +yet support and strengthen his Mary, I know, I feel he will. Forgive me +if I have pained you, my best love; but I could bear no other lips than +mine to tell you, that on earth I may not live--but a brief space more, +and I shall be called away. You must not mourn for me, my Herbert; I die +so happy, oh, so very happy!" + +Herbert had sunk on his knees beside her couch; he drooped his head upon +his hands, and a strong convulsion shook his frame. He uttered no sound, +he spoke no word, but Mary could read the overwhelming anguish that +bowed his spirit to the earth. The words were spoken; he knew that she +must die, and Mary raised her mild eyes to heaven, and clasped her hands +in earnest prayer for him. "Forsake him not now, oh God; support him +now; oh, give him strength to meet Thy will," was the import of her +prayer. Long was that deep, deep stillness, but when Herbert looked up +again he was calm. + +"May God in heaven bless you, my beloved," he said, and imprinted a long +fervent kiss upon her forehead. "You have taught me my Saviour's will, +and I will meet it. May He forgive--" His words failed him; again he +held her to his heart, and then he sat by her side and read from the +Book of Life, of peace, of comfort, those passages which might calm this +anguish and strengthen her; he read till sleep closed the eyes of his +beloved. Yes, she was the idol of his young affections; he felt her +words were true, and when she was gone there would be naught to bind his +spirit to this world. + +It would be needless to lift the veil from Herbert's moments of +solitary prayer. Those who have followed him through his boyhood and +traced his character need no description of his feelings. We know the +intensity of his earthly affections, the strength and force of his every +emotion, the depth and holiness of his spiritual sentiments, and vain +then would be the attempt to portray his private moments in this dread +trial: yet before his family he was calm, before his Mary cheerful. She +felt her prayers were heard, he was, he would be yet more supported, and +her last pang was soothed. + +Mr. Hamilton had returned from France, unsuccessful, however, in his +wish to obtain the restitution of Greville's papers. Dupont had +concealed his measures so artfully, and with such efficacy, that no +traces were discovered regarding him, and Mr. Hamilton felt it was no +use to remain himself, confident in the integrity and abilities of the +solicitor to whom he had intrusted the whole affair; he was +unaccompanied, however, by Percy, who, as his sister's wedding was, from +Mary's illness, postponed, determined on paying Lord and Lady St. Eval a +visit at Geneva. + +As Emmeline's engagement with Arthur very frequently engrossed her time, +Ellen had devoted herself assiduously as Mary's constant nurse, and well +and tenderly she performed her office. There was no selfishness in her +feelings, deeply, unfeignedly she sorrowed, and willingly, gladly would +she have laid down her life to preserve Mary's, that this fearful trial +might be removed from Herbert. To spare him one pang, oh, what would she +not have endured. Controlled and calm, who could have guessed the chaos +of contending feeling that was passing within; who, that had seen the +gentle smile with which she would receive Herbert's impassioned thanks +for her care of his Mary, could have suspected the thrill, the pang +those simple words occasioned. Mary alone of those around her, except +Mrs. Hamilton, was not deceived. She loved Ellen, had long done so, and +the affectionate attention she so constantly received from her had drawn +the bonds of friendship closer. She felt convinced she was not happy, +that there was something heavy on her mind, and the quick intellect of a +vivid fancy and loving nature guessed the truth. Her wish to see her +happy became so powerful, that she could not control it. She fancied +that Ellen might be herself deceived, and that the object of her +affections once known, all difficulties would be smoothed. The idea that +her last act might be to secure the happiness of Ellen, was so soothing +to her grateful and affectionate feelings, that, after dwelling on it +some time, she took the first opportunity of being alone with her friend +to seek her confidence. + +"No, dearest, do not read to me," she said, one evening, in answer to +Ellen's question. "I would rather talk with you; do not look anxious, I +will not fatigue myself. Come, and sit by me, dear Ellen, it is of you +that I would speak." + +"Of me?" repeated Ellen, surprised. "Nay, dearest Mary, can you not find +a more interesting subject?" + +"No, love, for you are often in my thoughts; the approach of death has, +I think, sharpened every faculty, for I see and read trifles clearer +than I ever did before; and I can read through all that calm control and +constant smile that you are not happy, my kind Ellen; and will you think +me a rude intruder on your thoughts if I ask you why?" + +"Do you not remember, Mary, I was ever unlike others?" replied Ellen, +shrinking from her penetrating gaze. "I never knew what it was to be +lively and joyous even as a child, and as years increase, is it likely +that I should? I am contented with my lot, and with so many blessings +around, should I not be ungrateful were I otherwise?" + +"You evade my question, Ellen, and convince me more and more that I am +right. Ah, you know not how my last hour would be soothed, could I feel +that I had done aught to restore happiness to one who has been to me the +blessing you have been, dear Ellen." + +"Think not of it, dearest Mary," said Ellen. "I ought to be happy, very +happy, and if I am not, it is my own wayward temper. You cannot give me +happiness, Mary; do not let the thought of me disturb you, dearest, kind +as is your wish, it is unavailing." + +"Do not say so, Ellen; we are apt to look on sorrow, while it is +confined to our own anxious breasts, as incurable and lasting; but when +once it is confessed, how quickly do difficulties vanish, and the grief +is often gone before we are aware it is departing. Do not, dearest, +magnify it by the encouragement which solitary thought bestows." + +"Are there not some sorrows, Mary, which are better ever concealed? Does +not the opening of a wound often make it bleed afresh, whereas, hidden +in our own heart, it remains closed till time has healed it." + +"Some there are," said Mary, "which are indeed irremediable, but"--she +paused a moment, then slightly raising herself on her couch, she threw +her arm round Ellen's neck, and said, in a low yet deeply expressive +voice--"is your love, indeed, so hopeless, my poor Ellen? Oh, no, it +cannot be; surely, there is not one whom you have known sufficiently to +give your precious love, can look on you and not return it." + +Ellen started, a deep and painful flush rose for a moment to her cheek, +she struggled to speak calmly, to deny the truth of Mary's suspicion, +but she could not, the secret of her heart was too suddenly exposed +before her, and she burst into tears. How quickly will a word, a tone +destroy the well-maintained calmness of years; how strangely and +suddenly will the voice of sympathy lift from the heart its veil. + +"You have penetrated my secret," she said, and her voice faltered, "and +I will not deny it; but oh, Mary, let us speak no more of it. When a +woman is weak enough to bestow her affections on one who never sought, +who will never seek them, surely the more darkly they are hidden, the +better for her own peace as well as character. My love was not called +for. I never had aught to hope; and if that unrequited affection be the +destroyer of my happiness, it has sprung from my own weakness, and I +alone have but to bear it." + +"But is there no hope, Ellen--none? Do not think so, dearest. If his +affections be still disengaged, is there not hope they may one day be +yours?" + +"No, Mary, none. I knew his affections were engaged; I knew he never +could be mine, and yet I loved him. Oh, Mary, do not scorn my weakness; +you have wrung my secret from me, do not, oh, do not betray me. There is +no shame in loving one so good, so holy, and yet--and yet--Mary, dearest +Mary, promise me you will not speak it--I cannot rest unless you do; let +it pass your lips to _none_." + +"It shall not, my Ellen; be calm, your secret shall die with me, +dearest," replied Mary, earnestly, for Ellen's feelings completely +overpowered her, and bursting sobs choked her utterance. + +"For me there is no hope. Oh, could I but see him happy, I should ask no +more; but, oh, to see him miserable, and feel I have no power to +soothe--when--" She paused abruptly, again the burning blood dyed her +cheeks, even her temples with crimson. Mary's eyes were fixed upon her +in sympathy, in love; Ellen fancied in surprise, yet suspicion. With one +powerful effort she conquered herself, she forced back the scalding +tears, the convulsive sob, and bending over Mary, pressed her trembling +lips upon her pale brow. + +"Let us speak no more of this, dearest Mary," she said, in a low calm +voice. "May God bless you for your intended kindness. It is over now. +Forgive me, dearest Mary, I have agitated and disturbed you." + +"Nay, forgive me, my sweet Ellen. It is I who have given you pain, and +should ask your forgiveness. I thought not of such utter hopelessness. I +had hoped that, ere I departed, I might have seen the dawn of happiness +for you; but I see, I feel now that cannot be. My own Ellen, I need not +tell you the comfort, the blessed comfort of prayer." + +For a few minutes there was silence. Ellen had clasped the hand of Mary, +and turned aside her head to conceal the tears that slowly stole down +her cheek. The entrance of Emmeline was a relief to both, and Ellen left +the room; and when she returned, even to Mary's awakened eyes, there +were no traces of agitation. Each week produced a visible change in +Mary; she became weaker and weaker, but her mind retained its energy, +and often her sorrowing friends feared she would pass from the detaining +grasp of love, ere they were aware of the actual moment of her +departure. One evening she begged that all the family might assemble in +her room; she felt stronger, and wished to see them altogether again. +Her wish was complied with, and she joined so cheerfully in the +conversation that passed around, that her mother and Herbert forgot +anxiety. It was a soft and lovely evening; her couch, at her own +request, had been drawn to the open window, and the dying girl looked +forth on the beautiful scene beneath. The trees bore the rich full green +of summer, save where the brilliantly setting sun tinged them with hues +of gold and crimson. Part of the river was also discernible at this +point, lying in the bosom of trees, as a small lake, on which the +heavens were reflected in all their surpassing splendour. The sun, or +rather its remaining beams, rested on the brow of a hill, which, lying +in the deepest shadow, formed a superb contrast with the flood of liquid +gold that bathed its brow. Clouds of purple, gold, crimson, in some +parts fading into pink, floated slowly along the azure heavens, and the +perfect stillness that reigned around completed the enchantment of the +scene. + +"Look up, my Mary, and mark those clouds of light," said Herbert. "See +the splendour of their hues, the unstained blue beyond; beautiful as is +earth, it shows not such exquisite beauty as yon heaven displays, even +to our mortal sight, nor calls such feelings of adoration forth. What +then will it be when that blue arch is rent asunder, and the effulgent +glory of the Maker of that heaven burst upon our view?" + +"Blessed, oh, how blessed are those who, conducted by the Lamb of God, +can share that glory," answered Mary, with sudden energy. "Who can speak +the unutterable love which, while the beauteous earth yet retains the +traces of an awful curse, hath washed from man his sin, and takes from +death its sting?" + +"And is it this thought, this faith which supports you now, my Mary?" +demanded Herbert, with that deep tenderness of one so peculiarly his +own. + +"It is, it is," she answered, fervently, "My sins are washed away; my +prayers are heard, for my Saviour pleads, and my home is prepared on +high amid the redeemed and the saved. Oh, blessed be the God of truth +that hath granted me this faith"--she paused a minute, then added--"and +heard my prayer, my beloved Herbert, and permitted me thus to die in my +native land, surrounded by those I love!" + +She leaned her head on Herbert's bosom, and for some time remained +silent; then looking up, said cheerfully, "Do you remember, Emmeline, +when we were together some few years ago, we always said such a scene +and hour as this only wanted music to make it perfect? I feel as if all +those fresh delightful feelings of girlhood had come over me again. +Bring your harp and sing to me, dearest, those words you read to me the +other day." + +"Nay, Mary, will it not disturb you?" said Emmeline, kneeling by her +couch, and kissing the thin hand extended to her. + +"No, dearest, not your soft, sweet voice, it will soothe and give me +pleasure. I feel stronger and better to-night than I have done for some +time. Sing to me, but only those words, dear Emmy; all others would +neither suit this scene nor my feelings." + +For a moment Emmeline hesitated, and looked towards her mother and Mrs. +Greville. Neither was inclined to make any objection to her request, and +on the appearance of her harp, under the superintendence of Arthur, +Emmeline prepared to comply. She placed the instrument at the further +end of the apartment, that the notes might fall softer on Mary's ear, +and sung, in a sweet and plaintive voice, the following words:-- + + "Remember me! ah, not with sorrow, + 'Tis but sleep to wake in bliss. + Life's gayest hours can seek to borrow + Vainly such a dream as this. + + Ah, see, 'tis heaven itself revealing + To my dimmed and failing sight; + And hark! 'tis angels' voices stealing + Through the starry veil of night. + + Come, brother, come; ah, quickly sever + The cold links of earth's dull chain; + Come to thy home, where thou wilt never + Pain or sorrow feel again. + + Come, brother, come; we spread before thee + Visions of thy blissful home; + Heed not, if Death's cold pang come o'er thee, + It will but bid thee haste and come! + + Ah, yes, I see bright forms are breaking + Through the mist that veils mine eyes; + Now gladly, gladly, earth forsaking, + Take, oh, take me to the skies. + +The mournful strain ceased, and there was silence. Emmeline had adapted +the words to that beautiful air of Weber's, the last composition of his +gifted mind. Mary's head still rested on the bosom of Herbert, her hand +clasped his. Evening was darkening into twilight, or the expression of +her countenance might have been remarked as changed--more spiritual, as +if the earthly shell had shared the beatified glory of the departing +spirit. She fixed her fading eyes on Ellen, who was kneeling by her +couch, steadily and calmly, but Ellen saw her not, for in that hour her +eyes were fixed, as in fascination on the form of Herbert, as he bent +over his beloved. The dying girl saw that mournful glance, and a gleam +of intelligence passed over her beautiful features. She extended one +hand to Ellen, who clasped it fondly, and then she tried to draw it +towards Herbert. She looked up in his face, as if to explain the meaning +of the action, but voice and strength utterly failed, and Ellen's hand +dropped from her grasp. + +"Kiss me, Herbert, I would sleep," she said, so faintly, Herbert alone +heard it. Their lips met in one long lingering kiss, and then Mary +drooped her head again upon his bosom, and seemed to sleep so gently, so +sweetly, her friends held their breath lest they should disturb her. +Nearly half an hour passed and still there was no movement. The full +soft light of an unclouded moon fell within that silent chamber, and +gilded the forms of Mary and Herbert with a silvery halo, that seemed to +fall from heaven itself upon them. Mary's head had fallen slightly +forward, and her long luxuriant hair, escaped from its confinement, +concealed her features as a veil of shadowy gold. Gently and tenderly +Herbert raised her head, so as to rest upon his arm; as he did so her +hair fell back and fully exposed her countenance. A faint cry broke from +his parched lips, and Ellen started in agony to her feet. + +"Hush, hush, my Mary sleeps," Mrs. Greville said; but Mr. Hamilton +gently drew her from the couch and from the room. Her eyes were closed; +a smile illumined that sweet face, as in sleep it had so often done, and +that soft and shadowy light took from her features all the harsher tale +of death. Yes, she did sleep sweetly and calmly, but her pure spirit had +departed. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +It was long, very long ere Mr. Hamilton's family recovered the shock of +Mary's death. She had been so long loved, living amongst them from her +birth, her virtues and gentleness were so well known and appreciated by +every member. She had been by Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton so long considered +as their child, by her betrothment with their Herbert, that they +sorrowed for her as if indeed she had been bound to them by that tender +tie; and her poor mother now indeed felt desolate: her only treasure, +her precious, almost idolized Mary, was taken from her, and she was +childless, for of Alfred she had long ceased to receive intelligence. +She bowed her head, earnestly striving for submission, but it was long, +long ere peace returned; soothed she was indeed by the tender kindness +of her friends; but what on earth can soothe a bereaved and doting +mother? Emmeline, Ellen, Herbert, even Arthur Myrvin, treated her with +all the love and reverence of children, but neither could fill the +aching void within. On Herbert indeed her spirit rested with more +fondness than on any other object, but it was with a foreboding love; +she looked on him and trembled. It was a strange and affecting sight, +could any one have looked on those two afflicted ones: to hear Herbert +speak words of holy comfort to the mother of his Mary, to hear him speak +of hope, of resignation, mark the impress of that heavenly virtue on +his pale features; his grief was all internal, not a word escaped his +lips, not a thought of repining crossed his chastened mind. The extent +of that deep anguish was seen alone in his fading form, in his pallid +features; but it was known only to the Searcher of all hearts. He had +wished to perform the last office to his Mary, but his father and +Archdeacon Howard conjured him to abandon the idea, and suffer the +latter to take his place. All were bathed in tears during that solemn +and awful service. Scarcely could Mr. Howard command his voice +throughout, and his concluding words were wholly inaudible. But no +movement was observable in Herbert's slight and boyish form; enveloped +in his long mourning robe, his features could not be seen, but there was +somewhat around him that created in the breasts of all who beheld him a +sensation of reverence. All departed from the lowly grave, but Herbert +yet remained motionless and silent. His father and Myrvin gently sought +to lead him away, but scarcely had he proceeded two paces, when he sunk +down on the grass in a long and deathlike swoon; so painfully had it the +appearance of death, that his father and friends believed for a time his +spirit had indeed fled to seek his Mary; but he recovered. There was +such an aspect of serenity and submission on his countenance, that all +who loved him would have been at peace, had not the thought pressed +heavily on their minds that such feelings were not long for earth. + +These fainting fits returned at intervals, and Mrs. Hamilton, whilst she +struggled to lift up her soul in undying faith to the God of Love, and +resignedly commit into His hands the life and death of her beloved son, +yet every time she gazed on him, while lying insensible before her, felt +more and more how difficult was the lesson she so continually strove to +learn; how hard it would be to part from him, if indeed he were called +away. She compared her lot with Mrs. Greville's, and thought how much +greater was her trial; and yet she, too, was a mother, and though so +many other gifts were vouchsafed her, Herbert was as dear to her as Mary +had been to Mrs. Greville. Must she lose him now, now that the fruit she +had so fondly cherished, watched as it expanded from the infant germ, +had bloomed so richly to repay her care, would he be taken from her now +that every passing month appeared to increase his love for her and hers +for him? for Herbert clung to his mother in this dread hour of +affliction with increasing fondness. True, he never spoke the extent of +his feelings even to her, but his manner betrayed how much he loved her, +how deeply he felt her sympathy, which said that next to his God, he +leaned on her. + +At first Mr. Hamilton wished his son to resign the Rectory and join his +brother and sister at Geneva, and then accompany Percy on his travels; +but mournfully yet steadily Herbert rejected this plan. + +"No, father," he said. "My duties as a son and brother, as well as the +friend and father of the flock committed to my charge, will be far more +soothing and beneficial, believe me, than travelling in far distant +lands. My health is at present such, that my home and the beloved +friends of my infancy appear dearer to me than ever, and I cannot part +from them to seek happiness elsewhere. I will do all in my power, by the +steady discharge of my many and interesting duties, to preserve my +health and restore peace and contentment. I seek not to resign my charge +in this world till my Saviour calls me; His work has yet to be done on, +earth, and till He dismisses me, I will cheerfully perform it; till then +do not ask me to forsake it." + +Mr. Hamilton wrung his son's hand in silence, and never again urged his +departure. + +There was no selfishness in Herbert's sorrow; he was still the devoted +son, the affectionate brother, the steady friend to his own immediate +circle; and to the poor committed to his spiritual charge, he was in +truth, as he had said he would be, a father and a friend. In soothing +the sufferings of others, his own became less bitterly severe; in +bidding others hope, and watch, and pray, he found his own spirit +strengthened and its frequent struggles calmed. With such unwavering +steadiness were his duties performed, that his bodily sufferings never +could have been discovered, had not those alarming faints sometimes +overpowered him in the cottages he visited ere his duties were +completed; and he was thankful, when such was the case, that it occurred +when from home, that his mother was thus sometimes spared anxiety. He +would walk on quietly home, remain some little time in his own chamber, +and then join his family cheerful and composed as usual, that no one +might suspect he had been ill. + +Arthur Myrvin often gazed on his friend with emotions of admiration, +almost amounting to awe. His love for Emmeline was the strongest feeling +of his heart, and when for a moment he fancied her snatched from him, as +Mary had been from Herbert, he felt he knew he could not have acted like +his friend: he must have flown from scenes, every trace of which could +speak of the departed, or, if he had remained, he could not, as Herbert +did, have attended to his duties, have been like him so calm. + +In the society of his cousin Ellen, Herbert found both solace and +pleasure. She had been so devoted to the departed, that he felt he loved +her more fondly than he had ever done, and he would seek her as the +companion of a walk, and give her directions as to the cottages he +sometimes wished her to visit, with a portion of his former animation, +but Ellen never permitted herself to be deceived; it was still a +brother's love, she knew it never could be more, and she struggled long +to control, if not to banish, the throb of joy that ever filled her +bosom when she perceived there were times she had power to call the +smile to Herbert's pensive features. + +Percy's letters were such as to soothe his brother by his affectionate +sympathy; to betray more powerfully than ever to Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton +how dear to each other were their sons, how pure and consoling was the +friendship subsisting between them, and on other points to give much +pleasure to all his family. Caroline's health was much improved; her +little son, Percy declared, was such a nice, merry fellow, and so +handsome, that he was quite sure he resembled in all respects what he, +Percy Hamilton, must have been at the venerable age of two years. He +said farther, that as Lord and Lady St. Eval were going to make the tour +of the principal cities of Europe, he should remain with them and be +contented with what they saw, instead of rambling alone all over the +world, as he had intended. At first Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton were somewhat +surprised at this decision, but knowing the nature of their son, began +to fancy that a certain Miss Manvers had something to do with it, the +sister of Lord Delmont, the Earl St. Eval's most intimate friend, and +the chosen friend of Mary Greville during her residence at Monte Rosa. +In Lord Delmont's will he had left the Earl guardian of his sister +during the year that intervened before her coming of age, an office +which rendered St. Eval still more intimate with the family. On his way +to Geneva he had heard from Miss Manvers of her mother's death, and that +she was residing with an English family on the banks of the Lake. The +information that her brother's friends, and indeed her own, with his +wife and family, intended spending some little time at Geneva, was a +source of so much pleasure, that after a little hesitation she accepted +the earnest invitation of both the Earl and his lady, and gladly and +gratefully consented to reside with them during their stay in +Switzerland, and then accompany them on their intended tour. + +The strong affection Percy bore his brother rendered him long unable to +regain his usual mirth and flow of spirits, and he found the +conversation of Louisa Manvers even more pleasing than ever. Mary had +made her perfectly acquainted with Herbert, and therefore, though she +had never seen him, she was well enabled to enter into the deep +affliction the loss of his betrothed must have occasioned him. Percy +could speak to her as often as he pleased of his brother and Mary, and +ever found sympathy and interest attached to the subject. Thus the idea +of travelling alone, when his sister's family offered such attractions, +became absolutely irksome to him, and he was pleased to see that his +plan of joining them was not disagreeable to Miss Manvers. Mr. Hamilton +sent his unqualified approval of Percy's intentions, and Herbert also +wrote sufficiently of himself to satisfy the anxious affection of his +brother. + +There was only one disappointing clause in Percy's plans, and he +regretted it himself, and even hinted that if his sister still very much +wished it, he would give up his intention, and return home in time to be +present, as he had promised, at her wedding. He wrote in his usual +affectionate strain both to Emmeline and Myrvin, but neither was selfish +enough to wish such a sacrifice. + +At Herbert's earnest entreaty, the marriage of his sister was, however, +fixed rather earlier than she had intended. It was not, he said, as if +their marriage was to be like Caroline's, the signal for a long course +of gaiety and pleasure; that Emmeline had always determined on only her +own family being present, and everything would be so quiet, he was sure +there could be no necessity for a longer postponement. + +"My Mary wished to have beheld your union," his lip trembled as he +spoke; "had not her illness so rapidly increased she wished to have been +present, and could she now speak her wishes, it would be to bid you be +happy--no longer to defer your union for her sake. Do not defer it, dear +Emmeline," he added, in a somewhat sadder tone, "we know not the events +of an hour, and wherefore should we delay? it will be such joy to me to +unite my friend and my sister, to pour forth on their love the blessing +of the Lord." + +There was something so inexpressibly sweet yet mournful in his +concluding words, that Emmeline, unable to restrain the impulse, leaned +upon his neck and wept. + +"Do not chide my weakness, Herbert," she tried to say, "these are not +tears of unmingled sadness; oh, could I but see you happy." + +"And you will, my sweet sister: soon--very soon, I shall be happy, +quite--quite happy," he added, in a lower tone, as he fondly kissed her +brow. + +Emmeline had not marked the tone of his concluding words, she had not +seen the expression of his features; but Ellen had, and a cold yet +indefinable thrill passed through her heart, and left a pang behind, +which she could not conquer the whole of that day. She understood it +not, for she _would_ not understand. + +Urged on, however, a few days afterwards, during a walk with Herbert, +she asked him why he was so anxious the ceremony should take place +without delay. + +"Because, my dear Ellen, I look forward to the performance of this +ceremony as a source of pleasure which I could not bear to resign to +another." + +"To another, Herbert; what do you mean? Do you think of following my +uncle's advice, and resigning your duties for a time, for the purpose of +travel?" + +"No, Ellen; those duties will not be resigned till I am called away; +they are sources of enjoyment and consolation too pure to be given up. I +do not wish my sister's wedding to be deferred, for I know not how soon +my Saviour may call me to Himself." + +"May we not all urge that plea, my dear cousin?" said Ellen; "and yet in +your sermon last Sunday, you told us to do all things soberly, to give +due reflection to things of weight, particularly those in which temporal +and eternal interests were united; not to enter rashly and hastily into +engagements, not too quickly to put off the garb of mourning, and plunge +once more into the haunts of pleasure." She paused. + +"I did say all this, Ellen, I own; but it has not much to do with our +present subject. Emmeline's engagement with Arthur has not been entered +on rashly or in haste. She does not throw off the garb of mourning to +forget the serious thoughts it may have encouraged; and though you are +right, we none of us can know how soon we may be called away, yet, +surely, it behoves those unto whom the dart has sped, the mandate been +given, to set their house in order for they shall surely die, and not +live the usual period of mortals." + +"But who can tell this, Herbert? who are so favoured as to know the +actual moment when the dart has sped and how soon it will reach them? +should we not all live as if death were near?" + +"Undoubtedly, we should so order our souls, as ever to be ready to +render them back to Him who gave them; but we cannot always so arrange +our worldly matters, as we should, did we know the actual moment of +death's appearance; our business may require constant care, we may have +dear objects for whom it is our duty to provide, to the best of our +power, and did we know when we should die, these things would lose the +interest they demand. Death should, indeed, be ever present to our +minds; it should follow us in our joy as in our sorrow, and never will +it come as a dark and gloomy shadow to those who in truth believe; but +wise and merciful is the decree that conceals from us the moment of our +departure. Were the gates of Heaven thus visible, how tame and cold +would this world appear; how few would be the ties we should form, how +insignificant would seem those duties which on earth we are commanded to +perform. No, to prepare our souls to be ready at a minute's warning to +return to their heavenly home is the duty of all. More is not expected +from those in perfect health; but, Ellen, when a mortal disease is +consuming this earthly tabernacle, when, though Death linger, he is +already seen, ay, and even felt approaching, then should we not wind up +our worldly affairs, instead of wilfully blinding our eyes to the truth, +as, alas! too many do? Then should we not 'watch and pray' yet more, not +only for ourselves, but those dearest to us, and do all in our power to +secure their happiness, ere we are called away?" + +Ellen could not answer. She understood too well his meaning; a sickness +as of death crept over her, but with an effort she subdued that deadly +faintness; she would have spoken on other things, but her tongue was +parched and dry. + +Engrossed in his own solemn feelings, in the wish to prepare his cousin +for the truth, Herbert perceived not her agitation, and, after a +minute's pause, continued tenderly-- + +"My own cousin, death to you is, I know, not terrible; why then should I +hesitate to impart tidings which to me are full of bliss? The shaft +which bore away my Mary, also entered my heart, and implanted in me the +disease which no mortal skill can cure. Do not chide me for entertaining +an unfounded fancy. Ellen, dear Ellen, I look to you, under heaven, to +support my mother under this affliction. I look to your fond cares to +subdue the pang of parting. You alone of her children will be left near +her, and you can do much to comfort and soothe not only her, but my +father; they will mourn for me, nature will speak, though I go to joy +inexpressible, unutterable! Ellen, speak to me; will you not do this, my +sister, my friend?" + +"Give me but a moment," she murmured almost inaudibly, as, overpowered +by increasing faintness, she sunk down on a grassy bank near them, and +buried her face in her hands. Minutes rolled by, and still there was +silence. Herbert sat down beside her, threw his arm around her, and +pressed a brother's kiss upon her cold, damp brow. She started and would +have risen, but strength failed; for a moment her head leaned against +his bosom, and a burst of tears relieved her. "Forgive me, Herbert," she +said, striving at once for composure and voice. "Oh, weak as I am, do +not repent your confidence. It was unexpected, sudden; the idea of +parting was sharper than at the first moment I could bear, but it will +soon be over, very, very soon; do not doubt me, Herbert." She fixed her +mournful eyes upon his face, and her cheek was very pale, "Yes," she +said, with returning strength, "trust me, dear Herbert, I will be to my +aunt, my more than mother, ever as you wish. My every care, my every +energy shall be employed to soften that deep anguish which--" She could +not complete the sentence, but quickly added, "the deep debt of +gratitude I owe her, not a whole life can repay. Long have I felt it, +long wished to devote myself to her and to my uncle, and this charge has +confirmed me in my resolution. Yes, dearest Herbert, while Ellen lives, +never, never shall my beloved aunt be lonely." + +Herbert understood not the entire signification of his cousin's words; +he knew not, that simple as they were to his ears, to her they were a +vow sacred and irrevocable. She knew she could never, never love +another, and there was something strangely soothing in the thought, that +it was his last request that consecrated her to his mother, to her +benefactress. To feel that, in endeavouring to repay the dept of +gratitude she owed, she could associate Herbert intimately with her +every action, so to perform his last charge, that could he look down +from heaven it would be to bless her. + +Herbert knew not the intensity of Ellen's feelings, still less did he +imagine he was the object of her ill-fated affection. Never once had +such a suspicion crossed his mind; that she loved him he doubted not, +but he thought it was as Emmeline loved. He trusted in her strength of +character, and therefore had he spoken openly; and could Ellen regret +his confidence, when she found that after that painful day, her society +appeared dearer, more consoling to him than ever? + +Although some members of her family could not be present at Emmeline's +wedding, a hasty visit from Edward was a source of joy to all. He was +about to sail to the shores of Africa in a small frigate, in which he +had been promoted to the second in command, an honour which had elevated +his spirits even beyond their usual buoyancy. He had been much shocked +and grieved at his sister's account of Mary's death, and Herbert's deep +affliction; but after he had been at home a few days, the influence of +his natural light-heartedness extended over all, and rendered Oakwood +more cheerful than it had been since the melancholy event we have +narrated. + +To Lilla Grahame it was indeed a pleasure to revisit Oakwood, +particularly when Lieutenant Fortescue was amongst its inmates. Edward's +manner was gallantly courteous to all his fair friends; a stranger might +have found it difficult to say which was his favourite, but there was +something about both him and Miss Grahame which very often called from +Ellen a smile. + +It was an interesting group assembled in the old parish church on the +day that united our favourite Emmeline with her long-beloved Arthur, but +it was far from being a day of unmingled gladness. Deep and chastened as +was the individual and mutual happiness of the young couple, they could +neither of them forget that there was a beloved one wanting; that they +had once hoped the same day that beheld their nuptials would have +witnessed also those of Herbert and his Mary. + +Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton had looked with some degree of dread to this day, +as one of painful recollection to Herbert; but he, perhaps of all who +were around him, was the most composed, and as the impressive ceremony +continued, he thought only of those dear ones whose fate he thus united; +he felt only the solemn import of the prayers he said, and his large and +beautiful eyes glistened with enthusiasm as in former days. It would +have been a sweet group for a skilful painter, those three principal +figures beside the altar. Herbert, as we have described him; Emmeline, +in her simple garb of white, her slight figure and peculiarly feminine +expression of countenance causing her to appear very many years younger +than in reality she was; and Arthur, too, his manly features radiant +with chastened yet perfect happiness, seemed well fitted to be the +protector, the friend of the gentle being who so soon would call him +husband, and look to him alone for happiness. Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton +rejoiced that their beloved child was at length blessed in the +gratification of her long-cherished, long-controlled hopes; that, as far +as human eye could penetrate, they had secured her happiness by giving +her to the man she loved. There was one other kneeling beside the altar +on whom Mrs. Hamilton looked with no small anxiety, for the emotion she +perceived, appeared to confirm the idea that it was indeed Arthur Myrvin +who had engrossed the affections of her niece. There are mysteries in +the human heart for which we seek in vain to account; associations and +sympathies that come often uncalled-for and unwished. Ellen knew not +wherefore the scene she witnessed pressed strangely on her heart; she +struggled against the feeling, and she might perhaps have succeeded in +concealing her inward emotions, but suddenly she looked on Herbert. She +marked him radiant, it seemed, in health and animation, his words +flashed across her mind; soon would the hue of death be on that cheek, +the light of that eye be dimmed, that sweet and thrilling voice be +hushed on earth for ever; that beautiful form bent down as a flower, +"the wind passeth over it and it is gone, and the place thereof shall +know it no more;" and thus would it soon be with him she loved. The gush +of feeling mocked all her efforts at control, Ellen buried her face in +her hands, and her slight frame shook, and the low choking sob was +distinctly heard in the brief silence that followed the words, "Those +whom God hath joined let no man put asunder." + +Arthur, at Emmeline's own desire, conducted his bride at once to the +small yet comfortable home which had been prepared for her in his +vicarage on Lord St. Eval's estate. That her residence was so near them +was a great source of pleasure to both her parents, and the feeling that +her home was in the centre of all she loved, not only so near the +beloved guardians of her infancy but Caroline and St. Eval, would have +added to her cup of joy, had it not been already full to overflowing; +the pang of parting was thus soothed to both mother and child. Even more +than Caroline, Mrs. Hamilton felt she should miss the gentle girl, who +scarcely from her infancy had given her one moment's pain; but in the +happiness of her child she too was blessed, and thankfully she raised +her voice to Him whose blessing, in the rearing of her children, she had +so constantly and fervently implored, and the mother's fond and yearning +heart was comforted. + +Though Ellen had smiled, and seemed to every eye but that of her +watchful aunt the same as usual the whole of that day, yet Mrs. Hamilton +could not resist the impulse that bade her seek her when all had retired +to their separate apartments. Ellen had been gone some time, but she was +sitting in a posture of deep thought, in which she had sunk on first +entering her room. She did not observe her aunt, and Mrs. Hamilton +traced many tears slowly, almost one by one, fall upon her +tightly-clasped hands, ere she found voice to speak. + +"Ellen, my sweet child!" + +Ellen sprung up, she threw herself into those extended arms, and hid her +tearful eyes on her aunt's bosom. + +"I have but you now, my own Ellen, to cheer my old age and enliven our +deserted hearth. You must not leave me yet, dearest. I cannot part with +you." + +"Oh, no, no; I will never, never leave you. Your home shall be my home, +my more than mother; and where you go, Ellen will follow," she murmured, +speaking unconsciously in the spirit of one of the sweetest characters +the Sacred Book presents. "Do not ask me to leave you; indeed, indeed, +no home will be to me like yours." + +"Speak not, then, so despondingly, my Ellen," replied Mrs. Hamilton, +fondly kissing her. "Never shall you leave me without your own full and +free consent. Do you remember, love, when I first promised that?" she +continued, playfully; for she sought not to draw from Ellen the secret +of her love, she only wished to soothe, to cheer, to tell her, however +unrequited might be her affections, still she was not desolate, and when +she left her, fully had she succeeded. Ellen was comforted, though she +scarcely knew wherefore. + +Some few months passed after the marriage of Emmeline, and the domestic +peace of Oakwood yet remained undisturbed. There were times when Ellen +hoped she had been deceived, that Herbert had been deceived himself. But +Myrvin dared not hope; he was not with his friend as constantly as Ellen +was, and almost every time he beheld him he fancied he perceived an +alarming change. + +About this time a malignant disease broke out in the neighbourhood of +the Dart, whose awful ravages it appeared as if no medical aid was +adequate to stop. In Herbert Hamilton's parish the mortality was +dreadful, and his duties were consequently increased, painfully to +himself and alarmingly to his family. A superhuman strength seemed, +however, suddenly granted him. Whole days, frequently whole nights, he +spent in the cottages of the afflicted poor. Soothing, encouraging, +compelling even the hardened and impenitent to own the power of the +religion he taught; bidding even them bow in unfeigned penitence at the +footstool of their Redeemer, and robbing death, in very truth, of its +sting. The young, the old, men in their prime, were carried off. The +terrible destroyer knew no distinction of age or sex or rank. Many a +young child would cease its wailing cry of suffering when its beloved +pastor entered the lowly cot, and with the fondness of a parent, with +that smile of pitying love which few hearts can resist, would seek to +soothe the bodily anguish, while at the same moment he taught the young +soul that death was not terrible; that it was but a few moments of pain +to end in everlasting bliss; that they were going to Him who had said +"Suffer little children to come unto me, for of such is the kingdom of +heaven." From the old, Herbert would learn many a lesson of piety and +resignation, and feel that attendance on such beds of death was in truth +a blessing to himself. + +Fearlessly, for her trust was fixed on the Rock of Righteousness, did +Ellen second the exertions of her cousin in this time of general +affliction. There were many who sought to deter her, for they whispered +the disease was contagious, but Ellen heeded them not, nor did Mrs. +Hamilton, herself so active in seasons of distress, seek to dissuade +her. "The arm of my God is around me, alike in the cottages of the dying +as in the fancied security of Oakwood," she said one day to Herbert, who +trembled for her safety, though for himself no fears had ever entered +his mind. "If it is His will that I too should feel His chastening rod, +it will find me though I should never leave my home; my trust is in Him. +I go in the humble hope to do His work, and He will not forsake me, +Herbert." + +Herbert trembled for her no more, and an active and judicious assistant +did he find her. For six weeks the disease continued unabated; about +that time it began to decline, and hopes were entertained that it was +indeed departing. + +There was moisture in the eyes of the young minister, as he looked +around him one Sabbath evening on the diminished number of his +congregation; so many of whom were either clad in mourning, or bore on +their countenance the marks of recent suffering, over the last victim +the whole family at Oakwood had sincerely mourned, for it was that kind +old woman whom we have mentioned more than once as being connected with +the affairs we have related. Nurse Langford had gone to her last home, +and both Ellen and Herbert dreaded writing the intelligence to her +affectionate son, who was now in Percy's service. She had been buried +only the day previous. Her seat was exactly opposite the pulpit, where +she had so often said it was such a blessing to look on the face of her +dear Master Herbert, and hear such blessed truths from his lips. She now +was gone. Herbert looked on her vacant seat, and it was then his eyes +glistened in starting tears. He had seen his cousin look towards the +same place, and though her veil was closely drawn down, he _felt_ her +tears were falling fast and thick upon her book. More than usually +eloquent was the young clergyman that day, in the discourse he had +selected as most appropriate to the feelings of those present. He spoke +of death, and, with an eloquence affecting in its pure simplicity, he +alluded to the loss of those we love. "Wherefore should I say loss, my +brethren?" he said, in conclusion. "They have but departed to mansions +of undying joy: to earth they may be lost, but not to us. Oh, no, God +cursed the ground for man's sake--it is fading, perishable! There will +be a new heaven and a new earth, but the spirit which God breathed +within us shall not see corruption. Released from this earthly shell, we +shall again behold those who have departed first; they will meet us +rejoicing, singing aloud the praises of that unutterable love that +redeemed and saved us, removing the curse pronounced on man, even as on +earth, making us heirs of eternal life, of everlasting glory! My +brethren, Death has been amongst us, but how clothed? to us who remain, +perhaps for a time in sadness; but to those who have triumphantly +departed, even as an angel of light, guiding them to the portals of +heaven. Purified by suffering and repentance, their garments white as +snow, they encircle the throne of their Saviour; and those whose lives +below were those of toil and long suffering, are now among the blessed. +Shall we then weep for them, my friends? Surely not. Let us think of +them, and follow in their paths, that our last end may be like theirs, +that we may rejoin them, never again to part! + +"Are there any here who fear to die? Are there any who shrink and +tremble when they think they may be the next it may please the Lord to +call? My Christian brethren, think awhile, and such thoughts will cease +to appal you. To the heathen alone is death the evil spirit, the +blackening shadow which, when called to mind, will poison his dearest +joys! To us, brethren, what is it? In pain it tells us of ease; in +strife or tumult, that the grave is a place of quiet; in the weariness +of exhausted spirits, that the end of all these things is at hand. Who +ever found perfect joy on earth? Are we not restless, even in the midst +of happiness? Death tells us of a purer happiness, in which there is no +weariness, no satiety. When we look around on those we love, when we +feel the blessings of affection, death tells us that we shall love them +still better in heaven! Is death then so terrible? Oh, let us think on +it thus in life and health, and in the solitude and silence of our +chamber such thoughts will not depart from us. Let these reflections +pervade us as we witness the dying moments of those we love, and we +shall find even for us death has no sting; for we shall meet again in a +world where death and time shall be no more! Oh, my beloved brethren, +let us go home, and in our closets thank God that His chastening hand +appears about to be removed from us, and so beseech Him to enlighten our +eyes to look on death, and so to give us that faith, which alone can +make us whole, and give us peace, that we may say with the venerable +Simeon, 'Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine +eyes have seen thy salvation.'" + +He ceased, and a solemn stillness reigned within the church. For a +moment the young clergyman bowed his head in silent prayer upon his +book, and then he raised his clasped hands on high, and, in a voice of +almost unearthly sweetness and power, gave the parting benediction. The +flush was observed to fade from his cheek, the lustre depart from his +eye; he raised his hand languidly to his damp brow, and in another +minute Mr. Hamilton darted from his seat, and received his son in his +arms, in a long and deathlike swoon, That same evening beheld Herbert +Hamilton, the beloved, the good, stretched on his couch a victim to the +same fearful disease, to remove the sting of which he had so long and +perseveringly laboured. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +There was joy in the superb hotel at Frankfort-sur-Maine which served as +the temporary residence of Lord St. Eval's family, domestic joy, for the +danger which had threatened the young Countess in her confinement had +passed away, and she and her beautiful babe were doing as well as the +fond heart of a father and husband could desire. They had been at +Frankfort for the last two months, at which place, however, Percy +Hamilton had not been stationary, taking advantage of this pause in St. +Eval's intended plans, by seeing as much of Germany as he could during +that time; and short as it was, his energetic mind had derived more +improvement and pleasure in the places he had visited, than many who had +lingered over the same space of ground more than double the time. +Intelligence that Caroline was not quite so well as her friends wished, +aided perhaps by his secret desire to see again her gentle companion, +Percy determined for a short time to return to Frankfort, till his +sister's health was perfectly restored, and they might be again enabled +to travel together. His almost unexpected arrival added to the happiness +of the young Earl's domestic circle, and there was somewhat in his arch +yet expressive glance, as he received his baby niece from the arms of +Miss Manvers, and imprinted a light kiss on the infant's sleeping +features, that dyed her cheek with blushes, and bade her heart beat +quick with an indefinable sense of pleasure. + +The sisterly friendship of Louisa Manvers had been a source of real +gratification to both the Earl St. Eval and his Countess during their +travels, more particularly now, when the health of the latter required +such kindly tending. Mrs. Hamilton had deeply regretted the +impossibility of her being with her child at such a time; the letter +Lord St. Eval had despatched was, however, calculated to disperse all +her anxiety, the danger appearing after the letter had gone, and not +lasting sufficiently long to justify his writing again. They were +sitting round the breakfast-table the morning after Percy's return, +lengthening the usual time of the meal by lively and intelligent +conversation; Miss Manvers was presiding at the table, and Percy did not +feel the least inclined to move, declaring he would wait for his English +despatches, if there were any, before he went out. The post happened to +be rather late that morning, a circumstance, wonderful to say, which did +not occasion Percy annoyance. It came in, however, at length, bringing +several papers for Lord St. Eval and his wife, from the Malvern family, +but only two from Oakwood, one, in the handwriting of Ellen, to Percy, +and one for Robert Langford, evidently from Mr Hamilton. + +"This is most extraordinary," Percy said, much surprised. "My mother +not written to Caroline, and none from Herbert to me; his duties are +increased, I know, but surely he could find time to write to me." + +"Mrs. Hamilton has written to Caroline since her confinement, and so did +all her family four or five days ago," said Lord St. Eval, but his words +fell unheeded on the ear of Percy, who had hastily torn open his +cousin's letter, and glanced his eye over its contents. Engaged in his +own letters, the Earl did not observe the agitation of his friend, but +Miss Manvers saw his hand tremble so violently, that he could scarcely +hold the paper. + +"Merciful heaven! Mr. Hamilton--Percy, what is the matter?" she +exclaimed, suddenly losing all her wonted reserve, as she remarked his +strange emotion, and her words, connected with the low groan that burst +from Percy's heart, effectually roused the Earl's attention. + +"Hamilton, speak; are there ill news from Oakwood? In mercy, speak!" he +said, almost as much agitated as his friend. + +"Herbert," was all Percy could articulate, "Herbert, my brother; oh God, +he is dying, and I am not near him. Read, St. Eval, for pity; I cannot +see the words. Is there yet time--can I reach England in time? or is +this only a preparation to tell me he is--is dead?" + +"He lives, Percy; there may be yet time, if you set off at once," +exclaimed the Earl, who saw the necessity of rousing his friend to +exertion, for the sudden blow had bewildered his every faculty. He +started up wildly, and was darting from the room, when he suddenly +paused-- + +"Keep it from Caroline--tell her not now, it will kill her," he cried. +"May God in heaven bless you for those tears!" he continued, springing +towards Louisa, and clasping her hands convulsively in his, as the sight +of her unfeigned emotion caused the hot tears slowly to trickle down his +own cheek, and his lip quivered, till he could scarcely speak the words +of parting. "Oh, think of me; I go to the dying bed of him, whom I had +hoped would one day have been to you a brother--would have joined--" He +paused in overwhelming emotion, took the hand of the trembling girl, +raised it to his lips, and darted from the apartment. + +St. Eval hastily followed him, for he saw Percy was in no state to think +of anything himself, and the letter Robert had received, telling him of +the death of his mother, rendered him almost as incapable of exertion as +his master; but as soon as he heard the cause of Percy's very visible +but at first incomprehensible agitation, his own deep affliction was at +once subdued; he was ready and active in Percy's service. That Mr. +Hamilton should thus have written to him, to alleviate the blow of a +parent's death, to comfort him when his own son lay on a dying bed, +penetrated at once the heart of the young man, and urged him to +exertion. + +Day and night Percy travelled; but we must outstrip even his rapid +course, and conduct our readers to Oakwood, the evening of the second +day after Percy's arrival at Ostend. + +Herbert Hamilton lay on his couch, the cold hand of Death upon his brow; +but instead of robing his features with a ghastly hue, it had spread +over them even more than usual beauty. Reduced he was to a mere shadow, +but his prayers in his days of health and life had been heard; the +delirium of fever had passed, and he met death unshrinkingly, his mind +retaining even more than its wonted powers. It was the Sabbath evening, +and all around him was still and calm. For the first two days after the +delirium had departed, his mind had still been darkened, restless, and +uneasy. Perseveringly as he had laboured in his calling, he had felt in +those darker days the utter nothingness of his own works, how wholly +insufficient they had been to secure his salvation; and the love of his +God, the infinite atonement in which he so steadily believed, shone not +with sufficient brightness to remove this painful darkness. Death was +very near, and it no longer seemed the angel of light he had ever +regarded it; but on the Saturday the mist was mercifully dispelled from +his mind, the clouds dispersed, and faith shone forth with a brilliancy, +a lustre overpowering; it told of heaven with an eloquence that banished +every other thought, and Herbert's bodily sufferings were felt no +longer; the confines of heaven were gained--but a brief space, one +mortal struggle, and he would meet his Mary at the footstool of his God. + +With solemn impressiveness, yet affecting tenderness, Archdeacon Howard +had administered the sacrament to him, whom he regarded at once as +pupil, friend, and brother; and the whole family of the dying youth, at +his own particular request, had shared it with him. Exhausted by the +earnestness in which he had joined in the solemn service, Herbert now +lay with one hand clasped in his mother's, who sat by his side, her head +bent over his, and her whole countenance, save when the gaze of her son +was turned towards her, expressive of tearless, heart-rending sorrow, +struggling for resignation to the will of Him, who called her Herbert +to Himself. Emmeline was kneeling by her mother's side. Mr. Hamilton +leaned against the wall, pale and still; it was only the agonized +expression of his manly features that betrayed he was a living being. On +the left side of the dying youth stood Arthur Myrvin, who, from the +moment of his arrival at Oakwood, had never once left Herbert's couch, +night and day he remained beside him; and near Arthur, but yet closer to +her cousin, knelt the orphan, her eyes tearless indeed, but her whole +countenance so haggard and wan, that had not all been engrossed in +individual suffering, it could not have passed unobserved. The tall, +venerable figure of the Archdeacon, as he stood a little aloof from the +principal figures, completed the painful group. + +"My own mother, your Herbert is so happy, so very happy! you must not +weep for me, mother. Oh, it is your fostering love and care, the +remembrance of all your tenderness from my infancy, gilding my boyhood +with sunshine, my manhood with such refreshing rays--it is that which is +resting on my heart, and I would give it words and thank and bless you, +but I cannot. And my father, too, my beloved, my revered father--oh, but +little have I done to repay your tender care, my brother and sisters' +love, but my Father in heaven will bless--bless you all; I know, I feel +He will." + +"Percy," repeated the dying youth, a gleam of light kindling in his eye +and flushing his cheek. "Is there indeed a hope that I may see him, that +I may trace those beloved features once again?" + +He closed his eyes, and his lips moved in silent yet fervent prayer, +that wish was still powerful within; it was the only thought of earth +that lingered. + +"Tell him," he said, and his voice sounded weaker and weaker, "tell him, +Herbert's last prayer was for him, that he was in my last thoughts; tell +him to seek for comfort at the foot of that Throne where we have so +often knelt together. Oh, let him not sorrow, for I shall be happy--oh, +so happy!" + +Again he was silent, and for a much longer interval; but when he +reopened his eyes, they were fixed on Ellen. + +"My sister, my kind and tender nurse, what shall I say to you?" he said, +languidly, but in a tone that thrilled to her aching heart. "I can but +commend you to His care, who can take from grief its sting, even as He +hath clothed this moment in victory. May His spirit rest upon you, +Ellen, and give you peace. May He bless you, not only for your +affectionate kindness towards me, but to her who went before me. You +will not forget, Ellen." His glance wandered from his cousin to his +mother, and then returned to her. She bowed her head upon his extended +hand, but her choking voice could speak no word. "Caroline, too, she +will weep for me, but St. Eval will dry her tears; tell them I did not +forget them; that my love and blessing is theirs even as if they had +been around me. Emmeline, Arthur,--Mr. Howard, oh, where are you? my +eyes are dim, my voice is failing, yet"-- + +"I am here, my beloved son," said the Archdeacon, and Herbert fixed a +kind glance upon his face, and leaned his head against him. + +"I would tell you, that it is the sense of the Divine presence, of love, +unutterable, infinite, inexhaustible, that has taken all anguish from +this moment. My spirit rises triumphant, secure of eternal salvation, +triumphing in the love of Him who died for me. Oh, Death, well may I +say, where is thy sting? oh, grave, where is thy victory? they are +passed; heaven is opening. Oh, bliss unutterable, undying!" He sunk back +utterly exhausted, but the expression of his countenance still evinced +the internal triumph of his soul. + +A faint sound, as of the distant trampling of horses, suddenly came upon +the ear. Nearer, nearer still, and a flush of excitement rose to +Herbert's cheek. "Percy--can it be? My God, I thank thee for this +mercy!" + +Arthur darted from the room, as the sound appeared rapidly approaching; +evidently it was a horse urged to its utmost speed, and it could be none +other save Percy. Arthur flew across the hall, and through the entrance, +which had been flung widely open, as the figure of the young heir of +Oakwood had been recognised by the streaming eyes of the faithful +Morris, who stood by his young master's stirrup, but without uttering a +word. Percy's tongue clove to the roof of his mouth; his eyes were +bloodshot and haggard. He had no power to ask a question, and it was +only the appearance of Myrvin, his entreaty that he would be calm ere +Herbert saw him, that roused him to exertion. His brother yet lived; it +was enough, and in another minute he stood on the threshold of Herbert's +room. With an overpowering effort the dying youth raised himself on his +couch, and extended his arms towards him. + +"Percy, my own Percy, this is kind," he said, and his voice suddenly +regained its wonted power. Percy sprung towards him, and the brothers +were clasped in each other's arms. No word did Percy speak, but his +choking sobs were heard; there was no movement in the drooping form of +his brother to say that he had heard the sound; he did not raise his +head from Percy's shoulder, or seek to speak of comfort. + +"Speak to me, oh, once again, but once more, Herbert!" exclaimed Percy. +Fearful agony was in his voice, but, oh, it could not rouse the _dead_: +Herbert Hamilton had departed. His last wish on earth was fulfilled. It +was but the lifeless form of his beloved brother that Percy held in the +stern grasp of despairing woe. It was long ere the truth was known, and +when it was, there was no sound of wailing heard within the chamber, no +cry of sorrow broke the solemn stillness. For him they could not weep, +and for themselves, oh, it was a grief too deep for tears. + + * * * * * + +We will not linger on the first few weeks that passed over the inmates +of Oakwood after the death of one we have followed so long, and beheld +so fondly and deservedly beloved. Silent and profound was that sorrow, +but it was the sorrow of those who, in all things, both great and small, +beheld the hand of a God of love. Could the faith, the truth, which from +her girlhood's years had distinguished Mrs. Hamilton, desert her now? +Would her husband permit her to look to him for support and consolation +under this deep affliction, and yet not find it? No; they looked up to +their God; they rejoiced that so peaceful, so blessed had been the death +of their beloved one. His last words to them came again and again on the +heart of each parent as soothing balm, of which nor time nor +circumstance could deprive them. For the sake of each other, they +exerted themselves, an example followed by their children; but each felt +years must pass ere the loss they had sustained would lose its pang, ere +they could cease to miss the being they had so dearly loved, who had +been such a brilliant light in their domestic circle--brilliant, yet how +gentle; not one that was ever sparkling, ever changing, but of a soft +and steady lustre. On earth that light had set, but in heaven it was +dawning never to set again. + +For some few weeks the family remained all together, as far at least as +Arthur's ministerial duties permitted. Mr. Hamilton wished much to see +that living, now vacant by the death of his son, transferred to Myrvin, +and he exerted himself towards effecting an exchange. Ere, however, +Percy could return to the Continent, or Emmeline return to her husband's +home, the sudden and alarming illness of Mrs. Hamilton detained them +both at Oakwood. The fever which had been raging in the village, and +which had hastened the death of Herbert, had also entered the household +of Mrs. Hamilton. Resolved that no affliction of her own should +interfere with those duties of benevolence, to exercise which was her +constant practice, Mrs. Hamilton had compelled herself to exertion +beyond the strength of a frame already wearied and exhausted by +long-continued but forcibly-suppressed anxiety, and three weeks after +the death of her son she too was stretched on a bed of suffering, which, +for the first few days during the violence of the fever, her afflicted +family believed might also be of death. In this trying time, it was to +Ellen that not only her cousin but even her uncle turned, by her example +to obtain more control and strength. No persuasions could induce her to +leave the side of her aunt's couch, or resign to another the painful yet +soothing task of nursing. Young and inexperienced she was, but her +strong affection for her aunt, heightened by some other feeling which +was hidden in her own breast, endowed her at once with strength to +endure continued fatigue, with an experience that often made Mr. +Maitland contemplate her with astonishment. From the period of Herbert's +death, Ellen had placed her feelings under a restraint that utterly +prevented all relief in tears. She was never seen to weep; every feature +had indeed spoken the deep affliction that was hers, but it never +interfered with the devoted care she manifested towards her aunt. +Silently yet perseveringly she laboured to soften the intense suffering +in the mother's heart; it was on her neck Mrs. Hamilton had first wept +freely and relievingly, and as she clasped the orphan to her bosom, had +lifted up her heart in thanksgiving that such a precious gift was yet +preserved her, how little did even she imagine all that was passing in +Ellen's heart; that Herbert to her young fancy had been how much dearer +than a brother; that she mourned not only a cousin's loss, but one round +whom her first affections had been twined with an intensity that death +alone could sever. How little could she guess the continued struggle +pressing on that young mind, the anguish of her solitary moments, ere +she could by prayer so calm her bursting heart as to appear the composed +and tranquil being she ever seemed before the family. Mrs. Hamilton +could only feel that the comfort her niece bestowed in this hour of +affliction, her controlled yet sympathising conduct, repaid her for all +the care and sorrow Ellen once had caused. Never had she regretted she +had taken the orphans to her heart and cherished them as her own; but +now it was she felt the Lord had indeed returned the blessing tenfold in +her own bosom; and still more did she feel this in the long and painful +convalescence that followed her brief but severe attack of fever, when +Ellen was the only one of her children remaining near her. + +Completely worn out by previous anxiety, the subsequent affliction, and, +finally, her mother's dangerous illness, Emmeline's health appeared so +shattered, that as soon as the actual danger was passed, Myrvin insisted +on her going with him, for change of air and scene, to Llangwillan, a +proposal that both her father and Mr. Maitland seconded; trembling for +the precious girl so lately made his own, Arthur resisted her entreaties +to remain a little longer at Oakwood, and conveyed her at once to his +father's vicarage, where time and improved tidings of her mother +restored at length the bloom to her cheek and the smile to her lip. + +It was strange to observe the difference of character which opposite +circumstances and opposite treatment in their infant years had made in +these two cousins. Emmeline and Ellen, had they been brought up from +babes together, and the same discipline extended to each, would, in all +probability, have in after years displayed precisely the same +disposition; but though weak indulgence had never been extended to +Emmeline, prosperity unalloyed, save in the affair with Arthur Myrvin, +had been her portion. Affection and caresses had been ever lavished +almost unconsciously upon her, but instead of cherishing faults, such +treatment had formed her happiness, and had encouraged and led her on +in the paths of virtue. Every thought and feeling were expressed without +disguise; she had been so accustomed to think aloud to her mother from +childhood, so accustomed to give vent to her little vexations in words, +her sorrows in tears, which were quickly dried, that as years increased, +she found it a very difficult task either to restrain her sentiments or +control her feelings. Her mind could not be called weak, for in her +affection for Arthur Myrvin, as we have seen, when there was a +peremptory call for exertion or self-control, it was ever heard and +attended to. Her health indeed suffered, but that very fact proved the +mind was stronger than the frame; though when she marked Ellen's +superior composure and coolness, Emmeline would sometimes bitterly +reproach herself. From her birth, Ellen had been initiated in sorrow, +her infant years had been one scene of trial. Never caressed by her +mother or those around her, save when her poor father was near, she had +learned to bury every affectionate yearning deep within her own little +heart, every childish sentiment was carefully concealed, and her +father's death, the horrors of that night, appeared to have placed the +seal on her character, infant as she was. She was scarcely ten when she +became an inmate of her aunt's family, but then it was too late for her +character to become as Emmeline's. The impression had been made on the +yielding wax, and now it could not be effaced. Many circumstances +contributed to strengthen this impression, as in the first portion of +this history we have seen. Adversity had made Ellen as she was, and +self-control had become her second nature, long before she knew the +meaning of the word. + +The intelligence of Herbert's death, though deferred till St. Eval +thought his wife enabled to bear it with some composure, had, however, +so completely thrown her back, that she was quite unequal to travel to +England, as her wishes had instantly dictated, and her husband was +compelled to keep up a constant system of deception with regard to her +mother's illness, lest she should insist, weak as she was, on +immediately flying to her aid. As soon as sufficient strength returned +for Mrs. Hamilton to express her wishes, she entreated Percy to rejoin +his sister, that all alarm on her account might subside. The thought of +her child was still uppermost in the mother's mind, though her excessive +debility compelled her to lie motionless for hours on her couch, +scarcely sensible of anything passing around her, or that her husband +and Ellen hardly for one moment left her side. The plan succeeded, +Caroline recovered soon after Percy's arrival; and at the earnest +message Percy bore her from her mother, that she would not think of +returning to England till her health was quite restored, she consented +leisurely to take the celebrated excursion down the Rhine, ere she +returned home. + +It would have seemed as though no other grief could be the portion of +Ellen, but another sorrow was impending over her, which, while it +lasted, was a source of distress inferior only to Herbert's death. +Entering the library one morning, she was rather surprised to find not +only Mr. Maitland but Archdeacon Howard with her uncle. + +The former was now too constantly a visitor at the Hall to occasion +individually much surprise, but it was the expression on the +countenances of each that created alarm. Mr. Hamilton appeared +struggling with some strong and painful emotion, and had started as +Ellen entered the room, while he looked imploringly towards the +Archdeacon, as if seeking his counsel and assistance. + +"Can we indeed trust her?" Mr. Maitland said, doubtingly, and in a low +voice, as he looked sadly upon Ellen. "Can we he sure these melancholy +tidings will be for the present inviolably kept from Mrs. Hamilton, for +suspense such as this, in her present state of health, might produce +consequences on which I tremble to think?" + +"You may depend upon me, Mr. Maitland," Ellen said, firmly, as she came +forward. "What new affliction can have happened of which you so dread my +aunt being informed? Oh, do not deceive me. I have heard enough to make +fancy perhaps more dreadful than reality, Mr. Howard. My dear uncle, +will you not trust me?" + +"My poor Ellen," her uncle said, in a faltering voice, "you have indeed +borne sorrow well; but this will demand even a greater share of +fortitude. All is not yet known, there may be hope, but I dare not +encourage it. Tell her, Howard," he added, hastily, shrinking from her +sorrowful glance, "I cannot." + +"Is it of Edward you would tell me? Oh, what of him?" she exclaimed. +"Oh, tell me at once, Mr. Howard, indeed, indeed, I can bear it." + +With the tenderness of a father, Mr. Howard gently and soothingly told +her that letters had that morning arrived from Edward's captain, +informing them that the young lieutenant had been despatched with a +boat's crew, on a message to a ship stationed about twelve miles +southward, towards the Cape of Good Hope; a storm had arisen as the +night darkened, but still Captain Seaforth had felt no uneasiness, +imagining his young officer had deemed it better remaining on board the +Stranger all night, though somewhat contrary to his usual habits of +promptness and activity. As the day, however, waned to noon, and still +Lieutenant Fortescue did not appear, the captain despatched another boat +to know why he tarried. The sea was still raging in fury from the last +night's storm, but the foaming billows had never before detained Edward +from his duty. With increasing anxiety, Captain Seaforth paced the deck +for several hours, until indeed the last boat he had sent returned. He +scanned the crew with an eye that never failed him, and saw with dismay, +that neither his lieutenant nor one of his men were amongst them. +Horror-stricken and distressed, the sailors related that, despite every +persuasion of the captain of the Stranger, Lieutenant Fortescue had +resolved on returning to the Gem the moment his message had been +delivered and the answer given; his men had seconded him, though many +signs denoted that as the evening advanced, so too would the impending +storm. Twilight was darkening around him when, urged on by a mistaken +sense of duty, the intrepid young man descended into the boat, and not +half an hour afterwards the storm came on with terrific violence, and +the pitchy darkness had entirely frustrated every effort of the crew of +the Stranger to trace the boat. Morning dawned, and brought with it some +faint confirmation of the fate which all had dreaded. Some spars on +which the name of the Gem was impressed, and which were easily +recognised as belonging to the long-boat, floated on the foaming waves, +and the men sent out to reconnoitre had discovered the dead body of one +of the unfortunate sailors, who the evening previous had been so full of +life and mirth, clinging to some sea-weed; while a hat bearing the name +of Edward Fortescue, caused the painful suspicion that the young and +gallant officer had shared the same fate. Every inquiry was set afloat, +every exertion made, to discover something more certain concerning him, +but without any effect. Some faint hope there yet existed, that he might +have been picked up by one of the ships which were continually passing +and repassing on that course; and Captain Seaforth concluded his +melancholy narration by entreating Mr. Hamilton not to permit himself to +despair, as hope there yet was, though but faint. Evidently he wrote as +he felt, not merely to calm the minds of Edward's sorrowing friends, but +Mr. Hamilton could not share these sanguine expectations. Mystery had +also enveloped the fate of his brother-in-law, Charles Manvers; long, +very long, had he hoped that he lived, that he would yet return; but +year after year had passed, till four-and-twenty had rolled by, and +still there were no tidings. Well did he remember the heart-sickening +that had attended his hopes deferred, the anguish of suspense which for +many weary months had been the portion of his wife, and he thought it +almost better for Ellen to believe her brother dead, than to live on in +the indulgence of hopes that might have no foundation; yet how could he +tell her he was dead, when there was one gleam of hope, however faint. +Well did he know the devoted affection which the orphans bore to each +other. He gazed on her in deep commiseration, as in unbroken silence she +listened to the tenderly-told tale; and, drawing her once more to his +bosom as Mr. Howard ceased, he fondly and repeatedly kissed her brow, +as he entreated her not to despair; Edward might yet be saved. No word +came from Ellen's parched lips, but he felt the cold shudder of +suffering pass through her frame. Several minutes passed, and still she +raised not her head. Impressively the venerable clergyman addressed her +in tones and words that never failed to find their way to the orphan's +heart. He spoke of a love and mercy that sent these continued trials to +mark her as more peculiarly His own. He told of comfort, that even in +such a moment she could feel. He bade her cease not to pray for her +brother's safety; that nothing was too great for the power or the mercy +of the Lord; that however it might appear impossible to worldly minds +that he could be saved, yet if the Almighty's hand had been stretched +forth, a hundred storms might have passed him by unhurt; yet he bade her +not entertain too sanguine hopes. "Place our beloved Edward and yourself +in the hands of our Father in heaven, my child; implore Him for strength +to meet His will, whatever it may be, and if, indeed, He hath taken him +in mercy to a happier world, He will give you strength and grace to meet +His ordinance of love; but if hope still lingers, check it not--he may +be spared. Be comforted, then, my child, and for the sake of the beloved +relative yet spared you, try and compose your agitated spirits. We may +trust to your care in retaining this fresh grief from her, I know we +may." + +"You are right. Mr. Howard; oh, may God bless you for your kindness!" +said the almost heart-broken girl, as she raised her head and placed her +trembling hands in his. Her cheeks were colourless as marble, but the +long dark fringes that rested on them were unwetted by tears; she had +forcibly sent them back. Her heart throbbed almost to suffocation, but +she would not listen to its anguish. The form of Herbert seemed to flit +before her and remind her of her promise, that her every care, her every +energy should be devoted to his mother; and that remembrance, +strengthened as it was by Mr. Howard's words, nerved her to the painful +duty which was now hers to perform. "You may indeed trust me. My Father +in heaven will support me, and give me strength to conceal this +intelligence effectually, till my beloved aunt is enabled to hear it +with composure. Do not fear me, Mr. Maitland; it is not in my own +strength I trust, for that I feel too painfully at this moment is less +than nothing. My dearest uncle, will you not trust your Ellen?" + +She turned towards him as she spoke, and Mr. Hamilton felt the tears +glisten in his eyes as he met the upturned glance of the afflicted +orphan--now indeed, as it seemed, so utterly alone. + +"Yes I do and ever will trust you, my beloved Ellen," he said, with +emotion. "May God grant you His blessing in this most painful duty. To +Him I commend you, my child; I would speak of comfort and hope, but He +alone can give them." + +"And He _will_," replied Ellen, in a low, steady voice; and gently +withdrawing her hand from Mr. Howard's, she softly but quickly left the +library. But half an hour elapsed, and Ellen was once more seated by her +aunt's couch. The struggle of that half hour we will not follow; it was +too sacred, too painful to be divulged, and many, many solitary hours +were thus spent in suffering, known only to herself and to her God. + +"You have been long away from me, my Ellen, or else my selfish wish to +have you again near me has made me think so," Mrs. Hamilton said that +eventful morning. + +"Have you then missed me, my dear aunt? I am glad of it, for comfort as +it is to be allowed to remain always with yon, it is even greater +pleasure to think you like to have me near you," replied Ellen. + +"Can I do otherwise, my own Ellen? Where can I find a nurse so tender, +affectionate, and attentive as you are? Who would know so well how to +cheer and soothe me as the child whose smallest action proves how much +she loves me?" + +Tears glistened in the eyes of Ellen as her aunt spoke, for if she had +wanted fresh incentive for exertion, those simple words would have given +it. Oh, how much encouragement may be given in one sentence from those +we love; how is every effort to please lightened by the consciousness it +is appreciated; how is every duty sweetened when we feel we are beloved. + +Mrs. Hamilton knew not how that expression of her feelings had fallen on +the torn heart of her niece; she guessed not one-half Ellen endured in +secret for her sake, but she felt, and showed she felt, the full value +of the unremitting affectionate attentions she received. + +Days, weeks passed by; at length, Mrs. Hamilton's extreme debility began +to give place to the more restless weariness of convalescence. It was +comparatively an easy task to sit in continued silence by the couch, +actively yet quietly to anticipate her faintest wish, and attend to all +the duties of nurse, which demanded no exertion in the way of talking, +and other efforts at amusement; there were then very many hours that +Ellen's saddened thoughts could dwell on the painful past. + +She struggled to behold heaven's mercy in affliction, and rapidly, more +rapidly than she was herself aware of, was this young and gentle girl +progressing in the paths of grace. Had Herbert and Mary both lived and +been united, Ellen would, in all probability, have at length so +conquered her feelings, as to have been happy in the marriage state, and +though she could not have bestowed the first freshness of young +affection, she would ever have so felt and acted as to be in very truth, +as Lord St. Eval had said, a treasure to any man who had the felicity to +call her his. Had her cousin indeed married, Ellen might have felt it +incumbent on her as an actual duty so to conquer herself; but now that +he was dead she felt it no sin to love, in devoting herself to his +parents in their advancing age, partly for his sake, in associating him +with all she did for them, and for all whom he loved; there was no sin +now in all this, but she felt it would be a crime to give her hand to +another, when her whole heart was thus devoted to the dead. There was +something peculiarly soothing to the grateful and affectionate feelings +with which she regarded her aunt and uncle; that she perhaps would be +the only one of all those who had-- + + "Played + Beneath the same green tree, + Whose voices mingled as they prayed + Around one parent knee"-- + +would remain with nothing to divert her attention from the pleasing task +of soothing and cheering their advancing years, and her every effort was +now turned towards making her _single_ life, indeed, one of +_blessedness_, by works of good and thoughts of love towards all with +whom she might associate; but in these visions her brother had ever +intimately mingled. She had pictured herself beholding and rejoicing in +his happiness, loving his children as her own, being to them a second +mother. She had fancied herself ever received with joy, a welcome inmate +of her Edward's home, and so strongly had her imagination become +impressed with this idea, that its annihilation appeared to heighten the +anguish with which the news of his untimely fate had overwhelmed her. He +was gone; and it seemed as if she had never, never felt so utterly +desolate before; as if advancing years had entirely lost the soft and +gentle colouring with which they had so lately been invested. It seemed +but a very short interval since she had seen him, the lovely, playful +child, his mother's pet, the admiration of all who looked on him; then +he stood before her, the handsome, manly boy she had parted with, when +he first left the sheltering roof of Oakwood, to become a sailor. Then, +shuddering, she recalled him when they had met again, after a lapse of +suffering in the young life of each; and her too sensitive fancy +conjured up the thought that her fault had not yet been sufficiently +chastised, that he was taken from her because she had loved him too +well; because her deep intense affection for him had caused her once to +forget the mandate of her God. In the deep agony of that thought, it +seemed as if she lived over again those months of suffering, which in a +former pages we have endeavoured to describe. + +Humbled to the dust, she recognised the chastising hand of her Maker, +and as if it had only now been committed, she acknowledged and repented +the transgression a moment's powerful temptation had forced her to +commit. Had there been one to whom she could have confessed these +feelings, whose soothing friendship would have whispered it was needless +and uncalled-for to enhance the suffering of Edward's fate by such +self-reproach, Ellen's young heart would have been relieved; but from +that beloved relative who might have consoled and alleviated her grief, +this bitter trial she must still conceal. Mr. Hamilton dared not +encourage the hope which he had never felt but his bosom swelled with +love and almost veneration for the gentle being, to whose care Mr. +Maitland had assured him the recovery of his beloved wife was, under +Providence, greatly owing. He longed to speak of comfort; but, alas! +what could he say? he would have praised, encouraged, but there was that +about his niece that utterly forbade it; for it silently yet +impressively told whence that sustaining strength arose. + +It was when Mrs. Hamilton was beginning to recover, that still more +active exertions on the part of Ellen were demanded. Every effort was +now made to prevent her relapsing into that despondency which +convalescence so often engenders, however we may strive to resist it. +She was ready at a minute's notice to comply with and often to +anticipate her aunt's most faintly-hinted wishes; she would read to her, +sing her favourite airs, or by a thousand little winning arts +unconsciously entice the interest of her aunt to her various pursuits, +as had been her wont in former days. There was no appearance of effort +on her part, and Mrs. Hamilton insensibly, at first, but surely felt +that with her strength her habitual cheerfulness was returning, and +fervently she blessed her God for this abundant mercy. No exertion on +her side was wanting to become to her husband and household as she had +been before the death of her beloved son; she felt the beauteous flower +was transplanted above; the hand of the reaper had laid it low, though +the eye of faith beheld it in perfect undying loveliness, and though the +mother's heart yet sorrowed, 'twas a sorrow now in which no pain was +mingled. + +One evening they had been speaking, among other subjects, of Lilla +Grahame, whose letters, Mrs. Hamilton had observed, were not written in +her usual style. Too well did Ellen guess the reason; once only the poor +girl had alluded to Edward's supposed fate, but that once had more than +sufficiently betrayed to Ellen's quickly-excited sympathy the true +nature of her feelings towards him. As Lilla had not, however, written +in perfect confidence, but still as if she feared to write too much on +emotions she scarcely understood herself, Ellen had not answered her as +she would otherwise have done. That her sympathy was Lilla's was very +clearly evident, but as the secrecy preserved towards Mrs. Hamilton had +been made known to her by Emmeline, she had not written again on the +subject, but yet Ellen was not deceived; in every letter she received +she could easily penetrate where Lilla's anxious thoughts were +wandering. Of Cecil Grahame there were still no tidings, and, all +circumstances considered, it did not seem strange she should often be +sorrowful and anxious. On dismissing this subject, Mrs. Hamilton had +asked Ellen to sing to her, and selected, as a very old favourite, "The +Graves of the Household." She had always forgotten it, she said, before, +when Ellen wished her to select one she preferred. She was surprised +that Ellen had not reminded her of it, as it had once been an equal +favourite with her. For a moment Ellen hesitated, and then hastened to +the piano. In a low, sweet, yet unfaltering voice, she complied with her +aunt's request; once only her lip quivered, for she could not sing that +verse without the thought of Edward. + + "The sea, the blue lone sea, hath one, + He lies where pearls lie deep; + He was the loved of all, yet none + O'er his low bed may weep." + +Mr. Hamilton unobserved had entered the room, and now stood with folded +arms and mournful glance, alternately regarding his wife and niece. Mr. +Maitland had that morning told him there was not now the slightest +danger remaining, and he rather advised that Mrs. Hamilton should be +informed of what had passed, lest the painful intelligence should come +upon her when quite unprepared. He had striven for composure, and he now +entered expressly to execute this painful task; he had marked the +suffering imprinted on his niece's face, and he could continue the +deception no longer. On the conclusion of her song, Ellen reseated +herself on the stool she had occupied at her aunt's feet, her heart too +full to speak. + +"Why are you so silent, my dear husband?" Mrs. Hamilton said, addressing +him, and who almost started at her address. "May I know the subject of +such very deep thought?" + +"Ellen, partly," he replied, and he spoke the truth. "I was thinking how +pale and thin she looks, and how much she has lately had to distress and +cause her anxiety." + +"She has, indeed, and therefore the sooner we can leave Oakwood for a +few months, as we intended, the better. I have been a long and +troublesome patient, my Ellen, and all your efforts to restore me to +perfect health will he quite ineffectual unless I see the colour return +to your cheek, and your step resume its elasticity." + +"Do not fear for me, my beloved aunt; indeed I am quite well," answered +Ellen, not daring to look up, lest her tears should be discovered. + +"You are right, my Emmeline," suddenly exclaimed Mr. Hamilton, rousing +himself with a strong effort, and advancing to the couch where his wife +sat, he threw his arms around her. "You do not yet know all that our +Ellen has in secret borne for your sake. You do not yet know the deep +affliction which is the real cause of that alteration in her health, +which only now you are beginning to discover. Oh, my beloved wife, I +have feared to tell you, but now that strength is returning, I may +hesitate no longer; for her sake you will bear these cruel tidings even +as she has done. Will you not comfort her? Will you--" The sudden +opening of the door arrested the words upon his lips. Touched by +indefinable alarm, Mrs. Hamilton's hand grasped his without the power of +speech. Ellen had risen, for she felt she could not hear those sad words +again spoken. + +It was James the footman who entered, and he placed a letter in her +hand. She looked at the direction, a faint cry broke from her lips; she +tore it open, gazed on the signature, and sunk senseless on the floor. +She who had borne suffering so well, who had successfully struggled to +conceal every trace of emotion, when affliction was her allotted +portion, was now too weak to bear the sudden transition from such +bitter grief to overwhelming joy. Mr. Hamilton sprung forward; he could +not arrest her fall, but his eye had caught the well-known writing of +him he had believed lay buried in the ocean, and conquering her own +extreme agitation, Mrs. Hamilton compelled herself to think of nothing +but restoring the still senseless girl to life. A few, very few words +told her all. At first Mr. Hamilton's words had been almost inarticulate +from the thankfulness that filled his heart. It was long ere Ellen awoke +to consciousness. Her slight frame was utterly exhausted by its +continued conflict with the mind within, and now that joy had come, that +there was no more need for control or sorrow, her extraordinary energy +of character for the moment fled, and left her in very truth the weak +and loving woman. Before she could restore life to Ellen's inanimate +form, Mrs. Hamilton had time to hear that simple tale of silent +suffering, to feel her bosom glow in increasing love and gratitude +towards the gentle being who for her sake had endured so much. + +"Was it but a dream, or did I not read that Edward lived, was +spared,--that he was not drowned? Oh, tell me, my brain seems still to +swim. Did they not give me a letter signed by him himself? Oh, was it +only fancy?" + +"It is truth, my beloved; the Almighty mercifully stretched forth His +arm and saved him. Should we not give Him thanks, my child?" + +Like dew upon the arid desert, or healing balm to a throbbing wound, so +did those few and simple words fall on Ellen's ear; but the fervent +thanksgiving that rose swelling in her heart, wanted not words to render +it acceptable to Him, whose unbounded mercy she thus acknowledged and +adored. + +Mrs. Hamilton pressed her closer to her bosom, again and again she +kissed her, and tried to speak the words of affectionate soothing, which +seldom failed to restore Ellen to composure. + +"You told me once, my Ellen, that you never, never could repay the large +debt of gratitude you seemed to think you owed me. Do you remember my +saying you could not tell that one day you might make me your debtor, +and are not my words truth? Did I not prophesy rightly? What do I not +owe you, my own love, for sparing me so much anxiety and wretchedness? +Look up and smile, my Ellen, and let us try if we can listen composedly +to our dear Edward's account of his providential escape. If he were near +me I would scold him for giving you such inexpressible joy so suddenly." + +Ellen did look up and did smile, a bright beaming smile of chastened +happiness, and again and again did she read over that letter, as if it +were tidings too blessed to be believed, as if it could not be Edward +himself who had written. His letter was hasty, nor did he enter into +very many particulars, which, to render a particular part of our tale +intelligible, we must relate at large in another chapter. This epistle +was dated from Rio Janeiro, and written evidently under the idea that +his sister had received a former letter containing every minutiae of his +escape, which he had forwarded to her, under cover to Captain Seaforth, +only seven days after his supposed death. Had the captain received this +letter, all anxiety would have been spared, for as he did not write to +Mr. Hamilton for above a week after Edward's disappearance, it would +have reached him first; it was therefore very clear it had been lost on +its way, and Edward fearing such might be the case, from the uncertain +method by which it had been sent, wrote again. He had quite recovered, +he said, all ill effects from being so long floating in the water on a +narrow plank; that he was treated with marked kindness and attention by +all the crew of the Alma, a Spanish vessel bound to Rio Janeiro and +thence to New York, particularly by an Englishman, Lieutenant Mordaunt, +to whose energetic exertions he said he greatly owed his preservation; +for it was he who had prevailed on the captain to lower a boat, to +discover what that strange object was floating on the waves. He +continued, there was something about Lieutenant Mordaunt he could not +define, but which had the power of irresistibly attracting his respect, +if not affection. His story he believed was uncommon, but he had not yet +heard it all, and had no time to repeat it, as he was writing in great +haste. Affectionately he hoped no alarm amongst his friends had been +entertained on his account, that it would not be long before he returned +home; for as soon as the slow-sailing Spaniard could finish her affairs +with the ports along the coast of Spanish America and reach New York, +Lieutenant Mordaunt and himself had determined on quitting her, and +returning to England by the first packet that sailed. A letter to New +York might reach him, but it was a chance; therefore he did not expect +to receive any certain intelligence of home--a truth which only made him +the more anxious to reach it. + +Quickly the news that Edward Fortescue lived, and was returning home in +perfect health, extended far and wide, and brought joy to all who heard +it. A messenger was instantly despatched to Trevilion Vicarage to +impart the joyful intelligence to Arthur and Emmeline, and the next day +saw them both at Oakwood to rejoice with Ellen at this unexpected but +most welcome news. There was not one who had been aware of the suspense +Mr. Hamilton and Ellen had been enduring who did not sympathise in their +relief. Even Mrs. Greville left her solitary home to seek the friends of +her youth: she had done so previously when affliction was their portion. +She had more than once shared Ellen's anxious task of nursing, when Mrs. +Hamilton's fever had been highest; kindly and judiciously she had +soothed in grief, and Mrs. Greville's character was too unselfish to +refuse her sympathy in joy. + +A few weeks after the receipt of that letter, Mr. Hamilton, his wife, +and Ellen removed to a beautiful little villa in the neighbourhood of +Richmond, where they intended to pass some of the winter months. A +change was desirable, indeed requisite for all. But a short interval had +passed since the death of their beloved Herbert, and there were many +times when the parents' hearts yet painfully bled, and each felt +retirement, the society of each other, and sometimes of their most +valued friends, the exercise of domestic and religious duties, would be +the most efficient means of acquiring that peace of which even the +greatest affliction cannot deprive the truly religious mind. At +Christmas, St. Eval had promised his family should join them, and all +looked forward to that period with pleasure. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + +Although we are as much averse to retrospection in a tale as our readers +can be, yet to retrace our steps for a short interval is a necessity. +Edward had written highly of Lieutenant Mordaunt, but as he happens to +be a personage of rather more consequence to him than young Fortescue +imagined, we must be allowed to introduce him more intimately to our +readers. + +It was the evening after that in which Lieutenant Fortescue had so +rashly encountered the storm, that a Spanish vessel, of ill-shaped bulk +and of some hundred tons, was slowly pursuing her course from the coast +of Guinea towards Rio Janeiro. The sea was calm, almost motionless, +compared with its previous fearful agitation. The sailors were gaily +employed in their various avocations, declaring loudly that this respite +of calm was entirely owing to the interposition of St. Jago in their +favour, he being the saint to whom they had last appealed during the +continuance of the tempest. Aloof from the crew, and leaning against a +mast, stood one apparently very different to those by whom he was +surrounded. It was an English countenance, but embrowned almost to a +swarthy hue, from continued exposure to a tropical sun. Tall and +remarkably well formed, he might well have been supposed of noble birth; +there were, however, traces of long-continued suffering imprinted on his +manly face and in his form, which sometimes was slightly bent, as if +from weakness rather than from age. His dark brown hair was in many +parts silvered with grey, which made him appear as if he had seen some +fifty years at least; though at times, by the expression of his +countenance, he might have been thought full ten years younger. +Melancholy was the characteristic of his features; but his eye would +kindle and that cheek flush, betraying that a high, warm spirit still +lurked within, one which a keen observer might have fancied had been +suppressed by injury and suffering. It was in truth a countenance on +which a physiognomist or painter would have loved to dwell, for both +would have found in it an interest they could scarcely have defined. + +Thus resting in meditative silence, Lieutenant Mordaunt's attention was +attracted by a strange object floating on the now calm ocean. There were +no ships near, and Mordaunt felt his eyes fascinated in that direction, +and looking still more attentively, he felt convinced it was a human +body secured to a plank. He sought the captain instantly, and used every +persuasion humanity could dictate to urge him to lower a boat. For some +time he entreated in vain. Captain Bartholomew said it was mere folly to +think there was any chance of saving a man's life, who had been so long +tossed about on the water, it would be only detaining him for nothing; +his ship was already too full either for comfort or profit, and he would +not do it. + +Fire flashed from the dark eyes of Mordaunt at the captain's positive +and careless language, and he spoke again with all the spirited +eloquence of a British sailor. He did not spare the cruel recklessness +that could thus refuse to save a fellow-creature's life, merely because +it might occasion a little delay and trouble. Captain Bartholomew looked +at him in astonishment; he little expected such a burst of indignant +feeling from one whose melancholy and love of solitude he had despised; +and, without answering a word, led the way to the deck, looked in the +direction of the plank, which had now floated near enough to the ship +for the body of Edward to be clearly visible upon it, and then instantly +commanded a boat to be lowered and bring it on board. + +"It will be but taking him out of the sea to plunge him back again, +Senor," he said, in Spanish, to the Lieutenant, who was now anxiously +watching the proceedings of the sailors, who, more active than their +captain, had carefully laid the plank and its burden at the bottom of +the boat, and were now rapidly rowing to the ship. "Never was death more +clearly imprinted on a man's countenance than it is there, but have your +own will; only do not ask me to keep a dead man on board, I should have +my men mutiny in a twinkling." + +Mordaunt made him no answer, but hastened towards the gangway, where the +men were now ascending. They carefully unloosed the bonds that attached +the body to the plank, and laid him on a pile of cushions where the +light of the setting sun shone full on his face and form. One glance +sufficed for Mordaunt to perceive he was an English officer; another +caused him to start some paces back in astonishment. As the youth thus +lay, the deadly paleness of his countenance, the extreme fairness of his +throat and part of his neck, which, as the sailors hastily untied his +neckcloth and opened his jacket, were fully exposed to view, the +beautifully formed brow strewed by thick masses of golden curls gave him +so much the appearance of a delicate female, that the sailors looked +humorously at each other, as if wondering what right he had to a +sailor's jacket; but Mordaunt's eyes never moved from him. Thoughts came +crowding over him, so full of youth, of home and joy, that tears gushed +to his eyes, tears which had not glistened there for many a long year; +and yet he knew not wherefore, he knew not, he could not, had he been +asked, have defined the cause of that strong emotion; but the more he +looked upon that beautiful face, the faster and thicker came those +visions on his soul. Memories came rushing back, days of his fresh and +happy boyhood, affections, long slumbering, recalled in all their +purity, and his bosom yearned towards home, as if no time had elapsed +since last he had beheld it, as if he should find all those he loved +even as he had left them. And what had brought them back? who was the +youth on whom he gazed, and towards whom he felt affection strangely and +suddenly aroused, affection so powerful, he could not shake it off? +Nothing in all probability to him; and vainly he sought to account for +the emotions those bright features awakened within him. Rousing himself, +as symptoms of life began to appear in the exhausted form before him, he +desired that the youth might be carried to his own cabin. He was his +countryman, he said; an officer of equal rank it appeared, from his +epaulette, and he should not feel comfortable were he under the care of +any other. On bearing him from the deck to the cabin, a small volume +fell from his loosened vest, which Mordaunt raised from the ground with +some curiosity, to know what could be so precious to a youthful sailor. +It was a pocket Bible, so much resembling one Mordaunt possessed +himself, that scarcely knowing what he was about, he drew it from his +pocket to compare them. "How can I be so silly?" he thought; "is there +anything strange in two English Bibles resembling each other?" He +replaced his own, opened the other, and started in increased amazement. +"Charles Manvers!" he cried, as that name met his eye. "Merciful +heaven! who is this youth? to whom would this Bible ever have been +given?" So great was his agitation, that it was with difficulty he read +the words which were written beneath. + +"Edward Fortescue! oh, when will that name rival his to whom this book +once belonged? I may be as brave a sailor, but what will make me as good +a man? This Sacred Book, he loved it, and so will I." Underneath, and +evidently added at a later period, was the following: + +"I began to read this for the sake of those beloved ones to whom I knew +it was all in all. I thought, for its own sake, it would never have +become the dear and sacred volume they regarded it, but I am mistaken; +how often has it soothed me in my hour of temptation, guided me in my +duties, restrained my angry moments, and brought me penitent and humble +to the footstool of my God. Oh, my beloved Ellen, had this been my +companion three years ago as it is now, what misery I should have spared +you." + +Other memorandums in the same style were written in the blank leaves +which appeared attached for the purpose, but it so happened that not one +of them solved the mystery which so completely puzzled Mordaunt. The +name of Fortescue was utterly unknown to him, and increased the mystery +of the youth's having produced such a strange effect upon his mind. +There were many names introduced in these memorandums, but they +explained nothing; one only struck him, it was one which in his hours of +suffering, of slavery, ever sounded in his ear, the fondly-remembered +name of her whom he longed to clasp to his aching heart--it was +_Emmeline_; and as he read it, the same gush of memory came over him as +when he first gazed on Edward. In vain reason whispered there were many, +very many Emmelines in his native land; that name only brought one to +his remembrance. Though recovering, the youth was still much too weak +and exhausted to attempt speaking, and Mordaunt watched by his couch for +one day and two nights, ere the surgeon permitted him to ask a question +or Edward to answer it. Often, however, during that interval had the +young stranger turned his bright blue eyes with a look of intelligence +and feeling on him who attended him with the care of a father, and the +colour, the expression of those eyes seemed to thrill to Mordaunt's +heart, and speak even yet more forcibly of days gone by. + +"Let me write but two lines, to tell Captain Seaforth I am safe and +well," said Edward impetuously, as he sprung with renewed spirits from +the couch on which he had been so long an unwilling prisoner. + +"And how send it, my young friend? There is not a vessel within sight on +the wide sea." + +Edward uttered an exclamation of impatience, then instantly checking +himself, said, with a smile-- + +"Forgive me, sir; I should think only of my merciful preservation, and +of endeavouring to express in some manner my obligations to you, to +whose generous exertions, blessed as they were by heaven, I owe my life. +Oh, would that my aunt and sister were near me, their gratitude for the +preservation of one whom they perhaps too fondly and too partially love, +would indeed be gratifying to feelings such as yours. I can feel what I +owe you, Lieutenant Mordaunt, but I cannot express myself sufficiently +in words." + +"In the name of heaven, young man, in pity tell me who you are!" gasped +Mordaunt, almost inarticulately, as he grasped Edward's hand and gazed +intently on his face; for every word he spoke, heightened by the +kindling animation of his features, appeared to render that +extraordinary likeness yet more perfect. + +"Edward Fortescue is my name." + +"But your mother's, boy,--your mother's? I ask not from idle curiosity." + +"She was the youngest daughter of Lord Delmont, Eleanor Manvers." + +Mordaunt gazed yet more intently on the youth, then hoarsely murmuring, +"I knew it,--it was no fancy," sunk back almost overpowered with +momentary agitation. Recovering himself almost instantly, and before +Edward could give vent to his surprise and sympathy in words, he asked, +"Is Lord Delmont yet alive? I knew him once; he was a kind old man." His +lip quivered, so as almost to prevent the articulation of his words. + +"Oh, no; the departure of my mother for India was a trial he never +recovered, and the intelligence that his only son, a noble and gallant +officer, perished with the crew of the Leander, finally broke his heart; +he never held up his head again, and died a very few months afterwards." + +Mordaunt buried his face in his hands, and for several minutes remained +silent, as if struggling with some powerful emotion, then asked, "You +spoke only of your aunt and sister. Does not your mother live?" + +"She died when I was little more than eleven years old, and my sister +scarcely ten. My father, Colonel Fortescue, dying in India, she could +not bear to remain there, but we were compelled to take refuge off the +coast of Wales from the storms which had arisen, and then she had only +time to give us to the care of her sister, for whom she had sent, and +died in her arms." + +"And is it her sister, or your father's, of whom you spoke just now?" + +"Hers--Mrs. Hamilton." + +"Hamilton, and she lives still! you said you knew her," repeated +Mordaunt, suddenly springing up and speaking in a tone of animation, +that bewildered Edward almost as much as his former agitation. "Speak of +her, young man; tell me something of her. Oh, it is long since I have +heard her name." + +"Did you know my aunt? I have never heard her mention your name, +Lieutenant Mordaunt." + +"Very likely not," he replied, and a faint smile played round his lip, +creating an expression which made young Fortescue start, for the +features seemed familiar to him. "It was only in my boyhood that I knew +her, and she was kind to me. We do not easily forget the associations of +our boyhood, my young friend, particularly when manhood has been a +dreary blank, or tinged with pain. In my hours of slavery, the smile and +look of Emmeline Manvers has often haunted my waking and my sleeping +dreams; but she is married--is in all probability a happy wife and +loving mother; prosperity is around her, and it is most likely she has +forgotten the boy to whom her kindness was so dear." + +"Hours of slavery?" asked Edward, for those words had alone riveted his +attention. "Can you, a free and British sailor, have ever been a slave?" + +"Even so, my young friend; for seven years I languished in the +loathsome dungeons of Algiers, and the last sixteen years have been a +slave." + +Edward grasped his hand with an uncontrollable impulse, while at the +same moment he clenched his sword, and his countenance expressed the +powerful indignation of his young and gallant spirit, though words for +the moment he had none. Lieutenant Mordaunt again smiled--that smile +which by some indefinable power inspired Edward with affection and +esteem. + +"I am free now, my gallant boy," he said; "free as if the galling +fetters of slavery had never bowed down my neck. Another day you shall +hear more. Now gratify me by some account of your aunt; speak of +her--tell me if she have children--if her husband still lives. If Mrs. +Hamilton is still the same gentle, affectionate being--the same firm, +unflinching character, when duty called her, as the Emmeline Manvers it +was once my joy to know." + +With an animation that again riveted the eyes of Lieutenant Mordaunt on +his countenance, Edward eagerly entered on the subject. No other could +have been dearer to him; Mordaunt could have fixed on few which would +thus have called forth the eloquence of his young companion. Sailor as +he was, truly enthusiastic in his profession, yet home to Edward still +possessed invincible attractions, and the devoted affection, gratitude, +and reverence he felt for his aunt appeared to increase with his years. +Neither Percy nor Herbert could have loved her more. He spoke as he +felt; he told of all he owed her, and not only himself but his orphan +sister; he said that as a mother she had been to them both, that never +once had she made the slightest difference between them and her own +children. He painted in vivid colours the domestic joys of Oakwood, the +affectionate harmony that reigned there, till Mordaunt felt his eyes +glisten with emotion, and ere that conversation ceased, all that +affection which for many a long and weary year had pined for some one on +which to expend its force, now centred in the noble youth of whose +preservation he had been so strangely and providentially an instrument. +To Edward it was not in the least strange, that any one who had once +known his aunt, it mattered not how many years previous, should still +retain a lively remembrance of her, and wish to know more concerning +her, and his feelings were strongly excited towards one, whose interest +in all that concerned her was evidently so great. His first letter to +his family, which he enclosed in one to his captain, spoke very much of +Lieutenant Mordaunt, wondering that his aunt had never mentioned one who +remembered her so well. This letter, as we know, was never received, and +the next he wrote was too hurried to enter into particulars, except +those that related to himself alone. When he again wrote home, he had +become so attached and so used to Mordaunt, that he fancied he must be +as well known to his family as himself, and though he mentioned his name +repeatedly, he did not think of inquiring anything concerning him. + +The able activity as a sailor, the graceful, courteous manner of Edward +as a man, soon won him the hearts of Captain Bartholomew and all his +crew. Ever the first when there was anything to be done on board or on +shore, lively, high-spirited, and condescending, his appearance on deck +after any absence was generally acknowledged with respect. The various +characters thus presented to his notice in the Spanish crew, the many +ports he touched at, afforded him continual and exciting amusement, +although his thoughts very often lingered on his darling "Gem," with the +ardent desire to be once more doing his duty on her decks. But amid all +these changing scenes, Edward and his friend, diverse as were their ages +and apparently their dispositions, became almost inseparable. An +irresistible impulse urged Edward repeatedly to talk to him of his home, +till Mordaunt became intimately acquainted with every member of the +family. Of Herbert, Edward would speak with enthusiasm; he little knew, +poor fellow, that the cousin whose character he almost venerated was +gone to his last home, that he should never see him more. Letters +detailing that melancholy event had been forwarded to the Gem, arriving +there just one week after the young sailor's disappearance; and, when +informed of his safety, Captain Seaforth, then on his way to England, +had no opportunity of forwarding them to him. His repeated mention of +Herbert in his letters home, his anxious desire to hear something of +him, were most painful to his family, and Ellen was more than ever +anxious he should receive the account ere he returned. + +Among other subjects discussed between them, Mordaunt once asked Edward +who now bore the title of Lord Delmont, and had appeared somewhat +agitated when told the title was now extinct, and had become so from the +melancholy death of the promising young nobleman on whom it had +devolved. + +"Sir George Wilmot is out in his prognostication then," he observed, +after a pause. "I remember, when a youngster under his command, hearing +him repeatedly prophesy that a Delmont would revive the honour of his +ancient house by naval fame. Poor Charles was ever his favourite amongst +us." + +"You were my uncle's messmate then," said Edward, in a tone of surprise +and joy. "Why did you not tell me this before, that I might ask all the +questions I long to know concerning him?" + +"And what have you heard of Charles to call for this extreme interest?" +replied Mordaunt, with his peculiar smile. "I should have thought that +long ere this my poor friend had been forgotten in his native land." + +"Forgotten! and by a sister who doted on him; who has never ceased to +lament his melancholy fate; who ever held him up to my young fancy as +one of those whom it should be my glory to resemble. Did you know my +aunt, as, by two or three things I have heard you say, I fancy you must, +you could never suspect her of forgetting one she loved as she did her +brother. My uncle Charles is enshrined in her memory too fondly for time +to efface it." + +Tears rose to Mordaunt's eager eyes at these words; he turned aside a +moment to conceal his agitation, then asked if Sir George Wilmot ever +spoke of Manvers. Animatedly Edward related the old Admiral's agitation +the first night he had seen him at Oakwood; how feelingly he had spoken +of one, whom he said he had ever regarded as the adopted son of his +affections, the darling of his childless years, his gallant, merry +Charles. Mordaunt twined his arm in Edward's, and looked up in his face, +as if to thank him for the consolation his words imparted. Again was +there an expression in his countenance, which sent a thrill to the young +man's heart, but vainly he tried to discover wherefore. + +We may here perhaps relate in a very few words Mordaunt's tale of +suffering, which he imparted at different times to Edward. The wreck of +the vessel to which he belonged had cast him, with one or two others of +his hapless companions, on the coast of Morocco and Algiers. There they +were seized by the cruel Moors, and carried as spies before the Dey, and +by his command immured in the dungeons of the fortress where many +unhappy captives were also confined, and had been for many years. For +eight years he was an inmate of these horrible prisons, a sickening +witness of many of those tortures and cruelties which were inflicted on +his fellow-prisoners, and often on himself. All those at all acquainted +with the bombardment of Algiers, so ably carried on by Admiral Sir +Edward Pellew, afterwards Viscount Exmouth, an entreprise which was +entered on to avenge the atrocious indignities practised by the Dey on +all the unfortunate foreigners that visited his coast, can well imagine +the sufferings Mordaunt had not only to witness but to endure. On the +first report of a hostile fleet appearing off the coast of Barbary, the +most active and able of the prisoners were marched out to various +markets and there sold as slaves. Mordaunt was one of these: +imprisonment and suffering had not quenched his youthful spirit, nor so +bowed his frame as to render him incapable of energy. Scarcely twenty +when this cruel reverse of fortune overtook him, the tortures of his +mind during the eight, nearly nine, years of his captivity may be better +conceived than described. He had entered prison a boy, with all the +fresh, elastic buoyancy of youth, he quitted it a man; but, oh, how was +that manhood's prime, to which in his visions of futurity he had looked +with such bright anticipation as the zenith of his naval fame, now +about to pass? as a slave; exposed to increased oppression and indignity +on account of his religion, which he had inwardly vowed never to give +up. He secured the Bible, which had first been a treasure to him merely +as the gift of a beloved sister, and throughout all his change of +destiny it was never taken from him. To submit calmly to slavery, +Mordaunt felt at first his spirit never could, and various were the +schemes he planned, and in part executed, towards obtaining his freedom, +but all were eventually frustrated by the observation of his masters, +who were too well accustomed to insubordination on the part of their +slaves for such attempts to cause them much trouble or uneasiness. Still +Mordaunt despaired not; still was the hope of freedom uppermost in his +breast, even when he became the property of a Turk, who, had he been but +a Christian, Mordaunt declared, must have commanded his reverence if not +his affection. Five times he had been exposed for sale, and each master +had appeared to him more cruel and oppressive than the last. To relate +all he suffered would occupy a much larger portion of our tale than we +could allow, but they were such that any one but Mordaunt would have +felt comparative contentment and happiness when changed for the service +of Mahommed Ali, an officer of eminence in the court of Tunis. He was +indeed one who might well exemplify the assertion, that in all religions +there is some good. Suffering and sorrow were aliens from his roof, +misery approached not his doors, and Mordaunt had, in fact, been +purchased from motives of compassion, which his evident wretchedness, +both bodily and mental, had excited; to cure his bodily ills no kindly +attention was spared, but vainly Mahommed Ali sought to lessen the load +of anguish he saw imprinted on the brow of his Christian captive. +Mordaunt's noble spirit was touched by the indulgence and kindness he +received, and he made no effort to escape, for he felt it would be but +an ungenerous, dishonourable return--but still he was a slave. No +fetters galled his limbs, but the fetters of slavery galled his spirits +with a deep anguish; no taskmaster was now set over him with the knotted +whip, to spur on each slackening effort; but the groan which no bodily +suffering could wring, which he had suppressed, lest his persecutors +should triumph, now burst from his sorrowing heart, and scalding drops +stole down his cheeks, when he deemed no eye was near. Slavery, slavery +seemed his for ever, and each fond vision of his native land and all he +loved but added to the burden on his soul. + +Mahommed at length became so deeply interested in his Christian slave, +that he offered him freedom, wealth, distinction, his own friendship and +support, all on the one, he thought, simple and easy condition of giving +up his country and his faith, and embracing the one holy creed of +Mahomet. In kindness was the offer made, but mournfully, yet with a +steadiness that gave no hope of change, was it refused; vainly Mahommed +urged the happiness its acceptance would bring, that he knew not all he +so rashly refused; still he wavered not, and Ali with a weary heart gave +up the attempt. Time passed, but its fleeting years reconciled not +Mordaunt to his situation, nor lessened the kindly interest he excited +in the heart of the good old man; and when at length it happened that +Mordaunt, almost unconsciously to himself, became the fortunate +instrument of reconciling some affairs of his master, which were in +confusion, and had been so for years, when, among many other unexpected +services which it had been in his power to perform, he rescued the +favourite son of Mahommed from an infuriated tiger, which had +unexpectedly sprung upon him during a hunting expedition, the old man +could contain his wishes no longer, but gave him his freedom on the +spot. Unconditional liberty to return to his native land was very soon +after accorded, and loading him with rich gifts, Ali himself accompanied +him to the deck of the Alma, which was the only vessel then starting +from the coast of Guinea, where Mahommed in general resided. Mordaunt +was too impatient to wait for an English vessel, nor did he wish to +incur the risk of encountering any hostile to his interests, by crossing +the country and embarking from Algiers or Tunis. While in Africa he felt +that the chain of slavery still hovered round his neck. He could not +feel himself once more a freeborn Briton till he was indeed on the +bounding ocean. + +Once on the way to Europe, there was hope, even though that way was by +America. He parted from his former master, now his friend, with a +feeling of regret; but the fresh breezes, the consciousness he stood on +deck free as the wind, free as the ocean that bore him onward to his +native land, removed from his mind all lingering dread, and filled his +soul with joy; but the human heart is not now in a state to feel for any +length of time unchecked happiness. Four-and-twenty years had elapsed +since Mordaunt had been imagined dead; six-and-twenty since he had +departed from his native land, and had last beheld his friends he so +dearly loved. He might return, and be by all considered an intruder, +perhaps not recognised, his tale not believed; he might see his family +scattered, all of them with new ties, new joys, and with no place for +the long-absent exile. The thought was anguish, but Mordaunt had weakly +indulged it too long to enable him at first to conquer it, even when +Edward's tale of the fond remembrance in which his uncle was held by all +who had loved him, unconsciously penetrated his soul with a sense of the +injustice he had done his friends, and brought consolation with it. + +These facts, which we have so briefly thrown together, formed most +interesting subjects to Edward many times during his voyage to New York. +Edward hung as in fascination on the stranger's history, innate +nobleness was stamped in every word. More than once the thought struck +him that he was more than what he appeared to be, but Edward knew he had +a slight tendency towards romance in his composition, and fearful of +lowering himself in the estimation of his newfound friend by the avowal +of such fanciful sentiments, he kept them to himself. + +At length the wished-for port to both the Englishmen (New York) was +gained, and their passage secured in the first packet sailing for +England. Edward's heart beat high with anticipated pleasure; he longed +to introduce his new friend to his family, and his bright anticipations +shed a kindred glow over the mind of Mordaunt, who had now become so +devotedly attached to the youth, that he could scarcely bear him out of +his sight; and had he wanted fresh incentive to affection, the deep +affliction of the young sailor on receiving the intelligence of his +cousin Herbert's death, would have been sufficient. Edward had one day +sought the post-office, declaring, however, that it was quite +impossible such increased joy could be in store for him, as a letter +from home. There were two instead of one: one from his aunt and uncle, +the other from his sister; the black seal painfully startled him. +Mourning for poor Mary is over long ere this, he thought, and scarcely +had he strength to break the seal, and when he had read the fatal news, +he sat for some time as if overwhelmed with the sudden and unexpected +blow. + +Mordaunt's words of consolation fell at first unheeded on his ear; it +was not for Herbert alone he sorrowed, it was for his aunt. He knew how +devotedly she loved her son, and though she did not write much on the +actual loss she had sustained, yet every word seemed to reach his heart, +and Edward leaned his head upon the paper, and wept like a child. +Herbert, the bright, the good, the gentle companion of his boyhood, the +faithful friend of his maturer years, had he indeed gone--his place +would know him no more? And oh, how desolate must Oakwood seem. Percy, +though in affection for his parents and his family, in his devoted +attention to their comfort, equalled only by his brother, yet never +could he be to Oakwood as Herbert. He was as the brilliant planet, +shedding lustre indeed on all over whom it gleamed, but never still, +continually roving, changing its course, as if its light would be more +glittering from such unsteady movements; but Herbert was as the mild and +lucid star, stationary in its appointed orbit, gilding all things with +its mellow light, but darting its most intense and radiant lustre on +that home which was to him indeed the centre-point of love. Such was the +description of his two cousins given by Edward to his sympathising +companion, and Mordaunt looked on the young sailor in wondering +admiration. Eagerly, delightedly, he had perused the letters, which +Edward intrusted to him; that of Mrs. Hamilton was pressed to his lips, +but engrossed in his own thoughts, Edward observed him not. Sadness +lingered on Edward's heart during the whole of that voyage homeward; his +conversation was tinged with the same spirit, but it brought out so many +points of his character, which in his joyous moods Mordaunt never could +have discovered, that the links of that strangely-aroused affection +became even stronger than before. Edward returned his regard with all +the warmth of his enthusiastic nature strengthened by the manner in +which his letters from home alluded to Lieutenant Mordaunt as his +preserver; and before their voyage was completed, Mordaunt, in +compliance with the young man's earnest entreaty, consented to accompany +him, in the first place, to Richmond, whence Edward promised, after +introducing him to his family, and finding him a safe harbour there, he +would leave no stone unturned to discover every possible information +concerning Mordaunt's family. That same peculiar smile curled the +stranger's lips as Edward thus animatedly spoke, and he promised +unqualified compliance. + +Having thus brought Edward and his friend within but a few weeks' voyage +to England, we may now leave them and return to Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton, +who were both rejoicing in the improved looks of their niece at +Richmond. + +The delightful calmness of their beautiful retreat, the suspension of +all anxiety, the total change of scene which was around them, had done +much towards restoring peace, not only to Ellen but to her aunt. The +feeling that she was now indeed called upon to fulfil the promise she +had made to Herbert, that the enjoyment and cheerfulness of home +depended on her alone, had inspired exertions which had partially +enabled her to conquer her own grief; and every week seemed to bring +forward some new quality, of which her relatives imagined they must have +been ignorant before. Ellen's character was one not to attract at first, +but to win affection slowly but surely; her merits were not dazzling, it +was generally long before they were all discovered, but when they were, +they ever commanded reverence and love. In all her children Mrs. +Hamilton felt indeed her cares fully repaid, and in Ellen more, far more +than she had ventured to anticipate. Thus left alone in her filial +cares, Ellen's character appeared different to what it had been when one +of many. Steady, quiet cheerfulness was restored to the hearts of all +who now composed the small domestic circle of Mr. Hamilton's family; +each had their private moments when sorrow for the loss of their beloved +Herbert was indeed recalled in all its bitterness, but such sacred hours +never were permitted to tinge their daily lives with gloom. + +They were now in daily expectation of St. Eval's return to England, with +Miss Manvers, who, at Mrs. Hamilton's particular request, was to join +their family party. An understanding had taken place between her and +Percy, but not yet did either intend their engagement to be known. The +sympathy and affection of Louisa were indeed most soothing to Percy in +this affliction, which, even when months had passed, he could not +conquer, but he could not think of entering into the bonds of marriage, +even with the woman he sincerely loved, till his heart could, in some +degree, recover the deep wound which the death of his only brother had +so painfully inflicted. To his parents indeed, and all his family, he +revealed his engagement, and Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton anxiously anticipated +the return of Lord and Lady St. Eval, to introduce them to the intended +bride of their only son. Their intention was to remain at Richmond till +the spring, when Arthur and his wife would pay their promised visit at +Oakwood, instead of spending the Christmas with them--an arrangement +Emmeline had herself suggested; because, she said, if she and her +husband were away, the family party which had ever assembled at Oakwood +during that festive season would be broken up, and Herbert's absence be +less painfully felt. Mrs. Hamilton noticed it to none, but her +penetration discovered the cause of this change in Emmeline's +intentions, and tears of delicious feeling filled her eyes, as for a +moment she permitted that gentle and affectionate girl to occupy that +thought which she was about to bestow on Herbert. + +"We have received interesting news this morning, my dear Arthur," Mrs. +Hamilton said, as her husband entered the parlour, where she and Ellen +were seated. "Lucy Harcourt is returning to England, and has requested +us to look out for a little cottage for her near Oakwood. The severe +illness, and finally the death of her cousin, Mr. Seymour, has been the +cause of my not hearing from her so long. Poor fellow, he has been for +so many years such a sad sufferer, that a peaceful death must indeed be +a blessed release." + +"It was a peaceful death, Lucy writes, mournfully but resignedly; she +says she cannot be sufficiently thankful that he was spared long enough +to see his daughters would both be happy under her charge. That she had +gained their young affections, and that, as far as mortal eye could see, +by leaving them entirely under her guardianship and maternal care, he +had provided for their happiness. He said this almost with his last +breath; and poor Lucy says that, among her many consolations in this +trying time, this assertion was not one of the least precious to her +heart." + +"No doubt it was. To be the friend and adopted mother of his children +must be one of the many blessings created for herself by her noble +conduct in youth. I am glad now my prophecy was not verified, and that +she never became his wife." + +"Did you ever think she would, uncle?" asked Ellen, surprised. + +"I fancied Seymour must have discovered her affection, and then +admiration on his part would have done the rest. It is, I own, much +better as it is; his children will love her more, regarding her in the +light of his sister and their aunt, than had she become their +stepmother. But why did you seem so surprised at my prophecy, Nelly? Was +there anything very impossible in their union?" + +"Not impossible; but I do not think it likely Miss Harcourt would have +betrayed her affection, at the very time when she was endeavouring to +soothe her cousin for the loss of a beloved wife. She was much more +likely to conceal it, even more effectually than she had ever done +before. Nor do I think it probable Mr. Seymour, accustomed from his very +earliest years to regard her as a sister, could ever succeed in looking +on her in any other light." + +"You seem well skilled in the history of the human heart, my little +Ellen," said her uncle, smiling. "Do you think it then quite impossible +for cousins to love?" + +Ellen bent lower over her embroidery-frame, for she felt a tell-tale +flush was rising to her cheek, and without looking up, replied calmly-- + +"Miss Harcourt is a proof that such love can and does exist--more often, +perhaps, in a woman's heart. In a man seldom, unless educated and living +entirely apart from each other." + +"I think you are right, Ellen," said her aunt. "I never thought, with +your uncle, that Lucy would become Mr. Seymour's wife." + +"Had I prophesied such a thing, uncle, what would you have called me?" +said Ellen, looking up archly from her frame, for the momentary flush +had gone. + +"That it was the prophecy of a most romantic young lady, much more like +Emmeline's heroics than the quiet, sober Ellen," he answered, in the +same tone; "but as my own idea, of course it is wisdom itself. But jokes +apart, as you are so skilled in the knowledge of the human heart, my +dear Ellen, you must know I entered this room to-day for the purpose of +probing your own." + +"Mine!" exclaimed the astonished girl, turning suddenly pale; "what do +you mean?" + +"Only that the Rev. Ernest Lacy has been with me this morning entreating +my permission to address you, and indeed making proposals for your hand. +I told him that my permission he could have, with my earnest wishes for +his success, and that I did not doubt your aunt's consent would be as +readily given. Do not look so terribly alarmed; I told him I could not +let the matter proceed any farther without first speaking to you." + +"Pray let it go no farther, then, my dear uncle," said Ellen, very +earnestly, as her needle fell from her hand, and she turned her eyes +beseechingly on her uncle's face. "I thank Mr. Lacy for the high opinion +he must have of me in making me this offer, but indeed I cannot accept +it. Do not, by your consent, let him encourage hopes which must end in +disappointment." + +"My approbation I cannot withdraw, Ellen, for most sincerely do I esteem +the young man; and there are few whom I would so gladly behold united to +my family as himself. Why do you so positively refuse to hear him? You +may not know him sufficiently now, I grant you, to love him, yet believe +me, the more you know him the more will you find in him both to esteem +and love." + +"I do not doubt it, my dear uncle. He is one among the young men who +visit here whom I most highly esteem, and I should be sorry to lose his +friendship by the refusal of his hand." + +"But why not allow him to plead for himself? You are not one of those +romantic beings, Ellen, who often refuse an excellent offer, because +they imagine they are not violently in love." + +"Pray do not condemn me as such, my dear uncle; indeed, it is not the +case. Mr. Lacy, the little I know of him, appears to possess every +virtue calculated to make an excellent husband. I know no fault to which +I can bring forward any objection; but"-- + +"But what, my dear niece? Surely, you are not afraid of speaking freely +before your aunt and myself?" + +"No, uncle; but I have little to say except that I have no wish to +marry; that it would be more pain to leave you and my aunt than marriage +could ever compensate." + +"Why, Nelly, do you mean to devote yourself to us all your young life, +old and irritable as we shall in all probability become? think again, my +dear girl, many enjoyments, much happiness, as far as human eye can see, +await the wife of Lacy. Emmeline, you are silent; do you not agree with +me in wishing to behold our gentle Ellen the wife of one so universally +beloved as this young clergyman?" + +"Not if her wishes lead her to remain with us, my husband," replied Mrs. +Hamilton, impressively. She had not spoken before, for she had been too +attentively observing the fluctuation of Ellen's countenance; but now +her tone was such as to check the forced smile with which her niece had +tried to reply to Mr. Hamilton's suggestion of becoming old and +irritable, and bring the painfully-checked tears back to her eyes, too +powerfully to be restrained. She tried to retain her calmness, but the +effort was vain, and springing from her seat, she flew to the couch +where her aunt sat, and kneeling by her side, buried her face on her +shoulder, and murmured, almost inaudibly,-- + +"Oh, do not, do not bid me leave you, I am happy here; but elsewhere, +oh, I should be so very, very wretched. I own Mr. Lacy is all that I +could wish for in a husband; precious, indeed, would be his love to any +girl who could return it, but not to me; oh, not to one who can give him +nothing in return." + +She paused abruptly; the crimson had mounted to both cheek and brow, +and the choking sob prevented farther utterance. + +Mrs. Hamilton pressed her lips to Ellen's heated brow in silence, while +her husband looked at his niece in silent amazement. + +"Are your affections then given to another, my dear child?" he said, +gently and tenderly; "but why this overwhelming grief, my Ellen? Surely, +you do not believe we could thwart the happiness of one so dear to us, +by refusing our consent to the man of your choice, if he be worthy of +you? Speak, then, my dear girl, without reserve; who has so secretly +gained your young affections, that for his sake every other offer is +rejected?" + +Ellen raised her head and looked mournfully in her uncle's face. She +tried to obey, but voice for the moment failed. + +"_My love is given to the dead_" she murmured at length, clasping her +aunt's hands in hers, the words slowly falling from her parched lips; +then added, hurriedly, "oh, do not reprove my weakness, I thought my +secret never would have passed my lips in life, but wherefore should I +hide it now? It is no sin to love the dead, though had he lived, never +would I have ceased to struggle till this wild pang was conquered, till +calmly I could have beheld him happy with the wife of his choice, of his +love. Oh, condemn me not for loving one who never thought of me save as +a sister; one whom I knew from his boyhood loved another. None on earth +can tell how I have struggled to subdue myself. I knew not my own heart +till it was too late to school it into apathy. He has gone, but while +my heart still clings to Herbert only, oh, can I give my hand unto +another?" + +"Herbert!" burst from Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton at the same instant, and +Ellen, turning from their glance, hid her flushing and paling cheek in +her hands; for a moment there was silence, and then Mrs. Hamilton drew +the agitated girl closer to her, and murmuring, in a tone of intense +feeling, "my poor, poor Ellen!" mingled a mother's tears with those of +her niece. Mr. Hamilton looked on them both with extreme emotion; his +mind's eye rapidly glanced over the past, and in an instant he saw what +a heavy load of suffering must have been his niece's portion from the +first moment she awoke to the consciousness of her ill-fated love; and +how had she borne it? so uncomplainingly, so cheerfully, that no one +could suspect that inward sorrow. When cheering himself and his wife +under their deep affliction, it was with her own heart breaking all the +while. When inciting Herbert to exertion, during that painful trial +occasioned by his Mary's letter, when doing everything in her power to +secure his happiness, what must have been her own feelings? Yes, in very +truth she had loved, loved with all the purity, the self-devotedness of +woman; and Mr. Hamilton felt that which at the moment he could not +speak. He raised his niece from the ground, where she still knelt beside +her aunt, folded her to his bosom, kissed her tearful cheek, and placing +her in Mrs. Hamilton's arms, hastily left the room. + +The same thoughts had likewise occupied the mind of her aunt, as Ellen +still seemed to cling to her for support and comfort; but they were +mingled with a sensation almost amounting to self-reproach at her own +blindness in not earlier discovering the truth. Why not imagine Ellen's +affections fixed on Herbert as on Arthur Myrvin? both were equally +probable. She could now well understand Ellen's agitation when Herbert's +engagement with Mary was published, when he performed the marriage +ceremony for Arthur and Emmeline; and when Mrs. Hamilton recalled how +completely Ellen had appeared to forget herself, in devotedness to her; +how, instead of weakly sinking beneath her severe trials, she had borne +up through all, had suppressed her own suffering to alleviate those of +others, was it strange, that admiration and respect should mingle with +the love she bore her? that from that hour Ellen appeared dearer to her +aunt than she had ever done before? Nor was it only on this account her +affection increased. For the sake of her beloved son it was that her +niece refused to marry; for love of him, even though he had departed, +her heart rejected every other love; and the fond mother unconsciously +felt soothed, consoled. It seemed a tribute to the memory of her sainted +boy, that he was thus beloved, and she who had thus loved him--oh, was +there not some new and precious link between them? + +It was some time before either could give vent in words to the feelings +that swelled within. Ellen's tears fell fast and unrestrainedly on the +bosom of her aunt, who sought not to check them, for she knew how +blessed they must be to one who so seldom wept; and they were blessed, +for a heavy weight seemed removed from the orphan's heart, the torturing +secret was revealed; she might weep now without restraint, and never +more would her conduct appear mysterious either to her aunt or uncle. +They now knew it was no caprice that bade her refuse every offer of +marriage that was made her. How that treasured secret had escaped her +she knew not; she had been carried on by an impulse she could neither +resist nor understand. At the first, a sensation of shame had +overpowered her, that she could thus have given words to an unrequited +affection; but ere long, the gentle soothing of her aunt caused that +painful feeling to pass away. Consoling, indeed, was the voice of +sympathy on a subject which to another ear had never been disclosed. It +was some little time ere she could conquer her extreme agitation, her +overcharged heart released from its rigorous restraint, appeared to +spurn all effort of control; but after that day no violent emotion +disturbed the calm serenity that resumed its sway. Never again was the +subject alluded to in that little family circle, but the whole conduct +of her aunt and uncle evinced they felt for and with their Ellen; +confidence increased between them, and after the first few days, the +orphan's life was more calmly happy than it had been for many a long +year. + +The return of Lord St. Eval's family to England, and their meeting with +Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton, was attended with some alloy. Caroline and her +parents had not met since the death of Herbert, and that affliction +appeared at the first moment recalled in all its bitterness. The +presence of a comparative stranger, as was Miss Manvers, did much +towards calming the excited feelings of each, and the exertions of Lord +St. Eval and Ellen restored composure and cheerfulness sooner than they +could have anticipated. + +With Miss Manvers Mrs. Hamilton was much pleased. Gentle and unassuming, +she won her way to every heart that knew her; she was the only remaining +scion of Mrs. Hamilton's own family, and she felt pleased that by her +union with Percy the families of Manvers and Hamilton would be yet more +closely connected. She had regretted much, at a former time, the +extinction of the line of Delmont; for she had recalled those visions of +her girlhood, when she had looked to her brother to support the ancient +line, and gilding it with naval honours, bid it stand forth as it had +done some centuries before. Mrs. Hamilton had but little of what is +termed family pride, but these feelings were associated with the brother +whom she had so dearly loved, and whose loss she so painfully deplored. + +The season of Christmas passed more cheerfully than Ellen had dared to +hope. The scene was entirely changed; never before had they passed a +Christmas anywhere but at Oakwood, and that simple circumstance +prevented the void in that domestic circle from being so sadly felt. +That Herbert was in the thoughts of all his family, that it was an +effort for them to retain the cheerfulness which in them was ever the +characteristic of the season, we will not deny, but affliction took not +from the calm beauty which ever rested round Mr. Hamilton's hearth. All +appeared as if an even more hallowed and mellowed light was cast around +them; for it displayed, even more powerfully than when unalloyed +prosperity was their portion, the true beauty of the religious +character. Herbert and Mary were not lost to them; they were but removed +to another sphere, that eternal Home, to which all who loved them looked +with an eye of faith. + +Sir George Wilmot was the only guest at Richmond during the Christmas +season, but so long had he been a friend of the family and of Lord +Delmont's, when Mrs. Hamilton was a mere child, that he could scarcely +be looked on in the light of a mere guest. The kind old man had sorrowed +deeply for Herbert's death, had felt himself attracted even more +irresistibly to his friends in their sorrow than even in their joy, and +so constantly had he been invited to make his stay at Mr. Hamilton's +residence, wherever that might be, that he often declared he had now no +other home. The tale of Edward's peril interested him much; he would +make Ellen repeat it over and over again, and admire the daring rashness +which urged the young sailor not to defer his return to his commander, +even though a storm was threatening around him; and when Mr. Hamilton +related the story of Ellen's fortitude in bearing as she did this +painful suspense, the old man would conceal his admiration of his young +friend under a joke, and laughingly protest she was as fitted to be a +gallant sailor as her noble brother. + +On the character of the young heir of Oakwood the death of his brother +appeared to have made an impression, which neither time nor +circumstances could efface. He was not outwardly sad, but his volatile +nature appeared departed. He was no longer the same wild, boisterous +youth, ever on the look-out for some change, some new diversion or +practical joke, which had been his characteristics while Herbert lived. +A species of quiet dignity was now his own, combined with a devotedness +to his parents, which before had never been so distinctly visible. He +had ever loved them, ever sought their happiness, their wishes in +preference to his own. Herbert himself had not surpassed him in filial +love and reverence, but now, though his feelings were the same, their +expression was different; cheerful and animated he still was, but the +ringing laugh which had so often echoed through the halls of Oakwood had +gone. It seemed as if the death of a brother so beloved, had suddenly +transformed Percy Hamilton from the wild and thoughtless +pleasure-seeking, joke-loving lad into the calm and serious man. To the +eyes of his family, opposite as the brothers in youth had been, there +were now many points of Herbert's character reflected upon Percy, and +dearer than ever he became; and the love which had been excited in the +gentle heart of Louisa Manvers by the wild spirits, the animation, the +harmless recklessness, the freedom of thought and word, which had +characterised Percy, when she first knew him, was purified and +heightened by the calm dignity, the more serious thought, the solid +qualities of the virtuous and honourable man. + +Lieutenant Fortescue was now daily expected in England, much to the +delight of his family and Sir George Wilmot, who declared he should have +no peace till he was introduced to the preserver of his gallant boy, as +he chose to call Edward. Lieutenant Mordaunt; he never heard of such a +name, and he was quite sure he had never been a youngster in his +cockpit. "What does he mean by saying he knows me, that he sailed with +me, when a mid? he must be some impostor, Mistress Nell, take my word +for it," Sir George would laughingly say, and vow vengeance on Ellen, +for daring to doubt the excellence of his memory; as she one day +ventured to hint that it was so very many years, it was quite impossible +Sir George could remember the names of all the middies under him. It was +much more probable, Sir George would retort, that slavery had +bewildered the poor man's understanding, and that he fancied he was +acquainted with the first English names he heard. + +"Never mind, Nell, he has been a slave, poor fellow, so we will not +treat him as an impostor, the first moment he reaches his native land," +was the general conclusion of the old Admiral's jokes, as each day +increased his impatience for Edward's return. + +He was gratified at length, and as generally happens, when least +expected, for protesting he would not be impatient any more, he amused +himself by setting little Lord Lyle on his knee, and was so amused by +the child's playful prattle and joyous laugh, that he forgot to watch at +the window, which was his general post. Ellen was busily engaged in +nursing Caroline's babe, now about six months old. + +"Give me Mary, Ellen," said the young Earl, entering the room, with +pleasure visibly impressed on his features. "You will have somebody else +to kiss in a moment, and unless you can bear joy as composedly as you +can sorrow, why I tremble for the fate of my little Mary." + +"What do you mean, St. Eval? you shall not take my baby from me, unless +you can give me a better reason." + +"I mean that Edward will be here in five minutes, if he be not already. +Ah, Ellen, you will resign Mary now. Come to me, little lady," and the +young father caught his child from Ellen's trembling hands, and dancing +her high in the air, was rewarded by her loud crow of joy. + +In another minute, Edward was in the room, and clasped to his sister's +beating heart. It was an agitating moment, for it seemed to Ellen's +excited fancy that Edward was indeed restored to her from the dead, he +had not merely returned from a long and dangerous voyage. The young +sailor, as he released her from his embrace, looked with an uncontrolled +impulse round the room. All were not there he loved; he did not miss +Emmeline, but Herbert--oh, his gentle voice was not heard amongst the +many that crowded round to greet him. He looked on his aunt, her deep +mourning robe, he thought her paler, thinner than he had ever seen her +before, and the impetuous young man could not be restrained, he flung +himself within her extended arms, and burst into tears. + +Mr. Hamilton hastened towards them. "Our beloved Herbert is happy," he +said, solemnly, as he wrung his nephew's hands. "Let us not mourn for +him now, Edward, but rather rejoice, as were he amongst us he would do, +gratefully rejoice that the same gracious hand which removed him in love +to a brighter world was stretched over you in your hour of peril, and +preserved you to those who so dearly love you. You, too, we might for a +time have lost, my beloved Edward. Shall we not rejoice that you are +spared us? Emmeline, my own Emmeline, think on the blessings still +surrounding us." + +His impressive words had their effect on both his agitated auditors. +Edward gently withdrew himself from the detaining arms of his aunt; he +pressed a long, lingering kiss upon her cheek, and hastily conquering +his emotion, clasped Sir George Wilmot's extended hand, after a few +minutes' silence, greeted all his cousins with his accustomed warmth, +and spoke as usual. + +There had been one unseen, unthought-of spectator of this little scene; +all had been too much startled and affected at Edward's unexpected burst +of sorrow, to think of the stranger who had entered the room with him; +but that stranger had looked around him, more particularly on Mrs. +Hamilton, with feelings of intensity utterly depriving him of either +speech or motion. Years had passed lightly over Mrs. Hamilton's head; +she had borne trials, cares, and sorrows, as all her fellow-creatures, +but her burden had ever been cast upon Him who had promised to sustain +her, and therefore on her it had not weighed so heavily; and years had +neither bent that graceful figure, nor robbed her features of their +bloom. Hers had never been extraordinary beauty, it had been the +expression only, which was ever the charm in her, an expression of +purity of thought and deed, of gentle unassuming piety. Time cannot +triumph over that beauty which is reflected from the soul; and Mordaunt +gazed on her till he could scarcely restrain himself from rushing +forward, and clasping her to his bosom, proclaim aloud who and what he +was; but he did command himself, though his limbs trembled under him, +and he was thankful that as yet he was unobserved. He looked on the +blooming family around him--they were children, and yet to them he was +as the dead; and now would she indeed remember him? Edward suddenly +recalled the presence of his friend, and springing towards him, with an +exclamation of regret at his neglect, instantly attracted the attention +of all, and Mordaunt suddenly found himself the centre of a group, who +were listening with much interest to Edward's animated account of all he +owed him, a recital which Mordaunt vainly endeavoured to suppress, by +declaring he had done nothing worth speaking of. Mrs. Hamilton joined +her husband in welcoming the stranger, with that grace and kindness so +peculiarly her own. She thanked him warmly for the care he had taken, +and the exertions he had made for her nephew; and as she did so, the +colour so completely faded from Mordaunt's sunburnt cheek, that Edward, +declaring he was ill and exhausted by the exertions he had made from the +first moment of their landing at Portsmouth, entreated him to retire to +the chamber which had been prepared for him, but this Mordaunt refused, +saying he was perfectly well. + +"It is long I have heard the voice of kindness in my native tongue--long +since English faces and English hearts have thus blessed me, and would +you bid me leave them, my young friend?" + +His mournful voice thrilled to Mrs. Hamilton's heart, as he laid his +hand appealingly on Edward's arm. + +"Not for worlds," replied the young sailor, cheerfully. "Sir George +Wilmot, my dear aunt, have you any recollection of my good friend here? +he says he knew you both when he was a boy." + +Sir George Wilmot's eyes had never moved from Mordaunt since he had +withdrawn his attention from Edward, and he now replied somewhat +gravely-- + +"Of the name of Mordaunt I have no recollection as being borne by any +youngsters on board my ship, but those features seem strangely familiar +to me. I beg your pardon, sir, but have you always borne that name?" + +"From the time I can remember, Sir George; but this may perhaps convince +you I have been on board your ship. Was there not one amongst us in the +cockpit, a young lad whom you ever treated with distinguished favour, +whom, however unworthy, you ever held up to his comrades as a pattern of +all that was excellent in a seaman and a youth, whom you ever loved and +treated as a son? I was near him when he flung himself in the sea, with +a sword in his mouth, and entering the enemy's ship by one of the +cabin-windows, fought his way to the quarter-deck, and hauling down the +French standard, retained his post till relieved by his comrades; and +when the fight was over, hung back and gave to others the meed of praise +you were so eager to bestow. Have you forgotten this, Sir George?" + +"No!" replied the Admiral, with sudden animation. "Often have I recalled +that day, one amongst the many in which my Charles distinguished +himself." + +"And you told him he would rise to eminence ere many years had +passed--the name of Delmont would rival that of Nelson ere his career +had run." + +The old Admiral looked on the stranger with increased astonishment and +agitation. + +"Delmont! you knew my brother, then, Lieutenant Mordaunt," Mrs. Hamilton +could not refrain from saying. "Many, many years have passed, yet tell +me when you saw him last." + +"I was with him in his last voyage, lady," replied the stranger, in a +low and peculiar voice, for it was evidently an effort to retain his +calmness. Six-and-twenty years have gone by since the Leander left the +coasts of England never to return; six-and-twenty years since I set foot +in my native land." + +"And did all indeed perish, save yourself? Were you alone saved? saw you +my brother after the vessel sunk?" inquired Mrs. Hamilton, hurriedly, +laying her trembling hand on the stranger's arm, scarcely conscious of +what she did. "He too might be spared even as yourself; but oh, death +were preferable to lingering on his years in slavery." + +"Alas! my Emmeline, wherefore indulge in such fallacious hope?" said her +husband, tenderly, for he saw she was excessively agitated. + +"Mrs. Hamilton," said Sir George Wilmot, earnestly, speaking at the same +moment, "Emmeline, child of my best, my earliest friend, look on those +features, look well; do you not know them? six-and-twenty years have +done their work, yet surely not sufficiently to conceal him from your +eyes. Have you not seen that flashing eye, that curling lip before? look +well ere you decide." + +"Lady, Charles Manvers lives!" murmured the stranger, in the voice of +one whom strong emotion deprived of utterance, and he pushed from his +brow the hair which thickly clustered there and in part concealed the +natural expression of his features, and gazed on her face. A gleam of +sunshine at this instant threw a sudden glow upon his countenance, and +Mr. Hamilton started forward, and an exclamation of astonishment, of +pleasure escaped his lips, but Mrs. Hamilton's eyes moved not from the +stranger's face. + +"Emmeline, my sister, my own sister, will you not know me? can you not +believe that Charles is spared?" he exclaimed, in a tone of excited +feeling. + +"Oh, God, it is Charles himself?" she sobbed, and sunk almost fainting +in his embrace; convulsively the brother pressed her to his bosom. It +seemed as if the happiness of that moment was too great for reality, as +if it were but some dream of bliss; scarcely was he conscious of the +warm greeting he received; the uncontrollable emotion of the old +Admiral, who, as he wrung his hand again and again, wept like a child. +His brain seemed to reel, and every object danced before his eyes, he +was alone sensible that he held his sister in his arms, that sister whom +he had loved even more devotedly, more constantly in his hours of +slavery, than when she had been ever near him. Her counsels, her example +had had but little apparent effect on him when a wild and reckless boy +at his father's house, but they had sustained him in his affliction; it +was then he knew the value of those serious thoughts and feelings his +sister had so laboured to inculcate, and associated as they were with +her, she became dearer each time he felt himself supported, under his +many trials, by fervent prayer and that implicit trust, of which she had +so often spoken. + +In wondering astonishment the younger members of the family had regarded +this little scene some minutes before the truth had flashed on the mind +of Mrs. Hamilton. Both St. Eval and Percy had guessed who in reality the +stranger was, and waited in some anxiety for the effect that recognition +would have on Mrs. Hamilton, whom Edward had already considerably +agitated. With characteristic delicacy of feeling, all then left the +room, Sir George Wilmot and Mr. Hamilton alone remaining with the +long-separated brother and sister. + +"My uncle Charles himself! Fool, idiot that I was never to discover this +before!" had been Edward's exclamation, in a tone of unrestrained joy. + +A short time sufficed to restore all to comparative composure, but a +longer interval was required for Charles Manvers, whom we must now term +Lord Delmont, to ask and to answer the innumerable questions which were +naturally called forth by his unexpected return; much had he to hear and +much to tell, even leaving, as he said he would, the history of his +adventures in Algiers to amuse two or three winter evenings, when all +his family were around him. + +"All my family," he repeated, in a tone of deep feeling. "Do I say this? +I, the isolated, desolate being I imagined myself; I, who believed so +many years had passed, that I should remain unrecognised, unloved, +forgotten. Reproach me not, my sister, the misery I occasioned myself, +the emotions of this moment are punishment enough. And are all those +whom I saw here yours, Hamilton?" he continued, more cheerfully. "Oh, +let me claim their love; I know them all already, for Edward has long +ere this made me acquainted with them, both individually and as the +united members of one affectionate family; I long to judge for myself if +his account be indeed correct, though I doubt it not. Poor fellow, I +deserve his reproaches for continuing my deception to him so long." + +"And why was that name assumed at all, dear Charles?" inquired Mr. +Hamilton. "Why not resume your own when the chains of slavery were +broken?" + +"And how dare you say Mordaunt was yours as long as you can remember?" +demanded Sir George, holding up his hand in a threatening attitude, as +if the full-grown man before him were still the slight stripling he last +remembered him. "Deception was never permitted on my decks, Master +Charles." + +Mrs. Hamilton smiled. + +"Nor have I practised it, Sir George," he replied. "Mordaunt was my +name, as my sister can vouch. Charles Mordaunt Manvers I was christened, +Mordaunt being the name of my godfather, between whom and my father, +however, a dispute arose, when I was about seven years old, completely +setting aside old friendship and causing them to be at enmity till Sir +Henry Mordaunt's death. The tale was repeated to me when I was about ten +years old, much exaggerated of course, and I declared I would bear his +name no longer. I remember well my gentle sister Emmeline's entreaties +and persuasions that I would not interfere, that I knew nothing about +the quarrel, and had no right to be so angry. However, I carried my +point, as I generally did, with my too indulgent parent, and therefore +from that time I was only known as Charles Manvers, for my father could +not bear the name spoken before him. Do you not remember it, Emmeline?" + +"Perfectly well, now it is recalled, though I candidly own I had +forgotten the circumstance." + +"But, still, why was Manvers disused?" Mr. Hamilton again inquired. + +"For perhaps an unjust and foolish fancy, my dear friend. I could not +enjoy my freedom, because of the thought I mentioned before. I knew not +if my beloved father still lived, nor who bore the title of Lord +Delmont, which, if he were no more, was mine by inheritance; for +four-and-twenty years I had heard nothing of all whom I loved, they +looked on me as dead: they might be scattered, dispersed; instead of +joy, my return might bring with it sorrow, vexation, discontent. It was +for this reason I relinquished the name of Manvers, and adopted the one +I had well-nigh forgotten as being mine by an equal right; I wished to +visit my native land unknown, and bearing that name, any inquiries I +might have made would be unsuspected." + +Surrounded by those whom in waking and sleeping dreams he had so long +loved, the clouds which had overhung Lord Delmont's mind as a thick +mist, even when he found himself free, dissolved before the calm +sunshine of domestic love. A sense of happiness pervaded his heart, +happiness chastened by a deep feeling of gratitude to Him who had +ordained it. Affected he was almost to tears, as the manner of his +nephew and nieces towards him unconsciously betrayed how affectionately +they had ever been taught to regard his memory. Rapidly he became +acquainted with each and all, and eagerly looked forward to the arrival +of Emmeline and her husband to look on them likewise as his own; but +though Edward laughingly protested he should tremble now for the +continuance of his uncle's preference towards himself, he ever retained +his place. He had been the first known; his society, his soothing words, +his animated buoyancy of spirit, his strong affection and respect for +his uncle's memory when he believed him dead, and perhaps the +freemasonry of brother sailors, had bound him to Lord Delmont's heart +with ties too strong to be riven. The more he heard of, and the more he +associated with him in the intimacy of home, the stronger these feelings +became; and Edward on his part unconsciously increased them by his +devotedness to his uncle himself, the manner with which he ever treated +Mrs. Hamilton, and his conduct to his sister whose quiet unselfish +happiness at his return, and thus accompanied, was indeed heightened, +more than she herself a few months previous could have believed +possible. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + +Our little narrative must here transport the reader to a small cottage +in the picturesque village of Llangwillan, where, about three months +after the events we have narrated, Lilla Grahame sat one evening in +solitude, and it seemed in sorrow. The room in which she was seated was +small, but furnished and adorned with the refined and elegant taste of +one whose rank appeared much higher than the general occupants of such a +dwelling. A large window, reaching to the ground, opened on a smooth and +sloping lawn, which was adorned by most beautiful flowers. It led to a +small gate opening on a long, narrow lane, which led to the Vicarage, +leaving the little church and its picturesque burying-ground a little to +the right; the thick grove which surrounded it forming a leafy yet +impenetrable wall to one side of the garden. There were many very pretty +tombs in this churchyard; perhaps its beauty consisted in its extreme +neatness, and the flowers that the vicar, Mr. Myrvin, took so much +pleasure in carefully preserving. One lowly grave, beneath a large and +spreading yew, was never passed unnoticed. A plain marble stone denoted +that there lay one, who had once been the brightest amid the bright, the +brilliant star of a lordly circle. The name, her age, and two simple +verses were there inscribed; but around that humble grave there were +sweet flowers flourishing more luxuriantly than in any other part of +the churchyard; the climbing honeysuckle twined its odoriferous clusters +up the dark trunk of the storm-resisting yew. Roses of various kinds +intermingled with the lowly violet, the snowdrop, lily of the valley, +the drooping convolvulus, which, closing its petals for a time, is a fit +emblem of that sleep which, closing our eyes on earth, reopens them in +heaven, beneath the general warmth of the sun of righteousness. These +flowers were sacred in the eyes of the villagers, and their children +were charged not to despoil them; and too deep was their reverence for +their minister, and too sacred was that little spot of earth, even to +their uncultured eyes, for those commands ever to be disobeyed. But it +was not to Mr. Myrvin's care alone that part of the churchyard owed its +beauty. It had ever been distinguished from the rest by the flowers +around it; but it was only the last two years they had flourished so +luxuriantly; the hand of Lilla Grahame watered and tended them with +unceasing care. In the early morning or the calm twilight she was seen +beside the grave, and many might have believed that there reposed the +ashes of a near and dear relation, but it was not so. Lilla had never +seen and never known the lovely being whose last home she thus +affectionately tended. It was dear to her from its association with him +whom she loved, there her thoughts could wander to him; and surely the +love thus cherished beside the dead must have been purity itself. + +It was the hour that Lilla usually sought the churchyard, but she came +not, and the lengthening shadows of a soft and lovely May evening fell +around the graceful figure of a tall and elegant young man, in naval +uniform, who lingered beside the grave; pensive, it seemed, yet scarcely +melancholy. His fine expressive countenance seemed to breathe of +happiness proceeding from the heart, chastened and softened by holier +thoughts. A smile of deep feeling encircled his lips as he looked on the +flowers, which in this season were just bursting into beautiful bloom; +and plucking an early violet, he pressed it to his lips and placed it +next his heart. "Doubly precious," he said, internally, "planted by the +hand of her I love, it flourished on my mother's grave. Oh, my mother, +would that you could behold your Edward now; that your blessing could be +mine. It cannot be, and thrice blessed as I am, why should I seek for +more?" A few moments longer he lingered, then turned in the direction of +the Vicarage. + +Lilla's spirits harmonized not as they generally did with the calm +beauty of nature around her. Anxious and sorrowful, her tears more than +once fell slowly and unheeded on her work; but little improvement had +taken place in her father's temper. She had much, very much to bear, +even though she knew he loved her, and that his chief cares were for +her; retirement had not relieved his irritated spirit. Had he, instead +of retreating from, mingled as formerly in, the world, he might have +been much happier, for he would have found the dishonourable conduct of +his son had not tarnished his own. He had been too long and too well +known as the soul of honour and integrity, for one doubt or aspersion to +be cast upon his name. Lady Helen's injudicious conduct towards her +children was indeed often blamed, and Grahame's own severity much +regretted, but it was much more of sympathy he now commanded than scorn +or suspicion, and all his friends lamented his retirement. Had not +Lilla's spirits been naturally elastic, they must have bent beneath +these continued and painful trials; her young heart often felt breaking, +but the sense of religion, the excellent principles instilled both by +Mrs. Douglas and Mrs. Hamilton now had their full effect, and sustained +her amidst all. She never wavered in her duty to her father; she never +complained even in her letters to her dearest and most confidential +friends. + +"Have you thought on the subject we spoke of last night, Lilla?" asked +her father, entering suddenly, and seating himself gloomily on a chair +some paces from her. His daughter started as she saw him, for the first +tone of his voice betrayed he was more than usually irritable and +gloomy. + +"Yes, father, I have," she replied, somewhat timidly. + +"And what is your answer?" + +"I fear you will be displeased, my dear father; but indeed I cannot +answer differently to last night." + +"You are still resolved then to refuse Philip Clapperton?" + +Lilla was silent. + +"And pray may I ask the cause of your fastidiousness, Miss Grahame? Your +burst of tears last night made a very pretty scene no doubt, but they +gave me no proper answer." + +"It is not only that I cannot love Mr. Clapperton, father, but I cannot +respect him." + +"And pray why not? I tell you, Lilla, blunt, even coarse, if you like, +as he is, unpolished, hasty, yet he has a better heart by far than many +of those more elegant and attractive sprigs of nobility, amongst which +perhaps your romantic fancy has wandered, as being the only husbands +fitted for you." + +"You do me injustice, father. I have never indulged in such romantic +visions, but I cannot willingly unite my fate with one in whom I see no +fixed principle of action--one who owns no guide but pleasure. His heart +may be good, I doubt it not; but I cannot respect one who spends his +whole life in fox-hunting, drinking, and all the pleasures peculiar to +the members of country clubs." + +"In other words, a plain, honest-speaking, English gentleman is not fine +enough for you. What harm is there in the amusements you have +enumerated? Why should not a fox-hunter make as good a husband as any +other member of society?" + +Lilla looked at her father in astonishment. These were not always his +sentiments she painfully thought. + +"I do not mean to condemn these amusements, my dear father, but when +they are carried on without either principle or religion. How can I +venture to intrust my happiness to such a man?" + +"And where do you expect to find either principle or religion now? Not +in those polished circles, where I can perceive your hopes are fixed. +Girl, banish such hopes. Not one amongst them would unite himself to the +sister of that dishonoured outcast Cecil Grahame." + +Grahame's whole frame shook as he pronounced his son's name, but +sternness still characterised his voice. + +"Never would I unite myself with one who considered himself degraded by +an union with our family, father, be assured," said Lilla, earnestly. +"My hopes are not high. I have thought little of marriage, and till I am +sought, have no wish to leave this sequestered spot, believe me." + +"And who, think you, will seek you here? You had better banish such idle +hopes, for they will end in disappointment." + +"Be it so, then," Lilla replied, calmly, though had her father been near +her, he would have seen her cheek suddenly become pale and her eyelids +quiver, as if by the pressure of a tear. "Is marriage a thing so +indispensable, that you would compel me to leave you, my dear father?" + +"To you it is indispensable; when once you have lost the name you now +hold, the world and all its pleasures will be spread before you, the +stain will be remembered no more; your life need not be spent in gloom +and exile like this." + +"And what, then, will become of you?" + +"Of me! who cares. What am I, and what have I ever been to either of my +children, that they should care for me? I scorn the mere act of duty, +and which of you can love me? no, Lilla, not even you." + +"Father, you do me wrong; oh, do not speak such cruel words," said +Lilla, springing from her seat, and flinging herself on her knees by her +father's side. "Have I indeed so failed in testimonies of love, that you +can for one instant believe it is only the duty of a child I feel and +practise? Oh, my father, do me not such harsh injustice; could you read +my inmost heart, you would see how full it is of love and reverence for +you, though I have not always courage to express it. Ask of me any, +every proof but this, and I will do it, but, oh, do not command me to +wed Mr. Clapperton; why, oh, why would you thus seek to send me from +you?" + +"I speak but for your happiness, Lilla;" his voice was somewhat +softened. "You cannot be happy now with one so harsh, irritable, cruel +as, I know, I am too often." + +"And would you compare the occasional irritation proceeding from the +failing health of a beloved father, with the fierce passion and constant +impatience of a husband, with whom I could not have one idea in common, +whom I could neither love nor reverence, to whom even my duty would be +wretchedness? oh, my father, can you compare the two? Think of Mrs. +Greville: Philip Clapperton ever reminds me of Mr. Greville, of what at +least he must have been in his youth, and would you sentence me to all +the misery that has been poor Mrs. Greville's lot and her children's +likewise?" + +"You do not know enough of Clapperton to judge him thus harshly, Lilla; +I know him better, and I cannot see the faults against which you are so +inveterate. Your sister chose a husband for herself, and how has she +fared? is she happy?" + +"Annie cannot be happy, father, even if her husband were of a very +different character. She disobeyed; a parent's blessing hallowed not her +nuptials, and strange indeed would it be were her lot otherwise; but +though I cannot love the husband of your choice, you may trust me, +father, without your consent and blessing, I will never marry." + +"Do not say you _cannot_ love Philip Clapperton, Lilla; when once his +wife, you could not fail to do so. I would see you united to one who +loves you, my child, ere your affections are bestowed on another, who +may be less willing to return them." + +Grahame spoke in a tone of such unwonted softness, that the tears now +rolled unchecked down Lilla's cheeks. Her ingenuous nature could not be +restrained; she felt as if, were she still silent, she would be +deceiving him, and hiding her face in her hand, she almost inaudibly +said-- + +"For that, then, it is too late, father; I cannot love Mr. Clapperton, +because--because I love another." + +"Ha!" exclaimed Grahame, starting, then laying his trembling hand on +Lilla's head, he continued, struggling with strong emotion, "this, then, +is the cause of your determined refusal. Poor child, poor child, what +misery have you formed for yourself!" + +"And wherefore misery, my father?" replied Lilla, raising her head +somewhat proudly, and speaking as firmly as her tears would permit. +"Your child would not have loved had she not deemed her affections +sought, ay, and valued too. Think not I would degrade myself by giving +my heart to any one who deemed me or my father beneath his notice. If +ever eye or act can speak, I do not love in vain." + +"And would you believe in trifles such as these?" asked her father, +sorrowfully. "Alas! poor child, words are often false, still less can +you rely on the language of the eye. Has anything like an understanding +taken place between you?" + +"Alas! my father, no; and yet--and yet--oh, I know he loves me." + +"And so he may, my child, and yet break his own heart and yours, poor +guileless girl, rather than unite himself with the dishonoured and the +base. Lilla, my own Lilla, I have been harsh and cruel; it is because I +feel too keenly perhaps the gall in which your wretched brother's +conduct has steeped your life and mine; mine will soon pass away, but +the dark shadow will linger still round you, my child, and condemn you +to wretchedness; I cannot, cannot bear that thought!" and he struck his +clenched hand against his brow. "Why on the innocent should fall the +chastisement of the guilty? My child, my child, oh, banish from your +unsuspecting heart the hopes of love returned. Where in this selfish +world will you find one to love you so for yourself alone, that family +and fortune are as naught?" + +"Why judge so harshly of your sex, Mr. Grahame?" said a rich and +thrilling voice, in unexpected answer to his words, and the same young +man whom we before mentioned as lingering by a village grave, stepping +lightly from the terrace on which the large window opened into the room, +stood suddenly before the astonished father and his child. On the latter +the effect of his presence was almost electric. The rich crimson mantled +at once over cheek and brow and neck, a faint cry burst from her lips, +and as the thought flashed across her, that her perhaps too presumptuous +hopes of love returned had been overheard, as well as her father's +words, she suddenly burst into tears of mingled feeling, and darting by +the intruder, passed by the way he had entered into the garden; but even +when away from him, composure for a time returned not. She forgot +entirely that no name had been spoken either by her father or by herself +to designate him whom she confessed she loved; her only feeling was, +she had betrayed a truth, which from him she would ever have concealed, +till he indeed had sought it; and injured modesty now gave her so much +pain, it permitted her not to rejoice in this unexpected appearance of +one whom she had not seen since she had believed him dead. She knew the +churchyard was at this period of the evening quite deserted, and almost +unconscious what she was about, she hastily tied on her bonnet, and with +the speed of a young fawn, she bounded through the narrow lane, and +rested not till she found herself seated beside her favourite grave; +there she gave full vent to the thoughts in which pleasure and confusion +somewhat strangely and painfully mingled. + +"Can you, will you forgive this unceremonious and, I fear, unwished-for +intrusion?" was the young stranger's address to Grahame, when he had +recovered from the agitation which Lilla's emotion had called forth, he +scarcely knew wherefore. "To me you have ever extended the hand of +friendship, Mr. Grahame, however severe upon the world in general, and +will you refuse it now, when my errand here is to seek an even nearer +and a dearer name?" + +"You are welcome, ever welcome to my humble home, my dear boy, for your +own sake, and for those dear to you," replied Grahame, with a return of +former warmth and cordiality. "More than usually welcome I may say, +Edward, as this is your first visit here since your rescue from the +bowels of the great deep. You look confused and heated, and as if you +would much rather run after your old companion than stay with me, but +indeed I cannot spare you yet, I have so many questions to ask you." + +"Forgive me, Mr. Grahame, but indeed you must hear me first." + +"I came here to speak to you on a subject nearest my heart, and till +that is told, till from your lips I know my fate, do not, for pity, ask +me to speak on any other. I meant not to have entered so abruptly on my +mission, but that which Mr. Myrvin has imparted to me, and what I +undesignedly overheard as I stood unseen on that terrace, have taken +from me all the eloquence with which I meant to plead my cause." + +"Speak in your own proper person, Edward, and then I may perhaps hear +you," replied Grahame, from whom the sight of his young friend appeared +to have banished all misanthropy. "What I can, however, have to do with +your fate, I know not, except that I will acquit you of all intentional +eaves-dropping, if it be that which troubles you; and what can Mr. +Myrvin have said to rob you of eloquence?" + +"He told me that--that you had encouraged Philip Clapperton's addresses +to Lil--to Miss Grahame," answered Edward, with increasing agitation, +for he perceived, what was indeed the truth, that Grahame had not the +least idea of his intentions. + +"And what can that have to do with you, young man?" inquired Grahame, +somewhat haughtily, and his brow darkened. "You have not seen Lilla, to +be infected with her prejudices, and in what manner can my wishes with +regard to my daughter on that head concern you?" + +"In what manner? Mr. Grahame, I came hither with my aunt's and uncle's +blessing on my purpose, to seek from you your gentle daughter's hand. I +am not a man of many words, and all I had to say appears to have +departed, and left me speechless. I came here to implore your consent, +for without it I knew 'twere vain to think or hope to make your Lilla +mine. I came to plead to you, and armed with your blessing, plead my +cause to her, and you ask me how Mr. Myrvin's intelligence can affect +me. Speak, then, at once; in pity to that weakness which makes me feel +as if my lasting happiness or misery depends upon your answer." + +"And do you, Edward, do you love my poor child?" asked the father, with +a quivering lip and glistening eye, as he laid his hand, which trembled, +on the young man's shoulder. + +"Love her? oh, Mr. Grahame, she has been the bright beaming star that +has shone on my ocean course for many a long year. I know not when I +first began to love, but from my cousin Caroline's wedding-day the +thoughts of Lilla lingered with me, and gilded many a vision of domestic +peace and love, and each time I looked on her bright face, and marked +her kindling spirit, heard and responded inwardly to her animated voice, +I felt that she was dearer still; and when again I saw her in her +sorrow, and sought with Ellen to soothe and cheer her, oh, no one can +know the pain it was to restrain the absorbing wish to ask her, if +indeed one day she would be mine, but that was no time to speak of love. +Besides, I knew not if I had the means to offer her a comfortable home, +I knew not how long I might be spared to linger near her; but now, when +of both I am assured, wherefore should I hesitate longer? With the +title of captain, that for which I have so long pined, I am at liberty +to retire on half-pay, till farther orders; the adopted son and +acknowledged heir to my uncle, Lord Delmont, I have now enough to offer +her my hand, without one remaining scruple. You are silent. Oh, Mr. +Grahame, must I plead in vain?" + +"And would you marry her, would you indeed take my child as your chosen +bride?" faltered Grahame, deeply moved. "Honoured, titled as you are, my +poor, portionless Lilla is no meet bride for you." + +"Perish honours and title too, if they could deprive me of the gentle +girl I love!" exclaimed the young captain, impetuously. "Do not speak +thus, Mr. Grahame. In what was my lamented father better than +yourself--my mother than Lady Helen? and if she were in very truth my +inferior in birth, the virtues and beauty of Lilla Grahame would do +honour to the proudest peer of this proud land." + +"My boy, my gallant boy!" sobbed the agitated father, his irritability +gone, dissolved, like the threatening cloud of a summer day beneath some +genial sunbeam, and as he wrung Captain Fortescue's hand again and again +in his, the tears streamed like an infant's down his cheek. + +"_Will_ I consent, _will_ I give you my blessing? Oh, to see you the +husband of my poor child would be _too, too_ much happiness, happiness +wholly, utterly undeserved. But, oh, Edward, can Mr. Hamilton, can Lord +Delmont consent to your union with one, whose only brother is a +disgraced, dishonoured outcast, whose father is a selfish, irritable +misanthrope?" + +"Can the misconduct of Cecil cast in the eyes of the just and good one +shadow on the fair fame of his sister? No, my dear sir; it is you who +have looked somewhat unkindly and unjustly on the world, as when you +mingle again with your friends, in company with your children, you will +not fail, with your usual candour, to acknowledge. A selfish, irritable +misanthrope," he added, archly smiling. "You cannot terrify me, Mr. +Grahame. I know the charge is false, and I dread it not." + +"Ask me not to join the world again," said Grahame, hoarsely; "in all +else, the duties of my children shall be as laws, but that"-- + +"Well, well, we will not urge it now, my dear sir," replied the young +sailor, cheerfully; then added, with the eager agitation of affection, +"But Lilla, my Lilla. Oh, may I hope that she will in truth be mine? Oh, +have I, can I have been too presumptuous in the thought I have not loved +in vain?" + +"Away with you, and seek the answer from her own lips," said Mr. +Grahame, with more of his former manner than he had yet evinced, for he +now entertained not one doubt as to Edward being the chosen one on whom +his daughter's young affections had been so firmly fixed. "Go to her, my +boy; she will not fly a second time, so like a startled hare, from your +approach; tell her, had she told her father Edward Fortescue was the +worthy object of her love, he would not thus have thrown a damp upon her +young heart, he would not have condemned him as being incapable of +loving her for herself alone. Tell her, too, the name of Philip +Clapperton shall offend her no more. Away with you, my boy." + +Edward awaited not a second bidding. In a very few minutes the whole +garden had been searched, and Miss Grahame inquired for all over the +house, then he bounded through the lane, and scarcely five minutes after +he had quitted Mr. Grahame, he stood by the side of Lilla; the +consciousness that she had confessed her love, that he might have +overheard it, was still paramount in her modest bosom, and she would +have avoided him, but quickly was her design prevented. Rapidly, almost +incoherently, was the conversation of the last half hour repeated, and +with all the eloquence of his enthusiastic nature, Edward pleaded his +cause, and, need it be said, not in vain. Lilla neither wished nor +sought to conceal her feelings, and long, long did those two young and +animated beings remain in sweet and heartfelt commune beside that lowly +grave. + +"What place so fitted where to pledge our troth, my Lilla, as by my +mother's resting-place?" said Edward. "Would that she could look upon us +now and smile her blessing." + +Happily indeed flew those evening hours unheeded by the young lovers. +Grahame, on the entrance of his happy child, folded her to his bosom; +his blessing descended on her head, mingled with tears, which sprung at +once from a father's love and self-reproach at all the suffering his +irritability had occasioned her. And that evening Lilla indeed felt that +all her sorrows, all her struggles, all her dutiful forbearance, were +rewarded. Not only was her long-cherished love returned, not only did +she feel that in a few short months she should be her Edward's own, that +he, the brave, the gallant, honoured sailor, had chosen her in +preference to any of those fairer and nobler maidens with whom he had +so often associated, but her father, her dear father, was more like +himself than he had been since her mother's death. He looked, he spoke +the Montrose Grahame we have known him in former years. Edward had ever +been a favourite with him, but he and Lilla had been so intimate from +their earliest childhood, that he had never thought of him as a son; and +when the truth was known, so truly did Grahame rejoice, that the +bitterness in his earthly cup was well-nigh drowned by its present +sweetness. + +Innumerable were the questions both Lilla and Grahame had to ask, and +Edward answered all with that peculiar joyousness which ever threw a +charm around him. The adventures of his voyage, his dangers, the +extraordinary means of his long-lost uncle being instrumental in his +preservation, Lord Delmont's varied tale, all was animatedly discussed +till a late hour. A smile was on Grahame's lip, as his now awakened eye +recalled the drooping spirits and fading cheek of his Lilla during those +three months of suspense, when Captain Fortescue was supposed drowned, +and the equally strange and sudden restoration to health and +cheerfulness when Ellen's letter was received, detailing her brother's +safety. Lilla's streaming eyes were hid on her lover's shoulder as he +detailed his danger, but quickly her tears were kissed away; +thankfulness that he was indeed spared, again filled her heart, and the +bright smile returned. He accounted for not seeking them earlier by the +fact that, while they remained at Richmond, his uncle, whose health from +long-continued suffering was but weakly established, could not bear him +out of his sight, and that he had entreated him not to leave him till +they returned to Oakwood. This, young Fortescue afterwards discovered, +was to give Lord Delmont time for the gratification of his wishes, +which, from the time he had heard the line of Delmont was extinct, had +occupied his mind. Many of his father's old friends recognised him at +once. His father's and his sister's friends were eager to see and pay +him every attention in their power. He found himself ever a welcome and +a courted guest, and happiness, so long a stranger from his breast, now +faded not again. To adopt Edward as his son, to leave him heir to his +title and estate, was now, as it had been from the first moment he +recognised his nephew, the dearest wish of his heart, "if it were only +to fulfil Sir George Wilmot's prophecy," he jestingly told the old +Admiral, who, with Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton, warmly seconded his wishes. +The necessary formula met with no opposition, and the same day that gave +to Edward his promotion of captain, informed him of the secretly-formed +and secretly-acted-upon desire of his uncle. + +In the time of Edward's grandfather, the Delmont estates, as some of our +readers may remember, were, from the carelessness of stewards and the +complete negligence of their lord, in such an embarrassed state, as +barely to return a sufficient income for the expenses of Lord Delmont's +establishment. Affairs, however, were not in a worse state than that a +little energy and foresight might remedy. The guardian of Henry Manvers, +who, as we know already, became Lord Delmont when only three years old, +had acted his part with so much straightforwardness and trust, that when +Manvers came of age he found his estates in such a thriving condition, +that he was a very much richer nobleman than many of his predecessors +had been. Well able to discern true merit, and grateful for the +services already rendered, his guardian, by his earnest entreaty, +remained his agent during his residence with his mother and sister in +Switzerland. There, living very much within his income, his fortune +accumulated, and by his early death it fell to the Crown, from which +Lord Delmont, on his return from his weary years of slavery, received it +with the title of earl, bestowed to prove that the tale of a British +sailor's sufferings and indignities had not fallen unheeded on the royal +ear. The long-banished seaman was presented to his Majesty by the Duke +of Clarence himself, and had no need to regret the gracious interview. +His intentions concerning the young officer Captain Fortescue met with +an unqualified approval. Ardently loving his profession, the royal Duke +thought the more naval heroes filled the nobility of his country the +better for England, and an invitation to Bushy Park was soon afterwards +forwarded, both to Lord Delmont and his gallant nephew. + +Edward, already well-nigh beside himself by his unexpected promotion, no +longer knew how to contain the exuberance of his spirits, much to the +amusement of his domestic circle; particularly to his quiet, gentle +sister, who, as she looked on her brother, felt how truly, how +inexpressibly her happiness increased with his prosperity. She too had +wound herself round the heart of her uncle; she loved him, first for his +partiality to her brother, but quickly her affection was extended to +himself. Mrs. Hamilton had related to him every particular of her +history, with which he had been deeply and painfully affected, and as he +quickly perceived how much his sister's gentle firmness and constant +watchfulness had done towards forming the character of not only Edward +and Ellen but of her own children, his admiration for her hourly +increased. + +A very few days brought Lord Delmont and his niece Ellen to Mr. +Grahame's cottage, and Lilla's delight at seeing Ellen was only second +to that she felt when Edward came. The presence, the cordial greeting of +Lord Delmont removed from the mind of Grahame every remaining doubt of +his approbation of the bride his nephew had chosen. As a faithful +historian, however, I must acknowledge the wishes of Lord Delmont had +pointed out Lady Emily Lyle as the most suitable connection for Edward. +Lady Florence he would have preferred, but there were many whispers +going about that she was engaged to the handsome young baronet Sir +Walter Cameron, who, by the death of his uncle Sir Hector, had lately +inherited some extensive estates in the south-west of Scotland. When, +however, Lord Delmont perceived his nephew's affections were irrevocably +fixed, and he heard from his sister's lips the character of Lilla +Grahame, he made no opposition, but consented with much warmth and +willingness. He was not only content, but resolved on being introduced +to Miss Grahame as soon as possible, without, however, saying a word to +Edward of his intentions. He took Ellen with him, he said, to convoy him +safely and secure him a welcome reception; neither of which, she assured +him, he needed, though she very gladly accompanied him. + +A few weeks passed too quickly by, imparting happiness even to Ellen, +for had she been permitted the liberty of choosing a wife for her +Edward, Lilla Grahame would have been her choice. Deeply and almost +painfully affected had she been indeed, when her brother first sought +her to reveal the secret of his love. + +"I cannot," he said, "I will not marry without your sympathy, your +approval, my sister--my more than sister, my faithful friend, my gentle +monitress, for such you have ever been to me," and he folded her in his +arms with a brother's love, and Ellen had concealed upon his manly bosom +the glistening tears, whose source she scarcely knew. "I would have you +love my wife, not only for my sake but for herself alone. Never will I +marry one who will refuse to look on you with the reverential affection +your brother does. Lilla Grahame does this, my Ellen; it was her girlish +affection for you that first attracted my attention to her. She will +regard you as I do; she will teach her children, if it please heaven to +grant us any, to look on you even as I would; her heart and home will be +as open to my beloved sister as mine. Speak then, my ever-cherished, +ever faithful friend; tell me if, in seeking Lilla, your sympathy, your +blessing will be mine." + +Tears of joy choked her utterance, but quickly recovering herself, Ellen +answered him in a manner calculated indeed to increase his happiness, +and her presence at Llangwillan satisfied every wish. + +Unable to resist the eloquent entreaties of all his friends and the +appealing eyes of his child, Grahame at last consented to spend the +month which was to intervene ere his daughter's nuptials, at Oakwood. +That period Edward intended to employ in visiting the ancient hall on +the Delmont estate, which for the last three months had been in a state +of active preparation for the reception of its long-absent master. It +was beautifully situated in the vicinity of the New Forest, Hampshire. +There Edward was to take his bride, considering the whole estate, his +uncle declared, already as his own, as he did not mean to be a fixture +there, but live alternately with his sister and his nephew. Oakwood +should see quite as much of him as Beech Hill, and young people were +better alone, particularly the first year of their marriage. Vainly +Edward and Lilla sought to combat his resolution; the only concession +they could obtain was, that when their honeymoon was over, he and Ellen +would pay them a visit, just to see how they were getting on. + +"You must never marry, Nelly, for I don't know what my sister will do +without you," said Lord Delmont, laughing. + +"Be assured, uncle Charles, I never will. I love the freedom of this old +hall much too well; and, unless my aunt absolutely sends me away, I +shall not go." + +"And that she never will, Ellen," said Lilla earnestly. "She said the +other day she did not know how she should ever spare you even to us; but +you must come to us very often, dearest Ellen. I shall never perform my +part well as mistress of the large establishment with which Edward +threatens me, without your counsel and support" + +"I will not come at all, if you and Edward lay your wise heads together, +as you already seem inclined to do, to win me by flattery," replied +Ellen, playfully, endeavouring to look grave, though she refused not the +kiss of peace for which Lilla looked up so appealingly. + +The first week in July was fixed for the celebration of the two +marriages in Mr. Hamilton's family. As both Edward and Percy wished the +ceremony should take place in the parish church of Oakwood, and be +performed by Archdeacon Howard, it was agreed the same day should +witness both bridals; and that Miss Manvers, who had been residing at +Castle Terryn with the Earl and Countess St. Eval, should accompany them +to Oakwood a few days previous. Young Hamilton took his bride to Paris, +to which capital he had been intrusted with some government commission. +It was not till the end of July he had originally intended his nuptials +should take place; but he did not choose to leave England for an +uncertain period without his Louisa, and consequently it was agreed +their honeymoon should be passed in France. It may be well to mention +here that Mr. Hamilton had effected the exchange he desired, and that +Arthur Myrvin and his beloved Emmeline were now comfortably installed in +the Rectory, which had been so long the residence of Mr. Howard; and +that Myrvin now performed his pastoral duties in a manner that reflected +happiness not only on his parishioners, but on all his friends, and +enabled him to enjoy that true peace springing from a satisfied +conscience. He trod in the steps of his lamented friend; he knew not +himself how often his poor yet contented flock compared him in their +humble cottages with Herbert, and that in their eyes he did not lose by +the comparison. Some, indeed, would say, "It is all Master Herbert's +example, and the society of that sweet young creature, Miss Emmeline, +that has made him what he is." But whatever might be the reason, Arthur +was universally beloved; and that the village favourite, Miss Emmeline, +who had grown up amongst them from infancy, was their Rector's +wife--that she still mingled amongst them, the same gentle, loveable +being she had ever been--that it was to her and not to a stranger, they +were ever at liberty to seek for relief in trouble, or sympathy in joy, +was indeed a source of unbounded pleasure. And Emmeline was happy, +truly, gratefully happy; never did she regret the choice she had made, +nor envy her family the higher stations of life it was theirs to fill. +She had not a wish beyond the homes of those she loved; her husband was +all in all to her, her child a treasure for which she could not be +sufficiently thankful. She was still the same playful, guileless being +to her family which she had ever been; but to strangers a greater degree +of dignity characterised her deportment, and commanded their involuntary +respect. The home of Arthur Myrvin was indeed one over which peace and +love had entwined their roseate wings; a lowly yet a beauteous spot, +over which the storms of the busy troubled world might burst, but never +reach; and for other sorrows, piety and submission were alike their +watchword and their safeguard. Lord St. Eval was the only person who +regretted Arthur's promotion to the rectory of Oakwood, as it deprived +him, he declared, of his chaplain, his vicar, and his friend. However, +he willingly accepted a friend of Mr. Hamilton's to supply his place, a +clergyman not much beyond the prime of life; one who for seven years had +devoted himself, laboriously and unceasingly, to a poor and unprofitable +parish in one of the Feroe Islands; in the service of Mr. Hamilton he +had been employed, though voluntarily he had accepted, nay, eloquently +he had pleaded for the office. To those of our readers who are +acquainted with the story of Home Influence, the Rev. Henry Morton is no +stranger. They may remember that he accompanied Mr. Hamilton on his +perilous expedition, and had joyfully consented to remaining there till +the young Christian, Wilson, was capable of undertaking the ministry. He +had done so; his pupil promised fair to reward his every care, and +preserve his countrymen in that state of peace, prosperity, and virtue, +to which they had been brought by the unceasing cares of Morton; and +that worthy man returned to his native land seven years after he had +quitted it, improved not only in inward peace but in health, and +consequently appearances. A perceptible lameness was now the only +remains of what had been before painful deformity. The bracing air of +the island had invigorated his nerves; the consciousness that he was +active in the service of his fellow-creatures removed from his mind the +morbid sensibility that had formerly so oppressed him; and Mr. and Mrs. +Hamilton perceived, with benevolent pleasure, that life was to him no +longer a burden. He had become a cheerful, happy member of society, +willing to enjoy the blessings that now surrounded him with a truly +chastened, grateful spirit: Oakwood and Castle Terryn were ever +enlivened when he was present. After the cold and barren living at +Feroe, exiled as he there had been from any of his own rank in life, the +Vicarage at Castle Terryn and the society those duties included, formed +to him indeed a happy resting-place; while his many excellent qualities +soon reconciled St. Eval and his Countess to Myrvin's desertion, as they +called his accepting the rectory at Oakwood. No untoward event occurred +to prevent the celebration of Percy and Edward's bridals as intended. +They took place, attended with all that chastened joy and innocent +festivity which might have been expected from the characters of those +principally concerned. No cloud obscured the happiness of the +affectionate united family, which witnessed these gladdening nuptials. +Each might, perhaps, in secret have felt there was one blank in every +heart, that when thus united, there was still a void on earth. In their +breasts the fond memory of Herbert lingered still. Mr. Grahame forgot +his moroseness, though he had resolved on returning to his cottage in +Wales. He could feel nothing but delight as he looked on his Lilla in +her chaste and simple bridal robes, and felt that of her he might indeed +be proud. Fondly he dried the tear that fell from her bright eyes, as +she clung to him in parting, and promised to see her soon, very soon at +Beech Hill. + +It was the amusement of the village gossips for many a long evening to +discuss over and over again the various merits of the two brides; some +preferring the tearful, blushing Lilla, others the pale, yet composed +and dignified demeanour of Miss Manvers. Some said Captain Fortescue +looked much more agitated than he did when he saved his uncle's life off +Dartmouth, some years before; it was marvellously strange for a brave +young officer such as he, to be so flustered at such a simple thing as +taking a pretty girl for better or worse. And Mr. Percy Hamilton, some +said, was very much too serious for such a joyous occasion; if they had +been Miss Manvers they should not have liked it, and so unlike himself, +too. + +"Hold your tongue, silly woman," a venerable old man interposed, at this +part of the conversation, "the poor lad's thoughts were with his +brother, to whom this day would have been as great a source of joy as +to himself. He has not been the same man since dear Master Herbert's +death, and no wonder, poor fellow." + +This observation effectually put an end to the remarks on Percy's +demeanour, and some owned, after all, marriage was somehow a solemn +ceremony, and it was better to be too serious at such a time than too +gay. + +Percy and his bride stayed a week in London, and thence proceeded to +Paris, which place, a very short scrutiny convinced Percy was internally +in no quiet condition; some disturbance, he was convinced, was +threatening, though of what nature he could not at first comprehend. He +had not, however, left England a fortnight before his family were +alarmed by the reports which so quickly flew over to our island of that +extraordinary revolution which in three short days completely changed +the sovereign dynasty of France, and threatened a renewal of those +horrors which had deluged that fair capital with blood in the time of +the unfortunate Louis XVI. We have neither space nor inclination to +enter into such details; some extracts of a letter from Percy, which Mr. +Hamilton received, after a week of extreme anxiety on his account, we +feel, however, compelled to transcribe, as the ultimate fates of two +individuals, whose names have more than once been mentioned in the +course of these memoirs, may there perhaps be discovered. + +"Your anxiety, my dearest mother, and that of my father and Ellen, I can +well understand, but for myself I had no fear. Had I been alone, I +believe a species of pleasurable excitement would have been the +prevailing feeling, but for my Louisa I did tremble very often; the +scenes passing around us were to a gentle eye and feeling heart terrible +indeed, and so suddenly they had come upon us, we had no time to attempt +retreat to a place of greater safety. Cannonballs were flying in all +directions, shattering the windows, killing some, and fearfully wounding +many others; for several hours I concealed Louisa in the cellar, which +was the only secure abode our house presented. Mounted guards, to the +number of six or seven hundred, were dashing down the various streets, +with a noise like thunder, diversified only by the clash of arms, the +shrieks of the wounded, and the fierce cries of the populace. It was +indeed terrible--the butchery of lives has indeed been awful; in these +sanguinary conflicts between desperate men, pent up in narrow streets, +innocent lives have also been taken, for it was next to impossible to +distinguish between those who took an active part in the affray, and +those who were merely paralysed spectators. In their own defence the +gendarmes were compelled to fire, and their artillery did fearful havoc +among the people. + + * * * * * + +Crossing the Quai de la Tournelle, at the commencement of the first day, +I was startled by being addressed by name, and turning round, beheld, to +my utter astonishment, Cecil Grahame at my elbow; he was in the uniform +of a gendarme, in which corps, he told me, with some glee, his +brother-in-law, Lord Alphingham, who was high in favour with the French +court, had obtained him a commission; he spoke lightly, and with that +same recklessness of spirit and want of principle which unfortunately +has ever characterised him, declaring he was far better off than he had +ever been in England, which country he hoped never to see again, as he +utterly abhorred the very sight of it. The French people were rather +more agreeable to live with; he could enjoy his pleasures without any +confounded restraint. I suppose he saw how little I sympathised in his +excited spirits, for, with a hoarse laugh and an oath of levity, he +swore that I had not a bit more spirit in me than when I was a +craven-hearted lad, always cringing before the frown of a saintly +father, and therefore no fit companion for a jolly fellow like himself. +'Have you followed Herbert's example, and are you, too, a godly-minded +parson? then, good day, and good riddance to you, my lad,' was the +conclusion of his boisterous speech, and setting spurs to his horse, he +would have galloped off, when I detained him, to ask why he had not +informed his family of his present place of abode and situation. My +blood had boiled as he spoke, that such rude and scurrilous lips should +thus scornfully have spoken my sainted brother's name; passion rose +fierce within me, but I thought of him whose name he spoke, and was +calm. He swore that he had had quite enough of his father's severity, +that he never meant to see his face again. He was now, thank heaven, his +own master, and would take care to remain so; that he had been a fool to +address me, as he might be sure I should tell of his doings, and bring +the old fellow after him. Disgusted beyond measure, yet I could not +forbear asking him if he had heard of his mother's death. Without the +least change of countenance or of voice, he replied-- + +"'Heard of it, man, aye, and forgotten it by this; why it is some +centuries ago. It would have been a good thing for me had she died years +before she did.' + +"'Cecil Grahame!' I exclaimed, in a tone that rung in my ears some +hours afterwards, and I believe made him start, daring even as he was, +'do you know it is your mother of whom you speak? a mother whose only +fault towards you was too much love, a mother whose too fond heart your +cruel conduct broke; are you so completely devoid of feeling that not +even this can move you?' + +"'Pray add to your long list of my good mother's perfections a weakness +that ruined me, that made me the wretch I am,' he wildly exclaimed, and +he clenched his hand and bit his lip till the blood came, while his +cheek became livid with some feeling I could not fathom. He spurred his +horse violently, the spirited animal started forward, a kind of spell +seemed to rivet my eyes upon him. There was a loud report of cannon from +the Place de Greve, several balls whizzed close by me, evidently fired +to disperse the multitude, who were tumultuously assembling on the Pont +de la Cite, and ere I could recover from the startling effects of the +report, I heard a shrill scream of mortal agony, and Cecil Grahame fell +from his horse a shattered corpse. + + * * * * * + +For several minutes I was wholly unconscious of all that was passing +around me. I stood by the body of the unfortunate young man, quite +insensible to the danger I was incurring from the shot. I could only see +him before my eyes, as I had known him in his boyhood and his earliest +youth, full of fair promises, of hopeful futurity, the darling of his +mother's eye, the pride of his father, spite of his faults; and now what +was he? a mangled corpse, cut off without warning or preparation in his +early youth. But, oh, worse, far worse than all, with the words of +hatred, of defiance on his lips. I sought in vain for life; there was no +sign, no hope. To attempt to rescue the body was vain, the tumult was +increasing fearfully around me; many gendarmes were falling +indiscriminately with the populace, and the countenance of Cecil was so +fearfully disfigured, that to attempt to recognise it when all might +again be quiet would, I knew, be useless. One effort I made, I inquired +for and sought Lord Alphingham's hotel, intending to obtain his +assistance in the proper interment of this unfortunate young man, but in +this was equally frustrated; the hotel was closely shut up. Lord and +Lady Alphingham had, at the earliest threatening of disturbances, +retreated to their chateau in the province of Champagne. I forwarded the +melancholy intelligence to them, and returned to my own hotel sick at +heart with the sight I had witnessed. The fearful tone of his last +words, the agonized shriek, rung in my ears, as the shattered form and +face floated before my eyes, with a tenacity no effort of my own or even +of my Louisa's could dispel. Oh, my mother, what do I not owe you for +guarding me from the temptations that have assailed this wretched young +man, or rather for imprinting on my infant mind those principles which, +with the blessing of our heavenly Father, have thus preserved me. +Naturally, my temper, my passions were like his, in nothing was I his +superior; but it was your hand, your prayers, my mother, planted the +seeds of virtue, your gentle firmness eradicated those faults which, had +they been fostered by indulgence, might have rendered my life like Cecil +Grahame's, and exposed me in the end to a death like his. What would +have availed my father's judicious guidance, my brother's mild example, +had not the soil been prepared by a mother's hand and watered by a +mother's prayers? blessings, a thousand blessings on your head, my +mother! Oh, may my children learn to bless theirs even as I do mine; +they cannot know a purer joy on earth. + + * * * * * + +"We have arrived at Rouen in safety. I am truly thankful to feel my +beloved wife is far from the scene of confusion and danger to which she +has been so unavoidably exposed. I am not deceived in her strength of +nerve, my dear mother; I did not think, when I boasted of it as one of +her truly valuable acquirements, I should so soon have seen it put to +the proof; to her letter to Caroline I refer you for all entertaining +matter. + + * * * * * + +"I have been interrupted by an interview as unexpected as it promises to +be gratifying. One dear to us all may, at length, rejoice there is hope; +but I dare not say too much, for the health of this unhappy young man is +so shattered, he may never yet embrace his mother. But to be more +explicit, I was engaged in writing, unconsciously with the door of my +apartment half open, when I was roused by the voice of the waiter, +exclaiming, 'Not that room, sir, if you please, yours is yonder.' I +looked up and met the glance of a young man, whom, notwithstanding the +long lapse of years, spite of faded form and attenuated features, I +recognised on the instant. It was Alfred Greville. I was far more +surprised and inconceivably more shocked than when Cecil Grahame crossed +my path; I had marked no change in the features or the expression of the +latter, but both in Alfred Greville were so totally altered, that he +stood before me the living image of his sister, a likeness I had never +perceived before. I was too much astonished to address him, and before I +could frame words, he had sprung forward, with a burning flush on his +cheek, and grasping my hand, wildly exclaimed, 'Do not shun me, +Hamilton, I am not yet an utter reprobate. Tell me of my mother; does +she live?" + +"'She does,' I replied; instantly a burst of thanksgiving broke from his +lips, at least so I imagined, from the expression of his features, for +there were no articulate sounds, and a swoon resembling death +immediately followed. Medical assistance was instantly procured, but +though actual insensibility was not of long continuance, he is +pronounced to be in such an utterly exhausted state, that we dare not +encourage hopes for his final recovery; yet still I cannot but believe +he will be spared--spared not only in health, but as a reformed and +better man, to bless that mother whose cares for him, despite long years +of difficulties and sorrow, have never failed. In vain I entreated him +not to exhaust himself by speaking; that I would not leave him, and if +he would only be quiet, he might be better able on the morrow to tell me +all he desired. He would not be checked; he might not, he said, be +spared many hours, and he must speak ere he died. Comparatively +speaking, but little actual vice has stained the conduct of Greville. +Throughout all his career the remembrance of his mother has often, very +often mingled in his gayest hours, and dashed them with remorseful +bitterness. He owns that often of late years her image, and that of his +sister Mary, have risen so mildly, so impressively before him, that he +has flown almost like a maniac from the gay and heartless throngs, to +solitude and silence, and as the thoughts of home and his infancy, when +he first lisped out his boyish prayer by the side of his sister at his +mother's knee, came thronging over him, he has sobbed and wept like a +child. These feelings returned at length so often and so powerfully, +that he felt to resist them was even more difficult and painful than to +break from the flowery chains which his gay companions had woven round +him. He declared his resolution; he resisted ridicule and persuasion. +Almost for the first time in his life he remained steadily firm, and +when he had indeed succeeded, and found himself some distance from the +scenes of luxurious pleasure, he felt himself suddenly endowed with an +elasticity of spirit, which he had not experienced for many a long year. +The last tidings he had received of his mother and sister were that they +were at Paris, and thither he determined to go, having parted from his +companions at Florence. During the greater part of his journey to the +French capital, he fancied his movements were watched by a stranger, +gentlemanly in his appearance, and not refusing to enter into +conversation when Greville accosted him; but still Alfred did not feel +satisfied with his companionship, though to get rid of him seemed an +impossibility, for however he changed his course, the day never passed +without his shadow darkening Greville's path. Within eighty miles of +Paris, however, he lost all traces of him, and he then reproached +himself for indulging in unnecessary fears. He was not in Paris two +days, however, before, to his utter astonishment, he was arrested and +thrown into prison on the charge of forging bank-notes, two years +previous, to a very considerable amount. In vain he protested against +the accusation alleging at that time he had been in Italy and not in +Paris. Notes bearing his own signature, and papers betraying other +misdemeanours, were brought forward, and on their testimony and that of +the stranger, whose name he found to be _Dupont_, he was thrown into +prison to await his trial. To him the whole business was an impenetrable +mystery. To us, my dear father, it is all clear as day. Poor Mrs. +Greville's fears were certainly not without foundation, and when affairs +are somewhat more quiet in Paris, I shall leave no stone unturned to +prove young Greville's perfect innocence to the public, and bring that +wretch Dupont to the same justice to which his hatred would have +condemned the son of his old companion. Alfred's agitation on hearing my +explanation of the circumstance was extreme. The errors of his father +appeared to fall heavily on him, and yet he uttered no word of reproach +on his memory. The relation of his melancholy death, and the misery in +which we found Mrs. Greville and poor Mary affected him so deeply, I +dreaded their effect on his health; but this was nothing to his +wretchedness when, by his repeated questions, he absolutely wrung from +me the tale of his sister's death, his mother's desolation: no words can +portray the extent of his self-reproach. It is misery to look upon him +now, and feel what he might have been, had his mother been indeed +permitted to exercise her rights. There is no happiness for Alfred +Greville this side of the Channel; he pines for home--for his mother's +blessing and forgiveness, and till he receives them, health will not, +cannot return. + + * * * * * + +In prison he remained for six long weary months, with the consciousness +that, amidst the many light companions with whom he had associated, +there was not one to whom he could appeal for friendship and assistance +in his present situation, and the thoughts of his mother and sister +returned with greater force, from the impossibility of learning anything +concerning them. The hope of escaping never left him, and, with the +assistance of a comrade, he finally effected it on the 27th of July, the +confusion of the city aiding him far more effectually than he believed +possible. He came down to Rouen in a coal-barge, so completely +exhausted, that he declared, had not the thought of England and his +mother been uppermost, he would gladly have laid down in the open +streets to die. To England he felt impelled, he scarcely knew wherefore, +save that he looked to us for the information he so ardently desired. +Our family had often been among his waking visions, and this accounts +for the agitation I witnessed when I first looked up. He said he felt he +knew me, but he strove to move or speak in vain; he could not utter the +only question he wished to frame, and was unable to depart without being +convinced if I indeed were Percy Hamilton. + +"'And now I have seen you, what have I learnt?' he said, as he ceased a +tale, more of sorrow than of crime. + +"'That your mother lives,' I replied, 'that she has never ceased to pray +for and love her son, that you can yet be to her a blessing and +support.' + +"Should he wish her sent for, I asked, I knew she would not demand a +second summons. He would not hear of it. + +"'Not while I have life enough to seek her. What, bring her all these +miles to me. My mother, my poor forsaken mother. Oh, no, if indeed I may +not live, if strength be not granted me to seek her, then, then it will +be time enough to think of beseeching her to come to me; but not while a +hope of life remains, speak not of it, Percy. Let her know nothing of +me, nothing, till I can implore her blessing on my knees.'" + + * * * * * + +"I have ceased to argue with him, for he is bent upon it, and perhaps it +is better thus. His mind appears much relieved, he has passed a quiet +night, and this morning the physician finds a wonderful improvement, +wonderful to him perhaps, but not to me." + + * * * * * + +Percy's letters containing the above extracts, were productive of much +interest to his friends at Oakwood. The details of Cecil's death, +alleviated by sympathy, were forwarded to his father and sister. The +words that had preceded his death Mr. Hamilton carefully suppressed from +his friend, and Mr. Grahame, as if dreading to hear anything that could +confirm his son's reckless disposition, asked no particulars. For three +months he buried himself in increased seclusion at Llangwillan, refusing +all invitations, and denying himself steadfastly to all. At the +termination of that period, however, he once more joined his friends, an +altered and a happier man. His misanthropy had departed, and often Mr. +Hamilton remarked to his wife, that the Grahame of fifty resembled the +Grahame of five-and-twenty far more than he had during the intervening +years. Lilla and Edward were sources of such deep interest to him, that +in their society he seemed to forget the misery occasioned by his other +children. The shock of her brother's death was long felt by Lilla; she +sorrowed that he was thus suddenly cut off without time for one thought +of eternity, one word of penitence, of prayer. The affection of her +husband, however, gradually dispelled these melancholy thoughts, and +when Lord Delmont paid his promised visit to his nephew, he found no +abatement in those light and joyous spirits which had at first attracted +him towards Lilla. + +Ellen, at her own particular request, had undertaken to prepare Mrs. +Greville for the return of her son, and the change that had taken place +in him. Each letter from Percy continued his recovery, and here we may +notice, though somewhat out of place, as several months elapsed ere he +was enabled fully to succeed, that, by the active exertions of himself +and of the solicitor his father had originally employed, Dupont was at +length brought to justice, his criminal machinations fully exposed to +view, and the innocence of Alfred Greville, the son of the deceased, as +fully established in the eyes of all men. + +Gently and cautiously Ellen performed her office, and vain would be the +effort to portray the feelings or the fond and desolate mother, as she +anticipated the return of her long-absent, dearly-loved son. Of his own +accord he came back to her; he had tried the pleasures of the world, and +proved them hollow; he had formed friendships with the young, the gay, +the bright, the lovely, and he had found them all wanting in stability +and happiness. Amid them all his heart had yearned for home and for +domestic love; that mother had not prayed in vain. + +Softly and beautifully fell the light of a setting sun around the +pretty little cottage, on the banks of the Dart, which was now the +residence of Mrs. Greville; the lattice was thrown widely back, and the +perfume of unnumbered flowers scented the apartment, which Ellen's hand +had loved to decorate, that Mrs. Greville might often, very often forget +she was indeed alone. It was the early part of September, and a +delicious breeze passed by, bearing health and elasticity upon its wing, +and breathing soft melody amid the trees and shrubs. Softly and calmly +glided the smooth waters at the base of the garden. The green verandah +running round the cottage was filled with beautiful exotics, which +Ellen's hand had transported from the conservatory at Oakwood. It was a +sweet and soothing sight to see how judiciously, how unassumingly Ellen +devoted herself to the desolate mother, without once permitting that +work of love to interfere with her still nearer, still dearer ties at +home. She knew how Herbert would have loved and devoted himself to the +mother of his Mary, and in this, as in all things, she followed in his +steps. Untiringly would she listen to and speak on Mrs. Greville's +favourite theme, her Mary; and now she sat beside her, enlivening by +gentle converse the hours that must intervene ere Alfred came. There was +an expression of such calm, such chastened thanksgiving on Mrs. +Greville's features, changed as they were by years of sorrow, that none +could gaze on her without a kindred feeling stealing over the heart, and +in very truth those feelings seemed reflected on the young and lovely +countenance beside her. A pensive yet a sweet and pleasing smile rested +on Ellen's lips, and her dark eye shone softly bright in the light of +sympathy. Beautiful indeed were the orphan's features, but not the +dazzling beauty of early youth. If a stranger had gazed on her +countenance when in calm repose, he would have thought she had seen +sorrow; but when that beaming smile of true benevolence, that eye of +intellectual and soul-speaking beauty met his glance, as certain would +he have felt that sorrow, whatever it might have been, indeed had lost +its sting. + +"It was such an evening, such an hour my Mary died," Mrs. Greville said, +as she laid her hand in Ellen's. "I thought not then to have reflected +on it with feelings such as now fill my heart. Oh, when I look back on +past years, and recall the prayers I have uttered in tears for my son, +my Alfred, the doubts, the fears that have arisen to check my prayer, I +wonder wherefore am I thus blessed." + +"Our God is a God of truth, and He promiseth to answer prayer, dearest +Mrs. Greville," replied Ellen, earnestly; "and He is a God of love, and +will bless those who seek Him and trust in Him as you have done." + +"He gave me grace to trust in Him, my child. I trusted, I doubted not He +would answer me in another world, but I thought not such blessing was +reserved for me in this. A God of love--ay, in my hour of affliction. I +have felt Him so. Oh, may the blessings of His loving-kindness shower +down upon me, soften yet more my heart to receive His glorious image." + +She ceased to speak, but her lips moved still as in inward prayer. Some +few minutes elapsed, and suddenly the glowing light of the sun was +darkened, as by an intervening shadow. The mother raised her head, and +in another instant her son was at her feet. + +"Mother, can you forgive, receive me? Bid me not go forth--I cannot, +may not leave you." + +"Go forth, my son, my son--oh, never, never!" she cried, and clasping +him to her bosom, the quick glad tears fell fast upon his brow. She +released him to gaze again and again upon his face, and fold him closer +to her heart, to read in those sunken features, that faded form, the +tale that he had come back to her heart and to her home, never, never +more to leave her. + +In that one moment years of error were forgotten. The mother only felt +she hold her son to her heart, a suffering, yet an altered and a better +man; and he, that he knelt once more beside his mother, forgiven and +beloved. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +CONCLUSION + + +And now, what can we more say? Will not the Hamilton family, and those +intimately connected with them, indeed be deemed complete? It was our +intention to trace in the first part of our tale the cares, the joys, +the sorrows of parental love, during the years of childhood and earliest +youth; in the second, to mark the _effect_ of those cares, when those on +whom they were so lavishly bestowed attained a period of life in which +it depends more upon themselves than on their parents to frame their own +happiness or misery, as far, at least, as we ourselves can do so. It may +please our Almighty Father to darken our earthly course by the trial of +adversity, and yet that peace founded on religion, which it was Mr. and +Mrs. Hamilton's first care to inculcate, may seldom be disturbed. It +may please Him to bless us with prosperity, but from characters such as +Annie Grahame happiness is a perpetual exile, which no prosperity has +power to recall. We have followed Mr. Hamilton's family from childhood, +we have known them from their earliest years, and now that it has become +their parts to feel those same cares and joys, and perform those +precious but solemn duties which we have watched in Mrs. Hamilton, our +task is done; and we must bid farewell to those we have known and loved +so long; those whom we have seen the happy inmates of one home, o'er +whom-- + + + "The same fond mother bent at night," + +who shared the same joys, the same cares, whose deepest affections were +confined to their parents and each other, are now scattered in different +parts of their native land, distinct members of society, each with his +own individual cares and joys, with new and precious ties to divide that +heart whose whole affection had once been centred in one spot and in one +circle; and can we be accused in thus terminating our simple annals of +wandering from the real course of life. Is it not thus with very many +families of England? Are not marriage and death twined hand in hand, to +render that home desolate which once resounded with the laugh of many +gleesome hearts, with the glad tones of youthful revelling and joy? +True, in those halls they often meet again, and the hearts of the +parents are not lone, for the family of each child is a source of +inexpressible interest to them; there is still a link, a precious link +to bind them together, but vain and difficult would be the attempt to +continue the history of a family when thus dispersed. Sweet and +pleasing the task to watch the unfledged nestlings while under a +mother's fostering wing, but when they spread their wings and fly, where +is the eye or pen that can follow them on their eager way? + +Once more, but once, we will glance within the halls of Oakwood, and +then will we bid them farewell, for our task will be done, and the last +desires of fancy, we trust, to have appeased. + +It was in the September of the year 1830 we closed our narrative. Let us +then, for one moment, imagine the veil of fancy is upraised on the first +day of the year, 1838, and gaze within that self-same room, which twenty +years before we had seen lighted up on a similar occasion, the +anniversary of a new year, bright with youthful beauty, and enlivened by +the silvery laugh of early childhood. But few, very few, were the +strangers that this night mingled with Mr. Hamilton's family. It was +not, as it had been twenty years previous, a children's ball on which we +glance. It was but the happy reunion of every member of that truly happy +family, and the lovely, mirthful children there assembled were, with the +exception of a very few, closely connected one with another by the near +relationship of brothers, sisters, and cousins. In Mr. and Mrs. +Hamilton, Mrs. Greville, Montrose Grahame, Lucy Harcourt, and Mr. +Morton, who were all present, time had comparatively made but little +difference; but it was in those who twenty years before had so well +acted the part of youthful entertainers to their various guests that the +change was striking, yet far, very far from being mournful. + +On one side might be seen Percy Hamilton, M.P., in earnest yet +pleasurable conversation with Mr. Grahame. It was generally noticed that +these two gentlemen were always talking politics, discussing, whenever +they met, the affairs of the nation, for no senator was more earnest and +interested in his vocation than Percy Hamilton, but certainly on this +night there was no thoughtful gravity of a senator imprinted on his +brow; he was looking and laughing at the childish efforts of the little +Lord Manvers, eldest child of the Earl of Delmont, then in his seventh +year, to emulate the ease and dignity of his cousins, Lord Lyle and +Herbert and Allan Myrvin, some two or three years older than himself, +who, from being rather more often at Oakwood, considered themselves +quite lords of the soil and masters of the ceremonies, during the +present night at least. The Ladies Mary and Gertrude Lyle, distinguished +by the perfect simplicity of their dress, had each twined an arm in that +of the gentle, retiring Caroline Myrvin, and tried to draw her from her +young mother's side, where, somewhat abashed at the number that night +assembled in her grandfather's hall, she seemed determined to remain, +while a younger sister frolicked about the room, making friends with +all, in such wild exuberance of spirits, that Mrs. Myrvin's gentle voice +was more than once raised in playful reproach to reduce her to order, +while her husband and Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton seemed to take delight in +her movements of elasticity and joy. The Countess St. Eval, as majestic +and fascinating in womanhood as her early youth had promised, one moment +watched with a proud yet softly flashing eye the graceful movements of +her son, and the next, was conversing eagerly and gaily with her brother +Percy and the young Earl of Delmont, who were standing near her; seven +years had wrought but little change in him, whom till now we have only +known by the simple designation of Edward Fortescue. Manhood, in his +prime, had rather increased than lessened the extreme beauty of his face +and form; few gazed on him once but turned to gaze again, and the little +smiling cherub of five years, whose soft, round arms were twined round +Miss Fortescue's neck, the Lady Ellen Fortescue, promised fair to +inherit all her father's beauty and peculiar grace, and endeared her to +her young mother's heart with an increased warmth of love, while the +dark flashing eyes of Lord Manvers and his glossy, flowing, ebon curls +rendered him, Edward declared, the perfect likeness of his mother, and +therefore he was the father's pet. Round Mr. Hamilton were grouped, in +attitudes which an artist might have been glad to catch for natural +grace, about three or four younger grandchildren, the eldest not +exceeding four years, who, too young to join in the dance and sports of +their elder brethren, were listening with eager attention to the +entertaining stories grandpapa was relating, calling forth peals of +laughter from his infant auditors, particularly from the fine +curly-headed boy who was installed on the seat of honour, Mr. Hamilton's +knee, being the only child of Percy and Louisa, and consequently the pet +of all. It was to that group Herbert Myrvin wished to confine the +attention of his merry little sister, who, however, did not choose to be +so governed, and frisked about from one group to another, regardless of +her graver brother's warning glances; one minute seated on Mrs. +Hamilton's knee and nestling her little head on her bosom, the next +pulling her uncle Lord St. Eval's coat, to make him turn round and play +with her, and then running away with a wild and ringing laugh. + +"Do not look so anxious, my own Emmeline," Mrs. Hamilton said fondly, +as she met her daughter's glance fixed somewhat anxiously on her little +Minnie, for so she was generally called, to distinguish her from Lady +St. Eval's Mary. "You will have no trouble to check those wild spirits +when there is need to do so; her heart is like your own, and then sweet +is the task of rearing." + +With all the grateful fondness of earlier years did Mrs. Myrvin look up +in her mother's face, as she thus spoke, and press her hand in hers. + +"Not even yet have you ceased to penetrate my thoughts, my dearest +mother," she replied; "from childhood unto the present hour you have +read my countenance as an open book." + +"And have not you, too, learned that lesson, my child? Is it not to you +your gentle, timid Caroline clings most fondly? Is it not to you Herbert +comes with his favourite book, and Allan with his tales of glee? +Minnie's mirth is not complete unless she meets your smile, and even +little Florence looks for some sign of sympathy. You have not found the +task so difficult, that you should wonder I should love it?" + +"For those beloved ones, oh, what would I not do?" said Mrs. Myrvin, in +a tone of animated fervour, and turning her glistening eyes on her +mother, she added, "My own mother, marriage may bring with it new tics, +new joys, but, oh, who can say it severs the first bright links of life +between a mother and a child? it is now, only now, I feel how much you +loved me." + +"May your children be to you what mine have ever been to me, my +Emmeline; I can wish you no greater blessing," replied Mrs. Hamilton, +in a tone of deep emotion, and twining Emmeline's arm in hers, they +joined Mrs. Greville and Miss Harcourt, who were standing together near +the pianoforte, where Edith Seymour, the latter's younger niece, a +pleasing girl of seventeen, was good-naturedly playing the music of the +various dances which Lord Lyle and Herbert Myrvin were calling in rapid +succession. In another part of the room Alfred Greville and Laura +Seymour were engaged in such earnest conversation, that Lord Delmont +indulged in more than one joke at their expense, of which, however, they +were perfectly unconscious; and this had occurred so often, that many of +Mrs. Greville's friends entertained the hope of seeing the happiness now +so softly and calmly imprinted on her expressive features, very shortly +heightened by the union of her now truly estimable son with an amiable +and accomplished young woman, fitted in all respects to supply the place +of the daughter she had lost. + +And what had these seven years done for the Countess of Delmont, who had +completely won the delighted kiss and smiles of Minnie Myrvin, by +joining in all her frolics, and finally accepting Allan's blushing +invitation, and joining the waltz with him, to the admiration of all the +children. The girlish vivacity of Lilla Grahame had not deserted Lady +Dolmont; conjugal and maternal love had indeed softened and subdued a +nature, which in early years had been perhaps too petulant; had +heightened yet chastened sensibility. Never was happiness more visibly +impressed or more keenly felt than by the youthful Countess. Her +husband, in his extreme fondness, had so fostered her at times almost +childish glee, that he might have unfitted her for her duties, had not +the mild counsels, the example of his sister, Miss Fortescue, turned +aside the threatening danger, and to all the fascination of early +childhood Lady Delmont united the more solid and enduring qualities of +pious, well-regulated womanhood. + +"I wonder Charles is not jealous," observed Mrs. Percy Hamilton, +playfully, after admiring to Lord Delmont his wife's peculiar grace in +waltzing. "Allan seems to have claimed her attention entirely." + +"Charles has something better to do," replied his father, laughing, as +the little Lord Manvers flew by him, with his arm twined round his +cousin Gertrude in the inspiring galop, and seemed to have neither ear +nor eye for any one or anything else. "Caroline, do you permit your +daughter to play the coquette so early?" + +"Better at seven than seventeen, Edward, believe me; had she numbered +the latter, I might be rather more uneasy, at present I can admire that +pretty little pair without any such feeling. Gertrude told me to-day, +she did not like to see her cousin Charles so shy, and she should do all +she could to make him as much at home as she and her brother are." + +"She has succeeded, then, admirably," replied Edward, laughing, "for the +little rogue has not much shyness in him now. Herbert and Mary have got +that corner all to themselves; I should like to go slily behind them, +and find out what they are talking about." + +"Try and remember what you used to talk about to your partners in this +very room, some twenty years back, and perhaps recollection will +satisfy your curiosity," said Lady St. Eval, smiling, but faintly, +however; the names Herbert and Mary had recalled a time when those names +had often been joined before, and the silent prayer arose that their +fates might not resemble those whose names they bore, that they might be +spared a longer time to bless those who loved them. + +"Twenty years back, Caroline, what an undertaking. Allan is more like +the madcap I was then, so I can better enter into his feelings of +pleasure. By-the-bye, why are not Mrs. Cameron's family here to-night? I +half expected to meet them here yesterday." + +"They spend this season with Sir Walter and Lady Cameron in Scotland," +replied Lady St. Eval. "Florence declared she would take no excuse; the +Marquis and Marchioness of Malvern, with Emily and Louis, are there +also, and Lady Alford is to join them in a week or two." + +"You were there last summer, were you not?" + +"We were. They are one of the happiest couples I know, and their estate +is most beautiful. Florence declares that, were Sir Walter Scott still +living, she intended to have made him take her for a heroine, her +husband for a hero, and transport them some centuries back, to figure on +that same romantic estate in some very exciting scenes." + +"Had he killed Cameron's first love and rendered him desperate, and made +Florence some consoling spirit, to remove his despair, instead of making +him so unromantically enabled to conquer his passion, because +unreturned. Why I could make as good a story as Sir Walter himself; if +she will reward me liberally, I will set about it." + +"It will never do, Lord Delmont, it is much too common-place," said Mrs. +Percy Hamilton, smiling. "It is a very improper question, I allow, but +who was Sir Walter's first love?" + +"Do you not know? A certain friend of yours whom I torment, by declaring +she is invulnerable to the little god's arrows," he answered, joyously. + +"She may be invulnerable to Cupid, but certainly not to any other kind +of love," remarked Lady St. Eval, as she smilingly pointed out to Mrs. +Percy's notice Miss Fortescue, surrounded by a group of children, and +bearing on her expressive countenance unanswerable evidences of her +interest in the happiness of all around her. + +"And is it possible, after loving _her_ he could love another?" she +exclaimed, in unfeigned astonishment. + +"Disagreeably unromantic, Louisa, is it not?" said Lord Delmont, +laughing heartily; "but what was the poor man to do? Ellen was +inexorable, and refused to bestow on him anything but her friendship." + +"Which he truly values," interrupted Lady St. Eval. "You must allow, +Louisa, he was wise, however free from romance; the character of +Florence, in many points, very much resembles Ellen's. She is one of the +very few whom I do not wonder at his choosing, after what had passed. Do +you know, Edward, Flora Cameron marries in the spring?" + +"I heard something about it; tell me who to." + +She complied, and Percy and Mr. Grahame joining them, the conversation +extended to more general topics. + +"Nay, Allan, dear, do not tease your sister," was Miss Fortesene's +gentle remonstrance, as Allan endeavoured, somewhat roughly, to draw +Minnie from her side, where, however, she clung with a pertinacity no +persuasion or reproach could shake. + +"She will hurt Ellen," replied the boy, sturdily, "and she has no right +to take her place by you." + +"But she may stand here too, there is room for us both," interrupted the +little Ellen, though she did not offer to give up her place in her +aunt's lap to her cousin. + +"Go away, Allan, I choose to stand here, and aunt Ellen says I may," was +Minnie's somewhat impatient rejoinder, as she tried to push her brother +away, though her pretty little features expressed no ill-temper on the +occasion, for she laughed as she spoke. + +"Aunt Ellen promised to dance with me," retorted Allan, "and so I will +not go away unless she comes too." + +"With me, with me!" exclaimed Lord Manvers, bounding forward to join the +group. "She promised three months ago to dance with me." + +"And how often have I not performed that promise, Master Charlie?" +replied Ellen, laughing, "even more often with you than with Allan, so I +must give him the preference first." + +Her good-natured smiles, the voice which betrayed such real interest in +all that pleased her little companions, banished every appearance of +discontent. The magic power of affection and sympathy rendered every +little pleader satisfied and pleased; and, after performing her promise +with Allan, she put the final seal to his enjoyment by confiding the +little bashful Ellen to his especial care; a charge, which Myrvin +declared, caused his son to hold himself up two inches higher than he +had done yet. + +"Ellen, if you do not make yourself as great and deservedly a favourite +with my children as with your brother's and Emmeline's, I shall never +forgive you," said the Earl St. Eval, who had been watching Miss +Fortescue's cheerful gambols with the children for the last half hour, +in extreme amusement, and now joined her. + +"Am I not so already, Eugene?" she said, smiling that peculiar smile of +quiet happiness which was now natural to her countenance. "I should be +sorry if I thought they did not love me equally; for believe me, with +the sole exception of my little namesake and godchild, my nephews and +nieces are all equally dear to me. I have no right to make an exception +even in favour of my little Ellen, but Edward has so often called her +mine, and even Lilla has promised to share her maternal rights with me, +that I really cannot help it. Your children do not see so much of me as +Emmeline's, and that is the reason perhaps they are not quite so free +with me; but believe mo, dear St. Eval, it will not be my fault if they +do not love me." + +"I do believe you," replied the Earl, warmly. "I have but one regret, +Ellen, when I see you loving and beloved by so many little creatures." + +"And what may that be?" + +"That they are not some of them your own, my dear girl. I cannot tell +you how I regret the fact, of which each year the more and more +convinces me, that you are determined ever to remain single. There are +very few in my list of female friends so fitted to adorn the marriage +state, very few who would make a better mother, and I cannot but regret +there are none on whom you seem inclined to bestow those endearing and +invaluable qualities." + +"Regret it then no more, my dear St. Eval," replied Ellen, calmly, yet +with feeling. "I thank you for that high opinion which I believe you +entertain of me, too flattering as it may be; but cease to regret that I +have determined to live an old maid's life. To me, believe me, it has no +terrors. To single women the opportunities of doing good, of making +others happy, are more frequent than those granted to mothers and wives; +and while such is the case, is it not our own fault if we are not happy? +I own that the life of solitude which an old maid's includes, may, if +the heart be so inclined, be equally productive of selfishness, +moroseness of temper, and obstinacy in opinion and judgment, but most +fervently I trust such will never be my attributes. It can never be +while my beloved aunt and uncle are spared to me, which I trust they +will be for many, many years longer; and even should they be removed +before I anticipate, I have so many to love me, so many to dearly love, +that I can have no time, no room for selfishness." + +"Do not mistake me, Ellen," St. Eval replied, earnestly; "I do not wish +to see you married because I dread your becoming like some single women; +with your principles such can never be. Your society--your influence +over the minds of our children--is far too precious to be lightly wished +removed, as it would be were you to marry. It is for your own sake, +dearest Ellen, I regret it, and for the sake of him you might select, +that you, who are so fitted to enjoy and to fulfil them, can never know +the pleasures attendant on the duties of a happy wife and mother; that +by a husband and child, the dearest ties of earth, you will go down to +the grave unloved." + +"You are right, St. Eval, they are the dearest ties on earth; but +pleasures, the pleasures of affection, too, are yet left to us, who may +never know them. Think you not, that to feel it is my place to cheer and +soothe the declining years of those dear and tender guardians of my +infancy must bring with it enjoyment--to see myself welcomed by smiles +of love and words of kindness by all my brothers and sisters--to see +their children flock around me as I enter, each seeking to be the first +to obtain my smile or kiss--to know myself of service to my +fellow-creatures, I mean not in my own rank, but those beneath me--to +feel conscious that in every event of life, particularly in sickness or +in sorrow, if those I so love require my presence, or I feel I may give +them comfort or sympathy, at least I may fly to them, for I shall have +no tie, no dearer or more imperious duty to keep me from them--are not +these considerations enough to render a single life indeed one of +happiness, St. Eval? Even from this calm, unruffled stream of life can I +not gather flowers?" + +"You would gather them wherever you were placed, my dear and +noble-minded Ellen," said the Earl, with a warmth that caused her eye to +glisten. "You are right: with a disposition such as yours, I have no +need to regret you have so steadfastly refused every offer of marriage. +My girls shall come to you in that age when they think matrimony is the +only chance of happiness, and you shall teach them felicity dwells not +so much in outward circumstances as in the temper of the mind. Perhaps, +after all, Ellen, you are happier as it is. You might not find such a +husband as I would wish you, and I should be sorry to see your maternal +cares rewarded as were poor Mrs. Greville's." + +"I rather think, in the blessedness of the present the past is entirely +forgotten," observed Ellen, thoughtfully. "There are cares and sorrows +attendant on the happiest lot; but if a mother does her duty, in my +opinion she seldom fails to obtain her recompense, however long +deferred." + +"You are right, my Ellen," said Mrs. Hamilton, who had been listening to +the conversation some little time unobserved. "There are many sorrows +and many cares inseparable from maternal love, but they are forgotten, +or only remembered to enhance the sweetness of the recompense that ever +follows. Do you not think, to see my children, as I do now around me, +walking in that path which alone can lead to eternal life, and leading +their offspring with them, bringing up so tenderly, so fondly their +children as heirs of immortality, and yet lavishing on me, as on their +father, the love and duty of former years--is not this a precious +recompense for all which for them I may have done or borne? Even as I +watched the departing moments of my Herbert, as I marked the triumphant +and joyful flight of his pure spirit to his heavenly home,--even then +was I not rewarded? I saw the fruit of those lessons I had been +permitted through grace to inculcate; his last breath blessed me, and +was not that enough? Oh, my beloved children, let no difficulties deter +you, no temptation, no selfish suffering prevent your training up the +lovely infants now gambolling around you, in the way that they should +go;--solemn is the charge, awful the responsibility, but sweeter far +than words can give it, the reward which either in life or death will +then be yours." + +"Ah, could we perform our parts as you have yours, dearest mother, then +indeed might we hope it," exclaimed the Countess St. Eval and Mrs. +Myrvin at the same moment, as they drew closer to their mother, the eyes +of both glistening with emotion as they spoke. + +"And if we do reap the happiness of which you spoke, to whom shall we +owe it, mother?" demanded Percy, feelingly; for he too, attracted by his +mother's emotion, had joined the group. "Whose care, under God's +blessing, has made us as we are, and taught us, not only by precept but +example, how to conduct ourselves and our children? yours and my +father's; and if indeed in after years our children look up to us and +bless us as we do you, oh, my mother, the remembrance of you will mingle +with that blessedness, and render it yet purer." + +"Truly have you spoken, my son," said Mr. Hamilton, whose little +companions had about half an hour before been transported to their +nursery. "While sharing with your dear mother the happiness arising from +your conduct, my children, often and often has the remembrance of my +mother entered my heart to chasten and enhance those feelings. Gratitude +to her, reverence of her memory, have mingled with the present joy, and +so will it be with you. Your parents may have descended to the grave +before your children can be to you what you have been to us, but we +shall be remembered. Long, long may you feel as you think on your +mother, my beloved children, and teach your offspring to venerate her +memory, that the path of the just is indeed as a shining light, which +shineth more and more unto the perfect day." + + +THE END. + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mother's Recompense, Volume II. +by Grace Aguilar + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MOTHER'S RECOMPENSE, *** + +***** This file should be named 12362.txt or 12362.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/2/3/6/12362/ + +Produced by Charles Franks and the Distributed Proofreaders Team + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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