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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/13576-0.txt b/13576-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..65b5961 --- /dev/null +++ b/13576-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3972 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13576 *** + +THE POOR GENTLEMAN. + +by + +HENDRIK CONSCIENCE + +Author of _The Curse of the Village_, _The Happiness of Being Rich_, +_Veva_, _The Lion of Flanders_, _Count Hugo of Craenhove_, _Wooden +Clara_, _Ricketicketack_, _The Demon of Gold_, _The Village Inn-Keeper_, +_The Conscript_, _Blind Rosa_, _The Amulet_, _The Miser_, _The +Fisherman's Daughter_, etc. + +Translated Expressly for this Edition. + + + + + + + +Preface to the American Edition. + + +The story of "THE POOR GENTLEMAN," now given in our language for the +first time, is one of the series in which M. Conscience has delineated +various grades of female character in positions of trial. In "The +Village Innkeeper" he has shown the weaker traits of woman distracted +between an inborn sense of propriety and a foolish ambition for high, +life. In the "Conscript" his heroine displays the nobler virtues of +uncorrupted humble life; and, with few characters, taken from the lowest +walks, he shows the triumph of honest, straightforward earnestness and +pertinacious courage, even when they are brought in conflict with +authority. "The Poor Gentleman" closes the series; and, selecting a +heroine from the educated classes of his country-people M. Conscience +has demonstrated how superior a _genuine woman_ becomes to all the +mishaps of fortune, and how successfully she subdues that imaginary +_fate_ before which so many are seen to fall. + +It would be difficult to describe this remarkable work without analyzing +the tale and criticizing its personages. This would anticipate the +author and mar the interest of his story. We must confine ourselves, +therefore, to general remarks on its structure and characteristics. + +_Pontmartin_, the distinguished French _feuilletonist_, says, in one of +his "Literary Chats," that these simple stories are "pearls set in +Flemish gold,--a gold which alchemysts seek for in alembics and +furnaces, but which Conscience has found in the inexhaustible veins of +nature." "The Poor Gentleman," he remarks, "is a tale of not more than a +hundred and fifty pages; but I would not give its shortest chapter for +all the _romances_ I ever read. The perplexed De Vlierbeck--who ought to +have had Caleb Balderstone for a servant--is one of those characters +that engrave themselves indelibly on our memory." In every trait and +detail the author has attained a photographic minuteness; which, while +it is distinct and sharp, never interferes with that motion, breadth, +and picturesque effect that impart life and reality to a story. Nor can +we doubt that it will be read and re-read as long as there is a particle +of that feeling among us which installed the Vicar of Wakefield, Paul +and Virginia, the Crock of Gold, the Sketch-book, and the Tales of a +Traveller, among the heirlooms of every tasteful household. The "Tales +of Flemish Life" are additions to that rare stock of home-literature +which is at once amiable and gentle, simple and affectionate, familiar +and tender, and which meets a quick response from every honest heart and +earnest spirit. + +If it be objected that the stories are too short and sketchy for the +praise that has been bestowed on them, it may be answered that in their +translation we have had the best opportunity to observe the skill, +power, and perception of character which constitute their real merit. +Simple as they seem, they are written with masterly art. In design, +elaborateness, tone, and finish, they resemble the works of the Flemish +School which have made us familiar with the Low Countries and their +people through the pictures of Ruysdael, Teniers, and Ostade. There is +scarcely a leaf that does not display some of those recondite or +evanescent secrets of human nature which either escape ordinary writers, +or, when found by them, are spread out over volume instead of being +condensed into a page. + +Baltimore, August, 1856. + +THE TRANSLATOR. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + +Near the end of July, 1842, an open _calèche_ might have been seen +rolling along one of the three highways that lead from the frontiers of +Holland toward Antwerp. Although the vehicle had evidently been cleaned +with the utmost care, every thing about it betokened decay. Its joints +were open, discolored, and weather-beaten, and it swung from side to +side on its springs like a rickety skeleton. Its patched leathers shone +in the sunshine with the oil that had been used to freshen them, but the +borrowed lustre could not hide the cracks and repairs with which they +were defaced. The door-handles and other parts of the vehicle that were +made of copper had been carefully polished, and the vestiges of +silver-plating, still visible in the creases of the ornaments, denoted a +former richness which had been almost entirely worn out by time and use. + +The _calèche_ was drawn by a stout, heavy horse, whose short and +lumbering gait intimated very clearly that he was oftener employed in +the plough and cart than in carrying his owner toward the capital. + +A peasant-boy of seventeen or eighteen was perched on the driver's seat. +He was in livery; a tarnished gold band adorned his hat, and brass +buttons glistened on his coat; but the hat fell over his ears, and the +coat was so large that the driver seemed lost in it as in a bag. The +garments had been worn by many of the lackey's predecessors on the box, +and, in a long series of years, had doubtless passed from coachman to +coachman till they descended to their present possessor. + +The only person in the vehicle was a man about fifty years old. He was +unquestionably the master of both servant and cabriolet, for his look +and deportment commanded respect and consideration. With head depressed +and moody air, he sat motionless and dreamy in his seat till he heard +the approach of other vehicles, when, suddenly lifting his eyes, he +would salute the strangers graciously and then instantly relapse into +his former attitude. A moment's glance at this person was sufficient to +excite an interest in him. His face, though hard and wrinkled, was so +regular and noble in its contour, his look so mild and yet so earnest +and penetrating, his broad brow so clear and lofty, that the most +careless observer could not doubt that he was endowed with the best +qualities of human nature. Besides this, there were unquestionable +indications that he had been a sufferer. If a simple glance at his +features did not impress one with a conviction of this fact, it was +confirmed by the fringe of silvery hair that straggled over his temples, +and the sombre, melancholy fire that glimmered in his eyes like the last +rays of expiring hope. + +His dress was in perfect keeping with his physiognomy. It was of that +neat and simple style which always characterizes a man of the world who +is governed by refined and elegant tastes. His linen was spotlessly +white, his cloth extremely fine, and his well-brushed hat shone smartly +in the sunshine. Occasionally, as some one passed on the road, he might +be seen to draw forth a handsome gold snuff-box and inhale a pinch with +so graceful an air that an observer would be convinced he belonged to +the highest classes of society. A malicious eye, it is true, might have +discovered by close inspection that the brush had been too familiar with +his coat and worn it threadbare, that his silk hat had been doctored to +preserve its lustre and smoothness, and that his gloves were elaborately +darned. If an inquisitive critic could have pried into the bottom of the +vehicle, he would have detected a large crack in the side of the left +boot, beneath which a gray stocking had been carefully masked with ink. +Still, all these signs of poverty were so artfully concealed, and his +dress worn with so careless an air of opulence and ease, that every body +might have supposed the traveller did not put on better clothes only +because he had a whim for bad ones. + +The _calèche_ had rolled along rapidly for about two hours, when the +driver suddenly drew up at a small inn on the dike outside of the city +of Antwerp. The landlady and groom instantly sallied forth, and by their +profound salutations and civility exhibited their marked respect for a +well-known stranger. + +"It's a fine day, Monsieur Vlierbeck, isn't it?" said the dame; "yet +it's a trifle warm, however. Don't you think it would be well for the +high-grounds if we had a sprinkle more of rain, Monsieur Vlierbeck? +Shall we give the horse some hay, Monsieur Vlierbeck? But stay: I see, +now, your coachman has brought his hay with him. Will you take anything, +Monsieur Vlierbeck?" + +While the hostess was pouring forth this torrent of questions, Monsieur +De Vlierbeck got out of the vehicle, and, entering the house, addressed +the most flattering compliments to the dame about her good looks, +inquired as to the health of each of her children, and finished by +apprizing her that he was obliged to be in town instantly. Thereupon, +shaking her cordially by the hand, yet with a condescending air that +marked and preserved the distance between them, he gave his orders to +his lackey, and, with a farewell bow, walked toward the bridge leading +into the city. + +At a solitary spot on the outer rampart Monsieur De Vlierbeck stopped, +looked round as if to see if any one was observing him, dusted his +garments, brushed his hat with a handkerchief, and then passed on +through the Porte Rouge into the city of Antwerp. + +As he entered a town where he was likely to find himself constantly an +object of notice, he assumed a lofty carriage and self-satisfied air, +which might have deceived any one into the belief that he was the +happiest man on earth. And yet--alas, poor gentleman!--he was a prey to +the profoundest agony! He was, perhaps, about to suffer +_humiliation_,--a humiliation that would cut him to the very heart! But +there was a being in the world whom he loved better than his life or +honor,--his only child, his daughter! For her--how frequently had he +already sacrificed his pride, how frequently had he suffered the pangs +of martyrdom! Still, so great a slave was he to this passionate love +that every new endurance, every new trial, raised him in his own +estimation and exalted his pain into something that ennobled and +sanctified his very nature! + +His heart beat violently as he entered deeper and deeper into the heart +of the city and approached the house he was about to visit. Soon after +he stopped at a door, and, as he pulled the bell, his hand trembled +violently in spite of extraordinary self-control; but as soon as a +servant answered the summons he became master of himself again. + +"Is the notary in?" inquired the old gentleman. The servant replied +affirmatively, and, showing the visitor into a small room, went to +apprize his master. + +As soon as Monsieur De Vlierbeck was alone, he put his right foot over +the left to hide the rent in his boot, drew forth the gold snuff-box, +and made ready to take a pinch. + +The notary came in. He was a spare, business-looking man, and was +preparing to salute his guest graciously, but no sooner did he perceive +who it was than his face grew dark and assumed that reserved air with +which a cautious man arms himself when he expects a request which he is +predetermined to refuse. Instead, therefore, of lavishing on Monsieur De +Vlierbeck the compliments with which he habitually welcomed his +visitors, the notary confined himself to a few cold words of recognition +and then sat down silently in front of him. + +Wounded and humbled by this ungracious reception, poor De Vlierbeck was +seized with a chill and became slightly pale; still, he managed to rally +his nerves, as he remarked, affably,--"Pray excuse me, sir; but, pressed +by imperious necessity, I have come once more to appeal to your kindness +for a small service." + +"What is it you wish of me?" answered the notary, tartly. + +"I wish you to find another loan of a thousand _francs_ for me,--or even +less,--secured by a mortgage on my property. I do not want all the money +at once, but I have especial need of two hundred _francs_, which I must +ask the favor of you to lend me to-day. I trust you will not deny me +this trifling loan, which will extricate me from the deepest +embarrassment." + +"A thousand _francs_, on mortgage?" growled the notary; "and who, pray, +will guarantee the interest? Your property is already mortgaged for more +than it is worth." + +"Oh! you are mistaken, sir," exclaimed Monsieur De Vlierbeck, anxiously. + +"Not the least in the world! By order of the persons who have already +accommodated you with money, I caused your property to be appraised at +the very highest rates; and the consequence is that your creditors will +not get back their loans unless it shall sell for an extraordinary +price. Permit me to say, sir, that you have acted very foolishly: had I +been in your place, I would not have sacrificed all my fortune, and my +wife's too, to save a worthless fellow, even though he had been my +brother!" + +De Vlierbeck frowned, as a painful recollection shot through his mind, +but said nothing, though his hand grasped the golden snuff-box as if he +would have crushed it. + +"By that imprudent act," continued the notary, "you have plunged +yourself and your child into absolute want; for you can no longer +disguise it. For ten years--and God knows at what cost--you have been +able to keep the secret of your ruin; but the inevitable hour is +approaching, Monsieur De Vlierbeck, when you will be forced to +surrender every thing!" + +De Vlierbeck riveted a look of doubt and agony on the notary as the +latter continued:-- + +"I must tell you frankly the condition of your affairs. Monsieur de +Hoogebaen died during his journey in Germany; his heirs found your bond +for four thousand _francs_, and have directed me _not_ to renew it. If +Monsieur Hoogebaen was your friend his heirs certainly are not. During +ten years you have failed to cancel this debt, and have paid two +thousand _francs_ interest; so that, for your own sake, it is time the +transaction should be closed. Four months are still left, Monsieur +Vlierbeck, before the expiration of--" + +"_Only_ four months!" interrupted the poor gentleman, in a distressed +tone; "_only_ four months, and then--oh, God!" + +"Then your property will be sold according to law," said the notary, +dryly, finishing the sentence. "I can well understand, sir, that this is +a painful prospect; but, as it is a decree of fate that no one can +control, you have nothing to do but prepare to receive the blow. Let me +offer to sell your estate as if you 'were leaving the country.' By that +means you will escape the mortification of a forced sale." + +For several moments Monsieur De Vlierbeck remained silent, his face +buried in his hands, as if crushed by the notary's advice and +callousness. At length he replied, calmly but humbly,-- + +"Your counsel is, perhaps, wise and generous; yet I will not follow it. +You know that all my sacrifices, my painful life, my constant agony, +have been patiently endured for the sake of my only child. You alone +know that all I do has but, one purpose,--a purpose which I hold sacred. +I have reason to believe that God is about granting the earnest prayer I +have daily offered for ten years. My daughter is beloved by a rich +gentleman, whose character I think I may confide in, and his family +appears to sympathize in all his views. _Four months!_ it is but a short +time, alas! yet, ought I, by anticipating the legal period of a sale, to +destroy all my fond hopes? Ought I instantly to welcome misery for +myself and my child when I see the chance of sure relief from all we +have suffered?" + +"Then you want to _deceive_ these people, whoever they may be? Do you +not suppose that by such a course of conduct you may make your daughter +still more wretched?" + +At the word "_deceive_" the poor gentleman winced as if stung by an +adder, while a nervous thrill ran through his limbs and suffused his +face with a blush of shame. + +"_Deceive!_" echoed he, bitterly; "oh, no! but I dare not, by a rash +avowal of my want, stifle the love that is growing up mutually. Whenever +it becomes necessary to be decided, I will make a loyal disclosure of my +condition. If the declaration ruin my hopes I will follow your advice. I +will sell all I have; I will quit the country and seek in some foreign +land to maintain myself and my beloved child by teaching." He stopped +for a moment, as if swallowing his grief, and then continued, in a lower +tone, half speaking to himself, "And, yet, did I not promise my dear +wife on her death-bed--did I not promise it on the holy cross--that our +child should not undergo such a fate? Ten years of suffering--ten abject +years--have not sufficed to realize my promise; and now, at last, a +feeble ray of hope struggles into my sombre future--" He grasped the +notary's hand, looked wildly but earnestly into his eyes, and added, in +suppliant tones, "Oh, my friend, help me! help me in this last and +trying effort; do not prolong my torture; grant my prayer, and as long +as I live I will bless my benefactor, the savior of my child!" + +The notary withdrew his hand as he answered, with some embarrassment, +"Yet, Monsieur De Vlierbeck, I cannot comprehend what all this has to do +with the loan of a thousand _francs_!" + +De Vlierbeck thrust his rejected hand into his pocket as he replied, +"Yes, sir, it _is_ ridiculous, is it not, to fall so low and to see +one's happiness or misery depend on things about which other persons may +laugh? And yet, alas! so it is! The young gentleman of whom I spoke to +you is to dine with us to-morrow in company with his uncle,--the uncle +invited himself,--and we have absolutely _nothing to give them!_ Besides +this, my child needs some trifles to appear decently before the guests, +and it is probable that the civility will be returned by an invitation +from them. Our isolation cannot long conceal our want. Sacrifices of all +kinds have already been made to prevent our being overwhelmed with +mortification." As he uttered these last words he drew forth his hand +from his pocket with about two _francs_ in small change, which he held +exposed on his palm before the notary. "And now, behold," continued he, +with a bitter smile,--"behold every cent I have in the world; and +to-morrow rich people are to dine at my house! If my poverty is betrayed +by any thing, farewell to my child's prospects! For God's sake, my good +friend, be generous, and help me!" + +"A thousand _francs_!" muttered the notary, shaking his head; "I can't +deceive my clients, sir. What pledge can you give to secure the loan? +You possess nothing which is not already mortgaged beyond its value." + +"A thousand! five hundred! two hundred!" cried De Vlierbeck. "Lend me, +at least, _something_ to relieve me from this cruel difficulty!" + +"I have no disposable funds," replied the notary, coldly. "In a +fortnight perhaps I may have some; but even then I could promise nothing +positively." + +"Then, for the sake of friendship, I beseech you, lend me some money +yourself!" + +"I could never expect that you would return what I might lend," said +the notary, contemptuously; "and so it is an _alms_ you ask of me?" + +Poor De Vlierbeck trembled on his chair and became pale as ashes; his +eyes flashed wildly and his brow knotted with frowns. Yet he quickly +curbed the unwonted agitation, bowed his head, and sighed, resignedly, +"ALMS! Alas! so be it! let me drink the very dregs of this bitter cup: +_it is for my child_!" + +The notary went to a drawer and took from it some five-franc-pieces, +which he offered to his visitor. It is difficult to say whether the poor +gentleman was wounded by the actual receipt of charity, or whether the +sum was too small to be useful; but, without touching the money, he +glanced angrily at the silver and fell back in his chair, covering his +face with his hands. + +Just at this moment a servant entered, announcing another visitor; and, +as soon as the lackey left the apartment, Monsieur De Vlierbeck sprang +from his chair, dashing away the tears that had gathered in his eyes. +The notary pointed to the money, which he laid on the corner of the +table; but the mortified guest turned away his head with a gesture of +repugnant refusal. + +"Pardon my boldness, sir," said he, "but I have now only one favor to +ask of you" + +"And it is--?" + +"That you will keep my secret for my daughter's sake." + +'Oh, as to that, make yourself easy. You know me well enough to be +aware of my discretion. Do you decline this trifling aid?" + +"Thanks! thanks!" cried the gentleman, pushing away the notary's hand; +and, trembling as if seized by a sudden chill, he rushed from the room +and the house without waiting for the servant to open the door. + +Utterly overcome by the terrible blow to his hopes, beside himself with +mortification, with his head hanging on his bosom and his eyes bent +staringly on the ground, the poor fellow ran about the streets for a +considerable length of time without knowing what he was about or whither +he was going. At length the stern conviction of want and duty partially +aroused him from his feverish dream, and he walked on rapidly in the +direction of the gate of Borgenhout, till he found himself entirely +alone among the fortifications. + +He had no sooner reached this solitary quarter than a terrible conflict +seemed to begin within him; his lips quivered and muttered incoherently, +while his face exhibited a thousand different expressions of suffering, +shame, and hope. After a while he drew forth from his pocket the golden +snuff-box, looked long and sadly on the armorial engravings that adorned +it, and then fell into a reverie, from which he suddenly aroused himself +as if about taking a solemn resolution. With his eyes intently fixed on +the box, he began to obliterate the arms with his knife, as he murmured, +in a voice of tremulous emotion,-- + +"Remembrancer of my dear and excellent mother, protecting talisman that +has so long concealed my misery and which I invoked as a sacred shield +whenever poverty was on the eve of betraying me, last fragment of my +ancestry, I must bid thee farewell; and--alas! alas!--my own hand must +profane and destroy thee! God grant that the last service thou wilt ever +render me may save us from overwhelming humiliation!" + +A tear trickled down his wan cheek as his voice became still; but he +went on with his task of obliteration till every trace of the crest and +shield disappeared from the emblazoned lid. After this he returned to +the heart of the town and passed through a number of small and lonely +streets, glancing eagerly, but askance, at the signs as he passed onward +in his agitation. + +An hour had certainly elapsed in this bootless wandering, when he +entered a narrow lane in the quarter of Saint André and uttered a sudden +cry of joy as he caught a glimpse of the object for which he was in +search. His eye lighted on a sign which bore the simple but ominous +inscription--"SWORN PAWNBROKER." He passed by the door and walked +rapidly to the end of the lane; then, turning hastily, he retraced his +steps, hastening or lingering as he noticed any one passing in his +neighborhood, till at length he crept along the wall to the door, and, +seeing the thoroughfare almost empty, rushed into the house and +disappeared. + +After a considerable time De Vlierbeck came forth from the +money-lender's and quickly gained another street. There was a slight +expression of satisfaction in his eyes; but the bright blush that +suffused his haggard cheeks gave token of the new humiliation through +which the sufferer had passed. Walking rapidly from street to street, he +soon reached a pastry-cook's, where he filled a basket with a stuffed +turkey, a pie, preserves, and various other smaller equipments for the +table, and, paying for his purchases, told the cook that he would send +his servant for the packages. Farther on he bought a couple of silver +spoons and a pair of ear-rings from a jeweller, and then proceeded on +his way, probably to make additional acquisitions for the proposed +entertainment. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +In our wild and thorny region of the North a brave and toilsome +peasantry have long been engaged in victorious conflict with the barren +sleep to which nature seemed to have condemned the soil. They have +stirred up the sterile depths and watered them with their sweat; they +have summoned science and industry to their aid, drained marshes, +diverted the streamlets that descended toward the Meuse from the +highlands and put them in circulation through innumerable arteries to +fatten and enrich the land. What a glorious fight it was of man against +matter! What a magnificent triumph it has been to convert the unthrifty +Campine[A] into a fruitful and luxurious region! Indeed, our descendants +will hardly believe their own eyes when in future times they shall +behold grass-covered plains, flowery meadows, and fields waving with +grain, where the lingering patriarchs of our day may point out the sites +of burning sand-pits and barren moors! + +[Footnote A: The Flemings have given the name of _Campine_ to the vast +uncultivated spaces extending in the north of Belgium from the vicinity +of Antwerp to Venloo. The improvement of the _Campine,_ undertaken on a +large scale within some years, has already produced the happiest +results.] + +North of the city of Antwerp, toward the frontiers of Holland, there are +but few traces of this gradual improvement. It is only along highroads +that the traveller begins to observe the effect of liberal agriculture +on the sandy soil, while, farther on toward the heart of the region, +every thing is still bare and uncultivated. As far as the eye can +penetrate, nothing is to be seen in that quarter but arid plains thinly +covered with stunted vegetation, while the horizon is bounded by that +blue and cloudy line which always marks the limit of a desert. Yet, as +we journey over these vast spaces, it is impossible not to observe, from +time to time, that a clear and slender rivulet meanders here and there +over the moor, and that its verdant banks are studded with vigorous +plants and thrifty trees; while in many places the hardy sons of toil +who took advantage of the neighboring water, have opened their lonely +farms, built comfortable houses, and frequently gathered themselves +together in neat and thrifty villages. + +In one of these spots, where meadow-land and pasturage have made +agriculture profitable, and by the side of an unfrequented road, there +is a farm of considerable size and value. The massive trees which spread +their thick shade on every side attest that the spot has been occupied +and cultivated for several generations. Besides, the ditches which +surround it, and the stone bridge that leads to the principal gate, +justify the belief that the estate has some right to be considered a +lordly demesne. In the neighborhood it is known as GRINSELHOF. The +entire front of the property is covered by the homestead of the farmer, +comprising his stables and granges; so that, in fact, every thing in +their rear is concealed by these edifices as well as by dense thickets +and hedges which are growing in all the wild luxuriance of nature. +Indeed, the dwelling of the proprietor was a mystery even to the farmer +who worked the soil; for its surrounding copses were an impenetrable +veil to his eyes, beyond which neither he nor his family were ever +allowed to pass without special permission. + +Within this lonely and sacred precinct, buried in foliage, was a large +house, called THE CHÂTEAU, inhabited by a gentleman and his daughter, +who, without a single servant, companion, or attendant, led the lonely +lives of hermits. The neighbors said that it was avarice or ill-humor +that induced a person possessed of so beautiful an estate to bury +himself in such a solitude. The farmer who worked on the property +carefully avoided all explanations as to the conduct or purpose of the +proprietor, and sedulously respected the mysterious habits and fancies +of his master. His business prospered; for the soil was fertile and the +rent low. Indeed, he was grateful to his landlord, and, every Sunday, +lent him a horse, which carried him and his daughter, in their +weather-beaten _calèche_, to the village church. On great occasions the +farmer's son performed the duty of lackey for the proprietor. + +It is an afternoon of one of the last days of July. The sun has nearly +finished his daily course, and is declining rapidly toward the horizon; +still, his rays, though less ardent than at noontide, are hot enough to +make the air close and stifling. At Grinselhof the last beams of the +setting luminary play gayly over the foliage, gilding the tree-tops with +sparkling light, while, on the eastern side of the dense foliage, the +long, broad shadows begin to fall athwart the sward, and prepare the +groves for the gentle and refreshing breeze that springs up at twilight. + +Sadness and gloom hang over the sombre château and its grounds; a +deathlike silence weighs like a gravestone on the desolate scene; the +birds are songless; the wind is still; not a leaf stirs; and light alone +seems to be living in that dreary solitude. No one could observe the +entire absence of noise, motion, and vitality, without being impressed +with the idea that nature had been suddenly plunged in a deep and magic +sleep. + +Suddenly the foliage at the end of a thicket in the distance is seen to +stir, while a cloud of twittering birds, frightened from the herbage, +flies rapidly across the little path, which is immediately occupied by a +young female dressed entirely in white, who dashes from between the +branches with a silken net in pursuit of a butterfly. The beautiful +apparition, with loose and streaming hair, seemed rather to fly than +run, as her light and rapid steps, full of eagerness and animation, +scarcely touched the earth while darting after the gaudy insect. How +graceful she is, as, halting for an instant beneath the coquettish moth, +she looks up to behold its gold-and-purple wings dancing round her head, +mocking and playing with its gay pursuer! She thinks she has caught it; +but, alas! the edge of her net only touched the butterfly's wings, and +away it dashes, over hedge and copse, far, far beyond her reach! How +beautiful she is, as, in that golden light, warmed with exercise and +excitement, her eyes glistening, her lips parted, her graceful arms +stretched upward, she stands gazing, half pleased, half disappointed, +after the departing insect, till it is lost in the evening sky! Wind and +sunshine have slightly tanned her delicate cheeks, but their roses are +only heightened into the glow of perfect health. Beneath her high and +polished brow, coal-black eyes shine through long and silken fringes, +while a chiselled mouth discloses rows of faultless pearls between lips +which shame the coral! Her stately head is framed in masses of long, +curling hair; and, as the locks are floated over her ivory shoulders by +rapid motion, the proud and arching lines of her swan-like neck are +fully displayed in all their splendor. Her form is lithe and supple, and +its graceful contour is modestly marked by a snowy dress. As she lifts +her head and gazes at the sky, a poet might easily fancy her to be some +fanciful "being of the air," and convert her into the fairy queen of the +solitary realm! + +For a long while this beautiful woman wandered about the paths of the +lonely garden, seemingly absorbed in reveries of various kinds. At times +she was gay, at times sad. At length she approached a bed of violets, +which, from the training of the plants, had evidently, been carefully +tended, and, observing that they languished under the intense heat of +the past day, began to grieve over them. + +"Alas! my dear little flowers, why did I neglect to water you yesterday? +You are very thirsty, are you not, my charming pets?" + +For a moment or two she was quiet, still gazing at the violets, and +then continued, in the same dreamy tone:-- + +"But then, alas! since yesterday my mind has been so disturbed, so +happy, so--" Her eyes fell, and a blush crimsoned her cheeks, as she +murmured, softly, "GUSTAVE!" + +Motionless as a statue, and absorbed in her enchanting dream, she forgot +the poor little violets, and, probably, the whole world. + +"His image ever, ever before me! his voice ever ringing in my ears! Why +try to escape their fascination? Oh, God! what is this that is passing +within me? My heart trembles; sometimes my blood bounds wildly through +my veins, and then again it creeps and freezes; and yet how happy I am! +what inexpressible joy fills my very soul!" + +She was silent; then, seeming suddenly to rouse herself, she raised her +head and threw back the thick curls, as if anxious to disembarrass her +mind of a haunting thought. + +"Wait, my dear flowers," said she, smiling, to the violets; "wait a +moment: I will comfort and refresh you." + +With this she disappeared in the grove, and, in a short time, brought +from it a few twigs and leaves, which she arranged in a little trellis +over the flower-beds, so as to shadow the violets completely from the +sun. After this she took a small watering-pot and ran across the grass +to a basin or tank in the middle of the garden, around which a number +of weeping-willows drooped their branches into the water. On her arrival +its surface was perfectly smooth; but hardly had her image been +reflected in the tank when it appeared to swarm with living creatures. +Hundreds of gold-fishes, of all colors, swam toward her with their +mouths gaping from the water, as if the poor little animals were trying +to speak to her. Holding on by the trunk of the nearest willow, she bent +gracefully over the pond and tried to fill her watering-pot without +touching the gold-fish. + +"Come, come; let me alone just now," said she, as she carefully avoided +them; "I haven't time to play with you; I will bring you your dinner +after a while." + +But the fish fluttered around the watering-pot until she withdrew it +from the tank; and, even after her departure, continued to crowd toward +the bank she had touched with her foot. + +The young lady watered her flowers and replaced the pot gently on the +ground; then, retiring slowly to the solitary house, she returned after +a while at the same slow pace, and, throwing some crumbs to the fish, +began to saunter slowly about the garden-paths, inattentive to every +thing but her own absorbing thoughts. At length she reached a spot where +a gigantic catalpa-tree overarched the garden and bent its branches +almost to the earth. A table and a couple of chairs stood beneath the +fresh and fragrant shade, and a book, inkstand, and embroidery-frame, +gave token that the retreat had not long been abandoned by the lady +herself. She seated herself in one of the chairs, took up the book, then +the embroidery, let them fall one after another, and finally leaned her +beautiful head on her hand, like one who is weary in spirit and anxious +for rest. + +For a while her large dreamy eyes were vaguely fixed, as if gazing into +space; at intervals a smile played around her mouth, and her lips moved +as if talking with a friend. Occasionally her drooping eyelids closed +entirely; but the lashes quickly reopened, only to fall more heavily +than before, till at last a profound sleep or intense reverie seemed to +get possession of her mind and body. + +But did she sleep? There is no doubt that her spirit watched and was +happy; for a pleasant expression constantly played over her features, +and, if sometimes it became serious, the joyous look quickly returned +with all its radiance. She had long been plunged by this happy dream +into complete forgetfulness of real life, when a noise of wheels and the +neigh of a horse was heard at the gateway, disturbing the silence of +Grinselhof. Still the maiden was not aroused. + +The old _calèche_ returned from the city, drew up near the stable, and +the farmer and his wife ran out to salute their master and put up the +horse. While they were thus engaged, Monsieur De Vlierbeck got out of +the vehicle and spoke to them kindly, but in a voice so full of sadness +that both looked at him with astonishment. In fact, the gravity of this +singular person never abandoned him even in his most affable moods; but +at that moment his physiognomy indicated a degree of intense depression +which was by no means habitual. He seemed altogether worn out with +fatigue, and his eyes, which were commonly so vivacious, drooped, dull +and languishing, beneath their heavy lids. + +The horse was quickly put in the stable, and the young lackey, who had +already divested himself of his livery, took several baskets and packets +from the vehicle, carried them into the farm-house, and placed them on +the table of the antechamber. + +"And now, Master John," said De Vlierbeck, approaching the farmer, "I +shall have need of you. There will be company to-morrow at Grinselhof. +Monsieur Denecker and his nephew dine here." + +The farmer, perfectly stupefied by the announcement and scarcely able to +believe his own ears, looked at his master with staring eyes and gaping +mouth, and, after a moment's hesitation, stammered forth,-- + +"That large, rich gentleman, sir, who sits near you every Sunday at high +mass?" + +"The same, John. Is there any thing surprising in it?" + +"And young Monsieur Gustave, who spoke to _mademoiselle_ in the +churchyard when church was over?" + +"The same!" + +"Oh, sir, they are such rich people! They have bought all the land +around Echelpoel. They have at least ten horses in the stable at their +_château_, without counting those they have in town. Their carriage is +silver from top to bottom." + +"I know it; and it is exactly on that account that I desire to receive +them in a becoming manner. You must be ready; your wife and your son +also. I shall call you to-morrow morning very early. You will willingly +lend a hand to help me, won't you?" + +"Certainly, certainly, sir; a word from you is enough. I am always happy +to be able to serve you in any way." + +"Thank you for your kindness, John. We understand one another, my worthy +fellow; and so farewell till to-morrow." + +Monsieur De Vlierbeck entered the farm-house, gave some orders to the +young man in relation to the things he had taken from the vehicle, and, +passing through the screening grove, walked on to Grinselhof. + +As soon as he was out of the farmer's sight his physiognomy assumed a +more serene expression, and there was a smile on his lips as he cast his +eyes around in search of some one in the solitude of the garden At a +turn of the path his eye fell suddenly on the sleeping girl. How +beautiful she was in her calm repose! The golden twilight covered her +with its bright reflection, and threw a rosy tint on every thing about +her. Thick curls strayed in beautiful disorder over her cheeks, and +snowy flowers, shaken from the catalpa's branches by the evening breeze, +had fallen around her in profusion. She still dreamed, and the happy +smile yet rested on her features. De Vlierbeck gazed earnestly at his +sleeping child, and raised his eyes to heaven as he said, +tremulously,--"Thanks, Almighty Father! she is happy! Let my martyrdom +be prolonged; but may all my sufferings render thee compassionate for +her!" + +After this short and ardent ejaculation he threw himself into a chair, +leaned his arm carefully on the table, and, resting his hand on it, +remained still as a statue. For a long time he watched his sleeping +child, while his face seemed to reflect each emotion that flitted across +the delicate features of the maiden. Suddenly a modest blush overspread +her brow, and her lips began to articulate. The old gentleman watched +her narrowly, and, although she had not spoken in connected sentences, +he caught one of those stray words which often betoken what is passing +in a dreamer's mind. + +"'GUSTAVE!' She dreams of Gustave. May God be propitious to us! Ah, yes, +my child," exclaimed her father, "open thy heart to hope! Dream, dream; +for who knows what is in store for us? Yet, no!--let us not destroy +these happy moments by cold reality! Sleep, sleep! let thy soul enjoy +the heavenly enchantment of love which it is awakening!" + +Monsieur De Vlierbeck continued for a while his quiet observation of the +sleeper, and then, rising, passed behind her chair and imprinted a long +kiss on her forehead. + +Still half-dreaming, the sleeper slowly opened her eyes; and, the moment +she perceived who had awakened her, she sprang into her father's arms +with a bound, and, hanging round his neck, overwhelmed him with +questions and kisses. + +Vlierbeck gently disengaged himself from his daughter's embrace, as he +remarked, in a tone of raillery,-- + +"It seems altogether unnecessary, Lenora, to inquire what new beauties +you have discovered in Vondel's 'Lucifer.' You have not had time, I take +it for granted, to begin the comparison between this masterpiece of our +native tongue and Milton's 'Paradise Lost'?" + +"Ah! father," murmured Lenora, "my mind is indeed strangely troubled. I +do not know what is the matter with me; I cannot even read with +attention." + +"Come, Lenora, my child, don't be sad. Sit down: I have something of +importance to tell you. You do not know why I went to town to-day, do +you? It was because we are to have company to dinner to-morrow!" + +Lenora gazed at her father with an earnest and questioning look. + +"It is Monsieur Denecker," continued he:--"the wealthy merchant, you +know, who sits near me at church and lives at the _château_ of +Echelpoel." + +"Oh, yes! I remember him, father; he always speaks to me so kindly, and +never fails to help me from the carriage when we go to church." + +"But your _eyes_ ask, I see, Lenora, whether he is coming _alone_. +_Another_ person will accompany him, my girl!" + +"_Gustave!"_ exclaimed the maiden, involuntarily and blushing. + +"Exactly! Gustave will be here," replied Monsieur De Vlierbeck. "Don't +tremble on that account, Lenora; and don't become frightened because +your innocent heart may find itself opening to the dawn of new +sensations. Between us, my child, there can be no secret that my love +will not discover." + +His daughter's eyes looked inquiringly into his own, as if asking an +explanation of the enigma. But all of a sudden, as if a ray had darted +unexpectedly into her soul, she threw her arms around the old man's neck +and hid her face in his bosom. + +"Oh, father! beloved father," murmured she, "your kindness is +unbounded!" + +For some moments the old gentleman did not put aside the affectionate +caresses of his child; but by degrees his expression became gloomy; +tears started into his eyes, and he said, in broken tones,-- + +"Lenora, whatever may happen to us in life, thou wilt always love thy +father thus, wilt thou not?" + +"Always, always, father!' + +"Lenora, my child," continued he, with a sigh, "thy tender affection is +my only recompense and happiness here below: never deprive my soul of +its consolation!" + +The sad tone in which these words were uttered touched the maiden's +heart so deeply that she took her father's hands, without saying a +syllable, and wept in silence with her head in his bosom. + +For a long time they remained thus motionless, absorbed by a feeling +which was neither joy nor sorrow but seemed to acquire its power and +mastery by the mingling of these opposite sentiments. + +Monsieur De Vlierbeck's expression was the first to change. His features +became severe as he bent his head downward reproachfully. In truth, the +strange words that started the tears into his daughter's eyes had +excited the reflection in his own mind that another person was, perhaps, +about to share his Lenora's love and probably to separate him from her +forever. He was ready for every sacrifice, were it even infinitely +greater, provided it contributed to the happiness of his child; yet the +very idea of separation caused his heart to bleed at every pore. By +degrees he stifled this selfish anxiety, and, striving to control +himself, raised his daughter with a kiss. + +"Come, Lenora," said he, "be gay again! Isn't it a happy thing that our +hearts can sometimes get into the shade after they have been too much in +the sunshine? Let us go into the house. We have many arrangements to +make in order to receive our guests becomingly." + +Lenora obeyed her father in silence, and followed him slowly, while the +tears still dropped from her beautiful eyes. + +Some hours afterward Monsieur De Vlierbeck might have been seen seated +in the principal saloon of Grinselhof, near a little lamp, with his +elbows on the table. The apartment was dark and dreary, for the feeble +rushlight illuminated but a single spot and cast the distant and lofty +ceiling into vague obscurity. The flickering flame threw long and sombre +shadows over the wall, while a line of old portraits in the panels +seemed to fix their stern and immovable eyes on the table. Amid the +gloom nothing came out with distinctness but the calm and noble face of +the poor old gentleman, who sat there, absorbed in his reflections, +fixed as a statue. + +At length, rising from his chair and cautiously walking on tiptoe to the +end of the room, he stopped and listened at the closed door. "She +sleeps," said he, in a low voice; and, raising his eyes to heaven, +added, with a sigh, "may God protect her rest!" Then, returning to the +table, he took the lamp, and, opening a large safe which was imbedded in +the wall, he went down on his knees and drew forth some napkins and a +table-cloth, which he unfolded carefully to see whether they were torn +or stained. As he refolded the articles one after the other, a smile +betokened that he was pleased with his examination. Rising from this +task, he went back to the table, from the drawer of which he took a +piece of buckskin and whiting. Mashing the latter with a knife-handle, +he began to rub and polish several silver forks and spoons which were in +a basket. The salt-cellars and other small articles of table-service, +which were mostly of the same metal, were all subjected to a similar +process, and soon glittered brightly in the feeble lamplight. + +While he was engaged in this strange work, the soul of the poor old man +was busy with a thousand conflicting thoughts and recollections. He was +constantly muttering to himself; and many a tear escaped from his lids +as he dreamed over the past and repeated the names of the loved and +lost! + +"Poor brother!" ejaculated he; "but one man alone in the world knows +what I have done for thee, and yet that man accuses me of bad faith and +ingratitude! And thou, poor brother, art wandering in the icy solitudes +of America, a prey perhaps to sickness and suffering, while for months +no kindly look is fixed upon thee in that wilderness where thou earnest +thy miserable wages! Son of a noble race! thou hast become a slave to +the stranger, and thy toil serves to amass the fortunes which others are +to enjoy! My love for thee has made me suffer martyrdom; but, as God is +my judge, my affection has remained entire,--untouched! May thy soul, O +brother, feel this aspiration of mine even in the isolation where thou +art suffering; and may the consciousness of my love be a balm for thy +misery!" + +The poor gentleman was absorbed for some time in painful meditation; but +after a while his dream seemed over, and he betook himself again to +work. He placed all the silver utensils side by side on the table, and, +after carefully counting and examining them, resumed his soliloquy:-- + +"Six forks! eight spoons! We shall be four at table: it will be +necessary to be careful; else it will easily be seen something is +wanting. I think, however, it will do. I must give very precise +instructions to John's wife, for she is a clever woman, and knows what +she is about!" + +As be uttered the last words he replaced the silver in the basket and +locked it in the safe; after which he took the lamp, and, leaving the +saloon on tiptoe, descended through a little door into a large vaulted +cellar. Here he hunted about for a considerable time amid stacks of +empty bottles, and at last succeeded in finding what he was in search +of; but his face became extremely pale as he drew three bottles from the +sand. + +"Good heavens! _only three bottles!_" exclaimed he; "three bottles of +_table_-wine! and Monsieur Denecker is such a connoisseur of vintages! +What shall I do if they ask for more when these three bottles are empty? +I have it! I do not drink, and Lenora drinks very little; so there will +be _two_ bottles for Monsieur Denecker and _one_ for his nephew! But, +even at the worst, what is the use of anxiety? Let _luck_ settle it!" + +With this De Vlierbeck went into the corners of the cellar, where he +gathered from the walls a quantity of cobwebs, which he wound +artistically around the bottles and covered with dust and sand. + +On reaching the saloon he went to work with paste and paper to mend some +rents in the tapestry on the wall; and then, after passing nearly half +an hour in brushing his clothes and disguising their threadbare spots +with water and ink, he came back to the table and made preparations for +a task which was still more singular than any he had hitherto been +engaged in. Taking from the drawer a silk thread, an awl, and a bit of +wax, he put his boot on his knees and began to mend the rents in the +leather with the skill of a cobbler! It will readily be supposed that +this odd occupation stirred a variety of emotions in the heart of the +poor gentleman; violent twitches and spasms passed over his face; his +cheeks became red, then deadly pale; till at last, yielding to a +passionate impulse, he cut the silk, threw it on the table, and, with +his hands stretched toward the portraits, cried out, with struggling +passion,-- + +"Yes! behold me,--behold me,--ye whose noble blood runs in my veins! +You, brave captain, who, fighting at the side of Egmont, at St. Quentin, +gave your life for your country,--you, statesman and ambassador, who, +after the battle of Pavia, rendered such eminent services to the Emperor +Charles,--you, benefactor of your race, who endowed so many hospitals +and churches,--you, proud bishop, who, as priest and scholar, defended +so bravely your faith and your God,--behold me, all of you, not only +from that senseless canvas, but from the bosom of God where you are at +rest! He whom you have seen at the wretched task of mending his boots, +and who devotes his life to the concealment of his poverty,--he is your +descendant, your son! If the gaze of his fellow-men tortures him, before +you at least he is not ashamed of debasing toil! glorious ancestry! you +have fought the foes of your native land with sword and pen; but I,--I +have to contend with unmerited shame and mockery, without a hope of +ultimate triumph or glory; my weary soul sinks under its burden, and the +world has nothing in store for me but scorn and contempt! And, yet, have +I ever stained your noble escutcheon? All that I have done is generous +and honest in the sight of God;--nay, the very fountain-head of my wo is +love and compassion! Yes, yes!--fix your glittering eyes on me; +contemplate me in the abyss of poverty where I am fallen! From the +bottom of that pit I lift my brow boldly toward you, and your silent +glance does not force me to grovel in the earth with shame! Here, in the +presence of your noble images, I am alone with my soul, with my +conscience;--hero, no mortification can touch the being who, as +gentleman, Christian, brother, and father, has sacrificed himself to +duty!" + +His voice ceased; and for a few moments he stood still in the midnight +silence, looking at the antique portraits as the last echoes died away +in the lofty apartment, with his arms stretched toward the pictures as +if invoking the beings they represented. + +"Poor, senseless creature," continued he, after a while, clasping his +hands and lifting them anew to heaven, "thy soul seeks deliverance in +dreams! Yes; it is, perhaps, a dream, an illusion! Yet, thanks, thanks +to the Almighty that allows even a dream to fortify me with courage and +endurance! Enough: reality once more stares me in the face; and yet I +defy the mocking spectre which points to ruin and misery!" + +"And then to-morrow,--to-morrow!" continued he; "wilt thou not tremble +beneath the glance of those who seek the secret of thy life? Yes; study +well thy part; have ready thy mask; go on bravely with thy cowardly +farce! And now begone; thy nightly task is done;--beg, beg from sleep +the oblivion of what thou art and of thy threatening future! _Sleep!_ I +tremble at the very thought of it! Father in heaven, have mercy on us!" + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +At daybreak next morning everybody was busy at Grinselhof. John's wife +and her serving-maid scoured the corridor and staircase; the farmer +cleaned his stable; his son weeded the grass from the garden-walks. Very +early in the day Lenora set matters in order in the dining-room and +arranged with artistic taste all the pretty things she could find on the +mantel-piece and tables. There was a degree of life and activity about +Grinselhof that had not been seen in that solitude for many a year, and +everybody went to work with alacrity, as if anxious to dispel the gloom +that hung so long over the lonely dwelling. In the midst of the +industrious crowd Monsieur De Vlierbeck might be seen moving about with +words of encouragement and expressions of satisfaction; nor did he +manifest the slightest symptom of the anxiety that was secretly gnawing +his heart. A pleasant smile flattered his humble dependants, as he gave +them to understand that their labors would be greatly honored by the +approval of his expected guests. + +The farmer and his spouse had never seen De Vlierbeck so pleasant and so +gay; and, as they sincerely loved their master, they were as much +delighted by his joy as if they had been preparing for a village fair in +which they were to take part. They never dreamed of pay for their +generous toil, but derived their most grateful recompense from the +pleasure they imparted to the hermit and his child. + +As soon as the principal preparations were completed, De Vlierbeck +called his daughter and gave the necessary instructions for the dinner. +Lenora was to confine herself to drilling the farmer's wife in serving +the dishes with which she was not familiar. The old cooking-apparatus +was lighted; wood kindled and crackled in the chimney; coals glistened +in the grate; and high above the roof-tree, clouds of smoke betokened +the good cheer that was to adorn the tables. Baskets of game were +opened; stuffed poultry, savory pasties, and choice viands, were brought +forth; dishes of green peas, beans, and other vegetables, appeared; and +the women were speedily in a turmoil of stringing, shelling, cutting, +washing, and stewing. + +Lenora herself did not shun her part in these humble duties, and amused +her companions by the pleasant chat with which she whiled away the +hours. The rustics, who had rarely enjoyed an opportunity of seeing her +so closely or of enjoying a familiar conversation with the beauty, were +of course delighted with her gay and affable manners; nor could they +avoid expressing their pleasure when a few notes of a popular song +happened to drop from Lenora's lips. + +The servant-maid instantly rose, and whispered, loud enough to be heard +by Lenora,-- + +"Oh, pray, do beg _mademoiselle_ to sing a verse or two of that song! I +heard it at a distance the other day; and it was so beautiful that, fool +as I am, I blubbered like a baby for half an hour behind the +rose-bushes. And yet I think it was rather her sweet voice than the +words that made me cry." + +"Oh, yes! do sing it for us; it would give us so much pleasure! Your +voice is like a nightingale's; and I remember too, that my poor +mother--alas! she is long ago in heaven--used to sing me to sleep with +that blessed song. Pray, sing it for us, _mademoiselle_. + +"It's very long,"' said Lenora, smiling. + +"But if you only sing averse or two; it is a holiday with us, you know, +_mademoiselle!_" + +"Well," returned Lenora, musingly, "if it will make you happy why should +I refuse? Listen:-- + + "Beside a deep and rapid stream + A lonely maiden sat; + With sighs her snowy bosom heaved, + And tears bedewed the ground! + + "A noble walked along the bank + And saw her bitter grief; + And, as her tears overflowed his heart, + It melted for the maid!" + + 'Speak, maiden, speak!' the wanderer cried! + 'Why moan you here alone?'-- + 'Ah, sir, an orphan-child am I, + Whom God alone can save! + + 'Ah! seest thou not yon grassy mound + There sleeps my mother dear. + Behold yon rock, above the flood; + There fell my father down! + + 'The whirling torrent bore him on; + He struggled long in vain; + My brother leaped to help his sire, + And both together sank! + + 'And now I fly our silent hut, + Where desolation dwells, + To mourn upon this dreary bank, + And watch the wave and grave!' + + 'No longer grieve,' the stranger said, + 'Thy heart shall ache no more; + A father and a brother too + To thee, poor lonely girl, I'll be!' + + "He took her hand; he led her off; + In garments rich he clad the maid; + Before the altar promised love, + And blessed her life in happy home!"[A] + +[Footnote A: This simple and popular ballad, known in the Campine as +_The Orphan_, is sung by all classes to an air which is full of touching +melody.] + +As Lenora was about beginning the last verse of her song De Vlierbeck +appeared on the sill of the kitchen door, and the peasants instantly +rose in alarm at the freedom with which they were sitting in the +presence of their young mistress, listening to her songs; but the poor +gentleman at once understood the meaning of her action, and with a +gesture of approval signaled them to be quiet. As the last words died on +his ear,--"I'm glad to see you amusing yourselves," said he; "but, now +that the song is ended, I want your services in another quarter, my good +woman." + +Followed by Bess, the farmer's wife, he ascended to the dining-room, +where the table-cloth was already laid and every thing in order for the +reception of the dishes. Bessy's son was already there in livery, with a +napkin over his arm; and De Vlierbeck immediately began to assign them +their several tasks during the service of dinner, and to repeat and +drill them in their tasks till he was perfectly satisfied with their +performances. + +The hour for dinner was at length near at hand. Every thing was ready in +the kitchen, and all were at their posts. Lenora, in full dress and with +a palpitating heart, lingered in her chamber; while her father, with a +book which he appeared to be reading, sat beneath the _catalpa_ in the +garden. + +It was about two o'clock when a splendid equipage, drawn by a pair of +superb English horses, entered the demesne of Grinselhof and drew up in +front of the portal. De Vlierbeck welcomed his guests courteously, and +Monsieur Denecker gave orders to the coachman to return precisely at +five o'clock, as matters of importance required his presence in Antwerp +before nightfall. + +Denecker was a large, stout person, dressed rather extravagantly, but in +a style of studied carelessness which he evidently regarded as stylish. +The expression of his face, it must be owned, was rather vulgar, and +exhibited a compound of cunning and good-nature tempered by +indifference. But Gustave, his nephew, belonged to an entirely different +class of persons. His tall figure was graceful and easy, his countenance +frank and manly, and his whole demeanor denoted refined manners and high +cultivation. Blue eyes and blonde hair imparted a poetic air to his +head; but an energetic glance and lofty brow took from it every +expression of sentimental weakness. + +No sooner had De Vlierbeck presented his guests to Lenora, in the +saloon, than Denecker broke forth in exclamations of undisguised +admiration-- + +"How charming, how beautiful she is! and yet so hidden in this +Grinselhof of yours, Monsieur de Vlierbeck! What a shame, sir! what a +shame!" + +In the mean time Gustave and Lenora had moved off to a short distance +from the old gentlemen, and were busy in a chat of their own, inaudible +to the rest but evidently interesting to themselves, for they were +observed not only to blush but tremble. Denecker, in fact, could not +help observing the young people's emotion; and, as De Vlierbeck passed +down the saloon with him, remarked that the young beauty was evidently +turning his nephew's head. "He talks of her constantly," said he, "and I +don't know what may come of it; but I give you fair warning, Monsieur De +Vlierbeck, if you are unwilling to see something more than compliments +between these children you had better take time by the forelock. It will +soon be too late to reason with them; for my nephew, with all his calm +gentleness, is not the man to retreat before difficulties." + +De Vlierbeck was secretly delighted by the merchant's counsels, but was +too wise to display anxiety. + +"You are joking, Monsieur Denecker," said he: "I can't think there is a +particle of danger. They are both young, and there is nothing surprising +in mutual attraction under such circumstances. There can hardly be any +thing serious in their intercourse. But, come," added he, aloud; "I +perceive that dinner is served; and so let us adjourn to the table!" +Gustave led in the blushing girl, and the elders followed admiringly in +their rear, while the merchant shook his finger coquettishly at his +gallant nephew. De Vlierbeck placed Monsieur Denecker opposite him at +table, and made Gustave the _vis-à -vis_ of Lenora. + +Bess brought in the dishes, while her son waited on the guests. The +viands were prepared with considerable skill, and Denecker took frequent +occasion to express his satisfaction with their exquisite flavor. In +truth, he was rather surprised at the sumptuousness of the repast; for +he had been prepared to expect lenten fare in a household which was +renowned throughout the neighborhood for its austere economy. + +In a short time the conversation became general; and Lenora astonished +Monsieur Denecker by the extent of her information and the admirable +style in which she expressed herself and did the honors of the table. +But, notwithstanding her ease and freedom while conversing with the +uncle, an observer could not help detecting that she was shy, if not +absolutely embarrassed, when obliged to reply to some casual remark of +the nephew. Nor was Gustave more at ease than the maiden. In fact, they +were both happy at heart because fate had thrown them together; but they +would have been quite willing to enjoy that delicious silence which in +love is often more eloquent than in language. + +In the mean while De Vlierbeck rattled away, with the ease of a man of +the world, on all subjects that might interest his guests; yet he +listened, with equal good manners, to Denecker's conversation, and now +and then adroitly threw in such hints as allowed him to speak learnedly +upon commercial matters. The merchant was gratified by his deferential +civility, and was drawn toward his entertainer by a stronger bond than +that of mere social politeness. + +Indeed, all went on swimmingly, and all were pleased with themselves. +De Vlierbeck was especially gratified to find that Bess and her boy +performed their tasks so well, and that the spoons and plates were so +quickly washed and brought back that it was impossible to notice the +deficiency of their number. One thing alone began to worry him. He saw +with pain that while Denecker was busy with his food and chat he was +equally busy with the wine, and that glass after glass disappeared with +more rapidity than was agreeable to his supply. Besides this, Gustave, +who was probably anxious for some excuse to have a word with Lenora upon +any pretext, constantly asked permission to fill her glass; so that, +very soon after the soup and meat had been disposed of, the first bottle +was entirely emptied. + +Civility required that it should be immediately replaced; and, as De +Vlierbeck observed that the more Monsieur Denecker talked the more he +drank, he thought he might try whether less conversation would not +moderate the merchant's thirst. But, alas! he was disappointed; for at +that moment Denecker introduced the topic of wine, and, lauding the +generous juice of the grape, expressed surprise at the extraordinary +sobriety of his host. With this he redoubled his attack on the bottle, +and was in some degree, though less vigorously, seconded by Gustave. De +Vlierbeck's agony became more and more intense as he saw the rosy fluid +sink and sink in the second bottle, until at length the last drop was +drained into the merchant's glass. + +"Yes," said Denecker, "your wine is both old and good; but I have +always found, in tasting liquors, that if we don't change them we lose +their flavor. I take it for granted that you have a first-rate cellar, +if I may judge by your first samples; so I propose that we now try a +bottle of your _Château-margaux_; and, if we have time, we can finish +with a bottle of _hochheimer_. I never drink _champagne_: it is a bad +liquor for wine-drinkers." + +As the last words fell from Denecker, poor De Vlierbeck grew deadly +pale, as his frightened spirit went rummaging through the cracks and +crannies of his brain for some inspiration or expedient which might +extricate him from his deep perplexity. + +"_Château-margaux?_" inquired he, with a calm smile. "Certainly, sir, if +you wish it." And then, turning to the lackey,--"John," said he, "bring +a bottle of _Château-margaux_: you will find it in the third cellar on +the left-hand side." + +But the rustic stared at his master with gaping mouth, as if he had been +addressed in one of the dead languages. Seeing the predicament, and +mastering it rapidly,-- + +"Excuse me," said De Vlierbeck, rising; "he would not find it, I fear. I +will be back in a moment." + +Rushing into the kitchen, he seized the third and last bottle and +descended to the cellar, where he stopped to draw breath and compose +himself. + +"_Château-margaux! hochheimer! champagne!"_ exclaimed poor De +Vlierbeck, "and not another drop of wine in my house but what is in this +last bottle of claret! What _shall_ I do? what _can_ I do?" continued +he, as he held the cobwebbed bottle in one hand and stroked his chin +with the other. "But no matter: there's no time for reflection: the die +is cast, and may God help me in my need!" + +He ascended the stair, entered the dining-room with the corkscrew in the +last cork, and found that during his absence Lenora had ordered fresh +glasses on the table. + +"This wine," said De Vlierbeck, holding the bottle knowingly to the +light, "is at least twenty years old, Monsieur Denecker, and I sincerely +hope it will please your palate." So saying, he filled the glasses of +uncle and nephew, and gazed anxiously in their faces for the verdict. + +Denecker tasted the wine, drop by drop, like an epicure, and, shaking +his head disappointedly,-- + +"There's a mistake, doubtless," said he; "for it's the identical wine we +had before." + +De Vlierbeck feigned surprise admirably, tasted the wine in turn, and +replied,-- + +"I _believe_ you are right, and that I _have_ made a mistake; yet, as +the bottle is opened and not bad, suppose we drink it before I make +another descent to the cellar' There's abundance of time." + +"I've no objection," answered the merchant, "provided you help us, so as +to get through it the quicker." And so the column in the third and last +bottle diminished more rapidly than its predecessors, till two or three +glasses alone remained at the bottom to crown the festival. + +Poor De Vlierbeck could no longer conceal his agitation. He tried to +keep his eyes off the fatal bottle; but a sort of fascination drew him +back to it, and each time with increased anxiety. That dreadful word +'_Château-margaux_' rang in his ears. His face blushed and grew pale, +and a cold, clammy sweat stood in big beads on his forehead. Yet he felt +that he had not entirely exhausted his resources, and resolved to fight +the battle of humiliation to the end. He wiped his brow and cheeks, +coughed, and turned aside as if about to sneeze. By dint of these +manoeuvres he continued to conceal his nervousness till Denecker grasped +the bottle to pour out its last drop. As he clasped the neck, a chill +seized the hysterical frame of the poor gentleman, a deadly paleness +overspread his features, and his head fell with a groan against the tall +back of the chair. Was it in truth a fainting-fit, or did the sufferer +take advantage of his emotion to play a part and escape the +embarrassment of his situation? + +In a moment the whole party were on their feet, while Lenora screamed +and ran to her father. + +"It's nothing," said De Vlierbeck, striving, after a minute or two, to +rally himself. "I am faint; the confined air of this room overcame me. +Let me walk a while in the garden and I will soon be better." + +As he said this he staggered to his feet, and, supported by Lenora and +Gustave, moved toward the garden, followed by Denecker with an +expression of the deepest concern. A short rest in the open air beneath +the shade of a noble chestnut-tree quickly restored a faint color to De +Vlierbeck's cheek and enabled him to tranquillize their anxiety about +his sudden attack. + +"I will rest here a while out of doors," said he, "for fear the fit +might return; and perhaps a slow walk in the garden might hasten my +recovery." + +"It will do both of us good," answered Denecker; "and, besides, as I +have to quit you at five o'clock, I don't want to leave Grinselhof +without seeing its garden. Let us take a turn through your walks, and +afterward we shall have time enough to finish another bottle." + +As he said this he passed Lenora's arm within his own, and, casting a +coquettish glance at Gustave, began their promenade. By degrees De +Vlierbeck rallied sufficiently to take part in the chat; and gardening, +agriculture, sporting, and a hundred different country topics, were +fully discussed. Lenora recovered her spirits and charmed their +commercial guest by the mingled charms of her intellectual cleverness +and innocent gayety. Wild as a deer, she dared him to run a race with +her, and danced along the paths by his side full of mirth and +sportiveness. In truth, Denecker was altogether captivated by the +ingenuous girl, and, as he looked on her radiant face, could not help +thinking that the future had some happy days in store for his gallant +nephew. After a while Lenora strayed off in advance with Gustave, while +the two elders lingered lazily along the path. Gustave was charmed with +the flowers, the plants, the gold-fish, which Lenora pointed out to him; +nor was he at all desirous to shorten their delicious flirtation by +returning to the table. This chimed precisely with the anxiety of De +Vlierbeck, who employed every stratagem he could conceive to keep his +guest in the open air. He told stories, repeated jokes, appealed to +Denecker's commercial knowledge, and even quizzed him a little when he +found their conversation beginning to flag. In fact, he was rejoicing +that five o'clock, and, of course, the carriage, were rapidly +approaching, when Denecker suddenly recalled his nephew from a distant +quarter of the garden where he was strolling with Lenora. + +"Come, Gustave; come," said he; "if you wish to drink a parting glass +with us let us get in, for the coach will be here in a moment." + +De Vlierbeck instantly became pale as a sheet, and, trembling from head +to foot, stared silently at Denecker, who could no longer restrain his +surprise at these exhibitions. + +"Are you ill, sir?" said he. + +"My stomach is a singular one, Monsieur Denecker, and I suffer spasms if +you even mention _wine!_ It is a strange malady; but--Oh, I hear your +coach, Monsieur Denecker; and there it is, drawing up, I see, at the +gateway." + +Of course Denecker spoke no more of wine; but, as he could not help +noticing the alacrity with which De Vlierbeck hailed the prospect of his +departure, he would have been deeply mortified, if not offended, had not +the previous hospitality of his host satisfied him of their welcome. He +thought, perhaps, that he ought to attribute his entertainer's conduct +to some singular nervous disease which he masked under an antipathy for +wine; and accordingly he took leave with a warm and friendly farewell. + +"I have passed a delightful afternoon with you, Monsieur De Vlierbeck," +said he. "We have found ourselves, I am sure, extremely happy in your +and your daughter's charming society. It is a pleasure added to my life +to have made your acquaintance; and I hope that further intimacy may +assure me your friendship. In the mean while, let me thank you from the +bottom of my heart for your kind reception." + +As he finished the sentence, Lenora and Gustave joined them. + +"My nephew," continued Denecker, "will confess, as I have done, that he +has spent few happier hours than those that are just gone. I hope, +Monsieur de Vlierbeck, that you and your charming daughter will return +our visit and dine with us. Yet I shall have to ask your pardon for +postponing the pleasure it will afford us till I return from Frankfort, +where I am summoned, the day after to-morrow, on urgent business. It is +probable I may be detained away a couple of months; but if my nephew +should be allowed to visit you in my absence let me hope he will be +welcome." + +De Vlierbeck reiterated his professions of delight at the new +acquaintance; Lenora was silent; and Denecker moved off toward the +coach. + +"But the parting glass, uncle!" exclaimed Gustave. "Let us go in for a +moment and drink it." + +"No, no," said Denecker, interrupting him tartly. "I believe we would +never get hence at all if we listened to you. It is time to be off, and +I can delay no longer. Adieu!" + +Gustave and Lenora exchanged a long and anxious look, full of regret at +separation and of hope for speedy reunion. In a moment the uncle and +nephew were in the vehicle and the spirited horses in motion; but, as +long as the group was in sight at the gate, a couple of white-gloved +hands might have been seen waving farewells from the coach-window. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +A few days after the departure of his uncle, Gustave paid a visit to +Grinselhof. He was received by Monsieur De Vlierbeck and his daughter +with their usual kindness, passed the greater part of an afternoon with +them, and went home at nightfall to the _château_ of Echelpoel full of +delightful recollections and hopes. Either from a fear of disturbing the +reserved habits of the old gentleman, or from a sense of politeness, +Gustave did not at first repeat his visits too frequently; but after a +couple of weeks the extreme cordiality of Vlierbeck dispelled all his +scruples. The ardent youth no longer resisted an impulse that drew him +toward the bewitching girl, nor did he allow a single day to roll by +without passing the afternoon at Grinselhof. The happy hours flew +rapidly on the wings of love. He strolled with Lenora through the shady +walks of the old garden, listened to her father's observations on +science and art, drank in the delicious notes of his loved one's voice +as it was breathed forth in song, or, seated beneath the flowery and +spreading catalpa, dreamed the dream of happiness that was in store for +him with her who was probably soon to become his betrothed. + +If the noble and beautiful face of the maiden had won his eye and +enlisted his feelings the moment he first beheld her in the village +churchyard, _now_, that he had become familiar with her character, his +love grew so ardently absorbing that the world seemed sad and dead if +she were not present to shed the light of her joyous spirit upon every +thing around him. Neither religion nor poetry could conjure up an angel +more fascinating than his beloved. Indeed, though God had endowed her +person with all those feminine graces that adorned the first woman in +Paradise, he had also lavished on her a heart whose crystalline purity +was never clouded, and whose generosity burst forth with every emotion +like a limpid spring. + +But in all his interviews, Gustave had never yet been alone with Lenora. +When he visited her she never left the apartment where she commonly sat +with her father, unless the old gentleman expressed a wish that they +should unite in a walk through the garden; and, of course, he had never +enjoyed an opportunity to breathe the love that was rising to his lips. +Still, he felt that it was altogether useless to express by words what +was passing in their hearts; for the kindness, the respect, the +affection, that shone in everybody's eyes, betokened the feeling which +united them in a mingled sentiment of attachment and hope. + +Though Gustave entertained profound veneration for Lenora's father and +really loved him as a son, there was something which at times came like +a cloud betwixt himself and the old gentleman. What he heard outside of +Grinselhof of De Vlierbeck's extraordinary avarice had been fully +realized since he became intimate at the house. No one ever offered him +a glass of wine or beer; he never received an invitation to dinner or +supper; and he frequently observed the trouble that was taken by the +master of the house to disguise his inhospitable economy. + +Avarice is a passion which excites no other emotion than that of +aversion or contempt, because it is natural to believe that when so +degrading a vice takes possession of one's soul it destroys every spark +of generosity and fills it with meanness. Accordingly, Gustave had a +long and fearful conflict with himself in order to subdue this +instinctive feeling and to convince his judgment that De Vlierbeck's +conduct was only a caprice which did not detract from the native dignity +of his character. And yet, had the young man known the truth, he would +have seen that a pang was hidden beneath every smile that flitted over +the old man's face, and that the nervous shudders which at times shook +his frame were the results of a suppressed agony that almost destroyed +him. As he gazed on the happy face of Lenora and steeped his soul in the +intoxication of her love, he never dreamed that her father's life was a +prolonged punishment; that, day and night, a terrible future opened its +vista before him; and that each moment of his existence brought him +nearer and nearer to a dreadful catastrophe. He had not heard the +inexorable sentence of the notary:--"Four months more and your bond +expires, when all you possess in this world will be sold by the officers +of justice to satisfy your creditors!" + +Two of those fatal months had already expired! + +If Monsieur De Vlierbeck appeared to encourage the young man's love, it +was not alone in consequence of his sympathy with his feelings. No: the +_dénouement_ of his painful trial was to be developed within a defined +period; and, if it proved inauspicious, there was nothing but dishonor +and moral death for himself and child! Destiny was about to decide +forever whether he was to come out victorious from this ten years' +conflict with poverty, or whether he was to fall into the abyss of +public contempt! These were the feelings that induced him to conceal his +true position more carefully than ever, and, while he watched over the +lovers like a guardian spirit, made him do nothing to check the rapid +progress of their passion. + +As the time of his uncle's return approached, the two months seemed to +Gustave to have flown by like a pleasant dream; and, although he felt +sure that his relative would not oppose the union, he foresaw that he +would not be allowed hereafter to spend so much of his time away from +business. Indeed, the very idea that he might be obliged to pass +considerable periods without seeing Lenora made him look for his +uncle's return with any thing but delight. + +One day he contrived to whisper his fears and anticipations to Lenora, +and, for the first time since their acquaintance, saw tears gathering in +her eyes. The girl's emotion touched his heart so sensibly that he +ventured timidly to take her hand, and held it in his for a long time +without uttering a word. De Vlierbeck, who had overheard the remark, +tried to comfort him, but his words did not seem to produce the desired +effect; and, after a short time, Gustave rose abruptly and took leave, +though his usual time of departure had not yet arrived. Lenora read in +his expression that some sudden revolution had occurred in her lover's +mind, for his eyes glistened with extraordinary animation. She strove +eagerly to retain him by her side; but he resisted her appeal +pleasantly, and declared that nothing should unveil his secret till the +following day, when he would return to Grinselhof. De Vlierbeck, +however, was more familiar with the world than his daughter; and, +imagining that lie had penetrated the mystery of Gustave's conduct, many +a pleasant dream hovered that night around his pillow. + +As the usual hour of Gustave's visit approached next day, De Vlierbeck's +heart beat high with hope; and when the visitor appeared, clad with +unusual neatness and care, the old gentleman welcomed him with more than +ordinary warmth. After the compliments of the day had been paid to his +ladylove, Gustave expressed a desire for a few moments' conversation +with her father, who led him into an adjoining cabinet and seated +himself by his side. + +"What is it you wish of me, my young friend?" said he, kindly. + +Gustave was silent for a moment, as if endeavoring to rally his ideas, +and then spoke out in a manly way:-- + +"I am about, my dear sir, to speak to you in regard to a matter that +concerns my happiness; and, no matter what may be your decision, I am +sure, from your kindness upon all occasions, that you will pardon my +boldness. I can hardly imagine that the feeling--the irresistible +feeling--I have entertained for Lenora from the first moment I saw her, +has escaped your penetrating eye. I ought probably to have asked your +consent long ago, before she obtained so complete a dominion over my +heart; but I have always secretly encouraged the belief that you read my +soul and wore not displeased with my motives." + +Gustave was silent, awaiting the hoped-for words of encouragement; but +De Vlierbeck only looked at him with a gentle smile, and gave no other +indication of his pleasure. A motion of the hand, as if he wished the +lover to go on with his conversation, was the only sign he made in +reply, + +Gustave's resolution began to ebb at this discouraging by-play; but, +summoning all his energy for another attack, he continued:-- + +"Yes, sir, I have loved Lenora from my first sight of her; but what was +then a spark is now a flame. Don't think it is her loveliness alone that +bewitched me. She might indeed enchant the most insensible of mankind; +but I found a far more glorious treasure in the angelic heart of your +daughter. Her virtue, the immaculate purity of her soul, her gentle and +magnanimous sentiments,--in a word, the prodigal gifts of mind and body +which God has lavished on her,--have increased my admiration to love, my +love to absolute idolatry! How dare I conceal my emotion from you any +longer? I cannot live without Lenora; the very thought of even a short +temporary separation from her overwhelms me with despair. I long to be +with her every day, every hour; I long to hear her voice and read my +happiness in her eloquent eyes! I know not what may be your decision; +but, believe me, if it shall be adverse to my hopes, I shall not long +survive the blow. If your decree separate, me from my beloved Lenora, +life will no longer have a charm for me!" + +Gustave uttered his romantic rhapsody--the rhapsody of most lovers--with +that genuine emotion which bespoke his sincerity, and touched the heart +of De Vlierbeck so deeply that he grasped his hand and implored him to +be calm. + +"Don't tremble so, my young friend," said the old gentleman. "I know +very well that you love Lenora, and that she is not insensible to your +affection for her. But what have you to propose to me?" + +Gustave replied, dejectedly,--"If I still doubt your approval, after all +the marks of esteem you have given me, it is because I fear you do not +consider me worthy the happiness I have sought. I have no ancestral tree +whose roots are buried in the past; the good deeds of my forefathers do +not shine in history; the blood that runs in my veins comes from a +common stock." + +"Do you think," said De Vlierbeck, interrupting him, "that I was +ignorant of all this from the first day of our acquaintance? No Gustave; +no matter what your lineage may be, your own heart is generous and +noble; and, had it not been so, I would never have esteemed and treated +you as my son." + +"And so," exclaimed Gustave, catching at the last words with a burst of +joyous impatience, "you don't refuse me Lenora's hand?--you will +interpose no objection, provided my uncle gives his consent?" + +"No," replied De Vlierbeck; "I shall not refuse it to you. On the +contrary, it will give me unbounded happiness to intrust the fate of my +only child to your keeping. And yet there is an obstacle of which you +have no idea." + +"An obstacle!" exclaimed Gustave, growing pale;--"an obstacle between +Lenora and me?" + +"Be silent a moment," said De Vlierbeck, "and listen to the explanation +I shall give you. You think, Gustave, I suppose, that Grinselhof and +all its dependencies belong to us? It is not so: we are penniless. We +are poorer far than the peasant who rents our farming-land and lives +yonder at the gate!" + +Gustave looked doubtingly at De Vlierbeck, with so incredulous a smile +that the poor gentleman blushed, and trembled like an aspen. + +"I see you do not believe me," continued he; "I see it in your smile and +look. Like the rest of them, you think me a miser, hiding my wealth and +starving my child and myself to amass riches,--a wretch who sacrifices +every thing for money,--a vagabond whom all ought to fear and despise!" + +"Oh, pardon me, pardon me, sir!" interrupted Gustave, moved by the +excitement of the old man "I think nothing of the kind! My veneration +for you is unbounded!" + +"Nay, don't be frightened at my words, young man," continued De +Vlierbeck, in a calmer tone. "I make no accusations against you, +Gustave. I only saw in your incredulous smile that I had succeeded in +masking my poverty even from you, and in making you suppose that my +economy was avarice. But it is needless for me to give you any further +explanation just now. Let it suffice you to know that what I say is +strictly, honestly true. I possess nothing,--nothing!" + +"And now," added he, after a moment's silence on both sides, "let me +give you a piece of advice. Go home to-day without seeing Lenora; +examine your soul calmly, and see whether there are no secret emotions +that may make you change your present views; let a night pass, and if, +to-morrow, Lenora, poor as you now know her to be, is still dear to +you,--if you still think you can be happy with her and can make her +happy,--seek your uncle and ask his consent. Here is my hand: if the day +shall ever come when I can offer it as a father's, it will be the +happiest of my life!" + +Although the revelation made by Monsieur De Vlierbeck was astonishing to +Gustave, the solemn tone in which he announced it convinced the lover of +its truth. He was silent for a moment; but soon a spark of enthusiasm +began to glisten in his eye and light up his face, as he exclaimed,-- + +"How can you ask me if I shall continue to love Lenora now that I know +her to be poor? It will be happiness enough for me to receive her as a +wife, to be bound to her by the eternal bonds of love, to be forever +within her reach, and to receive my happiness from her look and voice! +What delight it will be for me to protect her and know that I have the +privilege of working for her! Palace or hovel; riches or poverty, all +are equally indifferent to me, provided her presence animates the spot! +A night's reflection, Monsieur De Vlierbeck, cannot change my +resolution. Grant me Lenora's hand, and I will thank you on my knees for +the priceless gift!" + +"And suppose I do," replied the old gentleman; "generosity and +constancy are natural to the ardent character of youth:--but your +uncle?" + +"My uncle!" murmured Gustave, with evident grief; "that is true; I need +his consent. All I possess or ever shall possess in the world depends on +his affection for me. I am the orphan son of his brother. He adopted me +as his child and has overwhelmed me with kindness. He has the right to +decide my lot in life, and I must obey him." + +"And do you think that he, a merchant, who probably places a very high +value on money, because experience has taught him its value, will say, +like you, 'Palace or hovel, poverty or wealth, it makes no difference'?" + +"Alas! I know not, Monsieur De Vlierbeck," said Gustave, droopingly. +"But my uncle is so good to me--so extraordinarily good--that I may +rightly hope for his consent. He will return to-morrow. When I embrace +him I will declare all my wishes. I will say my comfort, my happiness, +my life, depend on his consent. I know that he loves Lenora sincerely; +for, before his departure, he even seemed to encourage my pretensions to +her hand. Your disclosures will undoubtedly surprise him; but my prayers +will conquer: believe it!" + +Monsieur De Vlierbeck rose, to put an end to the conversation. + +"Well, ask your uncle's consent," said he; "and, if your hopes are +realized, let him come here and consult about the marriage. Whatever +may be the issue of this affair, Gustave, you at least have always +behaved toward us with the delicacy of a generous youth. My esteem and +friendship shall always be yours. Go now; quit Grinselhof this time +without seeing Lenora, for you ought not to meet her until this affair +is settled. I will tell her myself whatever I think proper for her to +know." + +Half pleased, half sad,--his heart divided between joy and +anxiety,--Gustave bade farewell to Lenora's father and returned to +Echelpoel. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +On the afternoon of the following day Monsieur De Vlierbeck was seated +in his parlor, his head resting on his hand. He seemed plunged in +profound thought, for his eyes were fixed on vacancy and his face +exhibited by turns contentment and hope, inquietude and anxiety. + +Occasionally Lenora came into the apartment, and, seeming unusually +restless, wandered about from spot to spot, arranging and rearranging +the little fancy articles upon the tables, looking out of the window +into the garden, and at last running down-stairs suddenly as if she were +pursued. No one who saw her could doubt that she was nervously anxious +about something; yet her expression was one of joy and hope. Had she +been able to penetrate her father's mind and behold the various emotions +that excited it, she would not perhaps have been so gay and blithesome; +but poor De Vlierbeck restrained himself with his habitual care in her +presence, and smiled at her impatience as if he too were confident of +approaching happiness. + +At length, tired of running about, Lenora seated herself by her father +and fixed her clear and questioning gaze on his face. + +"Don't be so excited, my good child," said he. "We shall know nothing +to-day; but we may, perhaps, to-morrow. Moderate your joy, my daughter; +if it please Heaven to decide against your hope in this matter your +grief will be more easily conquered." + +"Oh, no, father!" stammered Lenora; "God will grant my prayer; I feel it +in my heart. Don't be astonished, father, that I am full of joy, for I +think I see Gustave speaking to his uncle. I hear what he says, and +Monsieur Denecker's replies; I see him embrace Gustave and give his +consent! Who can doubt, father, that I ought to hope, when I know that +Monsieur Denecker loved me and was always kind?" + +"Would you be very happy, Lenora," asked De Vlierbeck, with a smile, "if +Gustave were betrothed to you?" + +"Never to leave him!" cried Lenora,--"to love him,--to be the happiness +of his life, his consolation, his joy,--to enliven the solitude of +Grinselhof by our love!--ah! that, father, would be delight indeed; for +then there would be two of us to contribute to the pleasures of your +life! Gustave would have more skill than I to chase away the grief that +sometimes clouds your brow; you could walk, talk, or hunt with him; he +would venerate and love you as a son and watch you with the tenderest +care; his only thought on earth would be to make you happy, because he +knows that your happiness is mine; and I--I, father, will recompense him +for his devotion by the gratitude of my heart, and love. Oh, yes, dear +father! we shall live together in a paradise of contentment!" + +"Ingenuous girl!" exclaimed De Vlierbeck, with a sigh; "may the Lord +hear your prayer! But the world, my child, is governed by laws and +customs of which you are altogether ignorant. A wife must follow her +husband wherever he goes. If Gustave shall select another residence you +must follow him and console yourself gradually at the separation from +your father. Under other circumstances, parting might be painful; but +solitude will not sadden me if I know you are happy, my child." + +The startled maiden looked at her father with surprise as he uttered +these words; and, as he finished, her head fell heavily on her breast +and tears streamed silently from her eyes. Monsieur De Vlierbeck took +her hand tenderly as he said, in faltering words,-- + +"I feared, Lenora, that I would make you sad; but you must become +accustomed to the idea of our separation." + +Lenora raised her head quickly as she replied, in a firm and resolute +manner, "What! could Gustave ever dream of our separation? To leave you +at Grinselhof passing your days in seclusion while I and my husband were +in the world in the midst of festivity? I should not have an instant's +rest, wherever I might be; conscience would cry aloud in my heart, +'Ungrateful and insensible child, thy father is abandoned to suffering +and solitude!' Yes, I love Gustave; he is dearer to me than life itself, +and I receive his hand as a blessing from God; but if he should say to +me, 'Abandon your father!'--if he left me no choice except you or +him,--I would close my eyes and reject him! I should be sad; I should +suffer; perhaps even I should die; but, father dear, I would die in your +arms!" + +She bent down her head for a moment as if oppressed by a dreadful +thought; but, raising her large eyes, liquid with tears, she fixed them +on her father, as she added,-- + +"You doubt Gustave's affection for you; you imagine him capable of +filling your life with sorrow,--of separating me from you! Oh, father, +you do not know him; you do not know how much he respects and loves you; +you do not comprehend the warmth of his generous and loving heart!" + +De Vlierbeck bent over his child and impressed a kiss on her forehead, +as he was about to utter some words of consolation, when suddenly Lenora +sprang from his arms and pointed eagerly to the window, as if listening +to approaching sounds. + +The noise of wheels and the clatter of horses on the road soon gave +Monsieur De Vlierbeck to understand why his daughter had been so +startled. His face assumed a more animated expression, and, descending +hurriedly, he reached the door as Monsieur Denecker alighted from his +coach. + +The merchant seemed in exceedingly good humor; he grasped De Vlierbeck's +hand, expressing his delight at seeing him once more. "How goes it with +you, my old friend? It seems that rogue, my nephew, has taken advantage +of my absence." And, although De Vlierbeck ushered him into the saloon +with all the formality imaginable, Denecker slapped him familiarly on +the shoulder, and continued,-- + +"Well! well! we were good friends from the beginning; and now I +understand we are to be regular gossips:--at least I hope so. That scamp +hasn't bad taste, I must confess. He would have to make a long search +before he found a handsomer or more amiable woman than Lenora. Look you, +Monsieur De Vlierbeck, we must have a wedding frolic that people will +talk of twenty years hence!" + +By this time they had got into the saloon and taken their seats; but De +Vlierbeck, nervous as he was, had considerable doubt as to the tone of +Denecker's remarks, and whether he was jesting or serious. + +"It seems," continued Denecker, assuming a graver tone, "that Gustave is +madly impatient for this union, and begs me to hasten it. I have taken +compassion on the young fellow and left all the business of our house +topsy-turvy to-day to arrange matters with you. He tells me you have +given your consent. That was kind of you, sir. I thought a great deal of +this affair during my journey, for I had observed that Cupid's arrows +had gone clean through and through the boy; yet I had fears about your +consent. Inequality of blood, old-fashioned ideas, might perhaps +interfere." + +"And so Gustave told you that I consented to his marriage with Lenora?" +said the old gentleman, paying no attention to Monsieur Denecker's +remarks. + +"Did he deceive me, sir?" said Denecker, with surprise. + +"No; but did he communicate something else to you, which ought to strike +you as of equal importance?" + +Denecker threw back his head with a laugh, as he replied,-- + +"What nonsense you made him believe! But, between us two, that passes +for nothing. He tells me that Grinselhof don't belong to you and that +you are _poor_! I hope, Monsieur De Vlierbeck, you have too good an +opinion of my sense to imagine I have the least faith in such a story?" + +A shudder passed over the poor gentleman's frame. Denecker's +good-humored familiarity had made him believe that he knew and credited +all, and nevertheless responded to his nephew's hopes; but the last +words he heard taught him that he must again go over the sad recital of +his misfortunes. + +"Monsieur Denecker," said he, "do not entertain the least doubt, I beg +you, in regard to what I am about to say. I am willing instantly to +consent that my daughter shall become your nephew's wife; but I solemnly +declare that I am poor,--frightfully poor!" + +"Come, come!" cried the merchant; "we knew long, long ago that you were +mightily fond of your money; but when you marry your _only_ child you +must open your heart and your purse, my dear sir, and portion her +according to your means. They say--pardon me for repeating it--that you +are _a miser_; but what a shame it would be to let your only daughter +leave your house unprovided for!" + +Poor De Vlierbeck writhed on his chair as Denecker poured forth his +incredulous jokes. "For God's sake, sir," cried he, "spare me these +bitter remarks. I declare, on the word of a gentleman, that I possess +_nothing_ in the world!" + +"Well!" cried the merchant, taking no heed of his remarks, and with a +mocking smile, "come; let us cipher the matter out on the table. You +suppose, perhaps, that I have come here to ask some great sacrifice of +you: but no, De Vlierbeck, thank God, I have no occasion to be so close +in my calculations. Yet a marriage is a thing to which there are always +two parties, and it is just that each should bring something into the +common stock." + +"Oh, God! oh, God!" muttered the poor gentleman, as he clenched his +hands convulsively. + +"I propose to give my nephew one hundred thousand francs," continued +Denecker; "and if he wants to continue in business my credit will be +worth as much more to him. I have no wish that Lenora's portion shall +equal his. Your high birth, and especially your character, will make up +what is wanting in her fortune; but what say you to the half,--fifty +thousand francs? You will consent to that, or I am much mistaken. What +say you? Is it a bargain?" + +Pale and trembling, De Vlierbeck sat riveted to his chair; but at last, +in a low, melancholy voice,-- + +"Monsieur Denecker," said he, "this conversation kills me. I beg you to +stop this infliction. I repeat that I possess _nothing_; and, since you +force me to speak before you apprize me of your own intentions, know +that Grinselhof and its dependencies are mortgaged beyond their value! +It is useless to inform you of the origin of these debts. Let it suffice +to repeat that I tell the truth; and I beg you, without going further, +now that you are informed of the state of my affairs, to declare frankly +what are your designs as to your nephew's marriage." + +Although this declaration was made with that feverish energy which ought +to have satisfied Denecker of its truth, it nevertheless failed to +convince him. A degree of surprise displayed itself on the merchant's +face; but he continued his observations in the same incredulous tone:-- + +"Pardon me, De Vlierbeck, but it is impossible to believe you. I did not +think you were so hard in a bargain. Yet be it so: every man has his +weakness; one is too miserly, another too prodigal. Now, for my part, I +confess that I am extremely anxious to spare Gustave the anxiety of +delay. Give your daughter twenty-five thousand francs, with the +understanding that the amount of her portion is to remain a secret; for +I don't want to be laughed at. Twenty-five thousand francs!--you cannot +say it is too much;--in fact, it is a trifle that will hardly pay for +their furniture. Be reasonable, my good sir, and let us shake hands on +it!" + +De Vlierbeck said nothing; but, rising abruptly from the table, opened a +closet with a trembling hand, and, taking from it a package of papers, +threw them on the table. + +"There!" said he; "read; convince yourself." + +Denecker took up the papers and began to examine them. As he went on, +the expression of his face gradually changed, and at times he raised +his head and looked upward, as if in deep thought. After he had been +engaged for some time in this disagreeable task, De Vlierbeck +recommenced the conversation in a tone of cutting irony:-- + +"Ah! you would not believe me, sir. Well, let your determination be +founded on those papers alone. It is right you should know every thing; +for I have determined never again to be tortured. Besides the evidences +of debt which are before you, I owe a bill of exchange for four thousand +francs, which I cannot pay! You see now, Monsieur Denecker, that I am +worse than poor, for I have debts!" + +"Alas! it is but too true," said the stupefied merchant; "you have +indeed nothing! I see by these documents that my notary is also yours; +and, although I spoke to him of your fortune, he left me unadvised, or, +I should rather say, in error." + +De Vlierbeck breathed more freely, for he felt as if a rock had fallen +from his breast. His face resumed its ordinary calmness; and, seating +himself, he continued:-- + +"Now, sir, if you have no longer any reason to doubt my poverty, let me +ask what are your intentions." + +"My intentions?" replied the merchant; "my intentions are that we shall +remain as good friends as we were before; but, as to the marriage, that +of course falls to the ground. We will speak no more about it. What were +_your_ calculations, Monsieur De Vlierbeck? I think I am just beginning +to see a little clearly into this matter! You imagined, I suppose, that +you would make a good business out of it and sell your merchandise as +high as possible!" + +"Sir," exclaimed De Vlierbeck, bounding from his chair in rage, "speak +respectfully of my daughter! Poor or rich, do not dare to forget who she +is!" + +"Don't get angry! don't get angry! Monsieur De Vlierbeck. I have no +desire to insult you. Far from it. Had your enterprise succeeded I would +probably have admired you; but _finesse_ against _finesse_ always makes +a bad game! Permit me to ask, since you are so touchy on the point of +honor, if you have acted a very honorable part in courting my nephew and +allowing his passion to absorb him?" + +De Vlierbeck bowed his head to conceal the blush that suffused his aged +cheeks; nor did he awake from his painful stupor till the merchant +recalled him by the single word,-- + +"Well?" + +"Ah!" stammered De Vlierbeck, "have mercy on me! Love for my child, +probably, led me astray. God endowed her with all the gifts that can +adorn a woman. I hoped that her beauty, the purity of her soul, the +nobility of her blood, were treasures quite as precious as gold!" + +"That is to say, for a gentleman, perhaps; but not for so common a +person as a merchant," interrupted Monsieur Denecker, with a sneer. + +"Don't reproach me with having _courted_ your nephew," continued De +Vlierbeck. "That is a word that wounds me deeply; for it is unjust. +Their attachment was reciprocal and in every way unstudied. I thanked +God daily in my prayers that he had cast in our path a savior for my +child:--yes, a savior, I say; for Gustave is an honorable youth, who +would have made her happy not so much by money as by his noble and +generous character. Is it then so great a crime for a father who has +unfortunately become poor to hope that his child should escape want?" + +"Certainly not," replied the merchant; "but every thing is in _success_; +and in that respect, Monsieur De Vlierbeck, your enterprise has been +unfortunate. I am a man who examines his goods twice before he buys, and +it is difficult to pass apples on me for lemons!" + +This heartless, trafficking slang tortured the unfortunate bankrupt to +such a degree that he arose from his seat in a passion and began to pace +the apartment. + +"You have no consideration for my misfortunes, sir," said he. "You +pretend that I designed deceiving you; but was it _you_ who discovered +my poverty? Are you not free to act as you please, after the disclosures +that I have voluntarily given you? And let me remark, sir, that if I +listen humbly to your reproaches--if I even acknowledge my fault--the +sense of manhood is not dead in my soul. You talk of 'merchandise' and +'goods,' as if you came here to buy something! You allude to my Lenora, +do you? All your wealth, sir, could not purchase her! and, if love is +not powerful enough in your eyes to obliterate the pecuniary inequality +between us, know that I am a De Vlierbeck, and that name, even in +poverty, weighs more than all your money!" + +During this explosion his face kindled with indignation and his eyes +shot forth their fiery rays upon the merchant, who, alarmed by the loud +words and animated gestures of De Vlierbeck, regarded him with an air of +stupefaction from the other side of the apartment. + +"Good God, sir," said he at last, "there is no need of so much violence +and loud talk! Each of us remains where he is; each keeps what he has, +and the affair is at an end. I have but one request to make of you, and +it is that you will never again receive my nephew,--or else--" + +"Or else?" interrupted De Vlierbeck, passionately; "do you _dare_ to +threaten me?" But, restraining himself almost instantly, he continued, +with comparative calmness, "Enough! Shall I call Monsieur Denecker's +carriage?" + +"If you please," replied the merchant. "We cannot do business together, +it seems; but that is no reason why we should become enemies." + +"Well! well! we will stop short of that, sir. But this conversation +annoys me; it must end!" And, so saying, he led Monsieur Denecker to the +door and bade him farewell abruptly. Be Vlierbeck returned to the +parlor, fell into his chair and covered his brow with both hands, as a +heavy groan burst from his breast, which heaved with almost hysterical +emotion. For a long time he remained silent and motionless; but soon his +hands fell heavily on his knees, a deathly paleness overspread his face, +and the room whirled around the heart-broken man. + +Suddenly he heard footsteps in the chamber above, and, rousing himself +by a strong effort, "Oh, God! my poor child!" cried he; "my poor +Lenora! She comes! my punishment is not yet complete! I must break the +heart of my own child; I must tear from it all its hopes, blot out its +dream, behold it withered up with grief! Oh that I could escape this +dreadful disclosure! Alas! What to say to her? how to explain it?" + +A bitter smile contracted his lips as he continued, with bitter +irony:--"Ah! hide thy suffering, old man; rally thy strength; take +courage! If thy heart is torn and bleeding,--if despair devours thy +soul,--oh, smile, still smile! Yes! your life has been a continual +farce! Yet, miserable abortion that thou art, what canst thou do but +submit, yield without a fight, and bow thy neck to the yoke like a +powerless slave? Begone, rebellious feeling! Be silent, and behold thy +child!" + +Lenora opened the door and ran to her father, her questioning eyes fixed +on his with a look of hope. All of poor De Vlierbeck's efforts to +disguise his suffering were unsuccessful, and Lenora soon read in his +face that he was a prey to some overwhelming sorrow. As he still +obstinately kept silence, she began to tremble, and asked, with feverish +impatience,-- + +"Well, father,--well,--have you _nothing_ to say to me?" + +"Alas! my child," said he, sighing, "we are not happy. God tries us with +heavy blows. Let us bow before the will of the Almighty." + +"What do you mean? what is there to fear?" said Lenora, beside herself. +"Speak, father! Has he _refused_ his consent?" + +"He has refused it, Lenora!" + +"Oh, no! no!" cried the maiden; "it is impossible!" + +"Refused it, because he possesses millions and we--nothing!" + +"It is true, then? Gustave is hopelessly lost to me!--lost to me +forever! + +"Hopelessly!" echoed the father. + +A sharp cry escaped Lenora as she tottered to the table and fell on it, +weeping bitterly. + +De Vlierbeck arose and stood above his sobbing daughter, and, joining +his uplifted hands, exclaimed, in suppliant tones,-- + +"Oh, pity me, pity me, Lenora! In that fatal interview I have suffered +all the torments that could rack the heart of a parent; I have drunk the +dregs of shame; I have emptied the cup of humiliation; but all, all are +nothing in comparison with thy grief! Calm yourself, child of my love; +let me see the sweet face I so love to look on; let me regain my lost +strength in thy holy resignation! Lenora! my head swims; I shall die of +despair!" + +As he uttered these words he sank heavily into a chair, overpowered by +emotion. The sound of his fall seemed instantly to recall Lenora to +herself, and, dashing the tears from her eyes, she leaned her head on +his shoulder to listen and assure herself that he had not fainted. + +"Never to see him more! to renounce his love forever! to lose the +happiness I dreamed of! Alas! alas!" + +"Lenora! Lenora!" exclaimed her father, entreatingly! + +"Oh, beloved father," sobbed the poor girl, "to lose Gustave _forever_! +The dreadful thought overwhelms me! While I am near you I will bless God +for his kindness; but my tears overpower me; oh! let me weep, let me +weep, I beseech you!" + +De Vlierbeck pressed his daughter more closely to his heart, and +respected her affliction in silence. + +The stillness of death reigned throughout the apartment, while they +remained locked in each other's arms until the very excess of grief +relaxed their embrace and opened their hearts to mutual consolation. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +Four days after Denecker had refused his consent to the marriage, a +hired carriage might have been Been drawing up carefully in a screen of +wood that bordered a by-road about half a league from Grinselhof. A +young man got out of it, and, giving directions to the coachman to await +him at a neighboring inn, walked briskly across the moor toward the old +_château_. As soon as Grinselhof began to loom up over the trees, he +moved cautiously along behind the hedges and thickets, as if seeking to +avoid observation; and then, stealing across the bridge, he opened the +gate, passed through the dense copse that surrounded the house, and +entered the garden. + +The first object that greeted his sight was Lenora, seated at her table +beneath the well-known catalpa, with her head resting on the board, +evidently absorbed in sorrow. Her back was turned toward him as he +approached; and, although he advanced with the utmost caution, the +sound of his footsteps disturbed her in the intense silence of the spot, +and she leaped to her feet, while the name of Gustave broke in surprised +accents from her lips. She was evidently anxious to escape into the +house; but her lover threw himself on his knees, and, grasping her hand, +poured forth a passionate appeal:-- + +"Listen to me, Lenora! listen to me! If you fly and refuse me the +consolation of telling you with my last farewell, all I have suffered +and all I hope, I will either die here at your feet, or I will go hence +forever, a broken-hearted wanderer over the face of the earth! Listen to +me! listen to me! Listen to me, Lenora, my sister, my beloved, my +betrothed! By our pure and holy love, I beseech you not to repulse me!" + +Though Lenora trembled in every limb, her features assumed an expression +of wounded pride, as she answered, with cold decision,-- + +"Your boldness surprises me, sir! You are indeed a daring man, to appear +again at Grinselhof after your uncle's insulting conduct to my father! +He is ill in bed; his soul is crushed by the outrage. Is this the reward +of all my affection for you?" + +"Oh, God! oh, God! Lenora, do I hear _you_ accuse me? Alas! what have I +done, and what could I prevent?" + +"There is nothing, sir, any longer, in common between us," said the +girl. "If we are not as rich as you, the blood that runs in our veins +cannot suffer by comparison. Arise! begone! I will see you no more!" + +"Mercy! pity!" exclaimed Gustave, lifting his clasped hands toward her; +"mercy, Lenora, for I am innocent!" + +The maiden dashed away the tears that began to start in her eyes, and, +turning her back on him, was about to depart. + +"Cruel, cruel!" exclaimed Gustave, in broken tones. "Can you leave me +without a farewell?--without a word of consolation? Will you remain +insensible to my grief and deaf to my prayers? 'Tis well; I will submit +to my lot, for _you_ have decided it! You, Lenora, my love, have +sentenced me! I forgive you: be happy on earth without me, and farewell +forever!" + +As he uttered those words his strength seemed utterly to fail him, and, +sinking into the chair which Lenora had quitted, his head and arms fell +lifeless on the table. + +The determined girl had made a few steps in her retreat to the house, +when she suddenly halted on hearing the agonized tones of Gustave's +farewell and the sudden sound of his fall on the table. As she glanced +backward at the convulsed frame of her lover, a spasm that denoted the +violent conflict between duty and affection passed over her beautiful +face; and, as her heart appeared gradually to conquer in the fight, the +tears began to pour in showers from her eyes. Step by step and slowly +she retraced the path to the table, and leaning over the sufferer, took +one of his hands tenderly in hers:-- + +"Are we not wretched, Gustave? Are we not wretched?" + +At the touch of that gentle hand and the sound of that beloved voice, +life seemed once more to stir in his veins, and, raising his eyes +languidly to hers, he gazed mournfully into them as he half said, half +sighed,-- + +"Lenora, dear Lenora, have you come back to me? Have you taken pity on +my agony? You do not _hate_ me, do you?" "Is a love like ours +extinguished in a day?" returned Leonora, with a sigh. + +"Oh, no, no!" cried Gustave aloud; "it is eternal! Is it not eternal, +Lenora, and omnipotent against every ill as long as the hearts beat in +our bosoms?" + +Lenora bowed her head and cast down her eyes. + +"Do not imagine, Gustave," said she, solemnly, "that our separation +causes me less grief than it does you; and, if the assurance of my love +can assuage the pangs of absence, let it strengthen and encourage you. +My lonely heart will keep your image sacred in its holiest shrine; I +will follow you in spirit wherever you go, and I will love you till +death shall fill up the gulf that separates us. We shall meet again +above, but never more on earth." + +"You are mistaken, Lenora," cried Gustave, with a feeble expression of +joy; "you are mistaken! There is still hope; my uncle is not +inexorable, and his compassionate heart must yield to my despair." + +"That may be," replied Lenora, in sad but resolute tones; "that may be, +Gustave; but my father's honor is inflexible. Leave me, Gustave; I have +already disobeyed my father's orders too long, and slighted my duty in +remaining with a man who cannot become my husband. Go now; for, if we +should be surprised by some one, my poor, wretched father would die of +shame and anger." + +"One moment more, beloved Lenora! Hear what I have to tell you. My uncle +refused me your hand; I wept, I besought him, but nothing could change +his determination. In despair I was transported beyond myself; I +rebelled against my benefactor; and, treating him like an ungrateful +wretch, I said a thousand things for which I begged his pardon on my +knees when reason resumed her empire over my excited soul. My uncle is +goodness itself to me: he pardoned my sin; but he imposed the condition +that I should instantly undertake a journey with him to Italy, which he +has long designed making. He idly hopes that travel may obliterate your +image from my mind; but think not, Lenora, that I can ever forget you! A +sudden thought flashed through my fancy, and I accepted his terms with a +secret joy. For months and months I will be alone with my uncle; and, +watching him ever with the love and gratitude I feel for all his +kindness, I will gradually wear away his objections, and, conquering his +heart, return, my love, to place the bridal wreath upon your brow, and +claim you, before the altar of God, as the companion of my choice!" + +For an instant a gentle smile overspread the maiden's face, and her +clear, earnest gaze was full of rapture at the vision of future +happiness; but the gleam disappeared almost as quickly as it arose, and +she answered him, with bitter sadness,-- + +"Alas! my dear friend, it is cruel to destroy this last hope of your +heart; and yet I must do it. Your uncle might consent; but my father--" + +She faltered for an instant. + +"Your father, Lenora? Your father would pardon all and receive me like a +long-lost son." + +"No, no; believe it not, Gustave; for his honor has been too deeply +wounded. As a Christian he might pardon it; but as a gentleman he will +never forget the outrage." + +"Oh, Lenora, you are unjust to your father. If I return with my uncle's +consent, and say to him, 'I will make your child happy; give her to me +for my wife; I will surround her path with all the joys a husband has +ever bestowed on woman;'--if I tell him this, think you he will deny +me?" + +Lenora cast down her eyes. + +"You know his infinite goodness, Gustave," said she. "My happiness is +his only thought on earth; he will thank God and bless you." + +"Yes, yes; he _will_ consent," continued Gustave, with ardor; "and all +is not lost. A blessed ray lightens our future, and let it rekindle your +hope, beloved of my heart! Yield not to grief; let me go forth on this +dreary journey, but let me bear along with me the assurance that you +await my return with trust in God. Remember me in your prayers; utter my +name as you stray through these lonely paths which witnessed the dawn of +our love and where for two months I drained the cup of perfect bliss. +The knowledge that I am not forgotten by you will sustain my heart and +enable me to endure the pangs of separation." + +Lenora wept in silence. Her lover's eloquence had extinguished every +spark of her pride; and the rebellious heart which so lately was ready +to cast off its rosy fetters had no longer a place for any thing but +love and sadness. Gustave saw that he had conquered. + +"I go, Lenora," said he, "strong in your affection. I quit my country +and my loved one with a confident hope. Whatever may happen to me, I +will never be downcast. You will think of me daily, Lenora, will you +not?" + +"Alas! I have promised my father that I will forget you!" sobbed the +maiden, as her hand trembled in his. + +"_Forget_ me!" exclaimed Gustave. "_Can_ you force yourself to forget +me?" + +"No, Gustave; NO!" said she, firmly, fixing her large eyes on him with +an intense and lingering gaze. "No: for the first time in my life I +will disobey my father. I feel that I have net the strength to keep my +idle word. I cannot forget you: till the last hour of my life I will +love you; for it is my fate, and I cannot resist." + +"Thanks, thanks, a thousand thanks, Lenora!" exclaimed Gustave, in a +transport. "Thy tender love strengthens me against destiny. Beloved of +my heart, rest here under the guardian eye of God. Thy image will follow +me in my journey like a protecting angel; in joy and grief, by day and +night, in health and sickness, thou, Lenora, wilt ever be present to me! +This cruel separation wounds my heart beyond expression; but duty +commands, and I must obey. Farewell, farewell!" + +He wrung her hands convulsively, and was gone. + +"Gustave!" sobbed the poor girl, as she sank on the chair and allowed +the pent-up passion of her soul to burst forth in tears. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +Leonora secretly cherished in her heart the hope of a happy future; but +she did not hesitate to inform her father of Gustave's visit. De +Vlierbeck heard her listlessly, and gave no other reply but a bitter +smile. + +From that day Grinselhof became sadder and more solitary than ever. The +old gentleman might generally be seen seated in an arm-chair, resting +his forehead on his hand, while his eyes were fixed on the ground or on +vacancy. The fatal day on which the bond fell due was perhaps always +present to his mind; nor could he banish the thought of that frightful +misery into which it would plunge his child and himself. Lenora +carefully concealed her own sufferings in order not to increase her +father's grief; and, although she fully sympathized with him, no effort +was omitted on her part to cheer the old man by apparent contentment. +She did and said every thing that her tender heart could invent to +arouse the sufferer from his reveries; but all her efforts were in vain: +her father thanked her with a smile and caress; but the smile was sad, +the caress constrained and feeble. + +If Lenora sometimes asked him, with tears, what was the cause of his +depression, he adroitly managed to avoid all explanations. For days +together he wandered about the loneliest paths of the garden, apparently +anxious to escape the presence even of his daughter. If she caught a +glimpse of him at a distance, a fierce look of irritation was +perceptible on his face, while his arms were thrown about in rapid and +convulsive gesticulations. If she approached him with marks of love and +devotion, he scarcely replied to her affectionate words, but left the +garden to bury himself in the solitude of the house. + +An entire month--a month of bitter sadness and unexpressed suffering on +both sides--passed in this way; and Lenora observed with increased +anxiety the rapid emaciation and pallor of her father, and the +suddenness with which his once-lively eye lost every spark of its wonted +vivacity. It was about this time that a slight change in the old +gentleman's conduct convinced her that a secret--and perhaps a terrible +one--weighed on his heart. Every day or two he went to Antwerp in the +_calèche_, without informing her or any one else of the object of his +visit. He came back to Grinselhof late at night, seated himself at the +supper-table silent and resigned, and, persuading Lenora to go to bed, +soon went off to his own chamber. But his daughter was well aware that +he did not retire to rest; for during long hours of wakefulness she +heard the floor creak as he paced his apartment with restless steps. + +Lenora was brave by nature, and her singular and solitary education had +given her a latent force of character that was almost masculine. By +degrees the resolution to make her father reveal his secret grew in her +mind. And, although a feeling of instinctive respect made her hesitate, +a restless devotion to the author of her being gradually overcame all +scruples and emboldened her for the enterprise. + +One day Monsieur De Vlierbeck set off very early for town. The morning +wore away heavily; and, toward the afternoon, Lenora wandered wearily +about the desolate house, with no companion but her sad reflections. At +length she entered the apartment where her father usually studied or +wrote, and, after a good deal of hesitation, in which her face and +gestures displayed the anxiety of her purpose, opened the table-drawer, +and saw in it, unrolled, a written document. The paleness of death +overspread her countenance as she perused the paper and instantly closed +the drawer. After this she left the apartment hastily, and, returning to +her chamber, sat down with hands clasped on her knees and eyes fixed on +the floor in a stare of wild surprise. + +"_Sell Grinselhof!_" exclaimed she. "Sell Grinselhof! Why? Monsieur +Denecker insulted my father because we were not rich enough for him. +What is this secret? and what does it all mean? If it should be _true_ +that we are beggars! Oh, God! does a ray of light penetrate my mind? is +this the solution of the enigma and the cause of my father's +depression?" + +For a long time she remained motionless in her chair, absorbed in +reverie; but gradually her face brightened, her lips moved, and her eyes +glistened with resolution. As she was endeavoring to fight bravely +against misfortune, she suddenly heard the wheels of her father's +_calèche_ returning to Grinselhof. She ran down instantly to meet him; +and as he drew up at the door she perceived the poor sufferer buried in +a corner of the vehicle, apparently deprived of all consciousness; and, +when he descended from the vehicle and she saw his expression +distinctly, the deadly pallor that covered his haggard cheeks almost +made her sink to the earth with anxiety. Indeed, she had neither heart +nor strength to utter a word to him; but, standing aside in silence, she +allowed the old man to enter the house and bury himself as usual in his +chamber. + +For some minutes she stood on the door-sill, undecided as to what she +should do; but by degrees her brow and cheeks began to redden, and the +light of resolution shone in her moistened eyes. + +"Ought the feeling of respect to restrain me longer?" said she to +herself; "shall I let my father die without an effort? No! no! I must +know all! I must tear the worm from his heart; I must save him by my +love!" + +Without a moment's further delay, she ran rapidly through three or four +chambers, and came to the apartment where her father was seated with his +elbows resting on the table and his head buried in his hands. Throwing +herself on her knees at his feet, and with hands raised to him in +supplication,-- + +"Have mercy on me, father!" exclaimed she; "have mercy on me, I beseech +you on my knees; tell me what it is that distresses you! I must know why +it is that my father buries himself in this solitude and seems to fly +even from his child!" + +"Lenora! thou last and only treasure that remainest to me on earth," +replied De Vlierbeck, in a broken voice, with despair in his wild +gaze,--"thou hast suffered, dreadfully, my child, hast thou not? Rest thy +poor head in my bosom. A terrible blow, my child, is about to fall on +us!" + +Lenora did not seem to pay any attention to these remarks, but, +disengaging herself from her father's embrace, replied, in firm and +decided tones,-- + +"I have not come here, father, for consolation, but with the unalterable +determination to learn the cause of your suffering. I will not go away +without knowing what misfortune it is that has so long deprived me of +your love. No matter how much I may venerate you and respect your +silence, the sense of duty is greater even than veneration. I must--I +_will_--know the secret of your grief!" + +"Thou deprived of thy father's love?" exclaimed De Vlierbeck, +reproachfully and with surprise;--love for thee, my adored child, is +precisely the secret of my grief. For ten years I have drained the +bitter cup and prayed the Almighty to make you happy; but, alas! my +prayers have always been unheard!" + +"Shall I be unhappy, then?" asked Lenora, without betraying the least +emotion. + +"Unhappy, because of the misery that awaits us," replied her father. +"The blow that is about to fall on our house destroys all that we +possess. We must leave Grinselhof." + +The last words, which plainly confirmed her fears, seemed for a moment +to appall the girl; but she repressed her feelings, and answered him, +with increased courage,-- + +"You are not dying this slow death because ill-fortune has overtaken +_you_, my father; I know the unconquerable force of your character too +well for that. No! your heart is weak and yielding because _I_ have to +partake your poverty! Bless you, bless you, for your affection! But, +tell me, father, if I were offered all the wealth of the world on +condition that I would consent to see you suffer for a single day, what +think you I would answer?" + +Dumb with surprise, the poor man looked proudly at his daughter, and a +gentle pressure of her hand was his sole reply. + +"Ah!" continued she, "I would refuse all the treasures of earth and meet +poverty without a sigh. And you, father,--if they offered you all the +gold of America for your Lenora, what would you do?" + +"How can you ask, child?" exclaimed her father; "do we sell our hearts' +blood for gold?" + +"And so," continued the girl, "our Maker has left us that which is +dearest to us both in this world; why then should we mourn when we ought +to be grateful for his compassionate care? Take heart once more, dear +father; no matter what may be our future lot,--should we even be forced +to take refuge in a hovel,--nothing can harm us as long as we are not +separated!" + +Smiles, astonishment, admiration, and love, by turns flitted over the +wan features of the poor old man, who seemed altogether unnerved and +disconcerted by the painful _dénouement_. At length, after some moments +of unbroken silence, he clasped his hands, and, gazing intensely into +her eyes through his starting tears-- + +"Lenora, Lenora! my child!" he exclaimed, "thou art not of earth--thou +art an angel! The unselfish grandeur of thy soul unmans me completely!" + +She saw she had conquered. The light of courage was rekindled again in +her father's eye, and his lofty brow was lifted once more under the +sentiment of dignity and self-devotion that struggled for life in his +suffering heart. Lenora looked at him with a heavenly smile, and +exclaimed, rapturously, + +"Up! up! father; come to my arms; away with grief! United in each +other's love, fate itself is powerless in our presence!" + +Father and daughter sprang into each other's arms, and for a long while +remained speechless, wrapped in a tender embrace; then, seating +themselves with their hands interlocked, they were silent and absorbed, +as if the world and its misery were altogether forgotten. + +"A new life--a new and refreshing current of blood--seems to have been +suddenly poured into my veins," said Monsieur De Vlierbeck. "Alas, +Lenora, what a sinner I have been! how wrong I was not to divulge all! +But you must pardon me, beloved child; you must pardon me. It was the +fear of afflicting you--the hope of finding some means of rescue, of +escape--that sealed my lips. I did not know you, my daughter; I did not +know the inestimable treasure that God in his mercy had lavished on me! +But _now_ you shall know all; I will no longer hide the secret of my +conduct and my grief. The fatal hour has come; the blow I desired to +ward off is about to fall and cannot be turned aside! Are you prepared, +dear child, to hear your father's story?" + +Lenora, who was delighted to behold the calm and radiant smile that +illuminated the face of her heart-broken parent, answered him instantly, +in caressing tones,-- + +"Pour all your woes into my heart, dear father, and conceal nothing. The +part I have to perform must be based on complete knowledge of every +thing; and you will feel how much your confidence relieves your burdened +soul." + +"Take, then, your share of suffering, daughter," replied De Vlierbeck, +"and help me to bear my cross! I will disguise nothing. What I am about +to disclose is indeed lamentable; yet do not tremble and give way at the +recital, for, if any thing should move you, it must be the story of a +father's torture. You will learn now, my child, why Monsieur Denecker +has had the hardihood to behave toward us as he has done." + +He dropped her hand, but, without averting his eager gaze from her +anxious eyes, continued:-- + +"You were very young, Lenora, but gentle and loving as at present, and +your blessed mother found all her happiness centered in your care and +comfort. We dwelt on the lands of our forefathers; nothing disturbed the +even tenor of our simple lives; and, by proper economy, our moderate +income sufficed to support us in a manner becoming our rank and name. + +"I had a younger brother, who was endowed with an excellent heart, but +generous to a fault and somewhat imprudent. He lived in town, and +married a lady of noble family who was no richer than himself. She was +showy in her tastes and habits, and, I fear, induced him to increase his +revenue by adventurous means. There can be no doubt that he speculated +largely in the public funds. But probably you do not understand what +this means, my child. It is a species of _gambling_, by which a man may +in a moment gain millions; and yet it is a game that may, with equal +rapidity, plunge him into the depths of misery and reduce him as if by +magic to the condition of a beggar. + +"At first, my brother was remarkably successful, and established himself +in town in a style of living that was the envy of our wealthiest +citizens. He came to see us frequently, bringing you, who were his +godchild, a thousand beautiful presents, and lavished his affection with +testimonials of kindness which were proportioned to his fortune. I spoke +to him often about the dangerous character of his adventures, and +endeavored to convince him that it was unbecoming a gentleman to risk +his property upon the hazards of an hour; but, as continued success +emboldened him more and more, the passion for gambling made him deaf to +all my appeals, all my advice. + +"At last the evil hour came! The luck which had so long favored him +became inconstant; he lost a considerable portion of his gains, and saw +his fortune diminishing with every venture. Still, courage did not fail +him; but, on the contrary, he seemed to fight madly against fate, with +the idle hope of forcing fortune to turn once more in his favor. But, +alas, it was a fatal delusion! + +"One night--I tremble as I recall it--I was in my chamber and nearly +ready to retire; you were already in bed, and your mother was saying her +prayers on her knees beside your little couch. A tremendous storm raged +without: hail beat in torrents against the windows, and the wind howled +in the chimneys and swayed the trees as if it was about to blow down the +house. The violence of the tempest began to make me somewhat anxious, +when suddenly the door-bell was pulled and the sound of horses heard at +the gate. In a moment the summons was answered by one of our +servants,--for we kept two then,--and a female rushed into the room, +throwing herself in tears at my feet. It was my brother's wife! + +"Trembling with fright, I of course hastened to raise her; but she +clung to my knees, begging my assistance, imploring me, by every +passionate appeal she could think of, to save her husband's life, and +convincing me by her sobs and distraction that some frightful calamity +was impending over my brother! + +"Your mother joined me eagerly in my efforts to calm the sufferer, and +by degrees we managed to extract the cause of her singular conduct and +unseasonable visit. My brother--alas!--had lost all he possessed, and +even more! His wife's story was heart-rending; but its conclusion filled +us with more anxiety for her husband than his losses; for, overcome by +the certainty of a dishonored name, haunted by the reflection that law +and justice would soon overtake him, my poor brother had made an attempt +upon his life! The hand of God had providentially guided his wife to the +apartment, where she surprised him at the fatal moment and snatched the +deadly instrument from his grasp! He was then locked up in a room; dumb, +overcome, bowed down to the earth, and guarded by two faithful friends. +If any one on earth could save him, it was surely his brother! + +"Such was the wild appeal of my wretched sister-in-law, who, heedless of +the stormy night, had thrown herself into a coach and fled to me, +through the tempest, as her only hope for their salvation. There she was +at my feet, bathed in tears, sobbing, screaming, beseeching me to +accompany her to town. _Could I--did I_--hesitate? Your tender mother, +who saw at once the frightful condition of the family, and sympathized +as woman's heart alone can do with human misery, eagerly implored me not +to lose a moment. 'Save him, save him!' exclaimed she; 'spare nothing: I +will consent to every thing you may think proper to do or sacrifice!' + +"We flew back to town through the storm and darkness. You grow pale, +Lenora, at the very thought of it, for it was indeed frightful, and you +can never know the impression it made on me: these whitened +hairs--whitened before their time--are the records of that terrible +night! But let me continue. + +"It is needless to describe the wild despair in which I found my +brother, or to tell you how long I had to wrestle with his spirit in +order to force a ray of hope into his soul. There was but one means by +which we could save his honor and life; but--oh God!--at what a +sacrifice! I was obliged to pledge all my property as security for his +debts. Nothing could be spared; our ancestral manor-lands, your mother's +marriage-portion, your moderate dowry,--all were ventured with the +certainty that the greater part would unquestionably be lost! On these +hard conditions my brother's honor might be saved; and, if that could be +rescued, he was willing to renounce the determination to escape shame by +death. I must in justice say that it was not he who demanded the +sacrifice from me: on the contrary, he did not suppose that I could or +would make it; but I was satisfied in my mind that if I did not settle +his affairs, at all hazards, he would execute his criminal project +against his life. And yet--and yet, my child--_I hesitated!_" + +"Father!" exclaimed Lenora, "_you did not refuse!_" + +A happy smile beamed on his face as he met the questioning glance of his +daughter and answered, firmly,-- + +"I loved my brother, Lenora; but I loved _you_, my only child, much +more. The sacrifice demanded of me by his creditors insured misery for +your mother and for you!" + +"Oh, God! oh, God!" sobbed Lenora. + +"On one side my heart was distracted by this dreadful thought, while on +the other I was assailed by the despair that was present in the +bankrupt's chamber; but generosity conquered in the awful trial, and at +daylight I sought out the principal creditors and signed the documents +that saved a brother's life and honor but gave up my wife and child to +want." + +"Thank God!" gasped Lenora, as if she had been relieved from a horrible +nightmare. "Bless you, bless you, father, for your noble, generous +conduct!" + +She rose from her seat, and, passing her arms around his neck, gave him +a glowing kiss with as much solemnity as if she had been anxious to +endue this mark of love with all the fervor and sacredness of a +benediction. + +"Ah! but canst thou bless me, my child," said he, with eyes foil of +gratitude, "for an act that should implore thy pardon?" + +"_My_ pardon, father!" exclaimed Lenora, with surprise on all her +features. "Oh, had you done otherwise, what would I not have suffered in +doubting the goodness of my parent's heart! Now, now, I love you more +than ever! _Pardon you_, father? Is it a crime to save a brother's life +when it is in your keeping?" + +"Alas, Lenora, the world does not reason thus, and never forgives us for +the guilt of poverty. Reduced to that, we suffer humiliations which any +one may observe in the lives of multitudes of our nobles. Yes; society +regards poverty as a crime, and it treats us like outcasts. Our equals +avoid us in order not to be confounded in our misery; while peasants and +tradesmen laugh at our misfortune as if it was a sort of agreeable +revenge. Happy, happy they to whom heaven has given an angel to pour +comfort and consolation into their hearts in hours of want and +dejection! But listen, my child! + +"My brother was saved, and I concealed most carefully the assistance I +had been to him; he left the country and went with his wife to America, +where, ever since, he has worked hard and gained hardly enough to +support a miserable existence. His wife died during the voyage. And, as +to ourselves, we no longer possess any thing; for Grinselhof and our +other lands were mortgaged for more than they were worth. Besides this, +I was forced to borrow from a gentleman of my acquaintance four thousand +_francs_ upon my bond. + +"When your mother heard of the sacrifices to which I was forced to +submit, she made no reproaches; at first she fully approved my conduct. +But very soon we became necessarily subjected to privations under which +your mother's strength declined, till, without a sigh or complaint, she +began to fade away slowly from earth. It was a dreadful situation; for, +to conceal our ruin and save our ancestral name from contempt, we were +forced to part with the last ounce of our silver to pay the interest on +our debts. Gradually our horses and servants disappeared; the paths that +led to our neighbors soon became grass-grown; and we declined all social +invitations, so as to avoid the necessity of returning the compliment. A +rumor about us began to spread through the village and among the noble +families that had formerly been on terms of intimacy with us; and +scandal declared that _avarice_ had driven us to a life of meanness and +isolation! We joyously accepted the imputation, and even the coldness +with which our holiday friends accompanied it; it was a veil with which +society thought proper to cover us, and beneath its folds our poverty +was safe from scrutiny. + +"But I am approaching scenes, my child, the recollection of which almost +unnerves me. My story has reached the most painful moment of my life, +and I beseech you to hear me calmly. + +"Your poor mother wasted away to a skeleton; her sunken-eyes were +hardly visible in their deep sockets; a livid pallor suffused her +cheeks. As I saw her fading,--fading,--the wife whom I had loved more +than life,--as I gazed on those death-struck features and saw the fatal +evidences each day clearer and clearer,--I became nearly mad with +despair and grief." + +Lenora shuddered with emotion as her breast heaved convulsively under +the sobs she strove to repress. Her father stopped a moment, almost +overcome by the recital; but, rallying his courage quickly, he forced +himself to go on with his sad recollections:-- + +"Poor mother! she did nothing but weep! Every time she looked at her +child--her dear little Lenora--tears filled her eyes. Thy name was +always on her lips, as if she were forever addressing a prayer for thee +to God in heaven! At last the dreadful hour arrived when she heard the +Almighty's voice summoning her above. The clergyman performed the +services for the dying; and you, my child, had been taken from her arms +and sent out of the house. It was midnight, and I was alone with her +whose icy lips had already imprinted on mine their last sad kiss. My +heart bled. Oh, God! how wretched--how wretched--were those parting +hours! My beloved wife lay there before me as if already a corpse, while +the tears yet trickled down her hollow cheeks and she strove to utter +your name with her expiring breath. Kneeling beside her, I implored +God's mercy for her passing hour, and kissed away the sweat of agony +that stood upon her brow. Suddenly I thought I perceived an effort to +speak, and, bending my ear to her lips, she called me by name, and said, +'It is over, my love, it is over; farewell! It has not pleased the +Almighty to assuage my dying hour, and I go with the conviction that my +child will suffer want and wretchedness on earth!' + +"I know not what my love inspired me to say in that solemn moment; but I +called God to witness that you _should_ escape suffering, and that your +life should be happy! A heavenly smile illuminated her eyes, and she +believed my promise. With an effort, she lifted her thin hands once more +round my neck and drew my lips to hers. But soon those wasted arms fell +heavily on the bed;--my Margaret was gone;--thy mother was no more!" + +De Vlierbeck's head fell on his breast. Lenora's bosom heaved +convulsively as she took his hand without uttering a word; and, for a +long time, nothing was heard in that sad confessional but the sobs of +the maiden and the sighs of her heart-broken father. + +"What I have yet to say," continued the poor gentleman, "is not so +painful as what I have already told you: it concerns only myself. +Perhaps it would be better if I said nothing about it; but I need a +friend who possesses all my confidence and can sympathize with me +thoroughly in all I have undergone for the last ten years. + +"Listen, then, Lenora. Your mother was no more; she was gone;--she who +was my last staff in life! I remained at Grinselhof alone with you, my +child, and with my promise,--a promise made to God and to the dead! What +should I do to fulfil it? Quit my hereditary estate? wander away seeking +my fortune in foreign lands, and work for our mutual support? That would +not do, for it would have devoted you at once to the chances of a +wretched uncertainty. I could not think of such a course with any degree +of satisfaction; nor was it till after long and anxious reflection that +a ray of hope seemed to promise us both a happy future. + +"I resolved to disguise our poverty more carefully than ever, and to +devote my time to the most elaborate cultivation of your mind. God made +you beautiful in face and person, Lenora; but your father was anxious to +initiate you into the mysteries of science and art, and, while he +endowed you with a knowledge of the world, to make you virtuous, pious, +and modest. I desired to make you an accomplished woman, and I hoped +that the nobility of your blood, the charms of your beauty, the +treasures of your heart and intellect, would compensate in society for +the portion that was denied you. Thus was it, my child, that I thought +in time, you would make a suitable alliance which would restore you to +the position you hold by birth. For ten years, Lenora, this has been my +occupation and my hope. What I had forgotten or never learned, I studied +at night to teach you next morning; I labored hard that I might not only +instruct you wisely but that you might acquire easily; and, at the same +time, I strove by every honest means to conceal from you every thing +that could give a hint or cause a suspicion by which your life might be +shadowed. Oh, Lenora,--shall I confess it?--I have suffered hunger and +undergone the most cruel privations; I have passed half my nights +mending my clothes, working in the garden, studying and practising in +the dark, so as to hide our poverty from you and the world. But all that +was nothing; in the silence of night I was not forced to blush before +any one. By day I had to encounter all kinds of insults, and, with a +bleeding heart, swallow affront and humiliation." + +Lenora looked at her father with eyes moistened by compassion. De +Vlierbeck pressed her hand, and continued:-- + +"Be not sad, Lenora; if the Lord's hand inflicted deep wounds with every +blow, he bestowed a balm which cured them. One little smile of thy +gentle face was sufficient to make me pour forth an ejaculation to +Heaven: you, you at least were happy, and in your happiness I saw the +fulfilment of my promise! + +"At length I thought that God himself had thrown in our path one who +would save you from threatening danger. A mutual inclination arose +between Gustave and you, and a marriage seemed the natural consequence. +Under these circumstances I apprized Monsieur Denecker, during his last +visit, of the deplorable condition of my affairs; but no sooner did I +make the disclosure than he peremptorily refused his consent to the +union. As if this terrible blow, which withered all my hopes, had not +been sufficient to overwhelm me, I learned, almost at the same time, +that the friend who loaned me four thousand francs, with the right to +renew my obligation to him every year, had died in Germany, and that his +heirs demanded the payment of the debt! I ran all over town, rapped at +every friendly door, ransacked heaven and earth in my despair, to escape +this last ignominy; but all my efforts were fruitless. To-morrow, +perhaps, a placard will be stuck on the door of Grinselhof, announcing +the sale not only of our estate but also of our furniture and of every +trifling object that memory and association have rendered dear to us. +Honor requires that we shall surrender, to public sale, every thing of +the least value to pay our debts. If fate were kind enough to allow us +to satisfy every creditor it would be a great consolation, my child, in +our misery. Does not this fatal history break your heart?" + +"Is that all which makes you despond, father? Have you no other grief? +Does your heart conceal no other secret from me?" asked Lenora. + +"None, my child. You know every thing." + +"I can very well understand," replied Lenora, gravely, "that others +would consider a blow like this as a frightful misfortune; but how can +it affect us? You even appear calm. Why, father, do you, like me, appear +indifferent to the inexorable decree of fate?" + +"Because you have inspired me with courage and confidence, Lenora; +because your love is restored to me fully after a long constraint; +because you let me hope that you will not be unhappy. I know what you +want to say, noble child, whom God has given me as a shield against +every ill! Well, I will encounter ruin without bowing my head, and +submit with resignation to the hand of God! Alas!" continued he, sadly, +"who can tell what sufferings are yet in store for us? We may be forced +to wander about the world,--to seek an asylum far from those we know and +love,--to earn our daily bread by the labor of our hands! Oh, Lenora, +you know not how bitter is the bread of misery,--of poverty!" + +The maiden shuddered as she saw the cloud falling once more like a +curtain over her father's face. She grasped his hand tenderly, and, +fixing her gaze intently on his, said, in beseeching tones,-- + +"Oh, father! let not the happy smile that just now lighted your features +depart from them again! Believe me, we shall still be happy. Fancy +yourself in the position that awaits us: and what do you see in it so +frightful? I have skill to do all that woman can do; and then your +instructions have made me able to instruct others in the arts and +sciences you have taught me. I shall be strong and active enough for +both of us, and God will bless my labor. Behold us, father, peacefully +at home, with tranquil hearts and always together in our neat apartment: +we will love one another, set misfortune at defiance, and live together +in the heaven that our common sacrifice has made! Oh, it seems to me, +father, that the true happiness of our lives is only beginning! How can +you still give yourself up to despair when pleasure is in store for +us,--a pleasure such as few upon earth are permitted to enjoy?" + +Monsieur De Vlierbeck looked at his daughter with rapture. Those +enthusiastic but gentle tones had so touched his heart, that noble +courage had inspired him with so much admiration, that tears of joy +filled his eyes. With one hand he drew Lenora to his bosom, and, placing +the other on her forehead, he looked to heaven with religious fervor. A +silent prayer, a blessing on his child, an outpouring of thankfulness, +arose from his heart, like the sacred flame from an altar, toward the +throne of Him who had bestowed that angelic child! + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +A few days afterward, as De Vlierbeck had predicted, the public sale of +all their property was inserted in the papers and placarded over the +city and neighborhood. The affair made some noise, and every one was +astonished at the ruin of a person whom they considered rich and +miserly. + +As the sale was stated to be in consequence of his departure from the +country, the gossips would have been unable to discover the genuine +motive if the news had not come from Antwerp that De Vlierbeck had +resolved to pay his debts and was wretchedly poor. The cause of his +misfortune--that is to say, his liability for his brother--was known, +though all the circumstances were not fully understood. + +As soon as the publication was made, the poor old gentleman led, if +possible, a more retired life than ever, in order to avoid explanations. +Resigned to his fate, he quietly awaited the day of sale; and, although +his feelings often strove to master his resolution, the constant care +and encouragement of his noble-hearted daughter enabled him to encounter +the fatal hour with a degree of pride. + +In the mean while he received a letter from Gustave at Rome, containing +a few lines for his child. The young man declared that absence from +Lenora had only increased his affection, and that his only consolation +was the hope of future union with her by the bonds of marriage. But in +other respects the letter was not encouraging. He said with pain that +all his efforts to change his uncle's determination had, up to that +time, been fruitless. De Vlierbeck did not conceal from Lenora that he +no longer had a hope of her union with Gustave, and that she ought to +strive against this unhappy love in order to escape from greater +disappointment. Indeed, since her father's poverty had become publicly +known, Lenora was convinced that duty commanded her to renounce every +hope; yet she could not help feeling pleased and strengthened by the +thought that Gustave still loved her, and that he, whose memory filled +her heart, dreamed of her in his distant home and mourned her absence. + +She kept her promises to him faithfully. How often did she pronounce his +name in the solitude of that garden! How often did she sigh beneath the +catalpa, as if anxious to trust the winds with a message of love to +other lands! In her lonely walks she repeated his tender words; and +often did she stop musingly at some well-remembered spot where he had +blessed her with a tender word or look. + +But poor De Vlierbeck was obliged to undergo additional pain; for, as if +every misfortune that could assail him was to be accumulated at that +moment on his devoted head, he received from America the news of his +brother's death! The unfortunate wanderer died of exhaustion in the +wilderness near Hudson's Bay. The poor gentleman wept long and bitterly +for the loss of a brother whom he tenderly loved; but he was soon and +roughly turned aside to encounter the catastrophe of his own fate. + +The day of sale arrived. Early in the morning Grinselhof was invaded by +all sorts of people, who, moved by curiosity or a desire to purchase, +overran every nook and corner of the house, examining the furniture and +estimating its value. + +De Vlierbeck had caused every thing that was to be sold to be carried +into the most spacious apartments, where, aided by his daughter, he +passed the entire preceding night in dusting, cleaning, and polishing +the various articles, so that they might prove more attractive to +competitors. He had no personal interest in this labor; for, his funded +property having been sold some days before at great loss, it was certain +that the sale of all his remaining possessions would not exceed the +amount of his debts. It was a noble sentiment of honor and probity that +compelled him to sacrifice his rest for his creditors, so as to diminish +as much as he could the amount of their losses. It was clear that De +Vlierbeck did not intend to prolong his stay at Grinselhof after the +sale; for among the articles to be offered were the only two bedsteads +in the house, with their bedding, and a large quantity of clothes +belonging to him and his daughter. + +Very early in the day Lenora went to the farm-house, where she remained +until all was over. At ten o'clock the saloon was full of people. Nobles +and gentlefolks of both sexes were mixed up with brokers and second-hand +dealers who had come to Grinselhof with the hope of getting bargains. +Peasants might be seen talking together, in low voices, with surprise at +Do Vlierbeck's ruin; and there were even some who laughed openly and +joked as the auctioneer read the terms of sale! + +As the salesman put up a very handsome wardrobe, De Vlierbeck himself +entered the apartment and mingled with the bidders. His appearance +caused a general movement in the crowd; heads went together and men +began to whisper, while the bankrupt was stared at with insolent +curiosity or with pity, but by the greater part with indifference or +derision. Yet, whatever malicious feeling existed in the assembly, it +did not last long; for the firm demeanor and imposing countenance of De +Vlierbeck was never on any occasion more instinct with that dignity +which inspires respect. He was poor; fortune had struck him a cruel +blow; but in his manly look and calm features there beamed a brave and +independent soul which misfortune itself had been unable to crush. + +The auctioneer went on with the sale, assisted in his description of +the various articles by Monsieur De Vlierbeck, who informed the bidders +of their origin, antiquity, and value. Occasionally some gentleman of +the neighborhood, who, in better days, had been on good terms with +Lenora's father, approached him with words of sympathy; but he always +managed to escape adroitly from these indiscreet attempts at +consolation. Whenever it was necessary for him to speak, he showed so +much self-command and composure that he was far above the idle +_compassion_ of that careless crowd; yet if his countenance was calm and +dignified, his heart was weighed down by absorbing grief. All that had +belonged to his ancestors--articles that were emblazoned with the arms +of his family and had been religiously preserved as heirlooms for +several centuries--were sold at contemptible rates and passed into the +hands of brokers. As each historical relic was placed on the table or +held up by the auctioneer, the links of his illustrious race seemed to +break off and depart. When the sale was nearly over, the _portraits_ of +the eminent men who had borne the name of De Vlierbeck were taken down +from the walls and placed upon the stand. The first--that of the hero of +St. Quentin--was knocked off to a dealer for little more than three +francs! In the sale of this portrait, and the laughable price it +brought, there was so much bitter irony that, for the first time, the +agony that had been so long torturing De Vlierbeck's heart began to +exhibit its traces in his countenance. No sooner had the hammer fallen, +than, with downcast eyes and a sigh that was inaudible even to his +nearest neighbor, the stricken nobleman turned from the crowd and left +the saloon, so as not to witness the final sacrifice of the remaining +memorials that bound him to his race. + +The sun was but an hour or two above the horizon. A deathlike silence +had taken the place of the noise, bustle, and vulgarity that ruled at +Grinselhof during the morning; the solitary garden-walks were deserted, +the house-door and gate were closed, and a stranger might have supposed +that nothing had occurred to disturb the usual quiet of the spot. +Suddenly the door of the dwelling opened, and two persons appeared upon +the sill; one, a man advanced in life, the other, a pale and serious +woman. Each carried a small package and seemed ready for travel. Lenora +was dressed in a simple dark gown and bonnet, her neck covered by a +small square handkerchief. De Vlierbeck was buttoned up to the chin in a +coarse black greatcoat, and wore a threadbare cap whose large visor +nearly masked his features. Although it was evident that the homeless +travellers had literally stripped themselves of all superfluities and +had determined to go forth with the merest necessaries of decency, there +was something in the manner in which they wore their humble costumes +that distinctly marked their birth and breeding. The old man's features +were not changed; but it was difficult to say whether they expressed +pleasure, pain, or indifference. Lenora seemed strong and resolute, +although she was about to quit the place of her birth and separate +herself, perhaps forever, from all she had loved from infancy,--from +those aged groves beneath whose shadows the dawn of love first broke +upon her heart,--from that remembered tree at whose feet the timid +avowal of Gustave's passion had fallen on her ear. But a sense of duty +possessed and ruled her heart. Reason in her was not overmastered by +sensibility; and, when she saw her father tottering at her side, all her +energy was rallied in the effort to sustain him. + +They did not linger at the door, but, crossing the garden rapidly, +directed their steps toward the farm-house, which they entered to bid +its occupants farewell. Bess and her servant-maid were in the first +apartment below. + +"Mother Bess," said Monsieur De Vlierbeck, calmly, "we have come to bid +you good-by." + +Bess stared a moment anxiously at the travellers, and, lifting her apron +to her eyes, left the apartment; while the servant-maid leaned her head +against the window-frame and began to sob as if her heart would break. +In a short time Bess returned with her husband, whom she had found in +the barn. + +"Alas! is it true, sir," said the farmer, in a stifled voice,--"is it +true that you are going to leave Grinselhof, and that, perhaps, we shall +never see you again?" + +"Come, come, mother Bess," said the poor bankrupt, as he took and +pressed her hand; "don't weep on that account; you see we bear our lot +with resignation." + +Bess raised her head, threw her eyes once more over the humble dress of +her old master, and began to cry so violently that she could not utter a +word. Her husband strove manfully to repress his emotion; and, after an +effort or two, addressed Monsieur De Vlierbeck in a manly way:-- + +"May I ask the favor of you, sir, to let me say a word or two to you in +private?" + +De Vlierbeck entered the adjoining room, where he was followed by the +farmer, who shut the door carefully. + +"I hardly dare, sir," said he, "to mention my request; but will you +pardon me if it displeases you?" + +"Speak out frankly, my friend," returned De Vlierbeck, with a smile. + +"Look you, sir," stammered the tender-hearted laborer. "Every thing that +I have earned I owe to you. I had nothing when I married Bess; and yet, +with your kindness, we have managed to succeed. God's mercy and your +favor have made us prosperous; while you, our benefactors, have become +unfortunate and are forced to wander away from their home,--God knows +where! You may be forced to suffer privations and want; but that must +not be: I would reproach myself as long as I live. Oh, sir!" continued +he, as his voice faltered and his eyes filled with tears, "all that I +have on earth is at your service!" + +De Vlierbeck pressed the hard hand of the rustic with a trembling grasp, +as he replied,-- + +"You are a worthy man indeed, and I am, happy that it was once in my +power to protect and serve you; but I cannot accept your offer, my +friend: keep what you have earned by the sweat of your brow, and do not +concern yourself for our future fate, for, with God's help, we shall +find means to live." + +"Oh, sir," said the farmer, beseechingly, and clasping his hands in an +attitude of entreaty, "do not reject the trifle I offer you;"--he opened +a drawer and pointed to a small heap of silver.--"See!" said he; "that +is not the hundredth part of the good you have done us. Grant me this +favor, I beseech you: take this money, sir; and if it spare you a single +suffering or trial I shall thank God for it on my knees!" + +Tears streamed down the wan and wrinkled cheeks of the poor gentleman as +he replied,-- + +"Thanks! thanks! my friend; but I must refuse it. All persuasion is +useless. Let us leave this room!" + +"But, sir," cried the farmer, in astonishment, "where do you intend to +go? Tell me, for God's sake!" + +"I cannot," replied Monsieur De Vlierbeck, "for I don't know myself; +and, even if I did, prudence would make me silent." + +Uttering these words, he returned to the other room, where he found +everybody in tears. He saw at once that for his own sake as well as his +daughter's he must end these trying scenes; and accordingly, in a firm +voice, he told her it was time to be gone. There were a few more tender +and eager pressures of hands, a few more farewells, a few last looks at +the old homestead and its surroundings, and the bankrupt pair sallied +forth with their bundles, and, passing the bridge just at sunset, +departed on foot across the desolate moor. + +It is hard to bid farewell and quit the spots with which, even in a +summer's journey, we have formed agreeable associations: but harder far +it is to bid adieu forever to the home of our ancestors and the haunts +of our youth. This dreadful trial was passing in De Vlierbeck's heart. +From a distant point on the road where the domain of Grinselhof was +masked by thickets, the wanderer turned his eyes once more in the +direction of the old _château_. Big tears stood in his eyes and slowly +rolled down his hollow cheeks as he stood there, silent and motionless, +with clasped hands, gazing into vacancy. But night was rapidly falling +around the wayfarers; and, recalling him to consciousness with a kiss, +Lenora gently drew her father from the spot till they disappeared in the +windings of the wood. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +Monsieur De Vlierbeck had not been gone a week, when a letter addressed +to him from Italy reached the village post-office. The carrier inquired +of Farmer John where the old proprietor of Grinselhof had fixed his +residence; but neither from him, the notary, nor any one else in the +neighborhood, could he discover the bankrupt's retreat. The same fate +awaited three or four other letters which followed the first from Italy; +and, indeed, nobody bothered himself any more about the wanderers except +the peasant, who every market-day pestered the country-folks from every +quarter with questions about his old master. But no one had seen or +heard of him. + +Four months passed slowly by, when one morning a handsome post-chaise +stopped at the door of our old acquaintance the notary and dropped a +young gentleman in travelling-costume. + +"Where's your master?" said he impatiently to the servant, who excused +the notary under the plea of his present engagement with other visitors, +but invited the stranger to await his leisure in the parlor. + +The youth was evidently disconcerted by the delay; for he paced the +apartment with rapid strides and seemed altogether absorbed by some +anxiety or disappointment which made him extremely restless. The +notary's visitors seemed to be either very tedious clients or engaged in +very important business; for more than half an hour elapsed before that +functionary made his appearance. He came into the room ceremoniously, +prepared to measure his words and reception by his visitor's rank; but +no sooner did he perceive who it was than his calculating features +relaxed into a professional smile, and he advanced rapidly toward +Gustave with outstretched hands. + +"How are you, how are you, my dear sir?" said he. "I have been expecting +you for several days, and I am really happy to see you at last. I am +greatly flattered by the confidence you are disposed to place in me, and +am ready, whenever you please, to devote myself to your affairs. +By-the-way, I suppose there is a will?" + +A shadow passed over Gustave's brow and his face became serious as he +took a portfolio from his overcoat and drew forth a package of papers. + +"I am pained, sir, at your loss," said the notary. "Your excellent uncle +was my friend, and I deplore his death more than that of any one else. +It pleased God that he should die far away from his home. But such, +alas! is man's fate. We must console ourselves by the reflection that we +are all mortal. Your uncle was _very_ fond of you, and I suppose you +have not been forgotten in his last moments?" + +"You may see for yourself," said Gustave, as he placed the package on +the table. + +The notary ran his eyes over the papers, and, as he perused them, his +face exhibited by turns surprise and satisfaction. + +"Permit me," said he, "to congratulate you, Monsieur Gustave; these +documents are all in order and unassailable. Heir of all his fortune! Do +you know, sir, that you are more than a _millionaire_?" + +"We will speak of that another time," said Gustave, interrupting him +rather sharply. "I called on you to-day to ask a favor." + +"You have but to name it, sir." + +"You were the notary of Monsieur De Vlierbeck?" + +"I was." + +"I heard from my uncle that Monsieur De Vlierbeck had become very poor. +I have reasons for desiring that his misfortunes may not be prolonged." + +"Sir," said the notary, "I presume that you intend to do him an act of +kindness; and, in truth, it could not be bestowed on a worthier man, for +I know the cause of his ruin and sufferings. He was a victim of +generosity and honor. He may have carried these virtues to imprudence +and even to madness; but he deserved a better fate." + +"And now, sir," said Gustave, "I want you to let me know, with the +least amount of details possible, what I can do to assist De Vlierbeck +without wounding his pride. I know the condition of his affairs; for my +uncle told me all about them. Among other debts there was a bond for +four thousand francs, which belongs to the heirs of Hoogebaen: I want +that bond _immediately_, even if I have to pay four times as much as it +is worth." + +The notary stared at Gustave without replying. + +"You seem disconcerted by my demand," said Gustave, somewhat anxiously. + +"Not exactly," returned the notary; "but I do not altogether understand +your emotion, although I fear the news I must impart will affect you +painfully. If my anticipations are correct I have cause to be sorry for +you, sir!" + +"Explain yourself," cried Gustave, alarmed; "explain yourself, sir! Has +death been at Grinselhof? Is my last hope destroyed?" + +"No, no," replied the notary, quickly; "don't tremble so; they both +live, but they have been stricken by a great misfortune." + +"Well? well?" exclaimed Gustave, with questioning eagerness, rising from +his chair. + +"Be calm, be calm, sir," said the notary, soothingly; "sit down and +listen; it is not so terrible as you may perhaps think, since fortune +enables you to soften their misery." + +"Oh, God be thanked!" cried Gustave. "But let me beg you to hasten your +disclosures, for your slowness racks me!" + +"Know, then," continued the notary, "that during your absence the bond +in question fell due. For many months De Vlierbeck made unavailing +efforts to find money to honor it at maturity; but all his property was +mortgaged, and no one would assist him. In order to escape the +mortification of a forced sale, De Vlierbeck offered every thing at +public auction, even down to his furniture and clothes! The sale +produced about enough to pay his debts, and everybody was satisfied by +the honorable conduct of De Vlierbeck, who plunged himself into absolute +beggary to save his name." + +"And so he lives in the _château_ of his family only as a tenant?" + +"No; he has left it." + +"And where does he reside, then? I want to see him instantly." + +"I do not know." + +"How?--you do not know?" + +"Nobody knows where he dwells: he left the province without informing +any one of his designs." + +"Alas!" cried Gustave, with profound emotion, "and is it so? Shall I be +forced to live longer without them?--without knowing what has become of +them? Can you give me no hint or clue to their residence? Does nobody, +nobody know where they are?" + +"Nobody," replied the notary. "The evening after their sale De Vlierbeck +left Grinselhof on foot and crossed the moor by some unknown road: I +made efforts to discover his retreat, but always without success." + +As this sad news was imparted to Gustave he grew deadly pale, trembled +violently, and covered his forehead with his clasped hands, as if +striving to conceal the big tears that ran from his eyes. What the +notary first told him of De Vlierbeck's misfortunes had wounded his +sensibility, though he was less struck by that recital, because he had +already become partially aware of the poor gentleman's embarrassment; +but the certainty that he could not _immediately_ discover his beloved +Lenora and snatch her from want overwhelmed him with the bitterest +anguish. + +The notary fixed his eyes on the young man, shrugged his shoulders, and +regarded him with an expression of pity. + +"You are young, sir," said he, "and, like most men at your time of life, +exaggerate both pain and pleasure. Your despair is unfounded; for it is +easy in our time to discover people whom we want to find. With a little +money and diligence we may be sure, in a few days, to discover Monsieur +De Vlierbeck's retreat, even if he has gone abroad to a foreign country. +If you are willing to charge me with the pursuit I will spare neither +time nor trouble to bring you satisfactory news." + +Gustave stared hopefully at the notary as he grasped his hand and +replied, with a smile of gratitude,-- + +"Oh, render me that inestimable service, sir! Spare no money; ransack +heaven and earth if it is necessary; but, in God's name, let me know, +and let me know _soon_, where De Vlierbeck and his daughter are hidden. +It is impossible for me to describe the sufferings of my heart or the +ardor of my desire to find them. Let me assure you that the first good +news you bring will be more grateful to my soul than if you had restored +me to life." + +"Fear nothing, sir," answered the notary. "My clerks shall write letters +of inquiry this very night in every direction. To-morrow morning early I +will be off to Brussels and secure assistance from the public offices. +If you authorize me to spare no expense the secret will disclose +itself." + +"And I," said Gustave,--"I will put the numerous correspondents of our +house under contribution, and nothing shall be omitted to detect their +refuge, even if I have to travel over Europe." + +"Be of good cheer, then, Monsieur Gustave," said the notary; "for I +doubt not we shall soon attain our end. And, now that you are assured of +my best services, I will be gratified if you allow me to speak to you a +moment quietly and seriously. I have no right to ask what are your +intentions, and still less the right to suppose that those intentions +can be any thing else than proper in every respect. May I inquire if it +is your design to marry Mademoiselle Lenora?" + +"That is my irrevocable determination," replied the young man. + +"Irrevocable?" said the notary. "Be it so! The confidence which your +venerable uncle was always pleased to repose in me, and my position as +notary of the family, impose on me the duty of setting before you coolly +what you are about to do. You are a _millionaire_; you have a name which +in commerce alone represents an immense capital. Monsieur De Vlierbeck +is penniless; his ruin is generally known; and the world, justly or +unjustly, looks askance at a ruined man. With your fortune, with your +youth and person, you may obtain the hand of an heiress and double your +income!" + +Gustave listened to the first words of this calculating essay with +evident impatience; but he soon turned away his eyes and began to fold +up the papers and put them in his portfolio. As the notary finished, he +answered, quickly,-- + +"Well, well, I suppose you have done your duty, and I thank you; but we +have had enough of that. Tell me who owns Grinselhof now?" + +The man of business appeared considerably disconcerted by the +contemptuous interruption of his visitor; yet he strove to conceal his +mortification by a sorry smile, as he replied,-- + +"I see, sir, that you have taken a firm stand and will do as you please. +Grinselhof was bought in by the mortgagees, for the price offered was +below its value." + +"Who lives there?" + +"It is uninhabited. No one goes to the country in winter." + +"Can it be bought from its present proprietor?" + +"Certainly. I am authorized to offer it to any one for the amount of the +mortgages." + +"Then Grinselhof belongs to _me!_ Be kind enough to inform the owners of +it at once!" + +"Very well, sir. Consider Grinselhof as your property from this moment. +If you wish to visit it you will find the keys at the tenant's house." + +Gustave took his hat and made ready to go, and, as he did so, pressed +the notary's hand with evident cordiality:-- + +"I am tired and need repose, for I feel somewhat overcome by the sad +news you have given me. May God help you in your efforts to fulfil your +promises! My gratitude will surpass all you can imagine. Farewell till +to-morrow!" + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + +Spring, gentle spring, had thrown aside the funeral garb of winter, and +earth awoke again to vigorous life. Grinselhof reappeared in all the +splendor of its wild, natural scenery; its majestic oaks displayed +their verdant domes, its roses bloomed as sweetly as of old, +elder-blossoms filled the air with delicious odor, butterflies fluttered +through the garden, and every thicket was vocal with the song of birds. + +Nothing seemed changed at Grinselhof: its roads, its paths, were still +deserted, and sad was the silence that reigned in its shadows. Yet +immediately around the house there was more life and movement than +formerly. At the coach-house two grooms were busy washing and polishing +a new and fashionable coach; while the neigh of horses resounded from +the stable. A trim waiting-maid stood on the door-sill laughing and +joking with the lackeys, and a respectable old butler looked knowingly +on the group. + +Suddenly the clear silvery ring of a bell was heard from the parlor, and +the waiting-maid ran in, exclaiming, "Good Heavens! there's Monsieur +ringing for his breakfast, and it is not ready yet!" + +A few moments afterward she was seen mounting the staircase with a rich +silver salver covered with breakfast-things; and, entering the parlor, +she placed them silently on a table before a young gentleman who seemed +entirely absorbed by his own thoughts, and then instantly left the room +without a word. + +The young man began his meal with a careless, indifferent air, as if he +either had no appetite or did not know what he was about. The furniture +of the apartment in which he sat presented odd and striking contrasts +to an observer. While some of the articles were remarkable for the +richness and elegance of their modern style, there were chairs, tables, +and cabinets whose sombre hue and elaborate carving denoted an antiquity +of several centuries. On the walls were numerous pictures, dimmed by +smoke and time, encased in frames that had lost half their ornaments and +gilding. These were portraits of warriors, statesmen, priests, and +prelates. In the dim corners of the canvas armorial bearings of the +house of De Vlierbeck might be seen, and many of the articles of +furniture were embellished with the same blazonry. + +We were told a while ago that a public sale at Grinselhof had dispersed +among a crowd of competitors every thing that belonged to Monsieur De +Vlierbeck. How has it come to pass that these portraits have returned to +their old nails on walls which they seemed to have abandoned forever? + +The listless youth rose from the table, walked slowly about the room, +stopped, looked mournfully at the portraits, recommenced his walk, and +approached an antique casket placed on a bracket in the corner. He +opened it with apparent indifference and took out some simple +jewelry,--a pair of ear-rings and a coral necklace. He gazed long at +these objects as he held them in his hand; a few tears fell on them, a +deep sigh escaped from his bosom, and he then replaced the jewels in +their casket. + +Quitting the room, he descended to the court. Waiters and servant-maids +saluted as he passed: he acknowledged their civility by a silent nod and +went forth to the most secluded parts of the garden. Stopping at the +foot of a wild chestnut-tree, he threw himself on the ground, where he +sat long in moody reverie until aroused by the ringing voice of Bess, +who approached him with a book in her hand:-- + +"Here, sir, is a book which Mademoiselle Lenora used to read. My goodman +went yesterday to market, where he found the farmer who bought it at the +sale. After market was over John accompanied the peasant home, and would +not leave him till he had bought the book back again. I suppose it is an +excellent book, as Mademoiselle used to love it so; and neither gold nor +silver could ever get it from me if it wasn't for you, sir. Husband says +it is called LUCIFER'!" + +While she was running on, Gustave seized the book eagerly and ran over +its pages without paying attention to what she said. "Thank you, thank +you for your kind attention, mother Bess!" said he. "You can't think how +happy I am whenever I find any thing that belonged to your mistress. Be +assured that I will never forget your goodness." After offering this +expression of his thanks to the farmer's wife he opened the book again +and began to read without heeding her further. But the good woman did +not go away, and soon interrupted him with a question:-- + +"May I ask, sir, if you have any news yet of our young lady?" + +Gustave shook his head. "Not the least scrap of news, mother Bess. My +search has been fruitless." + +"That is unlucky, sir. God knows where she may be and what she is +suffering. She told me before she went away that she meant to work for +her father; but one must have learned to work very early in life to earn +a living by one's hands. My heart almost breaks when I think of it. +Perhaps that good, sweet young lady is reduced to work for other people +and labors like a slave to get a mouthful of bread! I have been a +servant, sir, and I know what it is to work from morning until night for +others. And she,--she who is so beautiful, so clever, so kind! Oh, sir, +it is terrible! I can't help crying like a child, thinking of her +miserable life!" + +Gustave was overcome by the simple eloquence of the poor woman, and +remained silent. + +"And then to think," continued Bess, "she might now be so happy! that +she might again become mistress of Grinselhof, where she was born and +grew up! that her father might pass his old days in quietness, and that +they are now wandering about the world poor, sick, abandoned outcasts! +Oh, sir, it is sad to know that our benefactors are unhappy, and to be +able to do nothing for them but pray to God and hope for his mercy!" + +The simple-minded woman, without meaning it, had touched some tender +strings in Gustave's heart; and, as she saw the silent tears coursing +their way down his cheeks, she said, entreatingly,-- + +"Oh, pardon me, sir, for having grieved you so by my talk! but my heart +is full, and my feelings force their way without knowing it. If I have +done wrong, I am sure you are too kind to be angry with me for loving +our young lady so much and bemoaning her misfortune. Have you no orders +for me to-day, sir?" + +She was about to go, as Gustave raised his downcast eyes and, +restraining his tears, exclaimed,-- + +"I--angry with you, mother Bess?--and angry, too, because you show +affection for our poor Lenora? Oh, no, no! On the contrary, I bless you +for it with all my heart! The tears you betrayed from my heart have done +me good; for I am very unhappy. Life is a burden; and if God, in his +mercy, would take me away from earth, I would gladly die. All hope of +seeing her again in this world is gone. Perhaps she is awaiting me in +the next!" + +"Oh, sir! sir! how you talk!" cried the peasant-woman, in alarm. "No! +no! that cannot be!" + +"You grieve, my good woman, and shed tears for her," continued Gustave, +without heeding the interruption; "but don't you see how _my_ soul must +be consumed with despair? Alas! for months and months I have implored +God for the happiness of seeing her once more! I overcame all obstacles +to our marriage, and I became almost mad with joy and impatience as I +flew like lightning to the home where I left her; and then my only +recompense, my only consolation, was to find her _gone_ and the house of +her fathers a wilderness!--to know, alas! that she is poor, and, +perhaps, languishing in want!--to know that my noble-hearted and beloved +Lenora sinks under the weight of misfortune, and yet to be able to do +nothing to relieve her!--to be condemned to count in powerless despair +her days of affliction, and not even to be sure that suffering has not +killed her!" + +A profound silence followed this complaining outburst, and the +peasant-woman, with her head bent to the earth, sympathized with him +truly, till, after a few moments, she attempted to console the sufferer +in her simple way:-- + +"Oh, sir, I understand only too well how much you endure! And yet why +despair? Who knows but we may receive some news of our dear young lady +when we least expect it? God is good; he will hear our prayers; and our +joy for her return will make us forget all our grief!" + +"Oh that your prophecy might be realized, my good woman! But seven +months have already gone since they departed. During three of them a +hundred persons have been employed in seeking the wanderers. They have +been sought for in every direction, and not the slightest intelligence +has been obtained; not a trace, not the least sign that they are even +alive! My reason tells me not to despair; but my heart magnifies my ills +and cries aloud that I have lost her!--lost her forever!" + +He was about quitting the garden, when a noise attracted his attention +as he pointed toward the road leading to the _château_. + +"Listen! Don't you hear something?" cried he. + +"It is the gallop of a horse," answered Bess, without comprehending why +the noise so much startled her master. + +"Poor fool!" said the young man to himself; "why am I so startled by the +passing of a horseman?" + +"But see! see! he is coming into the avenue!" cried Bess, with +increasing interest. "Oh, God! I am sure it is a messenger with news! +Heaven grant it may be good!" + +As she said this the rider passed through the gate at full gallop, and, +drawing rein at the door they had just reached, took a letter from his +pocket and handed it to the master of Grinselhof:-- + +"I come," said he, "from your notary, who ordered me to deliver you this +letter without a moment's delay." + +Gustave broke the seal with a trembling hand, while Bess, smiling with +hope, followed all her master's movements with staring eyes. + +As he read the first lines the anxious youth grew pale; but as he went +on a tremor ran through all his limbs, till with a hysterical laugh and +clasped hands he exclaimed,-- + +"Thanks! thanks! Oh, God! she is restored to me!" + +"Oh, sir, sir," cried Bess, "is it good news?" + +"Yes! yes! rejoice with me! Lenora lives! I know where she is!" answered +Gustave, half mad with delight, running into the house and calling all +the servants. "Quick! quick! Have out the travelling-carriage and the +English horses! My trunk! my cloak! Quick! fly!" + +He carried forth with his own hands a number of things that were +necessary for the journey. His fleetest horses were attached to the +vehicle; and, although they strained their bits and pawed the ground as +if impatient for the road, the postillion lashed them fiercely as they +dashed through the gateway. + +In a moment, and almost as if by magic, the coach was on the road to +Antwerp and hidden from the staring crowd by a cloud of dust. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + +Suppose that we too take a trip in fancy to Nancy, in France, in search +of poor De Vlierbeck and his daughter. Let us wind through an immense +number of narrow streets in the quarter known as the Old Town and at +last halt at the door of an humble cobbler. This is the place. Pass +through the shop, mount the staircase; another story yet; open that +door, and here we are. + +Every thing indicates poverty; but order and neatness preside over the +room. The curtains of the little bed are white as snow, the stove is +polished with black-lead till it shines, and the floor is sanded in +Flemish style. Mignonette and violets bloom in a box on the window-sill, +and a bird chirps in its cage above them. A young woman sits in front of +the window; but she is so intent on the linen she is sewing that no +other sound is heard in the silent room but that made by the motion of +her hands as they guide the needle. She is dressed in the plainest +garments; yet they are cut and put on so gracefully that one may declare +at a glance she is a lady. + +Poor Lenora! And this was what fate had in store for thee! To hide thy +noble birth under the humble roof of a mechanic; to seek a refuge from +insult and contempt far from thy childhood's home; to work without +relaxation; to fight against privation and want, and to sink at last +into shame and poverty, heart-broken by despair! Misery, doubtless, has +cast a yellow tinge upon thy cheeks and stolen its radiance from thy +glance. But no! thank God, it is not so! Thy heroic blood has +strengthened thee against fate, and thy beauty is even more ravishing +than of old! If a cloistered life has chastened thy roses, their tender +bloom has only become more touching. Thy brow has grown loftier and +purer; thine eyes still glisten beneath their sweeping lashes; and that +well-remembered smile still hovers around thy coral lips! + +Suddenly Lenora stopped working. Her hands rested on the work in her +lap, her head bent forward, her eyes were riveted dreamily on the +ground, and her soul, wandering perhaps to other lands, seemed to +abandon itself on the current of a happy reverie. After a while she +placed the linen she had been sewing on a chair and got up slowly. +Leaning languidly on the window-frame, she gathered a few violets, +played with them a while, and then looked abroad at the sky over the +roof-tops, as if longing to breathe once more the fresh air and enjoy +the spring. Soon her eyes fixed themselves compassionately on the bird +that hopped about its cage and ever and anon struck its bill against the +wires as if striving to get out. + +"Why dost thou want to leave us, dear little bird?" said she, softly. +"Why dost thou wish to be gone, dear comforter of our sadness? Sing +gayly to-day; father is well again, and life is once more a pleasure. +What is it makes thee flutter about so wildly and pant in thy cage? Ah! +is it not hard, dear little one, to be captive when we know there are +joy and freedom in the open air?--when we are born in the fields and +woods?--when we know that _there_ alone are independence and liberty. +Like thee, poor bird, I am a child of nature; I too have been torn from +my birthplace; I too bemoan the solitudes where my childhood was passed! +But has a friend or lover been snatched from thee--as from me--forever? +Dost thou grieve for something more than space and freedom? Yet why do I +ask? Thy love-season has come round again, has it not? and love is the +greatest blessing of thy little life! I understand thee, poor bird! I +will no longer be thy fate! Fly away, and God help you! Begone, and +enjoy the two greatest blessings of life! Ah, how thou singest as thy +wings bear thee away,--away to the sky and woods! Farewell! farewell!" +As she uttered these last words Lenora opened the cage-door and released +the bird, which darted away like an arrow. After this she resumed her +work and sewed on with the same zeal as before, till aroused by the +sound of footsteps on the staircase. + +"It is father! God grant he may have been lucky to-day!" + +Monsieur De Vlierbeck entered the room with a roll of paper in his hand, +and, throwing himself languidly into a chair, seemed altogether worn out +with fatigue. He had become very thin; his eyes were sunk in their +sockets, his cheeks were pale, and his whole expression was changed and +broken. It was very evident that sickness or depression, or perhaps +both, had made fearful ravages on his body as well as spirits. + +The poor old gentleman was wretchedly clad. It was evident that he had +striven as formerly to conceal his indigence, for there was not a stain +or grain of dust on his garments; but the stuff was threadbare and +patched, and all his garments were too large for his shrunken limbs. + +Lenora looked at him a moment anxiously. "You do not feel ill, father, +do you?" + +"No, Lenora," replied he; "but I am very wretched." + +Lenora said nothing, but embraced him tenderly and then knelt down with +his hand in hers. + +"Father," said she, "it is hardly a week since you were ill in bed: we +prayed to God for your restoration, and he listened to our prayers; you +are cured, dear father, and yet you give way anew at the first +disappointment. You have not been successful to-day, father? I see it in +your face. Well, what of it? Why should it interfere with our happiness? +We have long learned how to fight against fate. Let us be strong and +look misery in the face with heads up: courage is wealth; and so, father +dear, forget your disappointment. Look at me. Am I sad? do I allow +myself to be downcast and despairing? I suffered and wept enough when +you were ill; but, now that you are well again, come what may, your +Lenora will always thank God for his goodness!" + +The poor old man smiled feebly at the courageous excitement of his +daughter. + +"Poor child!" said he; "I understand very well how you strive to appear +strong in order to keep me up. May heaven repay your love, dear angel +whom God has given me! your word and smile control me so completely that +I may say a part of your soul passes with them into mine. I came home +just now quite heart-broken and half crazy with despair; but you, my +child, have restored me to myself again." + +"That's right, father," said she, rising from her knees and sitting down +on a chair close beside him; "come, father, tell me now all your +adventures to-day, and afterward I will tell you something that will +make you laugh." + +"Alas, my child! I went to Monsieur Roncevaux's academy to resume my +English lessons; but during my sickness an Englishman was put in my +place: we have lost our best bit of bread." + +"Well, how is it about Mademoiselle Pauline's German lesson?" + +"Mademoiselle Pauline has gone to Strasburg and will not come back +again. You see, Lenora, that we are losing every thing at once; so, have +I not cause to be anxious and downcast? This news seems to overcome you, +my child, strong as you are!" + +In truth, Lenora was somewhat appalled by the dejecting words; but her +father's remark restored her self-possession, and she replied, with a +forced smile,-- + +"I was thinking, father, of the pain these dismissals gave you, and they +really annoyed me Yet there are some things that ought to make me happy +to-day. Yes, father, I have some good news for you!" + +"Indeed? You astonish me!" + +Lenora pointed to the chair. + +"Do you see that linen?" said she. "I have a dozen fine shirts to make +out of it; and when they are done there are as many more waiting for me. +They pay me good wages, and I think, from what they say, that in time +there will be something better in store for me. But as yet that is only +a hope,--only a hope." + +De Vlierbeck seemed particularly struck by the last remark of his +daughter, as he looked at her anxiously. + +"Well! well! what is it that makes you so happy and hopeful?" said he. + +Lenora took up her sewing again and went busily to work. + +"You wouldn't guess it in a week, father! Do you know who gave me this +work? It is the rich lady who lives in the house with a court-yard, at +the corner of our street. She sent for me this morning, and I went to +her while you were abroad. You are surprised, father; are you not?" + +"I am, indeed, Lenora. You are speaking of Madame De Royan, for whom you +were employed to embroider those handsome collars. How does she come to +know you?" + +"I really don't know. Perhaps the person who gave me her collars to +embroider told her who worked them: she must have spoken to her about +your illness and our poverty, for Madame De Royan knows more of us than +you imagine.' + +"Heavens! She does not know--" + +"No! she knows nothing about our _name_ or from whence we came." + +"Go on, Lenora; you excite my curiosity. I see you want to teaze me +to-day!" + +"Well, father, if you are tired I will cut my story short. Madame De +Royan received me with great kindness, complimented me on my embroidery, +asked me some questions about our misfortunes, and consoled and +encouraged me generously. 'Go, my child!' said she, as she gave me the +linen; 'work with a good will and be prudent: I will protect you. I have +a great deal of sewing to do,--enough for two months at least. But that +would not be enough; I mean to recommend you to all my friends, and I +mean to see that you are paid for your work in such a way that your +father and yourself shall be above want.' I took her hand and kissed it, +for I was touched by the delicacy with which she give me _work_ and not +_alms_! Madame De Royan understood me, and, laying her hand kindly on my +shoulder, 'Keep up your spirits, Lenora,' said she; 'the time will come +when you must take apprentices to help you, and so by degrees you will +become mistress of a shop.' Yes, father, that's what she said; I know +her words by heart." + +With this she sprang to her father, embraced him, and added, with +considerable emotion,-- + +"What say you to it, father? Is it not good news? Who knows what may +come to pass? Apprentices,--a shop,--a store,--a servant: you will keep +the books and buy our goods, I will sit in the room and superintend the +workwomen! How sweet it is to be happy and to know that we owe all to +the work of our hands! Then, father, your promise will indeed be +fulfilled, and then you may pass your old days happily." + +There was a look of such extreme serenity in Monsieur De Vlierbeck's +face, an expression of such vivid happiness was reflected from his +wrinkled cheeks, that it was evident he had allowed his daughter's story +to bewitch him into entire forgetfulness. But he soon found it out, and +shook his head mournfully at the enchantress:-- + +"Oh! Lenora, Lenora, you witch! how easily have you managed to seduce +me! I followed your words like a child, and I really believed in the +happiness you promised. But let us be serious. The shoemaker spoke to me +again about the rent, and asked me to pay it. We still owe him twenty +francs, do we not?" + +"Yes, twenty francs for rent, and about twelve francs to the grocer: +that's all. When the shirts are done we will give my wages on account to +the shoemaker, and I know he will be satisfied. The grocer is willing to +give us longer credit. I received two francs and a half for my last +work. You see very well, father, that we are still quite rich, and +before a month is over will be out of debt entirely." + +Poor De Vlierbeck seemed quite consoled; and a gleam of fortitude shone +in his black eyes as he approached the table, unrolling the paper he had +brought with him on his return. + +"I have something to do too, Lenora. Professor Delsaux gave me some +pieces of music to copy for his pupils, which will give me four francs +in a couple of days. And now be quiet a while, my dear child; my nerves +are so shattered that if we talk I shall make mistakes and spoil the +paper." + +"I may sing, father; may I not?" + +"Oh, yes; that won't annoy me: your song will please my ear without +distracting my attention." + +The old gentleman went on writing, while Lenora, with a rich and joyous +voice, repeated all her songs and poured forth her heart in melody. She +sewed meanwhile diligently, and, from time to time, glanced at her +father to see whether the cloud had fallen again over his face and +spirit. + +They had been a considerable time engaged with their several +occupations, when the parish clock struck; and, putting down her work +hastily, Lenora took a basket from behind the stove and prepared to go +out. Her father looked up with surprise as he said,-- + +"What! _already_, Lenora?" + +"It has just struck half-past eleven, father." + +Without making any other remark, De Vlierbeck bent his head again over +the music-paper and continued his task. + +Lenora soon returned from her walk with her basket full of potatoes and +something else tied up in a paper, which she hid beneath a napkin. Then, +pouring some water in a pot which she placed beside her chair, she began +to sing, and threw in the potatoes as she peeled them. After this she +kindled a fire in the stove and set the pot of potatoes to boil. After +the fire burned well she put a skillet, with a little butter and a good +deal of vinegar, over the coals. + +Up to this moment her father had not looked up nor intermitted his work; +he saw her getting dinner ready every day, and it was seldom that any +variety of food appeared on their table. But, hardly had the potatoes +begun to boil, when an agreeable perfume was diffused through the +chamber. De Vlierbeck glanced up from his writing, a little +reproachfully, as he exclaimed,-- + +"What! meat on Friday, my child? you know very well we must be +economical." + +"Don't be angry, father," answered Lenora; "the doctor ordered it." + +"You are trying to deceive me, are you not?" + +"No, no; the doctor said you required meat at least three times a week, +if we could get it; it will do you more good than any thing else in +restoring your strength." + +"And yet we are in debt, Lenora!" + +"Come, come, father, let our debts alone, everybody will be paid and +satisfied. Don't trouble yourself about them any more: I'll answer for +them all. And now be so good as to take your papers off of the table, so +that I can lay the cloth." + +De Vlierbeck got up and did as he was asked. Lenora covered the +deal-boards with a snowy napkin and placed on it two plates and a dish +of potatoes. It was indeed an humble table, at which all was extremely +common; yet every thing was so neat, fresh, and savory, that a rich man +might have sat down to it with appetite. They took their places and +asked a blessing on the meal; but, before the prayer was finished, +Lenora started suddenly and interrupted her father. With eyes staring +toward the door and head leaned forward, she listened eagerly, motioning +her father with her hand to be silent. + +There was a sound of footsteps and voices on the staircase, and, as they +approached, Lenora thought she recognised the tones. She bounded to the +door with a sharp cry, and, closing it, leaned against the boards to +prevent any one from entering. + +"For God's sake, child, what are you afraid of?" cried her father. + +"GUSTAVE! GUSTAVE!" whispered Lenora, with pale and quivering lips. "He +is there! he is there! I hear him. Take away that table quickly. Of all +the world he is the last who should see our misery!" + +De Vlierbeck's face grew dark, his head became erect and fierce, and his +eyes flashed with their ancient fire. Advancing silently to his +daughter, he drew her from the door. Lenora fled to a corner of the +room, and covered her face, which was red with mortification. + +Suddenly the door opened, and a young man rushed into the chamber with +an exclamation of joy as he advanced, open-armed, toward the trembling +girl, whom he would have pressed to his breast had not the hand and look +of her father arrested his steps. + +For a moment he stood like one stupefied, glancing from the wretched +board to the miserable dress of the old man and his daughter. The sight +affected the intruder, for he covered his eyes as he exclaimed, in +subdued and despairing tones, "Oh, God! has it come to this?" + +But he did not allow himself to remain long under the influence either +of his feelings or of her father, and, advancing anew to Lenora, seized +and pressed both her hands ardently. + +"Oh! look at me, Lenora! Let me see if thy heart has preserved the +memory of our love!" + +Lenora's eyes met his at once and with affection. It was a look that +completely revealed her pure and constant soul. + +"Oh, happiness!" cried Gustave, enthusiastically; "thou art still my +dear and tender Lenora! Thank God, no power on earth can ever separate +me again from my betrothed! Receive, receive the kiss of our union!" + +He stretched his arms toward her. Lenora, trembling with agony and +happiness, stood downcast and blushing, as if awaiting the solemn kiss; +but, before Gustave could accomplish the act, De Vlierbeck was by his +side, and, grasping his hand, held him motionless. + +"Monsieur Denecker," said her father, severely, "have the goodness to +moderate your transports. We are certainly glad to see you once more; +but neither you nor I can forget what we are. Respect our poverty!" + +"What do you say?" cried Gustave. "_What you are_! You are my +friend,--my father. Lenora is my betrothed! Oh heaven! why look at me so +reproachfully?" + +He seized the hand of Lenora again, and, drawing her toward her father, +rapidly continued:-- + +"Listen! My uncle died in Italy and left me heir of all his property. He +commanded me on his death-bed to marry Lenora. I have searched heaven +and earth to find you. I have suffered for many months all the torture +that a nature like mine can endure; and at length I have discovered you! +I have come, sir, to ask the reward of my suffering. I lay my fortune, +heart, and life at your feet; and, in exchange, I implore the happiness +of leading Lenora to the altar. Grant me that favor, O my _father_! +Grinselhof awaits you. I bought it for you. Every thing is there again. +The portraits of your ancestors are in their places on the wall, and +every thing that was dear to you is restored. Come! let me watch your +old days, your declining years, with the veneration of a son! let me +make you happy again;--oh, how happy!" + +The old man's expression did not change, yet a tear moistened his eye. + +"Ah!" continued Gustave, "nothing on earth can again separate me from +her,--not even a father's power; for I feel that God himself has given +her to me! Yet pardon me, father, for my rashness, and bestow your +benediction!" + +De Vlierbeck seemed to have utterly forgotten the young man and his +transports; for he stood with clasped hands and eyes raised to heaven, +as if addressing his Maker in fervent prayer. At length his words began +to be heard distinctly:-- + +"Oh, Margaret! Margaret! rejoice on the bosom of God. My promise is +fulfilled;--thy child will be happy!" + +Gustave and Lenora stood before him hand in hand; and, as he threw his +arms around the young man,-- + +"May Heaven bless you for your love!" continued he. "Make my child +happy. She is your wife!" + +"Gustave, Gustave,--_my husband!_" exclaimed Lenora, as they threw +themselves into each other's arms, and the first kiss of love--the +first consecrated kiss--was exchanged on the breast of that happy +father, who wept over and blessed his children. + + * * * * * + +And now, gentle reader, I must inform you that I have had my own reasons +for concealing the situation and even the true name of the _château_ of +DE VLIERBECK. None of you will, therefore, ever know where Gustave and +Lenora dwell. I know Monsieur and Madame Denecker intimately, and have +taken many a walk around Grinselhof with two charming little children +and their venerable _grandfather_. I have often beheld the beautiful +picture of peace, love, and domestic happiness that is seen in that old +house beneath the grim ancestral portraits or in the fresh air under the +trees. I will not say who told me the story of this family. Let it +suffice that I know all the persons who have played a part in it, and +that I have often chatted with Farmer John and Dame Bess while they +poured forth their gossip about "The Poor Gentleman" and his trials. + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13576 *** diff --git a/13576-h/13576-h.htm b/13576-h/13576-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a0899d9 --- /dev/null +++ b/13576-h/13576-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,3037 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Poor Gentleman, by Hendrik Conscience</title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + P { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + } + HR { width: 33%; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; + } + BODY{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .note {margin-left: 2em; margin-right: 2em; margin-bottom: 1em;} /* footnote */ + .blkquot {margin-left: 4em; margin-right: 4em;} /* block indent */ + .pagenum {position: absolute; left: 92%; font-size: smaller; text-align: right;} /* page numbers */ + .sidenote {width: 20%; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding-left: 1em; font-size: smaller; float: right; clear: right;} + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span {display: block; margin: 0; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em;} + .poem .caesura {vertical-align: -200%;} + hr.full { width: 100%; } + a:link {color:#0000ff; + text-decoration:none} + link {color:#0000ff; + text-decoration:none} + a:visited {color:#0000ff; + text-decoration:none} + a:hover {color:#ff0000} + pre {font-size: 8pt;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> +</head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13576 ***</div> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Poor Gentleman, by Hendrik Conscience</h1> + <hr class="full" /> + <br /> + <br /> + <br /> + + <h1>THE POOR GENTLEMAN</h1> + <h4>BY</h4> + <h2>HENDRIK CONSCIENCE</h2> + <br /> + <h4>AUTHOR OF <i>THE CURSE OF THE VILLAGE</i>, <i>THE HAPPINESS OF + BEING RICH</i>, <i>VEVA</i>, <i>THE LION OF FLANDERS</i>, <i>COUNT + HUGO OF CRAENHOVE</i>, <i>WOODEN CLARA</i>, <i>RICKETICKETACK</i>, + <i>THE DEMON OF GOLD</i>, <i>THE VILLAGE INN-KEEPER</i>, <i>THE + CONSCRIPT</i>, <i>BLIND ROSA</i>, <i>THE AMULET</i>, <i>THE + MISER</i>, <i>THE FISHERMAN'S DAUGHTER</i>, ETC.</h4> + <br /> + + <h5>Translated Expressly for this Edition.</h5> + <br /> + <br /> + <hr style='width: 65%;' /> + <br /> + <br /> + <br /> + <h3>CONTENTS</h3> + <br /> + <center> + <table border="0"><tr><td align="left"> + <!-- Autogenerated TOC. Modify or delete as required. --> + <a href='#CHAPTER_I'><b>CHAPTER I.</b></a><br /> + <a href='#CHAPTER_II'><b>CHAPTER II.</b></a><br /> + <a href='#CHAPTER_III'><b>CHAPTER III.</b></a><br /> + <a href='#CHAPTER_IV'><b>CHAPTER IV.</b></a><br /> + <a href='#CHAPTER_V'><b>CHAPTER V.</b></a><br /> + <a href='#CHAPTER_VI'><b>CHAPTER VI.</b></a><br /> + <a href='#CHAPTER_VII'><b>CHAPTER VII.</b></a><br /> + <a href='#CHAPTER_VIII'><b>CHAPTER VIII.</b></a><br /> + <a href='#CHAPTER_IX'><b>CHAPTER IX.</b></a><br /> + <a href='#CHAPTER_X'><b>CHAPTER X.</b></a><br /> + <a href='#CHAPTER_XI'><b>CHAPTER XI.</b></a><br /> + <!-- End Autogenerated TOC. --> + </td></tr></table> + </center> + <br /> + <br /> + <hr style='width: 65%;' /> + <br /> + <br /> + <br /> + <a id="Preface_to_the_American_Edition" name='Preface_to_the_American_Edition'></a> + <h2>Preface to the American Edition.</h2> + <br /> + + <p>The story of "THE POOR GENTLEMAN," now given in our language for the first time, + is one of the series in which M. Conscience has delineated various grades of female + character in positions of trial. In "The Village Innkeeper" he has shown the weaker + traits of woman distracted between an inborn sense of propriety and a foolish + ambition for high, life. In the "Conscript" his heroine displays the nobler virtues + of uncorrupted humble life; and, with few characters, taken from the lowest walks, he + shows the triumph of honest, straightforward earnestness and pertinacious courage, + even when they are brought in conflict with authority. "The Poor Gentleman" closes + the series; and, selecting a heroine from the educated classes of his country-people + M. Conscience has demonstrated how superior a <i>genuine woman</i> becomes to all the + mishaps of fortune, and how successfully she subdues that imaginary <i>fate</i> + before which so many are seen to fall.</p> + <p>It would be difficult to describe this remarkable work without analyzing the tale + and criticizing its personages. This would anticipate the author and mar the interest + of his story. We must confine ourselves, therefore, to general remarks on its + structure and characteristics.</p> + <p><i>Pontmartin</i>, the distinguished French <i>feuilletonist</i>, says, in one of + his "Literary Chats," that these simple stories are "pearls set in Flemish + gold,—a gold which alchemysts seek for in alembics and furnaces, but which + Conscience has found in the inexhaustible veins of nature." "The Poor Gentleman," he + remarks, "is a tale of not more than a hundred and fifty pages; but I would not give + its shortest chapter for all the <i>romances</i> I ever read. The perplexed De + Vlierbeck—who ought to have had Caleb Balderstone for a servant—is one of + those characters that engrave themselves indelibly on our memory." In every trait and + detail the author has attained a photographic minuteness; which, while it is distinct + and sharp, never interferes with that motion, breadth, and picturesque effect that + impart life and reality to a story. Nor can we doubt that it will be read and re-read + as long as there is a particle of that feeling among us which installed the Vicar of + Wakefield, Paul and Virginia, the Crock of Gold, the Sketch-book, and the Tales of a + Traveller, among the heirlooms of every tasteful household. The "Tales of Flemish + Life" are additions to that rare stock of home-literature which is at once amiable + and gentle, simple and affectionate, familiar and tender, and which meets a quick + response from every honest heart and earnest spirit.</p> + <p>If it be objected that the stories are too short and sketchy for the praise that + has been bestowed on them, it may be answered that in their translation we have had + the best opportunity to observe the skill, power, and perception of character which + constitute their real merit. Simple as they seem, they are written with masterly art. + In design, elaborateness, tone, and finish, they resemble the works of the Flemish + School which have made us familiar with the Low Countries and their people through + the pictures of Ruysdael, Teniers, and Ostade. There is scarcely a leaf that does not + display some of those recondite or evanescent secrets of human nature which either + escape ordinary writers, or, when found by them, are spread out over volume instead + of being condensed into a page.</p> + <p><i>Baltimore, August</i>, 1856.</p> + <p>THE TRANSLATOR.</p> + <hr style='width: 65%;' /> + <a id="CHAPTER_I" name='CHAPTER_I'></a> + <h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> + <br /> + + <p>Near the end of July, 1842, an open <i>calèche</i> might have been seen + rolling along one of the three highways that lead from the frontiers of Holland + toward Antwerp. Although the vehicle had evidently been cleaned with the utmost care, + every thing about it betokened decay. Its joints were open, discolored, and + weather-beaten, and it swung from side to side on its springs like a rickety + skeleton. Its patched leathers shone in the sunshine with the oil that had been used + to freshen them, but the borrowed lustre could not hide the cracks and repairs with + which they were defaced. The door-handles and other parts of the vehicle that were + made of copper had been carefully polished, and the vestiges of silver-plating, still + visible in the creases of the ornaments, denoted a former richness which had been + almost entirely worn out by time and use.</p> + <p>The <i>calèche</i> was drawn by a stout, heavy horse, whose short and + lumbering gait intimated very clearly that he was oftener employed in the plough and + cart than in carrying his owner toward the capital.</p> + <p>A peasant-boy of seventeen or eighteen was perched on the driver's seat. He was in + livery; a tarnished gold band adorned his hat, and brass buttons glistened on his + coat; but the hat fell over his ears, and the coat was so large that the driver + seemed lost in it as in a bag. The garments had been worn by many of the lackey's + predecessors on the box, and, in a long series of years, had doubtless passed from + coachman to coachman till they descended to their present possessor.</p> + <p>The only person in the vehicle was a man about fifty years old. He was + unquestionably the master of both servant and cabriolet, for his look and deportment + commanded respect and consideration. With head depressed and moody air, he sat + motionless and dreamy in his seat till he heard the approach of other vehicles, when, + suddenly lifting his eyes, he would salute the strangers graciously and then + instantly relapse into his former attitude. A moment's glance at this person was + sufficient to excite an interest in him. His face, though hard and wrinkled, was so + regular and noble in its contour, his look so mild and yet so earnest and + penetrating, his broad brow so clear and lofty, that the most careless observer could + not doubt that he was endowed with the best qualities of human nature. Besides this, + there were unquestionable indications that he had been a sufferer. If a simple glance + at his features did not impress one with a conviction of this fact, it was confirmed + by the fringe of silvery hair that straggled over his temples, and the sombre, + melancholy fire that glimmered in his eyes like the last rays of expiring hope.</p> + <p>His dress was in perfect keeping with his physiognomy. It was of that neat and + simple style which always characterizes a man of the world who is governed by refined + and elegant tastes. His linen was spotlessly white, his cloth extremely fine, and his + well-brushed hat shone smartly in the sunshine. Occasionally, as some one passed on + the road, he might be seen to draw forth a handsome gold snuff-box and inhale a pinch + with so graceful an air that an observer would be convinced he belonged to the + highest classes of society. A malicious eye, it is true, might have discovered by + close inspection that the brush had been too familiar with his coat and worn it + threadbare, that his silk hat had been doctored to preserve its lustre and + smoothness, and that his gloves were elaborately darned. If an inquisitive critic + could have pried into the bottom of the vehicle, he would have detected a large crack + in the side of the left boot, beneath which a gray stocking had been carefully masked + with ink. Still, all these signs of poverty were so artfully concealed, and his dress + worn with so careless an air of opulence and ease, that every body might have + supposed the traveller did not put on better clothes only because he had a whim for + bad ones.</p> + <p>The <i>calèche</i> had rolled along rapidly for about two hours, when the + driver suddenly drew up at a small inn on the dike outside of the city of Antwerp. + The landlady and groom instantly sallied forth, and by their profound salutations and + civility exhibited their marked respect for a well-known stranger.</p> + <p>"It's a fine day, Monsieur Vlierbeck, isn't it?" said the dame; "yet it's a trifle + warm, however. Don't you think it would be well for the high-grounds if we had a + sprinkle more of rain, Monsieur Vlierbeck? Shall we give the horse some hay, Monsieur + Vlierbeck? But stay: I see, now, your coachman has brought his hay with him. Will you + take anything, Monsieur Vlierbeck?"</p> + <p>While the hostess was pouring forth this torrent of questions, Monsieur De + Vlierbeck got out of the vehicle, and, entering the house, addressed the most + flattering compliments to the dame about her good looks, inquired as to the health of + each of her children, and finished by apprizing her that he was obliged to be in town + instantly. Thereupon, shaking her cordially by the hand, yet with a condescending air + that marked and preserved the distance between them, he gave his orders to his + lackey, and, with a farewell bow, walked toward the bridge leading into the city.</p> + <p>At a solitary spot on the outer rampart Monsieur De Vlierbeck stopped, looked + round as if to see if any one was observing him, dusted his garments, brushed his hat + with a handkerchief, and then passed on through the Porte Rouge into the city of + Antwerp.</p> + <p>As he entered a town where he was likely to find himself constantly an object of + notice, he assumed a lofty carriage and self-satisfied air, which might have deceived + any one into the belief that he was the happiest man on earth. And yet—alas, + poor gentleman!—he was a prey to the profoundest agony! He was, perhaps, about + to suffer <i>humiliation</i>,—a humiliation that would cut him to the very + heart! But there was a being in the world whom he loved better than his life or + honor,—his only child, his daughter! For her—how frequently had he + already sacrificed his pride, how frequently had he suffered the pangs of martyrdom! + Still, so great a slave was he to this passionate love that every new endurance, + every new trial, raised him in his own estimation and exalted his pain into something + that ennobled and sanctified his very nature!</p> + <p>His heart beat violently as he entered deeper and deeper into the heart of the + city and approached the house he was about to visit. Soon after he stopped at a door, + and, as he pulled the bell, his hand trembled violently in spite of extraordinary + self-control; but as soon as a servant answered the summons he became master of + himself again.</p> + <p>"Is the notary in?" inquired the old gentleman. The servant replied affirmatively, + and, showing the visitor into a small room, went to apprize his master.</p> + <p>As soon as Monsieur De Vlierbeck was alone, he put his right foot over the left to + hide the rent in his boot, drew forth the gold snuff-box, and made ready to take a + pinch.</p> + <p>The notary came in. He was a spare, business-looking man, and was preparing to + salute his guest graciously, but no sooner did he perceive who it was than his face + grew dark and assumed that reserved air with which a cautious man arms himself when + he expects a request which he is predetermined to refuse. Instead, therefore, of + lavishing on Monsieur De Vlierbeck the compliments with which he habitually welcomed + his visitors, the notary confined himself to a few cold words of recognition and then + sat down silently in front of him.</p> + <p>Wounded and humbled by this ungracious reception, poor De Vlierbeck was seized + with a chill and became slightly pale; still, he managed to rally his nerves, as he + remarked, affably,—"Pray excuse me, sir; but, pressed by imperious necessity, I + have come once more to appeal to your kindness for a small service."</p> + <p>"What is it you wish of me?" answered the notary, tartly.</p> + <p>"I wish you to find another loan of a thousand <i>francs</i> for me,—or even + less,—secured by a mortgage on my property. I do not want all the money at + once, but I have especial need of two hundred <i>francs</i>, which I must ask the + favor of you to lend me to-day. I trust you will not deny me this trifling loan, + which will extricate me from the deepest embarrassment."</p> + <p>"A thousand <i>francs</i>, on mortgage?" growled the notary; "and who, pray, will + guarantee the interest? Your property is already mortgaged for more than it is + worth."</p> + <p>"Oh! you are mistaken, sir," exclaimed Monsieur De Vlierbeck, anxiously.</p> + <p>"Not the least in the world! By order of the persons who have already accommodated + you with money, I caused your property to be appraised at the very highest rates; and + the consequence is that your creditors will not get back their loans unless it shall + sell for an extraordinary price. Permit me to say, sir, that you have acted very + foolishly: had I been in your place, I would not have sacrificed all my fortune, and + my wife's too, to save a worthless fellow, even though he had been my brother!"</p> + <p>De Vlierbeck frowned, as a painful recollection shot through his mind, but said + nothing, though his hand grasped the golden snuff-box as if he would have crushed + it.</p> + <p>"By that imprudent act," continued the notary, "you have plunged yourself and your + child into absolute want; for you can no longer disguise it. For ten years—and + God knows at what cost—you have been able to keep the secret of your ruin; but + the inevitable hour is approaching, Monsieur De Vlierbeck, when you will be forced to + surrender every thing!"</p> + <p>De Vlierbeck riveted a look of doubt and agony on the notary as the latter + continued:—</p> + <p>"I must tell you frankly the condition of your affairs. Monsieur de Hoogebaen died + during his journey in Germany; his heirs found your bond for four thousand + <i>francs</i>, and have directed me <i>not</i> to renew it. If Monsieur Hoogebaen was + your friend his heirs certainly are not. During ten years you have failed to cancel + this debt, and have paid two thousand <i>francs</i> interest; so that, for your own + sake, it is time the transaction should be closed. Four months are still left, + Monsieur Vlierbeck, before the expiration of—"</p> + <p>"<i>Only</i> four months!" interrupted the poor gentleman, in a distressed tone; + "<i>only</i> four months, and then—oh, God!"</p> + <p>"Then your property will be sold according to law," said the notary, dryly, + finishing the sentence. "I can well understand, sir, that this is a painful prospect; + but, as it is a decree of fate that no one can control, you have nothing to do but + prepare to receive the blow. Let me offer to sell your estate as if you 'were leaving + the country.' By that means you will escape the mortification of a forced sale."</p> + <p>For several moments Monsieur De Vlierbeck remained silent, his face buried in his + hands, as if crushed by the notary's advice and callousness. At length he replied, + calmly but humbly,—</p> + <p>"Your counsel is, perhaps, wise and generous; yet I will not follow it. You know + that all my sacrifices, my painful life, my constant agony, have been patiently + endured for the sake of my only child. You alone know that all I do has but, one + purpose,—a purpose which I hold sacred. I have reason to believe that God is + about granting the earnest prayer I have daily offered for ten years. My daughter is + beloved by a rich gentleman, whose character I think I may confide in, and his family + appears to sympathize in all his views. <i>Four months!</i> it is but a short time, + alas! yet, ought I, by anticipating the legal period of a sale, to destroy all my + fond hopes? Ought I instantly to welcome misery for myself and my child when I see + the chance of sure relief from all we have suffered?"</p> + <p>"Then you want to <i>deceive</i> these people, whoever they may be? Do you not + suppose that by such a course of conduct you may make your daughter still more + wretched?"</p> + <p>At the word "<i>deceive</i>" the poor gentleman winced as if stung by an adder, + while a nervous thrill ran through his limbs and suffused his face with a blush of + shame.</p> + <p>"<i>Deceive!</i>" echoed he, bitterly; "oh, no! but I dare not, by a rash avowal + of my want, stifle the love that is growing up mutually. Whenever it becomes + necessary to be decided, I will make a loyal disclosure of my condition. If the + declaration ruin my hopes I will follow your advice. I will sell all I have; I will + quit the country and seek in some foreign land to maintain myself and my beloved + child by teaching." He stopped for a moment, as if swallowing his grief, and then + continued, in a lower tone, half speaking to himself, "And, yet, did I not promise my + dear wife on her death-bed—did I not promise it on the holy cross—that + our child should not undergo such a fate? Ten years of suffering—ten abject + years—have not sufficed to realize my promise; and now, at last, a feeble ray + of hope struggles into my sombre future—" He grasped the notary's hand, looked + wildly but earnestly into his eyes, and added, in suppliant tones, "Oh, my friend, + help me! help me in this last and trying effort; do not prolong my torture; grant my + prayer, and as long as I live I will bless my benefactor, the savior of my + child!"</p> + <p>The notary withdrew his hand as he answered, with some embarrassment, "Yet, + Monsieur De Vlierbeck, I cannot comprehend what all this has to do with the loan of a + thousand <i>francs</i>!"</p> + <p>De Vlierbeck thrust his rejected hand into his pocket as he replied, "Yes, sir, it + <i>is</i> ridiculous, is it not, to fall so low and to see one's happiness or misery + depend on things about which other persons may laugh? And yet, alas! so it is! The + young gentleman of whom I spoke to you is to dine with us to-morrow in company with + his uncle,—the uncle invited himself,—and we have absolutely <i>nothing + to give them!</i> Besides this, my child needs some trifles to appear decently before + the guests, and it is probable that the civility will be returned by an invitation + from them. Our isolation cannot long conceal our want. Sacrifices of all kinds have + already been made to prevent our being overwhelmed with mortification." As he uttered + these last words he drew forth his hand from his pocket with about two <i>francs</i> + in small change, which he held exposed on his palm before the notary. "And now, + behold," continued he, with a bitter smile,—"behold every cent I have in the + world; and to-morrow rich people are to dine at my house! If my poverty is betrayed + by any thing, farewell to my child's prospects! For God's sake, my good friend, be + generous, and help me!"</p> + <p>"A thousand <i>francs</i>!" muttered the notary, shaking his head; "I can't + deceive my clients, sir. What pledge can you give to secure the loan? You possess + nothing which is not already mortgaged beyond its value."</p> + <p>"A thousand! five hundred! two hundred!" cried De Vlierbeck. "Lend me, at least, + <i>something</i> to relieve me from this cruel difficulty!"</p> + <p>"I have no disposable funds," replied the notary, coldly. "In a fortnight perhaps + I may have some; but even then I could promise nothing positively."</p> + <p>"Then, for the sake of friendship, I beseech you, lend me some money + yourself!"</p> + <p>"I could never expect that you would return what I might lend," said the notary, + contemptuously; "and so it is an <i>alms</i> you ask of me?"</p> + <p>Poor De Vlierbeck trembled on his chair and became pale as ashes; his eyes flashed + wildly and his brow knotted with frowns. Yet he quickly curbed the unwonted + agitation, bowed his head, and sighed, resignedly, "ALMS! Alas! so be it! let me + drink the very dregs of this bitter cup: <i>it is for my child</i>!"</p> + <p>The notary went to a drawer and took from it some five-franc-pieces, which he + offered to his visitor. It is difficult to say whether the poor gentleman was wounded + by the actual receipt of charity, or whether the sum was too small to be useful; but, + without touching the money, he glanced angrily at the silver and fell back in his + chair, covering his face with his hands.</p> + <p>Just at this moment a servant entered, announcing another visitor; and, as soon as + the lackey left the apartment, Monsieur De Vlierbeck sprang from his chair, dashing + away the tears that had gathered in his eyes. The notary pointed to the money, which + he laid on the corner of the table; but the mortified guest turned away his head with + a gesture of repugnant refusal.</p> + <p>"Pardon my boldness, sir," said he, "but I have now only one favor to ask of + you"</p> + <p>"And it is—?"</p> + <p>"That you will keep my secret for my daughter's sake."</p> + <p>'Oh, as to that, make yourself easy. You know me well enough to be aware of my + discretion. Do you decline this trifling aid?"</p> + <p>"Thanks! thanks!" cried the gentleman, pushing away the notary's hand; and, + trembling as if seized by a sudden chill, he rushed from the room and the house + without waiting for the servant to open the door.</p> + <p>Utterly overcome by the terrible blow to his hopes, beside himself with + mortification, with his head hanging on his bosom and his eyes bent staringly on the + ground, the poor fellow ran about the streets for a considerable length of time + without knowing what he was about or whither he was going. At length the stern + conviction of want and duty partially aroused him from his feverish dream, and he + walked on rapidly in the direction of the gate of Borgenhout, till he found himself + entirely alone among the fortifications.</p> + <p>He had no sooner reached this solitary quarter than a terrible conflict seemed to + begin within him; his lips quivered and muttered incoherently, while his face + exhibited a thousand different expressions of suffering, shame, and hope. After a + while he drew forth from his pocket the golden snuff-box, looked long and sadly on + the armorial engravings that adorned it, and then fell into a reverie, from which he + suddenly aroused himself as if about taking a solemn resolution. With his eyes + intently fixed on the box, he began to obliterate the arms with his knife, as he + murmured, in a voice of tremulous emotion,—</p> + <p>"Remembrancer of my dear and excellent mother, protecting talisman that has so + long concealed my misery and which I invoked as a sacred shield whenever poverty was + on the eve of betraying me, last fragment of my ancestry, I must bid thee farewell; + and—alas! alas!—my own hand must profane and destroy thee! God grant that + the last service thou wilt ever render me may save us from overwhelming + humiliation!"</p> + <p>A tear trickled down his wan cheek as his voice became still; but he went on with + his task of obliteration till every trace of the crest and shield disappeared from + the emblazoned lid. After this he returned to the heart of the town and passed + through a number of small and lonely streets, glancing eagerly, but askance, at the + signs as he passed onward in his agitation.</p> + <p>An hour had certainly elapsed in this bootless wandering, when he entered a narrow + lane in the quarter of Saint André and uttered a sudden cry of joy as he + caught a glimpse of the object for which he was in search. His eye lighted on a sign + which bore the simple but ominous inscription—"SWORN PAWNBROKER." He passed by + the door and walked rapidly to the end of the lane; then, turning hastily, he + retraced his steps, hastening or lingering as he noticed any one passing in his + neighborhood, till at length he crept along the wall to the door, and, seeing the + thoroughfare almost empty, rushed into the house and disappeared.</p> + <p>After a considerable time De Vlierbeck came forth from the money-lender's and + quickly gained another street. There was a slight expression of satisfaction in his + eyes; but the bright blush that suffused his haggard cheeks gave token of the new + humiliation through which the sufferer had passed. Walking rapidly from street to + street, he soon reached a pastry-cook's, where he filled a basket with a stuffed + turkey, a pie, preserves, and various other smaller equipments for the table, and, + paying for his purchases, told the cook that he would send his servant for the + packages. Farther on he bought a couple of silver spoons and a pair of ear-rings from + a jeweller, and then proceeded on his way, probably to make additional acquisitions + for the proposed entertainment.</p> + <hr style='width: 65%;' /> + <a id="CHAPTER_II" name='CHAPTER_II'></a> + <h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> + <br /> + + <p>In our wild and thorny region of the North a brave and toilsome peasantry have + long been engaged in victorious conflict with the barren sleep to which nature seemed + to have condemned the soil. They have stirred up the sterile depths and watered them + with their sweat; they have summoned science and industry to their aid, drained + marshes, diverted the streamlets that descended toward the Meuse from the highlands + and put them in circulation through innumerable arteries to fatten and enrich the + land. What a glorious fight it was of man against matter! What a magnificent triumph + it has been to convert the unthrifty Campine<a id="FNanchor_A_1" + name='FNanchor_A_1'></a><a href='#Footnote_A_1'><sup>[A]</sup></a> into a fruitful + and luxurious region! Indeed, our descendants will hardly believe their own eyes when + in future times they shall behold grass-covered plains, flowery meadows, and fields + waving with grain, where the lingering patriarchs of our day may point out the sites + of burning sand-pits and barren moors!</p> + <a id="Footnote_A_1" name='Footnote_A_1'></a><a href='#FNanchor_A_1'>[A]</a> + <div class='note'> + <p>The Flemings have given the name of <i>Campine</i> to the vast uncultivated + spaces extending in the north of Belgium from the vicinity of Antwerp to Venloo. + The improvement of the <i>Campine,</i> undertaken on a large scale within some + years, has already produced the happiest results.</p> + </div> + <p>North of the city of Antwerp, toward the frontiers of Holland, there are but few + traces of this gradual improvement. It is only along highroads that the traveller + begins to observe the effect of liberal agriculture on the sandy soil, while, farther + on toward the heart of the region, every thing is still bare and uncultivated. As far + as the eye can penetrate, nothing is to be seen in that quarter but arid plains + thinly covered with stunted vegetation, while the horizon is bounded by that blue and + cloudy line which always marks the limit of a desert. Yet, as we journey over these + vast spaces, it is impossible not to observe, from time to time, that a clear and + slender rivulet meanders here and there over the moor, and that its verdant banks are + studded with vigorous plants and thrifty trees; while in many places the hardy sons + of toil who took advantage of the neighboring water, have opened their lonely farms, + built comfortable houses, and frequently gathered themselves together in neat and + thrifty villages.</p> + <p>In one of these spots, where meadow-land and pasturage have made agriculture + profitable, and by the side of an unfrequented road, there is a farm of considerable + size and value. The massive trees which spread their thick shade on every side attest + that the spot has been occupied and cultivated for several generations. Besides, the + ditches which surround it, and the stone bridge that leads to the principal gate, + justify the belief that the estate has some right to be considered a lordly demesne. + In the neighborhood it is known as GRINSELHOF. The entire front of the property is + covered by the homestead of the farmer, comprising his stables and granges; so that, + in fact, every thing in their rear is concealed by these edifices as well as by dense + thickets and hedges which are growing in all the wild luxuriance of nature. Indeed, + the dwelling of the proprietor was a mystery even to the farmer who worked the soil; + for its surrounding copses were an impenetrable veil to his eyes, beyond which + neither he nor his family were ever allowed to pass without special permission.</p> + <p>Within this lonely and sacred precinct, buried in foliage, was a large house, + called THE CHÂTEAU, inhabited by a gentleman and his daughter, who, without a + single servant, companion, or attendant, led the lonely lives of hermits. The + neighbors said that it was avarice or ill-humor that induced a person possessed of so + beautiful an estate to bury himself in such a solitude. The farmer who worked on the + property carefully avoided all explanations as to the conduct or purpose of the + proprietor, and sedulously respected the mysterious habits and fancies of his master. + His business prospered; for the soil was fertile and the rent low. Indeed, he was + grateful to his landlord, and, every Sunday, lent him a horse, which carried him and + his daughter, in their weather-beaten <i>calèche</i>, to the village church. + On great occasions the farmer's son performed the duty of lackey for the + proprietor.</p> + <p>It is an afternoon of one of the last days of July. The sun has nearly finished + his daily course, and is declining rapidly toward the horizon; still, his rays, + though less ardent than at noontide, are hot enough to make the air close and + stifling. At Grinselhof the last beams of the setting luminary play gayly over the + foliage, gilding the tree-tops with sparkling light, while, on the eastern side of + the dense foliage, the long, broad shadows begin to fall athwart the sward, and + prepare the groves for the gentle and refreshing breeze that springs up at + twilight.</p> + <p>Sadness and gloom hang over the sombre château and its grounds; a deathlike + silence weighs like a gravestone on the desolate scene; the birds are songless; the + wind is still; not a leaf stirs; and light alone seems to be living in that dreary + solitude. No one could observe the entire absence of noise, motion, and vitality, + without being impressed with the idea that nature had been suddenly plunged in a deep + and magic sleep.</p> + <p>Suddenly the foliage at the end of a thicket in the distance is seen to stir, + while a cloud of twittering birds, frightened from the herbage, flies rapidly across + the little path, which is immediately occupied by a young female dressed entirely in + white, who dashes from between the branches with a silken net in pursuit of a + butterfly. The beautiful apparition, with loose and streaming hair, seemed rather to + fly than run, as her light and rapid steps, full of eagerness and animation, scarcely + touched the earth while darting after the gaudy insect. How graceful she is, as, + halting for an instant beneath the coquettish moth, she looks up to behold its + gold-and-purple wings dancing round her head, mocking and playing with its gay + pursuer! She thinks she has caught it; but, alas! the edge of her net only touched + the butterfly's wings, and away it dashes, over hedge and copse, far, far beyond her + reach! How beautiful she is, as, in that golden light, warmed with exercise and + excitement, her eyes glistening, her lips parted, her graceful arms stretched upward, + she stands gazing, half pleased, half disappointed, after the departing insect, till + it is lost in the evening sky! Wind and sunshine have slightly tanned her delicate + cheeks, but their roses are only heightened into the glow of perfect health. Beneath + her high and polished brow, coal-black eyes shine through long and silken fringes, + while a chiselled mouth discloses rows of faultless pearls between lips which shame + the coral! Her stately head is framed in masses of long, curling hair; and, as the + locks are floated over her ivory shoulders by rapid motion, the proud and arching + lines of her swan-like neck are fully displayed in all their splendor. Her form is + lithe and supple, and its graceful contour is modestly marked by a snowy dress. As + she lifts her head and gazes at the sky, a poet might easily fancy her to be some + fanciful "being of the air," and convert her into the fairy queen of the solitary + realm!</p> + <p>For a long while this beautiful woman wandered about the paths of the lonely + garden, seemingly absorbed in reveries of various kinds. At times she was gay, at + times sad. At length she approached a bed of violets, which, from the training of the + plants, had evidently, been carefully tended, and, observing that they languished + under the intense heat of the past day, began to grieve over them.</p> + <p>"Alas! my dear little flowers, why did I neglect to water you yesterday? You are + very thirsty, are you not, my charming pets?"</p> + <p>For a moment or two she was quiet, still gazing at the violets, and then + continued, in the same dreamy tone:—</p> + <p>"But then, alas! since yesterday my mind has been so disturbed, so happy, + so—" Her eyes fell, and a blush crimsoned her cheeks, as she murmured, softly, + "GUSTAVE!"</p> + <p>Motionless as a statue, and absorbed in her enchanting dream, she forgot the poor + little violets, and, probably, the whole world.</p> + <p>"His image ever, ever before me! his voice ever ringing in my ears! Why try to + escape their fascination? Oh, God! what is this that is passing within me? My heart + trembles; sometimes my blood bounds wildly through my veins, and then again it creeps + and freezes; and yet how happy I am! what inexpressible joy fills my very soul!"</p> + <p>She was silent; then, seeming suddenly to rouse herself, she raised her head and + threw back the thick curls, as if anxious to disembarrass her mind of a haunting + thought.</p> + <p>"Wait, my dear flowers," said she, smiling, to the violets; "wait a moment: I will + comfort and refresh you."</p> + <p>With this she disappeared in the grove, and, in a short time, brought from it a + few twigs and leaves, which she arranged in a little trellis over the flower-beds, so + as to shadow the violets completely from the sun. After this she took a small + watering-pot and ran across the grass to a basin or tank in the middle of the garden, + around which a number of weeping-willows drooped their branches into the water. On + her arrival its surface was perfectly smooth; but hardly had her image been reflected + in the tank when it appeared to swarm with living creatures. Hundreds of gold-fishes, + of all colors, swam toward her with their mouths gaping from the water, as if the + poor little animals were trying to speak to her. Holding on by the trunk of the + nearest willow, she bent gracefully over the pond and tried to fill her watering-pot + without touching the gold-fish.</p> + <p>"Come, come; let me alone just now," said she, as she carefully avoided them; "I + haven't time to play with you; I will bring you your dinner after a while."</p> + <p>But the fish fluttered around the watering-pot until she withdrew it from the + tank; and, even after her departure, continued to crowd toward the bank she had + touched with her foot.</p> + <p>The young lady watered her flowers and replaced the pot gently on the ground; + then, retiring slowly to the solitary house, she returned after a while at the same + slow pace, and, throwing some crumbs to the fish, began to saunter slowly about the + garden-paths, inattentive to every thing but her own absorbing thoughts. At length + she reached a spot where a gigantic catalpa-tree overarched the garden and bent its + branches almost to the earth. A table and a couple of chairs stood beneath the fresh + and fragrant shade, and a book, inkstand, and embroidery-frame, gave token that the + retreat had not long been abandoned by the lady herself. She seated herself in one of + the chairs, took up the book, then the embroidery, let them fall one after another, + and finally leaned her beautiful head on her hand, like one who is weary in spirit + and anxious for rest.</p> + <p>For a while her large dreamy eyes were vaguely fixed, as if gazing into space; at + intervals a smile played around her mouth, and her lips moved as if talking with a + friend. Occasionally her drooping eyelids closed entirely; but the lashes quickly + reopened, only to fall more heavily than before, till at last a profound sleep or + intense reverie seemed to get possession of her mind and body.</p> + <p>But did she sleep? There is no doubt that her spirit watched and was happy; for a + pleasant expression constantly played over her features, and, if sometimes it became + serious, the joyous look quickly returned with all its radiance. She had long been + plunged by this happy dream into complete forgetfulness of real life, when a noise of + wheels and the neigh of a horse was heard at the gateway, disturbing the silence of + Grinselhof. Still the maiden was not aroused.</p> + <p>The old <i>calèche</i> returned from the city, drew up near the stable, and + the farmer and his wife ran out to salute their master and put up the horse. While + they were thus engaged, Monsieur De Vlierbeck got out of the vehicle and spoke to + them kindly, but in a voice so full of sadness that both looked at him with + astonishment. In fact, the gravity of this singular person never abandoned him even + in his most affable moods; but at that moment his physiognomy indicated a degree of + intense depression which was by no means habitual. He seemed altogether worn out with + fatigue, and his eyes, which were commonly so vivacious, drooped, dull and + languishing, beneath their heavy lids.</p> + <p>The horse was quickly put in the stable, and the young lackey, who had already + divested himself of his livery, took several baskets and packets from the vehicle, + carried them into the farm-house, and placed them on the table of the + antechamber.</p> + <p>"And now, Master John," said De Vlierbeck, approaching the farmer, "I shall have + need of you. There will be company to-morrow at Grinselhof. Monsieur Denecker and his + nephew dine here."</p> + <p>The farmer, perfectly stupefied by the announcement and scarcely able to believe + his own ears, looked at his master with staring eyes and gaping mouth, and, after a + moment's hesitation, stammered forth,—</p> + <p>"That large, rich gentleman, sir, who sits near you every Sunday at high + mass?"</p> + <p>"The same, John. Is there any thing surprising in it?"</p> + <p>"And young Monsieur Gustave, who spoke to <i>mademoiselle</i> in the churchyard + when church was over?"</p> + <p>"The same!"</p> + <p>"Oh, sir, they are such rich people! They have bought all the land around + Echelpoel. They have at least ten horses in the stable at their <i>château</i>, + without counting those they have in town. Their carriage is silver from top to + bottom."</p> + <p>"I know it; and it is exactly on that account that I desire to receive them in a + becoming manner. You must be ready; your wife and your son also. I shall call you + to-morrow morning very early. You will willingly lend a hand to help me, won't + you?"</p> + <p>"Certainly, certainly, sir; a word from you is enough. I am always happy to be + able to serve you in any way."</p> + <p>"Thank you for your kindness, John. We understand one another, my worthy fellow; + and so farewell till to-morrow."</p> + <p>Monsieur De Vlierbeck entered the farm-house, gave some orders to the young man in + relation to the things he had taken from the vehicle, and, passing through the + screening grove, walked on to Grinselhof.</p> + <p>As soon as he was out of the farmer's sight his physiognomy assumed a more serene + expression, and there was a smile on his lips as he cast his eyes around in search of + some one in the solitude of the garden At a turn of the path his eye fell suddenly on + the sleeping girl. How beautiful she was in her calm repose! The golden twilight + covered her with its bright reflection, and threw a rosy tint on every thing about + her. Thick curls strayed in beautiful disorder over her cheeks, and snowy flowers, + shaken from the catalpa's branches by the evening breeze, had fallen around her in + profusion. She still dreamed, and the happy smile yet rested on her features. De + Vlierbeck gazed earnestly at his sleeping child, and raised his eyes to heaven as he + said, tremulously,—"Thanks, Almighty Father! she is happy! Let my martyrdom be + prolonged; but may all my sufferings render thee compassionate for her!"</p> + <p>After this short and ardent ejaculation he threw himself into a chair, leaned his + arm carefully on the table, and, resting his hand on it, remained still as a statue. + For a long time he watched his sleeping child, while his face seemed to reflect each + emotion that flitted across the delicate features of the maiden. Suddenly a modest + blush overspread her brow, and her lips began to articulate. The old gentleman + watched her narrowly, and, although she had not spoken in connected sentences, he + caught one of those stray words which often betoken what is passing in a dreamer's + mind.</p> + <p>"'GUSTAVE!' She dreams of Gustave. May God be propitious to us! Ah, yes, my + child," exclaimed her father, "open thy heart to hope! Dream, dream; for who knows + what is in store for us? Yet, no!—let us not destroy these happy moments by + cold reality! Sleep, sleep! let thy soul enjoy the heavenly enchantment of love which + it is awakening!"</p> + <p>Monsieur De Vlierbeck continued for a while his quiet observation of the sleeper, + and then, rising, passed behind her chair and imprinted a long kiss on her + forehead.</p> + <p>Still half-dreaming, the sleeper slowly opened her eyes; and, the moment she + perceived who had awakened her, she sprang into her father's arms with a bound, and, + hanging round his neck, overwhelmed him with questions and kisses.</p> + <p>Vlierbeck gently disengaged himself from his daughter's embrace, as he remarked, + in a tone of raillery,—</p> + <p>"It seems altogether unnecessary, Lenora, to inquire what new beauties you have + discovered in Vondel's 'Lucifer.' You have not had time, I take it for granted, to + begin the comparison between this masterpiece of our native tongue and Milton's + 'Paradise Lost'?"</p> + <p>"Ah! father," murmured Lenora, "my mind is indeed strangely troubled. I do not + know what is the matter with me; I cannot even read with attention."</p> + <p>"Come, Lenora, my child, don't be sad. Sit down: I have something of importance to + tell you. You do not know why I went to town to-day, do you? It was because we are to + have company to dinner to-morrow!"</p> + <p>Lenora gazed at her father with an earnest and questioning look.</p> + <p>"It is Monsieur Denecker," continued he:—"the wealthy merchant, you know, + who sits near me at church and lives at the <i>château</i> of Echelpoel."</p> + <p>"Oh, yes! I remember him, father; he always speaks to me so kindly, and never + fails to help me from the carriage when we go to church."</p> + <p>"But your <i>eyes</i> ask, I see, Lenora, whether he is coming <i>alone</i>. + <i>Another</i> person will accompany him, my girl!"</p> + <p>"<i>Gustave!"</i> exclaimed the maiden, involuntarily and blushing.</p> + <p>"Exactly! Gustave will be here," replied Monsieur De Vlierbeck. "Don't tremble on + that account, Lenora; and don't become frightened because your innocent heart may + find itself opening to the dawn of new sensations. Between us, my child, there can be + no secret that my love will not discover."</p> + <p>His daughter's eyes looked inquiringly into his own, as if asking an explanation + of the enigma. But all of a sudden, as if a ray had darted unexpectedly into her + soul, she threw her arms around the old man's neck and hid her face in his bosom.</p> + <p>"Oh, father! beloved father," murmured she, "your kindness is unbounded!"</p> + <p>For some moments the old gentleman did not put aside the affectionate caresses of + his child; but by degrees his expression became gloomy; tears started into his eyes, + and he said, in broken tones,—</p> + <p>"Lenora, whatever may happen to us in life, thou wilt always love thy father thus, + wilt thou not?"</p> + <p>"Always, always, father!'</p> + <p>"Lenora, my child," continued he, with a sigh, "thy tender affection is my only + recompense and happiness here below: never deprive my soul of its consolation!"</p> + <p>The sad tone in which these words were uttered touched the maiden's heart so + deeply that she took her father's hands, without saying a syllable, and wept in + silence with her head in his bosom.</p> + <p>For a long time they remained thus motionless, absorbed by a feeling which was + neither joy nor sorrow but seemed to acquire its power and mastery by the mingling of + these opposite sentiments.</p> + <p>Monsieur De Vlierbeck's expression was the first to change. His features became + severe as he bent his head downward reproachfully. In truth, the strange words that + started the tears into his daughter's eyes had excited the reflection in his own mind + that another person was, perhaps, about to share his Lenora's love and probably to + separate him from her forever. He was ready for every sacrifice, were it even + infinitely greater, provided it contributed to the happiness of his child; yet the + very idea of separation caused his heart to bleed at every pore. By degrees he + stifled this selfish anxiety, and, striving to control himself, raised his daughter + with a kiss.</p> + <p>"Come, Lenora," said he, "be gay again! Isn't it a happy thing that our hearts can + sometimes get into the shade after they have been too much in the sunshine? Let us go + into the house. We have many arrangements to make in order to receive our guests + becomingly."</p> + <p>Lenora obeyed her father in silence, and followed him slowly, while the tears + still dropped from her beautiful eyes.</p> + <p>Some hours afterward Monsieur De Vlierbeck might have been seen seated in the + principal saloon of Grinselhof, near a little lamp, with his elbows on the table. The + apartment was dark and dreary, for the feeble rushlight illuminated but a single spot + and cast the distant and lofty ceiling into vague obscurity. The flickering flame + threw long and sombre shadows over the wall, while a line of old portraits in the + panels seemed to fix their stern and immovable eyes on the table. Amid the gloom + nothing came out with distinctness but the calm and noble face of the poor old + gentleman, who sat there, absorbed in his reflections, fixed as a statue.</p> + <p>At length, rising from his chair and cautiously walking on tiptoe to the end of + the room, he stopped and listened at the closed door. "She sleeps," said he, in a low + voice; and, raising his eyes to heaven, added, with a sigh, "may God protect her + rest!" Then, returning to the table, he took the lamp, and, opening a large safe + which was imbedded in the wall, he went down on his knees and drew forth some napkins + and a table-cloth, which he unfolded carefully to see whether they were torn or + stained. As he refolded the articles one after the other, a smile betokened that he + was pleased with his examination. Rising from this task, he went back to the table, + from the drawer of which he took a piece of buckskin and whiting. Mashing the latter + with a knife-handle, he began to rub and polish several silver forks and spoons which + were in a basket. The salt-cellars and other small articles of table-service, which + were mostly of the same metal, were all subjected to a similar process, and soon + glittered brightly in the feeble lamplight.</p> + <p>While he was engaged in this strange work, the soul of the poor old man was busy + with a thousand conflicting thoughts and recollections. He was constantly muttering + to himself; and many a tear escaped from his lids as he dreamed over the past and + repeated the names of the loved and lost!</p> + <p>"Poor brother!" ejaculated he; "but one man alone in the world knows what I have + done for thee, and yet that man accuses me of bad faith and ingratitude! And thou, + poor brother, art wandering in the icy solitudes of America, a prey perhaps to + sickness and suffering, while for months no kindly look is fixed upon thee in that + wilderness where thou earnest thy miserable wages! Son of a noble race! thou hast + become a slave to the stranger, and thy toil serves to amass the fortunes which + others are to enjoy! My love for thee has made me suffer martyrdom; but, as God is my + judge, my affection has remained entire,—untouched! May thy soul, O brother, + feel this aspiration of mine even in the isolation where thou art suffering; and may + the consciousness of my love be a balm for thy misery!"</p> + <p>The poor gentleman was absorbed for some time in painful meditation; but after a + while his dream seemed over, and he betook himself again to work. He placed all the + silver utensils side by side on the table, and, after carefully counting and + examining them, resumed his soliloquy:—</p> + <p>"Six forks! eight spoons! We shall be four at table: it will be necessary to be + careful; else it will easily be seen something is wanting. I think, however, it will + do. I must give very precise instructions to John's wife, for she is a clever woman, + and knows what she is about!"</p> + <p>As be uttered the last words he replaced the silver in the basket and locked it in + the safe; after which he took the lamp, and, leaving the saloon on tiptoe, descended + through a little door into a large vaulted cellar. Here he hunted about for a + considerable time amid stacks of empty bottles, and at last succeeded in finding what + he was in search of; but his face became extremely pale as he drew three bottles from + the sand.</p> + <p>"Good heavens! <i>only three bottles!</i>" exclaimed he; "three bottles of + <i>table</i>-wine! and Monsieur Denecker is such a connoisseur of vintages! What + shall I do if they ask for more when these three bottles are empty? I have it! I do + not drink, and Lenora drinks very little; so there will be <i>two</i> bottles for + Monsieur Denecker and <i>one</i> for his nephew! But, even at the worst, what is the + use of anxiety? Let <i>luck</i> settle it!"</p> + <p>With this De Vlierbeck went into the corners of the cellar, where he gathered from + the walls a quantity of cobwebs, which he wound artistically around the bottles and + covered with dust and sand.</p> + <p>On reaching the saloon he went to work with paste and paper to mend some rents in + the tapestry on the wall; and then, after passing nearly half an hour in brushing his + clothes and disguising their threadbare spots with water and ink, he came back to the + table and made preparations for a task which was still more singular than any he had + hitherto been engaged in. Taking from the drawer a silk thread, an awl, and a bit of + wax, he put his boot on his knees and began to mend the rents in the leather with the + skill of a cobbler! It will readily be supposed that this odd occupation stirred a + variety of emotions in the heart of the poor gentleman; violent twitches and spasms + passed over his face; his cheeks became red, then deadly pale; till at last, yielding + to a passionate impulse, he cut the silk, threw it on the table, and, with his hands + stretched toward the portraits, cried out, with struggling passion,—</p> + <p>"Yes! behold me,—behold me,—ye whose noble blood runs in my veins! + You, brave captain, who, fighting at the side of Egmont, at St. Quentin, gave your + life for your country,—you, statesman and ambassador, who, after the battle of + Pavia, rendered such eminent services to the Emperor Charles,—you, benefactor + of your race, who endowed so many hospitals and churches,—you, proud bishop, + who, as priest and scholar, defended so bravely your faith and your God,—behold + me, all of you, not only from that senseless canvas, but from the bosom of God where + you are at rest! He whom you have seen at the wretched task of mending his boots, and + who devotes his life to the concealment of his poverty,—he is your descendant, + your son! If the gaze of his fellow-men tortures him, before you at least he is not + ashamed of debasing toil! glorious ancestry! you have fought the foes of your native + land with sword and pen; but I,—I have to contend with unmerited shame and + mockery, without a hope of ultimate triumph or glory; my weary soul sinks under its + burden, and the world has nothing in store for me but scorn and contempt! And, yet, + have I ever stained your noble escutcheon? All that I have done is generous and + honest in the sight of God;—nay, the very fountain-head of my wo is love and + compassion! Yes, yes!—fix your glittering eyes on me; contemplate me in the + abyss of poverty where I am fallen! From the bottom of that pit I lift my brow boldly + toward you, and your silent glance does not force me to grovel in the earth with + shame! Here, in the presence of your noble images, I am alone with my soul, with my + conscience;—hero, no mortification can touch the being who, as gentleman, + Christian, brother, and father, has sacrificed himself to duty!"</p> + <p>His voice ceased; and for a few moments he stood still in the midnight silence, + looking at the antique portraits as the last echoes died away in the lofty apartment, + with his arms stretched toward the pictures as if invoking the beings they + represented.</p> + <p>"Poor, senseless creature," continued he, after a while, clasping his hands and + lifting them anew to heaven, "thy soul seeks deliverance in dreams! Yes; it is, + perhaps, a dream, an illusion! Yet, thanks, thanks to the Almighty that allows even a + dream to fortify me with courage and endurance! Enough: reality once more stares me + in the face; and yet I defy the mocking spectre which points to ruin and misery!"</p> + <p>"And then to-morrow,—to-morrow!" continued he; "wilt thou not tremble + beneath the glance of those who seek the secret of thy life? Yes; study well thy + part; have ready thy mask; go on bravely with thy cowardly farce! And now begone; thy + nightly task is done;—beg, beg from sleep the oblivion of what thou art and of + thy threatening future! <i>Sleep!</i> I tremble at the very thought of it! Father in + heaven, have mercy on us!"</p> + <hr style='width: 65%;' /> + <a id="CHAPTER_III" name='CHAPTER_III'></a> + <h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> + <br /> + + <p>At daybreak next morning everybody was busy at Grinselhof. John's wife and her + serving-maid scoured the corridor and staircase; the farmer cleaned his stable; his + son weeded the grass from the garden-walks. Very early in the day Lenora set matters + in order in the dining-room and arranged with artistic taste all the pretty things + she could find on the mantel-piece and tables. There was a degree of life and + activity about Grinselhof that had not been seen in that solitude for many a year, + and everybody went to work with alacrity, as if anxious to dispel the gloom that hung + so long over the lonely dwelling. In the midst of the industrious crowd Monsieur De + Vlierbeck might be seen moving about with words of encouragement and expressions of + satisfaction; nor did he manifest the slightest symptom of the anxiety that was + secretly gnawing his heart. A pleasant smile flattered his humble dependants, as he + gave them to understand that their labors would be greatly honored by the approval of + his expected guests.</p> + <p>The farmer and his spouse had never seen De Vlierbeck so pleasant and so gay; and, + as they sincerely loved their master, they were as much delighted by his joy as if + they had been preparing for a village fair in which they were to take part. They + never dreamed of pay for their generous toil, but derived their most grateful + recompense from the pleasure they imparted to the hermit and his child.</p> + <p>As soon as the principal preparations were completed, De Vlierbeck called his + daughter and gave the necessary instructions for the dinner. Lenora was to confine + herself to drilling the farmer's wife in serving the dishes with which she was not + familiar. The old cooking-apparatus was lighted; wood kindled and crackled in the + chimney; coals glistened in the grate; and high above the roof-tree, clouds of smoke + betokened the good cheer that was to adorn the tables. Baskets of game were opened; + stuffed poultry, savory pasties, and choice viands, were brought forth; dishes of + green peas, beans, and other vegetables, appeared; and the women were speedily in a + turmoil of stringing, shelling, cutting, washing, and stewing.</p> + <p>Lenora herself did not shun her part in these humble duties, and amused her + companions by the pleasant chat with which she whiled away the hours. The rustics, + who had rarely enjoyed an opportunity of seeing her so closely or of enjoying a + familiar conversation with the beauty, were of course delighted with her gay and + affable manners; nor could they avoid expressing their pleasure when a few notes of a + popular song happened to drop from Lenora's lips.</p> + <p>The servant-maid instantly rose, and whispered, loud enough to be heard by + Lenora,—</p> + <p>"Oh, pray, do beg <i>mademoiselle</i> to sing a verse or two of that song! I heard + it at a distance the other day; and it was so beautiful that, fool as I am, I + blubbered like a baby for half an hour behind the rose-bushes. And yet I think it was + rather her sweet voice than the words that made me cry."</p> + <p>"Oh, yes! do sing it for us; it would give us so much pleasure! Your voice is like + a nightingale's; and I remember too, that my poor mother—alas! she is long ago + in heaven—used to sing me to sleep with that blessed song. Pray, sing it for + us, <i>mademoiselle</i>.</p> + <p>"It's very long,"' said Lenora, smiling.</p> + <p>"But if you only sing averse or two; it is a holiday with us, you know, + <i>mademoiselle!</i>"</p> + <p>"Well," returned Lenora, musingly, "if it will make you happy why should I refuse? + Listen:—</p> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>"Beside a deep and rapid stream</span><br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>A lonely maiden sat;</span><br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>With sighs her snowy bosom heaved,</span><br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>And tears bedewed the ground!</span><br /> + <br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>"A noble walked along the bank</span><br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>And saw her bitter grief;</span><br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>And, as her tears overflowed his heart,</span><br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>It melted for the maid!"</span><br /> + <br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>'Speak, maiden, speak!' the wanderer + cried!</span><br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>'Why moan you here alone?'—</span><br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>'Ah, sir, an orphan-child am I,</span><br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>Whom God alone can save!</span><br /> + <br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>'Ah! seest thou not yon grassy mound</span><br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>There sleeps my mother dear.</span><br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>Behold yon rock, above the flood;</span><br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>There fell my father down!</span><br /> + <br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>'The whirling torrent bore him on;</span><br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>He struggled long in vain;</span><br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>My brother leaped to help his sire,</span><br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>And both together sank!</span><br /> + <br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>'And now I fly our silent hut,</span><br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>Where desolation dwells,</span><br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>To mourn upon this dreary bank,</span><br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>And watch the wave and grave!'</span><br /> + <br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>'No longer grieve,' the stranger said,</span><br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>'Thy heart shall ache no more;</span><br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>A father and a brother too</span><br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>To thee, poor lonely girl, I'll be!'</span><br /> + <br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>"He took her hand; he led her off;</span><br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>In garments rich he clad the maid;</span><br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>Before the altar promised love,</span><br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>And blessed her life in happy home!"<a + id="FNanchor_A_2" name='FNanchor_A_2'></a><a + href='#Footnote_A_2'><sup>[A]</sup></a></span><br /> + <br /> + <a id="Footnote_A_2" name='Footnote_A_2'></a><a href='#FNanchor_A_2'>[A]</a> + <div class='note'> + <p>This simple and popular ballad, known in the Campine as <i>The Orphan</i>, is + sung by all classes to an air which is full of touching melody.</p> + </div> + <p>As Lenora was about beginning the last verse of her song De Vlierbeck appeared on + the sill of the kitchen door, and the peasants instantly rose in alarm at the freedom + with which they were sitting in the presence of their young mistress, listening to + her songs; but the poor gentleman at once understood the meaning of her action, and + with a gesture of approval signaled them to be quiet. As the last words died on his + ear,—"I'm glad to see you amusing yourselves," said he; "but, now that the song + is ended, I want your services in another quarter, my good woman."</p> + <p>Followed by Bess, the farmer's wife, he ascended to the dining-room, where the + table-cloth was already laid and every thing in order for the reception of the + dishes. Bessy's son was already there in livery, with a napkin over his arm; and De + Vlierbeck immediately began to assign them their several tasks during the service of + dinner, and to repeat and drill them in their tasks till he was perfectly satisfied + with their performances.</p> + <p>The hour for dinner was at length near at hand. Every thing was ready in the + kitchen, and all were at their posts. Lenora, in full dress and with a palpitating + heart, lingered in her chamber; while her father, with a book which he appeared to be + reading, sat beneath the <i>catalpa</i> in the garden.</p> + <p>It was about two o'clock when a splendid equipage, drawn by a pair of superb + English horses, entered the demesne of Grinselhof and drew up in front of the portal. + De Vlierbeck welcomed his guests courteously, and Monsieur Denecker gave orders to + the coachman to return precisely at five o'clock, as matters of importance required + his presence in Antwerp before nightfall.</p> + <p>Denecker was a large, stout person, dressed rather extravagantly, but in a style + of studied carelessness which he evidently regarded as stylish. The expression of his + face, it must be owned, was rather vulgar, and exhibited a compound of cunning and + good-nature tempered by indifference. But Gustave, his nephew, belonged to an + entirely different class of persons. His tall figure was graceful and easy, his + countenance frank and manly, and his whole demeanor denoted refined manners and high + cultivation. Blue eyes and blonde hair imparted a poetic air to his head; but an + energetic glance and lofty brow took from it every expression of sentimental + weakness.</p> + <p>No sooner had De Vlierbeck presented his guests to Lenora, in the saloon, than + Denecker broke forth in exclamations of undisguised admiration—</p> + <p>"How charming, how beautiful she is! and yet so hidden in this Grinselhof of + yours, Monsieur de Vlierbeck! What a shame, sir! what a shame!"</p> + <p>In the mean time Gustave and Lenora had moved off to a short distance from the old + gentlemen, and were busy in a chat of their own, inaudible to the rest but evidently + interesting to themselves, for they were observed not only to blush but tremble. + Denecker, in fact, could not help observing the young people's emotion; and, as De + Vlierbeck passed down the saloon with him, remarked that the young beauty was + evidently turning his nephew's head. "He talks of her constantly," said he, "and I + don't know what may come of it; but I give you fair warning, Monsieur De Vlierbeck, + if you are unwilling to see something more than compliments between these children + you had better take time by the forelock. It will soon be too late to reason with + them; for my nephew, with all his calm gentleness, is not the man to retreat before + difficulties."</p> + <p>De Vlierbeck was secretly delighted by the merchant's counsels, but was too wise + to display anxiety.</p> + <p>"You are joking, Monsieur Denecker," said he: "I can't think there is a particle + of danger. They are both young, and there is nothing surprising in mutual attraction + under such circumstances. There can hardly be any thing serious in their intercourse. + But, come," added he, aloud; "I perceive that dinner is served; and so let us adjourn + to the table!" Gustave led in the blushing girl, and the elders followed admiringly + in their rear, while the merchant shook his finger coquettishly at his gallant + nephew. De Vlierbeck placed Monsieur Denecker opposite him at table, and made Gustave + the <i>vis-à-vis</i> of Lenora.</p> + <p>Bess brought in the dishes, while her son waited on the guests. The viands were + prepared with considerable skill, and Denecker took frequent occasion to express his + satisfaction with their exquisite flavor. In truth, he was rather surprised at the + sumptuousness of the repast; for he had been prepared to expect lenten fare in a + household which was renowned throughout the neighborhood for its austere economy.</p> + <p>In a short time the conversation became general; and Lenora astonished Monsieur + Denecker by the extent of her information and the admirable style in which she + expressed herself and did the honors of the table. But, notwithstanding her ease and + freedom while conversing with the uncle, an observer could not help detecting that + she was shy, if not absolutely embarrassed, when obliged to reply to some casual + remark of the nephew. Nor was Gustave more at ease than the maiden. In fact, they + were both happy at heart because fate had thrown them together; but they would have + been quite willing to enjoy that delicious silence which in love is often more + eloquent than in language.</p> + <p>In the mean while De Vlierbeck rattled away, with the ease of a man of the world, + on all subjects that might interest his guests; yet he listened, with equal good + manners, to Denecker's conversation, and now and then adroitly threw in such hints as + allowed him to speak learnedly upon commercial matters. The merchant was gratified by + his deferential civility, and was drawn toward his entertainer by a stronger bond + than that of mere social politeness.</p> + <p>Indeed, all went on swimmingly, and all were pleased with themselves. De Vlierbeck + was especially gratified to find that Bess and her boy performed their tasks so well, + and that the spoons and plates were so quickly washed and brought back that it was + impossible to notice the deficiency of their number. One thing alone began to worry + him. He saw with pain that while Denecker was busy with his food and chat he was + equally busy with the wine, and that glass after glass disappeared with more rapidity + than was agreeable to his supply. Besides this, Gustave, who was probably anxious for + some excuse to have a word with Lenora upon any pretext, constantly asked permission + to fill her glass; so that, very soon after the soup and meat had been disposed of, + the first bottle was entirely emptied.</p> + <p>Civility required that it should be immediately replaced; and, as De Vlierbeck + observed that the more Monsieur Denecker talked the more he drank, he thought he + might try whether less conversation would not moderate the merchant's thirst. But, + alas! he was disappointed; for at that moment Denecker introduced the topic of wine, + and, lauding the generous juice of the grape, expressed surprise at the extraordinary + sobriety of his host. With this he redoubled his attack on the bottle, and was in + some degree, though less vigorously, seconded by Gustave. De Vlierbeck's agony became + more and more intense as he saw the rosy fluid sink and sink in the second bottle, + until at length the last drop was drained into the merchant's glass.</p> + <p>"Yes," said Denecker, "your wine is both old and good; but I have always found, in + tasting liquors, that if we don't change them we lose their flavor. I take it for + granted that you have a first-rate cellar, if I may judge by your first samples; so I + propose that we now try a bottle of your <i>Château-margaux</i>; and, if we + have time, we can finish with a bottle of <i>hochheimer</i>. I never drink + <i>champagne</i>: it is a bad liquor for wine-drinkers."</p> + <p>As the last words fell from Denecker, poor De Vlierbeck grew deadly pale, as his + frightened spirit went rummaging through the cracks and crannies of his brain for + some inspiration or expedient which might extricate him from his deep perplexity.</p> + <p>"<i>Château-margaux?</i>" inquired he, with a calm smile. "Certainly, sir, + if you wish it." And then, turning to the lackey,—"John," said he, "bring a + bottle of <i>Château-margaux</i>: you will find it in the third cellar on the + left-hand side."</p> + <p>But the rustic stared at his master with gaping mouth, as if he had been addressed + in one of the dead languages. Seeing the predicament, and mastering it + rapidly,—</p> + <p>"Excuse me," said De Vlierbeck, rising; "he would not find it, I fear. I will be + back in a moment."</p> + <p>Rushing into the kitchen, he seized the third and last bottle and descended to the + cellar, where he stopped to draw breath and compose himself.</p> + <p>"<i>Château-margaux! hochheimer! champagne!</i>" exclaimed poor De + Vlierbeck, "and not another drop of wine in my house but what is in this last bottle + of claret! What <i>shall</i> I do? what <i>can</i> I do?" continued he, as he held + the cobwebbed bottle in one hand and stroked his chin with the other. "But no matter: + there's no time for reflection: the die is cast, and may God help me in my need!"</p> + <p>He ascended the stair, entered the dining-room with the corkscrew in the last + cork, and found that during his absence Lenora had ordered fresh glasses on the + table.</p> + <p>"This wine," said De Vlierbeck, holding the bottle knowingly to the light, "is at + least twenty years old, Monsieur Denecker, and I sincerely hope it will please your + palate." So saying, he filled the glasses of uncle and nephew, and gazed anxiously in + their faces for the verdict.</p> + <p>Denecker tasted the wine, drop by drop, like an epicure, and, shaking his head + disappointedly,—</p> + <p>"There's a mistake, doubtless," said he; "for it's the identical wine we had + before."</p> + <p>De Vlierbeck feigned surprise admirably, tasted the wine in turn, and + replied,—</p> + <p>"I <i>believe</i> you are right, and that I <i>have</i> made a mistake; yet, as + the bottle is opened and not bad, suppose we drink it before I make another descent + to the cellar' There's abundance of time."</p> + <p>"I've no objection," answered the merchant, "provided you help us, so as to get + through it the quicker." And so the column in the third and last bottle diminished + more rapidly than its predecessors, till two or three glasses alone remained at the + bottom to crown the festival.</p> + <p>Poor De Vlierbeck could no longer conceal his agitation. He tried to keep his eyes + off the fatal bottle; but a sort of fascination drew him back to it, and each time + with increased anxiety. That dreadful word '<i>Château-margaux</i>' rang in his + ears. His face blushed and grew pale, and a cold, clammy sweat stood in big beads on + his forehead. Yet he felt that he had not entirely exhausted his resources, and + resolved to fight the battle of humiliation to the end. He wiped his brow and cheeks, + coughed, and turned aside as if about to sneeze. By dint of these manoeuvres he + continued to conceal his nervousness till Denecker grasped the bottle to pour out its + last drop. As he clasped the neck, a chill seized the hysterical frame of the poor + gentleman, a deadly paleness overspread his features, and his head fell with a groan + against the tall back of the chair. Was it in truth a fainting-fit, or did the + sufferer take advantage of his emotion to play a part and escape the embarrassment of + his situation?</p> + <p>In a moment the whole party were on their feet, while Lenora screamed and ran to + her father.</p> + <p>"It's nothing," said De Vlierbeck, striving, after a minute or two, to rally + himself. "I am faint; the confined air of this room overcame me. Let me walk a while + in the garden and I will soon be better."</p> + <p>As he said this he staggered to his feet, and, supported by Lenora and Gustave, + moved toward the garden, followed by Denecker with an expression of the deepest + concern. A short rest in the open air beneath the shade of a noble chestnut-tree + quickly restored a faint color to De Vlierbeck's cheek and enabled him to + tranquillize their anxiety about his sudden attack.</p> + <p>"I will rest here a while out of doors," said he, "for fear the fit might return; + and perhaps a slow walk in the garden might hasten my recovery."</p> + <p>"It will do both of us good," answered Denecker; "and, besides, as I have to quit + you at five o'clock, I don't want to leave Grinselhof without seeing its garden. Let + us take a turn through your walks, and afterward we shall have time enough to finish + another bottle."</p> + <p>As he said this he passed Lenora's arm within his own, and, casting a coquettish + glance at Gustave, began their promenade. By degrees De Vlierbeck rallied + sufficiently to take part in the chat; and gardening, agriculture, sporting, and a + hundred different country topics, were fully discussed. Lenora recovered her spirits + and charmed their commercial guest by the mingled charms of her intellectual + cleverness and innocent gayety. Wild as a deer, she dared him to run a race with her, + and danced along the paths by his side full of mirth and sportiveness. In truth, + Denecker was altogether captivated by the ingenuous girl, and, as he looked on her + radiant face, could not help thinking that the future had some happy days in store + for his gallant nephew. After a while Lenora strayed off in advance with Gustave, + while the two elders lingered lazily along the path. Gustave was charmed with the + flowers, the plants, the gold-fish, which Lenora pointed out to him; nor was he at + all desirous to shorten their delicious flirtation by returning to the table. This + chimed precisely with the anxiety of De Vlierbeck, who employed every stratagem he + could conceive to keep his guest in the open air. He told stories, repeated jokes, + appealed to Denecker's commercial knowledge, and even quizzed him a little when he + found their conversation beginning to flag. In fact, he was rejoicing that five + o'clock, and, of course, the carriage, were rapidly approaching, when Denecker + suddenly recalled his nephew from a distant quarter of the garden where he was + strolling with Lenora.</p> + <p>"Come, Gustave; come," said he; "if you wish to drink a parting glass with us let + us get in, for the coach will be here in a moment."</p> + <p>De Vlierbeck instantly became pale as a sheet, and, trembling from head to foot, + stared silently at Denecker, who could no longer restrain his surprise at these + exhibitions.</p> + <p>"Are you ill, sir?" said he.</p> + <p>"My stomach is a singular one, Monsieur Denecker, and I suffer spasms if you even + mention <i>wine!</i> It is a strange malady; but—Oh, I hear your coach, + Monsieur Denecker; and there it is, drawing up, I see, at the gateway."</p> + <p>Of course Denecker spoke no more of wine; but, as he could not help noticing the + alacrity with which De Vlierbeck hailed the prospect of his departure, he would have + been deeply mortified, if not offended, had not the previous hospitality of his host + satisfied him of their welcome. He thought, perhaps, that he ought to attribute his + entertainer's conduct to some singular nervous disease which he masked under an + antipathy for wine; and accordingly he took leave with a warm and friendly + farewell.</p> + <p>"I have passed a delightful afternoon with you, Monsieur De Vlierbeck," said he. + "We have found ourselves, I am sure, extremely happy in your and your daughter's + charming society. It is a pleasure added to my life to have made your acquaintance; + and I hope that further intimacy may assure me your friendship. In the mean while, + let me thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kind reception."</p> + <p>As he finished the sentence, Lenora and Gustave joined them.</p> + <p>"My nephew," continued Denecker, "will confess, as I have done, that he has spent + few happier hours than those that are just gone. I hope, Monsieur de Vlierbeck, that + you and your charming daughter will return our visit and dine with us. Yet I shall + have to ask your pardon for postponing the pleasure it will afford us till I return + from Frankfort, where I am summoned, the day after to-morrow, on urgent business. It + is probable I may be detained away a couple of months; but if my nephew should be + allowed to visit you in my absence let me hope he will be welcome."</p> + <p>De Vlierbeck reiterated his professions of delight at the new acquaintance; Lenora + was silent; and Denecker moved off toward the coach.</p> + <p>"But the parting glass, uncle!" exclaimed Gustave. "Let us go in for a moment and + drink it."</p> + <p>"No, no," said Denecker, interrupting him tartly. "I believe we would never get + hence at all if we listened to you. It is time to be off, and I can delay no longer. + Adieu!"</p> + <p>Gustave and Lenora exchanged a long and anxious look, full of regret at separation + and of hope for speedy reunion. In a moment the uncle and nephew were in the vehicle + and the spirited horses in motion; but, as long as the group was in sight at the + gate, a couple of white-gloved hands might have been seen waving farewells from the + coach-window.</p> + <hr style='width: 65%;' /> + <a id="CHAPTER_IV" name='CHAPTER_IV'></a> + <h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + <br /> + + <p>A few days after the departure of his uncle, Gustave paid a visit to Grinselhof. + He was received by Monsieur De Vlierbeck and his daughter with their usual kindness, + passed the greater part of an afternoon with them, and went home at nightfall to the + <i>château</i> of Echelpoel full of delightful recollections and hopes. Either + from a fear of disturbing the reserved habits of the old gentleman, or from a sense + of politeness, Gustave did not at first repeat his visits too frequently; but after a + couple of weeks the extreme cordiality of Vlierbeck dispelled all his scruples. The + ardent youth no longer resisted an impulse that drew him toward the bewitching girl, + nor did he allow a single day to roll by without passing the afternoon at Grinselhof. + The happy hours flew rapidly on the wings of love. He strolled with Lenora through + the shady walks of the old garden, listened to her father's observations on science + and art, drank in the delicious notes of his loved one's voice as it was breathed + forth in song, or, seated beneath the flowery and spreading catalpa, dreamed the + dream of happiness that was in store for him with her who was probably soon to become + his betrothed.</p> + <p>If the noble and beautiful face of the maiden had won his eye and enlisted his + feelings the moment he first beheld her in the village churchyard, <i>now</i>, that + he had become familiar with her character, his love grew so ardently absorbing that + the world seemed sad and dead if she were not present to shed the light of her joyous + spirit upon every thing around him. Neither religion nor poetry could conjure up an + angel more fascinating than his beloved. Indeed, though God had endowed her person + with all those feminine graces that adorned the first woman in Paradise, he had also + lavished on her a heart whose crystalline purity was never clouded, and whose + generosity burst forth with every emotion like a limpid spring.</p> + <p>But in all his interviews, Gustave had never yet been alone with Lenora. When he + visited her she never left the apartment where she commonly sat with her father, + unless the old gentleman expressed a wish that they should unite in a walk through + the garden; and, of course, he had never enjoyed an opportunity to breathe the love + that was rising to his lips. Still, he felt that it was altogether useless to express + by words what was passing in their hearts; for the kindness, the respect, the + affection, that shone in everybody's eyes, betokened the feeling which united them in + a mingled sentiment of attachment and hope.</p> + <p>Though Gustave entertained profound veneration for Lenora's father and really + loved him as a son, there was something which at times came like a cloud betwixt + himself and the old gentleman. What he heard outside of Grinselhof of De Vlierbeck's + extraordinary avarice had been fully realized since he became intimate at the house. + No one ever offered him a glass of wine or beer; he never received an invitation to + dinner or supper; and he frequently observed the trouble that was taken by the master + of the house to disguise his inhospitable economy.</p> + <p>Avarice is a passion which excites no other emotion than that of aversion or + contempt, because it is natural to believe that when so degrading a vice takes + possession of one's soul it destroys every spark of generosity and fills it with + meanness. Accordingly, Gustave had a long and fearful conflict with himself in order + to subdue this instinctive feeling and to convince his judgment that De Vlierbeck's + conduct was only a caprice which did not detract from the native dignity of his + character. And yet, had the young man known the truth, he would have seen that a pang + was hidden beneath every smile that flitted over the old man's face, and that the + nervous shudders which at times shook his frame were the results of a suppressed + agony that almost destroyed him. As he gazed on the happy face of Lenora and steeped + his soul in the intoxication of her love, he never dreamed that her father's life was + a prolonged punishment; that, day and night, a terrible future opened its vista + before him; and that each moment of his existence brought him nearer and nearer to a + dreadful catastrophe. He had not heard the inexorable sentence of the + notary:—"Four months more and your bond expires, when all you possess in this + world will be sold by the officers of justice to satisfy your creditors!"</p> + <p>Two of those fatal months had already expired!</p> + <p>If Monsieur De Vlierbeck appeared to encourage the young man's love, it was not + alone in consequence of his sympathy with his feelings. No: the + <i>dénouement</i> of his painful trial was to be developed within a defined + period; and, if it proved inauspicious, there was nothing but dishonor and moral + death for himself and child! Destiny was about to decide forever whether he was to + come out victorious from this ten years' conflict with poverty, or whether he was to + fall into the abyss of public contempt! These were the feelings that induced him to + conceal his true position more carefully than ever, and, while he watched over the + lovers like a guardian spirit, made him do nothing to check the rapid progress of + their passion.</p> + <p>As the time of his uncle's return approached, the two months seemed to Gustave to + have flown by like a pleasant dream; and, although he felt sure that his relative + would not oppose the union, he foresaw that he would not be allowed hereafter to + spend so much of his time away from business. Indeed, the very idea that he might be + obliged to pass considerable periods without seeing Lenora made him look for his + uncle's return with any thing but delight.</p> + <p>One day he contrived to whisper his fears and anticipations to Lenora, and, for + the first time since their acquaintance, saw tears gathering in her eyes. The girl's + emotion touched his heart so sensibly that he ventured timidly to take her hand, and + held it in his for a long time without uttering a word. De Vlierbeck, who had + overheard the remark, tried to comfort him, but his words did not seem to produce the + desired effect; and, after a short time, Gustave rose abruptly and took leave, though + his usual time of departure had not yet arrived. Lenora read in his expression that + some sudden revolution had occurred in her lover's mind, for his eyes glistened with + extraordinary animation. She strove eagerly to retain him by her side; but he + resisted her appeal pleasantly, and declared that nothing should unveil his secret + till the following day, when he would return to Grinselhof. De Vlierbeck, however, + was more familiar with the world than his daughter; and, imagining that lie had + penetrated the mystery of Gustave's conduct, many a pleasant dream hovered that night + around his pillow.</p> + <p>As the usual hour of Gustave's visit approached next day, De Vlierbeck's heart + beat high with hope; and when the visitor appeared, clad with unusual neatness and + care, the old gentleman welcomed him with more than ordinary warmth. After the + compliments of the day had been paid to his ladylove, Gustave expressed a desire for + a few moments' conversation with her father, who led him into an adjoining cabinet + and seated himself by his side.</p> + <p>"What is it you wish of me, my young friend?" said he, kindly.</p> + <p>Gustave was silent for a moment, as if endeavoring to rally his ideas, and then + spoke out in a manly way:—</p> + <p>"I am about, my dear sir, to speak to you in regard to a matter that concerns my + happiness; and, no matter what may be your decision, I am sure, from your kindness + upon all occasions, that you will pardon my boldness. I can hardly imagine that the + feeling—the irresistible feeling—I have entertained for Lenora from the + first moment I saw her, has escaped your penetrating eye. I ought probably to have + asked your consent long ago, before she obtained so complete a dominion over my + heart; but I have always secretly encouraged the belief that you read my soul and + wore not displeased with my motives."</p> + <p>Gustave was silent, awaiting the hoped-for words of encouragement; but De + Vlierbeck only looked at him with a gentle smile, and gave no other indication of his + pleasure. A motion of the hand, as if he wished the lover to go on with his + conversation, was the only sign he made in reply,</p> + <p>Gustave's resolution began to ebb at this discouraging by-play; but, summoning all + his energy for another attack, he continued:—</p> + <p>"Yes, sir, I have loved Lenora from my first sight of her; but what was then a + spark is now a flame. Don't think it is her loveliness alone that bewitched me. She + might indeed enchant the most insensible of mankind; but I found a far more glorious + treasure in the angelic heart of your daughter. Her virtue, the immaculate purity of + her soul, her gentle and magnanimous sentiments,—in a word, the prodigal gifts + of mind and body which God has lavished on her,—have increased my admiration to + love, my love to absolute idolatry! How dare I conceal my emotion from you any + longer? I cannot live without Lenora; the very thought of even a short temporary + separation from her overwhelms me with despair. I long to be with her every day, + every hour; I long to hear her voice and read my happiness in her eloquent eyes! I + know not what may be your decision; but, believe me, if it shall be adverse to my + hopes, I shall not long survive the blow. If your decree separate, me from my beloved + Lenora, life will no longer have a charm for me!"</p> + <p>Gustave uttered his romantic rhapsody—the rhapsody of most lovers—with + that genuine emotion which bespoke his sincerity, and touched the heart of De + Vlierbeck so deeply that he grasped his hand and implored him to be calm.</p> + <p>"Don't tremble so, my young friend," said the old gentleman. "I know very well + that you love Lenora, and that she is not insensible to your affection for her. But + what have you to propose to me?"</p> + <p>Gustave replied, dejectedly,—"If I still doubt your approval, after all the + marks of esteem you have given me, it is because I fear you do not consider me worthy + the happiness I have sought. I have no ancestral tree whose roots are buried in the + past; the good deeds of my forefathers do not shine in history; the blood that runs + in my veins comes from a common stock."</p> + <p>"Do you think," said De Vlierbeck, interrupting him, "that I was ignorant of all + this from the first day of our acquaintance? No Gustave; no matter what your lineage + may be, your own heart is generous and noble; and, had it not been so, I would never + have esteemed and treated you as my son."</p> + <p>"And so," exclaimed Gustave, catching at the last words with a burst of joyous + impatience, "you don't refuse me Lenora's hand?—you will interpose no + objection, provided my uncle gives his consent?"</p> + <p>"No," replied De Vlierbeck; "I shall not refuse it to you. On the contrary, it + will give me unbounded happiness to intrust the fate of my only child to your + keeping. And yet there is an obstacle of which you have no idea."</p> + <p>"An obstacle!" exclaimed Gustave, growing pale;—"an obstacle between Lenora + and me?"</p> + <p>"Be silent a moment," said De Vlierbeck, "and listen to the explanation I shall + give you. You think, Gustave, I suppose, that Grinselhof and all its dependencies + belong to us? It is not so: we are penniless. We are poorer far than the peasant who + rents our farming-land and lives yonder at the gate!"</p> + <p>Gustave looked doubtingly at De Vlierbeck, with so incredulous a smile that the + poor gentleman blushed, and trembled like an aspen.</p> + <p>"I see you do not believe me," continued he; "I see it in your smile and look. + Like the rest of them, you think me a miser, hiding my wealth and starving my child + and myself to amass riches,—a wretch who sacrifices every thing for + money,—a vagabond whom all ought to fear and despise!"</p> + <p>"Oh, pardon me, pardon me, sir!" interrupted Gustave, moved by the excitement of + the old man "I think nothing of the kind! My veneration for you is unbounded!"</p> + <p>"Nay, don't be frightened at my words, young man," continued De Vlierbeck, in a + calmer tone. "I make no accusations against you, Gustave. I only saw in your + incredulous smile that I had succeeded in masking my poverty even from you, and in + making you suppose that my economy was avarice. But it is needless for me to give you + any further explanation just now. Let it suffice you to know that what I say is + strictly, honestly true. I possess nothing,—nothing!"</p> + <p>"And now," added he, after a moment's silence on both sides, "let me give you a + piece of advice. Go home to-day without seeing Lenora; examine your soul calmly, and + see whether there are no secret emotions that may make you change your present views; + let a night pass, and if, to-morrow, Lenora, poor as you now know her to be, is still + dear to you,—if you still think you can be happy with her and can make her + happy,—seek your uncle and ask his consent. Here is my hand: if the day shall + ever come when I can offer it as a father's, it will be the happiest of my life!"</p> + <p>Although the revelation made by Monsieur De Vlierbeck was astonishing to Gustave, + the solemn tone in which he announced it convinced the lover of its truth. He was + silent for a moment; but soon a spark of enthusiasm began to glisten in his eye and + light up his face, as he exclaimed,—</p> + <p>"How can you ask me if I shall continue to love Lenora now that I know her to be + poor? It will be happiness enough for me to receive her as a wife, to be bound to her + by the eternal bonds of love, to be forever within her reach, and to receive my + happiness from her look and voice! What delight it will be for me to protect her and + know that I have the privilege of working for her! Palace or hovel; riches or + poverty, all are equally indifferent to me, provided her presence animates the spot! + A night's reflection, Monsieur De Vlierbeck, cannot change my resolution. Grant me + Lenora's hand, and I will thank you on my knees for the priceless gift!"</p> + <p>"And suppose I do," replied the old gentleman; "generosity and constancy are + natural to the ardent character of youth:—but your uncle?"</p> + <p>"My uncle!" murmured Gustave, with evident grief; "that is true; I need his + consent. All I possess or ever shall possess in the world depends on his affection + for me. I am the orphan son of his brother. He adopted me as his child and has + overwhelmed me with kindness. He has the right to decide my lot in life, and I must + obey him."</p> + <p>"And do you think that he, a merchant, who probably places a very high value on + money, because experience has taught him its value, will say, like you, 'Palace or + hovel, poverty or wealth, it makes no difference'?"</p> + <p>"Alas! I know not, Monsieur De Vlierbeck," said Gustave, droopingly. "But my uncle + is so good to me—so extraordinarily good—that I may rightly hope for his + consent. He will return to-morrow. When I embrace him I will declare all my wishes. I + will say my comfort, my happiness, my life, depend on his consent. I know that he + loves Lenora sincerely; for, before his departure, he even seemed to encourage my + pretensions to her hand. Your disclosures will undoubtedly surprise him; but my + prayers will conquer: believe it!"</p> + <p>Monsieur De Vlierbeck rose, to put an end to the conversation.</p> + <p>"Well, ask your uncle's consent," said he; "and, if your hopes are realized, let + him come here and consult about the marriage. Whatever may be the issue of this + affair, Gustave, you at least have always behaved toward us with the delicacy of a + generous youth. My esteem and friendship shall always be yours. Go now; quit + Grinselhof this time without seeing Lenora, for you ought not to meet her until this + affair is settled. I will tell her myself whatever I think proper for her to + know."</p> + <p>Half pleased, half sad,—his heart divided between joy and + anxiety,—Gustave bade farewell to Lenora's father and returned to + Echelpoel.</p> + <hr style='width: 65%;' /> + <a id="CHAPTER_V" name='CHAPTER_V'></a> + <h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> + <br /> + + <p>On the afternoon of the following day Monsieur De Vlierbeck was seated in his + parlor, his head resting on his hand. He seemed plunged in profound thought, for his + eyes were fixed on vacancy and his face exhibited by turns contentment and hope, + inquietude and anxiety.</p> + <p>Occasionally Lenora came into the apartment, and, seeming unusually restless, + wandered about from spot to spot, arranging and rearranging the little fancy articles + upon the tables, looking out of the window into the garden, and at last running + down-stairs suddenly as if she were pursued. No one who saw her could doubt that she + was nervously anxious about something; yet her expression was one of joy and hope. + Had she been able to penetrate her father's mind and behold the various emotions that + excited it, she would not perhaps have been so gay and blithesome; but poor De + Vlierbeck restrained himself with his habitual care in her presence, and smiled at + her impatience as if he too were confident of approaching happiness.</p> + <p>At length, tired of running about, Lenora seated herself by her father and fixed + her clear and questioning gaze on his face.</p> + <p>"Don't be so excited, my good child," said he. "We shall know nothing to-day; but + we may, perhaps, to-morrow. Moderate your joy, my daughter; if it please Heaven to + decide against your hope in this matter your grief will be more easily + conquered."</p> + <p>"Oh, no, father!" stammered Lenora; "God will grant my prayer; I feel it in my + heart. Don't be astonished, father, that I am full of joy, for I think I see Gustave + speaking to his uncle. I hear what he says, and Monsieur Denecker's replies; I see + him embrace Gustave and give his consent! Who can doubt, father, that I ought to + hope, when I know that Monsieur Denecker loved me and was always kind?"</p> + <p>"Would you be very happy, Lenora," asked De Vlierbeck, with a smile, "if Gustave + were betrothed to you?"</p> + <p>"Never to leave him!" cried Lenora,—"to love him,—to be the happiness + of his life, his consolation, his joy,—to enliven the solitude of Grinselhof by + our love!—ah! that, father, would be delight indeed; for then there would be + two of us to contribute to the pleasures of your life! Gustave would have more skill + than I to chase away the grief that sometimes clouds your brow; you could walk, talk, + or hunt with him; he would venerate and love you as a son and watch you with the + tenderest care; his only thought on earth would be to make you happy, because he + knows that your happiness is mine; and I—I, father, will recompense him for his + devotion by the gratitude of my heart, and love. Oh, yes, dear father! we shall live + together in a paradise of contentment!"</p> + <p>"Ingenuous girl!" exclaimed De Vlierbeck, with a sigh; "may the Lord hear your + prayer! But the world, my child, is governed by laws and customs of which you are + altogether ignorant. A wife must follow her husband wherever he goes. If Gustave + shall select another residence you must follow him and console yourself gradually at + the separation from your father. Under other circumstances, parting might be painful; + but solitude will not sadden me if I know you are happy, my child."</p> + <p>The startled maiden looked at her father with surprise as he uttered these words; + and, as he finished, her head fell heavily on her breast and tears streamed silently + from her eyes. Monsieur De Vlierbeck took her hand tenderly as he said, in faltering + words,—</p> + <p>"I feared, Lenora, that I would make you sad; but you must become accustomed to + the idea of our separation."</p> + <p>Lenora raised her head quickly as she replied, in a firm and resolute manner, + "What! could Gustave ever dream of our separation? To leave you at Grinselhof passing + your days in seclusion while I and my husband were in the world in the midst of + festivity? I should not have an instant's rest, wherever I might be; conscience would + cry aloud in my heart, 'Ungrateful and insensible child, thy father is abandoned to + suffering and solitude!' Yes, I love Gustave; he is dearer to me than life itself, + and I receive his hand as a blessing from God; but if he should say to me, 'Abandon + your father!'—if he left me no choice except you or him,—I would close my + eyes and reject him! I should be sad; I should suffer; perhaps even I should die; + but, father dear, I would die in your arms!"</p> + <p>She bent down her head for a moment as if oppressed by a dreadful thought; but, + raising her large eyes, liquid with tears, she fixed them on her father, as she + added,—</p> + <p>"You doubt Gustave's affection for you; you imagine him capable of filling your + life with sorrow,—of separating me from you! Oh, father, you do not know him; + you do not know how much he respects and loves you; you do not comprehend the warmth + of his generous and loving heart!"</p> + <p>De Vlierbeck bent over his child and impressed a kiss on her forehead, as he was + about to utter some words of consolation, when suddenly Lenora sprang from his arms + and pointed eagerly to the window, as if listening to approaching sounds.</p> + <p>The noise of wheels and the clatter of horses on the road soon gave Monsieur De + Vlierbeck to understand why his daughter had been so startled. His face assumed a + more animated expression, and, descending hurriedly, he reached the door as Monsieur + Denecker alighted from his coach.</p> + <p>The merchant seemed in exceedingly good humor; he grasped De Vlierbeck's hand, + expressing his delight at seeing him once more. "How goes it with you, my old friend? + It seems that rogue, my nephew, has taken advantage of my absence." And, although De + Vlierbeck ushered him into the saloon with all the formality imaginable, Denecker + slapped him familiarly on the shoulder, and continued,—</p> + <p>"Well! well! we were good friends from the beginning; and now I understand we are + to be regular gossips:—at least I hope so. That scamp hasn't bad taste, I must + confess. He would have to make a long search before he found a handsomer or more + amiable woman than Lenora. Look you, Monsieur De Vlierbeck, we must have a wedding + frolic that people will talk of twenty years hence!"</p> + <p>By this time they had got into the saloon and taken their seats; but De Vlierbeck, + nervous as he was, had considerable doubt as to the tone of Denecker's remarks, and + whether he was jesting or serious.</p> + <p>"It seems," continued Denecker, assuming a graver tone, "that Gustave is madly + impatient for this union, and begs me to hasten it. I have taken compassion on the + young fellow and left all the business of our house topsy-turvy to-day to arrange + matters with you. He tells me you have given your consent. That was kind of you, sir. + I thought a great deal of this affair during my journey, for I had observed that + Cupid's arrows had gone clean through and through the boy; yet I had fears about your + consent. Inequality of blood, old-fashioned ideas, might perhaps interfere."</p> + <p>"And so Gustave told you that I consented to his marriage with Lenora?" said the + old gentleman, paying no attention to Monsieur Denecker's remarks.</p> + <p>"Did he deceive me, sir?" said Denecker, with surprise.</p> + <p>"No; but did he communicate something else to you, which ought to strike you as of + equal importance?"</p> + <p>Denecker threw back his head with a laugh, as he replied,—</p> + <p>"What nonsense you made him believe! But, between us two, that passes for nothing. + He tells me that Grinselhof don't belong to you and that you are <i>poor</i>! I hope, + Monsieur De Vlierbeck, you have too good an opinion of my sense to imagine I have the + least faith in such a story?"</p> + <p>A shudder passed over the poor gentleman's frame. Denecker's good-humored + familiarity had made him believe that he knew and credited all, and nevertheless + responded to his nephew's hopes; but the last words he heard taught him that he must + again go over the sad recital of his misfortunes.</p> + <p>"Monsieur Denecker," said he, "do not entertain the least doubt, I beg you, in + regard to what I am about to say. I am willing instantly to consent that my daughter + shall become your nephew's wife; but I solemnly declare that I am + poor,—frightfully poor!"</p> + <p>"Come, come!" cried the merchant; "we knew long, long ago that you were mightily + fond of your money; but when you marry your <i>only</i> child you must open your + heart and your purse, my dear sir, and portion her according to your means. They + say—pardon me for repeating it—that you are <i>a miser</i>; but what a + shame it would be to let your only daughter leave your house unprovided for!"</p> + <p>Poor De Vlierbeck writhed on his chair as Denecker poured forth his incredulous + jokes. "For God's sake, sir," cried he, "spare me these bitter remarks. I declare, on + the word of a gentleman, that I possess <i>nothing</i> in the world!"</p> + <p>"Well!" cried the merchant, taking no heed of his remarks, and with a mocking + smile, "come; let us cipher the matter out on the table. You suppose, perhaps, that I + have come here to ask some great sacrifice of you: but no, De Vlierbeck, thank God, I + have no occasion to be so close in my calculations. Yet a marriage is a thing to + which there are always two parties, and it is just that each should bring something + into the common stock."</p> + <p>"Oh, God! oh, God!" muttered the poor gentleman, as he clenched his hands + convulsively.</p> + <p>"I propose to give my nephew one hundred thousand francs," continued Denecker; + "and if he wants to continue in business my credit will be worth as much more to him. + I have no wish that Lenora's portion shall equal his. Your high birth, and especially + your character, will make up what is wanting in her fortune; but what say you to the + half,—fifty thousand francs? You will consent to that, or I am much mistaken. + What say you? Is it a bargain?"</p> + <p>Pale and trembling, De Vlierbeck sat riveted to his chair; but at last, in a low, + melancholy voice,—</p> + <p>"Monsieur Denecker," said he, "this conversation kills me. I beg you to stop this + infliction. I repeat that I possess <i>nothing</i>; and, since you force me to speak + before you apprize me of your own intentions, know that Grinselhof and its + dependencies are mortgaged beyond their value! It is useless to inform you of the + origin of these debts. Let it suffice to repeat that I tell the truth; and I beg you, + without going further, now that you are informed of the state of my affairs, to + declare frankly what are your designs as to your nephew's marriage."</p> + <p>Although this declaration was made with that feverish energy which ought to have + satisfied Denecker of its truth, it nevertheless failed to convince him. A degree of + surprise displayed itself on the merchant's face; but he continued his observations + in the same incredulous tone:—</p> + <p>"Pardon me, De Vlierbeck, but it is impossible to believe you. I did not think you + were so hard in a bargain. Yet be it so: every man has his weakness; one is too + miserly, another too prodigal. Now, for my part, I confess that I am extremely + anxious to spare Gustave the anxiety of delay. Give your daughter twenty-five + thousand francs, with the understanding that the amount of her portion is to remain a + secret; for I don't want to be laughed at. Twenty-five thousand francs!—you + cannot say it is too much;—in fact, it is a trifle that will hardly pay for + their furniture. Be reasonable, my good sir, and let us shake hands on it!"</p> + <p>De Vlierbeck said nothing; but, rising abruptly from the table, opened a closet + with a trembling hand, and, taking from it a package of papers, threw them on the + table.</p> + <p>"There!" said he; "read; convince yourself."</p> + <p>Denecker took up the papers and began to examine them. As he went on, the + expression of his face gradually changed, and at times he raised his head and looked + upward, as if in deep thought. After he had been engaged for some time in this + disagreeable task, De Vlierbeck recommenced the conversation in a tone of cutting + irony:—</p> + <p>"Ah! you would not believe me, sir. Well, let your determination be founded on + those papers alone. It is right you should know every thing; for I have determined + never again to be tortured. Besides the evidences of debt which are before you, I owe + a bill of exchange for four thousand francs, which I cannot pay! You see now, + Monsieur Denecker, that I am worse than poor, for I have debts!"</p> + <p>"Alas! it is but too true," said the stupefied merchant; "you have indeed nothing! + I see by these documents that my notary is also yours; and, although I spoke to him + of your fortune, he left me unadvised, or, I should rather say, in error."</p> + <p>De Vlierbeck breathed more freely, for he felt as if a rock had fallen from his + breast. His face resumed its ordinary calmness; and, seating himself, he + continued:—</p> + <p>"Now, sir, if you have no longer any reason to doubt my poverty, let me ask what + are your intentions."</p> + <p>"My intentions?" replied the merchant; "my intentions are that we shall remain as + good friends as we were before; but, as to the marriage, that of course falls to the + ground. We will speak no more about it. What were <i>your</i> calculations, Monsieur + De Vlierbeck? I think I am just beginning to see a little clearly into this matter! + You imagined, I suppose, that you would make a good business out of it and sell your + merchandise as high as possible!"</p> + <p>"Sir," exclaimed De Vlierbeck, bounding from his chair in rage, "speak + respectfully of my daughter! Poor or rich, do not dare to forget who she is!"</p> + <p>"Don't get angry! don't get angry! Monsieur De Vlierbeck. I have no desire to + insult you. Far from it. Had your enterprise succeeded I would probably have admired + you; but <i>finesse</i> against <i>finesse</i> always makes a bad game! Permit me to + ask, since you are so touchy on the point of honor, if you have acted a very + honorable part in courting my nephew and allowing his passion to absorb him?"</p> + <p>De Vlierbeck bowed his head to conceal the blush that suffused his aged cheeks; + nor did he awake from his painful stupor till the merchant recalled him by the single + word,—</p> + <p>"Well?"</p> + <p>"Ah!" stammered De Vlierbeck, "have mercy on me! Love for my child, probably, led + me astray. God endowed her with all the gifts that can adorn a woman. I hoped that + her beauty, the purity of her soul, the nobility of her blood, were treasures quite + as precious as gold!"</p> + <p>"That is to say, for a gentleman, perhaps; but not for so common a person as a + merchant," interrupted Monsieur Denecker, with a sneer.</p> + <p>"Don't reproach me with having <i>courted</i> your nephew," continued De + Vlierbeck. "That is a word that wounds me deeply; for it is unjust. Their attachment + was reciprocal and in every way unstudied. I thanked God daily in my prayers that he + had cast in our path a savior for my child:—yes, a savior, I say; for Gustave + is an honorable youth, who would have made her happy not so much by money as by his + noble and generous character. Is it then so great a crime for a father who has + unfortunately become poor to hope that his child should escape want?"</p> + <p>"Certainly not," replied the merchant; "but every thing is in <i>success</i>; and + in that respect, Monsieur De Vlierbeck, your enterprise has been unfortunate. I am a + man who examines his goods twice before he buys, and it is difficult to pass apples + on me for lemons!"</p> + <p>This heartless, trafficking slang tortured the unfortunate bankrupt to such a + degree that he arose from his seat in a passion and began to pace the apartment.</p> + <p>"You have no consideration for my misfortunes, sir," said he. "You pretend that I + designed deceiving you; but was it <i>you</i> who discovered my poverty? Are you not + free to act as you please, after the disclosures that I have voluntarily given you? + And let me remark, sir, that if I listen humbly to your reproaches—if I even + acknowledge my fault—the sense of manhood is not dead in my soul. You talk of + 'merchandise' and 'goods,' as if you came here to buy something! You allude to my + Lenora, do you? All your wealth, sir, could not purchase her! and, if love is not + powerful enough in your eyes to obliterate the pecuniary inequality between us, know + that I am a De Vlierbeck, and that name, even in poverty, weighs more than all your + money!"</p> + <p>During this explosion his face kindled with indignation and his eyes shot forth + their fiery rays upon the merchant, who, alarmed by the loud words and animated + gestures of De Vlierbeck, regarded him with an air of stupefaction from the other + side of the apartment.</p> + <p>"Good God, sir," said he at last, "there is no need of so much violence and loud + talk! Each of us remains where he is; each keeps what he has, and the affair is at an + end. I have but one request to make of you, and it is that you will never again + receive my nephew,—or else—"</p> + <p>"Or else?" interrupted De Vlierbeck, passionately; "do you <i>dare</i> to threaten + me?" But, restraining himself almost instantly, he continued, with comparative + calmness, "Enough! Shall I call Monsieur Denecker's carriage?"</p> + <p>"If you please," replied the merchant. "We cannot do business together, it seems; + but that is no reason why we should become enemies."</p> + <p>"Well! well! we will stop short of that, sir. But this conversation annoys me; it + must end!" And, so saying, he led Monsieur Denecker to the door and bade him farewell + abruptly. Be Vlierbeck returned to the parlor, fell into his chair and covered his + brow with both hands, as a heavy groan burst from his breast, which heaved with + almost hysterical emotion. For a long time he remained silent and motionless; but + soon his hands fell heavily on his knees, a deathly paleness overspread his face, and + the room whirled around the heart-broken man.</p> + <p>Suddenly he heard footsteps in the chamber above, and, rousing himself by a strong + effort, "Oh, God! my poor child!" cried he; "my poor Lenora! She comes! my punishment + is not yet complete! I must break the heart of my own child; I must tear from it all + its hopes, blot out its dream, behold it withered up with grief! Oh that I could + escape this dreadful disclosure! Alas! What to say to her? how to explain it?"</p> + <p>A bitter smile contracted his lips as he continued, with bitter irony:—"Ah! + hide thy suffering, old man; rally thy strength; take courage! If thy heart is torn + and bleeding,—if despair devours thy soul,—oh, smile, still smile! Yes! + your life has been a continual farce! Yet, miserable abortion that thou art, what + canst thou do but submit, yield without a fight, and bow thy neck to the yoke like a + powerless slave? Begone, rebellious feeling! Be silent, and behold thy child!"</p> + <p>Lenora opened the door and ran to her father, her questioning eyes fixed on his + with a look of hope. All of poor De Vlierbeck's efforts to disguise his suffering + were unsuccessful, and Lenora soon read in his face that he was a prey to some + overwhelming sorrow. As he still obstinately kept silence, she began to tremble, and + asked, with feverish impatience,—</p> + <p>"Well, father,—well,—have you <i>nothing</i> to say to me?"</p> + <p>"Alas! my child," said he, sighing, "we are not happy. God tries us with heavy + blows. Let us bow before the will of the Almighty."</p> + <p>"What do you mean? what is there to fear?" said Lenora, beside herself. "Speak, + father! Has he <i>refused</i> his consent?"</p> + <p>"He has refused it, Lenora!"</p> + <p>"Oh, no! no!" cried the maiden; "it is impossible!"</p> + <p>"Refused it, because he possesses millions and we—nothing!"</p> + <p>"It is true, then? Gustave is hopelessly lost to me!—lost to me forever!</p> + <p>"Hopelessly!" echoed the father.</p> + <p>A sharp cry escaped Lenora as she tottered to the table and fell on it, weeping + bitterly.</p> + <p>De Vlierbeck arose and stood above his sobbing daughter, and, joining his uplifted + hands, exclaimed, in suppliant tones,—</p> + <p>"Oh, pity me, pity me, Lenora! In that fatal interview I have suffered all the + torments that could rack the heart of a parent; I have drunk the dregs of shame; I + have emptied the cup of humiliation; but all, all are nothing in comparison with thy + grief! Calm yourself, child of my love; let me see the sweet face I so love to look + on; let me regain my lost strength in thy holy resignation! Lenora! my head swims; I + shall die of despair!"</p> + <p>As he uttered these words he sank heavily into a chair, overpowered by emotion. + The sound of his fall seemed instantly to recall Lenora to herself, and, dashing the + tears from her eyes, she leaned her head on his shoulder to listen and assure herself + that he had not fainted.</p> + <p>"Never to see him more! to renounce his love forever! to lose the happiness I + dreamed of! Alas! alas!"</p> + <p>"Lenora! Lenora!" exclaimed her father, entreatingly!</p> + <p>"Oh, beloved father," sobbed the poor girl, "to lose Gustave <i>forever!</i> The + dreadful thought overwhelms me! While I am near you I will bless God for his + kindness; but my tears overpower me; oh! let me weep, let me weep, I beseech + you!"</p> + <p>De Vlierbeck pressed his daughter more closely to his heart, and respected her + affliction in silence.</p> + <p>The stillness of death reigned throughout the apartment, while they remained + locked in each other's arms until the very excess of grief relaxed their embrace and + opened their hearts to mutual consolation.</p> + <hr style='width: 65%;' /> + <a id="CHAPTER_VI" name='CHAPTER_VI'></a> + <h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + <br /> + + <p>Four days after Denecker had refused his consent to the marriage, a hired carriage + might have been Been drawing up carefully in a screen of wood that bordered a by-road + about half a league from Grinselhof. A young man got out of it, and, giving + directions to the coachman to await him at a neighboring inn, walked briskly across + the moor toward the old <i>château</i>. As soon as Grinselhof began to loom up + over the trees, he moved cautiously along behind the hedges and thickets, as if + seeking to avoid observation; and then, stealing across the bridge, he opened the + gate, passed through the dense copse that surrounded the house, and entered the + garden.</p> + <p>The first object that greeted his sight was Lenora, seated at her table beneath + the well-known catalpa, with her head resting on the board, evidently absorbed in + sorrow. Her back was turned toward him as he approached; and, although he advanced + with the utmost caution, the sound of his footsteps disturbed her in the intense + silence of the spot, and she leaped to her feet, while the name of Gustave broke in + surprised accents from her lips. She was evidently anxious to escape into the house; + but her lover threw himself on his knees, and, grasping her hand, poured forth a + passionate appeal:—</p> + <p>"Listen to me, Lenora! listen to me! If you fly and refuse me the consolation of + telling you with my last farewell, all I have suffered and all I hope, I will either + die here at your feet, or I will go hence forever, a broken-hearted wanderer over the + face of the earth! Listen to me! listen to me! Listen to me, Lenora, my sister, my + beloved, my betrothed! By our pure and holy love, I beseech you not to repulse + me!"</p> + <p>Though Lenora trembled in every limb, her features assumed an expression of + wounded pride, as she answered, with cold decision,—</p> + <p>"Your boldness surprises me, sir! You are indeed a daring man, to appear again at + Grinselhof after your uncle's insulting conduct to my father! He is ill in bed; his + soul is crushed by the outrage. Is this the reward of all my affection for you?"</p> + <p>"Oh, God! oh, God! Lenora, do I hear <i>you</i> accuse me? Alas! what have I done, + and what could I prevent?"</p> + <p>"There is nothing, sir, any longer, in common between us," said the girl. "If we + are not as rich as you, the blood that runs in our veins cannot suffer by comparison. + Arise! begone! I will see you no more!"</p> + <p>"Mercy! pity!" exclaimed Gustave, lifting his clasped hands toward her; "mercy, + Lenora, for I am innocent!"</p> + <p>The maiden dashed away the tears that began to start in her eyes, and, turning her + back on him, was about to depart.</p> + <p>"Cruel, cruel!" exclaimed Gustave, in broken tones. "Can you leave me without a + farewell?—without a word of consolation? Will you remain insensible to my grief + and deaf to my prayers? 'Tis well; I will submit to my lot, for <i>you</i> have + decided it! You, Lenora, my love, have sentenced me! I forgive you: be happy on earth + without me, and farewell forever!"</p> + <p>As he uttered those words his strength seemed utterly to fail him, and, sinking + into the chair which Lenora had quitted, his head and arms fell lifeless on the + table.</p> + <p>The determined girl had made a few steps in her retreat to the house, when she + suddenly halted on hearing the agonized tones of Gustave's farewell and the sudden + sound of his fall on the table. As she glanced backward at the convulsed frame of her + lover, a spasm that denoted the violent conflict between duty and affection passed + over her beautiful face; and, as her heart appeared gradually to conquer in the + fight, the tears began to pour in showers from her eyes. Step by step and slowly she + retraced the path to the table, and leaning over the sufferer, took one of his hands + tenderly in hers:—</p> + <p>"Are we not wretched, Gustave? Are we not wretched?"</p> + <p>At the touch of that gentle hand and the sound of that beloved voice, life seemed + once more to stir in his veins, and, raising his eyes languidly to hers, he gazed + mournfully into them as he half said, half sighed,—</p> + <p>"Lenora, dear Lenora, have you come back to me? Have you taken pity on my agony? + You do not <i>hate</i> me, do you?" "Is a love like ours extinguished in a day?" + returned Leonora, with a sigh.</p> + <p>"Oh, no, no!" cried Gustave aloud; "it is eternal! Is it not eternal, Lenora, and + omnipotent against every ill as long as the hearts beat in our bosoms?"</p> + <p>Lenora bowed her head and cast down her eyes.</p> + <p>"Do not imagine, Gustave," said she, solemnly, "that our separation causes me less + grief than it does you; and, if the assurance of my love can assuage the pangs of + absence, let it strengthen and encourage you. My lonely heart will keep your image + sacred in its holiest shrine; I will follow you in spirit wherever you go, and I will + love you till death shall fill up the gulf that separates us. We shall meet again + above, but never more on earth."</p> + <p>"You are mistaken, Lenora," cried Gustave, with a feeble expression of joy; "you + are mistaken! There is still hope; my uncle is not inexorable, and his compassionate + heart must yield to my despair."</p> + <p>"That may be," replied Lenora, in sad but resolute tones; "that may be, Gustave; + but my father's honor is inflexible. Leave me, Gustave; I have already disobeyed my + father's orders too long, and slighted my duty in remaining with a man who cannot + become my husband. Go now; for, if we should be surprised by some one, my poor, + wretched father would die of shame and anger."</p> + <p>"One moment more, beloved Lenora! Hear what I have to tell you. My uncle refused + me your hand; I wept, I besought him, but nothing could change his determination. In + despair I was transported beyond myself; I rebelled against my benefactor; and, + treating him like an ungrateful wretch, I said a thousand things for which I begged + his pardon on my knees when reason resumed her empire over my excited soul. My uncle + is goodness itself to me: he pardoned my sin; but he imposed the condition that I + should instantly undertake a journey with him to Italy, which he has long designed + making. He idly hopes that travel may obliterate your image from my mind; but think + not, Lenora, that I can ever forget you! A sudden thought flashed through my fancy, + and I accepted his terms with a secret joy. For months and months I will be alone + with my uncle; and, watching him ever with the love and gratitude I feel for all his + kindness, I will gradually wear away his objections, and, conquering his heart, + return, my love, to place the bridal wreath upon your brow, and claim you, before the + altar of God, as the companion of my choice!"</p> + <p>For an instant a gentle smile overspread the maiden's face, and her clear, earnest + gaze was full of rapture at the vision of future happiness; but the gleam disappeared + almost as quickly as it arose, and she answered him, with bitter sadness,—</p> + <p>"Alas! my dear friend, it is cruel to destroy this last hope of your heart; and + yet I must do it. Your uncle might consent; but my father—"</p> + <p>She faltered for an instant.</p> + <p>"Your father, Lenora? Your father would pardon all and receive me like a long-lost + son."</p> + <p>"No, no; believe it not, Gustave; for his honor has been too deeply wounded. As a + Christian he might pardon it; but as a gentleman he will never forget the + outrage."</p> + <p>"Oh, Lenora, you are unjust to your father. If I return with my uncle's consent, + and say to him, 'I will make your child happy; give her to me for my wife; I will + surround her path with all the joys a husband has ever bestowed on woman;'—if I + tell him this, think you he will deny me?"</p> + <p>Lenora cast down her eyes.</p> + <p>"You know his infinite goodness, Gustave," said she. "My happiness is his only + thought on earth; he will thank God and bless you."</p> + <p>"Yes, yes; he <i>will</i> consent," continued Gustave, with ardor; "and all is not + lost. A blessed ray lightens our future, and let it rekindle your hope, beloved of my + heart! Yield not to grief; let me go forth on this dreary journey, but let me bear + along with me the assurance that you await my return with trust in God. Remember me + in your prayers; utter my name as you stray through these lonely paths which + witnessed the dawn of our love and where for two months I drained the cup of perfect + bliss. The knowledge that I am not forgotten by you will sustain my heart and enable + me to endure the pangs of separation."</p> + <p>Lenora wept in silence. Her lover's eloquence had extinguished every spark of her + pride; and the rebellious heart which so lately was ready to cast off its rosy + fetters had no longer a place for any thing but love and sadness. Gustave saw that he + had conquered.</p> + <p>"I go, Lenora," said he, "strong in your affection. I quit my country and my loved + one with a confident hope. Whatever may happen to me, I will never be downcast. You + will think of me daily, Lenora, will you not?"</p> + <p>"Alas! I have promised my father that I will forget you!" sobbed the maiden, as + her hand trembled in his.</p> + <p>"<i>Forget</i> me!" exclaimed Gustave. "<i>Can</i> you force yourself to forget + me?"</p> + <p>"No, Gustave; NO!" said she, firmly, fixing her large eyes on him with an intense + and lingering gaze. "No: for the first time in my life I will disobey my father. I + feel that I have net the strength to keep my idle word. I cannot forget you: till the + last hour of my life I will love you; for it is my fate, and I cannot resist."</p> + <p>"Thanks, thanks, a thousand thanks, Lenora!" exclaimed Gustave, in a transport. + "Thy tender love strengthens me against destiny. Beloved of my heart, rest here under + the guardian eye of God. Thy image will follow me in my journey like a protecting + angel; in joy and grief, by day and night, in health and sickness, thou, Lenora, wilt + ever be present to me! This cruel separation wounds my heart beyond expression; but + duty commands, and I must obey. Farewell, farewell!"</p> + <p>He wrung her hands convulsively, and was gone.</p> + <p>"Gustave!" sobbed the poor girl, as she sank on the chair and allowed the pent-up + passion of her soul to burst forth in tears.</p> + <hr style='width: 65%;' /> + <a id="CHAPTER_VII" name='CHAPTER_VII'></a> + <h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + <br /> + + <p>Leonora secretly cherished in her heart the hope of a happy future; but she did + not hesitate to inform her father of Gustave's visit. De Vlierbeck heard her + listlessly, and gave no other reply but a bitter smile.</p> + <p>From that day Grinselhof became sadder and more solitary than ever. The old + gentleman might generally be seen seated in an arm-chair, resting his forehead on his + hand, while his eyes were fixed on the ground or on vacancy. The fatal day on which + the bond fell due was perhaps always present to his mind; nor could he banish the + thought of that frightful misery into which it would plunge his child and himself. + Lenora carefully concealed her own sufferings in order not to increase her father's + grief; and, although she fully sympathized with him, no effort was omitted on her + part to cheer the old man by apparent contentment. She did and said every thing that + her tender heart could invent to arouse the sufferer from his reveries; but all her + efforts were in vain: her father thanked her with a smile and caress; but the smile + was sad, the caress constrained and feeble.</p> + <p>If Lenora sometimes asked him, with tears, what was the cause of his depression, + he adroitly managed to avoid all explanations. For days together he wandered about + the loneliest paths of the garden, apparently anxious to escape the presence even of + his daughter. If she caught a glimpse of him at a distance, a fierce look of + irritation was perceptible on his face, while his arms were thrown about in rapid and + convulsive gesticulations. If she approached him with marks of love and devotion, he + scarcely replied to her affectionate words, but left the garden to bury himself in + the solitude of the house.</p> + <p>An entire month—a month of bitter sadness and unexpressed suffering on both + sides—passed in this way; and Lenora observed with increased anxiety the rapid + emaciation and pallor of her father, and the suddenness with which his once-lively + eye lost every spark of its wonted vivacity. It was about this time that a slight + change in the old gentleman's conduct convinced her that a secret—and perhaps a + terrible one—weighed on his heart. Every day or two he went to Antwerp in the + <i>calèche</i>, without informing her or any one else of the object of his + visit. He came back to Grinselhof late at night, seated himself at the supper-table + silent and resigned, and, persuading Lenora to go to bed, soon went off to his own + chamber. But his daughter was well aware that he did not retire to rest; for during + long hours of wakefulness she heard the floor creak as he paced his apartment with + restless steps.</p> + <p>Lenora was brave by nature, and her singular and solitary education had given her + a latent force of character that was almost masculine. By degrees the resolution to + make her father reveal his secret grew in her mind. And, although a feeling of + instinctive respect made her hesitate, a restless devotion to the author of her being + gradually overcame all scruples and emboldened her for the enterprise.</p> + <p>One day Monsieur De Vlierbeck set off very early for town. The morning wore away + heavily; and, toward the afternoon, Lenora wandered wearily about the desolate house, + with no companion but her sad reflections. At length she entered the apartment where + her father usually studied or wrote, and, after a good deal of hesitation, in which + her face and gestures displayed the anxiety of her purpose, opened the table-drawer, + and saw in it, unrolled, a written document. The paleness of death overspread her + countenance as she perused the paper and instantly closed the drawer. After this she + left the apartment hastily, and, returning to her chamber, sat down with hands + clasped on her knees and eyes fixed on the floor in a stare of wild surprise.</p> + <p>"<i>Sell Grinselhof!</i>" exclaimed she. "Sell Grinselhof! Why? Monsieur Denecker + insulted my father because we were not rich enough for him. What is this secret? and + what does it all mean? If it should be <i>true</i> that we are beggars! Oh, God! does + a ray of light penetrate my mind? is this the solution of the enigma and the cause of + my father's depression?"</p> + <p>For a long time she remained motionless in her chair, absorbed in reverie; but + gradually her face brightened, her lips moved, and her eyes glistened with + resolution. As she was endeavoring to fight bravely against misfortune, she suddenly + heard the wheels of her father's <i>calèche</i> returning to Grinselhof. She + ran down instantly to meet him; and as he drew up at the door she perceived the poor + sufferer buried in a corner of the vehicle, apparently deprived of all consciousness; + and, when he descended from the vehicle and she saw his expression distinctly, the + deadly pallor that covered his haggard cheeks almost made her sink to the earth with + anxiety. Indeed, she had neither heart nor strength to utter a word to him; but, + standing aside in silence, she allowed the old man to enter the house and bury + himself as usual in his chamber.</p> + <p>For some minutes she stood on the door-sill, undecided as to what she should do; + but by degrees her brow and cheeks began to redden, and the light of resolution shone + in her moistened eyes.</p> + <p>"Ought the feeling of respect to restrain me longer?" said she to herself; "shall + I let my father die without an effort? No! no! I must know all! I must tear the worm + from his heart; I must save him by my love!"</p> + <p>Without a moment's further delay, she ran rapidly through three or four chambers, + and came to the apartment where her father was seated with his elbows resting on the + table and his head buried in his hands. Throwing herself on her knees at his feet, + and with hands raised to him in supplication,—</p> + <p>"Have mercy on me, father!" exclaimed she; "have mercy on me, I beseech you on my + knees; tell me what it is that distresses you! I must know why it is that my father + buries himself in this solitude and seems to fly even from his child!"</p> + <p>"Lenora! thou last and only treasure that remainest to me on earth," replied De + Vlierbeck, in a broken voice, with despair in his wild gaze,—"thou hast + suffered, dreadfully, my child, hast thou not? Rest thy poor head in my bosom. A + terrible blow, my child, is about to fall on us!"</p> + <p>Lenora did not seem to pay any attention to these remarks, but, disengaging + herself from her father's embrace, replied, in firm and decided tones,—</p> + <p>"I have not come here, father, for consolation, but with the unalterable + determination to learn the cause of your suffering. I will not go away without + knowing what misfortune it is that has so long deprived me of your love. No matter + how much I may venerate you and respect your silence, the sense of duty is greater + even than veneration. I must—I <i>will</i>—know the secret of your + grief!"</p> + <p>"Thou deprived of thy father's love?" exclaimed De Vlierbeck, reproachfully and + with surprise;—love for thee, my adored child, is precisely the secret of my + grief. For ten years I have drained the bitter cup and prayed the Almighty to make + you happy; but, alas! my prayers have always been unheard!"</p> + <p>"Shall I be unhappy, then?" asked Lenora, without betraying the least emotion.</p> + <p>"Unhappy, because of the misery that awaits us," replied her father. "The blow + that is about to fall on our house destroys all that we possess. We must leave + Grinselhof."</p> + <p>The last words, which plainly confirmed her fears, seemed for a moment to appall + the girl; but she repressed her feelings, and answered him, with increased + courage,—</p> + <p>"You are not dying this slow death because ill-fortune has overtaken <i>you</i>, + my father; I know the unconquerable force of your character too well for that. No! + your heart is weak and yielding because <i>I</i> have to partake your poverty! Bless + you, bless you, for your affection! But, tell me, father, if I were offered all the + wealth of the world on condition that I would consent to see you suffer for a single + day, what think you I would answer?"</p> + <p>Dumb with surprise, the poor man looked proudly at his daughter, and a gentle + pressure of her hand was his sole reply.</p> + <p>"Ah!" continued she, "I would refuse all the treasures of earth and meet poverty + without a sigh. And you, father,—if they offered you all the gold of America + for your Lenora, what would you do?"</p> + <p>"How can you ask, child?" exclaimed her father; "do we sell our hearts' blood for + gold?"</p> + <p>"And so," continued the girl, "our Maker has left us that which is dearest to us + both in this world; why then should we mourn when we ought to be grateful for his + compassionate care? Take heart once more, dear father; no matter what may be our + future lot,—should we even be forced to take refuge in a hovel,—nothing + can harm us as long as we are not separated!"</p> + <p>Smiles, astonishment, admiration, and love, by turns flitted over the wan features + of the poor old man, who seemed altogether unnerved and disconcerted by the painful + <i>dénouement</i>. At length, after some moments of unbroken silence, he + clasped his hands, and, gazing intensely into her eyes through his starting + tears—</p> + <p>"Lenora, Lenora! my child!" he exclaimed, "thou art not of earth—thou art an + angel! The unselfish grandeur of thy soul unmans me completely!"</p> + <p>She saw she had conquered. The light of courage was rekindled again in her + father's eye, and his lofty brow was lifted once more under the sentiment of dignity + and self-devotion that struggled for life in his suffering heart. Lenora looked at + him with a heavenly smile, and exclaimed, rapturously,</p> + <p>"Up! up! father; come to my arms; away with grief! United in each other's love, + fate itself is powerless in our presence!"</p> + <p>Father and daughter sprang into each other's arms, and for a long while remained + speechless, wrapped in a tender embrace; then, seating themselves with their hands + interlocked, they were silent and absorbed, as if the world and its misery were + altogether forgotten.</p> + <p>"A new life—a new and refreshing current of blood—seems to have been + suddenly poured into my veins," said Monsieur De Vlierbeck. "Alas, Lenora, what a + sinner I have been! how wrong I was not to divulge all! But you must pardon me, + beloved child; you must pardon me. It was the fear of afflicting you—the hope + of finding some means of rescue, of escape—that sealed my lips. I did not know + you, my daughter; I did not know the inestimable treasure that God in his mercy had + lavished on me! But <i>now</i> you shall know all; I will no longer hide the secret + of my conduct and my grief. The fatal hour has come; the blow I desired to ward off + is about to fall and cannot be turned aside! Are you prepared, dear child, to hear + your father's story?"</p> + <p>Lenora, who was delighted to behold the calm and radiant smile that illuminated + the face of her heart-broken parent, answered him instantly, in caressing + tones,—</p> + <p>"Pour all your woes into my heart, dear father, and conceal nothing. The part I + have to perform must be based on complete knowledge of every thing; and you will feel + how much your confidence relieves your burdened soul."</p> + <p>"Take, then, your share of suffering, daughter," replied De Vlierbeck, "and help + me to bear my cross! I will disguise nothing. What I am about to disclose is indeed + lamentable; yet do not tremble and give way at the recital, for, if any thing should + move you, it must be the story of a father's torture. You will learn now, my child, + why Monsieur Denecker has had the hardihood to behave toward us as he has done."</p> + <p>He dropped her hand, but, without averting his eager gaze from her anxious eyes, + continued:—</p> + <p>"You were very young, Lenora, but gentle and loving as at present, and your + blessed mother found all her happiness centered in your care and comfort. We dwelt on + the lands of our forefathers; nothing disturbed the even tenor of our simple lives; + and, by proper economy, our moderate income sufficed to support us in a manner + becoming our rank and name.</p> + <p>"I had a younger brother, who was endowed with an excellent heart, but generous to + a fault and somewhat imprudent. He lived in town, and married a lady of noble family + who was no richer than himself. She was showy in her tastes and habits, and, I fear, + induced him to increase his revenue by adventurous means. There can be no doubt that + he speculated largely in the public funds. But probably you do not understand what + this means, my child. It is a species of <i>gambling</i>, by which a man may in a + moment gain millions; and yet it is a game that may, with equal rapidity, plunge him + into the depths of misery and reduce him as if by magic to the condition of a + beggar.</p> + <p>"At first, my brother was remarkably successful, and established himself in town + in a style of living that was the envy of our wealthiest citizens. He came to see us + frequently, bringing you, who were his godchild, a thousand beautiful presents, and + lavished his affection with testimonials of kindness which were proportioned to his + fortune. I spoke to him often about the dangerous character of his adventures, and + endeavored to convince him that it was unbecoming a gentleman to risk his property + upon the hazards of an hour; but, as continued success emboldened him more and more, + the passion for gambling made him deaf to all my appeals, all my advice.</p> + <p>"At last the evil hour came! The luck which had so long favored him became + inconstant; he lost a considerable portion of his gains, and saw his fortune + diminishing with every venture. Still, courage did not fail him; but, on the + contrary, he seemed to fight madly against fate, with the idle hope of forcing + fortune to turn once more in his favor. But, alas, it was a fatal delusion!</p> + <p>"One night—I tremble as I recall it—I was in my chamber and nearly + ready to retire; you were already in bed, and your mother was saying her prayers on + her knees beside your little couch. A tremendous storm raged without: hail beat in + torrents against the windows, and the wind howled in the chimneys and swayed the + trees as if it was about to blow down the house. The violence of the tempest began to + make me somewhat anxious, when suddenly the door-bell was pulled and the sound of + horses heard at the gate. In a moment the summons was answered by one of our + servants,—for we kept two then,—and a female rushed into the room, + throwing herself in tears at my feet. It was my brother's wife!</p> + <p>"Trembling with fright, I of course hastened to raise her; but she clung to my + knees, begging my assistance, imploring me, by every passionate appeal she could + think of, to save her husband's life, and convincing me by her sobs and distraction + that some frightful calamity was impending over my brother!</p> + <p>"Your mother joined me eagerly in my efforts to calm the sufferer, and by degrees + we managed to extract the cause of her singular conduct and unseasonable visit. My + brother—alas!—had lost all he possessed, and even more! His wife's story + was heart-rending; but its conclusion filled us with more anxiety for her husband + than his losses; for, overcome by the certainty of a dishonored name, haunted by the + reflection that law and justice would soon overtake him, my poor brother had made an + attempt upon his life! The hand of God had providentially guided his wife to the + apartment, where she surprised him at the fatal moment and snatched the deadly + instrument from his grasp! He was then locked up in a room; dumb, overcome, bowed + down to the earth, and guarded by two faithful friends. If any one on earth could + save him, it was surely his brother!</p> + <p>"Such was the wild appeal of my wretched sister-in-law, who, heedless of the + stormy night, had thrown herself into a coach and fled to me, through the tempest, as + her only hope for their salvation. There she was at my feet, bathed in tears, + sobbing, screaming, beseeching me to accompany her to town. <i>Could I—did + I</i>—hesitate? Your tender mother, who saw at once the frightful condition of + the family, and sympathized as woman's heart alone can do with human misery, eagerly + implored me not to lose a moment. 'Save him, save him!' exclaimed she; 'spare + nothing: I will consent to every thing you may think proper to do or sacrifice!'</p> + <p>"We flew back to town through the storm and darkness. You grow pale, Lenora, at + the very thought of it, for it was indeed frightful, and you can never know the + impression it made on me: these whitened hairs—whitened before their + time—are the records of that terrible night! But let me continue.</p> + <p>"It is needless to describe the wild despair in which I found my brother, or to + tell you how long I had to wrestle with his spirit in order to force a ray of hope + into his soul. There was but one means by which we could save his honor and life; + but—oh God!—at what a sacrifice! I was obliged to pledge all my property + as security for his debts. Nothing could be spared; our ancestral manor-lands, your + mother's marriage-portion, your moderate dowry,—all were ventured with the + certainty that the greater part would unquestionably be lost! On these hard + conditions my brother's honor might be saved; and, if that could be rescued, he was + willing to renounce the determination to escape shame by death. I must in justice say + that it was not he who demanded the sacrifice from me: on the contrary, he did not + suppose that I could or would make it; but I was satisfied in my mind that if I did + not settle his affairs, at all hazards, he would execute his criminal project against + his life. And yet—and yet, my child—<i>I hesitated!</i>"</p> + <p>"Father!" exclaimed Lenora, "<i>you did not refuse!</i>"</p> + <p>A happy smile beamed on his face as he met the questioning glance of his daughter + and answered, firmly,—</p> + <p>"I loved my brother, Lenora; but I loved <i>you</i>, my only child, much more. The + sacrifice demanded of me by his creditors insured misery for your mother and for + you!"</p> + <p>"Oh, God! oh, God!" sobbed Lenora.</p> + <p>"On one side my heart was distracted by this dreadful thought, while on the other + I was assailed by the despair that was present in the bankrupt's chamber; but + generosity conquered in the awful trial, and at daylight I sought out the principal + creditors and signed the documents that saved a brother's life and honor but gave up + my wife and child to want."</p> + <p>"Thank God!" gasped Lenora, as if she had been relieved from a horrible nightmare. + "Bless you, bless you, father, for your noble, generous conduct!"</p> + <p>She rose from her seat, and, passing her arms around his neck, gave him a glowing + kiss with as much solemnity as if she had been anxious to endue this mark of love + with all the fervor and sacredness of a benediction.</p> + <p>"Ah! but canst thou bless me, my child," said he, with eyes foil of gratitude, + "for an act that should implore thy pardon?"</p> + <p>"<i>My</i> pardon, father!" exclaimed Lenora, with surprise on all her features. + "Oh, had you done otherwise, what would I not have suffered in doubting the goodness + of my parent's heart! Now, now, I love you more than ever! <i>Pardon you</i>, father? + Is it a crime to save a brother's life when it is in your keeping?"</p> + <p>"Alas, Lenora, the world does not reason thus, and never forgives us for the guilt + of poverty. Reduced to that, we suffer humiliations which any one may observe in the + lives of multitudes of our nobles. Yes; society regards poverty as a crime, and it + treats us like outcasts. Our equals avoid us in order not to be confounded in our + misery; while peasants and tradesmen laugh at our misfortune as if it was a sort of + agreeable revenge. Happy, happy they to whom heaven has given an angel to pour + comfort and consolation into their hearts in hours of want and dejection! But listen, + my child!</p> + <p>"My brother was saved, and I concealed most carefully the assistance I had been to + him; he left the country and went with his wife to America, where, ever since, he has + worked hard and gained hardly enough to support a miserable existence. His wife died + during the voyage. And, as to ourselves, we no longer possess any thing; for + Grinselhof and our other lands were mortgaged for more than they were worth. Besides + this, I was forced to borrow from a gentleman of my acquaintance four thousand + <i>francs</i> upon my bond.</p> + <p>"When your mother heard of the sacrifices to which I was forced to submit, she + made no reproaches; at first she fully approved my conduct. But very soon we became + necessarily subjected to privations under which your mother's strength declined, + till, without a sigh or complaint, she began to fade away slowly from earth. It was a + dreadful situation; for, to conceal our ruin and save our ancestral name from + contempt, we were forced to part with the last ounce of our silver to pay the + interest on our debts. Gradually our horses and servants disappeared; the paths that + led to our neighbors soon became grass-grown; and we declined all social invitations, + so as to avoid the necessity of returning the compliment. A rumor about us began to + spread through the village and among the noble families that had formerly been on + terms of intimacy with us; and scandal declared that <i>avarice</i> had driven us to + a life of meanness and isolation! We joyously accepted the imputation, and even the + coldness with which our holiday friends accompanied it; it was a veil with which + society thought proper to cover us, and beneath its folds our poverty was safe from + scrutiny.</p> + <p>"But I am approaching scenes, my child, the recollection of which almost unnerves + me. My story has reached the most painful moment of my life, and I beseech you to + hear me calmly.</p> + <p>"Your poor mother wasted away to a skeleton; her sunken-eyes were hardly visible + in their deep sockets; a livid pallor suffused her cheeks. As I saw her + fading,—fading,—the wife whom I had loved more than life,—as I + gazed on those death-struck features and saw the fatal evidences each day clearer and + clearer,—I became nearly mad with despair and grief."</p> + <p>Lenora shuddered with emotion as her breast heaved convulsively under the sobs she + strove to repress. Her father stopped a moment, almost overcome by the recital; but, + rallying his courage quickly, he forced himself to go on with his sad + recollections:—</p> + <p>"Poor mother! she did nothing but weep! Every time she looked at her + child—her dear little Lenora—tears filled her eyes. Thy name was always + on her lips, as if she were forever addressing a prayer for thee to God in heaven! At + last the dreadful hour arrived when she heard the Almighty's voice summoning her + above. The clergyman performed the services for the dying; and you, my child, had + been taken from her arms and sent out of the house. It was midnight, and I was alone + with her whose icy lips had already imprinted on mine their last sad kiss. My heart + bled. Oh, God! how wretched—how wretched—were those parting hours! My + beloved wife lay there before me as if already a corpse, while the tears yet trickled + down her hollow cheeks and she strove to utter your name with her expiring breath. + Kneeling beside her, I implored God's mercy for her passing hour, and kissed away the + sweat of agony that stood upon her brow. Suddenly I thought I perceived an effort to + speak, and, bending my ear to her lips, she called me by name, and said, 'It is over, + my love, it is over; farewell! It has not pleased the Almighty to assuage my dying + hour, and I go with the conviction that my child will suffer want and wretchedness on + earth!'</p> + <p>"I know not what my love inspired me to say in that solemn moment; but I called + God to witness that you <i>should</i> escape suffering, and that your life should be + happy! A heavenly smile illuminated her eyes, and she believed my promise. With an + effort, she lifted her thin hands once more round my neck and drew my lips to hers. + But soon those wasted arms fell heavily on the bed;—my Margaret was + gone;—thy mother was no more!"</p> + <p>De Vlierbeck's head fell on his breast. Lenora's bosom heaved convulsively as she + took his hand without uttering a word; and, for a long time, nothing was heard in + that sad confessional but the sobs of the maiden and the sighs of her heart-broken + father.</p> + <p>"What I have yet to say," continued the poor gentleman, "is not so painful as what + I have already told you: it concerns only myself. Perhaps it would be better if I + said nothing about it; but I need a friend who possesses all my confidence and can + sympathize with me thoroughly in all I have undergone for the last ten years.</p> + <p>"Listen, then, Lenora. Your mother was no more; she was gone;—she who was my + last staff in life! I remained at Grinselhof alone with you, my child, and with my + promise,—a promise made to God and to the dead! What should I do to fulfil it? + Quit my hereditary estate? wander away seeking my fortune in foreign lands, and work + for our mutual support? That would not do, for it would have devoted you at once to + the chances of a wretched uncertainty. I could not think of such a course with any + degree of satisfaction; nor was it till after long and anxious reflection that a ray + of hope seemed to promise us both a happy future.</p> + <p>"I resolved to disguise our poverty more carefully than ever, and to devote my + time to the most elaborate cultivation of your mind. God made you beautiful in face + and person, Lenora; but your father was anxious to initiate you into the mysteries of + science and art, and, while he endowed you with a knowledge of the world, to make you + virtuous, pious, and modest. I desired to make you an accomplished woman, and I hoped + that the nobility of your blood, the charms of your beauty, the treasures of your + heart and intellect, would compensate in society for the portion that was denied you. + Thus was it, my child, that I thought in time, you would make a suitable alliance + which would restore you to the position you hold by birth. For ten years, Lenora, + this has been my occupation and my hope. What I had forgotten or never learned, I + studied at night to teach you next morning; I labored hard that I might not only + instruct you wisely but that you might acquire easily; and, at the same time, I + strove by every honest means to conceal from you every thing that could give a hint + or cause a suspicion by which your life might be shadowed. Oh, Lenora,—shall I + confess it?—I have suffered hunger and undergone the most cruel privations; I + have passed half my nights mending my clothes, working in the garden, studying and + practising in the dark, so as to hide our poverty from you and the world. But all + that was nothing; in the silence of night I was not forced to blush before any one. + By day I had to encounter all kinds of insults, and, with a bleeding heart, swallow + affront and humiliation."</p> + <p>Lenora looked at her father with eyes moistened by compassion. De Vlierbeck + pressed her hand, and continued:—</p> + <p>"Be not sad, Lenora; if the Lord's hand inflicted deep wounds with every blow, he + bestowed a balm which cured them. One little smile of thy gentle face was sufficient + to make me pour forth an ejaculation to Heaven: you, you at least were happy, and in + your happiness I saw the fulfilment of my promise!</p> + <p>"At length I thought that God himself had thrown in our path one who would save + you from threatening danger. A mutual inclination arose between Gustave and you, and + a marriage seemed the natural consequence. Under these circumstances I apprized + Monsieur Denecker, during his last visit, of the deplorable condition of my affairs; + but no sooner did I make the disclosure than he peremptorily refused his consent to + the union. As if this terrible blow, which withered all my hopes, had not been + sufficient to overwhelm me, I learned, almost at the same time, that the friend who + loaned me four thousand francs, with the right to renew my obligation to him every + year, had died in Germany, and that his heirs demanded the payment of the debt! I ran + all over town, rapped at every friendly door, ransacked heaven and earth in my + despair, to escape this last ignominy; but all my efforts were fruitless. To-morrow, + perhaps, a placard will be stuck on the door of Grinselhof, announcing the sale not + only of our estate but also of our furniture and of every trifling object that memory + and association have rendered dear to us. Honor requires that we shall surrender, to + public sale, every thing of the least value to pay our debts. If fate were kind + enough to allow us to satisfy every creditor it would be a great consolation, my + child, in our misery. Does not this fatal history break your heart?"</p> + <p>"Is that all which makes you despond, father? Have you no other grief? Does your + heart conceal no other secret from me?" asked Lenora.</p> + <p>"None, my child. You know every thing."</p> + <p>"I can very well understand," replied Lenora, gravely, "that others would consider + a blow like this as a frightful misfortune; but how can it affect us? You even appear + calm. Why, father, do you, like me, appear indifferent to the inexorable decree of + fate?"</p> + <p>"Because you have inspired me with courage and confidence, Lenora; because your + love is restored to me fully after a long constraint; because you let me hope that + you will not be unhappy. I know what you want to say, noble child, whom God has given + me as a shield against every ill! Well, I will encounter ruin without bowing my head, + and submit with resignation to the hand of God! Alas!" continued he, sadly, "who can + tell what sufferings are yet in store for us? We may be forced to wander about the + world,—to seek an asylum far from those we know and love,—to earn our + daily bread by the labor of our hands! Oh, Lenora, you know not how bitter is the + bread of misery,—of poverty!"</p> + <p>The maiden shuddered as she saw the cloud falling once more like a curtain over + her father's face. She grasped his hand tenderly, and, fixing her gaze intently on + his, said, in beseeching tones,—</p> + <p>"Oh, father! let not the happy smile that just now lighted your features depart + from them again! Believe me, we shall still be happy. Fancy yourself in the position + that awaits us: and what do you see in it so frightful? I have skill to do all that + woman can do; and then your instructions have made me able to instruct others in the + arts and sciences you have taught me. I shall be strong and active enough for both of + us, and God will bless my labor. Behold us, father, peacefully at home, with tranquil + hearts and always together in our neat apartment: we will love one another, set + misfortune at defiance, and live together in the heaven that our common sacrifice has + made! Oh, it seems to me, father, that the true happiness of our lives is only + beginning! How can you still give yourself up to despair when pleasure is in store + for us,—a pleasure such as few upon earth are permitted to enjoy?"</p> + <p>Monsieur De Vlierbeck looked at his daughter with rapture. Those enthusiastic but + gentle tones had so touched his heart, that noble courage had inspired him with so + much admiration, that tears of joy filled his eyes. With one hand he drew Lenora to + his bosom, and, placing the other on her forehead, he looked to heaven with religious + fervor. A silent prayer, a blessing on his child, an outpouring of thankfulness, + arose from his heart, like the sacred flame from an altar, toward the throne of Him + who had bestowed that angelic child!</p> + <hr style='width: 65%;' /> + <a id="CHAPTER_VIII" name='CHAPTER_VIII'></a> + <h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + <br /> + + <p>A few days afterward, as De Vlierbeck had predicted, the public sale of all their + property was inserted in the papers and placarded over the city and neighborhood. The + affair made some noise, and every one was astonished at the ruin of a person whom + they considered rich and miserly.</p> + <p>As the sale was stated to be in consequence of his departure from the country, the + gossips would have been unable to discover the genuine motive if the news had not + come from Antwerp that De Vlierbeck had resolved to pay his debts and was wretchedly + poor. The cause of his misfortune—that is to say, his liability for his + brother—was known, though all the circumstances were not fully understood.</p> + <p>As soon as the publication was made, the poor old gentleman led, if possible, a + more retired life than ever, in order to avoid explanations. Resigned to his fate, he + quietly awaited the day of sale; and, although his feelings often strove to master + his resolution, the constant care and encouragement of his noble-hearted daughter + enabled him to encounter the fatal hour with a degree of pride.</p> + <p>In the mean while he received a letter from Gustave at Rome, containing a few + lines for his child. The young man declared that absence from Lenora had only + increased his affection, and that his only consolation was the hope of future union + with her by the bonds of marriage. But in other respects the letter was not + encouraging. He said with pain that all his efforts to change his uncle's + determination had, up to that time, been fruitless. De Vlierbeck did not conceal from + Lenora that he no longer had a hope of her union with Gustave, and that she ought to + strive against this unhappy love in order to escape from greater disappointment. + Indeed, since her father's poverty had become publicly known, Lenora was convinced + that duty commanded her to renounce every hope; yet she could not help feeling + pleased and strengthened by the thought that Gustave still loved her, and that he, + whose memory filled her heart, dreamed of her in his distant home and mourned her + absence.</p> + <p>She kept her promises to him faithfully. How often did she pronounce his name in + the solitude of that garden! How often did she sigh beneath the catalpa, as if + anxious to trust the winds with a message of love to other lands! In her lonely walks + she repeated his tender words; and often did she stop musingly at some + well-remembered spot where he had blessed her with a tender word or look.</p> + <p>But poor De Vlierbeck was obliged to undergo additional pain; for, as if every + misfortune that could assail him was to be accumulated at that moment on his devoted + head, he received from America the news of his brother's death! The unfortunate + wanderer died of exhaustion in the wilderness near Hudson's Bay. The poor gentleman + wept long and bitterly for the loss of a brother whom he tenderly loved; but he was + soon and roughly turned aside to encounter the catastrophe of his own fate.</p> + <p>The day of sale arrived. Early in the morning Grinselhof was invaded by all sorts + of people, who, moved by curiosity or a desire to purchase, overran every nook and + corner of the house, examining the furniture and estimating its value.</p> + <p>De Vlierbeck had caused every thing that was to be sold to be carried into the + most spacious apartments, where, aided by his daughter, he passed the entire + preceding night in dusting, cleaning, and polishing the various articles, so that + they might prove more attractive to competitors. He had no personal interest in this + labor; for, his funded property having been sold some days before at great loss, it + was certain that the sale of all his remaining possessions would not exceed the + amount of his debts. It was a noble sentiment of honor and probity that compelled him + to sacrifice his rest for his creditors, so as to diminish as much as he could the + amount of their losses. It was clear that De Vlierbeck did not intend to prolong his + stay at Grinselhof after the sale; for among the articles to be offered were the only + two bedsteads in the house, with their bedding, and a large quantity of clothes + belonging to him and his daughter.</p> + <p>Very early in the day Lenora went to the farm-house, where she remained until all + was over. At ten o'clock the saloon was full of people. Nobles and gentlefolks of + both sexes were mixed up with brokers and second-hand dealers who had come to + Grinselhof with the hope of getting bargains. Peasants might be seen talking + together, in low voices, with surprise at Do Vlierbeck's ruin; and there were even + some who laughed openly and joked as the auctioneer read the terms of sale!</p> + <p>As the salesman put up a very handsome wardrobe, De Vlierbeck himself entered the + apartment and mingled with the bidders. His appearance caused a general movement in + the crowd; heads went together and men began to whisper, while the bankrupt was + stared at with insolent curiosity or with pity, but by the greater part with + indifference or derision. Yet, whatever malicious feeling existed in the assembly, it + did not last long; for the firm demeanor and imposing countenance of De Vlierbeck was + never on any occasion more instinct with that dignity which inspires respect. He was + poor; fortune had struck him a cruel blow; but in his manly look and calm features + there beamed a brave and independent soul which misfortune itself had been unable to + crush.</p> + <p>The auctioneer went on with the sale, assisted in his description of the various + articles by Monsieur De Vlierbeck, who informed the bidders of their origin, + antiquity, and value. Occasionally some gentleman of the neighborhood, who, in better + days, had been on good terms with Lenora's father, approached him with words of + sympathy; but he always managed to escape adroitly from these indiscreet attempts at + consolation. Whenever it was necessary for him to speak, he showed so much + self-command and composure that he was far above the idle <i>compassion</i> of that + careless crowd; yet if his countenance was calm and dignified, his heart was weighed + down by absorbing grief. All that had belonged to his ancestors—articles that + were emblazoned with the arms of his family and had been religiously preserved as + heirlooms for several centuries—were sold at contemptible rates and passed into + the hands of brokers. As each historical relic was placed on the table or held up by + the auctioneer, the links of his illustrious race seemed to break off and depart. + When the sale was nearly over, the <i>portraits</i> of the eminent men who had borne + the name of De Vlierbeck were taken down from the walls and placed upon the stand. + The first—that of the hero of St. Quentin—was knocked off to a dealer for + little more than three francs! In the sale of this portrait, and the laughable price + it brought, there was so much bitter irony that, for the first time, the agony that + had been so long torturing De Vlierbeck's heart began to exhibit its traces in his + countenance. No sooner had the hammer fallen, than, with downcast eyes and a sigh + that was inaudible even to his nearest neighbor, the stricken nobleman turned from + the crowd and left the saloon, so as not to witness the final sacrifice of the + remaining memorials that bound him to his race.</p> + <p>The sun was but an hour or two above the horizon. A deathlike silence had taken + the place of the noise, bustle, and vulgarity that ruled at Grinselhof during the + morning; the solitary garden-walks were deserted, the house-door and gate were + closed, and a stranger might have supposed that nothing had occurred to disturb the + usual quiet of the spot. Suddenly the door of the dwelling opened, and two persons + appeared upon the sill; one, a man advanced in life, the other, a pale and serious + woman. Each carried a small package and seemed ready for travel. Lenora was dressed + in a simple dark gown and bonnet, her neck covered by a small square handkerchief. De + Vlierbeck was buttoned up to the chin in a coarse black greatcoat, and wore a + threadbare cap whose large visor nearly masked his features. Although it was evident + that the homeless travellers had literally stripped themselves of all superfluities + and had determined to go forth with the merest necessaries of decency, there was + something in the manner in which they wore their humble costumes that distinctly + marked their birth and breeding. The old man's features were not changed; but it was + difficult to say whether they expressed pleasure, pain, or indifference. Lenora + seemed strong and resolute, although she was about to quit the place of her birth and + separate herself, perhaps forever, from all she had loved from infancy,—from + those aged groves beneath whose shadows the dawn of love first broke upon her + heart,—from that remembered tree at whose feet the timid avowal of Gustave's + passion had fallen on her ear. But a sense of duty possessed and ruled her heart. + Reason in her was not overmastered by sensibility; and, when she saw her father + tottering at her side, all her energy was rallied in the effort to sustain him.</p> + <p>They did not linger at the door, but, crossing the garden rapidly, directed their + steps toward the farm-house, which they entered to bid its occupants farewell. Bess + and her servant-maid were in the first apartment below.</p> + <p>"Mother Bess," said Monsieur De Vlierbeck, calmly, "we have come to bid you + good-by."</p> + <p>Bess stared a moment anxiously at the travellers, and, lifting her apron to her + eyes, left the apartment; while the servant-maid leaned her head against the + window-frame and began to sob as if her heart would break. In a short time Bess + returned with her husband, whom she had found in the barn.</p> + <p>"Alas! is it true, sir," said the farmer, in a stifled voice,—"is it true + that you are going to leave Grinselhof, and that, perhaps, we shall never see you + again?"</p> + <p>"Come, come, mother Bess," said the poor bankrupt, as he took and pressed her + hand; "don't weep on that account; you see we bear our lot with resignation."</p> + <p>Bess raised her head, threw her eyes once more over the humble dress of her old + master, and began to cry so violently that she could not utter a word. Her husband + strove manfully to repress his emotion; and, after an effort or two, addressed + Monsieur De Vlierbeck in a manly way:—</p> + <p>"May I ask the favor of you, sir, to let me say a word or two to you in + private?"</p> + <p>De Vlierbeck entered the adjoining room, where he was followed by the farmer, who + shut the door carefully.</p> + <p>"I hardly dare, sir," said he, "to mention my request; but will you pardon me if + it displeases you?"</p> + <p>"Speak out frankly, my friend," returned De Vlierbeck, with a smile.</p> + <p>"Look you, sir," stammered the tender-hearted laborer. "Every thing that I have + earned I owe to you. I had nothing when I married Bess; and yet, with your kindness, + we have managed to succeed. God's mercy and your favor have made us prosperous; while + you, our benefactors, have become unfortunate and are forced to wander away from + their home,—God knows where! You may be forced to suffer privations and want; + but that must not be: I would reproach myself as long as I live. Oh, sir!" continued + he, as his voice faltered and his eyes filled with tears, "all that I have on earth + is at your service!"</p> + <p>De Vlierbeck pressed the hard hand of the rustic with a trembling grasp, as he + replied,—</p> + <p>"You are a worthy man indeed, and I am, happy that it was once in my power to + protect and serve you; but I cannot accept your offer, my friend: keep what you have + earned by the sweat of your brow, and do not concern yourself for our future fate, + for, with God's help, we shall find means to live."</p> + <p>"Oh, sir," said the farmer, beseechingly, and clasping his hands in an attitude of + entreaty, "do not reject the trifle I offer you;"—he opened a drawer and + pointed to a small heap of silver.—"See!" said he; "that is not the hundredth + part of the good you have done us. Grant me this favor, I beseech you: take this + money, sir; and if it spare you a single suffering or trial I shall thank God for it + on my knees!"</p> + <p>Tears streamed down the wan and wrinkled cheeks of the poor gentleman as he + replied,—</p> + <p>"Thanks! thanks! my friend; but I must refuse it. All persuasion is useless. Let + us leave this room!"</p> + <p>"But, sir," cried the farmer, in astonishment, "where do you intend to go? Tell + me, for God's sake!"</p> + <p>"I cannot," replied Monsieur De Vlierbeck, "for I don't know myself; and, even if + I did, prudence would make me silent."</p> + <p>Uttering these words, he returned to the other room, where he found everybody in + tears. He saw at once that for his own sake as well as his daughter's he must end + these trying scenes; and accordingly, in a firm voice, he told her it was time to be + gone. There were a few more tender and eager pressures of hands, a few more + farewells, a few last looks at the old homestead and its surroundings, and the + bankrupt pair sallied forth with their bundles, and, passing the bridge just at + sunset, departed on foot across the desolate moor.</p> + <p>It is hard to bid farewell and quit the spots with which, even in a summer's + journey, we have formed agreeable associations: but harder far it is to bid adieu + forever to the home of our ancestors and the haunts of our youth. This dreadful trial + was passing in De Vlierbeck's heart. From a distant point on the road where the + domain of Grinselhof was masked by thickets, the wanderer turned his eyes once more + in the direction of the old <i>château</i>. Big tears stood in his eyes and + slowly rolled down his hollow cheeks as he stood there, silent and motionless, with + clasped hands, gazing into vacancy. But night was rapidly falling around the + wayfarers; and, recalling him to consciousness with a kiss, Lenora gently drew her + father from the spot till they disappeared in the windings of the wood.</p> + <hr style='width: 65%;' /> + <a id="CHAPTER_IX" name='CHAPTER_IX'></a> + <h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + <br /> + + <p>Monsieur De Vlierbeck had not been gone a week, when a letter addressed to him + from Italy reached the village post-office. The carrier inquired of Farmer John where + the old proprietor of Grinselhof had fixed his residence; but neither from him, the + notary, nor any one else in the neighborhood, could he discover the bankrupt's + retreat. The same fate awaited three or four other letters which followed the first + from Italy; and, indeed, nobody bothered himself any more about the wanderers except + the peasant, who every market-day pestered the country-folks from every quarter with + questions about his old master. But no one had seen or heard of him.</p> + <p>Four months passed slowly by, when one morning a handsome post-chaise stopped at + the door of our old acquaintance the notary and dropped a young gentleman in + travelling-costume.</p> + <p>"Where's your master?" said he impatiently to the servant, who excused the notary + under the plea of his present engagement with other visitors, but invited the + stranger to await his leisure in the parlor.</p> + <p>The youth was evidently disconcerted by the delay; for he paced the apartment with + rapid strides and seemed altogether absorbed by some anxiety or disappointment which + made him extremely restless. The notary's visitors seemed to be either very tedious + clients or engaged in very important business; for more than half an hour elapsed + before that functionary made his appearance. He came into the room ceremoniously, + prepared to measure his words and reception by his visitor's rank; but no sooner did + he perceive who it was than his calculating features relaxed into a professional + smile, and he advanced rapidly toward Gustave with outstretched hands.</p> + <p>"How are you, how are you, my dear sir?" said he. "I have been expecting you for + several days, and I am really happy to see you at last. I am greatly flattered by the + confidence you are disposed to place in me, and am ready, whenever you please, to + devote myself to your affairs. By-the-way, I suppose there is a will?"</p> + <p>A shadow passed over Gustave's brow and his face became serious as he took a + portfolio from his overcoat and drew forth a package of papers.</p> + <p>"I am pained, sir, at your loss," said the notary. "Your excellent uncle was my + friend, and I deplore his death more than that of any one else. It pleased God that + he should die far away from his home. But such, alas! is man's fate. We must console + ourselves by the reflection that we are all mortal. Your uncle was <i>very</i> fond + of you, and I suppose you have not been forgotten in his last moments?"</p> + <p>"You may see for yourself," said Gustave, as he placed the package on the + table.</p> + <p>The notary ran his eyes over the papers, and, as he perused them, his face + exhibited by turns surprise and satisfaction.</p> + <p>"Permit me," said he, "to congratulate you, Monsieur Gustave; these documents are + all in order and unassailable. Heir of all his fortune! Do you know, sir, that you + are more than a <i>millionaire</i>?"</p> + <p>"We will speak of that another time," said Gustave, interrupting him rather + sharply. "I called on you to-day to ask a favor."</p> + <p>"You have but to name it, sir."</p> + <p>"You were the notary of Monsieur De Vlierbeck?"</p> + <p>"I was."</p> + <p>"I heard from my uncle that Monsieur De Vlierbeck had become very poor. I have + reasons for desiring that his misfortunes may not be prolonged."</p> + <p>"Sir," said the notary, "I presume that you intend to do him an act of kindness; + and, in truth, it could not be bestowed on a worthier man, for I know the cause of + his ruin and sufferings. He was a victim of generosity and honor. He may have carried + these virtues to imprudence and even to madness; but he deserved a better fate."</p> + <p>"And now, sir," said Gustave, "I want you to let me know, with the least amount of + details possible, what I can do to assist De Vlierbeck without wounding his pride. I + know the condition of his affairs; for my uncle told me all about them. Among other + debts there was a bond for four thousand francs, which belongs to the heirs of + Hoogebaen: I want that bond <i>immediately</i>, even if I have to pay four times as + much as it is worth."</p> + <p>The notary stared at Gustave without replying.</p> + <p>"You seem disconcerted by my demand," said Gustave, somewhat anxiously.</p> + <p>"Not exactly," returned the notary; "but I do not altogether understand your + emotion, although I fear the news I must impart will affect you painfully. If my + anticipations are correct I have cause to be sorry for you, sir!"</p> + <p>"Explain yourself," cried Gustave, alarmed; "explain yourself, sir! Has death been + at Grinselhof? Is my last hope destroyed?"</p> + <p>"No, no," replied the notary, quickly; "don't tremble so; they both live, but they + have been stricken by a great misfortune."</p> + <p>"Well? well?" exclaimed Gustave, with questioning eagerness, rising from his + chair.</p> + <p>"Be calm, be calm, sir," said the notary, soothingly; "sit down and listen; it is + not so terrible as you may perhaps think, since fortune enables you to soften their + misery."</p> + <p>"Oh, God be thanked!" cried Gustave. "But let me beg you to hasten your + disclosures, for your slowness racks me!"</p> + <p>"Know, then," continued the notary, "that during your absence the bond in question + fell due. For many months De Vlierbeck made unavailing efforts to find money to honor + it at maturity; but all his property was mortgaged, and no one would assist him. In + order to escape the mortification of a forced sale, De Vlierbeck offered every thing + at public auction, even down to his furniture and clothes! The sale produced about + enough to pay his debts, and everybody was satisfied by the honorable conduct of De + Vlierbeck, who plunged himself into absolute beggary to save his name."</p> + <p>"And so he lives in the <i>château</i> of his family only as a tenant?"</p> + <p>"No; he has left it."</p> + <p>"And where does he reside, then? I want to see him instantly."</p> + <p>"I do not know."</p> + <p>"How?—you do not know?"</p> + <p>"Nobody knows where he dwells: he left the province without informing any one of + his designs."</p> + <p>"Alas!" cried Gustave, with profound emotion, "and is it so? Shall I be forced to + live longer without them?—without knowing what has become of them? Can you give + me no hint or clue to their residence? Does nobody, nobody know where they are?"</p> + <p>"Nobody," replied the notary. "The evening after their sale De Vlierbeck left + Grinselhof on foot and crossed the moor by some unknown road: I made efforts to + discover his retreat, but always without success."</p> + <p>As this sad news was imparted to Gustave he grew deadly pale, trembled violently, + and covered his forehead with his clasped hands, as if striving to conceal the big + tears that ran from his eyes. What the notary first told him of De Vlierbeck's + misfortunes had wounded his sensibility, though he was less struck by that recital, + because he had already become partially aware of the poor gentleman's embarrassment; + but the certainty that he could not <i>immediately</i> discover his beloved Lenora + and snatch her from want overwhelmed him with the bitterest anguish.</p> + <p>The notary fixed his eyes on the young man, shrugged his shoulders, and regarded + him with an expression of pity.</p> + <p>"You are young, sir," said he, "and, like most men at your time of life, + exaggerate both pain and pleasure. Your despair is unfounded; for it is easy in our + time to discover people whom we want to find. With a little money and diligence we + may be sure, in a few days, to discover Monsieur De Vlierbeck's retreat, even if he + has gone abroad to a foreign country. If you are willing to charge me with the + pursuit I will spare neither time nor trouble to bring you satisfactory news."</p> + <p>Gustave stared hopefully at the notary as he grasped his hand and replied, with a + smile of gratitude,—</p> + <p>"Oh, render me that inestimable service, sir! Spare no money; ransack heaven and + earth if it is necessary; but, in God's name, let me know, and let me know + <i>soon</i>, where De Vlierbeck and his daughter are hidden. It is impossible for me + to describe the sufferings of my heart or the ardor of my desire to find them. Let me + assure you that the first good news you bring will be more grateful to my soul than + if you had restored me to life."</p> + <p>"Fear nothing, sir," answered the notary. "My clerks shall write letters of + inquiry this very night in every direction. To-morrow morning early I will be off to + Brussels and secure assistance from the public offices. If you authorize me to spare + no expense the secret will disclose itself."</p> + <p>"And I," said Gustave,—"I will put the numerous correspondents of our house + under contribution, and nothing shall be omitted to detect their refuge, even if I + have to travel over Europe."</p> + <p>"Be of good cheer, then, Monsieur Gustave," said the notary; "for I doubt not we + shall soon attain our end. And, now that you are assured of my best services, I will + be gratified if you allow me to speak to you a moment quietly and seriously. I have + no right to ask what are your intentions, and still less the right to suppose that + those intentions can be any thing else than proper in every respect. May I inquire if + it is your design to marry Mademoiselle Lenora?"</p> + <p>"That is my irrevocable determination," replied the young man.</p> + <p>"Irrevocable?" said the notary. "Be it so! The confidence which your venerable + uncle was always pleased to repose in me, and my position as notary of the family, + impose on me the duty of setting before you coolly what you are about to do. You are + a <i>millionaire</i>; you have a name which in commerce alone represents an immense + capital. Monsieur De Vlierbeck is penniless; his ruin is generally known; and the + world, justly or unjustly, looks askance at a ruined man. With your fortune, with + your youth and person, you may obtain the hand of an heiress and double your + income!"</p> + <p>Gustave listened to the first words of this calculating essay with evident + impatience; but he soon turned away his eyes and began to fold up the papers and put + them in his portfolio. As the notary finished, he answered, quickly,—</p> + <p>"Well, well, I suppose you have done your duty, and I thank you; but we have had + enough of that. Tell me who owns Grinselhof now?"</p> + <p>The man of business appeared considerably disconcerted by the contemptuous + interruption of his visitor; yet he strove to conceal his mortification by a sorry + smile, as he replied,—</p> + <p>"I see, sir, that you have taken a firm stand and will do as you please. + Grinselhof was bought in by the mortgagees, for the price offered was below its + value."</p> + <p>"Who lives there?"</p> + <p>"It is uninhabited. No one goes to the country in winter."</p> + <p>"Can it be bought from its present proprietor?"</p> + <p>"Certainly. I am authorized to offer it to any one for the amount of the + mortgages."</p> + <p>"Then Grinselhof belongs to <i>me!</i> Be kind enough to inform the owners of it + at once!"</p> + <p>"Very well, sir. Consider Grinselhof as your property from this moment. If you + wish to visit it you will find the keys at the tenant's house."</p> + <p>Gustave took his hat and made ready to go, and, as he did so, pressed the notary's + hand with evident cordiality:—</p> + <p>"I am tired and need repose, for I feel somewhat overcome by the sad news you have + given me. May God help you in your efforts to fulfil your promises! My gratitude will + surpass all you can imagine. Farewell till to-morrow!"</p> + <hr style='width: 65%;' /> + <a id="CHAPTER_X" name='CHAPTER_X'></a> + <h2>CHAPTER X.</h2> + <p>Spring, gentle spring, had thrown aside the funeral garb of winter, and earth + awoke again to vigorous life. Grinselhof reappeared in all the splendor of its wild, + natural scenery; its majestic oaks displayed their verdant domes, its roses bloomed + as sweetly as of old, elder-blossoms filled the air with delicious odor, butterflies + fluttered through the garden, and every thicket was vocal with the song of birds.</p> + <p>Nothing seemed changed at Grinselhof: its roads, its paths, were still deserted, + and sad was the silence that reigned in its shadows. Yet immediately around the house + there was more life and movement than formerly. At the coach-house two grooms were + busy washing and polishing a new and fashionable coach; while the neigh of horses + resounded from the stable. A trim waiting-maid stood on the door-sill laughing and + joking with the lackeys, and a respectable old butler looked knowingly on the + group.</p> + <p>Suddenly the clear silvery ring of a bell was heard from the parlor, and the + waiting-maid ran in, exclaiming, "Good Heavens! there's Monsieur ringing for his + breakfast, and it is not ready yet!"</p> + <p>A few moments afterward she was seen mounting the staircase with a rich silver + salver covered with breakfast-things; and, entering the parlor, she placed them + silently on a table before a young gentleman who seemed entirely absorbed by his own + thoughts, and then instantly left the room without a word.</p> + <p>The young man began his meal with a careless, indifferent air, as if he either had + no appetite or did not know what he was about. The furniture of the apartment in + which he sat presented odd and striking contrasts to an observer. While some of the + articles were remarkable for the richness and elegance of their modern style, there + were chairs, tables, and cabinets whose sombre hue and elaborate carving denoted an + antiquity of several centuries. On the walls were numerous pictures, dimmed by smoke + and time, encased in frames that had lost half their ornaments and gilding. These + were portraits of warriors, statesmen, priests, and prelates. In the dim corners of + the canvas armorial bearings of the house of De Vlierbeck might be seen, and many of + the articles of furniture were embellished with the same blazonry.</p> + <p>We were told a while ago that a public sale at Grinselhof had dispersed among a + crowd of competitors every thing that belonged to Monsieur De Vlierbeck. How has it + come to pass that these portraits have returned to their old nails on walls which + they seemed to have abandoned forever?</p> + <p>The listless youth rose from the table, walked slowly about the room, stopped, + looked mournfully at the portraits, recommenced his walk, and approached an antique + casket placed on a bracket in the corner. He opened it with apparent indifference and + took out some simple jewelry,—a pair of ear-rings and a coral necklace. He + gazed long at these objects as he held them in his hand; a few tears fell on them, a + deep sigh escaped from his bosom, and he then replaced the jewels in their + casket.</p> + <p>Quitting the room, he descended to the court. Waiters and servant-maids saluted as + he passed: he acknowledged their civility by a silent nod and went forth to the most + secluded parts of the garden. Stopping at the foot of a wild chestnut-tree, he threw + himself on the ground, where he sat long in moody reverie until aroused by the + ringing voice of Bess, who approached him with a book in her hand:—</p> + <p>"Here, sir, is a book which Mademoiselle Lenora used to read. My goodman went + yesterday to market, where he found the farmer who bought it at the sale. After + market was over John accompanied the peasant home, and would not leave him till he + had bought the book back again. I suppose it is an excellent book, as Mademoiselle + used to love it so; and neither gold nor silver could ever get it from me if it + wasn't for you, sir. Husband says it is called LUCIFER'!"</p> + <p>While she was running on, Gustave seized the book eagerly and ran over its pages + without paying attention to what she said. "Thank you, thank you for your kind + attention, mother Bess!" said he. "You can't think how happy I am whenever I find any + thing that belonged to your mistress. Be assured that I will never forget your + goodness." After offering this expression of his thanks to the farmer's wife he + opened the book again and began to read without heeding her further. But the good + woman did not go away, and soon interrupted him with a question:—</p> + <p>"May I ask, sir, if you have any news yet of our young lady?"</p> + <p>Gustave shook his head. "Not the least scrap of news, mother Bess. My search has + been fruitless."</p> + <p>"That is unlucky, sir. God knows where she may be and what she is suffering. She + told me before she went away that she meant to work for her father; but one must have + learned to work very early in life to earn a living by one's hands. My heart almost + breaks when I think of it. Perhaps that good, sweet young lady is reduced to work for + other people and labors like a slave to get a mouthful of bread! I have been a + servant, sir, and I know what it is to work from morning until night for others. And + she,—she who is so beautiful, so clever, so kind! Oh, sir, it is terrible! I + can't help crying like a child, thinking of her miserable life!"</p> + <p>Gustave was overcome by the simple eloquence of the poor woman, and remained + silent.</p> + <p>"And then to think," continued Bess, "she might now be so happy! that she might + again become mistress of Grinselhof, where she was born and grew up! that her father + might pass his old days in quietness, and that they are now wandering about the world + poor, sick, abandoned outcasts! Oh, sir, it is sad to know that our benefactors are + unhappy, and to be able to do nothing for them but pray to God and hope for his + mercy!"</p> + <p>The simple-minded woman, without meaning it, had touched some tender strings in + Gustave's heart; and, as she saw the silent tears coursing their way down his cheeks, + she said, entreatingly,—</p> + <p>"Oh, pardon me, sir, for having grieved you so by my talk! but my heart is full, + and my feelings force their way without knowing it. If I have done wrong, I am sure + you are too kind to be angry with me for loving our young lady so much and bemoaning + her misfortune. Have you no orders for me to-day, sir?"</p> + <p>She was about to go, as Gustave raised his downcast eyes and, restraining his + tears, exclaimed,—</p> + <p>"I—angry with you, mother Bess?—and angry, too, because you show + affection for our poor Lenora? Oh, no, no! On the contrary, I bless you for it with + all my heart! The tears you betrayed from my heart have done me good; for I am very + unhappy. Life is a burden; and if God, in his mercy, would take me away from earth, I + would gladly die. All hope of seeing her again in this world is gone. Perhaps she is + awaiting me in the next!"</p> + <p>"Oh, sir! sir! how you talk!" cried the peasant-woman, in alarm. "No! no! that + cannot be!"</p> + <p>"You grieve, my good woman, and shed tears for her," continued Gustave, without + heeding the interruption; "but don't you see how <i>my</i> soul must be consumed with + despair? Alas! for months and months I have implored God for the happiness of seeing + her once more! I overcame all obstacles to our marriage, and I became almost mad with + joy and impatience as I flew like lightning to the home where I left her; and then my + only recompense, my only consolation, was to find her <i>gone</i> and the house of + her fathers a wilderness!—to know, alas! that she is poor, and, perhaps, + languishing in want!—to know that my noble-hearted and beloved Lenora sinks + under the weight of misfortune, and yet to be able to do nothing to relieve + her!—to be condemned to count in powerless despair her days of affliction, and + not even to be sure that suffering has not killed her!"</p> + <p>A profound silence followed this complaining outburst, and the peasant-woman, with + her head bent to the earth, sympathized with him truly, till, after a few moments, + she attempted to console the sufferer in her simple way:—</p> + <p>"Oh, sir, I understand only too well how much you endure! And yet why despair? Who + knows but we may receive some news of our dear young lady when we least expect it? + God is good; he will hear our prayers; and our joy for her return will make us forget + all our grief!"</p> + <p>"Oh that your prophecy might be realized, my good woman! But seven months have + already gone since they departed. During three of them a hundred persons have been + employed in seeking the wanderers. They have been sought for in every direction, and + not the slightest intelligence has been obtained; not a trace, not the least sign + that they are even alive! My reason tells me not to despair; but my heart magnifies + my ills and cries aloud that I have lost her!—lost her forever!"</p> + <p>He was about quitting the garden, when a noise attracted his attention as he + pointed toward the road leading to the <i>château</i>.</p> + <p>"Listen! Don't you hear something?" cried he.</p> + <p>"It is the gallop of a horse," answered Bess, without comprehending why the noise + so much startled her master.</p> + <p>"Poor fool!" said the young man to himself; "why am I so startled by the passing + of a horseman?"</p> + <p>"But see! see! he is coming into the avenue!" cried Bess, with increasing + interest. "Oh, God! I am sure it is a messenger with news! Heaven grant it may be + good!"</p> + <p>As she said this the rider passed through the gate at full gallop, and, drawing + rein at the door they had just reached, took a letter from his pocket and handed it + to the master of Grinselhof:—</p> + <p>"I come," said he, "from your notary, who ordered me to deliver you this letter + without a moment's delay."</p> + <p>Gustave broke the seal with a trembling hand, while Bess, smiling with hope, + followed all her master's movements with staring eyes.</p> + <p>As he read the first lines the anxious youth grew pale; but as he went on a tremor + ran through all his limbs, till with a hysterical laugh and clasped hands he + exclaimed,—</p> + <p>"Thanks! thanks! Oh, God! she is restored to me!"</p> + <p>"Oh, sir, sir," cried Bess, "is it good news?"</p> + <p>"Yes! yes! rejoice with me! Lenora lives! I know where she is!" answered Gustave, + half mad with delight, running into the house and calling all the servants. "Quick! + quick! Have out the travelling-carriage and the English horses! My trunk! my cloak! + Quick! fly!"</p> + <p>He carried forth with his own hands a number of things that were necessary for the + journey. His fleetest horses were attached to the vehicle; and, although they + strained their bits and pawed the ground as if impatient for the road, the postillion + lashed them fiercely as they dashed through the gateway.</p> + <p>In a moment, and almost as if by magic, the coach was on the road to Antwerp and + hidden from the staring crowd by a cloud of dust.</p> + <hr style='width: 65%;' /> + <a id="CHAPTER_XI" name='CHAPTER_XI'></a> + <h2>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + <br /> + + <p>Suppose that we too take a trip in fancy to Nancy, in France, in search of poor De + Vlierbeck and his daughter. Let us wind through an immense number of narrow streets + in the quarter known as the Old Town and at last halt at the door of an humble + cobbler. This is the place. Pass through the shop, mount the staircase; another story + yet; open that door, and here we are.</p> + <p>Every thing indicates poverty; but order and neatness preside over the room. The + curtains of the little bed are white as snow, the stove is polished with black-lead + till it shines, and the floor is sanded in Flemish style. Mignonette and violets + bloom in a box on the window-sill, and a bird chirps in its cage above them. A young + woman sits in front of the window; but she is so intent on the linen she is sewing + that no other sound is heard in the silent room but that made by the motion of her + hands as they guide the needle. She is dressed in the plainest garments; yet they are + cut and put on so gracefully that one may declare at a glance she is a lady.</p> + <p>Poor Lenora! And this was what fate had in store for thee! To hide thy noble birth + under the humble roof of a mechanic; to seek a refuge from insult and contempt far + from thy childhood's home; to work without relaxation; to fight against privation and + want, and to sink at last into shame and poverty, heart-broken by despair! Misery, + doubtless, has cast a yellow tinge upon thy cheeks and stolen its radiance from thy + glance. But no! thank God, it is not so! Thy heroic blood has strengthened thee + against fate, and thy beauty is even more ravishing than of old! If a cloistered life + has chastened thy roses, their tender bloom has only become more touching. Thy brow + has grown loftier and purer; thine eyes still glisten beneath their sweeping lashes; + and that well-remembered smile still hovers around thy coral lips!</p> + <p>Suddenly Lenora stopped working. Her hands rested on the work in her lap, her head + bent forward, her eyes were riveted dreamily on the ground, and her soul, wandering + perhaps to other lands, seemed to abandon itself on the current of a happy reverie. + After a while she placed the linen she had been sewing on a chair and got up slowly. + Leaning languidly on the window-frame, she gathered a few violets, played with them a + while, and then looked abroad at the sky over the roof-tops, as if longing to breathe + once more the fresh air and enjoy the spring. Soon her eyes fixed themselves + compassionately on the bird that hopped about its cage and ever and anon struck its + bill against the wires as if striving to get out.</p> + <p>"Why dost thou want to leave us, dear little bird?" said she, softly. "Why dost + thou wish to be gone, dear comforter of our sadness? Sing gayly to-day; father is + well again, and life is once more a pleasure. What is it makes thee flutter about so + wildly and pant in thy cage? Ah! is it not hard, dear little one, to be captive when + we know there are joy and freedom in the open air?—when we are born in the + fields and woods?—when we know that <i>there</i> alone are independence and + liberty. Like thee, poor bird, I am a child of nature; I too have been torn from my + birthplace; I too bemoan the solitudes where my childhood was passed! But has a + friend or lover been snatched from thee—as from me—forever? Dost thou + grieve for something more than space and freedom? Yet why do I ask? Thy love-season + has come round again, has it not? and love is the greatest blessing of thy little + life! I understand thee, poor bird! I will no longer be thy fate! Fly away, and God + help you! Begone, and enjoy the two greatest blessings of life! Ah, how thou singest + as thy wings bear thee away,—away to the sky and woods! Farewell! farewell!" As + she uttered these last words Lenora opened the cage-door and released the bird, which + darted away like an arrow. After this she resumed her work and sewed on with the same + zeal as before, till aroused by the sound of footsteps on the staircase.</p> + <p>"It is father! God grant he may have been lucky to-day!"</p> + <p>Monsieur De Vlierbeck entered the room with a roll of paper in his hand, and, + throwing himself languidly into a chair, seemed altogether worn out with fatigue. He + had become very thin; his eyes were sunk in their sockets, his cheeks were pale, and + his whole expression was changed and broken. It was very evident that sickness or + depression, or perhaps both, had made fearful ravages on his body as well as + spirits.</p> + <p>The poor old gentleman was wretchedly clad. It was evident that he had striven as + formerly to conceal his indigence, for there was not a stain or grain of dust on his + garments; but the stuff was threadbare and patched, and all his garments were too + large for his shrunken limbs.</p> + <p>Lenora looked at him a moment anxiously. "You do not feel ill, father, do + you?"</p> + <p>"No, Lenora," replied he; "but I am very wretched."</p> + <p>Lenora said nothing, but embraced him tenderly and then knelt down with his hand + in hers.</p> + <p>"Father," said she, "it is hardly a week since you were ill in bed: we prayed to + God for your restoration, and he listened to our prayers; you are cured, dear father, + and yet you give way anew at the first disappointment. You have not been successful + to-day, father? I see it in your face. Well, what of it? Why should it interfere with + our happiness? We have long learned how to fight against fate. Let us be strong and + look misery in the face with heads up: courage is wealth; and so, father dear, forget + your disappointment. Look at me. Am I sad? do I allow myself to be downcast and + despairing? I suffered and wept enough when you were ill; but, now that you are well + again, come what may, your Lenora will always thank God for his goodness!"</p> + <p>The poor old man smiled feebly at the courageous excitement of his daughter.</p> + <p>"Poor child!" said he; "I understand very well how you strive to appear strong in + order to keep me up. May heaven repay your love, dear angel whom God has given me! + your word and smile control me so completely that I may say a part of your soul + passes with them into mine. I came home just now quite heart-broken and half crazy + with despair; but you, my child, have restored me to myself again."</p> + <p>"That's right, father," said she, rising from her knees and sitting down on a + chair close beside him; "come, father, tell me now all your adventures to-day, and + afterward I will tell you something that will make you laugh."</p> + <p>"Alas, my child! I went to Monsieur Roncevaux's academy to resume my English + lessons; but during my sickness an Englishman was put in my place: we have lost our + best bit of bread."</p> + <p>"Well, how is it about Mademoiselle Pauline's German lesson?"</p> + <p>"Mademoiselle Pauline has gone to Strasburg and will not come back again. You see, + Lenora, that we are losing every thing at once; so, have I not cause to be anxious + and downcast? This news seems to overcome you, my child, strong as you are!"</p> + <p>In truth, Lenora was somewhat appalled by the dejecting words; but her father's + remark restored her self-possession, and she replied, with a forced smile,—</p> + <p>"I was thinking, father, of the pain these dismissals gave you, and they really + annoyed me Yet there are some things that ought to make me happy to-day. Yes, father, + I have some good news for you!"</p> + <p>"Indeed? You astonish me!"</p> + <p>Lenora pointed to the chair.</p> + <p>"Do you see that linen?" said she. "I have a dozen fine shirts to make out of it; + and when they are done there are as many more waiting for me. They pay me good wages, + and I think, from what they say, that in time there will be something better in store + for me. But as yet that is only a hope,—only a hope."</p> + <p>De Vlierbeck seemed particularly struck by the last remark of his daughter, as he + looked at her anxiously.</p> + <p>"Well! well! what is it that makes you so happy and hopeful?" said he.</p> + <p>Lenora took up her sewing again and went busily to work.</p> + <p>"You wouldn't guess it in a week, father! Do you know who gave me this work? It is + the rich lady who lives in the house with a court-yard, at the corner of our street. + She sent for me this morning, and I went to her while you were abroad. You are + surprised, father; are you not?"</p> + <p>"I am, indeed, Lenora. You are speaking of Madame De Royan, for whom you were + employed to embroider those handsome collars. How does she come to know you?"</p> + <p>"I really don't know. Perhaps the person who gave me her collars to embroider told + her who worked them: she must have spoken to her about your illness and our poverty, + for Madame De Royan knows more of us than you imagine.'</p> + <p>"Heavens! She does not know—"</p> + <p>"No! she knows nothing about our <i>name</i> or from whence we came."</p> + <p>"Go on, Lenora; you excite my curiosity. I see you want to teaze me to-day!"</p> + <p>"Well, father, if you are tired I will cut my story short. Madame De Royan + received me with great kindness, complimented me on my embroidery, asked me some + questions about our misfortunes, and consoled and encouraged me generously. 'Go, my + child!' said she, as she gave me the linen; 'work with a good will and be prudent: I + will protect you. I have a great deal of sewing to do,—enough for two months at + least. But that would not be enough; I mean to recommend you to all my friends, and I + mean to see that you are paid for your work in such a way that your father and + yourself shall be above want.' I took her hand and kissed it, for I was touched by + the delicacy with which she give me <i>work</i> and not <i>alms</i>! Madame De Royan + understood me, and, laying her hand kindly on my shoulder, 'Keep up your spirits, + Lenora,' said she; 'the time will come when you must take apprentices to help you, + and so by degrees you will become mistress of a shop.' Yes, father, that's what she + said; I know her words by heart."</p> + <p>With this she sprang to her father, embraced him, and added, with considerable + emotion,—</p> + <p>"What say you to it, father? Is it not good news? Who knows what may come to pass? + Apprentices,—a shop,—a store,—a servant: you will keep the books + and buy our goods, I will sit in the room and superintend the workwomen! How sweet it + is to be happy and to know that we owe all to the work of our hands! Then, father, + your promise will indeed be fulfilled, and then you may pass your old days + happily."</p> + <p>There was a look of such extreme serenity in Monsieur De Vlierbeck's face, an + expression of such vivid happiness was reflected from his wrinkled cheeks, that it + was evident he had allowed his daughter's story to bewitch him into entire + forgetfulness. But he soon found it out, and shook his head mournfully at the + enchantress:—</p> + <p>"Oh! Lenora, Lenora, you witch! how easily have you managed to seduce me! I + followed your words like a child, and I really believed in the happiness you + promised. But let us be serious. The shoemaker spoke to me again about the rent, and + asked me to pay it. We still owe him twenty francs, do we not?"</p> + <p>"Yes, twenty francs for rent, and about twelve francs to the grocer: that's all. + When the shirts are done we will give my wages on account to the shoemaker, and I + know he will be satisfied. The grocer is willing to give us longer credit. I received + two francs and a half for my last work. You see very well, father, that we are still + quite rich, and before a month is over will be out of debt entirely."</p> + <p>Poor De Vlierbeck seemed quite consoled; and a gleam of fortitude shone in his + black eyes as he approached the table, unrolling the paper he had brought with him on + his return.</p> + <p>"I have something to do too, Lenora. Professor Delsaux gave me some pieces of + music to copy for his pupils, which will give me four francs in a couple of days. And + now be quiet a while, my dear child; my nerves are so shattered that if we talk I + shall make mistakes and spoil the paper."</p> + <p>"I may sing, father; may I not?"</p> + <p>"Oh, yes; that won't annoy me: your song will please my ear without distracting my + attention."</p> + <p>The old gentleman went on writing, while Lenora, with a rich and joyous voice, + repeated all her songs and poured forth her heart in melody. She sewed meanwhile + diligently, and, from time to time, glanced at her father to see whether the cloud + had fallen again over his face and spirit.</p> + <p>They had been a considerable time engaged with their several occupations, when the + parish clock struck; and, putting down her work hastily, Lenora took a basket from + behind the stove and prepared to go out. Her father looked up with surprise as he + said,—</p> + <p>"What! <i>already</i>, Lenora?"</p> + <p>"It has just struck half-past eleven, father."</p> + <p>Without making any other remark, De Vlierbeck bent his head again over the + music-paper and continued his task.</p> + <p>Lenora soon returned from her walk with her basket full of potatoes and something + else tied up in a paper, which she hid beneath a napkin. Then, pouring some water in + a pot which she placed beside her chair, she began to sing, and threw in the potatoes + as she peeled them. After this she kindled a fire in the stove and set the pot of + potatoes to boil. After the fire burned well she put a skillet, with a little butter + and a good deal of vinegar, over the coals.</p> + <p>Up to this moment her father had not looked up nor intermitted his work; he saw + her getting dinner ready every day, and it was seldom that any variety of food + appeared on their table. But, hardly had the potatoes begun to boil, when an + agreeable perfume was diffused through the chamber. De Vlierbeck glanced up from his + writing, a little reproachfully, as he exclaimed,—</p> + <p>"What! meat on Friday, my child? you know very well we must be economical."</p> + <p>"Don't be angry, father," answered Lenora; "the doctor ordered it."</p> + <p>"You are trying to deceive me, are you not?"</p> + <p>"No, no; the doctor said you required meat at least three times a week, if we + could get it; it will do you more good than any thing else in restoring your + strength."</p> + <p>"And yet we are in debt, Lenora!"</p> + <p>"Come, come, father, let our debts alone, everybody will be paid and satisfied. + Don't trouble yourself about them any more: I'll answer for them all. And now be so + good as to take your papers off of the table, so that I can lay the cloth."</p> + <p>De Vlierbeck got up and did as he was asked. Lenora covered the deal-boards with a + snowy napkin and placed on it two plates and a dish of potatoes. It was indeed an + humble table, at which all was extremely common; yet every thing was so neat, fresh, + and savory, that a rich man might have sat down to it with appetite. They took their + places and asked a blessing on the meal; but, before the prayer was finished, Lenora + started suddenly and interrupted her father. With eyes staring toward the door and + head leaned forward, she listened eagerly, motioning her father with her hand to be + silent.</p> + <p>There was a sound of footsteps and voices on the staircase, and, as they + approached, Lenora thought she recognised the tones. She bounded to the door with a + sharp cry, and, closing it, leaned against the boards to prevent any one from + entering.</p> + <p>"For God's sake, child, what are you afraid of?" cried her father.</p> + <p>"GUSTAVE! GUSTAVE!" whispered Lenora, with pale and quivering lips. "He is there! + he is there! I hear him. Take away that table quickly. Of all the world he is the + last who should see our misery!"</p> + <p>De Vlierbeck's face grew dark, his head became erect and fierce, and his eyes + flashed with their ancient fire. Advancing silently to his daughter, he drew her from + the door. Lenora fled to a corner of the room, and covered her face, which was red + with mortification.</p> + <p>Suddenly the door opened, and a young man rushed into the chamber with an + exclamation of joy as he advanced, open-armed, toward the trembling girl, whom he + would have pressed to his breast had not the hand and look of her father arrested his + steps.</p> + <p>For a moment he stood like one stupefied, glancing from the wretched board to the + miserable dress of the old man and his daughter. The sight affected the intruder, for + he covered his eyes as he exclaimed, in subdued and despairing tones, "Oh, God! has + it come to this?"</p> + <p>But he did not allow himself to remain long under the influence either of his + feelings or of her father, and, advancing anew to Lenora, seized and pressed both her + hands ardently.</p> + <p>"Oh! look at me, Lenora! Let me see if thy heart has preserved the memory of our + love!"</p> + <p>Lenora's eyes met his at once and with affection. It was a look that completely + revealed her pure and constant soul.</p> + <p>"Oh, happiness!" cried Gustave, enthusiastically; "thou art still my dear and + tender Lenora! Thank God, no power on earth can ever separate me again from my + betrothed! Receive, receive the kiss of our union!"</p> + <p>He stretched his arms toward her. Lenora, trembling with agony and happiness, + stood downcast and blushing, as if awaiting the solemn kiss; but, before Gustave + could accomplish the act, De Vlierbeck was by his side, and, grasping his hand, held + him motionless.</p> + <p>"Monsieur Denecker," said her father, severely, "have the goodness to moderate + your transports. We are certainly glad to see you once more; but neither you nor I + can forget what we are. Respect our poverty!"</p> + <p>"What do you say?" cried Gustave. "<i>What you are!</i> You are my + friend,—my father. Lenora is my betrothed! Oh heaven! why look at me so + reproachfully?"</p> + <p>He seized the hand of Lenora again, and, drawing her toward her father, rapidly + continued:—</p> + <p>"Listen! My uncle died in Italy and left me heir of all his property. He commanded + me on his death-bed to marry Lenora. I have searched heaven and earth to find you. I + have suffered for many months all the torture that a nature like mine can endure; and + at length I have discovered you! I have come, sir, to ask the reward of my suffering. + I lay my fortune, heart, and life at your feet; and, in exchange, I implore the + happiness of leading Lenora to the altar. Grant me that favor, O my <i>father!</i> + Grinselhof awaits you. I bought it for you. Every thing is there again. The portraits + of your ancestors are in their places on the wall, and every thing that was dear to + you is restored. Come! let me watch your old days, your declining years, with the + veneration of a son! let me make you happy again;—oh, how happy!"</p> + <p>The old man's expression did not change, yet a tear moistened his eye.</p> + <p>"Ah!" continued Gustave, "nothing on earth can again separate me from + her,—not even a father's power; for I feel that God himself has given her to + me! Yet pardon me, father, for my rashness, and bestow your benediction!"</p> + <p>De Vlierbeck seemed to have utterly forgotten the young man and his transports; + for he stood with clasped hands and eyes raised to heaven, as if addressing his Maker + in fervent prayer. At length his words began to be heard distinctly:—</p> + <p>"Oh, Margaret! Margaret! rejoice on the bosom of God. My promise is + fulfilled;—thy child will be happy!"</p> + <p>Gustave and Lenora stood before him hand in hand; and, as he threw his arms around + the young man,—</p> + <p>"May Heaven bless you for your love!" continued he. "Make my child happy. She is + your wife!"</p> + <p>"Gustave, Gustave,—<i>my husband!</i>" exclaimed Lenora, as they threw + themselves into each other's arms, and the first kiss of love—the first + consecrated kiss—was exchanged on the breast of that happy father, who wept + over and blessed his children.</p> + <hr style='width: 45%;' /> + <p>And now, gentle reader, I must inform you that I have had my own reasons for + concealing the situation and even the true name of the <i>château</i> of DE + VLIERBECK. None of you will, therefore, ever know where Gustave and Lenora dwell. I + know Monsieur and Madame Denecker intimately, and have taken many a walk around + Grinselhof with two charming little children and their venerable <i>grandfather</i>. + I have often beheld the beautiful picture of peace, love, and domestic happiness that + is seen in that old house beneath the grim ancestral portraits or in the fresh air + under the trees. I will not say who told me the story of this family. Let it suffice + that I know all the persons who have played a part in it, and that I have often + chatted with Farmer John and Dame Bess while they poured forth their gossip about + "The Poor Gentleman" and his trials.</p> + <br /> + <br /> +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13576 ***</div> +</body> +</html> 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..db3adf1 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #13576 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/13576) diff --git a/old/13576-8.txt b/old/13576-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..408a79b --- /dev/null +++ b/old/13576-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4362 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Poor Gentleman, by Hendrik Conscience + + +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 Poor Gentleman + +Author: Hendrik Conscience + +Release Date: October 2, 2004 [eBook #13576] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE POOR GENTLEMAN*** + + +E-text prepared by Audrey Longhurst, Josephine Paolucci, and the Project +Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + +THE POOR GENTLEMAN. + +by + +HENDRIK CONSCIENCE + +Author of _The Curse of the Village_, _The Happiness of Being Rich_, +_Veva_, _The Lion of Flanders_, _Count Hugo of Craenhove_, _Wooden +Clara_, _Ricketicketack_, _The Demon of Gold_, _The Village Inn-Keeper_, +_The Conscript_, _Blind Rosa_, _The Amulet_, _The Miser_, _The +Fisherman's Daughter_, etc. + +Translated Expressly for this Edition. + + + + + + + +Preface to the American Edition. + + +The story of "THE POOR GENTLEMAN," now given in our language for the +first time, is one of the series in which M. Conscience has delineated +various grades of female character in positions of trial. In "The +Village Innkeeper" he has shown the weaker traits of woman distracted +between an inborn sense of propriety and a foolish ambition for high, +life. In the "Conscript" his heroine displays the nobler virtues of +uncorrupted humble life; and, with few characters, taken from the lowest +walks, he shows the triumph of honest, straightforward earnestness and +pertinacious courage, even when they are brought in conflict with +authority. "The Poor Gentleman" closes the series; and, selecting a +heroine from the educated classes of his country-people M. Conscience +has demonstrated how superior a _genuine woman_ becomes to all the +mishaps of fortune, and how successfully she subdues that imaginary +_fate_ before which so many are seen to fall. + +It would be difficult to describe this remarkable work without analyzing +the tale and criticizing its personages. This would anticipate the +author and mar the interest of his story. We must confine ourselves, +therefore, to general remarks on its structure and characteristics. + +_Pontmartin_, the distinguished French _feuilletonist_, says, in one of +his "Literary Chats," that these simple stories are "pearls set in +Flemish gold,--a gold which alchemysts seek for in alembics and +furnaces, but which Conscience has found in the inexhaustible veins of +nature." "The Poor Gentleman," he remarks, "is a tale of not more than a +hundred and fifty pages; but I would not give its shortest chapter for +all the _romances_ I ever read. The perplexed De Vlierbeck--who ought to +have had Caleb Balderstone for a servant--is one of those characters +that engrave themselves indelibly on our memory." In every trait and +detail the author has attained a photographic minuteness; which, while +it is distinct and sharp, never interferes with that motion, breadth, +and picturesque effect that impart life and reality to a story. Nor can +we doubt that it will be read and re-read as long as there is a particle +of that feeling among us which installed the Vicar of Wakefield, Paul +and Virginia, the Crock of Gold, the Sketch-book, and the Tales of a +Traveller, among the heirlooms of every tasteful household. The "Tales +of Flemish Life" are additions to that rare stock of home-literature +which is at once amiable and gentle, simple and affectionate, familiar +and tender, and which meets a quick response from every honest heart and +earnest spirit. + +If it be objected that the stories are too short and sketchy for the +praise that has been bestowed on them, it may be answered that in their +translation we have had the best opportunity to observe the skill, +power, and perception of character which constitute their real merit. +Simple as they seem, they are written with masterly art. In design, +elaborateness, tone, and finish, they resemble the works of the Flemish +School which have made us familiar with the Low Countries and their +people through the pictures of Ruysdael, Teniers, and Ostade. There is +scarcely a leaf that does not display some of those recondite or +evanescent secrets of human nature which either escape ordinary writers, +or, when found by them, are spread out over volume instead of being +condensed into a page. + +Baltimore, August, 1856. + +THE TRANSLATOR. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + +Near the end of July, 1842, an open _calèche_ might have been seen +rolling along one of the three highways that lead from the frontiers of +Holland toward Antwerp. Although the vehicle had evidently been cleaned +with the utmost care, every thing about it betokened decay. Its joints +were open, discolored, and weather-beaten, and it swung from side to +side on its springs like a rickety skeleton. Its patched leathers shone +in the sunshine with the oil that had been used to freshen them, but the +borrowed lustre could not hide the cracks and repairs with which they +were defaced. The door-handles and other parts of the vehicle that were +made of copper had been carefully polished, and the vestiges of +silver-plating, still visible in the creases of the ornaments, denoted a +former richness which had been almost entirely worn out by time and use. + +The _calèche_ was drawn by a stout, heavy horse, whose short and +lumbering gait intimated very clearly that he was oftener employed in +the plough and cart than in carrying his owner toward the capital. + +A peasant-boy of seventeen or eighteen was perched on the driver's seat. +He was in livery; a tarnished gold band adorned his hat, and brass +buttons glistened on his coat; but the hat fell over his ears, and the +coat was so large that the driver seemed lost in it as in a bag. The +garments had been worn by many of the lackey's predecessors on the box, +and, in a long series of years, had doubtless passed from coachman to +coachman till they descended to their present possessor. + +The only person in the vehicle was a man about fifty years old. He was +unquestionably the master of both servant and cabriolet, for his look +and deportment commanded respect and consideration. With head depressed +and moody air, he sat motionless and dreamy in his seat till he heard +the approach of other vehicles, when, suddenly lifting his eyes, he +would salute the strangers graciously and then instantly relapse into +his former attitude. A moment's glance at this person was sufficient to +excite an interest in him. His face, though hard and wrinkled, was so +regular and noble in its contour, his look so mild and yet so earnest +and penetrating, his broad brow so clear and lofty, that the most +careless observer could not doubt that he was endowed with the best +qualities of human nature. Besides this, there were unquestionable +indications that he had been a sufferer. If a simple glance at his +features did not impress one with a conviction of this fact, it was +confirmed by the fringe of silvery hair that straggled over his temples, +and the sombre, melancholy fire that glimmered in his eyes like the last +rays of expiring hope. + +His dress was in perfect keeping with his physiognomy. It was of that +neat and simple style which always characterizes a man of the world who +is governed by refined and elegant tastes. His linen was spotlessly +white, his cloth extremely fine, and his well-brushed hat shone smartly +in the sunshine. Occasionally, as some one passed on the road, he might +be seen to draw forth a handsome gold snuff-box and inhale a pinch with +so graceful an air that an observer would be convinced he belonged to +the highest classes of society. A malicious eye, it is true, might have +discovered by close inspection that the brush had been too familiar with +his coat and worn it threadbare, that his silk hat had been doctored to +preserve its lustre and smoothness, and that his gloves were elaborately +darned. If an inquisitive critic could have pried into the bottom of the +vehicle, he would have detected a large crack in the side of the left +boot, beneath which a gray stocking had been carefully masked with ink. +Still, all these signs of poverty were so artfully concealed, and his +dress worn with so careless an air of opulence and ease, that every body +might have supposed the traveller did not put on better clothes only +because he had a whim for bad ones. + +The _calèche_ had rolled along rapidly for about two hours, when the +driver suddenly drew up at a small inn on the dike outside of the city +of Antwerp. The landlady and groom instantly sallied forth, and by their +profound salutations and civility exhibited their marked respect for a +well-known stranger. + +"It's a fine day, Monsieur Vlierbeck, isn't it?" said the dame; "yet +it's a trifle warm, however. Don't you think it would be well for the +high-grounds if we had a sprinkle more of rain, Monsieur Vlierbeck? +Shall we give the horse some hay, Monsieur Vlierbeck? But stay: I see, +now, your coachman has brought his hay with him. Will you take anything, +Monsieur Vlierbeck?" + +While the hostess was pouring forth this torrent of questions, Monsieur +De Vlierbeck got out of the vehicle, and, entering the house, addressed +the most flattering compliments to the dame about her good looks, +inquired as to the health of each of her children, and finished by +apprizing her that he was obliged to be in town instantly. Thereupon, +shaking her cordially by the hand, yet with a condescending air that +marked and preserved the distance between them, he gave his orders to +his lackey, and, with a farewell bow, walked toward the bridge leading +into the city. + +At a solitary spot on the outer rampart Monsieur De Vlierbeck stopped, +looked round as if to see if any one was observing him, dusted his +garments, brushed his hat with a handkerchief, and then passed on +through the Porte Rouge into the city of Antwerp. + +As he entered a town where he was likely to find himself constantly an +object of notice, he assumed a lofty carriage and self-satisfied air, +which might have deceived any one into the belief that he was the +happiest man on earth. And yet--alas, poor gentleman!--he was a prey to +the profoundest agony! He was, perhaps, about to suffer +_humiliation_,--a humiliation that would cut him to the very heart! But +there was a being in the world whom he loved better than his life or +honor,--his only child, his daughter! For her--how frequently had he +already sacrificed his pride, how frequently had he suffered the pangs +of martyrdom! Still, so great a slave was he to this passionate love +that every new endurance, every new trial, raised him in his own +estimation and exalted his pain into something that ennobled and +sanctified his very nature! + +His heart beat violently as he entered deeper and deeper into the heart +of the city and approached the house he was about to visit. Soon after +he stopped at a door, and, as he pulled the bell, his hand trembled +violently in spite of extraordinary self-control; but as soon as a +servant answered the summons he became master of himself again. + +"Is the notary in?" inquired the old gentleman. The servant replied +affirmatively, and, showing the visitor into a small room, went to +apprize his master. + +As soon as Monsieur De Vlierbeck was alone, he put his right foot over +the left to hide the rent in his boot, drew forth the gold snuff-box, +and made ready to take a pinch. + +The notary came in. He was a spare, business-looking man, and was +preparing to salute his guest graciously, but no sooner did he perceive +who it was than his face grew dark and assumed that reserved air with +which a cautious man arms himself when he expects a request which he is +predetermined to refuse. Instead, therefore, of lavishing on Monsieur De +Vlierbeck the compliments with which he habitually welcomed his +visitors, the notary confined himself to a few cold words of recognition +and then sat down silently in front of him. + +Wounded and humbled by this ungracious reception, poor De Vlierbeck was +seized with a chill and became slightly pale; still, he managed to rally +his nerves, as he remarked, affably,--"Pray excuse me, sir; but, pressed +by imperious necessity, I have come once more to appeal to your kindness +for a small service." + +"What is it you wish of me?" answered the notary, tartly. + +"I wish you to find another loan of a thousand _francs_ for me,--or even +less,--secured by a mortgage on my property. I do not want all the money +at once, but I have especial need of two hundred _francs_, which I must +ask the favor of you to lend me to-day. I trust you will not deny me +this trifling loan, which will extricate me from the deepest +embarrassment." + +"A thousand _francs_, on mortgage?" growled the notary; "and who, pray, +will guarantee the interest? Your property is already mortgaged for more +than it is worth." + +"Oh! you are mistaken, sir," exclaimed Monsieur De Vlierbeck, anxiously. + +"Not the least in the world! By order of the persons who have already +accommodated you with money, I caused your property to be appraised at +the very highest rates; and the consequence is that your creditors will +not get back their loans unless it shall sell for an extraordinary +price. Permit me to say, sir, that you have acted very foolishly: had I +been in your place, I would not have sacrificed all my fortune, and my +wife's too, to save a worthless fellow, even though he had been my +brother!" + +De Vlierbeck frowned, as a painful recollection shot through his mind, +but said nothing, though his hand grasped the golden snuff-box as if he +would have crushed it. + +"By that imprudent act," continued the notary, "you have plunged +yourself and your child into absolute want; for you can no longer +disguise it. For ten years--and God knows at what cost--you have been +able to keep the secret of your ruin; but the inevitable hour is +approaching, Monsieur De Vlierbeck, when you will be forced to +surrender every thing!" + +De Vlierbeck riveted a look of doubt and agony on the notary as the +latter continued:-- + +"I must tell you frankly the condition of your affairs. Monsieur de +Hoogebaen died during his journey in Germany; his heirs found your bond +for four thousand _francs_, and have directed me _not_ to renew it. If +Monsieur Hoogebaen was your friend his heirs certainly are not. During +ten years you have failed to cancel this debt, and have paid two +thousand _francs_ interest; so that, for your own sake, it is time the +transaction should be closed. Four months are still left, Monsieur +Vlierbeck, before the expiration of--" + +"_Only_ four months!" interrupted the poor gentleman, in a distressed +tone; "_only_ four months, and then--oh, God!" + +"Then your property will be sold according to law," said the notary, +dryly, finishing the sentence. "I can well understand, sir, that this is +a painful prospect; but, as it is a decree of fate that no one can +control, you have nothing to do but prepare to receive the blow. Let me +offer to sell your estate as if you 'were leaving the country.' By that +means you will escape the mortification of a forced sale." + +For several moments Monsieur De Vlierbeck remained silent, his face +buried in his hands, as if crushed by the notary's advice and +callousness. At length he replied, calmly but humbly,-- + +"Your counsel is, perhaps, wise and generous; yet I will not follow it. +You know that all my sacrifices, my painful life, my constant agony, +have been patiently endured for the sake of my only child. You alone +know that all I do has but, one purpose,--a purpose which I hold sacred. +I have reason to believe that God is about granting the earnest prayer I +have daily offered for ten years. My daughter is beloved by a rich +gentleman, whose character I think I may confide in, and his family +appears to sympathize in all his views. _Four months!_ it is but a short +time, alas! yet, ought I, by anticipating the legal period of a sale, to +destroy all my fond hopes? Ought I instantly to welcome misery for +myself and my child when I see the chance of sure relief from all we +have suffered?" + +"Then you want to _deceive_ these people, whoever they may be? Do you +not suppose that by such a course of conduct you may make your daughter +still more wretched?" + +At the word "_deceive_" the poor gentleman winced as if stung by an +adder, while a nervous thrill ran through his limbs and suffused his +face with a blush of shame. + +"_Deceive!_" echoed he, bitterly; "oh, no! but I dare not, by a rash +avowal of my want, stifle the love that is growing up mutually. Whenever +it becomes necessary to be decided, I will make a loyal disclosure of my +condition. If the declaration ruin my hopes I will follow your advice. I +will sell all I have; I will quit the country and seek in some foreign +land to maintain myself and my beloved child by teaching." He stopped +for a moment, as if swallowing his grief, and then continued, in a lower +tone, half speaking to himself, "And, yet, did I not promise my dear +wife on her death-bed--did I not promise it on the holy cross--that our +child should not undergo such a fate? Ten years of suffering--ten abject +years--have not sufficed to realize my promise; and now, at last, a +feeble ray of hope struggles into my sombre future--" He grasped the +notary's hand, looked wildly but earnestly into his eyes, and added, in +suppliant tones, "Oh, my friend, help me! help me in this last and +trying effort; do not prolong my torture; grant my prayer, and as long +as I live I will bless my benefactor, the savior of my child!" + +The notary withdrew his hand as he answered, with some embarrassment, +"Yet, Monsieur De Vlierbeck, I cannot comprehend what all this has to do +with the loan of a thousand _francs_!" + +De Vlierbeck thrust his rejected hand into his pocket as he replied, +"Yes, sir, it _is_ ridiculous, is it not, to fall so low and to see +one's happiness or misery depend on things about which other persons may +laugh? And yet, alas! so it is! The young gentleman of whom I spoke to +you is to dine with us to-morrow in company with his uncle,--the uncle +invited himself,--and we have absolutely _nothing to give them!_ Besides +this, my child needs some trifles to appear decently before the guests, +and it is probable that the civility will be returned by an invitation +from them. Our isolation cannot long conceal our want. Sacrifices of all +kinds have already been made to prevent our being overwhelmed with +mortification." As he uttered these last words he drew forth his hand +from his pocket with about two _francs_ in small change, which he held +exposed on his palm before the notary. "And now, behold," continued he, +with a bitter smile,--"behold every cent I have in the world; and +to-morrow rich people are to dine at my house! If my poverty is betrayed +by any thing, farewell to my child's prospects! For God's sake, my good +friend, be generous, and help me!" + +"A thousand _francs_!" muttered the notary, shaking his head; "I can't +deceive my clients, sir. What pledge can you give to secure the loan? +You possess nothing which is not already mortgaged beyond its value." + +"A thousand! five hundred! two hundred!" cried De Vlierbeck. "Lend me, +at least, _something_ to relieve me from this cruel difficulty!" + +"I have no disposable funds," replied the notary, coldly. "In a +fortnight perhaps I may have some; but even then I could promise nothing +positively." + +"Then, for the sake of friendship, I beseech you, lend me some money +yourself!" + +"I could never expect that you would return what I might lend," said +the notary, contemptuously; "and so it is an _alms_ you ask of me?" + +Poor De Vlierbeck trembled on his chair and became pale as ashes; his +eyes flashed wildly and his brow knotted with frowns. Yet he quickly +curbed the unwonted agitation, bowed his head, and sighed, resignedly, +"ALMS! Alas! so be it! let me drink the very dregs of this bitter cup: +_it is for my child_!" + +The notary went to a drawer and took from it some five-franc-pieces, +which he offered to his visitor. It is difficult to say whether the poor +gentleman was wounded by the actual receipt of charity, or whether the +sum was too small to be useful; but, without touching the money, he +glanced angrily at the silver and fell back in his chair, covering his +face with his hands. + +Just at this moment a servant entered, announcing another visitor; and, +as soon as the lackey left the apartment, Monsieur De Vlierbeck sprang +from his chair, dashing away the tears that had gathered in his eyes. +The notary pointed to the money, which he laid on the corner of the +table; but the mortified guest turned away his head with a gesture of +repugnant refusal. + +"Pardon my boldness, sir," said he, "but I have now only one favor to +ask of you" + +"And it is--?" + +"That you will keep my secret for my daughter's sake." + +'Oh, as to that, make yourself easy. You know me well enough to be +aware of my discretion. Do you decline this trifling aid?" + +"Thanks! thanks!" cried the gentleman, pushing away the notary's hand; +and, trembling as if seized by a sudden chill, he rushed from the room +and the house without waiting for the servant to open the door. + +Utterly overcome by the terrible blow to his hopes, beside himself with +mortification, with his head hanging on his bosom and his eyes bent +staringly on the ground, the poor fellow ran about the streets for a +considerable length of time without knowing what he was about or whither +he was going. At length the stern conviction of want and duty partially +aroused him from his feverish dream, and he walked on rapidly in the +direction of the gate of Borgenhout, till he found himself entirely +alone among the fortifications. + +He had no sooner reached this solitary quarter than a terrible conflict +seemed to begin within him; his lips quivered and muttered incoherently, +while his face exhibited a thousand different expressions of suffering, +shame, and hope. After a while he drew forth from his pocket the golden +snuff-box, looked long and sadly on the armorial engravings that adorned +it, and then fell into a reverie, from which he suddenly aroused himself +as if about taking a solemn resolution. With his eyes intently fixed on +the box, he began to obliterate the arms with his knife, as he murmured, +in a voice of tremulous emotion,-- + +"Remembrancer of my dear and excellent mother, protecting talisman that +has so long concealed my misery and which I invoked as a sacred shield +whenever poverty was on the eve of betraying me, last fragment of my +ancestry, I must bid thee farewell; and--alas! alas!--my own hand must +profane and destroy thee! God grant that the last service thou wilt ever +render me may save us from overwhelming humiliation!" + +A tear trickled down his wan cheek as his voice became still; but he +went on with his task of obliteration till every trace of the crest and +shield disappeared from the emblazoned lid. After this he returned to +the heart of the town and passed through a number of small and lonely +streets, glancing eagerly, but askance, at the signs as he passed onward +in his agitation. + +An hour had certainly elapsed in this bootless wandering, when he +entered a narrow lane in the quarter of Saint André and uttered a sudden +cry of joy as he caught a glimpse of the object for which he was in +search. His eye lighted on a sign which bore the simple but ominous +inscription--"SWORN PAWNBROKER." He passed by the door and walked +rapidly to the end of the lane; then, turning hastily, he retraced his +steps, hastening or lingering as he noticed any one passing in his +neighborhood, till at length he crept along the wall to the door, and, +seeing the thoroughfare almost empty, rushed into the house and +disappeared. + +After a considerable time De Vlierbeck came forth from the +money-lender's and quickly gained another street. There was a slight +expression of satisfaction in his eyes; but the bright blush that +suffused his haggard cheeks gave token of the new humiliation through +which the sufferer had passed. Walking rapidly from street to street, he +soon reached a pastry-cook's, where he filled a basket with a stuffed +turkey, a pie, preserves, and various other smaller equipments for the +table, and, paying for his purchases, told the cook that he would send +his servant for the packages. Farther on he bought a couple of silver +spoons and a pair of ear-rings from a jeweller, and then proceeded on +his way, probably to make additional acquisitions for the proposed +entertainment. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +In our wild and thorny region of the North a brave and toilsome +peasantry have long been engaged in victorious conflict with the barren +sleep to which nature seemed to have condemned the soil. They have +stirred up the sterile depths and watered them with their sweat; they +have summoned science and industry to their aid, drained marshes, +diverted the streamlets that descended toward the Meuse from the +highlands and put them in circulation through innumerable arteries to +fatten and enrich the land. What a glorious fight it was of man against +matter! What a magnificent triumph it has been to convert the unthrifty +Campine[A] into a fruitful and luxurious region! Indeed, our descendants +will hardly believe their own eyes when in future times they shall +behold grass-covered plains, flowery meadows, and fields waving with +grain, where the lingering patriarchs of our day may point out the sites +of burning sand-pits and barren moors! + +[Footnote A: The Flemings have given the name of _Campine_ to the vast +uncultivated spaces extending in the north of Belgium from the vicinity +of Antwerp to Venloo. The improvement of the _Campine,_ undertaken on a +large scale within some years, has already produced the happiest +results.] + +North of the city of Antwerp, toward the frontiers of Holland, there are +but few traces of this gradual improvement. It is only along highroads +that the traveller begins to observe the effect of liberal agriculture +on the sandy soil, while, farther on toward the heart of the region, +every thing is still bare and uncultivated. As far as the eye can +penetrate, nothing is to be seen in that quarter but arid plains thinly +covered with stunted vegetation, while the horizon is bounded by that +blue and cloudy line which always marks the limit of a desert. Yet, as +we journey over these vast spaces, it is impossible not to observe, from +time to time, that a clear and slender rivulet meanders here and there +over the moor, and that its verdant banks are studded with vigorous +plants and thrifty trees; while in many places the hardy sons of toil +who took advantage of the neighboring water, have opened their lonely +farms, built comfortable houses, and frequently gathered themselves +together in neat and thrifty villages. + +In one of these spots, where meadow-land and pasturage have made +agriculture profitable, and by the side of an unfrequented road, there +is a farm of considerable size and value. The massive trees which spread +their thick shade on every side attest that the spot has been occupied +and cultivated for several generations. Besides, the ditches which +surround it, and the stone bridge that leads to the principal gate, +justify the belief that the estate has some right to be considered a +lordly demesne. In the neighborhood it is known as GRINSELHOF. The +entire front of the property is covered by the homestead of the farmer, +comprising his stables and granges; so that, in fact, every thing in +their rear is concealed by these edifices as well as by dense thickets +and hedges which are growing in all the wild luxuriance of nature. +Indeed, the dwelling of the proprietor was a mystery even to the farmer +who worked the soil; for its surrounding copses were an impenetrable +veil to his eyes, beyond which neither he nor his family were ever +allowed to pass without special permission. + +Within this lonely and sacred precinct, buried in foliage, was a large +house, called THE CHÂTEAU, inhabited by a gentleman and his daughter, +who, without a single servant, companion, or attendant, led the lonely +lives of hermits. The neighbors said that it was avarice or ill-humor +that induced a person possessed of so beautiful an estate to bury +himself in such a solitude. The farmer who worked on the property +carefully avoided all explanations as to the conduct or purpose of the +proprietor, and sedulously respected the mysterious habits and fancies +of his master. His business prospered; for the soil was fertile and the +rent low. Indeed, he was grateful to his landlord, and, every Sunday, +lent him a horse, which carried him and his daughter, in their +weather-beaten _calèche_, to the village church. On great occasions the +farmer's son performed the duty of lackey for the proprietor. + +It is an afternoon of one of the last days of July. The sun has nearly +finished his daily course, and is declining rapidly toward the horizon; +still, his rays, though less ardent than at noontide, are hot enough to +make the air close and stifling. At Grinselhof the last beams of the +setting luminary play gayly over the foliage, gilding the tree-tops with +sparkling light, while, on the eastern side of the dense foliage, the +long, broad shadows begin to fall athwart the sward, and prepare the +groves for the gentle and refreshing breeze that springs up at twilight. + +Sadness and gloom hang over the sombre château and its grounds; a +deathlike silence weighs like a gravestone on the desolate scene; the +birds are songless; the wind is still; not a leaf stirs; and light alone +seems to be living in that dreary solitude. No one could observe the +entire absence of noise, motion, and vitality, without being impressed +with the idea that nature had been suddenly plunged in a deep and magic +sleep. + +Suddenly the foliage at the end of a thicket in the distance is seen to +stir, while a cloud of twittering birds, frightened from the herbage, +flies rapidly across the little path, which is immediately occupied by a +young female dressed entirely in white, who dashes from between the +branches with a silken net in pursuit of a butterfly. The beautiful +apparition, with loose and streaming hair, seemed rather to fly than +run, as her light and rapid steps, full of eagerness and animation, +scarcely touched the earth while darting after the gaudy insect. How +graceful she is, as, halting for an instant beneath the coquettish moth, +she looks up to behold its gold-and-purple wings dancing round her head, +mocking and playing with its gay pursuer! She thinks she has caught it; +but, alas! the edge of her net only touched the butterfly's wings, and +away it dashes, over hedge and copse, far, far beyond her reach! How +beautiful she is, as, in that golden light, warmed with exercise and +excitement, her eyes glistening, her lips parted, her graceful arms +stretched upward, she stands gazing, half pleased, half disappointed, +after the departing insect, till it is lost in the evening sky! Wind and +sunshine have slightly tanned her delicate cheeks, but their roses are +only heightened into the glow of perfect health. Beneath her high and +polished brow, coal-black eyes shine through long and silken fringes, +while a chiselled mouth discloses rows of faultless pearls between lips +which shame the coral! Her stately head is framed in masses of long, +curling hair; and, as the locks are floated over her ivory shoulders by +rapid motion, the proud and arching lines of her swan-like neck are +fully displayed in all their splendor. Her form is lithe and supple, and +its graceful contour is modestly marked by a snowy dress. As she lifts +her head and gazes at the sky, a poet might easily fancy her to be some +fanciful "being of the air," and convert her into the fairy queen of the +solitary realm! + +For a long while this beautiful woman wandered about the paths of the +lonely garden, seemingly absorbed in reveries of various kinds. At times +she was gay, at times sad. At length she approached a bed of violets, +which, from the training of the plants, had evidently, been carefully +tended, and, observing that they languished under the intense heat of +the past day, began to grieve over them. + +"Alas! my dear little flowers, why did I neglect to water you yesterday? +You are very thirsty, are you not, my charming pets?" + +For a moment or two she was quiet, still gazing at the violets, and +then continued, in the same dreamy tone:-- + +"But then, alas! since yesterday my mind has been so disturbed, so +happy, so--" Her eyes fell, and a blush crimsoned her cheeks, as she +murmured, softly, "GUSTAVE!" + +Motionless as a statue, and absorbed in her enchanting dream, she forgot +the poor little violets, and, probably, the whole world. + +"His image ever, ever before me! his voice ever ringing in my ears! Why +try to escape their fascination? Oh, God! what is this that is passing +within me? My heart trembles; sometimes my blood bounds wildly through +my veins, and then again it creeps and freezes; and yet how happy I am! +what inexpressible joy fills my very soul!" + +She was silent; then, seeming suddenly to rouse herself, she raised her +head and threw back the thick curls, as if anxious to disembarrass her +mind of a haunting thought. + +"Wait, my dear flowers," said she, smiling, to the violets; "wait a +moment: I will comfort and refresh you." + +With this she disappeared in the grove, and, in a short time, brought +from it a few twigs and leaves, which she arranged in a little trellis +over the flower-beds, so as to shadow the violets completely from the +sun. After this she took a small watering-pot and ran across the grass +to a basin or tank in the middle of the garden, around which a number +of weeping-willows drooped their branches into the water. On her arrival +its surface was perfectly smooth; but hardly had her image been +reflected in the tank when it appeared to swarm with living creatures. +Hundreds of gold-fishes, of all colors, swam toward her with their +mouths gaping from the water, as if the poor little animals were trying +to speak to her. Holding on by the trunk of the nearest willow, she bent +gracefully over the pond and tried to fill her watering-pot without +touching the gold-fish. + +"Come, come; let me alone just now," said she, as she carefully avoided +them; "I haven't time to play with you; I will bring you your dinner +after a while." + +But the fish fluttered around the watering-pot until she withdrew it +from the tank; and, even after her departure, continued to crowd toward +the bank she had touched with her foot. + +The young lady watered her flowers and replaced the pot gently on the +ground; then, retiring slowly to the solitary house, she returned after +a while at the same slow pace, and, throwing some crumbs to the fish, +began to saunter slowly about the garden-paths, inattentive to every +thing but her own absorbing thoughts. At length she reached a spot where +a gigantic catalpa-tree overarched the garden and bent its branches +almost to the earth. A table and a couple of chairs stood beneath the +fresh and fragrant shade, and a book, inkstand, and embroidery-frame, +gave token that the retreat had not long been abandoned by the lady +herself. She seated herself in one of the chairs, took up the book, then +the embroidery, let them fall one after another, and finally leaned her +beautiful head on her hand, like one who is weary in spirit and anxious +for rest. + +For a while her large dreamy eyes were vaguely fixed, as if gazing into +space; at intervals a smile played around her mouth, and her lips moved +as if talking with a friend. Occasionally her drooping eyelids closed +entirely; but the lashes quickly reopened, only to fall more heavily +than before, till at last a profound sleep or intense reverie seemed to +get possession of her mind and body. + +But did she sleep? There is no doubt that her spirit watched and was +happy; for a pleasant expression constantly played over her features, +and, if sometimes it became serious, the joyous look quickly returned +with all its radiance. She had long been plunged by this happy dream +into complete forgetfulness of real life, when a noise of wheels and the +neigh of a horse was heard at the gateway, disturbing the silence of +Grinselhof. Still the maiden was not aroused. + +The old _calèche_ returned from the city, drew up near the stable, and +the farmer and his wife ran out to salute their master and put up the +horse. While they were thus engaged, Monsieur De Vlierbeck got out of +the vehicle and spoke to them kindly, but in a voice so full of sadness +that both looked at him with astonishment. In fact, the gravity of this +singular person never abandoned him even in his most affable moods; but +at that moment his physiognomy indicated a degree of intense depression +which was by no means habitual. He seemed altogether worn out with +fatigue, and his eyes, which were commonly so vivacious, drooped, dull +and languishing, beneath their heavy lids. + +The horse was quickly put in the stable, and the young lackey, who had +already divested himself of his livery, took several baskets and packets +from the vehicle, carried them into the farm-house, and placed them on +the table of the antechamber. + +"And now, Master John," said De Vlierbeck, approaching the farmer, "I +shall have need of you. There will be company to-morrow at Grinselhof. +Monsieur Denecker and his nephew dine here." + +The farmer, perfectly stupefied by the announcement and scarcely able to +believe his own ears, looked at his master with staring eyes and gaping +mouth, and, after a moment's hesitation, stammered forth,-- + +"That large, rich gentleman, sir, who sits near you every Sunday at high +mass?" + +"The same, John. Is there any thing surprising in it?" + +"And young Monsieur Gustave, who spoke to _mademoiselle_ in the +churchyard when church was over?" + +"The same!" + +"Oh, sir, they are such rich people! They have bought all the land +around Echelpoel. They have at least ten horses in the stable at their +_château_, without counting those they have in town. Their carriage is +silver from top to bottom." + +"I know it; and it is exactly on that account that I desire to receive +them in a becoming manner. You must be ready; your wife and your son +also. I shall call you to-morrow morning very early. You will willingly +lend a hand to help me, won't you?" + +"Certainly, certainly, sir; a word from you is enough. I am always happy +to be able to serve you in any way." + +"Thank you for your kindness, John. We understand one another, my worthy +fellow; and so farewell till to-morrow." + +Monsieur De Vlierbeck entered the farm-house, gave some orders to the +young man in relation to the things he had taken from the vehicle, and, +passing through the screening grove, walked on to Grinselhof. + +As soon as he was out of the farmer's sight his physiognomy assumed a +more serene expression, and there was a smile on his lips as he cast his +eyes around in search of some one in the solitude of the garden At a +turn of the path his eye fell suddenly on the sleeping girl. How +beautiful she was in her calm repose! The golden twilight covered her +with its bright reflection, and threw a rosy tint on every thing about +her. Thick curls strayed in beautiful disorder over her cheeks, and +snowy flowers, shaken from the catalpa's branches by the evening breeze, +had fallen around her in profusion. She still dreamed, and the happy +smile yet rested on her features. De Vlierbeck gazed earnestly at his +sleeping child, and raised his eyes to heaven as he said, +tremulously,--"Thanks, Almighty Father! she is happy! Let my martyrdom +be prolonged; but may all my sufferings render thee compassionate for +her!" + +After this short and ardent ejaculation he threw himself into a chair, +leaned his arm carefully on the table, and, resting his hand on it, +remained still as a statue. For a long time he watched his sleeping +child, while his face seemed to reflect each emotion that flitted across +the delicate features of the maiden. Suddenly a modest blush overspread +her brow, and her lips began to articulate. The old gentleman watched +her narrowly, and, although she had not spoken in connected sentences, +he caught one of those stray words which often betoken what is passing +in a dreamer's mind. + +"'GUSTAVE!' She dreams of Gustave. May God be propitious to us! Ah, yes, +my child," exclaimed her father, "open thy heart to hope! Dream, dream; +for who knows what is in store for us? Yet, no!--let us not destroy +these happy moments by cold reality! Sleep, sleep! let thy soul enjoy +the heavenly enchantment of love which it is awakening!" + +Monsieur De Vlierbeck continued for a while his quiet observation of the +sleeper, and then, rising, passed behind her chair and imprinted a long +kiss on her forehead. + +Still half-dreaming, the sleeper slowly opened her eyes; and, the moment +she perceived who had awakened her, she sprang into her father's arms +with a bound, and, hanging round his neck, overwhelmed him with +questions and kisses. + +Vlierbeck gently disengaged himself from his daughter's embrace, as he +remarked, in a tone of raillery,-- + +"It seems altogether unnecessary, Lenora, to inquire what new beauties +you have discovered in Vondel's 'Lucifer.' You have not had time, I take +it for granted, to begin the comparison between this masterpiece of our +native tongue and Milton's 'Paradise Lost'?" + +"Ah! father," murmured Lenora, "my mind is indeed strangely troubled. I +do not know what is the matter with me; I cannot even read with +attention." + +"Come, Lenora, my child, don't be sad. Sit down: I have something of +importance to tell you. You do not know why I went to town to-day, do +you? It was because we are to have company to dinner to-morrow!" + +Lenora gazed at her father with an earnest and questioning look. + +"It is Monsieur Denecker," continued he:--"the wealthy merchant, you +know, who sits near me at church and lives at the _château_ of +Echelpoel." + +"Oh, yes! I remember him, father; he always speaks to me so kindly, and +never fails to help me from the carriage when we go to church." + +"But your _eyes_ ask, I see, Lenora, whether he is coming _alone_. +_Another_ person will accompany him, my girl!" + +"_Gustave!"_ exclaimed the maiden, involuntarily and blushing. + +"Exactly! Gustave will be here," replied Monsieur De Vlierbeck. "Don't +tremble on that account, Lenora; and don't become frightened because +your innocent heart may find itself opening to the dawn of new +sensations. Between us, my child, there can be no secret that my love +will not discover." + +His daughter's eyes looked inquiringly into his own, as if asking an +explanation of the enigma. But all of a sudden, as if a ray had darted +unexpectedly into her soul, she threw her arms around the old man's neck +and hid her face in his bosom. + +"Oh, father! beloved father," murmured she, "your kindness is +unbounded!" + +For some moments the old gentleman did not put aside the affectionate +caresses of his child; but by degrees his expression became gloomy; +tears started into his eyes, and he said, in broken tones,-- + +"Lenora, whatever may happen to us in life, thou wilt always love thy +father thus, wilt thou not?" + +"Always, always, father!' + +"Lenora, my child," continued he, with a sigh, "thy tender affection is +my only recompense and happiness here below: never deprive my soul of +its consolation!" + +The sad tone in which these words were uttered touched the maiden's +heart so deeply that she took her father's hands, without saying a +syllable, and wept in silence with her head in his bosom. + +For a long time they remained thus motionless, absorbed by a feeling +which was neither joy nor sorrow but seemed to acquire its power and +mastery by the mingling of these opposite sentiments. + +Monsieur De Vlierbeck's expression was the first to change. His features +became severe as he bent his head downward reproachfully. In truth, the +strange words that started the tears into his daughter's eyes had +excited the reflection in his own mind that another person was, perhaps, +about to share his Lenora's love and probably to separate him from her +forever. He was ready for every sacrifice, were it even infinitely +greater, provided it contributed to the happiness of his child; yet the +very idea of separation caused his heart to bleed at every pore. By +degrees he stifled this selfish anxiety, and, striving to control +himself, raised his daughter with a kiss. + +"Come, Lenora," said he, "be gay again! Isn't it a happy thing that our +hearts can sometimes get into the shade after they have been too much in +the sunshine? Let us go into the house. We have many arrangements to +make in order to receive our guests becomingly." + +Lenora obeyed her father in silence, and followed him slowly, while the +tears still dropped from her beautiful eyes. + +Some hours afterward Monsieur De Vlierbeck might have been seen seated +in the principal saloon of Grinselhof, near a little lamp, with his +elbows on the table. The apartment was dark and dreary, for the feeble +rushlight illuminated but a single spot and cast the distant and lofty +ceiling into vague obscurity. The flickering flame threw long and sombre +shadows over the wall, while a line of old portraits in the panels +seemed to fix their stern and immovable eyes on the table. Amid the +gloom nothing came out with distinctness but the calm and noble face of +the poor old gentleman, who sat there, absorbed in his reflections, +fixed as a statue. + +At length, rising from his chair and cautiously walking on tiptoe to the +end of the room, he stopped and listened at the closed door. "She +sleeps," said he, in a low voice; and, raising his eyes to heaven, +added, with a sigh, "may God protect her rest!" Then, returning to the +table, he took the lamp, and, opening a large safe which was imbedded in +the wall, he went down on his knees and drew forth some napkins and a +table-cloth, which he unfolded carefully to see whether they were torn +or stained. As he refolded the articles one after the other, a smile +betokened that he was pleased with his examination. Rising from this +task, he went back to the table, from the drawer of which he took a +piece of buckskin and whiting. Mashing the latter with a knife-handle, +he began to rub and polish several silver forks and spoons which were in +a basket. The salt-cellars and other small articles of table-service, +which were mostly of the same metal, were all subjected to a similar +process, and soon glittered brightly in the feeble lamplight. + +While he was engaged in this strange work, the soul of the poor old man +was busy with a thousand conflicting thoughts and recollections. He was +constantly muttering to himself; and many a tear escaped from his lids +as he dreamed over the past and repeated the names of the loved and +lost! + +"Poor brother!" ejaculated he; "but one man alone in the world knows +what I have done for thee, and yet that man accuses me of bad faith and +ingratitude! And thou, poor brother, art wandering in the icy solitudes +of America, a prey perhaps to sickness and suffering, while for months +no kindly look is fixed upon thee in that wilderness where thou earnest +thy miserable wages! Son of a noble race! thou hast become a slave to +the stranger, and thy toil serves to amass the fortunes which others are +to enjoy! My love for thee has made me suffer martyrdom; but, as God is +my judge, my affection has remained entire,--untouched! May thy soul, O +brother, feel this aspiration of mine even in the isolation where thou +art suffering; and may the consciousness of my love be a balm for thy +misery!" + +The poor gentleman was absorbed for some time in painful meditation; but +after a while his dream seemed over, and he betook himself again to +work. He placed all the silver utensils side by side on the table, and, +after carefully counting and examining them, resumed his soliloquy:-- + +"Six forks! eight spoons! We shall be four at table: it will be +necessary to be careful; else it will easily be seen something is +wanting. I think, however, it will do. I must give very precise +instructions to John's wife, for she is a clever woman, and knows what +she is about!" + +As be uttered the last words he replaced the silver in the basket and +locked it in the safe; after which he took the lamp, and, leaving the +saloon on tiptoe, descended through a little door into a large vaulted +cellar. Here he hunted about for a considerable time amid stacks of +empty bottles, and at last succeeded in finding what he was in search +of; but his face became extremely pale as he drew three bottles from the +sand. + +"Good heavens! _only three bottles!_" exclaimed he; "three bottles of +_table_-wine! and Monsieur Denecker is such a connoisseur of vintages! +What shall I do if they ask for more when these three bottles are empty? +I have it! I do not drink, and Lenora drinks very little; so there will +be _two_ bottles for Monsieur Denecker and _one_ for his nephew! But, +even at the worst, what is the use of anxiety? Let _luck_ settle it!" + +With this De Vlierbeck went into the corners of the cellar, where he +gathered from the walls a quantity of cobwebs, which he wound +artistically around the bottles and covered with dust and sand. + +On reaching the saloon he went to work with paste and paper to mend some +rents in the tapestry on the wall; and then, after passing nearly half +an hour in brushing his clothes and disguising their threadbare spots +with water and ink, he came back to the table and made preparations for +a task which was still more singular than any he had hitherto been +engaged in. Taking from the drawer a silk thread, an awl, and a bit of +wax, he put his boot on his knees and began to mend the rents in the +leather with the skill of a cobbler! It will readily be supposed that +this odd occupation stirred a variety of emotions in the heart of the +poor gentleman; violent twitches and spasms passed over his face; his +cheeks became red, then deadly pale; till at last, yielding to a +passionate impulse, he cut the silk, threw it on the table, and, with +his hands stretched toward the portraits, cried out, with struggling +passion,-- + +"Yes! behold me,--behold me,--ye whose noble blood runs in my veins! +You, brave captain, who, fighting at the side of Egmont, at St. Quentin, +gave your life for your country,--you, statesman and ambassador, who, +after the battle of Pavia, rendered such eminent services to the Emperor +Charles,--you, benefactor of your race, who endowed so many hospitals +and churches,--you, proud bishop, who, as priest and scholar, defended +so bravely your faith and your God,--behold me, all of you, not only +from that senseless canvas, but from the bosom of God where you are at +rest! He whom you have seen at the wretched task of mending his boots, +and who devotes his life to the concealment of his poverty,--he is your +descendant, your son! If the gaze of his fellow-men tortures him, before +you at least he is not ashamed of debasing toil! glorious ancestry! you +have fought the foes of your native land with sword and pen; but I,--I +have to contend with unmerited shame and mockery, without a hope of +ultimate triumph or glory; my weary soul sinks under its burden, and the +world has nothing in store for me but scorn and contempt! And, yet, have +I ever stained your noble escutcheon? All that I have done is generous +and honest in the sight of God;--nay, the very fountain-head of my wo is +love and compassion! Yes, yes!--fix your glittering eyes on me; +contemplate me in the abyss of poverty where I am fallen! From the +bottom of that pit I lift my brow boldly toward you, and your silent +glance does not force me to grovel in the earth with shame! Here, in the +presence of your noble images, I am alone with my soul, with my +conscience;--hero, no mortification can touch the being who, as +gentleman, Christian, brother, and father, has sacrificed himself to +duty!" + +His voice ceased; and for a few moments he stood still in the midnight +silence, looking at the antique portraits as the last echoes died away +in the lofty apartment, with his arms stretched toward the pictures as +if invoking the beings they represented. + +"Poor, senseless creature," continued he, after a while, clasping his +hands and lifting them anew to heaven, "thy soul seeks deliverance in +dreams! Yes; it is, perhaps, a dream, an illusion! Yet, thanks, thanks +to the Almighty that allows even a dream to fortify me with courage and +endurance! Enough: reality once more stares me in the face; and yet I +defy the mocking spectre which points to ruin and misery!" + +"And then to-morrow,--to-morrow!" continued he; "wilt thou not tremble +beneath the glance of those who seek the secret of thy life? Yes; study +well thy part; have ready thy mask; go on bravely with thy cowardly +farce! And now begone; thy nightly task is done;--beg, beg from sleep +the oblivion of what thou art and of thy threatening future! _Sleep!_ I +tremble at the very thought of it! Father in heaven, have mercy on us!" + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +At daybreak next morning everybody was busy at Grinselhof. John's wife +and her serving-maid scoured the corridor and staircase; the farmer +cleaned his stable; his son weeded the grass from the garden-walks. Very +early in the day Lenora set matters in order in the dining-room and +arranged with artistic taste all the pretty things she could find on the +mantel-piece and tables. There was a degree of life and activity about +Grinselhof that had not been seen in that solitude for many a year, and +everybody went to work with alacrity, as if anxious to dispel the gloom +that hung so long over the lonely dwelling. In the midst of the +industrious crowd Monsieur De Vlierbeck might be seen moving about with +words of encouragement and expressions of satisfaction; nor did he +manifest the slightest symptom of the anxiety that was secretly gnawing +his heart. A pleasant smile flattered his humble dependants, as he gave +them to understand that their labors would be greatly honored by the +approval of his expected guests. + +The farmer and his spouse had never seen De Vlierbeck so pleasant and so +gay; and, as they sincerely loved their master, they were as much +delighted by his joy as if they had been preparing for a village fair in +which they were to take part. They never dreamed of pay for their +generous toil, but derived their most grateful recompense from the +pleasure they imparted to the hermit and his child. + +As soon as the principal preparations were completed, De Vlierbeck +called his daughter and gave the necessary instructions for the dinner. +Lenora was to confine herself to drilling the farmer's wife in serving +the dishes with which she was not familiar. The old cooking-apparatus +was lighted; wood kindled and crackled in the chimney; coals glistened +in the grate; and high above the roof-tree, clouds of smoke betokened +the good cheer that was to adorn the tables. Baskets of game were +opened; stuffed poultry, savory pasties, and choice viands, were brought +forth; dishes of green peas, beans, and other vegetables, appeared; and +the women were speedily in a turmoil of stringing, shelling, cutting, +washing, and stewing. + +Lenora herself did not shun her part in these humble duties, and amused +her companions by the pleasant chat with which she whiled away the +hours. The rustics, who had rarely enjoyed an opportunity of seeing her +so closely or of enjoying a familiar conversation with the beauty, were +of course delighted with her gay and affable manners; nor could they +avoid expressing their pleasure when a few notes of a popular song +happened to drop from Lenora's lips. + +The servant-maid instantly rose, and whispered, loud enough to be heard +by Lenora,-- + +"Oh, pray, do beg _mademoiselle_ to sing a verse or two of that song! I +heard it at a distance the other day; and it was so beautiful that, fool +as I am, I blubbered like a baby for half an hour behind the +rose-bushes. And yet I think it was rather her sweet voice than the +words that made me cry." + +"Oh, yes! do sing it for us; it would give us so much pleasure! Your +voice is like a nightingale's; and I remember too, that my poor +mother--alas! she is long ago in heaven--used to sing me to sleep with +that blessed song. Pray, sing it for us, _mademoiselle_. + +"It's very long,"' said Lenora, smiling. + +"But if you only sing averse or two; it is a holiday with us, you know, +_mademoiselle!_" + +"Well," returned Lenora, musingly, "if it will make you happy why should +I refuse? Listen:-- + + "Beside a deep and rapid stream + A lonely maiden sat; + With sighs her snowy bosom heaved, + And tears bedewed the ground! + + "A noble walked along the bank + And saw her bitter grief; + And, as her tears overflowed his heart, + It melted for the maid!" + + 'Speak, maiden, speak!' the wanderer cried! + 'Why moan you here alone?'-- + 'Ah, sir, an orphan-child am I, + Whom God alone can save! + + 'Ah! seest thou not yon grassy mound + There sleeps my mother dear. + Behold yon rock, above the flood; + There fell my father down! + + 'The whirling torrent bore him on; + He struggled long in vain; + My brother leaped to help his sire, + And both together sank! + + 'And now I fly our silent hut, + Where desolation dwells, + To mourn upon this dreary bank, + And watch the wave and grave!' + + 'No longer grieve,' the stranger said, + 'Thy heart shall ache no more; + A father and a brother too + To thee, poor lonely girl, I'll be!' + + "He took her hand; he led her off; + In garments rich he clad the maid; + Before the altar promised love, + And blessed her life in happy home!"[A] + +[Footnote A: This simple and popular ballad, known in the Campine as +_The Orphan_, is sung by all classes to an air which is full of touching +melody.] + +As Lenora was about beginning the last verse of her song De Vlierbeck +appeared on the sill of the kitchen door, and the peasants instantly +rose in alarm at the freedom with which they were sitting in the +presence of their young mistress, listening to her songs; but the poor +gentleman at once understood the meaning of her action, and with a +gesture of approval signaled them to be quiet. As the last words died on +his ear,--"I'm glad to see you amusing yourselves," said he; "but, now +that the song is ended, I want your services in another quarter, my good +woman." + +Followed by Bess, the farmer's wife, he ascended to the dining-room, +where the table-cloth was already laid and every thing in order for the +reception of the dishes. Bessy's son was already there in livery, with a +napkin over his arm; and De Vlierbeck immediately began to assign them +their several tasks during the service of dinner, and to repeat and +drill them in their tasks till he was perfectly satisfied with their +performances. + +The hour for dinner was at length near at hand. Every thing was ready in +the kitchen, and all were at their posts. Lenora, in full dress and with +a palpitating heart, lingered in her chamber; while her father, with a +book which he appeared to be reading, sat beneath the _catalpa_ in the +garden. + +It was about two o'clock when a splendid equipage, drawn by a pair of +superb English horses, entered the demesne of Grinselhof and drew up in +front of the portal. De Vlierbeck welcomed his guests courteously, and +Monsieur Denecker gave orders to the coachman to return precisely at +five o'clock, as matters of importance required his presence in Antwerp +before nightfall. + +Denecker was a large, stout person, dressed rather extravagantly, but in +a style of studied carelessness which he evidently regarded as stylish. +The expression of his face, it must be owned, was rather vulgar, and +exhibited a compound of cunning and good-nature tempered by +indifference. But Gustave, his nephew, belonged to an entirely different +class of persons. His tall figure was graceful and easy, his countenance +frank and manly, and his whole demeanor denoted refined manners and high +cultivation. Blue eyes and blonde hair imparted a poetic air to his +head; but an energetic glance and lofty brow took from it every +expression of sentimental weakness. + +No sooner had De Vlierbeck presented his guests to Lenora, in the +saloon, than Denecker broke forth in exclamations of undisguised +admiration-- + +"How charming, how beautiful she is! and yet so hidden in this +Grinselhof of yours, Monsieur de Vlierbeck! What a shame, sir! what a +shame!" + +In the mean time Gustave and Lenora had moved off to a short distance +from the old gentlemen, and were busy in a chat of their own, inaudible +to the rest but evidently interesting to themselves, for they were +observed not only to blush but tremble. Denecker, in fact, could not +help observing the young people's emotion; and, as De Vlierbeck passed +down the saloon with him, remarked that the young beauty was evidently +turning his nephew's head. "He talks of her constantly," said he, "and I +don't know what may come of it; but I give you fair warning, Monsieur De +Vlierbeck, if you are unwilling to see something more than compliments +between these children you had better take time by the forelock. It will +soon be too late to reason with them; for my nephew, with all his calm +gentleness, is not the man to retreat before difficulties." + +De Vlierbeck was secretly delighted by the merchant's counsels, but was +too wise to display anxiety. + +"You are joking, Monsieur Denecker," said he: "I can't think there is a +particle of danger. They are both young, and there is nothing surprising +in mutual attraction under such circumstances. There can hardly be any +thing serious in their intercourse. But, come," added he, aloud; "I +perceive that dinner is served; and so let us adjourn to the table!" +Gustave led in the blushing girl, and the elders followed admiringly in +their rear, while the merchant shook his finger coquettishly at his +gallant nephew. De Vlierbeck placed Monsieur Denecker opposite him at +table, and made Gustave the _vis-à-vis_ of Lenora. + +Bess brought in the dishes, while her son waited on the guests. The +viands were prepared with considerable skill, and Denecker took frequent +occasion to express his satisfaction with their exquisite flavor. In +truth, he was rather surprised at the sumptuousness of the repast; for +he had been prepared to expect lenten fare in a household which was +renowned throughout the neighborhood for its austere economy. + +In a short time the conversation became general; and Lenora astonished +Monsieur Denecker by the extent of her information and the admirable +style in which she expressed herself and did the honors of the table. +But, notwithstanding her ease and freedom while conversing with the +uncle, an observer could not help detecting that she was shy, if not +absolutely embarrassed, when obliged to reply to some casual remark of +the nephew. Nor was Gustave more at ease than the maiden. In fact, they +were both happy at heart because fate had thrown them together; but they +would have been quite willing to enjoy that delicious silence which in +love is often more eloquent than in language. + +In the mean while De Vlierbeck rattled away, with the ease of a man of +the world, on all subjects that might interest his guests; yet he +listened, with equal good manners, to Denecker's conversation, and now +and then adroitly threw in such hints as allowed him to speak learnedly +upon commercial matters. The merchant was gratified by his deferential +civility, and was drawn toward his entertainer by a stronger bond than +that of mere social politeness. + +Indeed, all went on swimmingly, and all were pleased with themselves. +De Vlierbeck was especially gratified to find that Bess and her boy +performed their tasks so well, and that the spoons and plates were so +quickly washed and brought back that it was impossible to notice the +deficiency of their number. One thing alone began to worry him. He saw +with pain that while Denecker was busy with his food and chat he was +equally busy with the wine, and that glass after glass disappeared with +more rapidity than was agreeable to his supply. Besides this, Gustave, +who was probably anxious for some excuse to have a word with Lenora upon +any pretext, constantly asked permission to fill her glass; so that, +very soon after the soup and meat had been disposed of, the first bottle +was entirely emptied. + +Civility required that it should be immediately replaced; and, as De +Vlierbeck observed that the more Monsieur Denecker talked the more he +drank, he thought he might try whether less conversation would not +moderate the merchant's thirst. But, alas! he was disappointed; for at +that moment Denecker introduced the topic of wine, and, lauding the +generous juice of the grape, expressed surprise at the extraordinary +sobriety of his host. With this he redoubled his attack on the bottle, +and was in some degree, though less vigorously, seconded by Gustave. De +Vlierbeck's agony became more and more intense as he saw the rosy fluid +sink and sink in the second bottle, until at length the last drop was +drained into the merchant's glass. + +"Yes," said Denecker, "your wine is both old and good; but I have +always found, in tasting liquors, that if we don't change them we lose +their flavor. I take it for granted that you have a first-rate cellar, +if I may judge by your first samples; so I propose that we now try a +bottle of your _Château-margaux_; and, if we have time, we can finish +with a bottle of _hochheimer_. I never drink _champagne_: it is a bad +liquor for wine-drinkers." + +As the last words fell from Denecker, poor De Vlierbeck grew deadly +pale, as his frightened spirit went rummaging through the cracks and +crannies of his brain for some inspiration or expedient which might +extricate him from his deep perplexity. + +"_Château-margaux?_" inquired he, with a calm smile. "Certainly, sir, if +you wish it." And then, turning to the lackey,--"John," said he, "bring +a bottle of _Château-margaux_: you will find it in the third cellar on +the left-hand side." + +But the rustic stared at his master with gaping mouth, as if he had been +addressed in one of the dead languages. Seeing the predicament, and +mastering it rapidly,-- + +"Excuse me," said De Vlierbeck, rising; "he would not find it, I fear. I +will be back in a moment." + +Rushing into the kitchen, he seized the third and last bottle and +descended to the cellar, where he stopped to draw breath and compose +himself. + +"_Château-margaux! hochheimer! champagne!"_ exclaimed poor De +Vlierbeck, "and not another drop of wine in my house but what is in this +last bottle of claret! What _shall_ I do? what _can_ I do?" continued +he, as he held the cobwebbed bottle in one hand and stroked his chin +with the other. "But no matter: there's no time for reflection: the die +is cast, and may God help me in my need!" + +He ascended the stair, entered the dining-room with the corkscrew in the +last cork, and found that during his absence Lenora had ordered fresh +glasses on the table. + +"This wine," said De Vlierbeck, holding the bottle knowingly to the +light, "is at least twenty years old, Monsieur Denecker, and I sincerely +hope it will please your palate." So saying, he filled the glasses of +uncle and nephew, and gazed anxiously in their faces for the verdict. + +Denecker tasted the wine, drop by drop, like an epicure, and, shaking +his head disappointedly,-- + +"There's a mistake, doubtless," said he; "for it's the identical wine we +had before." + +De Vlierbeck feigned surprise admirably, tasted the wine in turn, and +replied,-- + +"I _believe_ you are right, and that I _have_ made a mistake; yet, as +the bottle is opened and not bad, suppose we drink it before I make +another descent to the cellar' There's abundance of time." + +"I've no objection," answered the merchant, "provided you help us, so as +to get through it the quicker." And so the column in the third and last +bottle diminished more rapidly than its predecessors, till two or three +glasses alone remained at the bottom to crown the festival. + +Poor De Vlierbeck could no longer conceal his agitation. He tried to +keep his eyes off the fatal bottle; but a sort of fascination drew him +back to it, and each time with increased anxiety. That dreadful word +'_Château-margaux_' rang in his ears. His face blushed and grew pale, +and a cold, clammy sweat stood in big beads on his forehead. Yet he felt +that he had not entirely exhausted his resources, and resolved to fight +the battle of humiliation to the end. He wiped his brow and cheeks, +coughed, and turned aside as if about to sneeze. By dint of these +manoeuvres he continued to conceal his nervousness till Denecker grasped +the bottle to pour out its last drop. As he clasped the neck, a chill +seized the hysterical frame of the poor gentleman, a deadly paleness +overspread his features, and his head fell with a groan against the tall +back of the chair. Was it in truth a fainting-fit, or did the sufferer +take advantage of his emotion to play a part and escape the +embarrassment of his situation? + +In a moment the whole party were on their feet, while Lenora screamed +and ran to her father. + +"It's nothing," said De Vlierbeck, striving, after a minute or two, to +rally himself. "I am faint; the confined air of this room overcame me. +Let me walk a while in the garden and I will soon be better." + +As he said this he staggered to his feet, and, supported by Lenora and +Gustave, moved toward the garden, followed by Denecker with an +expression of the deepest concern. A short rest in the open air beneath +the shade of a noble chestnut-tree quickly restored a faint color to De +Vlierbeck's cheek and enabled him to tranquillize their anxiety about +his sudden attack. + +"I will rest here a while out of doors," said he, "for fear the fit +might return; and perhaps a slow walk in the garden might hasten my +recovery." + +"It will do both of us good," answered Denecker; "and, besides, as I +have to quit you at five o'clock, I don't want to leave Grinselhof +without seeing its garden. Let us take a turn through your walks, and +afterward we shall have time enough to finish another bottle." + +As he said this he passed Lenora's arm within his own, and, casting a +coquettish glance at Gustave, began their promenade. By degrees De +Vlierbeck rallied sufficiently to take part in the chat; and gardening, +agriculture, sporting, and a hundred different country topics, were +fully discussed. Lenora recovered her spirits and charmed their +commercial guest by the mingled charms of her intellectual cleverness +and innocent gayety. Wild as a deer, she dared him to run a race with +her, and danced along the paths by his side full of mirth and +sportiveness. In truth, Denecker was altogether captivated by the +ingenuous girl, and, as he looked on her radiant face, could not help +thinking that the future had some happy days in store for his gallant +nephew. After a while Lenora strayed off in advance with Gustave, while +the two elders lingered lazily along the path. Gustave was charmed with +the flowers, the plants, the gold-fish, which Lenora pointed out to him; +nor was he at all desirous to shorten their delicious flirtation by +returning to the table. This chimed precisely with the anxiety of De +Vlierbeck, who employed every stratagem he could conceive to keep his +guest in the open air. He told stories, repeated jokes, appealed to +Denecker's commercial knowledge, and even quizzed him a little when he +found their conversation beginning to flag. In fact, he was rejoicing +that five o'clock, and, of course, the carriage, were rapidly +approaching, when Denecker suddenly recalled his nephew from a distant +quarter of the garden where he was strolling with Lenora. + +"Come, Gustave; come," said he; "if you wish to drink a parting glass +with us let us get in, for the coach will be here in a moment." + +De Vlierbeck instantly became pale as a sheet, and, trembling from head +to foot, stared silently at Denecker, who could no longer restrain his +surprise at these exhibitions. + +"Are you ill, sir?" said he. + +"My stomach is a singular one, Monsieur Denecker, and I suffer spasms if +you even mention _wine!_ It is a strange malady; but--Oh, I hear your +coach, Monsieur Denecker; and there it is, drawing up, I see, at the +gateway." + +Of course Denecker spoke no more of wine; but, as he could not help +noticing the alacrity with which De Vlierbeck hailed the prospect of his +departure, he would have been deeply mortified, if not offended, had not +the previous hospitality of his host satisfied him of their welcome. He +thought, perhaps, that he ought to attribute his entertainer's conduct +to some singular nervous disease which he masked under an antipathy for +wine; and accordingly he took leave with a warm and friendly farewell. + +"I have passed a delightful afternoon with you, Monsieur De Vlierbeck," +said he. "We have found ourselves, I am sure, extremely happy in your +and your daughter's charming society. It is a pleasure added to my life +to have made your acquaintance; and I hope that further intimacy may +assure me your friendship. In the mean while, let me thank you from the +bottom of my heart for your kind reception." + +As he finished the sentence, Lenora and Gustave joined them. + +"My nephew," continued Denecker, "will confess, as I have done, that he +has spent few happier hours than those that are just gone. I hope, +Monsieur de Vlierbeck, that you and your charming daughter will return +our visit and dine with us. Yet I shall have to ask your pardon for +postponing the pleasure it will afford us till I return from Frankfort, +where I am summoned, the day after to-morrow, on urgent business. It is +probable I may be detained away a couple of months; but if my nephew +should be allowed to visit you in my absence let me hope he will be +welcome." + +De Vlierbeck reiterated his professions of delight at the new +acquaintance; Lenora was silent; and Denecker moved off toward the +coach. + +"But the parting glass, uncle!" exclaimed Gustave. "Let us go in for a +moment and drink it." + +"No, no," said Denecker, interrupting him tartly. "I believe we would +never get hence at all if we listened to you. It is time to be off, and +I can delay no longer. Adieu!" + +Gustave and Lenora exchanged a long and anxious look, full of regret at +separation and of hope for speedy reunion. In a moment the uncle and +nephew were in the vehicle and the spirited horses in motion; but, as +long as the group was in sight at the gate, a couple of white-gloved +hands might have been seen waving farewells from the coach-window. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +A few days after the departure of his uncle, Gustave paid a visit to +Grinselhof. He was received by Monsieur De Vlierbeck and his daughter +with their usual kindness, passed the greater part of an afternoon with +them, and went home at nightfall to the _château_ of Echelpoel full of +delightful recollections and hopes. Either from a fear of disturbing the +reserved habits of the old gentleman, or from a sense of politeness, +Gustave did not at first repeat his visits too frequently; but after a +couple of weeks the extreme cordiality of Vlierbeck dispelled all his +scruples. The ardent youth no longer resisted an impulse that drew him +toward the bewitching girl, nor did he allow a single day to roll by +without passing the afternoon at Grinselhof. The happy hours flew +rapidly on the wings of love. He strolled with Lenora through the shady +walks of the old garden, listened to her father's observations on +science and art, drank in the delicious notes of his loved one's voice +as it was breathed forth in song, or, seated beneath the flowery and +spreading catalpa, dreamed the dream of happiness that was in store for +him with her who was probably soon to become his betrothed. + +If the noble and beautiful face of the maiden had won his eye and +enlisted his feelings the moment he first beheld her in the village +churchyard, _now_, that he had become familiar with her character, his +love grew so ardently absorbing that the world seemed sad and dead if +she were not present to shed the light of her joyous spirit upon every +thing around him. Neither religion nor poetry could conjure up an angel +more fascinating than his beloved. Indeed, though God had endowed her +person with all those feminine graces that adorned the first woman in +Paradise, he had also lavished on her a heart whose crystalline purity +was never clouded, and whose generosity burst forth with every emotion +like a limpid spring. + +But in all his interviews, Gustave had never yet been alone with Lenora. +When he visited her she never left the apartment where she commonly sat +with her father, unless the old gentleman expressed a wish that they +should unite in a walk through the garden; and, of course, he had never +enjoyed an opportunity to breathe the love that was rising to his lips. +Still, he felt that it was altogether useless to express by words what +was passing in their hearts; for the kindness, the respect, the +affection, that shone in everybody's eyes, betokened the feeling which +united them in a mingled sentiment of attachment and hope. + +Though Gustave entertained profound veneration for Lenora's father and +really loved him as a son, there was something which at times came like +a cloud betwixt himself and the old gentleman. What he heard outside of +Grinselhof of De Vlierbeck's extraordinary avarice had been fully +realized since he became intimate at the house. No one ever offered him +a glass of wine or beer; he never received an invitation to dinner or +supper; and he frequently observed the trouble that was taken by the +master of the house to disguise his inhospitable economy. + +Avarice is a passion which excites no other emotion than that of +aversion or contempt, because it is natural to believe that when so +degrading a vice takes possession of one's soul it destroys every spark +of generosity and fills it with meanness. Accordingly, Gustave had a +long and fearful conflict with himself in order to subdue this +instinctive feeling and to convince his judgment that De Vlierbeck's +conduct was only a caprice which did not detract from the native dignity +of his character. And yet, had the young man known the truth, he would +have seen that a pang was hidden beneath every smile that flitted over +the old man's face, and that the nervous shudders which at times shook +his frame were the results of a suppressed agony that almost destroyed +him. As he gazed on the happy face of Lenora and steeped his soul in the +intoxication of her love, he never dreamed that her father's life was a +prolonged punishment; that, day and night, a terrible future opened its +vista before him; and that each moment of his existence brought him +nearer and nearer to a dreadful catastrophe. He had not heard the +inexorable sentence of the notary:--"Four months more and your bond +expires, when all you possess in this world will be sold by the officers +of justice to satisfy your creditors!" + +Two of those fatal months had already expired! + +If Monsieur De Vlierbeck appeared to encourage the young man's love, it +was not alone in consequence of his sympathy with his feelings. No: the +_dénouement_ of his painful trial was to be developed within a defined +period; and, if it proved inauspicious, there was nothing but dishonor +and moral death for himself and child! Destiny was about to decide +forever whether he was to come out victorious from this ten years' +conflict with poverty, or whether he was to fall into the abyss of +public contempt! These were the feelings that induced him to conceal his +true position more carefully than ever, and, while he watched over the +lovers like a guardian spirit, made him do nothing to check the rapid +progress of their passion. + +As the time of his uncle's return approached, the two months seemed to +Gustave to have flown by like a pleasant dream; and, although he felt +sure that his relative would not oppose the union, he foresaw that he +would not be allowed hereafter to spend so much of his time away from +business. Indeed, the very idea that he might be obliged to pass +considerable periods without seeing Lenora made him look for his +uncle's return with any thing but delight. + +One day he contrived to whisper his fears and anticipations to Lenora, +and, for the first time since their acquaintance, saw tears gathering in +her eyes. The girl's emotion touched his heart so sensibly that he +ventured timidly to take her hand, and held it in his for a long time +without uttering a word. De Vlierbeck, who had overheard the remark, +tried to comfort him, but his words did not seem to produce the desired +effect; and, after a short time, Gustave rose abruptly and took leave, +though his usual time of departure had not yet arrived. Lenora read in +his expression that some sudden revolution had occurred in her lover's +mind, for his eyes glistened with extraordinary animation. She strove +eagerly to retain him by her side; but he resisted her appeal +pleasantly, and declared that nothing should unveil his secret till the +following day, when he would return to Grinselhof. De Vlierbeck, +however, was more familiar with the world than his daughter; and, +imagining that lie had penetrated the mystery of Gustave's conduct, many +a pleasant dream hovered that night around his pillow. + +As the usual hour of Gustave's visit approached next day, De Vlierbeck's +heart beat high with hope; and when the visitor appeared, clad with +unusual neatness and care, the old gentleman welcomed him with more than +ordinary warmth. After the compliments of the day had been paid to his +ladylove, Gustave expressed a desire for a few moments' conversation +with her father, who led him into an adjoining cabinet and seated +himself by his side. + +"What is it you wish of me, my young friend?" said he, kindly. + +Gustave was silent for a moment, as if endeavoring to rally his ideas, +and then spoke out in a manly way:-- + +"I am about, my dear sir, to speak to you in regard to a matter that +concerns my happiness; and, no matter what may be your decision, I am +sure, from your kindness upon all occasions, that you will pardon my +boldness. I can hardly imagine that the feeling--the irresistible +feeling--I have entertained for Lenora from the first moment I saw her, +has escaped your penetrating eye. I ought probably to have asked your +consent long ago, before she obtained so complete a dominion over my +heart; but I have always secretly encouraged the belief that you read my +soul and wore not displeased with my motives." + +Gustave was silent, awaiting the hoped-for words of encouragement; but +De Vlierbeck only looked at him with a gentle smile, and gave no other +indication of his pleasure. A motion of the hand, as if he wished the +lover to go on with his conversation, was the only sign he made in +reply, + +Gustave's resolution began to ebb at this discouraging by-play; but, +summoning all his energy for another attack, he continued:-- + +"Yes, sir, I have loved Lenora from my first sight of her; but what was +then a spark is now a flame. Don't think it is her loveliness alone that +bewitched me. She might indeed enchant the most insensible of mankind; +but I found a far more glorious treasure in the angelic heart of your +daughter. Her virtue, the immaculate purity of her soul, her gentle and +magnanimous sentiments,--in a word, the prodigal gifts of mind and body +which God has lavished on her,--have increased my admiration to love, my +love to absolute idolatry! How dare I conceal my emotion from you any +longer? I cannot live without Lenora; the very thought of even a short +temporary separation from her overwhelms me with despair. I long to be +with her every day, every hour; I long to hear her voice and read my +happiness in her eloquent eyes! I know not what may be your decision; +but, believe me, if it shall be adverse to my hopes, I shall not long +survive the blow. If your decree separate, me from my beloved Lenora, +life will no longer have a charm for me!" + +Gustave uttered his romantic rhapsody--the rhapsody of most lovers--with +that genuine emotion which bespoke his sincerity, and touched the heart +of De Vlierbeck so deeply that he grasped his hand and implored him to +be calm. + +"Don't tremble so, my young friend," said the old gentleman. "I know +very well that you love Lenora, and that she is not insensible to your +affection for her. But what have you to propose to me?" + +Gustave replied, dejectedly,--"If I still doubt your approval, after all +the marks of esteem you have given me, it is because I fear you do not +consider me worthy the happiness I have sought. I have no ancestral tree +whose roots are buried in the past; the good deeds of my forefathers do +not shine in history; the blood that runs in my veins comes from a +common stock." + +"Do you think," said De Vlierbeck, interrupting him, "that I was +ignorant of all this from the first day of our acquaintance? No Gustave; +no matter what your lineage may be, your own heart is generous and +noble; and, had it not been so, I would never have esteemed and treated +you as my son." + +"And so," exclaimed Gustave, catching at the last words with a burst of +joyous impatience, "you don't refuse me Lenora's hand?--you will +interpose no objection, provided my uncle gives his consent?" + +"No," replied De Vlierbeck; "I shall not refuse it to you. On the +contrary, it will give me unbounded happiness to intrust the fate of my +only child to your keeping. And yet there is an obstacle of which you +have no idea." + +"An obstacle!" exclaimed Gustave, growing pale;--"an obstacle between +Lenora and me?" + +"Be silent a moment," said De Vlierbeck, "and listen to the explanation +I shall give you. You think, Gustave, I suppose, that Grinselhof and +all its dependencies belong to us? It is not so: we are penniless. We +are poorer far than the peasant who rents our farming-land and lives +yonder at the gate!" + +Gustave looked doubtingly at De Vlierbeck, with so incredulous a smile +that the poor gentleman blushed, and trembled like an aspen. + +"I see you do not believe me," continued he; "I see it in your smile and +look. Like the rest of them, you think me a miser, hiding my wealth and +starving my child and myself to amass riches,--a wretch who sacrifices +every thing for money,--a vagabond whom all ought to fear and despise!" + +"Oh, pardon me, pardon me, sir!" interrupted Gustave, moved by the +excitement of the old man "I think nothing of the kind! My veneration +for you is unbounded!" + +"Nay, don't be frightened at my words, young man," continued De +Vlierbeck, in a calmer tone. "I make no accusations against you, +Gustave. I only saw in your incredulous smile that I had succeeded in +masking my poverty even from you, and in making you suppose that my +economy was avarice. But it is needless for me to give you any further +explanation just now. Let it suffice you to know that what I say is +strictly, honestly true. I possess nothing,--nothing!" + +"And now," added he, after a moment's silence on both sides, "let me +give you a piece of advice. Go home to-day without seeing Lenora; +examine your soul calmly, and see whether there are no secret emotions +that may make you change your present views; let a night pass, and if, +to-morrow, Lenora, poor as you now know her to be, is still dear to +you,--if you still think you can be happy with her and can make her +happy,--seek your uncle and ask his consent. Here is my hand: if the day +shall ever come when I can offer it as a father's, it will be the +happiest of my life!" + +Although the revelation made by Monsieur De Vlierbeck was astonishing to +Gustave, the solemn tone in which he announced it convinced the lover of +its truth. He was silent for a moment; but soon a spark of enthusiasm +began to glisten in his eye and light up his face, as he exclaimed,-- + +"How can you ask me if I shall continue to love Lenora now that I know +her to be poor? It will be happiness enough for me to receive her as a +wife, to be bound to her by the eternal bonds of love, to be forever +within her reach, and to receive my happiness from her look and voice! +What delight it will be for me to protect her and know that I have the +privilege of working for her! Palace or hovel; riches or poverty, all +are equally indifferent to me, provided her presence animates the spot! +A night's reflection, Monsieur De Vlierbeck, cannot change my +resolution. Grant me Lenora's hand, and I will thank you on my knees for +the priceless gift!" + +"And suppose I do," replied the old gentleman; "generosity and +constancy are natural to the ardent character of youth:--but your +uncle?" + +"My uncle!" murmured Gustave, with evident grief; "that is true; I need +his consent. All I possess or ever shall possess in the world depends on +his affection for me. I am the orphan son of his brother. He adopted me +as his child and has overwhelmed me with kindness. He has the right to +decide my lot in life, and I must obey him." + +"And do you think that he, a merchant, who probably places a very high +value on money, because experience has taught him its value, will say, +like you, 'Palace or hovel, poverty or wealth, it makes no difference'?" + +"Alas! I know not, Monsieur De Vlierbeck," said Gustave, droopingly. +"But my uncle is so good to me--so extraordinarily good--that I may +rightly hope for his consent. He will return to-morrow. When I embrace +him I will declare all my wishes. I will say my comfort, my happiness, +my life, depend on his consent. I know that he loves Lenora sincerely; +for, before his departure, he even seemed to encourage my pretensions to +her hand. Your disclosures will undoubtedly surprise him; but my prayers +will conquer: believe it!" + +Monsieur De Vlierbeck rose, to put an end to the conversation. + +"Well, ask your uncle's consent," said he; "and, if your hopes are +realized, let him come here and consult about the marriage. Whatever +may be the issue of this affair, Gustave, you at least have always +behaved toward us with the delicacy of a generous youth. My esteem and +friendship shall always be yours. Go now; quit Grinselhof this time +without seeing Lenora, for you ought not to meet her until this affair +is settled. I will tell her myself whatever I think proper for her to +know." + +Half pleased, half sad,--his heart divided between joy and +anxiety,--Gustave bade farewell to Lenora's father and returned to +Echelpoel. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +On the afternoon of the following day Monsieur De Vlierbeck was seated +in his parlor, his head resting on his hand. He seemed plunged in +profound thought, for his eyes were fixed on vacancy and his face +exhibited by turns contentment and hope, inquietude and anxiety. + +Occasionally Lenora came into the apartment, and, seeming unusually +restless, wandered about from spot to spot, arranging and rearranging +the little fancy articles upon the tables, looking out of the window +into the garden, and at last running down-stairs suddenly as if she were +pursued. No one who saw her could doubt that she was nervously anxious +about something; yet her expression was one of joy and hope. Had she +been able to penetrate her father's mind and behold the various emotions +that excited it, she would not perhaps have been so gay and blithesome; +but poor De Vlierbeck restrained himself with his habitual care in her +presence, and smiled at her impatience as if he too were confident of +approaching happiness. + +At length, tired of running about, Lenora seated herself by her father +and fixed her clear and questioning gaze on his face. + +"Don't be so excited, my good child," said he. "We shall know nothing +to-day; but we may, perhaps, to-morrow. Moderate your joy, my daughter; +if it please Heaven to decide against your hope in this matter your +grief will be more easily conquered." + +"Oh, no, father!" stammered Lenora; "God will grant my prayer; I feel it +in my heart. Don't be astonished, father, that I am full of joy, for I +think I see Gustave speaking to his uncle. I hear what he says, and +Monsieur Denecker's replies; I see him embrace Gustave and give his +consent! Who can doubt, father, that I ought to hope, when I know that +Monsieur Denecker loved me and was always kind?" + +"Would you be very happy, Lenora," asked De Vlierbeck, with a smile, "if +Gustave were betrothed to you?" + +"Never to leave him!" cried Lenora,--"to love him,--to be the happiness +of his life, his consolation, his joy,--to enliven the solitude of +Grinselhof by our love!--ah! that, father, would be delight indeed; for +then there would be two of us to contribute to the pleasures of your +life! Gustave would have more skill than I to chase away the grief that +sometimes clouds your brow; you could walk, talk, or hunt with him; he +would venerate and love you as a son and watch you with the tenderest +care; his only thought on earth would be to make you happy, because he +knows that your happiness is mine; and I--I, father, will recompense him +for his devotion by the gratitude of my heart, and love. Oh, yes, dear +father! we shall live together in a paradise of contentment!" + +"Ingenuous girl!" exclaimed De Vlierbeck, with a sigh; "may the Lord +hear your prayer! But the world, my child, is governed by laws and +customs of which you are altogether ignorant. A wife must follow her +husband wherever he goes. If Gustave shall select another residence you +must follow him and console yourself gradually at the separation from +your father. Under other circumstances, parting might be painful; but +solitude will not sadden me if I know you are happy, my child." + +The startled maiden looked at her father with surprise as he uttered +these words; and, as he finished, her head fell heavily on her breast +and tears streamed silently from her eyes. Monsieur De Vlierbeck took +her hand tenderly as he said, in faltering words,-- + +"I feared, Lenora, that I would make you sad; but you must become +accustomed to the idea of our separation." + +Lenora raised her head quickly as she replied, in a firm and resolute +manner, "What! could Gustave ever dream of our separation? To leave you +at Grinselhof passing your days in seclusion while I and my husband were +in the world in the midst of festivity? I should not have an instant's +rest, wherever I might be; conscience would cry aloud in my heart, +'Ungrateful and insensible child, thy father is abandoned to suffering +and solitude!' Yes, I love Gustave; he is dearer to me than life itself, +and I receive his hand as a blessing from God; but if he should say to +me, 'Abandon your father!'--if he left me no choice except you or +him,--I would close my eyes and reject him! I should be sad; I should +suffer; perhaps even I should die; but, father dear, I would die in your +arms!" + +She bent down her head for a moment as if oppressed by a dreadful +thought; but, raising her large eyes, liquid with tears, she fixed them +on her father, as she added,-- + +"You doubt Gustave's affection for you; you imagine him capable of +filling your life with sorrow,--of separating me from you! Oh, father, +you do not know him; you do not know how much he respects and loves you; +you do not comprehend the warmth of his generous and loving heart!" + +De Vlierbeck bent over his child and impressed a kiss on her forehead, +as he was about to utter some words of consolation, when suddenly Lenora +sprang from his arms and pointed eagerly to the window, as if listening +to approaching sounds. + +The noise of wheels and the clatter of horses on the road soon gave +Monsieur De Vlierbeck to understand why his daughter had been so +startled. His face assumed a more animated expression, and, descending +hurriedly, he reached the door as Monsieur Denecker alighted from his +coach. + +The merchant seemed in exceedingly good humor; he grasped De Vlierbeck's +hand, expressing his delight at seeing him once more. "How goes it with +you, my old friend? It seems that rogue, my nephew, has taken advantage +of my absence." And, although De Vlierbeck ushered him into the saloon +with all the formality imaginable, Denecker slapped him familiarly on +the shoulder, and continued,-- + +"Well! well! we were good friends from the beginning; and now I +understand we are to be regular gossips:--at least I hope so. That scamp +hasn't bad taste, I must confess. He would have to make a long search +before he found a handsomer or more amiable woman than Lenora. Look you, +Monsieur De Vlierbeck, we must have a wedding frolic that people will +talk of twenty years hence!" + +By this time they had got into the saloon and taken their seats; but De +Vlierbeck, nervous as he was, had considerable doubt as to the tone of +Denecker's remarks, and whether he was jesting or serious. + +"It seems," continued Denecker, assuming a graver tone, "that Gustave is +madly impatient for this union, and begs me to hasten it. I have taken +compassion on the young fellow and left all the business of our house +topsy-turvy to-day to arrange matters with you. He tells me you have +given your consent. That was kind of you, sir. I thought a great deal of +this affair during my journey, for I had observed that Cupid's arrows +had gone clean through and through the boy; yet I had fears about your +consent. Inequality of blood, old-fashioned ideas, might perhaps +interfere." + +"And so Gustave told you that I consented to his marriage with Lenora?" +said the old gentleman, paying no attention to Monsieur Denecker's +remarks. + +"Did he deceive me, sir?" said Denecker, with surprise. + +"No; but did he communicate something else to you, which ought to strike +you as of equal importance?" + +Denecker threw back his head with a laugh, as he replied,-- + +"What nonsense you made him believe! But, between us two, that passes +for nothing. He tells me that Grinselhof don't belong to you and that +you are _poor_! I hope, Monsieur De Vlierbeck, you have too good an +opinion of my sense to imagine I have the least faith in such a story?" + +A shudder passed over the poor gentleman's frame. Denecker's +good-humored familiarity had made him believe that he knew and credited +all, and nevertheless responded to his nephew's hopes; but the last +words he heard taught him that he must again go over the sad recital of +his misfortunes. + +"Monsieur Denecker," said he, "do not entertain the least doubt, I beg +you, in regard to what I am about to say. I am willing instantly to +consent that my daughter shall become your nephew's wife; but I solemnly +declare that I am poor,--frightfully poor!" + +"Come, come!" cried the merchant; "we knew long, long ago that you were +mightily fond of your money; but when you marry your _only_ child you +must open your heart and your purse, my dear sir, and portion her +according to your means. They say--pardon me for repeating it--that you +are _a miser_; but what a shame it would be to let your only daughter +leave your house unprovided for!" + +Poor De Vlierbeck writhed on his chair as Denecker poured forth his +incredulous jokes. "For God's sake, sir," cried he, "spare me these +bitter remarks. I declare, on the word of a gentleman, that I possess +_nothing_ in the world!" + +"Well!" cried the merchant, taking no heed of his remarks, and with a +mocking smile, "come; let us cipher the matter out on the table. You +suppose, perhaps, that I have come here to ask some great sacrifice of +you: but no, De Vlierbeck, thank God, I have no occasion to be so close +in my calculations. Yet a marriage is a thing to which there are always +two parties, and it is just that each should bring something into the +common stock." + +"Oh, God! oh, God!" muttered the poor gentleman, as he clenched his +hands convulsively. + +"I propose to give my nephew one hundred thousand francs," continued +Denecker; "and if he wants to continue in business my credit will be +worth as much more to him. I have no wish that Lenora's portion shall +equal his. Your high birth, and especially your character, will make up +what is wanting in her fortune; but what say you to the half,--fifty +thousand francs? You will consent to that, or I am much mistaken. What +say you? Is it a bargain?" + +Pale and trembling, De Vlierbeck sat riveted to his chair; but at last, +in a low, melancholy voice,-- + +"Monsieur Denecker," said he, "this conversation kills me. I beg you to +stop this infliction. I repeat that I possess _nothing_; and, since you +force me to speak before you apprize me of your own intentions, know +that Grinselhof and its dependencies are mortgaged beyond their value! +It is useless to inform you of the origin of these debts. Let it suffice +to repeat that I tell the truth; and I beg you, without going further, +now that you are informed of the state of my affairs, to declare frankly +what are your designs as to your nephew's marriage." + +Although this declaration was made with that feverish energy which ought +to have satisfied Denecker of its truth, it nevertheless failed to +convince him. A degree of surprise displayed itself on the merchant's +face; but he continued his observations in the same incredulous tone:-- + +"Pardon me, De Vlierbeck, but it is impossible to believe you. I did not +think you were so hard in a bargain. Yet be it so: every man has his +weakness; one is too miserly, another too prodigal. Now, for my part, I +confess that I am extremely anxious to spare Gustave the anxiety of +delay. Give your daughter twenty-five thousand francs, with the +understanding that the amount of her portion is to remain a secret; for +I don't want to be laughed at. Twenty-five thousand francs!--you cannot +say it is too much;--in fact, it is a trifle that will hardly pay for +their furniture. Be reasonable, my good sir, and let us shake hands on +it!" + +De Vlierbeck said nothing; but, rising abruptly from the table, opened a +closet with a trembling hand, and, taking from it a package of papers, +threw them on the table. + +"There!" said he; "read; convince yourself." + +Denecker took up the papers and began to examine them. As he went on, +the expression of his face gradually changed, and at times he raised +his head and looked upward, as if in deep thought. After he had been +engaged for some time in this disagreeable task, De Vlierbeck +recommenced the conversation in a tone of cutting irony:-- + +"Ah! you would not believe me, sir. Well, let your determination be +founded on those papers alone. It is right you should know every thing; +for I have determined never again to be tortured. Besides the evidences +of debt which are before you, I owe a bill of exchange for four thousand +francs, which I cannot pay! You see now, Monsieur Denecker, that I am +worse than poor, for I have debts!" + +"Alas! it is but too true," said the stupefied merchant; "you have +indeed nothing! I see by these documents that my notary is also yours; +and, although I spoke to him of your fortune, he left me unadvised, or, +I should rather say, in error." + +De Vlierbeck breathed more freely, for he felt as if a rock had fallen +from his breast. His face resumed its ordinary calmness; and, seating +himself, he continued:-- + +"Now, sir, if you have no longer any reason to doubt my poverty, let me +ask what are your intentions." + +"My intentions?" replied the merchant; "my intentions are that we shall +remain as good friends as we were before; but, as to the marriage, that +of course falls to the ground. We will speak no more about it. What were +_your_ calculations, Monsieur De Vlierbeck? I think I am just beginning +to see a little clearly into this matter! You imagined, I suppose, that +you would make a good business out of it and sell your merchandise as +high as possible!" + +"Sir," exclaimed De Vlierbeck, bounding from his chair in rage, "speak +respectfully of my daughter! Poor or rich, do not dare to forget who she +is!" + +"Don't get angry! don't get angry! Monsieur De Vlierbeck. I have no +desire to insult you. Far from it. Had your enterprise succeeded I would +probably have admired you; but _finesse_ against _finesse_ always makes +a bad game! Permit me to ask, since you are so touchy on the point of +honor, if you have acted a very honorable part in courting my nephew and +allowing his passion to absorb him?" + +De Vlierbeck bowed his head to conceal the blush that suffused his aged +cheeks; nor did he awake from his painful stupor till the merchant +recalled him by the single word,-- + +"Well?" + +"Ah!" stammered De Vlierbeck, "have mercy on me! Love for my child, +probably, led me astray. God endowed her with all the gifts that can +adorn a woman. I hoped that her beauty, the purity of her soul, the +nobility of her blood, were treasures quite as precious as gold!" + +"That is to say, for a gentleman, perhaps; but not for so common a +person as a merchant," interrupted Monsieur Denecker, with a sneer. + +"Don't reproach me with having _courted_ your nephew," continued De +Vlierbeck. "That is a word that wounds me deeply; for it is unjust. +Their attachment was reciprocal and in every way unstudied. I thanked +God daily in my prayers that he had cast in our path a savior for my +child:--yes, a savior, I say; for Gustave is an honorable youth, who +would have made her happy not so much by money as by his noble and +generous character. Is it then so great a crime for a father who has +unfortunately become poor to hope that his child should escape want?" + +"Certainly not," replied the merchant; "but every thing is in _success_; +and in that respect, Monsieur De Vlierbeck, your enterprise has been +unfortunate. I am a man who examines his goods twice before he buys, and +it is difficult to pass apples on me for lemons!" + +This heartless, trafficking slang tortured the unfortunate bankrupt to +such a degree that he arose from his seat in a passion and began to pace +the apartment. + +"You have no consideration for my misfortunes, sir," said he. "You +pretend that I designed deceiving you; but was it _you_ who discovered +my poverty? Are you not free to act as you please, after the disclosures +that I have voluntarily given you? And let me remark, sir, that if I +listen humbly to your reproaches--if I even acknowledge my fault--the +sense of manhood is not dead in my soul. You talk of 'merchandise' and +'goods,' as if you came here to buy something! You allude to my Lenora, +do you? All your wealth, sir, could not purchase her! and, if love is +not powerful enough in your eyes to obliterate the pecuniary inequality +between us, know that I am a De Vlierbeck, and that name, even in +poverty, weighs more than all your money!" + +During this explosion his face kindled with indignation and his eyes +shot forth their fiery rays upon the merchant, who, alarmed by the loud +words and animated gestures of De Vlierbeck, regarded him with an air of +stupefaction from the other side of the apartment. + +"Good God, sir," said he at last, "there is no need of so much violence +and loud talk! Each of us remains where he is; each keeps what he has, +and the affair is at an end. I have but one request to make of you, and +it is that you will never again receive my nephew,--or else--" + +"Or else?" interrupted De Vlierbeck, passionately; "do you _dare_ to +threaten me?" But, restraining himself almost instantly, he continued, +with comparative calmness, "Enough! Shall I call Monsieur Denecker's +carriage?" + +"If you please," replied the merchant. "We cannot do business together, +it seems; but that is no reason why we should become enemies." + +"Well! well! we will stop short of that, sir. But this conversation +annoys me; it must end!" And, so saying, he led Monsieur Denecker to the +door and bade him farewell abruptly. Be Vlierbeck returned to the +parlor, fell into his chair and covered his brow with both hands, as a +heavy groan burst from his breast, which heaved with almost hysterical +emotion. For a long time he remained silent and motionless; but soon his +hands fell heavily on his knees, a deathly paleness overspread his face, +and the room whirled around the heart-broken man. + +Suddenly he heard footsteps in the chamber above, and, rousing himself +by a strong effort, "Oh, God! my poor child!" cried he; "my poor +Lenora! She comes! my punishment is not yet complete! I must break the +heart of my own child; I must tear from it all its hopes, blot out its +dream, behold it withered up with grief! Oh that I could escape this +dreadful disclosure! Alas! What to say to her? how to explain it?" + +A bitter smile contracted his lips as he continued, with bitter +irony:--"Ah! hide thy suffering, old man; rally thy strength; take +courage! If thy heart is torn and bleeding,--if despair devours thy +soul,--oh, smile, still smile! Yes! your life has been a continual +farce! Yet, miserable abortion that thou art, what canst thou do but +submit, yield without a fight, and bow thy neck to the yoke like a +powerless slave? Begone, rebellious feeling! Be silent, and behold thy +child!" + +Lenora opened the door and ran to her father, her questioning eyes fixed +on his with a look of hope. All of poor De Vlierbeck's efforts to +disguise his suffering were unsuccessful, and Lenora soon read in his +face that he was a prey to some overwhelming sorrow. As he still +obstinately kept silence, she began to tremble, and asked, with feverish +impatience,-- + +"Well, father,--well,--have you _nothing_ to say to me?" + +"Alas! my child," said he, sighing, "we are not happy. God tries us with +heavy blows. Let us bow before the will of the Almighty." + +"What do you mean? what is there to fear?" said Lenora, beside herself. +"Speak, father! Has he _refused_ his consent?" + +"He has refused it, Lenora!" + +"Oh, no! no!" cried the maiden; "it is impossible!" + +"Refused it, because he possesses millions and we--nothing!" + +"It is true, then? Gustave is hopelessly lost to me!--lost to me +forever! + +"Hopelessly!" echoed the father. + +A sharp cry escaped Lenora as she tottered to the table and fell on it, +weeping bitterly. + +De Vlierbeck arose and stood above his sobbing daughter, and, joining +his uplifted hands, exclaimed, in suppliant tones,-- + +"Oh, pity me, pity me, Lenora! In that fatal interview I have suffered +all the torments that could rack the heart of a parent; I have drunk the +dregs of shame; I have emptied the cup of humiliation; but all, all are +nothing in comparison with thy grief! Calm yourself, child of my love; +let me see the sweet face I so love to look on; let me regain my lost +strength in thy holy resignation! Lenora! my head swims; I shall die of +despair!" + +As he uttered these words he sank heavily into a chair, overpowered by +emotion. The sound of his fall seemed instantly to recall Lenora to +herself, and, dashing the tears from her eyes, she leaned her head on +his shoulder to listen and assure herself that he had not fainted. + +"Never to see him more! to renounce his love forever! to lose the +happiness I dreamed of! Alas! alas!" + +"Lenora! Lenora!" exclaimed her father, entreatingly! + +"Oh, beloved father," sobbed the poor girl, "to lose Gustave _forever_! +The dreadful thought overwhelms me! While I am near you I will bless God +for his kindness; but my tears overpower me; oh! let me weep, let me +weep, I beseech you!" + +De Vlierbeck pressed his daughter more closely to his heart, and +respected her affliction in silence. + +The stillness of death reigned throughout the apartment, while they +remained locked in each other's arms until the very excess of grief +relaxed their embrace and opened their hearts to mutual consolation. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +Four days after Denecker had refused his consent to the marriage, a +hired carriage might have been Been drawing up carefully in a screen of +wood that bordered a by-road about half a league from Grinselhof. A +young man got out of it, and, giving directions to the coachman to await +him at a neighboring inn, walked briskly across the moor toward the old +_château_. As soon as Grinselhof began to loom up over the trees, he +moved cautiously along behind the hedges and thickets, as if seeking to +avoid observation; and then, stealing across the bridge, he opened the +gate, passed through the dense copse that surrounded the house, and +entered the garden. + +The first object that greeted his sight was Lenora, seated at her table +beneath the well-known catalpa, with her head resting on the board, +evidently absorbed in sorrow. Her back was turned toward him as he +approached; and, although he advanced with the utmost caution, the +sound of his footsteps disturbed her in the intense silence of the spot, +and she leaped to her feet, while the name of Gustave broke in surprised +accents from her lips. She was evidently anxious to escape into the +house; but her lover threw himself on his knees, and, grasping her hand, +poured forth a passionate appeal:-- + +"Listen to me, Lenora! listen to me! If you fly and refuse me the +consolation of telling you with my last farewell, all I have suffered +and all I hope, I will either die here at your feet, or I will go hence +forever, a broken-hearted wanderer over the face of the earth! Listen to +me! listen to me! Listen to me, Lenora, my sister, my beloved, my +betrothed! By our pure and holy love, I beseech you not to repulse me!" + +Though Lenora trembled in every limb, her features assumed an expression +of wounded pride, as she answered, with cold decision,-- + +"Your boldness surprises me, sir! You are indeed a daring man, to appear +again at Grinselhof after your uncle's insulting conduct to my father! +He is ill in bed; his soul is crushed by the outrage. Is this the reward +of all my affection for you?" + +"Oh, God! oh, God! Lenora, do I hear _you_ accuse me? Alas! what have I +done, and what could I prevent?" + +"There is nothing, sir, any longer, in common between us," said the +girl. "If we are not as rich as you, the blood that runs in our veins +cannot suffer by comparison. Arise! begone! I will see you no more!" + +"Mercy! pity!" exclaimed Gustave, lifting his clasped hands toward her; +"mercy, Lenora, for I am innocent!" + +The maiden dashed away the tears that began to start in her eyes, and, +turning her back on him, was about to depart. + +"Cruel, cruel!" exclaimed Gustave, in broken tones. "Can you leave me +without a farewell?--without a word of consolation? Will you remain +insensible to my grief and deaf to my prayers? 'Tis well; I will submit +to my lot, for _you_ have decided it! You, Lenora, my love, have +sentenced me! I forgive you: be happy on earth without me, and farewell +forever!" + +As he uttered those words his strength seemed utterly to fail him, and, +sinking into the chair which Lenora had quitted, his head and arms fell +lifeless on the table. + +The determined girl had made a few steps in her retreat to the house, +when she suddenly halted on hearing the agonized tones of Gustave's +farewell and the sudden sound of his fall on the table. As she glanced +backward at the convulsed frame of her lover, a spasm that denoted the +violent conflict between duty and affection passed over her beautiful +face; and, as her heart appeared gradually to conquer in the fight, the +tears began to pour in showers from her eyes. Step by step and slowly +she retraced the path to the table, and leaning over the sufferer, took +one of his hands tenderly in hers:-- + +"Are we not wretched, Gustave? Are we not wretched?" + +At the touch of that gentle hand and the sound of that beloved voice, +life seemed once more to stir in his veins, and, raising his eyes +languidly to hers, he gazed mournfully into them as he half said, half +sighed,-- + +"Lenora, dear Lenora, have you come back to me? Have you taken pity on +my agony? You do not _hate_ me, do you?" "Is a love like ours +extinguished in a day?" returned Leonora, with a sigh. + +"Oh, no, no!" cried Gustave aloud; "it is eternal! Is it not eternal, +Lenora, and omnipotent against every ill as long as the hearts beat in +our bosoms?" + +Lenora bowed her head and cast down her eyes. + +"Do not imagine, Gustave," said she, solemnly, "that our separation +causes me less grief than it does you; and, if the assurance of my love +can assuage the pangs of absence, let it strengthen and encourage you. +My lonely heart will keep your image sacred in its holiest shrine; I +will follow you in spirit wherever you go, and I will love you till +death shall fill up the gulf that separates us. We shall meet again +above, but never more on earth." + +"You are mistaken, Lenora," cried Gustave, with a feeble expression of +joy; "you are mistaken! There is still hope; my uncle is not +inexorable, and his compassionate heart must yield to my despair." + +"That may be," replied Lenora, in sad but resolute tones; "that may be, +Gustave; but my father's honor is inflexible. Leave me, Gustave; I have +already disobeyed my father's orders too long, and slighted my duty in +remaining with a man who cannot become my husband. Go now; for, if we +should be surprised by some one, my poor, wretched father would die of +shame and anger." + +"One moment more, beloved Lenora! Hear what I have to tell you. My uncle +refused me your hand; I wept, I besought him, but nothing could change +his determination. In despair I was transported beyond myself; I +rebelled against my benefactor; and, treating him like an ungrateful +wretch, I said a thousand things for which I begged his pardon on my +knees when reason resumed her empire over my excited soul. My uncle is +goodness itself to me: he pardoned my sin; but he imposed the condition +that I should instantly undertake a journey with him to Italy, which he +has long designed making. He idly hopes that travel may obliterate your +image from my mind; but think not, Lenora, that I can ever forget you! A +sudden thought flashed through my fancy, and I accepted his terms with a +secret joy. For months and months I will be alone with my uncle; and, +watching him ever with the love and gratitude I feel for all his +kindness, I will gradually wear away his objections, and, conquering his +heart, return, my love, to place the bridal wreath upon your brow, and +claim you, before the altar of God, as the companion of my choice!" + +For an instant a gentle smile overspread the maiden's face, and her +clear, earnest gaze was full of rapture at the vision of future +happiness; but the gleam disappeared almost as quickly as it arose, and +she answered him, with bitter sadness,-- + +"Alas! my dear friend, it is cruel to destroy this last hope of your +heart; and yet I must do it. Your uncle might consent; but my father--" + +She faltered for an instant. + +"Your father, Lenora? Your father would pardon all and receive me like a +long-lost son." + +"No, no; believe it not, Gustave; for his honor has been too deeply +wounded. As a Christian he might pardon it; but as a gentleman he will +never forget the outrage." + +"Oh, Lenora, you are unjust to your father. If I return with my uncle's +consent, and say to him, 'I will make your child happy; give her to me +for my wife; I will surround her path with all the joys a husband has +ever bestowed on woman;'--if I tell him this, think you he will deny +me?" + +Lenora cast down her eyes. + +"You know his infinite goodness, Gustave," said she. "My happiness is +his only thought on earth; he will thank God and bless you." + +"Yes, yes; he _will_ consent," continued Gustave, with ardor; "and all +is not lost. A blessed ray lightens our future, and let it rekindle your +hope, beloved of my heart! Yield not to grief; let me go forth on this +dreary journey, but let me bear along with me the assurance that you +await my return with trust in God. Remember me in your prayers; utter my +name as you stray through these lonely paths which witnessed the dawn of +our love and where for two months I drained the cup of perfect bliss. +The knowledge that I am not forgotten by you will sustain my heart and +enable me to endure the pangs of separation." + +Lenora wept in silence. Her lover's eloquence had extinguished every +spark of her pride; and the rebellious heart which so lately was ready +to cast off its rosy fetters had no longer a place for any thing but +love and sadness. Gustave saw that he had conquered. + +"I go, Lenora," said he, "strong in your affection. I quit my country +and my loved one with a confident hope. Whatever may happen to me, I +will never be downcast. You will think of me daily, Lenora, will you +not?" + +"Alas! I have promised my father that I will forget you!" sobbed the +maiden, as her hand trembled in his. + +"_Forget_ me!" exclaimed Gustave. "_Can_ you force yourself to forget +me?" + +"No, Gustave; NO!" said she, firmly, fixing her large eyes on him with +an intense and lingering gaze. "No: for the first time in my life I +will disobey my father. I feel that I have net the strength to keep my +idle word. I cannot forget you: till the last hour of my life I will +love you; for it is my fate, and I cannot resist." + +"Thanks, thanks, a thousand thanks, Lenora!" exclaimed Gustave, in a +transport. "Thy tender love strengthens me against destiny. Beloved of +my heart, rest here under the guardian eye of God. Thy image will follow +me in my journey like a protecting angel; in joy and grief, by day and +night, in health and sickness, thou, Lenora, wilt ever be present to me! +This cruel separation wounds my heart beyond expression; but duty +commands, and I must obey. Farewell, farewell!" + +He wrung her hands convulsively, and was gone. + +"Gustave!" sobbed the poor girl, as she sank on the chair and allowed +the pent-up passion of her soul to burst forth in tears. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +Leonora secretly cherished in her heart the hope of a happy future; but +she did not hesitate to inform her father of Gustave's visit. De +Vlierbeck heard her listlessly, and gave no other reply but a bitter +smile. + +From that day Grinselhof became sadder and more solitary than ever. The +old gentleman might generally be seen seated in an arm-chair, resting +his forehead on his hand, while his eyes were fixed on the ground or on +vacancy. The fatal day on which the bond fell due was perhaps always +present to his mind; nor could he banish the thought of that frightful +misery into which it would plunge his child and himself. Lenora +carefully concealed her own sufferings in order not to increase her +father's grief; and, although she fully sympathized with him, no effort +was omitted on her part to cheer the old man by apparent contentment. +She did and said every thing that her tender heart could invent to +arouse the sufferer from his reveries; but all her efforts were in vain: +her father thanked her with a smile and caress; but the smile was sad, +the caress constrained and feeble. + +If Lenora sometimes asked him, with tears, what was the cause of his +depression, he adroitly managed to avoid all explanations. For days +together he wandered about the loneliest paths of the garden, apparently +anxious to escape the presence even of his daughter. If she caught a +glimpse of him at a distance, a fierce look of irritation was +perceptible on his face, while his arms were thrown about in rapid and +convulsive gesticulations. If she approached him with marks of love and +devotion, he scarcely replied to her affectionate words, but left the +garden to bury himself in the solitude of the house. + +An entire month--a month of bitter sadness and unexpressed suffering on +both sides--passed in this way; and Lenora observed with increased +anxiety the rapid emaciation and pallor of her father, and the +suddenness with which his once-lively eye lost every spark of its wonted +vivacity. It was about this time that a slight change in the old +gentleman's conduct convinced her that a secret--and perhaps a terrible +one--weighed on his heart. Every day or two he went to Antwerp in the +_calèche_, without informing her or any one else of the object of his +visit. He came back to Grinselhof late at night, seated himself at the +supper-table silent and resigned, and, persuading Lenora to go to bed, +soon went off to his own chamber. But his daughter was well aware that +he did not retire to rest; for during long hours of wakefulness she +heard the floor creak as he paced his apartment with restless steps. + +Lenora was brave by nature, and her singular and solitary education had +given her a latent force of character that was almost masculine. By +degrees the resolution to make her father reveal his secret grew in her +mind. And, although a feeling of instinctive respect made her hesitate, +a restless devotion to the author of her being gradually overcame all +scruples and emboldened her for the enterprise. + +One day Monsieur De Vlierbeck set off very early for town. The morning +wore away heavily; and, toward the afternoon, Lenora wandered wearily +about the desolate house, with no companion but her sad reflections. At +length she entered the apartment where her father usually studied or +wrote, and, after a good deal of hesitation, in which her face and +gestures displayed the anxiety of her purpose, opened the table-drawer, +and saw in it, unrolled, a written document. The paleness of death +overspread her countenance as she perused the paper and instantly closed +the drawer. After this she left the apartment hastily, and, returning to +her chamber, sat down with hands clasped on her knees and eyes fixed on +the floor in a stare of wild surprise. + +"_Sell Grinselhof!_" exclaimed she. "Sell Grinselhof! Why? Monsieur +Denecker insulted my father because we were not rich enough for him. +What is this secret? and what does it all mean? If it should be _true_ +that we are beggars! Oh, God! does a ray of light penetrate my mind? is +this the solution of the enigma and the cause of my father's +depression?" + +For a long time she remained motionless in her chair, absorbed in +reverie; but gradually her face brightened, her lips moved, and her eyes +glistened with resolution. As she was endeavoring to fight bravely +against misfortune, she suddenly heard the wheels of her father's +_calèche_ returning to Grinselhof. She ran down instantly to meet him; +and as he drew up at the door she perceived the poor sufferer buried in +a corner of the vehicle, apparently deprived of all consciousness; and, +when he descended from the vehicle and she saw his expression +distinctly, the deadly pallor that covered his haggard cheeks almost +made her sink to the earth with anxiety. Indeed, she had neither heart +nor strength to utter a word to him; but, standing aside in silence, she +allowed the old man to enter the house and bury himself as usual in his +chamber. + +For some minutes she stood on the door-sill, undecided as to what she +should do; but by degrees her brow and cheeks began to redden, and the +light of resolution shone in her moistened eyes. + +"Ought the feeling of respect to restrain me longer?" said she to +herself; "shall I let my father die without an effort? No! no! I must +know all! I must tear the worm from his heart; I must save him by my +love!" + +Without a moment's further delay, she ran rapidly through three or four +chambers, and came to the apartment where her father was seated with his +elbows resting on the table and his head buried in his hands. Throwing +herself on her knees at his feet, and with hands raised to him in +supplication,-- + +"Have mercy on me, father!" exclaimed she; "have mercy on me, I beseech +you on my knees; tell me what it is that distresses you! I must know why +it is that my father buries himself in this solitude and seems to fly +even from his child!" + +"Lenora! thou last and only treasure that remainest to me on earth," +replied De Vlierbeck, in a broken voice, with despair in his wild +gaze,--"thou hast suffered, dreadfully, my child, hast thou not? Rest thy +poor head in my bosom. A terrible blow, my child, is about to fall on +us!" + +Lenora did not seem to pay any attention to these remarks, but, +disengaging herself from her father's embrace, replied, in firm and +decided tones,-- + +"I have not come here, father, for consolation, but with the unalterable +determination to learn the cause of your suffering. I will not go away +without knowing what misfortune it is that has so long deprived me of +your love. No matter how much I may venerate you and respect your +silence, the sense of duty is greater even than veneration. I must--I +_will_--know the secret of your grief!" + +"Thou deprived of thy father's love?" exclaimed De Vlierbeck, +reproachfully and with surprise;--love for thee, my adored child, is +precisely the secret of my grief. For ten years I have drained the +bitter cup and prayed the Almighty to make you happy; but, alas! my +prayers have always been unheard!" + +"Shall I be unhappy, then?" asked Lenora, without betraying the least +emotion. + +"Unhappy, because of the misery that awaits us," replied her father. +"The blow that is about to fall on our house destroys all that we +possess. We must leave Grinselhof." + +The last words, which plainly confirmed her fears, seemed for a moment +to appall the girl; but she repressed her feelings, and answered him, +with increased courage,-- + +"You are not dying this slow death because ill-fortune has overtaken +_you_, my father; I know the unconquerable force of your character too +well for that. No! your heart is weak and yielding because _I_ have to +partake your poverty! Bless you, bless you, for your affection! But, +tell me, father, if I were offered all the wealth of the world on +condition that I would consent to see you suffer for a single day, what +think you I would answer?" + +Dumb with surprise, the poor man looked proudly at his daughter, and a +gentle pressure of her hand was his sole reply. + +"Ah!" continued she, "I would refuse all the treasures of earth and meet +poverty without a sigh. And you, father,--if they offered you all the +gold of America for your Lenora, what would you do?" + +"How can you ask, child?" exclaimed her father; "do we sell our hearts' +blood for gold?" + +"And so," continued the girl, "our Maker has left us that which is +dearest to us both in this world; why then should we mourn when we ought +to be grateful for his compassionate care? Take heart once more, dear +father; no matter what may be our future lot,--should we even be forced +to take refuge in a hovel,--nothing can harm us as long as we are not +separated!" + +Smiles, astonishment, admiration, and love, by turns flitted over the +wan features of the poor old man, who seemed altogether unnerved and +disconcerted by the painful _dénouement_. At length, after some moments +of unbroken silence, he clasped his hands, and, gazing intensely into +her eyes through his starting tears-- + +"Lenora, Lenora! my child!" he exclaimed, "thou art not of earth--thou +art an angel! The unselfish grandeur of thy soul unmans me completely!" + +She saw she had conquered. The light of courage was rekindled again in +her father's eye, and his lofty brow was lifted once more under the +sentiment of dignity and self-devotion that struggled for life in his +suffering heart. Lenora looked at him with a heavenly smile, and +exclaimed, rapturously, + +"Up! up! father; come to my arms; away with grief! United in each +other's love, fate itself is powerless in our presence!" + +Father and daughter sprang into each other's arms, and for a long while +remained speechless, wrapped in a tender embrace; then, seating +themselves with their hands interlocked, they were silent and absorbed, +as if the world and its misery were altogether forgotten. + +"A new life--a new and refreshing current of blood--seems to have been +suddenly poured into my veins," said Monsieur De Vlierbeck. "Alas, +Lenora, what a sinner I have been! how wrong I was not to divulge all! +But you must pardon me, beloved child; you must pardon me. It was the +fear of afflicting you--the hope of finding some means of rescue, of +escape--that sealed my lips. I did not know you, my daughter; I did not +know the inestimable treasure that God in his mercy had lavished on me! +But _now_ you shall know all; I will no longer hide the secret of my +conduct and my grief. The fatal hour has come; the blow I desired to +ward off is about to fall and cannot be turned aside! Are you prepared, +dear child, to hear your father's story?" + +Lenora, who was delighted to behold the calm and radiant smile that +illuminated the face of her heart-broken parent, answered him instantly, +in caressing tones,-- + +"Pour all your woes into my heart, dear father, and conceal nothing. The +part I have to perform must be based on complete knowledge of every +thing; and you will feel how much your confidence relieves your burdened +soul." + +"Take, then, your share of suffering, daughter," replied De Vlierbeck, +"and help me to bear my cross! I will disguise nothing. What I am about +to disclose is indeed lamentable; yet do not tremble and give way at the +recital, for, if any thing should move you, it must be the story of a +father's torture. You will learn now, my child, why Monsieur Denecker +has had the hardihood to behave toward us as he has done." + +He dropped her hand, but, without averting his eager gaze from her +anxious eyes, continued:-- + +"You were very young, Lenora, but gentle and loving as at present, and +your blessed mother found all her happiness centered in your care and +comfort. We dwelt on the lands of our forefathers; nothing disturbed the +even tenor of our simple lives; and, by proper economy, our moderate +income sufficed to support us in a manner becoming our rank and name. + +"I had a younger brother, who was endowed with an excellent heart, but +generous to a fault and somewhat imprudent. He lived in town, and +married a lady of noble family who was no richer than himself. She was +showy in her tastes and habits, and, I fear, induced him to increase his +revenue by adventurous means. There can be no doubt that he speculated +largely in the public funds. But probably you do not understand what +this means, my child. It is a species of _gambling_, by which a man may +in a moment gain millions; and yet it is a game that may, with equal +rapidity, plunge him into the depths of misery and reduce him as if by +magic to the condition of a beggar. + +"At first, my brother was remarkably successful, and established himself +in town in a style of living that was the envy of our wealthiest +citizens. He came to see us frequently, bringing you, who were his +godchild, a thousand beautiful presents, and lavished his affection with +testimonials of kindness which were proportioned to his fortune. I spoke +to him often about the dangerous character of his adventures, and +endeavored to convince him that it was unbecoming a gentleman to risk +his property upon the hazards of an hour; but, as continued success +emboldened him more and more, the passion for gambling made him deaf to +all my appeals, all my advice. + +"At last the evil hour came! The luck which had so long favored him +became inconstant; he lost a considerable portion of his gains, and saw +his fortune diminishing with every venture. Still, courage did not fail +him; but, on the contrary, he seemed to fight madly against fate, with +the idle hope of forcing fortune to turn once more in his favor. But, +alas, it was a fatal delusion! + +"One night--I tremble as I recall it--I was in my chamber and nearly +ready to retire; you were already in bed, and your mother was saying her +prayers on her knees beside your little couch. A tremendous storm raged +without: hail beat in torrents against the windows, and the wind howled +in the chimneys and swayed the trees as if it was about to blow down the +house. The violence of the tempest began to make me somewhat anxious, +when suddenly the door-bell was pulled and the sound of horses heard at +the gate. In a moment the summons was answered by one of our +servants,--for we kept two then,--and a female rushed into the room, +throwing herself in tears at my feet. It was my brother's wife! + +"Trembling with fright, I of course hastened to raise her; but she +clung to my knees, begging my assistance, imploring me, by every +passionate appeal she could think of, to save her husband's life, and +convincing me by her sobs and distraction that some frightful calamity +was impending over my brother! + +"Your mother joined me eagerly in my efforts to calm the sufferer, and +by degrees we managed to extract the cause of her singular conduct and +unseasonable visit. My brother--alas!--had lost all he possessed, and +even more! His wife's story was heart-rending; but its conclusion filled +us with more anxiety for her husband than his losses; for, overcome by +the certainty of a dishonored name, haunted by the reflection that law +and justice would soon overtake him, my poor brother had made an attempt +upon his life! The hand of God had providentially guided his wife to the +apartment, where she surprised him at the fatal moment and snatched the +deadly instrument from his grasp! He was then locked up in a room; dumb, +overcome, bowed down to the earth, and guarded by two faithful friends. +If any one on earth could save him, it was surely his brother! + +"Such was the wild appeal of my wretched sister-in-law, who, heedless of +the stormy night, had thrown herself into a coach and fled to me, +through the tempest, as her only hope for their salvation. There she was +at my feet, bathed in tears, sobbing, screaming, beseeching me to +accompany her to town. _Could I--did I_--hesitate? Your tender mother, +who saw at once the frightful condition of the family, and sympathized +as woman's heart alone can do with human misery, eagerly implored me not +to lose a moment. 'Save him, save him!' exclaimed she; 'spare nothing: I +will consent to every thing you may think proper to do or sacrifice!' + +"We flew back to town through the storm and darkness. You grow pale, +Lenora, at the very thought of it, for it was indeed frightful, and you +can never know the impression it made on me: these whitened +hairs--whitened before their time--are the records of that terrible +night! But let me continue. + +"It is needless to describe the wild despair in which I found my +brother, or to tell you how long I had to wrestle with his spirit in +order to force a ray of hope into his soul. There was but one means by +which we could save his honor and life; but--oh God!--at what a +sacrifice! I was obliged to pledge all my property as security for his +debts. Nothing could be spared; our ancestral manor-lands, your mother's +marriage-portion, your moderate dowry,--all were ventured with the +certainty that the greater part would unquestionably be lost! On these +hard conditions my brother's honor might be saved; and, if that could be +rescued, he was willing to renounce the determination to escape shame by +death. I must in justice say that it was not he who demanded the +sacrifice from me: on the contrary, he did not suppose that I could or +would make it; but I was satisfied in my mind that if I did not settle +his affairs, at all hazards, he would execute his criminal project +against his life. And yet--and yet, my child--_I hesitated!_" + +"Father!" exclaimed Lenora, "_you did not refuse!_" + +A happy smile beamed on his face as he met the questioning glance of his +daughter and answered, firmly,-- + +"I loved my brother, Lenora; but I loved _you_, my only child, much +more. The sacrifice demanded of me by his creditors insured misery for +your mother and for you!" + +"Oh, God! oh, God!" sobbed Lenora. + +"On one side my heart was distracted by this dreadful thought, while on +the other I was assailed by the despair that was present in the +bankrupt's chamber; but generosity conquered in the awful trial, and at +daylight I sought out the principal creditors and signed the documents +that saved a brother's life and honor but gave up my wife and child to +want." + +"Thank God!" gasped Lenora, as if she had been relieved from a horrible +nightmare. "Bless you, bless you, father, for your noble, generous +conduct!" + +She rose from her seat, and, passing her arms around his neck, gave him +a glowing kiss with as much solemnity as if she had been anxious to +endue this mark of love with all the fervor and sacredness of a +benediction. + +"Ah! but canst thou bless me, my child," said he, with eyes foil of +gratitude, "for an act that should implore thy pardon?" + +"_My_ pardon, father!" exclaimed Lenora, with surprise on all her +features. "Oh, had you done otherwise, what would I not have suffered in +doubting the goodness of my parent's heart! Now, now, I love you more +than ever! _Pardon you_, father? Is it a crime to save a brother's life +when it is in your keeping?" + +"Alas, Lenora, the world does not reason thus, and never forgives us for +the guilt of poverty. Reduced to that, we suffer humiliations which any +one may observe in the lives of multitudes of our nobles. Yes; society +regards poverty as a crime, and it treats us like outcasts. Our equals +avoid us in order not to be confounded in our misery; while peasants and +tradesmen laugh at our misfortune as if it was a sort of agreeable +revenge. Happy, happy they to whom heaven has given an angel to pour +comfort and consolation into their hearts in hours of want and +dejection! But listen, my child! + +"My brother was saved, and I concealed most carefully the assistance I +had been to him; he left the country and went with his wife to America, +where, ever since, he has worked hard and gained hardly enough to +support a miserable existence. His wife died during the voyage. And, as +to ourselves, we no longer possess any thing; for Grinselhof and our +other lands were mortgaged for more than they were worth. Besides this, +I was forced to borrow from a gentleman of my acquaintance four thousand +_francs_ upon my bond. + +"When your mother heard of the sacrifices to which I was forced to +submit, she made no reproaches; at first she fully approved my conduct. +But very soon we became necessarily subjected to privations under which +your mother's strength declined, till, without a sigh or complaint, she +began to fade away slowly from earth. It was a dreadful situation; for, +to conceal our ruin and save our ancestral name from contempt, we were +forced to part with the last ounce of our silver to pay the interest on +our debts. Gradually our horses and servants disappeared; the paths that +led to our neighbors soon became grass-grown; and we declined all social +invitations, so as to avoid the necessity of returning the compliment. A +rumor about us began to spread through the village and among the noble +families that had formerly been on terms of intimacy with us; and +scandal declared that _avarice_ had driven us to a life of meanness and +isolation! We joyously accepted the imputation, and even the coldness +with which our holiday friends accompanied it; it was a veil with which +society thought proper to cover us, and beneath its folds our poverty +was safe from scrutiny. + +"But I am approaching scenes, my child, the recollection of which almost +unnerves me. My story has reached the most painful moment of my life, +and I beseech you to hear me calmly. + +"Your poor mother wasted away to a skeleton; her sunken-eyes were +hardly visible in their deep sockets; a livid pallor suffused her +cheeks. As I saw her fading,--fading,--the wife whom I had loved more +than life,--as I gazed on those death-struck features and saw the fatal +evidences each day clearer and clearer,--I became nearly mad with +despair and grief." + +Lenora shuddered with emotion as her breast heaved convulsively under +the sobs she strove to repress. Her father stopped a moment, almost +overcome by the recital; but, rallying his courage quickly, he forced +himself to go on with his sad recollections:-- + +"Poor mother! she did nothing but weep! Every time she looked at her +child--her dear little Lenora--tears filled her eyes. Thy name was +always on her lips, as if she were forever addressing a prayer for thee +to God in heaven! At last the dreadful hour arrived when she heard the +Almighty's voice summoning her above. The clergyman performed the +services for the dying; and you, my child, had been taken from her arms +and sent out of the house. It was midnight, and I was alone with her +whose icy lips had already imprinted on mine their last sad kiss. My +heart bled. Oh, God! how wretched--how wretched--were those parting +hours! My beloved wife lay there before me as if already a corpse, while +the tears yet trickled down her hollow cheeks and she strove to utter +your name with her expiring breath. Kneeling beside her, I implored +God's mercy for her passing hour, and kissed away the sweat of agony +that stood upon her brow. Suddenly I thought I perceived an effort to +speak, and, bending my ear to her lips, she called me by name, and said, +'It is over, my love, it is over; farewell! It has not pleased the +Almighty to assuage my dying hour, and I go with the conviction that my +child will suffer want and wretchedness on earth!' + +"I know not what my love inspired me to say in that solemn moment; but I +called God to witness that you _should_ escape suffering, and that your +life should be happy! A heavenly smile illuminated her eyes, and she +believed my promise. With an effort, she lifted her thin hands once more +round my neck and drew my lips to hers. But soon those wasted arms fell +heavily on the bed;--my Margaret was gone;--thy mother was no more!" + +De Vlierbeck's head fell on his breast. Lenora's bosom heaved +convulsively as she took his hand without uttering a word; and, for a +long time, nothing was heard in that sad confessional but the sobs of +the maiden and the sighs of her heart-broken father. + +"What I have yet to say," continued the poor gentleman, "is not so +painful as what I have already told you: it concerns only myself. +Perhaps it would be better if I said nothing about it; but I need a +friend who possesses all my confidence and can sympathize with me +thoroughly in all I have undergone for the last ten years. + +"Listen, then, Lenora. Your mother was no more; she was gone;--she who +was my last staff in life! I remained at Grinselhof alone with you, my +child, and with my promise,--a promise made to God and to the dead! What +should I do to fulfil it? Quit my hereditary estate? wander away seeking +my fortune in foreign lands, and work for our mutual support? That would +not do, for it would have devoted you at once to the chances of a +wretched uncertainty. I could not think of such a course with any degree +of satisfaction; nor was it till after long and anxious reflection that +a ray of hope seemed to promise us both a happy future. + +"I resolved to disguise our poverty more carefully than ever, and to +devote my time to the most elaborate cultivation of your mind. God made +you beautiful in face and person, Lenora; but your father was anxious to +initiate you into the mysteries of science and art, and, while he +endowed you with a knowledge of the world, to make you virtuous, pious, +and modest. I desired to make you an accomplished woman, and I hoped +that the nobility of your blood, the charms of your beauty, the +treasures of your heart and intellect, would compensate in society for +the portion that was denied you. Thus was it, my child, that I thought +in time, you would make a suitable alliance which would restore you to +the position you hold by birth. For ten years, Lenora, this has been my +occupation and my hope. What I had forgotten or never learned, I studied +at night to teach you next morning; I labored hard that I might not only +instruct you wisely but that you might acquire easily; and, at the same +time, I strove by every honest means to conceal from you every thing +that could give a hint or cause a suspicion by which your life might be +shadowed. Oh, Lenora,--shall I confess it?--I have suffered hunger and +undergone the most cruel privations; I have passed half my nights +mending my clothes, working in the garden, studying and practising in +the dark, so as to hide our poverty from you and the world. But all that +was nothing; in the silence of night I was not forced to blush before +any one. By day I had to encounter all kinds of insults, and, with a +bleeding heart, swallow affront and humiliation." + +Lenora looked at her father with eyes moistened by compassion. De +Vlierbeck pressed her hand, and continued:-- + +"Be not sad, Lenora; if the Lord's hand inflicted deep wounds with every +blow, he bestowed a balm which cured them. One little smile of thy +gentle face was sufficient to make me pour forth an ejaculation to +Heaven: you, you at least were happy, and in your happiness I saw the +fulfilment of my promise! + +"At length I thought that God himself had thrown in our path one who +would save you from threatening danger. A mutual inclination arose +between Gustave and you, and a marriage seemed the natural consequence. +Under these circumstances I apprized Monsieur Denecker, during his last +visit, of the deplorable condition of my affairs; but no sooner did I +make the disclosure than he peremptorily refused his consent to the +union. As if this terrible blow, which withered all my hopes, had not +been sufficient to overwhelm me, I learned, almost at the same time, +that the friend who loaned me four thousand francs, with the right to +renew my obligation to him every year, had died in Germany, and that his +heirs demanded the payment of the debt! I ran all over town, rapped at +every friendly door, ransacked heaven and earth in my despair, to escape +this last ignominy; but all my efforts were fruitless. To-morrow, +perhaps, a placard will be stuck on the door of Grinselhof, announcing +the sale not only of our estate but also of our furniture and of every +trifling object that memory and association have rendered dear to us. +Honor requires that we shall surrender, to public sale, every thing of +the least value to pay our debts. If fate were kind enough to allow us +to satisfy every creditor it would be a great consolation, my child, in +our misery. Does not this fatal history break your heart?" + +"Is that all which makes you despond, father? Have you no other grief? +Does your heart conceal no other secret from me?" asked Lenora. + +"None, my child. You know every thing." + +"I can very well understand," replied Lenora, gravely, "that others +would consider a blow like this as a frightful misfortune; but how can +it affect us? You even appear calm. Why, father, do you, like me, appear +indifferent to the inexorable decree of fate?" + +"Because you have inspired me with courage and confidence, Lenora; +because your love is restored to me fully after a long constraint; +because you let me hope that you will not be unhappy. I know what you +want to say, noble child, whom God has given me as a shield against +every ill! Well, I will encounter ruin without bowing my head, and +submit with resignation to the hand of God! Alas!" continued he, sadly, +"who can tell what sufferings are yet in store for us? We may be forced +to wander about the world,--to seek an asylum far from those we know and +love,--to earn our daily bread by the labor of our hands! Oh, Lenora, +you know not how bitter is the bread of misery,--of poverty!" + +The maiden shuddered as she saw the cloud falling once more like a +curtain over her father's face. She grasped his hand tenderly, and, +fixing her gaze intently on his, said, in beseeching tones,-- + +"Oh, father! let not the happy smile that just now lighted your features +depart from them again! Believe me, we shall still be happy. Fancy +yourself in the position that awaits us: and what do you see in it so +frightful? I have skill to do all that woman can do; and then your +instructions have made me able to instruct others in the arts and +sciences you have taught me. I shall be strong and active enough for +both of us, and God will bless my labor. Behold us, father, peacefully +at home, with tranquil hearts and always together in our neat apartment: +we will love one another, set misfortune at defiance, and live together +in the heaven that our common sacrifice has made! Oh, it seems to me, +father, that the true happiness of our lives is only beginning! How can +you still give yourself up to despair when pleasure is in store for +us,--a pleasure such as few upon earth are permitted to enjoy?" + +Monsieur De Vlierbeck looked at his daughter with rapture. Those +enthusiastic but gentle tones had so touched his heart, that noble +courage had inspired him with so much admiration, that tears of joy +filled his eyes. With one hand he drew Lenora to his bosom, and, placing +the other on her forehead, he looked to heaven with religious fervor. A +silent prayer, a blessing on his child, an outpouring of thankfulness, +arose from his heart, like the sacred flame from an altar, toward the +throne of Him who had bestowed that angelic child! + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +A few days afterward, as De Vlierbeck had predicted, the public sale of +all their property was inserted in the papers and placarded over the +city and neighborhood. The affair made some noise, and every one was +astonished at the ruin of a person whom they considered rich and +miserly. + +As the sale was stated to be in consequence of his departure from the +country, the gossips would have been unable to discover the genuine +motive if the news had not come from Antwerp that De Vlierbeck had +resolved to pay his debts and was wretchedly poor. The cause of his +misfortune--that is to say, his liability for his brother--was known, +though all the circumstances were not fully understood. + +As soon as the publication was made, the poor old gentleman led, if +possible, a more retired life than ever, in order to avoid explanations. +Resigned to his fate, he quietly awaited the day of sale; and, although +his feelings often strove to master his resolution, the constant care +and encouragement of his noble-hearted daughter enabled him to encounter +the fatal hour with a degree of pride. + +In the mean while he received a letter from Gustave at Rome, containing +a few lines for his child. The young man declared that absence from +Lenora had only increased his affection, and that his only consolation +was the hope of future union with her by the bonds of marriage. But in +other respects the letter was not encouraging. He said with pain that +all his efforts to change his uncle's determination had, up to that +time, been fruitless. De Vlierbeck did not conceal from Lenora that he +no longer had a hope of her union with Gustave, and that she ought to +strive against this unhappy love in order to escape from greater +disappointment. Indeed, since her father's poverty had become publicly +known, Lenora was convinced that duty commanded her to renounce every +hope; yet she could not help feeling pleased and strengthened by the +thought that Gustave still loved her, and that he, whose memory filled +her heart, dreamed of her in his distant home and mourned her absence. + +She kept her promises to him faithfully. How often did she pronounce his +name in the solitude of that garden! How often did she sigh beneath the +catalpa, as if anxious to trust the winds with a message of love to +other lands! In her lonely walks she repeated his tender words; and +often did she stop musingly at some well-remembered spot where he had +blessed her with a tender word or look. + +But poor De Vlierbeck was obliged to undergo additional pain; for, as if +every misfortune that could assail him was to be accumulated at that +moment on his devoted head, he received from America the news of his +brother's death! The unfortunate wanderer died of exhaustion in the +wilderness near Hudson's Bay. The poor gentleman wept long and bitterly +for the loss of a brother whom he tenderly loved; but he was soon and +roughly turned aside to encounter the catastrophe of his own fate. + +The day of sale arrived. Early in the morning Grinselhof was invaded by +all sorts of people, who, moved by curiosity or a desire to purchase, +overran every nook and corner of the house, examining the furniture and +estimating its value. + +De Vlierbeck had caused every thing that was to be sold to be carried +into the most spacious apartments, where, aided by his daughter, he +passed the entire preceding night in dusting, cleaning, and polishing +the various articles, so that they might prove more attractive to +competitors. He had no personal interest in this labor; for, his funded +property having been sold some days before at great loss, it was certain +that the sale of all his remaining possessions would not exceed the +amount of his debts. It was a noble sentiment of honor and probity that +compelled him to sacrifice his rest for his creditors, so as to diminish +as much as he could the amount of their losses. It was clear that De +Vlierbeck did not intend to prolong his stay at Grinselhof after the +sale; for among the articles to be offered were the only two bedsteads +in the house, with their bedding, and a large quantity of clothes +belonging to him and his daughter. + +Very early in the day Lenora went to the farm-house, where she remained +until all was over. At ten o'clock the saloon was full of people. Nobles +and gentlefolks of both sexes were mixed up with brokers and second-hand +dealers who had come to Grinselhof with the hope of getting bargains. +Peasants might be seen talking together, in low voices, with surprise at +Do Vlierbeck's ruin; and there were even some who laughed openly and +joked as the auctioneer read the terms of sale! + +As the salesman put up a very handsome wardrobe, De Vlierbeck himself +entered the apartment and mingled with the bidders. His appearance +caused a general movement in the crowd; heads went together and men +began to whisper, while the bankrupt was stared at with insolent +curiosity or with pity, but by the greater part with indifference or +derision. Yet, whatever malicious feeling existed in the assembly, it +did not last long; for the firm demeanor and imposing countenance of De +Vlierbeck was never on any occasion more instinct with that dignity +which inspires respect. He was poor; fortune had struck him a cruel +blow; but in his manly look and calm features there beamed a brave and +independent soul which misfortune itself had been unable to crush. + +The auctioneer went on with the sale, assisted in his description of +the various articles by Monsieur De Vlierbeck, who informed the bidders +of their origin, antiquity, and value. Occasionally some gentleman of +the neighborhood, who, in better days, had been on good terms with +Lenora's father, approached him with words of sympathy; but he always +managed to escape adroitly from these indiscreet attempts at +consolation. Whenever it was necessary for him to speak, he showed so +much self-command and composure that he was far above the idle +_compassion_ of that careless crowd; yet if his countenance was calm and +dignified, his heart was weighed down by absorbing grief. All that had +belonged to his ancestors--articles that were emblazoned with the arms +of his family and had been religiously preserved as heirlooms for +several centuries--were sold at contemptible rates and passed into the +hands of brokers. As each historical relic was placed on the table or +held up by the auctioneer, the links of his illustrious race seemed to +break off and depart. When the sale was nearly over, the _portraits_ of +the eminent men who had borne the name of De Vlierbeck were taken down +from the walls and placed upon the stand. The first--that of the hero of +St. Quentin--was knocked off to a dealer for little more than three +francs! In the sale of this portrait, and the laughable price it +brought, there was so much bitter irony that, for the first time, the +agony that had been so long torturing De Vlierbeck's heart began to +exhibit its traces in his countenance. No sooner had the hammer fallen, +than, with downcast eyes and a sigh that was inaudible even to his +nearest neighbor, the stricken nobleman turned from the crowd and left +the saloon, so as not to witness the final sacrifice of the remaining +memorials that bound him to his race. + +The sun was but an hour or two above the horizon. A deathlike silence +had taken the place of the noise, bustle, and vulgarity that ruled at +Grinselhof during the morning; the solitary garden-walks were deserted, +the house-door and gate were closed, and a stranger might have supposed +that nothing had occurred to disturb the usual quiet of the spot. +Suddenly the door of the dwelling opened, and two persons appeared upon +the sill; one, a man advanced in life, the other, a pale and serious +woman. Each carried a small package and seemed ready for travel. Lenora +was dressed in a simple dark gown and bonnet, her neck covered by a +small square handkerchief. De Vlierbeck was buttoned up to the chin in a +coarse black greatcoat, and wore a threadbare cap whose large visor +nearly masked his features. Although it was evident that the homeless +travellers had literally stripped themselves of all superfluities and +had determined to go forth with the merest necessaries of decency, there +was something in the manner in which they wore their humble costumes +that distinctly marked their birth and breeding. The old man's features +were not changed; but it was difficult to say whether they expressed +pleasure, pain, or indifference. Lenora seemed strong and resolute, +although she was about to quit the place of her birth and separate +herself, perhaps forever, from all she had loved from infancy,--from +those aged groves beneath whose shadows the dawn of love first broke +upon her heart,--from that remembered tree at whose feet the timid +avowal of Gustave's passion had fallen on her ear. But a sense of duty +possessed and ruled her heart. Reason in her was not overmastered by +sensibility; and, when she saw her father tottering at her side, all her +energy was rallied in the effort to sustain him. + +They did not linger at the door, but, crossing the garden rapidly, +directed their steps toward the farm-house, which they entered to bid +its occupants farewell. Bess and her servant-maid were in the first +apartment below. + +"Mother Bess," said Monsieur De Vlierbeck, calmly, "we have come to bid +you good-by." + +Bess stared a moment anxiously at the travellers, and, lifting her apron +to her eyes, left the apartment; while the servant-maid leaned her head +against the window-frame and began to sob as if her heart would break. +In a short time Bess returned with her husband, whom she had found in +the barn. + +"Alas! is it true, sir," said the farmer, in a stifled voice,--"is it +true that you are going to leave Grinselhof, and that, perhaps, we shall +never see you again?" + +"Come, come, mother Bess," said the poor bankrupt, as he took and +pressed her hand; "don't weep on that account; you see we bear our lot +with resignation." + +Bess raised her head, threw her eyes once more over the humble dress of +her old master, and began to cry so violently that she could not utter a +word. Her husband strove manfully to repress his emotion; and, after an +effort or two, addressed Monsieur De Vlierbeck in a manly way:-- + +"May I ask the favor of you, sir, to let me say a word or two to you in +private?" + +De Vlierbeck entered the adjoining room, where he was followed by the +farmer, who shut the door carefully. + +"I hardly dare, sir," said he, "to mention my request; but will you +pardon me if it displeases you?" + +"Speak out frankly, my friend," returned De Vlierbeck, with a smile. + +"Look you, sir," stammered the tender-hearted laborer. "Every thing that +I have earned I owe to you. I had nothing when I married Bess; and yet, +with your kindness, we have managed to succeed. God's mercy and your +favor have made us prosperous; while you, our benefactors, have become +unfortunate and are forced to wander away from their home,--God knows +where! You may be forced to suffer privations and want; but that must +not be: I would reproach myself as long as I live. Oh, sir!" continued +he, as his voice faltered and his eyes filled with tears, "all that I +have on earth is at your service!" + +De Vlierbeck pressed the hard hand of the rustic with a trembling grasp, +as he replied,-- + +"You are a worthy man indeed, and I am, happy that it was once in my +power to protect and serve you; but I cannot accept your offer, my +friend: keep what you have earned by the sweat of your brow, and do not +concern yourself for our future fate, for, with God's help, we shall +find means to live." + +"Oh, sir," said the farmer, beseechingly, and clasping his hands in an +attitude of entreaty, "do not reject the trifle I offer you;"--he opened +a drawer and pointed to a small heap of silver.--"See!" said he; "that +is not the hundredth part of the good you have done us. Grant me this +favor, I beseech you: take this money, sir; and if it spare you a single +suffering or trial I shall thank God for it on my knees!" + +Tears streamed down the wan and wrinkled cheeks of the poor gentleman as +he replied,-- + +"Thanks! thanks! my friend; but I must refuse it. All persuasion is +useless. Let us leave this room!" + +"But, sir," cried the farmer, in astonishment, "where do you intend to +go? Tell me, for God's sake!" + +"I cannot," replied Monsieur De Vlierbeck, "for I don't know myself; +and, even if I did, prudence would make me silent." + +Uttering these words, he returned to the other room, where he found +everybody in tears. He saw at once that for his own sake as well as his +daughter's he must end these trying scenes; and accordingly, in a firm +voice, he told her it was time to be gone. There were a few more tender +and eager pressures of hands, a few more farewells, a few last looks at +the old homestead and its surroundings, and the bankrupt pair sallied +forth with their bundles, and, passing the bridge just at sunset, +departed on foot across the desolate moor. + +It is hard to bid farewell and quit the spots with which, even in a +summer's journey, we have formed agreeable associations: but harder far +it is to bid adieu forever to the home of our ancestors and the haunts +of our youth. This dreadful trial was passing in De Vlierbeck's heart. +From a distant point on the road where the domain of Grinselhof was +masked by thickets, the wanderer turned his eyes once more in the +direction of the old _château_. Big tears stood in his eyes and slowly +rolled down his hollow cheeks as he stood there, silent and motionless, +with clasped hands, gazing into vacancy. But night was rapidly falling +around the wayfarers; and, recalling him to consciousness with a kiss, +Lenora gently drew her father from the spot till they disappeared in the +windings of the wood. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +Monsieur De Vlierbeck had not been gone a week, when a letter addressed +to him from Italy reached the village post-office. The carrier inquired +of Farmer John where the old proprietor of Grinselhof had fixed his +residence; but neither from him, the notary, nor any one else in the +neighborhood, could he discover the bankrupt's retreat. The same fate +awaited three or four other letters which followed the first from Italy; +and, indeed, nobody bothered himself any more about the wanderers except +the peasant, who every market-day pestered the country-folks from every +quarter with questions about his old master. But no one had seen or +heard of him. + +Four months passed slowly by, when one morning a handsome post-chaise +stopped at the door of our old acquaintance the notary and dropped a +young gentleman in travelling-costume. + +"Where's your master?" said he impatiently to the servant, who excused +the notary under the plea of his present engagement with other visitors, +but invited the stranger to await his leisure in the parlor. + +The youth was evidently disconcerted by the delay; for he paced the +apartment with rapid strides and seemed altogether absorbed by some +anxiety or disappointment which made him extremely restless. The +notary's visitors seemed to be either very tedious clients or engaged in +very important business; for more than half an hour elapsed before that +functionary made his appearance. He came into the room ceremoniously, +prepared to measure his words and reception by his visitor's rank; but +no sooner did he perceive who it was than his calculating features +relaxed into a professional smile, and he advanced rapidly toward +Gustave with outstretched hands. + +"How are you, how are you, my dear sir?" said he. "I have been expecting +you for several days, and I am really happy to see you at last. I am +greatly flattered by the confidence you are disposed to place in me, and +am ready, whenever you please, to devote myself to your affairs. +By-the-way, I suppose there is a will?" + +A shadow passed over Gustave's brow and his face became serious as he +took a portfolio from his overcoat and drew forth a package of papers. + +"I am pained, sir, at your loss," said the notary. "Your excellent uncle +was my friend, and I deplore his death more than that of any one else. +It pleased God that he should die far away from his home. But such, +alas! is man's fate. We must console ourselves by the reflection that we +are all mortal. Your uncle was _very_ fond of you, and I suppose you +have not been forgotten in his last moments?" + +"You may see for yourself," said Gustave, as he placed the package on +the table. + +The notary ran his eyes over the papers, and, as he perused them, his +face exhibited by turns surprise and satisfaction. + +"Permit me," said he, "to congratulate you, Monsieur Gustave; these +documents are all in order and unassailable. Heir of all his fortune! Do +you know, sir, that you are more than a _millionaire_?" + +"We will speak of that another time," said Gustave, interrupting him +rather sharply. "I called on you to-day to ask a favor." + +"You have but to name it, sir." + +"You were the notary of Monsieur De Vlierbeck?" + +"I was." + +"I heard from my uncle that Monsieur De Vlierbeck had become very poor. +I have reasons for desiring that his misfortunes may not be prolonged." + +"Sir," said the notary, "I presume that you intend to do him an act of +kindness; and, in truth, it could not be bestowed on a worthier man, for +I know the cause of his ruin and sufferings. He was a victim of +generosity and honor. He may have carried these virtues to imprudence +and even to madness; but he deserved a better fate." + +"And now, sir," said Gustave, "I want you to let me know, with the +least amount of details possible, what I can do to assist De Vlierbeck +without wounding his pride. I know the condition of his affairs; for my +uncle told me all about them. Among other debts there was a bond for +four thousand francs, which belongs to the heirs of Hoogebaen: I want +that bond _immediately_, even if I have to pay four times as much as it +is worth." + +The notary stared at Gustave without replying. + +"You seem disconcerted by my demand," said Gustave, somewhat anxiously. + +"Not exactly," returned the notary; "but I do not altogether understand +your emotion, although I fear the news I must impart will affect you +painfully. If my anticipations are correct I have cause to be sorry for +you, sir!" + +"Explain yourself," cried Gustave, alarmed; "explain yourself, sir! Has +death been at Grinselhof? Is my last hope destroyed?" + +"No, no," replied the notary, quickly; "don't tremble so; they both +live, but they have been stricken by a great misfortune." + +"Well? well?" exclaimed Gustave, with questioning eagerness, rising from +his chair. + +"Be calm, be calm, sir," said the notary, soothingly; "sit down and +listen; it is not so terrible as you may perhaps think, since fortune +enables you to soften their misery." + +"Oh, God be thanked!" cried Gustave. "But let me beg you to hasten your +disclosures, for your slowness racks me!" + +"Know, then," continued the notary, "that during your absence the bond +in question fell due. For many months De Vlierbeck made unavailing +efforts to find money to honor it at maturity; but all his property was +mortgaged, and no one would assist him. In order to escape the +mortification of a forced sale, De Vlierbeck offered every thing at +public auction, even down to his furniture and clothes! The sale +produced about enough to pay his debts, and everybody was satisfied by +the honorable conduct of De Vlierbeck, who plunged himself into absolute +beggary to save his name." + +"And so he lives in the _château_ of his family only as a tenant?" + +"No; he has left it." + +"And where does he reside, then? I want to see him instantly." + +"I do not know." + +"How?--you do not know?" + +"Nobody knows where he dwells: he left the province without informing +any one of his designs." + +"Alas!" cried Gustave, with profound emotion, "and is it so? Shall I be +forced to live longer without them?--without knowing what has become of +them? Can you give me no hint or clue to their residence? Does nobody, +nobody know where they are?" + +"Nobody," replied the notary. "The evening after their sale De Vlierbeck +left Grinselhof on foot and crossed the moor by some unknown road: I +made efforts to discover his retreat, but always without success." + +As this sad news was imparted to Gustave he grew deadly pale, trembled +violently, and covered his forehead with his clasped hands, as if +striving to conceal the big tears that ran from his eyes. What the +notary first told him of De Vlierbeck's misfortunes had wounded his +sensibility, though he was less struck by that recital, because he had +already become partially aware of the poor gentleman's embarrassment; +but the certainty that he could not _immediately_ discover his beloved +Lenora and snatch her from want overwhelmed him with the bitterest +anguish. + +The notary fixed his eyes on the young man, shrugged his shoulders, and +regarded him with an expression of pity. + +"You are young, sir," said he, "and, like most men at your time of life, +exaggerate both pain and pleasure. Your despair is unfounded; for it is +easy in our time to discover people whom we want to find. With a little +money and diligence we may be sure, in a few days, to discover Monsieur +De Vlierbeck's retreat, even if he has gone abroad to a foreign country. +If you are willing to charge me with the pursuit I will spare neither +time nor trouble to bring you satisfactory news." + +Gustave stared hopefully at the notary as he grasped his hand and +replied, with a smile of gratitude,-- + +"Oh, render me that inestimable service, sir! Spare no money; ransack +heaven and earth if it is necessary; but, in God's name, let me know, +and let me know _soon_, where De Vlierbeck and his daughter are hidden. +It is impossible for me to describe the sufferings of my heart or the +ardor of my desire to find them. Let me assure you that the first good +news you bring will be more grateful to my soul than if you had restored +me to life." + +"Fear nothing, sir," answered the notary. "My clerks shall write letters +of inquiry this very night in every direction. To-morrow morning early I +will be off to Brussels and secure assistance from the public offices. +If you authorize me to spare no expense the secret will disclose +itself." + +"And I," said Gustave,--"I will put the numerous correspondents of our +house under contribution, and nothing shall be omitted to detect their +refuge, even if I have to travel over Europe." + +"Be of good cheer, then, Monsieur Gustave," said the notary; "for I +doubt not we shall soon attain our end. And, now that you are assured of +my best services, I will be gratified if you allow me to speak to you a +moment quietly and seriously. I have no right to ask what are your +intentions, and still less the right to suppose that those intentions +can be any thing else than proper in every respect. May I inquire if it +is your design to marry Mademoiselle Lenora?" + +"That is my irrevocable determination," replied the young man. + +"Irrevocable?" said the notary. "Be it so! The confidence which your +venerable uncle was always pleased to repose in me, and my position as +notary of the family, impose on me the duty of setting before you coolly +what you are about to do. You are a _millionaire_; you have a name which +in commerce alone represents an immense capital. Monsieur De Vlierbeck +is penniless; his ruin is generally known; and the world, justly or +unjustly, looks askance at a ruined man. With your fortune, with your +youth and person, you may obtain the hand of an heiress and double your +income!" + +Gustave listened to the first words of this calculating essay with +evident impatience; but he soon turned away his eyes and began to fold +up the papers and put them in his portfolio. As the notary finished, he +answered, quickly,-- + +"Well, well, I suppose you have done your duty, and I thank you; but we +have had enough of that. Tell me who owns Grinselhof now?" + +The man of business appeared considerably disconcerted by the +contemptuous interruption of his visitor; yet he strove to conceal his +mortification by a sorry smile, as he replied,-- + +"I see, sir, that you have taken a firm stand and will do as you please. +Grinselhof was bought in by the mortgagees, for the price offered was +below its value." + +"Who lives there?" + +"It is uninhabited. No one goes to the country in winter." + +"Can it be bought from its present proprietor?" + +"Certainly. I am authorized to offer it to any one for the amount of the +mortgages." + +"Then Grinselhof belongs to _me!_ Be kind enough to inform the owners of +it at once!" + +"Very well, sir. Consider Grinselhof as your property from this moment. +If you wish to visit it you will find the keys at the tenant's house." + +Gustave took his hat and made ready to go, and, as he did so, pressed +the notary's hand with evident cordiality:-- + +"I am tired and need repose, for I feel somewhat overcome by the sad +news you have given me. May God help you in your efforts to fulfil your +promises! My gratitude will surpass all you can imagine. Farewell till +to-morrow!" + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + +Spring, gentle spring, had thrown aside the funeral garb of winter, and +earth awoke again to vigorous life. Grinselhof reappeared in all the +splendor of its wild, natural scenery; its majestic oaks displayed +their verdant domes, its roses bloomed as sweetly as of old, +elder-blossoms filled the air with delicious odor, butterflies fluttered +through the garden, and every thicket was vocal with the song of birds. + +Nothing seemed changed at Grinselhof: its roads, its paths, were still +deserted, and sad was the silence that reigned in its shadows. Yet +immediately around the house there was more life and movement than +formerly. At the coach-house two grooms were busy washing and polishing +a new and fashionable coach; while the neigh of horses resounded from +the stable. A trim waiting-maid stood on the door-sill laughing and +joking with the lackeys, and a respectable old butler looked knowingly +on the group. + +Suddenly the clear silvery ring of a bell was heard from the parlor, and +the waiting-maid ran in, exclaiming, "Good Heavens! there's Monsieur +ringing for his breakfast, and it is not ready yet!" + +A few moments afterward she was seen mounting the staircase with a rich +silver salver covered with breakfast-things; and, entering the parlor, +she placed them silently on a table before a young gentleman who seemed +entirely absorbed by his own thoughts, and then instantly left the room +without a word. + +The young man began his meal with a careless, indifferent air, as if he +either had no appetite or did not know what he was about. The furniture +of the apartment in which he sat presented odd and striking contrasts +to an observer. While some of the articles were remarkable for the +richness and elegance of their modern style, there were chairs, tables, +and cabinets whose sombre hue and elaborate carving denoted an antiquity +of several centuries. On the walls were numerous pictures, dimmed by +smoke and time, encased in frames that had lost half their ornaments and +gilding. These were portraits of warriors, statesmen, priests, and +prelates. In the dim corners of the canvas armorial bearings of the +house of De Vlierbeck might be seen, and many of the articles of +furniture were embellished with the same blazonry. + +We were told a while ago that a public sale at Grinselhof had dispersed +among a crowd of competitors every thing that belonged to Monsieur De +Vlierbeck. How has it come to pass that these portraits have returned to +their old nails on walls which they seemed to have abandoned forever? + +The listless youth rose from the table, walked slowly about the room, +stopped, looked mournfully at the portraits, recommenced his walk, and +approached an antique casket placed on a bracket in the corner. He +opened it with apparent indifference and took out some simple +jewelry,--a pair of ear-rings and a coral necklace. He gazed long at +these objects as he held them in his hand; a few tears fell on them, a +deep sigh escaped from his bosom, and he then replaced the jewels in +their casket. + +Quitting the room, he descended to the court. Waiters and servant-maids +saluted as he passed: he acknowledged their civility by a silent nod and +went forth to the most secluded parts of the garden. Stopping at the +foot of a wild chestnut-tree, he threw himself on the ground, where he +sat long in moody reverie until aroused by the ringing voice of Bess, +who approached him with a book in her hand:-- + +"Here, sir, is a book which Mademoiselle Lenora used to read. My goodman +went yesterday to market, where he found the farmer who bought it at the +sale. After market was over John accompanied the peasant home, and would +not leave him till he had bought the book back again. I suppose it is an +excellent book, as Mademoiselle used to love it so; and neither gold nor +silver could ever get it from me if it wasn't for you, sir. Husband says +it is called LUCIFER'!" + +While she was running on, Gustave seized the book eagerly and ran over +its pages without paying attention to what she said. "Thank you, thank +you for your kind attention, mother Bess!" said he. "You can't think how +happy I am whenever I find any thing that belonged to your mistress. Be +assured that I will never forget your goodness." After offering this +expression of his thanks to the farmer's wife he opened the book again +and began to read without heeding her further. But the good woman did +not go away, and soon interrupted him with a question:-- + +"May I ask, sir, if you have any news yet of our young lady?" + +Gustave shook his head. "Not the least scrap of news, mother Bess. My +search has been fruitless." + +"That is unlucky, sir. God knows where she may be and what she is +suffering. She told me before she went away that she meant to work for +her father; but one must have learned to work very early in life to earn +a living by one's hands. My heart almost breaks when I think of it. +Perhaps that good, sweet young lady is reduced to work for other people +and labors like a slave to get a mouthful of bread! I have been a +servant, sir, and I know what it is to work from morning until night for +others. And she,--she who is so beautiful, so clever, so kind! Oh, sir, +it is terrible! I can't help crying like a child, thinking of her +miserable life!" + +Gustave was overcome by the simple eloquence of the poor woman, and +remained silent. + +"And then to think," continued Bess, "she might now be so happy! that +she might again become mistress of Grinselhof, where she was born and +grew up! that her father might pass his old days in quietness, and that +they are now wandering about the world poor, sick, abandoned outcasts! +Oh, sir, it is sad to know that our benefactors are unhappy, and to be +able to do nothing for them but pray to God and hope for his mercy!" + +The simple-minded woman, without meaning it, had touched some tender +strings in Gustave's heart; and, as she saw the silent tears coursing +their way down his cheeks, she said, entreatingly,-- + +"Oh, pardon me, sir, for having grieved you so by my talk! but my heart +is full, and my feelings force their way without knowing it. If I have +done wrong, I am sure you are too kind to be angry with me for loving +our young lady so much and bemoaning her misfortune. Have you no orders +for me to-day, sir?" + +She was about to go, as Gustave raised his downcast eyes and, +restraining his tears, exclaimed,-- + +"I--angry with you, mother Bess?--and angry, too, because you show +affection for our poor Lenora? Oh, no, no! On the contrary, I bless you +for it with all my heart! The tears you betrayed from my heart have done +me good; for I am very unhappy. Life is a burden; and if God, in his +mercy, would take me away from earth, I would gladly die. All hope of +seeing her again in this world is gone. Perhaps she is awaiting me in +the next!" + +"Oh, sir! sir! how you talk!" cried the peasant-woman, in alarm. "No! +no! that cannot be!" + +"You grieve, my good woman, and shed tears for her," continued Gustave, +without heeding the interruption; "but don't you see how _my_ soul must +be consumed with despair? Alas! for months and months I have implored +God for the happiness of seeing her once more! I overcame all obstacles +to our marriage, and I became almost mad with joy and impatience as I +flew like lightning to the home where I left her; and then my only +recompense, my only consolation, was to find her _gone_ and the house of +her fathers a wilderness!--to know, alas! that she is poor, and, +perhaps, languishing in want!--to know that my noble-hearted and beloved +Lenora sinks under the weight of misfortune, and yet to be able to do +nothing to relieve her!--to be condemned to count in powerless despair +her days of affliction, and not even to be sure that suffering has not +killed her!" + +A profound silence followed this complaining outburst, and the +peasant-woman, with her head bent to the earth, sympathized with him +truly, till, after a few moments, she attempted to console the sufferer +in her simple way:-- + +"Oh, sir, I understand only too well how much you endure! And yet why +despair? Who knows but we may receive some news of our dear young lady +when we least expect it? God is good; he will hear our prayers; and our +joy for her return will make us forget all our grief!" + +"Oh that your prophecy might be realized, my good woman! But seven +months have already gone since they departed. During three of them a +hundred persons have been employed in seeking the wanderers. They have +been sought for in every direction, and not the slightest intelligence +has been obtained; not a trace, not the least sign that they are even +alive! My reason tells me not to despair; but my heart magnifies my ills +and cries aloud that I have lost her!--lost her forever!" + +He was about quitting the garden, when a noise attracted his attention +as he pointed toward the road leading to the _château_. + +"Listen! Don't you hear something?" cried he. + +"It is the gallop of a horse," answered Bess, without comprehending why +the noise so much startled her master. + +"Poor fool!" said the young man to himself; "why am I so startled by the +passing of a horseman?" + +"But see! see! he is coming into the avenue!" cried Bess, with +increasing interest. "Oh, God! I am sure it is a messenger with news! +Heaven grant it may be good!" + +As she said this the rider passed through the gate at full gallop, and, +drawing rein at the door they had just reached, took a letter from his +pocket and handed it to the master of Grinselhof:-- + +"I come," said he, "from your notary, who ordered me to deliver you this +letter without a moment's delay." + +Gustave broke the seal with a trembling hand, while Bess, smiling with +hope, followed all her master's movements with staring eyes. + +As he read the first lines the anxious youth grew pale; but as he went +on a tremor ran through all his limbs, till with a hysterical laugh and +clasped hands he exclaimed,-- + +"Thanks! thanks! Oh, God! she is restored to me!" + +"Oh, sir, sir," cried Bess, "is it good news?" + +"Yes! yes! rejoice with me! Lenora lives! I know where she is!" answered +Gustave, half mad with delight, running into the house and calling all +the servants. "Quick! quick! Have out the travelling-carriage and the +English horses! My trunk! my cloak! Quick! fly!" + +He carried forth with his own hands a number of things that were +necessary for the journey. His fleetest horses were attached to the +vehicle; and, although they strained their bits and pawed the ground as +if impatient for the road, the postillion lashed them fiercely as they +dashed through the gateway. + +In a moment, and almost as if by magic, the coach was on the road to +Antwerp and hidden from the staring crowd by a cloud of dust. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + +Suppose that we too take a trip in fancy to Nancy, in France, in search +of poor De Vlierbeck and his daughter. Let us wind through an immense +number of narrow streets in the quarter known as the Old Town and at +last halt at the door of an humble cobbler. This is the place. Pass +through the shop, mount the staircase; another story yet; open that +door, and here we are. + +Every thing indicates poverty; but order and neatness preside over the +room. The curtains of the little bed are white as snow, the stove is +polished with black-lead till it shines, and the floor is sanded in +Flemish style. Mignonette and violets bloom in a box on the window-sill, +and a bird chirps in its cage above them. A young woman sits in front of +the window; but she is so intent on the linen she is sewing that no +other sound is heard in the silent room but that made by the motion of +her hands as they guide the needle. She is dressed in the plainest +garments; yet they are cut and put on so gracefully that one may declare +at a glance she is a lady. + +Poor Lenora! And this was what fate had in store for thee! To hide thy +noble birth under the humble roof of a mechanic; to seek a refuge from +insult and contempt far from thy childhood's home; to work without +relaxation; to fight against privation and want, and to sink at last +into shame and poverty, heart-broken by despair! Misery, doubtless, has +cast a yellow tinge upon thy cheeks and stolen its radiance from thy +glance. But no! thank God, it is not so! Thy heroic blood has +strengthened thee against fate, and thy beauty is even more ravishing +than of old! If a cloistered life has chastened thy roses, their tender +bloom has only become more touching. Thy brow has grown loftier and +purer; thine eyes still glisten beneath their sweeping lashes; and that +well-remembered smile still hovers around thy coral lips! + +Suddenly Lenora stopped working. Her hands rested on the work in her +lap, her head bent forward, her eyes were riveted dreamily on the +ground, and her soul, wandering perhaps to other lands, seemed to +abandon itself on the current of a happy reverie. After a while she +placed the linen she had been sewing on a chair and got up slowly. +Leaning languidly on the window-frame, she gathered a few violets, +played with them a while, and then looked abroad at the sky over the +roof-tops, as if longing to breathe once more the fresh air and enjoy +the spring. Soon her eyes fixed themselves compassionately on the bird +that hopped about its cage and ever and anon struck its bill against the +wires as if striving to get out. + +"Why dost thou want to leave us, dear little bird?" said she, softly. +"Why dost thou wish to be gone, dear comforter of our sadness? Sing +gayly to-day; father is well again, and life is once more a pleasure. +What is it makes thee flutter about so wildly and pant in thy cage? Ah! +is it not hard, dear little one, to be captive when we know there are +joy and freedom in the open air?--when we are born in the fields and +woods?--when we know that _there_ alone are independence and liberty. +Like thee, poor bird, I am a child of nature; I too have been torn from +my birthplace; I too bemoan the solitudes where my childhood was passed! +But has a friend or lover been snatched from thee--as from me--forever? +Dost thou grieve for something more than space and freedom? Yet why do I +ask? Thy love-season has come round again, has it not? and love is the +greatest blessing of thy little life! I understand thee, poor bird! I +will no longer be thy fate! Fly away, and God help you! Begone, and +enjoy the two greatest blessings of life! Ah, how thou singest as thy +wings bear thee away,--away to the sky and woods! Farewell! farewell!" +As she uttered these last words Lenora opened the cage-door and released +the bird, which darted away like an arrow. After this she resumed her +work and sewed on with the same zeal as before, till aroused by the +sound of footsteps on the staircase. + +"It is father! God grant he may have been lucky to-day!" + +Monsieur De Vlierbeck entered the room with a roll of paper in his hand, +and, throwing himself languidly into a chair, seemed altogether worn out +with fatigue. He had become very thin; his eyes were sunk in their +sockets, his cheeks were pale, and his whole expression was changed and +broken. It was very evident that sickness or depression, or perhaps +both, had made fearful ravages on his body as well as spirits. + +The poor old gentleman was wretchedly clad. It was evident that he had +striven as formerly to conceal his indigence, for there was not a stain +or grain of dust on his garments; but the stuff was threadbare and +patched, and all his garments were too large for his shrunken limbs. + +Lenora looked at him a moment anxiously. "You do not feel ill, father, +do you?" + +"No, Lenora," replied he; "but I am very wretched." + +Lenora said nothing, but embraced him tenderly and then knelt down with +his hand in hers. + +"Father," said she, "it is hardly a week since you were ill in bed: we +prayed to God for your restoration, and he listened to our prayers; you +are cured, dear father, and yet you give way anew at the first +disappointment. You have not been successful to-day, father? I see it in +your face. Well, what of it? Why should it interfere with our happiness? +We have long learned how to fight against fate. Let us be strong and +look misery in the face with heads up: courage is wealth; and so, father +dear, forget your disappointment. Look at me. Am I sad? do I allow +myself to be downcast and despairing? I suffered and wept enough when +you were ill; but, now that you are well again, come what may, your +Lenora will always thank God for his goodness!" + +The poor old man smiled feebly at the courageous excitement of his +daughter. + +"Poor child!" said he; "I understand very well how you strive to appear +strong in order to keep me up. May heaven repay your love, dear angel +whom God has given me! your word and smile control me so completely that +I may say a part of your soul passes with them into mine. I came home +just now quite heart-broken and half crazy with despair; but you, my +child, have restored me to myself again." + +"That's right, father," said she, rising from her knees and sitting down +on a chair close beside him; "come, father, tell me now all your +adventures to-day, and afterward I will tell you something that will +make you laugh." + +"Alas, my child! I went to Monsieur Roncevaux's academy to resume my +English lessons; but during my sickness an Englishman was put in my +place: we have lost our best bit of bread." + +"Well, how is it about Mademoiselle Pauline's German lesson?" + +"Mademoiselle Pauline has gone to Strasburg and will not come back +again. You see, Lenora, that we are losing every thing at once; so, have +I not cause to be anxious and downcast? This news seems to overcome you, +my child, strong as you are!" + +In truth, Lenora was somewhat appalled by the dejecting words; but her +father's remark restored her self-possession, and she replied, with a +forced smile,-- + +"I was thinking, father, of the pain these dismissals gave you, and they +really annoyed me Yet there are some things that ought to make me happy +to-day. Yes, father, I have some good news for you!" + +"Indeed? You astonish me!" + +Lenora pointed to the chair. + +"Do you see that linen?" said she. "I have a dozen fine shirts to make +out of it; and when they are done there are as many more waiting for me. +They pay me good wages, and I think, from what they say, that in time +there will be something better in store for me. But as yet that is only +a hope,--only a hope." + +De Vlierbeck seemed particularly struck by the last remark of his +daughter, as he looked at her anxiously. + +"Well! well! what is it that makes you so happy and hopeful?" said he. + +Lenora took up her sewing again and went busily to work. + +"You wouldn't guess it in a week, father! Do you know who gave me this +work? It is the rich lady who lives in the house with a court-yard, at +the corner of our street. She sent for me this morning, and I went to +her while you were abroad. You are surprised, father; are you not?" + +"I am, indeed, Lenora. You are speaking of Madame De Royan, for whom you +were employed to embroider those handsome collars. How does she come to +know you?" + +"I really don't know. Perhaps the person who gave me her collars to +embroider told her who worked them: she must have spoken to her about +your illness and our poverty, for Madame De Royan knows more of us than +you imagine.' + +"Heavens! She does not know--" + +"No! she knows nothing about our _name_ or from whence we came." + +"Go on, Lenora; you excite my curiosity. I see you want to teaze me +to-day!" + +"Well, father, if you are tired I will cut my story short. Madame De +Royan received me with great kindness, complimented me on my embroidery, +asked me some questions about our misfortunes, and consoled and +encouraged me generously. 'Go, my child!' said she, as she gave me the +linen; 'work with a good will and be prudent: I will protect you. I have +a great deal of sewing to do,--enough for two months at least. But that +would not be enough; I mean to recommend you to all my friends, and I +mean to see that you are paid for your work in such a way that your +father and yourself shall be above want.' I took her hand and kissed it, +for I was touched by the delicacy with which she give me _work_ and not +_alms_! Madame De Royan understood me, and, laying her hand kindly on my +shoulder, 'Keep up your spirits, Lenora,' said she; 'the time will come +when you must take apprentices to help you, and so by degrees you will +become mistress of a shop.' Yes, father, that's what she said; I know +her words by heart." + +With this she sprang to her father, embraced him, and added, with +considerable emotion,-- + +"What say you to it, father? Is it not good news? Who knows what may +come to pass? Apprentices,--a shop,--a store,--a servant: you will keep +the books and buy our goods, I will sit in the room and superintend the +workwomen! How sweet it is to be happy and to know that we owe all to +the work of our hands! Then, father, your promise will indeed be +fulfilled, and then you may pass your old days happily." + +There was a look of such extreme serenity in Monsieur De Vlierbeck's +face, an expression of such vivid happiness was reflected from his +wrinkled cheeks, that it was evident he had allowed his daughter's story +to bewitch him into entire forgetfulness. But he soon found it out, and +shook his head mournfully at the enchantress:-- + +"Oh! Lenora, Lenora, you witch! how easily have you managed to seduce +me! I followed your words like a child, and I really believed in the +happiness you promised. But let us be serious. The shoemaker spoke to me +again about the rent, and asked me to pay it. We still owe him twenty +francs, do we not?" + +"Yes, twenty francs for rent, and about twelve francs to the grocer: +that's all. When the shirts are done we will give my wages on account to +the shoemaker, and I know he will be satisfied. The grocer is willing to +give us longer credit. I received two francs and a half for my last +work. You see very well, father, that we are still quite rich, and +before a month is over will be out of debt entirely." + +Poor De Vlierbeck seemed quite consoled; and a gleam of fortitude shone +in his black eyes as he approached the table, unrolling the paper he had +brought with him on his return. + +"I have something to do too, Lenora. Professor Delsaux gave me some +pieces of music to copy for his pupils, which will give me four francs +in a couple of days. And now be quiet a while, my dear child; my nerves +are so shattered that if we talk I shall make mistakes and spoil the +paper." + +"I may sing, father; may I not?" + +"Oh, yes; that won't annoy me: your song will please my ear without +distracting my attention." + +The old gentleman went on writing, while Lenora, with a rich and joyous +voice, repeated all her songs and poured forth her heart in melody. She +sewed meanwhile diligently, and, from time to time, glanced at her +father to see whether the cloud had fallen again over his face and +spirit. + +They had been a considerable time engaged with their several +occupations, when the parish clock struck; and, putting down her work +hastily, Lenora took a basket from behind the stove and prepared to go +out. Her father looked up with surprise as he said,-- + +"What! _already_, Lenora?" + +"It has just struck half-past eleven, father." + +Without making any other remark, De Vlierbeck bent his head again over +the music-paper and continued his task. + +Lenora soon returned from her walk with her basket full of potatoes and +something else tied up in a paper, which she hid beneath a napkin. Then, +pouring some water in a pot which she placed beside her chair, she began +to sing, and threw in the potatoes as she peeled them. After this she +kindled a fire in the stove and set the pot of potatoes to boil. After +the fire burned well she put a skillet, with a little butter and a good +deal of vinegar, over the coals. + +Up to this moment her father had not looked up nor intermitted his work; +he saw her getting dinner ready every day, and it was seldom that any +variety of food appeared on their table. But, hardly had the potatoes +begun to boil, when an agreeable perfume was diffused through the +chamber. De Vlierbeck glanced up from his writing, a little +reproachfully, as he exclaimed,-- + +"What! meat on Friday, my child? you know very well we must be +economical." + +"Don't be angry, father," answered Lenora; "the doctor ordered it." + +"You are trying to deceive me, are you not?" + +"No, no; the doctor said you required meat at least three times a week, +if we could get it; it will do you more good than any thing else in +restoring your strength." + +"And yet we are in debt, Lenora!" + +"Come, come, father, let our debts alone, everybody will be paid and +satisfied. Don't trouble yourself about them any more: I'll answer for +them all. And now be so good as to take your papers off of the table, so +that I can lay the cloth." + +De Vlierbeck got up and did as he was asked. Lenora covered the +deal-boards with a snowy napkin and placed on it two plates and a dish +of potatoes. It was indeed an humble table, at which all was extremely +common; yet every thing was so neat, fresh, and savory, that a rich man +might have sat down to it with appetite. They took their places and +asked a blessing on the meal; but, before the prayer was finished, +Lenora started suddenly and interrupted her father. With eyes staring +toward the door and head leaned forward, she listened eagerly, motioning +her father with her hand to be silent. + +There was a sound of footsteps and voices on the staircase, and, as they +approached, Lenora thought she recognised the tones. She bounded to the +door with a sharp cry, and, closing it, leaned against the boards to +prevent any one from entering. + +"For God's sake, child, what are you afraid of?" cried her father. + +"GUSTAVE! GUSTAVE!" whispered Lenora, with pale and quivering lips. "He +is there! he is there! I hear him. Take away that table quickly. Of all +the world he is the last who should see our misery!" + +De Vlierbeck's face grew dark, his head became erect and fierce, and his +eyes flashed with their ancient fire. Advancing silently to his +daughter, he drew her from the door. Lenora fled to a corner of the +room, and covered her face, which was red with mortification. + +Suddenly the door opened, and a young man rushed into the chamber with +an exclamation of joy as he advanced, open-armed, toward the trembling +girl, whom he would have pressed to his breast had not the hand and look +of her father arrested his steps. + +For a moment he stood like one stupefied, glancing from the wretched +board to the miserable dress of the old man and his daughter. The sight +affected the intruder, for he covered his eyes as he exclaimed, in +subdued and despairing tones, "Oh, God! has it come to this?" + +But he did not allow himself to remain long under the influence either +of his feelings or of her father, and, advancing anew to Lenora, seized +and pressed both her hands ardently. + +"Oh! look at me, Lenora! Let me see if thy heart has preserved the +memory of our love!" + +Lenora's eyes met his at once and with affection. It was a look that +completely revealed her pure and constant soul. + +"Oh, happiness!" cried Gustave, enthusiastically; "thou art still my +dear and tender Lenora! Thank God, no power on earth can ever separate +me again from my betrothed! Receive, receive the kiss of our union!" + +He stretched his arms toward her. Lenora, trembling with agony and +happiness, stood downcast and blushing, as if awaiting the solemn kiss; +but, before Gustave could accomplish the act, De Vlierbeck was by his +side, and, grasping his hand, held him motionless. + +"Monsieur Denecker," said her father, severely, "have the goodness to +moderate your transports. We are certainly glad to see you once more; +but neither you nor I can forget what we are. Respect our poverty!" + +"What do you say?" cried Gustave. "_What you are_! You are my +friend,--my father. Lenora is my betrothed! Oh heaven! why look at me so +reproachfully?" + +He seized the hand of Lenora again, and, drawing her toward her father, +rapidly continued:-- + +"Listen! My uncle died in Italy and left me heir of all his property. He +commanded me on his death-bed to marry Lenora. I have searched heaven +and earth to find you. I have suffered for many months all the torture +that a nature like mine can endure; and at length I have discovered you! +I have come, sir, to ask the reward of my suffering. I lay my fortune, +heart, and life at your feet; and, in exchange, I implore the happiness +of leading Lenora to the altar. Grant me that favor, O my _father_! +Grinselhof awaits you. I bought it for you. Every thing is there again. +The portraits of your ancestors are in their places on the wall, and +every thing that was dear to you is restored. Come! let me watch your +old days, your declining years, with the veneration of a son! let me +make you happy again;--oh, how happy!" + +The old man's expression did not change, yet a tear moistened his eye. + +"Ah!" continued Gustave, "nothing on earth can again separate me from +her,--not even a father's power; for I feel that God himself has given +her to me! Yet pardon me, father, for my rashness, and bestow your +benediction!" + +De Vlierbeck seemed to have utterly forgotten the young man and his +transports; for he stood with clasped hands and eyes raised to heaven, +as if addressing his Maker in fervent prayer. At length his words began +to be heard distinctly:-- + +"Oh, Margaret! Margaret! rejoice on the bosom of God. My promise is +fulfilled;--thy child will be happy!" + +Gustave and Lenora stood before him hand in hand; and, as he threw his +arms around the young man,-- + +"May Heaven bless you for your love!" continued he. "Make my child +happy. She is your wife!" + +"Gustave, Gustave,--_my husband!_" exclaimed Lenora, as they threw +themselves into each other's arms, and the first kiss of love--the +first consecrated kiss--was exchanged on the breast of that happy +father, who wept over and blessed his children. + + * * * * * + +And now, gentle reader, I must inform you that I have had my own reasons +for concealing the situation and even the true name of the _château_ of +DE VLIERBECK. None of you will, therefore, ever know where Gustave and +Lenora dwell. I know Monsieur and Madame Denecker intimately, and have +taken many a walk around Grinselhof with two charming little children +and their venerable _grandfather_. I have often beheld the beautiful +picture of peace, love, and domestic happiness that is seen in that old +house beneath the grim ancestral portraits or in the fresh air under the +trees. I will not say who told me the story of this family. Let it +suffice that I know all the persons who have played a part in it, and +that I have often chatted with Farmer John and Dame Bess while they +poured forth their gossip about "The Poor Gentleman" and his trials. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE POOR GENTLEMAN*** + + +******* This file should be named 13576-8.txt or 13576-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/3/5/7/13576 + + + +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 <a href = "https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: The Poor Gentleman</p> +<p>Author: Hendrik Conscience</p> +<p>Release Date: October 2, 2004 [eBook #13576]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE POOR GENTLEMAN***</p> +<br /><br /><h3>E-text prepared by Audrey Longhurst, Josephine Paolucci,<br /> + and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team</h3><br /><br /> + <hr class="full" /> + <br /> + <br /> + <br /> + + <h1>THE POOR GENTLEMAN</h1> + <h4>BY</h4> + <h2>HENDRIK CONSCIENCE</h2> + <br /> + <h4>AUTHOR OF <i>THE CURSE OF THE VILLAGE</i>, <i>THE HAPPINESS OF + BEING RICH</i>, <i>VEVA</i>, <i>THE LION OF FLANDERS</i>, <i>COUNT + HUGO OF CRAENHOVE</i>, <i>WOODEN CLARA</i>, <i>RICKETICKETACK</i>, + <i>THE DEMON OF GOLD</i>, <i>THE VILLAGE INN-KEEPER</i>, <i>THE + CONSCRIPT</i>, <i>BLIND ROSA</i>, <i>THE AMULET</i>, <i>THE + MISER</i>, <i>THE FISHERMAN'S DAUGHTER</i>, ETC.</h4> + <br /> + + <h5>Translated Expressly for this Edition.</h5> + <br /> + <br /> + <hr style='width: 65%;' /> + <br /> + <br /> + <br /> + <h3>CONTENTS</h3> + <br /> + <center> + <table border="0"><tr><td align="left"> + <!-- Autogenerated TOC. Modify or delete as required. --> + <a href='#CHAPTER_I'><b>CHAPTER I.</b></a><br /> + <a href='#CHAPTER_II'><b>CHAPTER II.</b></a><br /> + <a href='#CHAPTER_III'><b>CHAPTER III.</b></a><br /> + <a href='#CHAPTER_IV'><b>CHAPTER IV.</b></a><br /> + <a href='#CHAPTER_V'><b>CHAPTER V.</b></a><br /> + <a href='#CHAPTER_VI'><b>CHAPTER VI.</b></a><br /> + <a href='#CHAPTER_VII'><b>CHAPTER VII.</b></a><br /> + <a href='#CHAPTER_VIII'><b>CHAPTER VIII.</b></a><br /> + <a href='#CHAPTER_IX'><b>CHAPTER IX.</b></a><br /> + <a href='#CHAPTER_X'><b>CHAPTER X.</b></a><br /> + <a href='#CHAPTER_XI'><b>CHAPTER XI.</b></a><br /> + <!-- End Autogenerated TOC. --> + </td></tr></table> + </center> + <br /> + <br /> + <hr style='width: 65%;' /> + <br /> + <br /> + <br /> + <a id="Preface_to_the_American_Edition" name='Preface_to_the_American_Edition'></a> + <h2>Preface to the American Edition.</h2> + <br /> + + <p>The story of "THE POOR GENTLEMAN," now given in our language for the first time, + is one of the series in which M. Conscience has delineated various grades of female + character in positions of trial. In "The Village Innkeeper" he has shown the weaker + traits of woman distracted between an inborn sense of propriety and a foolish + ambition for high, life. In the "Conscript" his heroine displays the nobler virtues + of uncorrupted humble life; and, with few characters, taken from the lowest walks, he + shows the triumph of honest, straightforward earnestness and pertinacious courage, + even when they are brought in conflict with authority. "The Poor Gentleman" closes + the series; and, selecting a heroine from the educated classes of his country-people + M. Conscience has demonstrated how superior a <i>genuine woman</i> becomes to all the + mishaps of fortune, and how successfully she subdues that imaginary <i>fate</i> + before which so many are seen to fall.</p> + <p>It would be difficult to describe this remarkable work without analyzing the tale + and criticizing its personages. This would anticipate the author and mar the interest + of his story. We must confine ourselves, therefore, to general remarks on its + structure and characteristics.</p> + <p><i>Pontmartin</i>, the distinguished French <i>feuilletonist</i>, says, in one of + his "Literary Chats," that these simple stories are "pearls set in Flemish + gold,—a gold which alchemysts seek for in alembics and furnaces, but which + Conscience has found in the inexhaustible veins of nature." "The Poor Gentleman," he + remarks, "is a tale of not more than a hundred and fifty pages; but I would not give + its shortest chapter for all the <i>romances</i> I ever read. The perplexed De + Vlierbeck—who ought to have had Caleb Balderstone for a servant—is one of + those characters that engrave themselves indelibly on our memory." In every trait and + detail the author has attained a photographic minuteness; which, while it is distinct + and sharp, never interferes with that motion, breadth, and picturesque effect that + impart life and reality to a story. Nor can we doubt that it will be read and re-read + as long as there is a particle of that feeling among us which installed the Vicar of + Wakefield, Paul and Virginia, the Crock of Gold, the Sketch-book, and the Tales of a + Traveller, among the heirlooms of every tasteful household. The "Tales of Flemish + Life" are additions to that rare stock of home-literature which is at once amiable + and gentle, simple and affectionate, familiar and tender, and which meets a quick + response from every honest heart and earnest spirit.</p> + <p>If it be objected that the stories are too short and sketchy for the praise that + has been bestowed on them, it may be answered that in their translation we have had + the best opportunity to observe the skill, power, and perception of character which + constitute their real merit. Simple as they seem, they are written with masterly art. + In design, elaborateness, tone, and finish, they resemble the works of the Flemish + School which have made us familiar with the Low Countries and their people through + the pictures of Ruysdael, Teniers, and Ostade. There is scarcely a leaf that does not + display some of those recondite or evanescent secrets of human nature which either + escape ordinary writers, or, when found by them, are spread out over volume instead + of being condensed into a page.</p> + <p><i>Baltimore, August</i>, 1856.</p> + <p>THE TRANSLATOR.</p> + <hr style='width: 65%;' /> + <a id="CHAPTER_I" name='CHAPTER_I'></a> + <h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> + <br /> + + <p>Near the end of July, 1842, an open <i>calèche</i> might have been seen + rolling along one of the three highways that lead from the frontiers of Holland + toward Antwerp. Although the vehicle had evidently been cleaned with the utmost care, + every thing about it betokened decay. Its joints were open, discolored, and + weather-beaten, and it swung from side to side on its springs like a rickety + skeleton. Its patched leathers shone in the sunshine with the oil that had been used + to freshen them, but the borrowed lustre could not hide the cracks and repairs with + which they were defaced. The door-handles and other parts of the vehicle that were + made of copper had been carefully polished, and the vestiges of silver-plating, still + visible in the creases of the ornaments, denoted a former richness which had been + almost entirely worn out by time and use.</p> + <p>The <i>calèche</i> was drawn by a stout, heavy horse, whose short and + lumbering gait intimated very clearly that he was oftener employed in the plough and + cart than in carrying his owner toward the capital.</p> + <p>A peasant-boy of seventeen or eighteen was perched on the driver's seat. He was in + livery; a tarnished gold band adorned his hat, and brass buttons glistened on his + coat; but the hat fell over his ears, and the coat was so large that the driver + seemed lost in it as in a bag. The garments had been worn by many of the lackey's + predecessors on the box, and, in a long series of years, had doubtless passed from + coachman to coachman till they descended to their present possessor.</p> + <p>The only person in the vehicle was a man about fifty years old. He was + unquestionably the master of both servant and cabriolet, for his look and deportment + commanded respect and consideration. With head depressed and moody air, he sat + motionless and dreamy in his seat till he heard the approach of other vehicles, when, + suddenly lifting his eyes, he would salute the strangers graciously and then + instantly relapse into his former attitude. A moment's glance at this person was + sufficient to excite an interest in him. His face, though hard and wrinkled, was so + regular and noble in its contour, his look so mild and yet so earnest and + penetrating, his broad brow so clear and lofty, that the most careless observer could + not doubt that he was endowed with the best qualities of human nature. Besides this, + there were unquestionable indications that he had been a sufferer. If a simple glance + at his features did not impress one with a conviction of this fact, it was confirmed + by the fringe of silvery hair that straggled over his temples, and the sombre, + melancholy fire that glimmered in his eyes like the last rays of expiring hope.</p> + <p>His dress was in perfect keeping with his physiognomy. It was of that neat and + simple style which always characterizes a man of the world who is governed by refined + and elegant tastes. His linen was spotlessly white, his cloth extremely fine, and his + well-brushed hat shone smartly in the sunshine. Occasionally, as some one passed on + the road, he might be seen to draw forth a handsome gold snuff-box and inhale a pinch + with so graceful an air that an observer would be convinced he belonged to the + highest classes of society. A malicious eye, it is true, might have discovered by + close inspection that the brush had been too familiar with his coat and worn it + threadbare, that his silk hat had been doctored to preserve its lustre and + smoothness, and that his gloves were elaborately darned. If an inquisitive critic + could have pried into the bottom of the vehicle, he would have detected a large crack + in the side of the left boot, beneath which a gray stocking had been carefully masked + with ink. Still, all these signs of poverty were so artfully concealed, and his dress + worn with so careless an air of opulence and ease, that every body might have + supposed the traveller did not put on better clothes only because he had a whim for + bad ones.</p> + <p>The <i>calèche</i> had rolled along rapidly for about two hours, when the + driver suddenly drew up at a small inn on the dike outside of the city of Antwerp. + The landlady and groom instantly sallied forth, and by their profound salutations and + civility exhibited their marked respect for a well-known stranger.</p> + <p>"It's a fine day, Monsieur Vlierbeck, isn't it?" said the dame; "yet it's a trifle + warm, however. Don't you think it would be well for the high-grounds if we had a + sprinkle more of rain, Monsieur Vlierbeck? Shall we give the horse some hay, Monsieur + Vlierbeck? But stay: I see, now, your coachman has brought his hay with him. Will you + take anything, Monsieur Vlierbeck?"</p> + <p>While the hostess was pouring forth this torrent of questions, Monsieur De + Vlierbeck got out of the vehicle, and, entering the house, addressed the most + flattering compliments to the dame about her good looks, inquired as to the health of + each of her children, and finished by apprizing her that he was obliged to be in town + instantly. Thereupon, shaking her cordially by the hand, yet with a condescending air + that marked and preserved the distance between them, he gave his orders to his + lackey, and, with a farewell bow, walked toward the bridge leading into the city.</p> + <p>At a solitary spot on the outer rampart Monsieur De Vlierbeck stopped, looked + round as if to see if any one was observing him, dusted his garments, brushed his hat + with a handkerchief, and then passed on through the Porte Rouge into the city of + Antwerp.</p> + <p>As he entered a town where he was likely to find himself constantly an object of + notice, he assumed a lofty carriage and self-satisfied air, which might have deceived + any one into the belief that he was the happiest man on earth. And yet—alas, + poor gentleman!—he was a prey to the profoundest agony! He was, perhaps, about + to suffer <i>humiliation</i>,—a humiliation that would cut him to the very + heart! But there was a being in the world whom he loved better than his life or + honor,—his only child, his daughter! For her—how frequently had he + already sacrificed his pride, how frequently had he suffered the pangs of martyrdom! + Still, so great a slave was he to this passionate love that every new endurance, + every new trial, raised him in his own estimation and exalted his pain into something + that ennobled and sanctified his very nature!</p> + <p>His heart beat violently as he entered deeper and deeper into the heart of the + city and approached the house he was about to visit. Soon after he stopped at a door, + and, as he pulled the bell, his hand trembled violently in spite of extraordinary + self-control; but as soon as a servant answered the summons he became master of + himself again.</p> + <p>"Is the notary in?" inquired the old gentleman. The servant replied affirmatively, + and, showing the visitor into a small room, went to apprize his master.</p> + <p>As soon as Monsieur De Vlierbeck was alone, he put his right foot over the left to + hide the rent in his boot, drew forth the gold snuff-box, and made ready to take a + pinch.</p> + <p>The notary came in. He was a spare, business-looking man, and was preparing to + salute his guest graciously, but no sooner did he perceive who it was than his face + grew dark and assumed that reserved air with which a cautious man arms himself when + he expects a request which he is predetermined to refuse. Instead, therefore, of + lavishing on Monsieur De Vlierbeck the compliments with which he habitually welcomed + his visitors, the notary confined himself to a few cold words of recognition and then + sat down silently in front of him.</p> + <p>Wounded and humbled by this ungracious reception, poor De Vlierbeck was seized + with a chill and became slightly pale; still, he managed to rally his nerves, as he + remarked, affably,—"Pray excuse me, sir; but, pressed by imperious necessity, I + have come once more to appeal to your kindness for a small service."</p> + <p>"What is it you wish of me?" answered the notary, tartly.</p> + <p>"I wish you to find another loan of a thousand <i>francs</i> for me,—or even + less,—secured by a mortgage on my property. I do not want all the money at + once, but I have especial need of two hundred <i>francs</i>, which I must ask the + favor of you to lend me to-day. I trust you will not deny me this trifling loan, + which will extricate me from the deepest embarrassment."</p> + <p>"A thousand <i>francs</i>, on mortgage?" growled the notary; "and who, pray, will + guarantee the interest? Your property is already mortgaged for more than it is + worth."</p> + <p>"Oh! you are mistaken, sir," exclaimed Monsieur De Vlierbeck, anxiously.</p> + <p>"Not the least in the world! By order of the persons who have already accommodated + you with money, I caused your property to be appraised at the very highest rates; and + the consequence is that your creditors will not get back their loans unless it shall + sell for an extraordinary price. Permit me to say, sir, that you have acted very + foolishly: had I been in your place, I would not have sacrificed all my fortune, and + my wife's too, to save a worthless fellow, even though he had been my brother!"</p> + <p>De Vlierbeck frowned, as a painful recollection shot through his mind, but said + nothing, though his hand grasped the golden snuff-box as if he would have crushed + it.</p> + <p>"By that imprudent act," continued the notary, "you have plunged yourself and your + child into absolute want; for you can no longer disguise it. For ten years—and + God knows at what cost—you have been able to keep the secret of your ruin; but + the inevitable hour is approaching, Monsieur De Vlierbeck, when you will be forced to + surrender every thing!"</p> + <p>De Vlierbeck riveted a look of doubt and agony on the notary as the latter + continued:—</p> + <p>"I must tell you frankly the condition of your affairs. Monsieur de Hoogebaen died + during his journey in Germany; his heirs found your bond for four thousand + <i>francs</i>, and have directed me <i>not</i> to renew it. If Monsieur Hoogebaen was + your friend his heirs certainly are not. During ten years you have failed to cancel + this debt, and have paid two thousand <i>francs</i> interest; so that, for your own + sake, it is time the transaction should be closed. Four months are still left, + Monsieur Vlierbeck, before the expiration of—"</p> + <p>"<i>Only</i> four months!" interrupted the poor gentleman, in a distressed tone; + "<i>only</i> four months, and then—oh, God!"</p> + <p>"Then your property will be sold according to law," said the notary, dryly, + finishing the sentence. "I can well understand, sir, that this is a painful prospect; + but, as it is a decree of fate that no one can control, you have nothing to do but + prepare to receive the blow. Let me offer to sell your estate as if you 'were leaving + the country.' By that means you will escape the mortification of a forced sale."</p> + <p>For several moments Monsieur De Vlierbeck remained silent, his face buried in his + hands, as if crushed by the notary's advice and callousness. At length he replied, + calmly but humbly,—</p> + <p>"Your counsel is, perhaps, wise and generous; yet I will not follow it. You know + that all my sacrifices, my painful life, my constant agony, have been patiently + endured for the sake of my only child. You alone know that all I do has but, one + purpose,—a purpose which I hold sacred. I have reason to believe that God is + about granting the earnest prayer I have daily offered for ten years. My daughter is + beloved by a rich gentleman, whose character I think I may confide in, and his family + appears to sympathize in all his views. <i>Four months!</i> it is but a short time, + alas! yet, ought I, by anticipating the legal period of a sale, to destroy all my + fond hopes? Ought I instantly to welcome misery for myself and my child when I see + the chance of sure relief from all we have suffered?"</p> + <p>"Then you want to <i>deceive</i> these people, whoever they may be? Do you not + suppose that by such a course of conduct you may make your daughter still more + wretched?"</p> + <p>At the word "<i>deceive</i>" the poor gentleman winced as if stung by an adder, + while a nervous thrill ran through his limbs and suffused his face with a blush of + shame.</p> + <p>"<i>Deceive!</i>" echoed he, bitterly; "oh, no! but I dare not, by a rash avowal + of my want, stifle the love that is growing up mutually. Whenever it becomes + necessary to be decided, I will make a loyal disclosure of my condition. If the + declaration ruin my hopes I will follow your advice. I will sell all I have; I will + quit the country and seek in some foreign land to maintain myself and my beloved + child by teaching." He stopped for a moment, as if swallowing his grief, and then + continued, in a lower tone, half speaking to himself, "And, yet, did I not promise my + dear wife on her death-bed—did I not promise it on the holy cross—that + our child should not undergo such a fate? Ten years of suffering—ten abject + years—have not sufficed to realize my promise; and now, at last, a feeble ray + of hope struggles into my sombre future—" He grasped the notary's hand, looked + wildly but earnestly into his eyes, and added, in suppliant tones, "Oh, my friend, + help me! help me in this last and trying effort; do not prolong my torture; grant my + prayer, and as long as I live I will bless my benefactor, the savior of my + child!"</p> + <p>The notary withdrew his hand as he answered, with some embarrassment, "Yet, + Monsieur De Vlierbeck, I cannot comprehend what all this has to do with the loan of a + thousand <i>francs</i>!"</p> + <p>De Vlierbeck thrust his rejected hand into his pocket as he replied, "Yes, sir, it + <i>is</i> ridiculous, is it not, to fall so low and to see one's happiness or misery + depend on things about which other persons may laugh? And yet, alas! so it is! The + young gentleman of whom I spoke to you is to dine with us to-morrow in company with + his uncle,—the uncle invited himself,—and we have absolutely <i>nothing + to give them!</i> Besides this, my child needs some trifles to appear decently before + the guests, and it is probable that the civility will be returned by an invitation + from them. Our isolation cannot long conceal our want. Sacrifices of all kinds have + already been made to prevent our being overwhelmed with mortification." As he uttered + these last words he drew forth his hand from his pocket with about two <i>francs</i> + in small change, which he held exposed on his palm before the notary. "And now, + behold," continued he, with a bitter smile,—"behold every cent I have in the + world; and to-morrow rich people are to dine at my house! If my poverty is betrayed + by any thing, farewell to my child's prospects! For God's sake, my good friend, be + generous, and help me!"</p> + <p>"A thousand <i>francs</i>!" muttered the notary, shaking his head; "I can't + deceive my clients, sir. What pledge can you give to secure the loan? You possess + nothing which is not already mortgaged beyond its value."</p> + <p>"A thousand! five hundred! two hundred!" cried De Vlierbeck. "Lend me, at least, + <i>something</i> to relieve me from this cruel difficulty!"</p> + <p>"I have no disposable funds," replied the notary, coldly. "In a fortnight perhaps + I may have some; but even then I could promise nothing positively."</p> + <p>"Then, for the sake of friendship, I beseech you, lend me some money + yourself!"</p> + <p>"I could never expect that you would return what I might lend," said the notary, + contemptuously; "and so it is an <i>alms</i> you ask of me?"</p> + <p>Poor De Vlierbeck trembled on his chair and became pale as ashes; his eyes flashed + wildly and his brow knotted with frowns. Yet he quickly curbed the unwonted + agitation, bowed his head, and sighed, resignedly, "ALMS! Alas! so be it! let me + drink the very dregs of this bitter cup: <i>it is for my child</i>!"</p> + <p>The notary went to a drawer and took from it some five-franc-pieces, which he + offered to his visitor. It is difficult to say whether the poor gentleman was wounded + by the actual receipt of charity, or whether the sum was too small to be useful; but, + without touching the money, he glanced angrily at the silver and fell back in his + chair, covering his face with his hands.</p> + <p>Just at this moment a servant entered, announcing another visitor; and, as soon as + the lackey left the apartment, Monsieur De Vlierbeck sprang from his chair, dashing + away the tears that had gathered in his eyes. The notary pointed to the money, which + he laid on the corner of the table; but the mortified guest turned away his head with + a gesture of repugnant refusal.</p> + <p>"Pardon my boldness, sir," said he, "but I have now only one favor to ask of + you"</p> + <p>"And it is—?"</p> + <p>"That you will keep my secret for my daughter's sake."</p> + <p>'Oh, as to that, make yourself easy. You know me well enough to be aware of my + discretion. Do you decline this trifling aid?"</p> + <p>"Thanks! thanks!" cried the gentleman, pushing away the notary's hand; and, + trembling as if seized by a sudden chill, he rushed from the room and the house + without waiting for the servant to open the door.</p> + <p>Utterly overcome by the terrible blow to his hopes, beside himself with + mortification, with his head hanging on his bosom and his eyes bent staringly on the + ground, the poor fellow ran about the streets for a considerable length of time + without knowing what he was about or whither he was going. At length the stern + conviction of want and duty partially aroused him from his feverish dream, and he + walked on rapidly in the direction of the gate of Borgenhout, till he found himself + entirely alone among the fortifications.</p> + <p>He had no sooner reached this solitary quarter than a terrible conflict seemed to + begin within him; his lips quivered and muttered incoherently, while his face + exhibited a thousand different expressions of suffering, shame, and hope. After a + while he drew forth from his pocket the golden snuff-box, looked long and sadly on + the armorial engravings that adorned it, and then fell into a reverie, from which he + suddenly aroused himself as if about taking a solemn resolution. With his eyes + intently fixed on the box, he began to obliterate the arms with his knife, as he + murmured, in a voice of tremulous emotion,—</p> + <p>"Remembrancer of my dear and excellent mother, protecting talisman that has so + long concealed my misery and which I invoked as a sacred shield whenever poverty was + on the eve of betraying me, last fragment of my ancestry, I must bid thee farewell; + and—alas! alas!—my own hand must profane and destroy thee! God grant that + the last service thou wilt ever render me may save us from overwhelming + humiliation!"</p> + <p>A tear trickled down his wan cheek as his voice became still; but he went on with + his task of obliteration till every trace of the crest and shield disappeared from + the emblazoned lid. After this he returned to the heart of the town and passed + through a number of small and lonely streets, glancing eagerly, but askance, at the + signs as he passed onward in his agitation.</p> + <p>An hour had certainly elapsed in this bootless wandering, when he entered a narrow + lane in the quarter of Saint André and uttered a sudden cry of joy as he + caught a glimpse of the object for which he was in search. His eye lighted on a sign + which bore the simple but ominous inscription—"SWORN PAWNBROKER." He passed by + the door and walked rapidly to the end of the lane; then, turning hastily, he + retraced his steps, hastening or lingering as he noticed any one passing in his + neighborhood, till at length he crept along the wall to the door, and, seeing the + thoroughfare almost empty, rushed into the house and disappeared.</p> + <p>After a considerable time De Vlierbeck came forth from the money-lender's and + quickly gained another street. There was a slight expression of satisfaction in his + eyes; but the bright blush that suffused his haggard cheeks gave token of the new + humiliation through which the sufferer had passed. Walking rapidly from street to + street, he soon reached a pastry-cook's, where he filled a basket with a stuffed + turkey, a pie, preserves, and various other smaller equipments for the table, and, + paying for his purchases, told the cook that he would send his servant for the + packages. Farther on he bought a couple of silver spoons and a pair of ear-rings from + a jeweller, and then proceeded on his way, probably to make additional acquisitions + for the proposed entertainment.</p> + <hr style='width: 65%;' /> + <a id="CHAPTER_II" name='CHAPTER_II'></a> + <h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> + <br /> + + <p>In our wild and thorny region of the North a brave and toilsome peasantry have + long been engaged in victorious conflict with the barren sleep to which nature seemed + to have condemned the soil. They have stirred up the sterile depths and watered them + with their sweat; they have summoned science and industry to their aid, drained + marshes, diverted the streamlets that descended toward the Meuse from the highlands + and put them in circulation through innumerable arteries to fatten and enrich the + land. What a glorious fight it was of man against matter! What a magnificent triumph + it has been to convert the unthrifty Campine<a id="FNanchor_A_1" + name='FNanchor_A_1'></a><a href='#Footnote_A_1'><sup>[A]</sup></a> into a fruitful + and luxurious region! Indeed, our descendants will hardly believe their own eyes when + in future times they shall behold grass-covered plains, flowery meadows, and fields + waving with grain, where the lingering patriarchs of our day may point out the sites + of burning sand-pits and barren moors!</p> + <a id="Footnote_A_1" name='Footnote_A_1'></a><a href='#FNanchor_A_1'>[A]</a> + <div class='note'> + <p>The Flemings have given the name of <i>Campine</i> to the vast uncultivated + spaces extending in the north of Belgium from the vicinity of Antwerp to Venloo. + The improvement of the <i>Campine,</i> undertaken on a large scale within some + years, has already produced the happiest results.</p> + </div> + <p>North of the city of Antwerp, toward the frontiers of Holland, there are but few + traces of this gradual improvement. It is only along highroads that the traveller + begins to observe the effect of liberal agriculture on the sandy soil, while, farther + on toward the heart of the region, every thing is still bare and uncultivated. As far + as the eye can penetrate, nothing is to be seen in that quarter but arid plains + thinly covered with stunted vegetation, while the horizon is bounded by that blue and + cloudy line which always marks the limit of a desert. Yet, as we journey over these + vast spaces, it is impossible not to observe, from time to time, that a clear and + slender rivulet meanders here and there over the moor, and that its verdant banks are + studded with vigorous plants and thrifty trees; while in many places the hardy sons + of toil who took advantage of the neighboring water, have opened their lonely farms, + built comfortable houses, and frequently gathered themselves together in neat and + thrifty villages.</p> + <p>In one of these spots, where meadow-land and pasturage have made agriculture + profitable, and by the side of an unfrequented road, there is a farm of considerable + size and value. The massive trees which spread their thick shade on every side attest + that the spot has been occupied and cultivated for several generations. Besides, the + ditches which surround it, and the stone bridge that leads to the principal gate, + justify the belief that the estate has some right to be considered a lordly demesne. + In the neighborhood it is known as GRINSELHOF. The entire front of the property is + covered by the homestead of the farmer, comprising his stables and granges; so that, + in fact, every thing in their rear is concealed by these edifices as well as by dense + thickets and hedges which are growing in all the wild luxuriance of nature. Indeed, + the dwelling of the proprietor was a mystery even to the farmer who worked the soil; + for its surrounding copses were an impenetrable veil to his eyes, beyond which + neither he nor his family were ever allowed to pass without special permission.</p> + <p>Within this lonely and sacred precinct, buried in foliage, was a large house, + called THE CHÂTEAU, inhabited by a gentleman and his daughter, who, without a + single servant, companion, or attendant, led the lonely lives of hermits. The + neighbors said that it was avarice or ill-humor that induced a person possessed of so + beautiful an estate to bury himself in such a solitude. The farmer who worked on the + property carefully avoided all explanations as to the conduct or purpose of the + proprietor, and sedulously respected the mysterious habits and fancies of his master. + His business prospered; for the soil was fertile and the rent low. Indeed, he was + grateful to his landlord, and, every Sunday, lent him a horse, which carried him and + his daughter, in their weather-beaten <i>calèche</i>, to the village church. + On great occasions the farmer's son performed the duty of lackey for the + proprietor.</p> + <p>It is an afternoon of one of the last days of July. The sun has nearly finished + his daily course, and is declining rapidly toward the horizon; still, his rays, + though less ardent than at noontide, are hot enough to make the air close and + stifling. At Grinselhof the last beams of the setting luminary play gayly over the + foliage, gilding the tree-tops with sparkling light, while, on the eastern side of + the dense foliage, the long, broad shadows begin to fall athwart the sward, and + prepare the groves for the gentle and refreshing breeze that springs up at + twilight.</p> + <p>Sadness and gloom hang over the sombre château and its grounds; a deathlike + silence weighs like a gravestone on the desolate scene; the birds are songless; the + wind is still; not a leaf stirs; and light alone seems to be living in that dreary + solitude. No one could observe the entire absence of noise, motion, and vitality, + without being impressed with the idea that nature had been suddenly plunged in a deep + and magic sleep.</p> + <p>Suddenly the foliage at the end of a thicket in the distance is seen to stir, + while a cloud of twittering birds, frightened from the herbage, flies rapidly across + the little path, which is immediately occupied by a young female dressed entirely in + white, who dashes from between the branches with a silken net in pursuit of a + butterfly. The beautiful apparition, with loose and streaming hair, seemed rather to + fly than run, as her light and rapid steps, full of eagerness and animation, scarcely + touched the earth while darting after the gaudy insect. How graceful she is, as, + halting for an instant beneath the coquettish moth, she looks up to behold its + gold-and-purple wings dancing round her head, mocking and playing with its gay + pursuer! She thinks she has caught it; but, alas! the edge of her net only touched + the butterfly's wings, and away it dashes, over hedge and copse, far, far beyond her + reach! How beautiful she is, as, in that golden light, warmed with exercise and + excitement, her eyes glistening, her lips parted, her graceful arms stretched upward, + she stands gazing, half pleased, half disappointed, after the departing insect, till + it is lost in the evening sky! Wind and sunshine have slightly tanned her delicate + cheeks, but their roses are only heightened into the glow of perfect health. Beneath + her high and polished brow, coal-black eyes shine through long and silken fringes, + while a chiselled mouth discloses rows of faultless pearls between lips which shame + the coral! Her stately head is framed in masses of long, curling hair; and, as the + locks are floated over her ivory shoulders by rapid motion, the proud and arching + lines of her swan-like neck are fully displayed in all their splendor. Her form is + lithe and supple, and its graceful contour is modestly marked by a snowy dress. As + she lifts her head and gazes at the sky, a poet might easily fancy her to be some + fanciful "being of the air," and convert her into the fairy queen of the solitary + realm!</p> + <p>For a long while this beautiful woman wandered about the paths of the lonely + garden, seemingly absorbed in reveries of various kinds. At times she was gay, at + times sad. At length she approached a bed of violets, which, from the training of the + plants, had evidently, been carefully tended, and, observing that they languished + under the intense heat of the past day, began to grieve over them.</p> + <p>"Alas! my dear little flowers, why did I neglect to water you yesterday? You are + very thirsty, are you not, my charming pets?"</p> + <p>For a moment or two she was quiet, still gazing at the violets, and then + continued, in the same dreamy tone:—</p> + <p>"But then, alas! since yesterday my mind has been so disturbed, so happy, + so—" Her eyes fell, and a blush crimsoned her cheeks, as she murmured, softly, + "GUSTAVE!"</p> + <p>Motionless as a statue, and absorbed in her enchanting dream, she forgot the poor + little violets, and, probably, the whole world.</p> + <p>"His image ever, ever before me! his voice ever ringing in my ears! Why try to + escape their fascination? Oh, God! what is this that is passing within me? My heart + trembles; sometimes my blood bounds wildly through my veins, and then again it creeps + and freezes; and yet how happy I am! what inexpressible joy fills my very soul!"</p> + <p>She was silent; then, seeming suddenly to rouse herself, she raised her head and + threw back the thick curls, as if anxious to disembarrass her mind of a haunting + thought.</p> + <p>"Wait, my dear flowers," said she, smiling, to the violets; "wait a moment: I will + comfort and refresh you."</p> + <p>With this she disappeared in the grove, and, in a short time, brought from it a + few twigs and leaves, which she arranged in a little trellis over the flower-beds, so + as to shadow the violets completely from the sun. After this she took a small + watering-pot and ran across the grass to a basin or tank in the middle of the garden, + around which a number of weeping-willows drooped their branches into the water. On + her arrival its surface was perfectly smooth; but hardly had her image been reflected + in the tank when it appeared to swarm with living creatures. Hundreds of gold-fishes, + of all colors, swam toward her with their mouths gaping from the water, as if the + poor little animals were trying to speak to her. Holding on by the trunk of the + nearest willow, she bent gracefully over the pond and tried to fill her watering-pot + without touching the gold-fish.</p> + <p>"Come, come; let me alone just now," said she, as she carefully avoided them; "I + haven't time to play with you; I will bring you your dinner after a while."</p> + <p>But the fish fluttered around the watering-pot until she withdrew it from the + tank; and, even after her departure, continued to crowd toward the bank she had + touched with her foot.</p> + <p>The young lady watered her flowers and replaced the pot gently on the ground; + then, retiring slowly to the solitary house, she returned after a while at the same + slow pace, and, throwing some crumbs to the fish, began to saunter slowly about the + garden-paths, inattentive to every thing but her own absorbing thoughts. At length + she reached a spot where a gigantic catalpa-tree overarched the garden and bent its + branches almost to the earth. A table and a couple of chairs stood beneath the fresh + and fragrant shade, and a book, inkstand, and embroidery-frame, gave token that the + retreat had not long been abandoned by the lady herself. She seated herself in one of + the chairs, took up the book, then the embroidery, let them fall one after another, + and finally leaned her beautiful head on her hand, like one who is weary in spirit + and anxious for rest.</p> + <p>For a while her large dreamy eyes were vaguely fixed, as if gazing into space; at + intervals a smile played around her mouth, and her lips moved as if talking with a + friend. Occasionally her drooping eyelids closed entirely; but the lashes quickly + reopened, only to fall more heavily than before, till at last a profound sleep or + intense reverie seemed to get possession of her mind and body.</p> + <p>But did she sleep? There is no doubt that her spirit watched and was happy; for a + pleasant expression constantly played over her features, and, if sometimes it became + serious, the joyous look quickly returned with all its radiance. She had long been + plunged by this happy dream into complete forgetfulness of real life, when a noise of + wheels and the neigh of a horse was heard at the gateway, disturbing the silence of + Grinselhof. Still the maiden was not aroused.</p> + <p>The old <i>calèche</i> returned from the city, drew up near the stable, and + the farmer and his wife ran out to salute their master and put up the horse. While + they were thus engaged, Monsieur De Vlierbeck got out of the vehicle and spoke to + them kindly, but in a voice so full of sadness that both looked at him with + astonishment. In fact, the gravity of this singular person never abandoned him even + in his most affable moods; but at that moment his physiognomy indicated a degree of + intense depression which was by no means habitual. He seemed altogether worn out with + fatigue, and his eyes, which were commonly so vivacious, drooped, dull and + languishing, beneath their heavy lids.</p> + <p>The horse was quickly put in the stable, and the young lackey, who had already + divested himself of his livery, took several baskets and packets from the vehicle, + carried them into the farm-house, and placed them on the table of the + antechamber.</p> + <p>"And now, Master John," said De Vlierbeck, approaching the farmer, "I shall have + need of you. There will be company to-morrow at Grinselhof. Monsieur Denecker and his + nephew dine here."</p> + <p>The farmer, perfectly stupefied by the announcement and scarcely able to believe + his own ears, looked at his master with staring eyes and gaping mouth, and, after a + moment's hesitation, stammered forth,—</p> + <p>"That large, rich gentleman, sir, who sits near you every Sunday at high + mass?"</p> + <p>"The same, John. Is there any thing surprising in it?"</p> + <p>"And young Monsieur Gustave, who spoke to <i>mademoiselle</i> in the churchyard + when church was over?"</p> + <p>"The same!"</p> + <p>"Oh, sir, they are such rich people! They have bought all the land around + Echelpoel. They have at least ten horses in the stable at their <i>château</i>, + without counting those they have in town. Their carriage is silver from top to + bottom."</p> + <p>"I know it; and it is exactly on that account that I desire to receive them in a + becoming manner. You must be ready; your wife and your son also. I shall call you + to-morrow morning very early. You will willingly lend a hand to help me, won't + you?"</p> + <p>"Certainly, certainly, sir; a word from you is enough. I am always happy to be + able to serve you in any way."</p> + <p>"Thank you for your kindness, John. We understand one another, my worthy fellow; + and so farewell till to-morrow."</p> + <p>Monsieur De Vlierbeck entered the farm-house, gave some orders to the young man in + relation to the things he had taken from the vehicle, and, passing through the + screening grove, walked on to Grinselhof.</p> + <p>As soon as he was out of the farmer's sight his physiognomy assumed a more serene + expression, and there was a smile on his lips as he cast his eyes around in search of + some one in the solitude of the garden At a turn of the path his eye fell suddenly on + the sleeping girl. How beautiful she was in her calm repose! The golden twilight + covered her with its bright reflection, and threw a rosy tint on every thing about + her. Thick curls strayed in beautiful disorder over her cheeks, and snowy flowers, + shaken from the catalpa's branches by the evening breeze, had fallen around her in + profusion. She still dreamed, and the happy smile yet rested on her features. De + Vlierbeck gazed earnestly at his sleeping child, and raised his eyes to heaven as he + said, tremulously,—"Thanks, Almighty Father! she is happy! Let my martyrdom be + prolonged; but may all my sufferings render thee compassionate for her!"</p> + <p>After this short and ardent ejaculation he threw himself into a chair, leaned his + arm carefully on the table, and, resting his hand on it, remained still as a statue. + For a long time he watched his sleeping child, while his face seemed to reflect each + emotion that flitted across the delicate features of the maiden. Suddenly a modest + blush overspread her brow, and her lips began to articulate. The old gentleman + watched her narrowly, and, although she had not spoken in connected sentences, he + caught one of those stray words which often betoken what is passing in a dreamer's + mind.</p> + <p>"'GUSTAVE!' She dreams of Gustave. May God be propitious to us! Ah, yes, my + child," exclaimed her father, "open thy heart to hope! Dream, dream; for who knows + what is in store for us? Yet, no!—let us not destroy these happy moments by + cold reality! Sleep, sleep! let thy soul enjoy the heavenly enchantment of love which + it is awakening!"</p> + <p>Monsieur De Vlierbeck continued for a while his quiet observation of the sleeper, + and then, rising, passed behind her chair and imprinted a long kiss on her + forehead.</p> + <p>Still half-dreaming, the sleeper slowly opened her eyes; and, the moment she + perceived who had awakened her, she sprang into her father's arms with a bound, and, + hanging round his neck, overwhelmed him with questions and kisses.</p> + <p>Vlierbeck gently disengaged himself from his daughter's embrace, as he remarked, + in a tone of raillery,—</p> + <p>"It seems altogether unnecessary, Lenora, to inquire what new beauties you have + discovered in Vondel's 'Lucifer.' You have not had time, I take it for granted, to + begin the comparison between this masterpiece of our native tongue and Milton's + 'Paradise Lost'?"</p> + <p>"Ah! father," murmured Lenora, "my mind is indeed strangely troubled. I do not + know what is the matter with me; I cannot even read with attention."</p> + <p>"Come, Lenora, my child, don't be sad. Sit down: I have something of importance to + tell you. You do not know why I went to town to-day, do you? It was because we are to + have company to dinner to-morrow!"</p> + <p>Lenora gazed at her father with an earnest and questioning look.</p> + <p>"It is Monsieur Denecker," continued he:—"the wealthy merchant, you know, + who sits near me at church and lives at the <i>château</i> of Echelpoel."</p> + <p>"Oh, yes! I remember him, father; he always speaks to me so kindly, and never + fails to help me from the carriage when we go to church."</p> + <p>"But your <i>eyes</i> ask, I see, Lenora, whether he is coming <i>alone</i>. + <i>Another</i> person will accompany him, my girl!"</p> + <p>"<i>Gustave!"</i> exclaimed the maiden, involuntarily and blushing.</p> + <p>"Exactly! Gustave will be here," replied Monsieur De Vlierbeck. "Don't tremble on + that account, Lenora; and don't become frightened because your innocent heart may + find itself opening to the dawn of new sensations. Between us, my child, there can be + no secret that my love will not discover."</p> + <p>His daughter's eyes looked inquiringly into his own, as if asking an explanation + of the enigma. But all of a sudden, as if a ray had darted unexpectedly into her + soul, she threw her arms around the old man's neck and hid her face in his bosom.</p> + <p>"Oh, father! beloved father," murmured she, "your kindness is unbounded!"</p> + <p>For some moments the old gentleman did not put aside the affectionate caresses of + his child; but by degrees his expression became gloomy; tears started into his eyes, + and he said, in broken tones,—</p> + <p>"Lenora, whatever may happen to us in life, thou wilt always love thy father thus, + wilt thou not?"</p> + <p>"Always, always, father!'</p> + <p>"Lenora, my child," continued he, with a sigh, "thy tender affection is my only + recompense and happiness here below: never deprive my soul of its consolation!"</p> + <p>The sad tone in which these words were uttered touched the maiden's heart so + deeply that she took her father's hands, without saying a syllable, and wept in + silence with her head in his bosom.</p> + <p>For a long time they remained thus motionless, absorbed by a feeling which was + neither joy nor sorrow but seemed to acquire its power and mastery by the mingling of + these opposite sentiments.</p> + <p>Monsieur De Vlierbeck's expression was the first to change. His features became + severe as he bent his head downward reproachfully. In truth, the strange words that + started the tears into his daughter's eyes had excited the reflection in his own mind + that another person was, perhaps, about to share his Lenora's love and probably to + separate him from her forever. He was ready for every sacrifice, were it even + infinitely greater, provided it contributed to the happiness of his child; yet the + very idea of separation caused his heart to bleed at every pore. By degrees he + stifled this selfish anxiety, and, striving to control himself, raised his daughter + with a kiss.</p> + <p>"Come, Lenora," said he, "be gay again! Isn't it a happy thing that our hearts can + sometimes get into the shade after they have been too much in the sunshine? Let us go + into the house. We have many arrangements to make in order to receive our guests + becomingly."</p> + <p>Lenora obeyed her father in silence, and followed him slowly, while the tears + still dropped from her beautiful eyes.</p> + <p>Some hours afterward Monsieur De Vlierbeck might have been seen seated in the + principal saloon of Grinselhof, near a little lamp, with his elbows on the table. The + apartment was dark and dreary, for the feeble rushlight illuminated but a single spot + and cast the distant and lofty ceiling into vague obscurity. The flickering flame + threw long and sombre shadows over the wall, while a line of old portraits in the + panels seemed to fix their stern and immovable eyes on the table. Amid the gloom + nothing came out with distinctness but the calm and noble face of the poor old + gentleman, who sat there, absorbed in his reflections, fixed as a statue.</p> + <p>At length, rising from his chair and cautiously walking on tiptoe to the end of + the room, he stopped and listened at the closed door. "She sleeps," said he, in a low + voice; and, raising his eyes to heaven, added, with a sigh, "may God protect her + rest!" Then, returning to the table, he took the lamp, and, opening a large safe + which was imbedded in the wall, he went down on his knees and drew forth some napkins + and a table-cloth, which he unfolded carefully to see whether they were torn or + stained. As he refolded the articles one after the other, a smile betokened that he + was pleased with his examination. Rising from this task, he went back to the table, + from the drawer of which he took a piece of buckskin and whiting. Mashing the latter + with a knife-handle, he began to rub and polish several silver forks and spoons which + were in a basket. The salt-cellars and other small articles of table-service, which + were mostly of the same metal, were all subjected to a similar process, and soon + glittered brightly in the feeble lamplight.</p> + <p>While he was engaged in this strange work, the soul of the poor old man was busy + with a thousand conflicting thoughts and recollections. He was constantly muttering + to himself; and many a tear escaped from his lids as he dreamed over the past and + repeated the names of the loved and lost!</p> + <p>"Poor brother!" ejaculated he; "but one man alone in the world knows what I have + done for thee, and yet that man accuses me of bad faith and ingratitude! And thou, + poor brother, art wandering in the icy solitudes of America, a prey perhaps to + sickness and suffering, while for months no kindly look is fixed upon thee in that + wilderness where thou earnest thy miserable wages! Son of a noble race! thou hast + become a slave to the stranger, and thy toil serves to amass the fortunes which + others are to enjoy! My love for thee has made me suffer martyrdom; but, as God is my + judge, my affection has remained entire,—untouched! May thy soul, O brother, + feel this aspiration of mine even in the isolation where thou art suffering; and may + the consciousness of my love be a balm for thy misery!"</p> + <p>The poor gentleman was absorbed for some time in painful meditation; but after a + while his dream seemed over, and he betook himself again to work. He placed all the + silver utensils side by side on the table, and, after carefully counting and + examining them, resumed his soliloquy:—</p> + <p>"Six forks! eight spoons! We shall be four at table: it will be necessary to be + careful; else it will easily be seen something is wanting. I think, however, it will + do. I must give very precise instructions to John's wife, for she is a clever woman, + and knows what she is about!"</p> + <p>As be uttered the last words he replaced the silver in the basket and locked it in + the safe; after which he took the lamp, and, leaving the saloon on tiptoe, descended + through a little door into a large vaulted cellar. Here he hunted about for a + considerable time amid stacks of empty bottles, and at last succeeded in finding what + he was in search of; but his face became extremely pale as he drew three bottles from + the sand.</p> + <p>"Good heavens! <i>only three bottles!</i>" exclaimed he; "three bottles of + <i>table</i>-wine! and Monsieur Denecker is such a connoisseur of vintages! What + shall I do if they ask for more when these three bottles are empty? I have it! I do + not drink, and Lenora drinks very little; so there will be <i>two</i> bottles for + Monsieur Denecker and <i>one</i> for his nephew! But, even at the worst, what is the + use of anxiety? Let <i>luck</i> settle it!"</p> + <p>With this De Vlierbeck went into the corners of the cellar, where he gathered from + the walls a quantity of cobwebs, which he wound artistically around the bottles and + covered with dust and sand.</p> + <p>On reaching the saloon he went to work with paste and paper to mend some rents in + the tapestry on the wall; and then, after passing nearly half an hour in brushing his + clothes and disguising their threadbare spots with water and ink, he came back to the + table and made preparations for a task which was still more singular than any he had + hitherto been engaged in. Taking from the drawer a silk thread, an awl, and a bit of + wax, he put his boot on his knees and began to mend the rents in the leather with the + skill of a cobbler! It will readily be supposed that this odd occupation stirred a + variety of emotions in the heart of the poor gentleman; violent twitches and spasms + passed over his face; his cheeks became red, then deadly pale; till at last, yielding + to a passionate impulse, he cut the silk, threw it on the table, and, with his hands + stretched toward the portraits, cried out, with struggling passion,—</p> + <p>"Yes! behold me,—behold me,—ye whose noble blood runs in my veins! + You, brave captain, who, fighting at the side of Egmont, at St. Quentin, gave your + life for your country,—you, statesman and ambassador, who, after the battle of + Pavia, rendered such eminent services to the Emperor Charles,—you, benefactor + of your race, who endowed so many hospitals and churches,—you, proud bishop, + who, as priest and scholar, defended so bravely your faith and your God,—behold + me, all of you, not only from that senseless canvas, but from the bosom of God where + you are at rest! He whom you have seen at the wretched task of mending his boots, and + who devotes his life to the concealment of his poverty,—he is your descendant, + your son! If the gaze of his fellow-men tortures him, before you at least he is not + ashamed of debasing toil! glorious ancestry! you have fought the foes of your native + land with sword and pen; but I,—I have to contend with unmerited shame and + mockery, without a hope of ultimate triumph or glory; my weary soul sinks under its + burden, and the world has nothing in store for me but scorn and contempt! And, yet, + have I ever stained your noble escutcheon? All that I have done is generous and + honest in the sight of God;—nay, the very fountain-head of my wo is love and + compassion! Yes, yes!—fix your glittering eyes on me; contemplate me in the + abyss of poverty where I am fallen! From the bottom of that pit I lift my brow boldly + toward you, and your silent glance does not force me to grovel in the earth with + shame! Here, in the presence of your noble images, I am alone with my soul, with my + conscience;—hero, no mortification can touch the being who, as gentleman, + Christian, brother, and father, has sacrificed himself to duty!"</p> + <p>His voice ceased; and for a few moments he stood still in the midnight silence, + looking at the antique portraits as the last echoes died away in the lofty apartment, + with his arms stretched toward the pictures as if invoking the beings they + represented.</p> + <p>"Poor, senseless creature," continued he, after a while, clasping his hands and + lifting them anew to heaven, "thy soul seeks deliverance in dreams! Yes; it is, + perhaps, a dream, an illusion! Yet, thanks, thanks to the Almighty that allows even a + dream to fortify me with courage and endurance! Enough: reality once more stares me + in the face; and yet I defy the mocking spectre which points to ruin and misery!"</p> + <p>"And then to-morrow,—to-morrow!" continued he; "wilt thou not tremble + beneath the glance of those who seek the secret of thy life? Yes; study well thy + part; have ready thy mask; go on bravely with thy cowardly farce! And now begone; thy + nightly task is done;—beg, beg from sleep the oblivion of what thou art and of + thy threatening future! <i>Sleep!</i> I tremble at the very thought of it! Father in + heaven, have mercy on us!"</p> + <hr style='width: 65%;' /> + <a id="CHAPTER_III" name='CHAPTER_III'></a> + <h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> + <br /> + + <p>At daybreak next morning everybody was busy at Grinselhof. John's wife and her + serving-maid scoured the corridor and staircase; the farmer cleaned his stable; his + son weeded the grass from the garden-walks. Very early in the day Lenora set matters + in order in the dining-room and arranged with artistic taste all the pretty things + she could find on the mantel-piece and tables. There was a degree of life and + activity about Grinselhof that had not been seen in that solitude for many a year, + and everybody went to work with alacrity, as if anxious to dispel the gloom that hung + so long over the lonely dwelling. In the midst of the industrious crowd Monsieur De + Vlierbeck might be seen moving about with words of encouragement and expressions of + satisfaction; nor did he manifest the slightest symptom of the anxiety that was + secretly gnawing his heart. A pleasant smile flattered his humble dependants, as he + gave them to understand that their labors would be greatly honored by the approval of + his expected guests.</p> + <p>The farmer and his spouse had never seen De Vlierbeck so pleasant and so gay; and, + as they sincerely loved their master, they were as much delighted by his joy as if + they had been preparing for a village fair in which they were to take part. They + never dreamed of pay for their generous toil, but derived their most grateful + recompense from the pleasure they imparted to the hermit and his child.</p> + <p>As soon as the principal preparations were completed, De Vlierbeck called his + daughter and gave the necessary instructions for the dinner. Lenora was to confine + herself to drilling the farmer's wife in serving the dishes with which she was not + familiar. The old cooking-apparatus was lighted; wood kindled and crackled in the + chimney; coals glistened in the grate; and high above the roof-tree, clouds of smoke + betokened the good cheer that was to adorn the tables. Baskets of game were opened; + stuffed poultry, savory pasties, and choice viands, were brought forth; dishes of + green peas, beans, and other vegetables, appeared; and the women were speedily in a + turmoil of stringing, shelling, cutting, washing, and stewing.</p> + <p>Lenora herself did not shun her part in these humble duties, and amused her + companions by the pleasant chat with which she whiled away the hours. The rustics, + who had rarely enjoyed an opportunity of seeing her so closely or of enjoying a + familiar conversation with the beauty, were of course delighted with her gay and + affable manners; nor could they avoid expressing their pleasure when a few notes of a + popular song happened to drop from Lenora's lips.</p> + <p>The servant-maid instantly rose, and whispered, loud enough to be heard by + Lenora,—</p> + <p>"Oh, pray, do beg <i>mademoiselle</i> to sing a verse or two of that song! I heard + it at a distance the other day; and it was so beautiful that, fool as I am, I + blubbered like a baby for half an hour behind the rose-bushes. And yet I think it was + rather her sweet voice than the words that made me cry."</p> + <p>"Oh, yes! do sing it for us; it would give us so much pleasure! Your voice is like + a nightingale's; and I remember too, that my poor mother—alas! she is long ago + in heaven—used to sing me to sleep with that blessed song. Pray, sing it for + us, <i>mademoiselle</i>.</p> + <p>"It's very long,"' said Lenora, smiling.</p> + <p>"But if you only sing averse or two; it is a holiday with us, you know, + <i>mademoiselle!</i>"</p> + <p>"Well," returned Lenora, musingly, "if it will make you happy why should I refuse? + Listen:—</p> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>"Beside a deep and rapid stream</span><br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>A lonely maiden sat;</span><br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>With sighs her snowy bosom heaved,</span><br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>And tears bedewed the ground!</span><br /> + <br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>"A noble walked along the bank</span><br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>And saw her bitter grief;</span><br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>And, as her tears overflowed his heart,</span><br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>It melted for the maid!"</span><br /> + <br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>'Speak, maiden, speak!' the wanderer + cried!</span><br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>'Why moan you here alone?'—</span><br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>'Ah, sir, an orphan-child am I,</span><br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>Whom God alone can save!</span><br /> + <br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>'Ah! seest thou not yon grassy mound</span><br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>There sleeps my mother dear.</span><br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>Behold yon rock, above the flood;</span><br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>There fell my father down!</span><br /> + <br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>'The whirling torrent bore him on;</span><br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>He struggled long in vain;</span><br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>My brother leaped to help his sire,</span><br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>And both together sank!</span><br /> + <br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>'And now I fly our silent hut,</span><br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>Where desolation dwells,</span><br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>To mourn upon this dreary bank,</span><br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>And watch the wave and grave!'</span><br /> + <br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>'No longer grieve,' the stranger said,</span><br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>'Thy heart shall ache no more;</span><br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>A father and a brother too</span><br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>To thee, poor lonely girl, I'll be!'</span><br /> + <br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>"He took her hand; he led her off;</span><br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>In garments rich he clad the maid;</span><br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>Before the altar promised love,</span><br /> + <span style='margin-left: 1em;'>And blessed her life in happy home!"<a + id="FNanchor_A_2" name='FNanchor_A_2'></a><a + href='#Footnote_A_2'><sup>[A]</sup></a></span><br /> + <br /> + <a id="Footnote_A_2" name='Footnote_A_2'></a><a href='#FNanchor_A_2'>[A]</a> + <div class='note'> + <p>This simple and popular ballad, known in the Campine as <i>The Orphan</i>, is + sung by all classes to an air which is full of touching melody.</p> + </div> + <p>As Lenora was about beginning the last verse of her song De Vlierbeck appeared on + the sill of the kitchen door, and the peasants instantly rose in alarm at the freedom + with which they were sitting in the presence of their young mistress, listening to + her songs; but the poor gentleman at once understood the meaning of her action, and + with a gesture of approval signaled them to be quiet. As the last words died on his + ear,—"I'm glad to see you amusing yourselves," said he; "but, now that the song + is ended, I want your services in another quarter, my good woman."</p> + <p>Followed by Bess, the farmer's wife, he ascended to the dining-room, where the + table-cloth was already laid and every thing in order for the reception of the + dishes. Bessy's son was already there in livery, with a napkin over his arm; and De + Vlierbeck immediately began to assign them their several tasks during the service of + dinner, and to repeat and drill them in their tasks till he was perfectly satisfied + with their performances.</p> + <p>The hour for dinner was at length near at hand. Every thing was ready in the + kitchen, and all were at their posts. Lenora, in full dress and with a palpitating + heart, lingered in her chamber; while her father, with a book which he appeared to be + reading, sat beneath the <i>catalpa</i> in the garden.</p> + <p>It was about two o'clock when a splendid equipage, drawn by a pair of superb + English horses, entered the demesne of Grinselhof and drew up in front of the portal. + De Vlierbeck welcomed his guests courteously, and Monsieur Denecker gave orders to + the coachman to return precisely at five o'clock, as matters of importance required + his presence in Antwerp before nightfall.</p> + <p>Denecker was a large, stout person, dressed rather extravagantly, but in a style + of studied carelessness which he evidently regarded as stylish. The expression of his + face, it must be owned, was rather vulgar, and exhibited a compound of cunning and + good-nature tempered by indifference. But Gustave, his nephew, belonged to an + entirely different class of persons. His tall figure was graceful and easy, his + countenance frank and manly, and his whole demeanor denoted refined manners and high + cultivation. Blue eyes and blonde hair imparted a poetic air to his head; but an + energetic glance and lofty brow took from it every expression of sentimental + weakness.</p> + <p>No sooner had De Vlierbeck presented his guests to Lenora, in the saloon, than + Denecker broke forth in exclamations of undisguised admiration—</p> + <p>"How charming, how beautiful she is! and yet so hidden in this Grinselhof of + yours, Monsieur de Vlierbeck! What a shame, sir! what a shame!"</p> + <p>In the mean time Gustave and Lenora had moved off to a short distance from the old + gentlemen, and were busy in a chat of their own, inaudible to the rest but evidently + interesting to themselves, for they were observed not only to blush but tremble. + Denecker, in fact, could not help observing the young people's emotion; and, as De + Vlierbeck passed down the saloon with him, remarked that the young beauty was + evidently turning his nephew's head. "He talks of her constantly," said he, "and I + don't know what may come of it; but I give you fair warning, Monsieur De Vlierbeck, + if you are unwilling to see something more than compliments between these children + you had better take time by the forelock. It will soon be too late to reason with + them; for my nephew, with all his calm gentleness, is not the man to retreat before + difficulties."</p> + <p>De Vlierbeck was secretly delighted by the merchant's counsels, but was too wise + to display anxiety.</p> + <p>"You are joking, Monsieur Denecker," said he: "I can't think there is a particle + of danger. They are both young, and there is nothing surprising in mutual attraction + under such circumstances. There can hardly be any thing serious in their intercourse. + But, come," added he, aloud; "I perceive that dinner is served; and so let us adjourn + to the table!" Gustave led in the blushing girl, and the elders followed admiringly + in their rear, while the merchant shook his finger coquettishly at his gallant + nephew. De Vlierbeck placed Monsieur Denecker opposite him at table, and made Gustave + the <i>vis-à-vis</i> of Lenora.</p> + <p>Bess brought in the dishes, while her son waited on the guests. The viands were + prepared with considerable skill, and Denecker took frequent occasion to express his + satisfaction with their exquisite flavor. In truth, he was rather surprised at the + sumptuousness of the repast; for he had been prepared to expect lenten fare in a + household which was renowned throughout the neighborhood for its austere economy.</p> + <p>In a short time the conversation became general; and Lenora astonished Monsieur + Denecker by the extent of her information and the admirable style in which she + expressed herself and did the honors of the table. But, notwithstanding her ease and + freedom while conversing with the uncle, an observer could not help detecting that + she was shy, if not absolutely embarrassed, when obliged to reply to some casual + remark of the nephew. Nor was Gustave more at ease than the maiden. In fact, they + were both happy at heart because fate had thrown them together; but they would have + been quite willing to enjoy that delicious silence which in love is often more + eloquent than in language.</p> + <p>In the mean while De Vlierbeck rattled away, with the ease of a man of the world, + on all subjects that might interest his guests; yet he listened, with equal good + manners, to Denecker's conversation, and now and then adroitly threw in such hints as + allowed him to speak learnedly upon commercial matters. The merchant was gratified by + his deferential civility, and was drawn toward his entertainer by a stronger bond + than that of mere social politeness.</p> + <p>Indeed, all went on swimmingly, and all were pleased with themselves. De Vlierbeck + was especially gratified to find that Bess and her boy performed their tasks so well, + and that the spoons and plates were so quickly washed and brought back that it was + impossible to notice the deficiency of their number. One thing alone began to worry + him. He saw with pain that while Denecker was busy with his food and chat he was + equally busy with the wine, and that glass after glass disappeared with more rapidity + than was agreeable to his supply. Besides this, Gustave, who was probably anxious for + some excuse to have a word with Lenora upon any pretext, constantly asked permission + to fill her glass; so that, very soon after the soup and meat had been disposed of, + the first bottle was entirely emptied.</p> + <p>Civility required that it should be immediately replaced; and, as De Vlierbeck + observed that the more Monsieur Denecker talked the more he drank, he thought he + might try whether less conversation would not moderate the merchant's thirst. But, + alas! he was disappointed; for at that moment Denecker introduced the topic of wine, + and, lauding the generous juice of the grape, expressed surprise at the extraordinary + sobriety of his host. With this he redoubled his attack on the bottle, and was in + some degree, though less vigorously, seconded by Gustave. De Vlierbeck's agony became + more and more intense as he saw the rosy fluid sink and sink in the second bottle, + until at length the last drop was drained into the merchant's glass.</p> + <p>"Yes," said Denecker, "your wine is both old and good; but I have always found, in + tasting liquors, that if we don't change them we lose their flavor. I take it for + granted that you have a first-rate cellar, if I may judge by your first samples; so I + propose that we now try a bottle of your <i>Château-margaux</i>; and, if we + have time, we can finish with a bottle of <i>hochheimer</i>. I never drink + <i>champagne</i>: it is a bad liquor for wine-drinkers."</p> + <p>As the last words fell from Denecker, poor De Vlierbeck grew deadly pale, as his + frightened spirit went rummaging through the cracks and crannies of his brain for + some inspiration or expedient which might extricate him from his deep perplexity.</p> + <p>"<i>Château-margaux?</i>" inquired he, with a calm smile. "Certainly, sir, + if you wish it." And then, turning to the lackey,—"John," said he, "bring a + bottle of <i>Château-margaux</i>: you will find it in the third cellar on the + left-hand side."</p> + <p>But the rustic stared at his master with gaping mouth, as if he had been addressed + in one of the dead languages. Seeing the predicament, and mastering it + rapidly,—</p> + <p>"Excuse me," said De Vlierbeck, rising; "he would not find it, I fear. I will be + back in a moment."</p> + <p>Rushing into the kitchen, he seized the third and last bottle and descended to the + cellar, where he stopped to draw breath and compose himself.</p> + <p>"<i>Château-margaux! hochheimer! champagne!</i>" exclaimed poor De + Vlierbeck, "and not another drop of wine in my house but what is in this last bottle + of claret! What <i>shall</i> I do? what <i>can</i> I do?" continued he, as he held + the cobwebbed bottle in one hand and stroked his chin with the other. "But no matter: + there's no time for reflection: the die is cast, and may God help me in my need!"</p> + <p>He ascended the stair, entered the dining-room with the corkscrew in the last + cork, and found that during his absence Lenora had ordered fresh glasses on the + table.</p> + <p>"This wine," said De Vlierbeck, holding the bottle knowingly to the light, "is at + least twenty years old, Monsieur Denecker, and I sincerely hope it will please your + palate." So saying, he filled the glasses of uncle and nephew, and gazed anxiously in + their faces for the verdict.</p> + <p>Denecker tasted the wine, drop by drop, like an epicure, and, shaking his head + disappointedly,—</p> + <p>"There's a mistake, doubtless," said he; "for it's the identical wine we had + before."</p> + <p>De Vlierbeck feigned surprise admirably, tasted the wine in turn, and + replied,—</p> + <p>"I <i>believe</i> you are right, and that I <i>have</i> made a mistake; yet, as + the bottle is opened and not bad, suppose we drink it before I make another descent + to the cellar' There's abundance of time."</p> + <p>"I've no objection," answered the merchant, "provided you help us, so as to get + through it the quicker." And so the column in the third and last bottle diminished + more rapidly than its predecessors, till two or three glasses alone remained at the + bottom to crown the festival.</p> + <p>Poor De Vlierbeck could no longer conceal his agitation. He tried to keep his eyes + off the fatal bottle; but a sort of fascination drew him back to it, and each time + with increased anxiety. That dreadful word '<i>Château-margaux</i>' rang in his + ears. His face blushed and grew pale, and a cold, clammy sweat stood in big beads on + his forehead. Yet he felt that he had not entirely exhausted his resources, and + resolved to fight the battle of humiliation to the end. He wiped his brow and cheeks, + coughed, and turned aside as if about to sneeze. By dint of these manoeuvres he + continued to conceal his nervousness till Denecker grasped the bottle to pour out its + last drop. As he clasped the neck, a chill seized the hysterical frame of the poor + gentleman, a deadly paleness overspread his features, and his head fell with a groan + against the tall back of the chair. Was it in truth a fainting-fit, or did the + sufferer take advantage of his emotion to play a part and escape the embarrassment of + his situation?</p> + <p>In a moment the whole party were on their feet, while Lenora screamed and ran to + her father.</p> + <p>"It's nothing," said De Vlierbeck, striving, after a minute or two, to rally + himself. "I am faint; the confined air of this room overcame me. Let me walk a while + in the garden and I will soon be better."</p> + <p>As he said this he staggered to his feet, and, supported by Lenora and Gustave, + moved toward the garden, followed by Denecker with an expression of the deepest + concern. A short rest in the open air beneath the shade of a noble chestnut-tree + quickly restored a faint color to De Vlierbeck's cheek and enabled him to + tranquillize their anxiety about his sudden attack.</p> + <p>"I will rest here a while out of doors," said he, "for fear the fit might return; + and perhaps a slow walk in the garden might hasten my recovery."</p> + <p>"It will do both of us good," answered Denecker; "and, besides, as I have to quit + you at five o'clock, I don't want to leave Grinselhof without seeing its garden. Let + us take a turn through your walks, and afterward we shall have time enough to finish + another bottle."</p> + <p>As he said this he passed Lenora's arm within his own, and, casting a coquettish + glance at Gustave, began their promenade. By degrees De Vlierbeck rallied + sufficiently to take part in the chat; and gardening, agriculture, sporting, and a + hundred different country topics, were fully discussed. Lenora recovered her spirits + and charmed their commercial guest by the mingled charms of her intellectual + cleverness and innocent gayety. Wild as a deer, she dared him to run a race with her, + and danced along the paths by his side full of mirth and sportiveness. In truth, + Denecker was altogether captivated by the ingenuous girl, and, as he looked on her + radiant face, could not help thinking that the future had some happy days in store + for his gallant nephew. After a while Lenora strayed off in advance with Gustave, + while the two elders lingered lazily along the path. Gustave was charmed with the + flowers, the plants, the gold-fish, which Lenora pointed out to him; nor was he at + all desirous to shorten their delicious flirtation by returning to the table. This + chimed precisely with the anxiety of De Vlierbeck, who employed every stratagem he + could conceive to keep his guest in the open air. He told stories, repeated jokes, + appealed to Denecker's commercial knowledge, and even quizzed him a little when he + found their conversation beginning to flag. In fact, he was rejoicing that five + o'clock, and, of course, the carriage, were rapidly approaching, when Denecker + suddenly recalled his nephew from a distant quarter of the garden where he was + strolling with Lenora.</p> + <p>"Come, Gustave; come," said he; "if you wish to drink a parting glass with us let + us get in, for the coach will be here in a moment."</p> + <p>De Vlierbeck instantly became pale as a sheet, and, trembling from head to foot, + stared silently at Denecker, who could no longer restrain his surprise at these + exhibitions.</p> + <p>"Are you ill, sir?" said he.</p> + <p>"My stomach is a singular one, Monsieur Denecker, and I suffer spasms if you even + mention <i>wine!</i> It is a strange malady; but—Oh, I hear your coach, + Monsieur Denecker; and there it is, drawing up, I see, at the gateway."</p> + <p>Of course Denecker spoke no more of wine; but, as he could not help noticing the + alacrity with which De Vlierbeck hailed the prospect of his departure, he would have + been deeply mortified, if not offended, had not the previous hospitality of his host + satisfied him of their welcome. He thought, perhaps, that he ought to attribute his + entertainer's conduct to some singular nervous disease which he masked under an + antipathy for wine; and accordingly he took leave with a warm and friendly + farewell.</p> + <p>"I have passed a delightful afternoon with you, Monsieur De Vlierbeck," said he. + "We have found ourselves, I am sure, extremely happy in your and your daughter's + charming society. It is a pleasure added to my life to have made your acquaintance; + and I hope that further intimacy may assure me your friendship. In the mean while, + let me thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kind reception."</p> + <p>As he finished the sentence, Lenora and Gustave joined them.</p> + <p>"My nephew," continued Denecker, "will confess, as I have done, that he has spent + few happier hours than those that are just gone. I hope, Monsieur de Vlierbeck, that + you and your charming daughter will return our visit and dine with us. Yet I shall + have to ask your pardon for postponing the pleasure it will afford us till I return + from Frankfort, where I am summoned, the day after to-morrow, on urgent business. It + is probable I may be detained away a couple of months; but if my nephew should be + allowed to visit you in my absence let me hope he will be welcome."</p> + <p>De Vlierbeck reiterated his professions of delight at the new acquaintance; Lenora + was silent; and Denecker moved off toward the coach.</p> + <p>"But the parting glass, uncle!" exclaimed Gustave. "Let us go in for a moment and + drink it."</p> + <p>"No, no," said Denecker, interrupting him tartly. "I believe we would never get + hence at all if we listened to you. It is time to be off, and I can delay no longer. + Adieu!"</p> + <p>Gustave and Lenora exchanged a long and anxious look, full of regret at separation + and of hope for speedy reunion. In a moment the uncle and nephew were in the vehicle + and the spirited horses in motion; but, as long as the group was in sight at the + gate, a couple of white-gloved hands might have been seen waving farewells from the + coach-window.</p> + <hr style='width: 65%;' /> + <a id="CHAPTER_IV" name='CHAPTER_IV'></a> + <h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + <br /> + + <p>A few days after the departure of his uncle, Gustave paid a visit to Grinselhof. + He was received by Monsieur De Vlierbeck and his daughter with their usual kindness, + passed the greater part of an afternoon with them, and went home at nightfall to the + <i>château</i> of Echelpoel full of delightful recollections and hopes. Either + from a fear of disturbing the reserved habits of the old gentleman, or from a sense + of politeness, Gustave did not at first repeat his visits too frequently; but after a + couple of weeks the extreme cordiality of Vlierbeck dispelled all his scruples. The + ardent youth no longer resisted an impulse that drew him toward the bewitching girl, + nor did he allow a single day to roll by without passing the afternoon at Grinselhof. + The happy hours flew rapidly on the wings of love. He strolled with Lenora through + the shady walks of the old garden, listened to her father's observations on science + and art, drank in the delicious notes of his loved one's voice as it was breathed + forth in song, or, seated beneath the flowery and spreading catalpa, dreamed the + dream of happiness that was in store for him with her who was probably soon to become + his betrothed.</p> + <p>If the noble and beautiful face of the maiden had won his eye and enlisted his + feelings the moment he first beheld her in the village churchyard, <i>now</i>, that + he had become familiar with her character, his love grew so ardently absorbing that + the world seemed sad and dead if she were not present to shed the light of her joyous + spirit upon every thing around him. Neither religion nor poetry could conjure up an + angel more fascinating than his beloved. Indeed, though God had endowed her person + with all those feminine graces that adorned the first woman in Paradise, he had also + lavished on her a heart whose crystalline purity was never clouded, and whose + generosity burst forth with every emotion like a limpid spring.</p> + <p>But in all his interviews, Gustave had never yet been alone with Lenora. When he + visited her she never left the apartment where she commonly sat with her father, + unless the old gentleman expressed a wish that they should unite in a walk through + the garden; and, of course, he had never enjoyed an opportunity to breathe the love + that was rising to his lips. Still, he felt that it was altogether useless to express + by words what was passing in their hearts; for the kindness, the respect, the + affection, that shone in everybody's eyes, betokened the feeling which united them in + a mingled sentiment of attachment and hope.</p> + <p>Though Gustave entertained profound veneration for Lenora's father and really + loved him as a son, there was something which at times came like a cloud betwixt + himself and the old gentleman. What he heard outside of Grinselhof of De Vlierbeck's + extraordinary avarice had been fully realized since he became intimate at the house. + No one ever offered him a glass of wine or beer; he never received an invitation to + dinner or supper; and he frequently observed the trouble that was taken by the master + of the house to disguise his inhospitable economy.</p> + <p>Avarice is a passion which excites no other emotion than that of aversion or + contempt, because it is natural to believe that when so degrading a vice takes + possession of one's soul it destroys every spark of generosity and fills it with + meanness. Accordingly, Gustave had a long and fearful conflict with himself in order + to subdue this instinctive feeling and to convince his judgment that De Vlierbeck's + conduct was only a caprice which did not detract from the native dignity of his + character. And yet, had the young man known the truth, he would have seen that a pang + was hidden beneath every smile that flitted over the old man's face, and that the + nervous shudders which at times shook his frame were the results of a suppressed + agony that almost destroyed him. As he gazed on the happy face of Lenora and steeped + his soul in the intoxication of her love, he never dreamed that her father's life was + a prolonged punishment; that, day and night, a terrible future opened its vista + before him; and that each moment of his existence brought him nearer and nearer to a + dreadful catastrophe. He had not heard the inexorable sentence of the + notary:—"Four months more and your bond expires, when all you possess in this + world will be sold by the officers of justice to satisfy your creditors!"</p> + <p>Two of those fatal months had already expired!</p> + <p>If Monsieur De Vlierbeck appeared to encourage the young man's love, it was not + alone in consequence of his sympathy with his feelings. No: the + <i>dénouement</i> of his painful trial was to be developed within a defined + period; and, if it proved inauspicious, there was nothing but dishonor and moral + death for himself and child! Destiny was about to decide forever whether he was to + come out victorious from this ten years' conflict with poverty, or whether he was to + fall into the abyss of public contempt! These were the feelings that induced him to + conceal his true position more carefully than ever, and, while he watched over the + lovers like a guardian spirit, made him do nothing to check the rapid progress of + their passion.</p> + <p>As the time of his uncle's return approached, the two months seemed to Gustave to + have flown by like a pleasant dream; and, although he felt sure that his relative + would not oppose the union, he foresaw that he would not be allowed hereafter to + spend so much of his time away from business. Indeed, the very idea that he might be + obliged to pass considerable periods without seeing Lenora made him look for his + uncle's return with any thing but delight.</p> + <p>One day he contrived to whisper his fears and anticipations to Lenora, and, for + the first time since their acquaintance, saw tears gathering in her eyes. The girl's + emotion touched his heart so sensibly that he ventured timidly to take her hand, and + held it in his for a long time without uttering a word. De Vlierbeck, who had + overheard the remark, tried to comfort him, but his words did not seem to produce the + desired effect; and, after a short time, Gustave rose abruptly and took leave, though + his usual time of departure had not yet arrived. Lenora read in his expression that + some sudden revolution had occurred in her lover's mind, for his eyes glistened with + extraordinary animation. She strove eagerly to retain him by her side; but he + resisted her appeal pleasantly, and declared that nothing should unveil his secret + till the following day, when he would return to Grinselhof. De Vlierbeck, however, + was more familiar with the world than his daughter; and, imagining that lie had + penetrated the mystery of Gustave's conduct, many a pleasant dream hovered that night + around his pillow.</p> + <p>As the usual hour of Gustave's visit approached next day, De Vlierbeck's heart + beat high with hope; and when the visitor appeared, clad with unusual neatness and + care, the old gentleman welcomed him with more than ordinary warmth. After the + compliments of the day had been paid to his ladylove, Gustave expressed a desire for + a few moments' conversation with her father, who led him into an adjoining cabinet + and seated himself by his side.</p> + <p>"What is it you wish of me, my young friend?" said he, kindly.</p> + <p>Gustave was silent for a moment, as if endeavoring to rally his ideas, and then + spoke out in a manly way:—</p> + <p>"I am about, my dear sir, to speak to you in regard to a matter that concerns my + happiness; and, no matter what may be your decision, I am sure, from your kindness + upon all occasions, that you will pardon my boldness. I can hardly imagine that the + feeling—the irresistible feeling—I have entertained for Lenora from the + first moment I saw her, has escaped your penetrating eye. I ought probably to have + asked your consent long ago, before she obtained so complete a dominion over my + heart; but I have always secretly encouraged the belief that you read my soul and + wore not displeased with my motives."</p> + <p>Gustave was silent, awaiting the hoped-for words of encouragement; but De + Vlierbeck only looked at him with a gentle smile, and gave no other indication of his + pleasure. A motion of the hand, as if he wished the lover to go on with his + conversation, was the only sign he made in reply,</p> + <p>Gustave's resolution began to ebb at this discouraging by-play; but, summoning all + his energy for another attack, he continued:—</p> + <p>"Yes, sir, I have loved Lenora from my first sight of her; but what was then a + spark is now a flame. Don't think it is her loveliness alone that bewitched me. She + might indeed enchant the most insensible of mankind; but I found a far more glorious + treasure in the angelic heart of your daughter. Her virtue, the immaculate purity of + her soul, her gentle and magnanimous sentiments,—in a word, the prodigal gifts + of mind and body which God has lavished on her,—have increased my admiration to + love, my love to absolute idolatry! How dare I conceal my emotion from you any + longer? I cannot live without Lenora; the very thought of even a short temporary + separation from her overwhelms me with despair. I long to be with her every day, + every hour; I long to hear her voice and read my happiness in her eloquent eyes! I + know not what may be your decision; but, believe me, if it shall be adverse to my + hopes, I shall not long survive the blow. If your decree separate, me from my beloved + Lenora, life will no longer have a charm for me!"</p> + <p>Gustave uttered his romantic rhapsody—the rhapsody of most lovers—with + that genuine emotion which bespoke his sincerity, and touched the heart of De + Vlierbeck so deeply that he grasped his hand and implored him to be calm.</p> + <p>"Don't tremble so, my young friend," said the old gentleman. "I know very well + that you love Lenora, and that she is not insensible to your affection for her. But + what have you to propose to me?"</p> + <p>Gustave replied, dejectedly,—"If I still doubt your approval, after all the + marks of esteem you have given me, it is because I fear you do not consider me worthy + the happiness I have sought. I have no ancestral tree whose roots are buried in the + past; the good deeds of my forefathers do not shine in history; the blood that runs + in my veins comes from a common stock."</p> + <p>"Do you think," said De Vlierbeck, interrupting him, "that I was ignorant of all + this from the first day of our acquaintance? No Gustave; no matter what your lineage + may be, your own heart is generous and noble; and, had it not been so, I would never + have esteemed and treated you as my son."</p> + <p>"And so," exclaimed Gustave, catching at the last words with a burst of joyous + impatience, "you don't refuse me Lenora's hand?—you will interpose no + objection, provided my uncle gives his consent?"</p> + <p>"No," replied De Vlierbeck; "I shall not refuse it to you. On the contrary, it + will give me unbounded happiness to intrust the fate of my only child to your + keeping. And yet there is an obstacle of which you have no idea."</p> + <p>"An obstacle!" exclaimed Gustave, growing pale;—"an obstacle between Lenora + and me?"</p> + <p>"Be silent a moment," said De Vlierbeck, "and listen to the explanation I shall + give you. You think, Gustave, I suppose, that Grinselhof and all its dependencies + belong to us? It is not so: we are penniless. We are poorer far than the peasant who + rents our farming-land and lives yonder at the gate!"</p> + <p>Gustave looked doubtingly at De Vlierbeck, with so incredulous a smile that the + poor gentleman blushed, and trembled like an aspen.</p> + <p>"I see you do not believe me," continued he; "I see it in your smile and look. + Like the rest of them, you think me a miser, hiding my wealth and starving my child + and myself to amass riches,—a wretch who sacrifices every thing for + money,—a vagabond whom all ought to fear and despise!"</p> + <p>"Oh, pardon me, pardon me, sir!" interrupted Gustave, moved by the excitement of + the old man "I think nothing of the kind! My veneration for you is unbounded!"</p> + <p>"Nay, don't be frightened at my words, young man," continued De Vlierbeck, in a + calmer tone. "I make no accusations against you, Gustave. I only saw in your + incredulous smile that I had succeeded in masking my poverty even from you, and in + making you suppose that my economy was avarice. But it is needless for me to give you + any further explanation just now. Let it suffice you to know that what I say is + strictly, honestly true. I possess nothing,—nothing!"</p> + <p>"And now," added he, after a moment's silence on both sides, "let me give you a + piece of advice. Go home to-day without seeing Lenora; examine your soul calmly, and + see whether there are no secret emotions that may make you change your present views; + let a night pass, and if, to-morrow, Lenora, poor as you now know her to be, is still + dear to you,—if you still think you can be happy with her and can make her + happy,—seek your uncle and ask his consent. Here is my hand: if the day shall + ever come when I can offer it as a father's, it will be the happiest of my life!"</p> + <p>Although the revelation made by Monsieur De Vlierbeck was astonishing to Gustave, + the solemn tone in which he announced it convinced the lover of its truth. He was + silent for a moment; but soon a spark of enthusiasm began to glisten in his eye and + light up his face, as he exclaimed,—</p> + <p>"How can you ask me if I shall continue to love Lenora now that I know her to be + poor? It will be happiness enough for me to receive her as a wife, to be bound to her + by the eternal bonds of love, to be forever within her reach, and to receive my + happiness from her look and voice! What delight it will be for me to protect her and + know that I have the privilege of working for her! Palace or hovel; riches or + poverty, all are equally indifferent to me, provided her presence animates the spot! + A night's reflection, Monsieur De Vlierbeck, cannot change my resolution. Grant me + Lenora's hand, and I will thank you on my knees for the priceless gift!"</p> + <p>"And suppose I do," replied the old gentleman; "generosity and constancy are + natural to the ardent character of youth:—but your uncle?"</p> + <p>"My uncle!" murmured Gustave, with evident grief; "that is true; I need his + consent. All I possess or ever shall possess in the world depends on his affection + for me. I am the orphan son of his brother. He adopted me as his child and has + overwhelmed me with kindness. He has the right to decide my lot in life, and I must + obey him."</p> + <p>"And do you think that he, a merchant, who probably places a very high value on + money, because experience has taught him its value, will say, like you, 'Palace or + hovel, poverty or wealth, it makes no difference'?"</p> + <p>"Alas! I know not, Monsieur De Vlierbeck," said Gustave, droopingly. "But my uncle + is so good to me—so extraordinarily good—that I may rightly hope for his + consent. He will return to-morrow. When I embrace him I will declare all my wishes. I + will say my comfort, my happiness, my life, depend on his consent. I know that he + loves Lenora sincerely; for, before his departure, he even seemed to encourage my + pretensions to her hand. Your disclosures will undoubtedly surprise him; but my + prayers will conquer: believe it!"</p> + <p>Monsieur De Vlierbeck rose, to put an end to the conversation.</p> + <p>"Well, ask your uncle's consent," said he; "and, if your hopes are realized, let + him come here and consult about the marriage. Whatever may be the issue of this + affair, Gustave, you at least have always behaved toward us with the delicacy of a + generous youth. My esteem and friendship shall always be yours. Go now; quit + Grinselhof this time without seeing Lenora, for you ought not to meet her until this + affair is settled. I will tell her myself whatever I think proper for her to + know."</p> + <p>Half pleased, half sad,—his heart divided between joy and + anxiety,—Gustave bade farewell to Lenora's father and returned to + Echelpoel.</p> + <hr style='width: 65%;' /> + <a id="CHAPTER_V" name='CHAPTER_V'></a> + <h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> + <br /> + + <p>On the afternoon of the following day Monsieur De Vlierbeck was seated in his + parlor, his head resting on his hand. He seemed plunged in profound thought, for his + eyes were fixed on vacancy and his face exhibited by turns contentment and hope, + inquietude and anxiety.</p> + <p>Occasionally Lenora came into the apartment, and, seeming unusually restless, + wandered about from spot to spot, arranging and rearranging the little fancy articles + upon the tables, looking out of the window into the garden, and at last running + down-stairs suddenly as if she were pursued. No one who saw her could doubt that she + was nervously anxious about something; yet her expression was one of joy and hope. + Had she been able to penetrate her father's mind and behold the various emotions that + excited it, she would not perhaps have been so gay and blithesome; but poor De + Vlierbeck restrained himself with his habitual care in her presence, and smiled at + her impatience as if he too were confident of approaching happiness.</p> + <p>At length, tired of running about, Lenora seated herself by her father and fixed + her clear and questioning gaze on his face.</p> + <p>"Don't be so excited, my good child," said he. "We shall know nothing to-day; but + we may, perhaps, to-morrow. Moderate your joy, my daughter; if it please Heaven to + decide against your hope in this matter your grief will be more easily + conquered."</p> + <p>"Oh, no, father!" stammered Lenora; "God will grant my prayer; I feel it in my + heart. Don't be astonished, father, that I am full of joy, for I think I see Gustave + speaking to his uncle. I hear what he says, and Monsieur Denecker's replies; I see + him embrace Gustave and give his consent! Who can doubt, father, that I ought to + hope, when I know that Monsieur Denecker loved me and was always kind?"</p> + <p>"Would you be very happy, Lenora," asked De Vlierbeck, with a smile, "if Gustave + were betrothed to you?"</p> + <p>"Never to leave him!" cried Lenora,—"to love him,—to be the happiness + of his life, his consolation, his joy,—to enliven the solitude of Grinselhof by + our love!—ah! that, father, would be delight indeed; for then there would be + two of us to contribute to the pleasures of your life! Gustave would have more skill + than I to chase away the grief that sometimes clouds your brow; you could walk, talk, + or hunt with him; he would venerate and love you as a son and watch you with the + tenderest care; his only thought on earth would be to make you happy, because he + knows that your happiness is mine; and I—I, father, will recompense him for his + devotion by the gratitude of my heart, and love. Oh, yes, dear father! we shall live + together in a paradise of contentment!"</p> + <p>"Ingenuous girl!" exclaimed De Vlierbeck, with a sigh; "may the Lord hear your + prayer! But the world, my child, is governed by laws and customs of which you are + altogether ignorant. A wife must follow her husband wherever he goes. If Gustave + shall select another residence you must follow him and console yourself gradually at + the separation from your father. Under other circumstances, parting might be painful; + but solitude will not sadden me if I know you are happy, my child."</p> + <p>The startled maiden looked at her father with surprise as he uttered these words; + and, as he finished, her head fell heavily on her breast and tears streamed silently + from her eyes. Monsieur De Vlierbeck took her hand tenderly as he said, in faltering + words,—</p> + <p>"I feared, Lenora, that I would make you sad; but you must become accustomed to + the idea of our separation."</p> + <p>Lenora raised her head quickly as she replied, in a firm and resolute manner, + "What! could Gustave ever dream of our separation? To leave you at Grinselhof passing + your days in seclusion while I and my husband were in the world in the midst of + festivity? I should not have an instant's rest, wherever I might be; conscience would + cry aloud in my heart, 'Ungrateful and insensible child, thy father is abandoned to + suffering and solitude!' Yes, I love Gustave; he is dearer to me than life itself, + and I receive his hand as a blessing from God; but if he should say to me, 'Abandon + your father!'—if he left me no choice except you or him,—I would close my + eyes and reject him! I should be sad; I should suffer; perhaps even I should die; + but, father dear, I would die in your arms!"</p> + <p>She bent down her head for a moment as if oppressed by a dreadful thought; but, + raising her large eyes, liquid with tears, she fixed them on her father, as she + added,—</p> + <p>"You doubt Gustave's affection for you; you imagine him capable of filling your + life with sorrow,—of separating me from you! Oh, father, you do not know him; + you do not know how much he respects and loves you; you do not comprehend the warmth + of his generous and loving heart!"</p> + <p>De Vlierbeck bent over his child and impressed a kiss on her forehead, as he was + about to utter some words of consolation, when suddenly Lenora sprang from his arms + and pointed eagerly to the window, as if listening to approaching sounds.</p> + <p>The noise of wheels and the clatter of horses on the road soon gave Monsieur De + Vlierbeck to understand why his daughter had been so startled. His face assumed a + more animated expression, and, descending hurriedly, he reached the door as Monsieur + Denecker alighted from his coach.</p> + <p>The merchant seemed in exceedingly good humor; he grasped De Vlierbeck's hand, + expressing his delight at seeing him once more. "How goes it with you, my old friend? + It seems that rogue, my nephew, has taken advantage of my absence." And, although De + Vlierbeck ushered him into the saloon with all the formality imaginable, Denecker + slapped him familiarly on the shoulder, and continued,—</p> + <p>"Well! well! we were good friends from the beginning; and now I understand we are + to be regular gossips:—at least I hope so. That scamp hasn't bad taste, I must + confess. He would have to make a long search before he found a handsomer or more + amiable woman than Lenora. Look you, Monsieur De Vlierbeck, we must have a wedding + frolic that people will talk of twenty years hence!"</p> + <p>By this time they had got into the saloon and taken their seats; but De Vlierbeck, + nervous as he was, had considerable doubt as to the tone of Denecker's remarks, and + whether he was jesting or serious.</p> + <p>"It seems," continued Denecker, assuming a graver tone, "that Gustave is madly + impatient for this union, and begs me to hasten it. I have taken compassion on the + young fellow and left all the business of our house topsy-turvy to-day to arrange + matters with you. He tells me you have given your consent. That was kind of you, sir. + I thought a great deal of this affair during my journey, for I had observed that + Cupid's arrows had gone clean through and through the boy; yet I had fears about your + consent. Inequality of blood, old-fashioned ideas, might perhaps interfere."</p> + <p>"And so Gustave told you that I consented to his marriage with Lenora?" said the + old gentleman, paying no attention to Monsieur Denecker's remarks.</p> + <p>"Did he deceive me, sir?" said Denecker, with surprise.</p> + <p>"No; but did he communicate something else to you, which ought to strike you as of + equal importance?"</p> + <p>Denecker threw back his head with a laugh, as he replied,—</p> + <p>"What nonsense you made him believe! But, between us two, that passes for nothing. + He tells me that Grinselhof don't belong to you and that you are <i>poor</i>! I hope, + Monsieur De Vlierbeck, you have too good an opinion of my sense to imagine I have the + least faith in such a story?"</p> + <p>A shudder passed over the poor gentleman's frame. Denecker's good-humored + familiarity had made him believe that he knew and credited all, and nevertheless + responded to his nephew's hopes; but the last words he heard taught him that he must + again go over the sad recital of his misfortunes.</p> + <p>"Monsieur Denecker," said he, "do not entertain the least doubt, I beg you, in + regard to what I am about to say. I am willing instantly to consent that my daughter + shall become your nephew's wife; but I solemnly declare that I am + poor,—frightfully poor!"</p> + <p>"Come, come!" cried the merchant; "we knew long, long ago that you were mightily + fond of your money; but when you marry your <i>only</i> child you must open your + heart and your purse, my dear sir, and portion her according to your means. They + say—pardon me for repeating it—that you are <i>a miser</i>; but what a + shame it would be to let your only daughter leave your house unprovided for!"</p> + <p>Poor De Vlierbeck writhed on his chair as Denecker poured forth his incredulous + jokes. "For God's sake, sir," cried he, "spare me these bitter remarks. I declare, on + the word of a gentleman, that I possess <i>nothing</i> in the world!"</p> + <p>"Well!" cried the merchant, taking no heed of his remarks, and with a mocking + smile, "come; let us cipher the matter out on the table. You suppose, perhaps, that I + have come here to ask some great sacrifice of you: but no, De Vlierbeck, thank God, I + have no occasion to be so close in my calculations. Yet a marriage is a thing to + which there are always two parties, and it is just that each should bring something + into the common stock."</p> + <p>"Oh, God! oh, God!" muttered the poor gentleman, as he clenched his hands + convulsively.</p> + <p>"I propose to give my nephew one hundred thousand francs," continued Denecker; + "and if he wants to continue in business my credit will be worth as much more to him. + I have no wish that Lenora's portion shall equal his. Your high birth, and especially + your character, will make up what is wanting in her fortune; but what say you to the + half,—fifty thousand francs? You will consent to that, or I am much mistaken. + What say you? Is it a bargain?"</p> + <p>Pale and trembling, De Vlierbeck sat riveted to his chair; but at last, in a low, + melancholy voice,—</p> + <p>"Monsieur Denecker," said he, "this conversation kills me. I beg you to stop this + infliction. I repeat that I possess <i>nothing</i>; and, since you force me to speak + before you apprize me of your own intentions, know that Grinselhof and its + dependencies are mortgaged beyond their value! It is useless to inform you of the + origin of these debts. Let it suffice to repeat that I tell the truth; and I beg you, + without going further, now that you are informed of the state of my affairs, to + declare frankly what are your designs as to your nephew's marriage."</p> + <p>Although this declaration was made with that feverish energy which ought to have + satisfied Denecker of its truth, it nevertheless failed to convince him. A degree of + surprise displayed itself on the merchant's face; but he continued his observations + in the same incredulous tone:—</p> + <p>"Pardon me, De Vlierbeck, but it is impossible to believe you. I did not think you + were so hard in a bargain. Yet be it so: every man has his weakness; one is too + miserly, another too prodigal. Now, for my part, I confess that I am extremely + anxious to spare Gustave the anxiety of delay. Give your daughter twenty-five + thousand francs, with the understanding that the amount of her portion is to remain a + secret; for I don't want to be laughed at. Twenty-five thousand francs!—you + cannot say it is too much;—in fact, it is a trifle that will hardly pay for + their furniture. Be reasonable, my good sir, and let us shake hands on it!"</p> + <p>De Vlierbeck said nothing; but, rising abruptly from the table, opened a closet + with a trembling hand, and, taking from it a package of papers, threw them on the + table.</p> + <p>"There!" said he; "read; convince yourself."</p> + <p>Denecker took up the papers and began to examine them. As he went on, the + expression of his face gradually changed, and at times he raised his head and looked + upward, as if in deep thought. After he had been engaged for some time in this + disagreeable task, De Vlierbeck recommenced the conversation in a tone of cutting + irony:—</p> + <p>"Ah! you would not believe me, sir. Well, let your determination be founded on + those papers alone. It is right you should know every thing; for I have determined + never again to be tortured. Besides the evidences of debt which are before you, I owe + a bill of exchange for four thousand francs, which I cannot pay! You see now, + Monsieur Denecker, that I am worse than poor, for I have debts!"</p> + <p>"Alas! it is but too true," said the stupefied merchant; "you have indeed nothing! + I see by these documents that my notary is also yours; and, although I spoke to him + of your fortune, he left me unadvised, or, I should rather say, in error."</p> + <p>De Vlierbeck breathed more freely, for he felt as if a rock had fallen from his + breast. His face resumed its ordinary calmness; and, seating himself, he + continued:—</p> + <p>"Now, sir, if you have no longer any reason to doubt my poverty, let me ask what + are your intentions."</p> + <p>"My intentions?" replied the merchant; "my intentions are that we shall remain as + good friends as we were before; but, as to the marriage, that of course falls to the + ground. We will speak no more about it. What were <i>your</i> calculations, Monsieur + De Vlierbeck? I think I am just beginning to see a little clearly into this matter! + You imagined, I suppose, that you would make a good business out of it and sell your + merchandise as high as possible!"</p> + <p>"Sir," exclaimed De Vlierbeck, bounding from his chair in rage, "speak + respectfully of my daughter! Poor or rich, do not dare to forget who she is!"</p> + <p>"Don't get angry! don't get angry! Monsieur De Vlierbeck. I have no desire to + insult you. Far from it. Had your enterprise succeeded I would probably have admired + you; but <i>finesse</i> against <i>finesse</i> always makes a bad game! Permit me to + ask, since you are so touchy on the point of honor, if you have acted a very + honorable part in courting my nephew and allowing his passion to absorb him?"</p> + <p>De Vlierbeck bowed his head to conceal the blush that suffused his aged cheeks; + nor did he awake from his painful stupor till the merchant recalled him by the single + word,—</p> + <p>"Well?"</p> + <p>"Ah!" stammered De Vlierbeck, "have mercy on me! Love for my child, probably, led + me astray. God endowed her with all the gifts that can adorn a woman. I hoped that + her beauty, the purity of her soul, the nobility of her blood, were treasures quite + as precious as gold!"</p> + <p>"That is to say, for a gentleman, perhaps; but not for so common a person as a + merchant," interrupted Monsieur Denecker, with a sneer.</p> + <p>"Don't reproach me with having <i>courted</i> your nephew," continued De + Vlierbeck. "That is a word that wounds me deeply; for it is unjust. Their attachment + was reciprocal and in every way unstudied. I thanked God daily in my prayers that he + had cast in our path a savior for my child:—yes, a savior, I say; for Gustave + is an honorable youth, who would have made her happy not so much by money as by his + noble and generous character. Is it then so great a crime for a father who has + unfortunately become poor to hope that his child should escape want?"</p> + <p>"Certainly not," replied the merchant; "but every thing is in <i>success</i>; and + in that respect, Monsieur De Vlierbeck, your enterprise has been unfortunate. I am a + man who examines his goods twice before he buys, and it is difficult to pass apples + on me for lemons!"</p> + <p>This heartless, trafficking slang tortured the unfortunate bankrupt to such a + degree that he arose from his seat in a passion and began to pace the apartment.</p> + <p>"You have no consideration for my misfortunes, sir," said he. "You pretend that I + designed deceiving you; but was it <i>you</i> who discovered my poverty? Are you not + free to act as you please, after the disclosures that I have voluntarily given you? + And let me remark, sir, that if I listen humbly to your reproaches—if I even + acknowledge my fault—the sense of manhood is not dead in my soul. You talk of + 'merchandise' and 'goods,' as if you came here to buy something! You allude to my + Lenora, do you? All your wealth, sir, could not purchase her! and, if love is not + powerful enough in your eyes to obliterate the pecuniary inequality between us, know + that I am a De Vlierbeck, and that name, even in poverty, weighs more than all your + money!"</p> + <p>During this explosion his face kindled with indignation and his eyes shot forth + their fiery rays upon the merchant, who, alarmed by the loud words and animated + gestures of De Vlierbeck, regarded him with an air of stupefaction from the other + side of the apartment.</p> + <p>"Good God, sir," said he at last, "there is no need of so much violence and loud + talk! Each of us remains where he is; each keeps what he has, and the affair is at an + end. I have but one request to make of you, and it is that you will never again + receive my nephew,—or else—"</p> + <p>"Or else?" interrupted De Vlierbeck, passionately; "do you <i>dare</i> to threaten + me?" But, restraining himself almost instantly, he continued, with comparative + calmness, "Enough! Shall I call Monsieur Denecker's carriage?"</p> + <p>"If you please," replied the merchant. "We cannot do business together, it seems; + but that is no reason why we should become enemies."</p> + <p>"Well! well! we will stop short of that, sir. But this conversation annoys me; it + must end!" And, so saying, he led Monsieur Denecker to the door and bade him farewell + abruptly. Be Vlierbeck returned to the parlor, fell into his chair and covered his + brow with both hands, as a heavy groan burst from his breast, which heaved with + almost hysterical emotion. For a long time he remained silent and motionless; but + soon his hands fell heavily on his knees, a deathly paleness overspread his face, and + the room whirled around the heart-broken man.</p> + <p>Suddenly he heard footsteps in the chamber above, and, rousing himself by a strong + effort, "Oh, God! my poor child!" cried he; "my poor Lenora! She comes! my punishment + is not yet complete! I must break the heart of my own child; I must tear from it all + its hopes, blot out its dream, behold it withered up with grief! Oh that I could + escape this dreadful disclosure! Alas! What to say to her? how to explain it?"</p> + <p>A bitter smile contracted his lips as he continued, with bitter irony:—"Ah! + hide thy suffering, old man; rally thy strength; take courage! If thy heart is torn + and bleeding,—if despair devours thy soul,—oh, smile, still smile! Yes! + your life has been a continual farce! Yet, miserable abortion that thou art, what + canst thou do but submit, yield without a fight, and bow thy neck to the yoke like a + powerless slave? Begone, rebellious feeling! Be silent, and behold thy child!"</p> + <p>Lenora opened the door and ran to her father, her questioning eyes fixed on his + with a look of hope. All of poor De Vlierbeck's efforts to disguise his suffering + were unsuccessful, and Lenora soon read in his face that he was a prey to some + overwhelming sorrow. As he still obstinately kept silence, she began to tremble, and + asked, with feverish impatience,—</p> + <p>"Well, father,—well,—have you <i>nothing</i> to say to me?"</p> + <p>"Alas! my child," said he, sighing, "we are not happy. God tries us with heavy + blows. Let us bow before the will of the Almighty."</p> + <p>"What do you mean? what is there to fear?" said Lenora, beside herself. "Speak, + father! Has he <i>refused</i> his consent?"</p> + <p>"He has refused it, Lenora!"</p> + <p>"Oh, no! no!" cried the maiden; "it is impossible!"</p> + <p>"Refused it, because he possesses millions and we—nothing!"</p> + <p>"It is true, then? Gustave is hopelessly lost to me!—lost to me forever!</p> + <p>"Hopelessly!" echoed the father.</p> + <p>A sharp cry escaped Lenora as she tottered to the table and fell on it, weeping + bitterly.</p> + <p>De Vlierbeck arose and stood above his sobbing daughter, and, joining his uplifted + hands, exclaimed, in suppliant tones,—</p> + <p>"Oh, pity me, pity me, Lenora! In that fatal interview I have suffered all the + torments that could rack the heart of a parent; I have drunk the dregs of shame; I + have emptied the cup of humiliation; but all, all are nothing in comparison with thy + grief! Calm yourself, child of my love; let me see the sweet face I so love to look + on; let me regain my lost strength in thy holy resignation! Lenora! my head swims; I + shall die of despair!"</p> + <p>As he uttered these words he sank heavily into a chair, overpowered by emotion. + The sound of his fall seemed instantly to recall Lenora to herself, and, dashing the + tears from her eyes, she leaned her head on his shoulder to listen and assure herself + that he had not fainted.</p> + <p>"Never to see him more! to renounce his love forever! to lose the happiness I + dreamed of! Alas! alas!"</p> + <p>"Lenora! Lenora!" exclaimed her father, entreatingly!</p> + <p>"Oh, beloved father," sobbed the poor girl, "to lose Gustave <i>forever!</i> The + dreadful thought overwhelms me! While I am near you I will bless God for his + kindness; but my tears overpower me; oh! let me weep, let me weep, I beseech + you!"</p> + <p>De Vlierbeck pressed his daughter more closely to his heart, and respected her + affliction in silence.</p> + <p>The stillness of death reigned throughout the apartment, while they remained + locked in each other's arms until the very excess of grief relaxed their embrace and + opened their hearts to mutual consolation.</p> + <hr style='width: 65%;' /> + <a id="CHAPTER_VI" name='CHAPTER_VI'></a> + <h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + <br /> + + <p>Four days after Denecker had refused his consent to the marriage, a hired carriage + might have been Been drawing up carefully in a screen of wood that bordered a by-road + about half a league from Grinselhof. A young man got out of it, and, giving + directions to the coachman to await him at a neighboring inn, walked briskly across + the moor toward the old <i>château</i>. As soon as Grinselhof began to loom up + over the trees, he moved cautiously along behind the hedges and thickets, as if + seeking to avoid observation; and then, stealing across the bridge, he opened the + gate, passed through the dense copse that surrounded the house, and entered the + garden.</p> + <p>The first object that greeted his sight was Lenora, seated at her table beneath + the well-known catalpa, with her head resting on the board, evidently absorbed in + sorrow. Her back was turned toward him as he approached; and, although he advanced + with the utmost caution, the sound of his footsteps disturbed her in the intense + silence of the spot, and she leaped to her feet, while the name of Gustave broke in + surprised accents from her lips. She was evidently anxious to escape into the house; + but her lover threw himself on his knees, and, grasping her hand, poured forth a + passionate appeal:—</p> + <p>"Listen to me, Lenora! listen to me! If you fly and refuse me the consolation of + telling you with my last farewell, all I have suffered and all I hope, I will either + die here at your feet, or I will go hence forever, a broken-hearted wanderer over the + face of the earth! Listen to me! listen to me! Listen to me, Lenora, my sister, my + beloved, my betrothed! By our pure and holy love, I beseech you not to repulse + me!"</p> + <p>Though Lenora trembled in every limb, her features assumed an expression of + wounded pride, as she answered, with cold decision,—</p> + <p>"Your boldness surprises me, sir! You are indeed a daring man, to appear again at + Grinselhof after your uncle's insulting conduct to my father! He is ill in bed; his + soul is crushed by the outrage. Is this the reward of all my affection for you?"</p> + <p>"Oh, God! oh, God! Lenora, do I hear <i>you</i> accuse me? Alas! what have I done, + and what could I prevent?"</p> + <p>"There is nothing, sir, any longer, in common between us," said the girl. "If we + are not as rich as you, the blood that runs in our veins cannot suffer by comparison. + Arise! begone! I will see you no more!"</p> + <p>"Mercy! pity!" exclaimed Gustave, lifting his clasped hands toward her; "mercy, + Lenora, for I am innocent!"</p> + <p>The maiden dashed away the tears that began to start in her eyes, and, turning her + back on him, was about to depart.</p> + <p>"Cruel, cruel!" exclaimed Gustave, in broken tones. "Can you leave me without a + farewell?—without a word of consolation? Will you remain insensible to my grief + and deaf to my prayers? 'Tis well; I will submit to my lot, for <i>you</i> have + decided it! You, Lenora, my love, have sentenced me! I forgive you: be happy on earth + without me, and farewell forever!"</p> + <p>As he uttered those words his strength seemed utterly to fail him, and, sinking + into the chair which Lenora had quitted, his head and arms fell lifeless on the + table.</p> + <p>The determined girl had made a few steps in her retreat to the house, when she + suddenly halted on hearing the agonized tones of Gustave's farewell and the sudden + sound of his fall on the table. As she glanced backward at the convulsed frame of her + lover, a spasm that denoted the violent conflict between duty and affection passed + over her beautiful face; and, as her heart appeared gradually to conquer in the + fight, the tears began to pour in showers from her eyes. Step by step and slowly she + retraced the path to the table, and leaning over the sufferer, took one of his hands + tenderly in hers:—</p> + <p>"Are we not wretched, Gustave? Are we not wretched?"</p> + <p>At the touch of that gentle hand and the sound of that beloved voice, life seemed + once more to stir in his veins, and, raising his eyes languidly to hers, he gazed + mournfully into them as he half said, half sighed,—</p> + <p>"Lenora, dear Lenora, have you come back to me? Have you taken pity on my agony? + You do not <i>hate</i> me, do you?" "Is a love like ours extinguished in a day?" + returned Leonora, with a sigh.</p> + <p>"Oh, no, no!" cried Gustave aloud; "it is eternal! Is it not eternal, Lenora, and + omnipotent against every ill as long as the hearts beat in our bosoms?"</p> + <p>Lenora bowed her head and cast down her eyes.</p> + <p>"Do not imagine, Gustave," said she, solemnly, "that our separation causes me less + grief than it does you; and, if the assurance of my love can assuage the pangs of + absence, let it strengthen and encourage you. My lonely heart will keep your image + sacred in its holiest shrine; I will follow you in spirit wherever you go, and I will + love you till death shall fill up the gulf that separates us. We shall meet again + above, but never more on earth."</p> + <p>"You are mistaken, Lenora," cried Gustave, with a feeble expression of joy; "you + are mistaken! There is still hope; my uncle is not inexorable, and his compassionate + heart must yield to my despair."</p> + <p>"That may be," replied Lenora, in sad but resolute tones; "that may be, Gustave; + but my father's honor is inflexible. Leave me, Gustave; I have already disobeyed my + father's orders too long, and slighted my duty in remaining with a man who cannot + become my husband. Go now; for, if we should be surprised by some one, my poor, + wretched father would die of shame and anger."</p> + <p>"One moment more, beloved Lenora! Hear what I have to tell you. My uncle refused + me your hand; I wept, I besought him, but nothing could change his determination. In + despair I was transported beyond myself; I rebelled against my benefactor; and, + treating him like an ungrateful wretch, I said a thousand things for which I begged + his pardon on my knees when reason resumed her empire over my excited soul. My uncle + is goodness itself to me: he pardoned my sin; but he imposed the condition that I + should instantly undertake a journey with him to Italy, which he has long designed + making. He idly hopes that travel may obliterate your image from my mind; but think + not, Lenora, that I can ever forget you! A sudden thought flashed through my fancy, + and I accepted his terms with a secret joy. For months and months I will be alone + with my uncle; and, watching him ever with the love and gratitude I feel for all his + kindness, I will gradually wear away his objections, and, conquering his heart, + return, my love, to place the bridal wreath upon your brow, and claim you, before the + altar of God, as the companion of my choice!"</p> + <p>For an instant a gentle smile overspread the maiden's face, and her clear, earnest + gaze was full of rapture at the vision of future happiness; but the gleam disappeared + almost as quickly as it arose, and she answered him, with bitter sadness,—</p> + <p>"Alas! my dear friend, it is cruel to destroy this last hope of your heart; and + yet I must do it. Your uncle might consent; but my father—"</p> + <p>She faltered for an instant.</p> + <p>"Your father, Lenora? Your father would pardon all and receive me like a long-lost + son."</p> + <p>"No, no; believe it not, Gustave; for his honor has been too deeply wounded. As a + Christian he might pardon it; but as a gentleman he will never forget the + outrage."</p> + <p>"Oh, Lenora, you are unjust to your father. If I return with my uncle's consent, + and say to him, 'I will make your child happy; give her to me for my wife; I will + surround her path with all the joys a husband has ever bestowed on woman;'—if I + tell him this, think you he will deny me?"</p> + <p>Lenora cast down her eyes.</p> + <p>"You know his infinite goodness, Gustave," said she. "My happiness is his only + thought on earth; he will thank God and bless you."</p> + <p>"Yes, yes; he <i>will</i> consent," continued Gustave, with ardor; "and all is not + lost. A blessed ray lightens our future, and let it rekindle your hope, beloved of my + heart! Yield not to grief; let me go forth on this dreary journey, but let me bear + along with me the assurance that you await my return with trust in God. Remember me + in your prayers; utter my name as you stray through these lonely paths which + witnessed the dawn of our love and where for two months I drained the cup of perfect + bliss. The knowledge that I am not forgotten by you will sustain my heart and enable + me to endure the pangs of separation."</p> + <p>Lenora wept in silence. Her lover's eloquence had extinguished every spark of her + pride; and the rebellious heart which so lately was ready to cast off its rosy + fetters had no longer a place for any thing but love and sadness. Gustave saw that he + had conquered.</p> + <p>"I go, Lenora," said he, "strong in your affection. I quit my country and my loved + one with a confident hope. Whatever may happen to me, I will never be downcast. You + will think of me daily, Lenora, will you not?"</p> + <p>"Alas! I have promised my father that I will forget you!" sobbed the maiden, as + her hand trembled in his.</p> + <p>"<i>Forget</i> me!" exclaimed Gustave. "<i>Can</i> you force yourself to forget + me?"</p> + <p>"No, Gustave; NO!" said she, firmly, fixing her large eyes on him with an intense + and lingering gaze. "No: for the first time in my life I will disobey my father. I + feel that I have net the strength to keep my idle word. I cannot forget you: till the + last hour of my life I will love you; for it is my fate, and I cannot resist."</p> + <p>"Thanks, thanks, a thousand thanks, Lenora!" exclaimed Gustave, in a transport. + "Thy tender love strengthens me against destiny. Beloved of my heart, rest here under + the guardian eye of God. Thy image will follow me in my journey like a protecting + angel; in joy and grief, by day and night, in health and sickness, thou, Lenora, wilt + ever be present to me! This cruel separation wounds my heart beyond expression; but + duty commands, and I must obey. Farewell, farewell!"</p> + <p>He wrung her hands convulsively, and was gone.</p> + <p>"Gustave!" sobbed the poor girl, as she sank on the chair and allowed the pent-up + passion of her soul to burst forth in tears.</p> + <hr style='width: 65%;' /> + <a id="CHAPTER_VII" name='CHAPTER_VII'></a> + <h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + <br /> + + <p>Leonora secretly cherished in her heart the hope of a happy future; but she did + not hesitate to inform her father of Gustave's visit. De Vlierbeck heard her + listlessly, and gave no other reply but a bitter smile.</p> + <p>From that day Grinselhof became sadder and more solitary than ever. The old + gentleman might generally be seen seated in an arm-chair, resting his forehead on his + hand, while his eyes were fixed on the ground or on vacancy. The fatal day on which + the bond fell due was perhaps always present to his mind; nor could he banish the + thought of that frightful misery into which it would plunge his child and himself. + Lenora carefully concealed her own sufferings in order not to increase her father's + grief; and, although she fully sympathized with him, no effort was omitted on her + part to cheer the old man by apparent contentment. She did and said every thing that + her tender heart could invent to arouse the sufferer from his reveries; but all her + efforts were in vain: her father thanked her with a smile and caress; but the smile + was sad, the caress constrained and feeble.</p> + <p>If Lenora sometimes asked him, with tears, what was the cause of his depression, + he adroitly managed to avoid all explanations. For days together he wandered about + the loneliest paths of the garden, apparently anxious to escape the presence even of + his daughter. If she caught a glimpse of him at a distance, a fierce look of + irritation was perceptible on his face, while his arms were thrown about in rapid and + convulsive gesticulations. If she approached him with marks of love and devotion, he + scarcely replied to her affectionate words, but left the garden to bury himself in + the solitude of the house.</p> + <p>An entire month—a month of bitter sadness and unexpressed suffering on both + sides—passed in this way; and Lenora observed with increased anxiety the rapid + emaciation and pallor of her father, and the suddenness with which his once-lively + eye lost every spark of its wonted vivacity. It was about this time that a slight + change in the old gentleman's conduct convinced her that a secret—and perhaps a + terrible one—weighed on his heart. Every day or two he went to Antwerp in the + <i>calèche</i>, without informing her or any one else of the object of his + visit. He came back to Grinselhof late at night, seated himself at the supper-table + silent and resigned, and, persuading Lenora to go to bed, soon went off to his own + chamber. But his daughter was well aware that he did not retire to rest; for during + long hours of wakefulness she heard the floor creak as he paced his apartment with + restless steps.</p> + <p>Lenora was brave by nature, and her singular and solitary education had given her + a latent force of character that was almost masculine. By degrees the resolution to + make her father reveal his secret grew in her mind. And, although a feeling of + instinctive respect made her hesitate, a restless devotion to the author of her being + gradually overcame all scruples and emboldened her for the enterprise.</p> + <p>One day Monsieur De Vlierbeck set off very early for town. The morning wore away + heavily; and, toward the afternoon, Lenora wandered wearily about the desolate house, + with no companion but her sad reflections. At length she entered the apartment where + her father usually studied or wrote, and, after a good deal of hesitation, in which + her face and gestures displayed the anxiety of her purpose, opened the table-drawer, + and saw in it, unrolled, a written document. The paleness of death overspread her + countenance as she perused the paper and instantly closed the drawer. After this she + left the apartment hastily, and, returning to her chamber, sat down with hands + clasped on her knees and eyes fixed on the floor in a stare of wild surprise.</p> + <p>"<i>Sell Grinselhof!</i>" exclaimed she. "Sell Grinselhof! Why? Monsieur Denecker + insulted my father because we were not rich enough for him. What is this secret? and + what does it all mean? If it should be <i>true</i> that we are beggars! Oh, God! does + a ray of light penetrate my mind? is this the solution of the enigma and the cause of + my father's depression?"</p> + <p>For a long time she remained motionless in her chair, absorbed in reverie; but + gradually her face brightened, her lips moved, and her eyes glistened with + resolution. As she was endeavoring to fight bravely against misfortune, she suddenly + heard the wheels of her father's <i>calèche</i> returning to Grinselhof. She + ran down instantly to meet him; and as he drew up at the door she perceived the poor + sufferer buried in a corner of the vehicle, apparently deprived of all consciousness; + and, when he descended from the vehicle and she saw his expression distinctly, the + deadly pallor that covered his haggard cheeks almost made her sink to the earth with + anxiety. Indeed, she had neither heart nor strength to utter a word to him; but, + standing aside in silence, she allowed the old man to enter the house and bury + himself as usual in his chamber.</p> + <p>For some minutes she stood on the door-sill, undecided as to what she should do; + but by degrees her brow and cheeks began to redden, and the light of resolution shone + in her moistened eyes.</p> + <p>"Ought the feeling of respect to restrain me longer?" said she to herself; "shall + I let my father die without an effort? No! no! I must know all! I must tear the worm + from his heart; I must save him by my love!"</p> + <p>Without a moment's further delay, she ran rapidly through three or four chambers, + and came to the apartment where her father was seated with his elbows resting on the + table and his head buried in his hands. Throwing herself on her knees at his feet, + and with hands raised to him in supplication,—</p> + <p>"Have mercy on me, father!" exclaimed she; "have mercy on me, I beseech you on my + knees; tell me what it is that distresses you! I must know why it is that my father + buries himself in this solitude and seems to fly even from his child!"</p> + <p>"Lenora! thou last and only treasure that remainest to me on earth," replied De + Vlierbeck, in a broken voice, with despair in his wild gaze,—"thou hast + suffered, dreadfully, my child, hast thou not? Rest thy poor head in my bosom. A + terrible blow, my child, is about to fall on us!"</p> + <p>Lenora did not seem to pay any attention to these remarks, but, disengaging + herself from her father's embrace, replied, in firm and decided tones,—</p> + <p>"I have not come here, father, for consolation, but with the unalterable + determination to learn the cause of your suffering. I will not go away without + knowing what misfortune it is that has so long deprived me of your love. No matter + how much I may venerate you and respect your silence, the sense of duty is greater + even than veneration. I must—I <i>will</i>—know the secret of your + grief!"</p> + <p>"Thou deprived of thy father's love?" exclaimed De Vlierbeck, reproachfully and + with surprise;—love for thee, my adored child, is precisely the secret of my + grief. For ten years I have drained the bitter cup and prayed the Almighty to make + you happy; but, alas! my prayers have always been unheard!"</p> + <p>"Shall I be unhappy, then?" asked Lenora, without betraying the least emotion.</p> + <p>"Unhappy, because of the misery that awaits us," replied her father. "The blow + that is about to fall on our house destroys all that we possess. We must leave + Grinselhof."</p> + <p>The last words, which plainly confirmed her fears, seemed for a moment to appall + the girl; but she repressed her feelings, and answered him, with increased + courage,—</p> + <p>"You are not dying this slow death because ill-fortune has overtaken <i>you</i>, + my father; I know the unconquerable force of your character too well for that. No! + your heart is weak and yielding because <i>I</i> have to partake your poverty! Bless + you, bless you, for your affection! But, tell me, father, if I were offered all the + wealth of the world on condition that I would consent to see you suffer for a single + day, what think you I would answer?"</p> + <p>Dumb with surprise, the poor man looked proudly at his daughter, and a gentle + pressure of her hand was his sole reply.</p> + <p>"Ah!" continued she, "I would refuse all the treasures of earth and meet poverty + without a sigh. And you, father,—if they offered you all the gold of America + for your Lenora, what would you do?"</p> + <p>"How can you ask, child?" exclaimed her father; "do we sell our hearts' blood for + gold?"</p> + <p>"And so," continued the girl, "our Maker has left us that which is dearest to us + both in this world; why then should we mourn when we ought to be grateful for his + compassionate care? Take heart once more, dear father; no matter what may be our + future lot,—should we even be forced to take refuge in a hovel,—nothing + can harm us as long as we are not separated!"</p> + <p>Smiles, astonishment, admiration, and love, by turns flitted over the wan features + of the poor old man, who seemed altogether unnerved and disconcerted by the painful + <i>dénouement</i>. At length, after some moments of unbroken silence, he + clasped his hands, and, gazing intensely into her eyes through his starting + tears—</p> + <p>"Lenora, Lenora! my child!" he exclaimed, "thou art not of earth—thou art an + angel! The unselfish grandeur of thy soul unmans me completely!"</p> + <p>She saw she had conquered. The light of courage was rekindled again in her + father's eye, and his lofty brow was lifted once more under the sentiment of dignity + and self-devotion that struggled for life in his suffering heart. Lenora looked at + him with a heavenly smile, and exclaimed, rapturously,</p> + <p>"Up! up! father; come to my arms; away with grief! United in each other's love, + fate itself is powerless in our presence!"</p> + <p>Father and daughter sprang into each other's arms, and for a long while remained + speechless, wrapped in a tender embrace; then, seating themselves with their hands + interlocked, they were silent and absorbed, as if the world and its misery were + altogether forgotten.</p> + <p>"A new life—a new and refreshing current of blood—seems to have been + suddenly poured into my veins," said Monsieur De Vlierbeck. "Alas, Lenora, what a + sinner I have been! how wrong I was not to divulge all! But you must pardon me, + beloved child; you must pardon me. It was the fear of afflicting you—the hope + of finding some means of rescue, of escape—that sealed my lips. I did not know + you, my daughter; I did not know the inestimable treasure that God in his mercy had + lavished on me! But <i>now</i> you shall know all; I will no longer hide the secret + of my conduct and my grief. The fatal hour has come; the blow I desired to ward off + is about to fall and cannot be turned aside! Are you prepared, dear child, to hear + your father's story?"</p> + <p>Lenora, who was delighted to behold the calm and radiant smile that illuminated + the face of her heart-broken parent, answered him instantly, in caressing + tones,—</p> + <p>"Pour all your woes into my heart, dear father, and conceal nothing. The part I + have to perform must be based on complete knowledge of every thing; and you will feel + how much your confidence relieves your burdened soul."</p> + <p>"Take, then, your share of suffering, daughter," replied De Vlierbeck, "and help + me to bear my cross! I will disguise nothing. What I am about to disclose is indeed + lamentable; yet do not tremble and give way at the recital, for, if any thing should + move you, it must be the story of a father's torture. You will learn now, my child, + why Monsieur Denecker has had the hardihood to behave toward us as he has done."</p> + <p>He dropped her hand, but, without averting his eager gaze from her anxious eyes, + continued:—</p> + <p>"You were very young, Lenora, but gentle and loving as at present, and your + blessed mother found all her happiness centered in your care and comfort. We dwelt on + the lands of our forefathers; nothing disturbed the even tenor of our simple lives; + and, by proper economy, our moderate income sufficed to support us in a manner + becoming our rank and name.</p> + <p>"I had a younger brother, who was endowed with an excellent heart, but generous to + a fault and somewhat imprudent. He lived in town, and married a lady of noble family + who was no richer than himself. She was showy in her tastes and habits, and, I fear, + induced him to increase his revenue by adventurous means. There can be no doubt that + he speculated largely in the public funds. But probably you do not understand what + this means, my child. It is a species of <i>gambling</i>, by which a man may in a + moment gain millions; and yet it is a game that may, with equal rapidity, plunge him + into the depths of misery and reduce him as if by magic to the condition of a + beggar.</p> + <p>"At first, my brother was remarkably successful, and established himself in town + in a style of living that was the envy of our wealthiest citizens. He came to see us + frequently, bringing you, who were his godchild, a thousand beautiful presents, and + lavished his affection with testimonials of kindness which were proportioned to his + fortune. I spoke to him often about the dangerous character of his adventures, and + endeavored to convince him that it was unbecoming a gentleman to risk his property + upon the hazards of an hour; but, as continued success emboldened him more and more, + the passion for gambling made him deaf to all my appeals, all my advice.</p> + <p>"At last the evil hour came! The luck which had so long favored him became + inconstant; he lost a considerable portion of his gains, and saw his fortune + diminishing with every venture. Still, courage did not fail him; but, on the + contrary, he seemed to fight madly against fate, with the idle hope of forcing + fortune to turn once more in his favor. But, alas, it was a fatal delusion!</p> + <p>"One night—I tremble as I recall it—I was in my chamber and nearly + ready to retire; you were already in bed, and your mother was saying her prayers on + her knees beside your little couch. A tremendous storm raged without: hail beat in + torrents against the windows, and the wind howled in the chimneys and swayed the + trees as if it was about to blow down the house. The violence of the tempest began to + make me somewhat anxious, when suddenly the door-bell was pulled and the sound of + horses heard at the gate. In a moment the summons was answered by one of our + servants,—for we kept two then,—and a female rushed into the room, + throwing herself in tears at my feet. It was my brother's wife!</p> + <p>"Trembling with fright, I of course hastened to raise her; but she clung to my + knees, begging my assistance, imploring me, by every passionate appeal she could + think of, to save her husband's life, and convincing me by her sobs and distraction + that some frightful calamity was impending over my brother!</p> + <p>"Your mother joined me eagerly in my efforts to calm the sufferer, and by degrees + we managed to extract the cause of her singular conduct and unseasonable visit. My + brother—alas!—had lost all he possessed, and even more! His wife's story + was heart-rending; but its conclusion filled us with more anxiety for her husband + than his losses; for, overcome by the certainty of a dishonored name, haunted by the + reflection that law and justice would soon overtake him, my poor brother had made an + attempt upon his life! The hand of God had providentially guided his wife to the + apartment, where she surprised him at the fatal moment and snatched the deadly + instrument from his grasp! He was then locked up in a room; dumb, overcome, bowed + down to the earth, and guarded by two faithful friends. If any one on earth could + save him, it was surely his brother!</p> + <p>"Such was the wild appeal of my wretched sister-in-law, who, heedless of the + stormy night, had thrown herself into a coach and fled to me, through the tempest, as + her only hope for their salvation. There she was at my feet, bathed in tears, + sobbing, screaming, beseeching me to accompany her to town. <i>Could I—did + I</i>—hesitate? Your tender mother, who saw at once the frightful condition of + the family, and sympathized as woman's heart alone can do with human misery, eagerly + implored me not to lose a moment. 'Save him, save him!' exclaimed she; 'spare + nothing: I will consent to every thing you may think proper to do or sacrifice!'</p> + <p>"We flew back to town through the storm and darkness. You grow pale, Lenora, at + the very thought of it, for it was indeed frightful, and you can never know the + impression it made on me: these whitened hairs—whitened before their + time—are the records of that terrible night! But let me continue.</p> + <p>"It is needless to describe the wild despair in which I found my brother, or to + tell you how long I had to wrestle with his spirit in order to force a ray of hope + into his soul. There was but one means by which we could save his honor and life; + but—oh God!—at what a sacrifice! I was obliged to pledge all my property + as security for his debts. Nothing could be spared; our ancestral manor-lands, your + mother's marriage-portion, your moderate dowry,—all were ventured with the + certainty that the greater part would unquestionably be lost! On these hard + conditions my brother's honor might be saved; and, if that could be rescued, he was + willing to renounce the determination to escape shame by death. I must in justice say + that it was not he who demanded the sacrifice from me: on the contrary, he did not + suppose that I could or would make it; but I was satisfied in my mind that if I did + not settle his affairs, at all hazards, he would execute his criminal project against + his life. And yet—and yet, my child—<i>I hesitated!</i>"</p> + <p>"Father!" exclaimed Lenora, "<i>you did not refuse!</i>"</p> + <p>A happy smile beamed on his face as he met the questioning glance of his daughter + and answered, firmly,—</p> + <p>"I loved my brother, Lenora; but I loved <i>you</i>, my only child, much more. The + sacrifice demanded of me by his creditors insured misery for your mother and for + you!"</p> + <p>"Oh, God! oh, God!" sobbed Lenora.</p> + <p>"On one side my heart was distracted by this dreadful thought, while on the other + I was assailed by the despair that was present in the bankrupt's chamber; but + generosity conquered in the awful trial, and at daylight I sought out the principal + creditors and signed the documents that saved a brother's life and honor but gave up + my wife and child to want."</p> + <p>"Thank God!" gasped Lenora, as if she had been relieved from a horrible nightmare. + "Bless you, bless you, father, for your noble, generous conduct!"</p> + <p>She rose from her seat, and, passing her arms around his neck, gave him a glowing + kiss with as much solemnity as if she had been anxious to endue this mark of love + with all the fervor and sacredness of a benediction.</p> + <p>"Ah! but canst thou bless me, my child," said he, with eyes foil of gratitude, + "for an act that should implore thy pardon?"</p> + <p>"<i>My</i> pardon, father!" exclaimed Lenora, with surprise on all her features. + "Oh, had you done otherwise, what would I not have suffered in doubting the goodness + of my parent's heart! Now, now, I love you more than ever! <i>Pardon you</i>, father? + Is it a crime to save a brother's life when it is in your keeping?"</p> + <p>"Alas, Lenora, the world does not reason thus, and never forgives us for the guilt + of poverty. Reduced to that, we suffer humiliations which any one may observe in the + lives of multitudes of our nobles. Yes; society regards poverty as a crime, and it + treats us like outcasts. Our equals avoid us in order not to be confounded in our + misery; while peasants and tradesmen laugh at our misfortune as if it was a sort of + agreeable revenge. Happy, happy they to whom heaven has given an angel to pour + comfort and consolation into their hearts in hours of want and dejection! But listen, + my child!</p> + <p>"My brother was saved, and I concealed most carefully the assistance I had been to + him; he left the country and went with his wife to America, where, ever since, he has + worked hard and gained hardly enough to support a miserable existence. His wife died + during the voyage. And, as to ourselves, we no longer possess any thing; for + Grinselhof and our other lands were mortgaged for more than they were worth. Besides + this, I was forced to borrow from a gentleman of my acquaintance four thousand + <i>francs</i> upon my bond.</p> + <p>"When your mother heard of the sacrifices to which I was forced to submit, she + made no reproaches; at first she fully approved my conduct. But very soon we became + necessarily subjected to privations under which your mother's strength declined, + till, without a sigh or complaint, she began to fade away slowly from earth. It was a + dreadful situation; for, to conceal our ruin and save our ancestral name from + contempt, we were forced to part with the last ounce of our silver to pay the + interest on our debts. Gradually our horses and servants disappeared; the paths that + led to our neighbors soon became grass-grown; and we declined all social invitations, + so as to avoid the necessity of returning the compliment. A rumor about us began to + spread through the village and among the noble families that had formerly been on + terms of intimacy with us; and scandal declared that <i>avarice</i> had driven us to + a life of meanness and isolation! We joyously accepted the imputation, and even the + coldness with which our holiday friends accompanied it; it was a veil with which + society thought proper to cover us, and beneath its folds our poverty was safe from + scrutiny.</p> + <p>"But I am approaching scenes, my child, the recollection of which almost unnerves + me. My story has reached the most painful moment of my life, and I beseech you to + hear me calmly.</p> + <p>"Your poor mother wasted away to a skeleton; her sunken-eyes were hardly visible + in their deep sockets; a livid pallor suffused her cheeks. As I saw her + fading,—fading,—the wife whom I had loved more than life,—as I + gazed on those death-struck features and saw the fatal evidences each day clearer and + clearer,—I became nearly mad with despair and grief."</p> + <p>Lenora shuddered with emotion as her breast heaved convulsively under the sobs she + strove to repress. Her father stopped a moment, almost overcome by the recital; but, + rallying his courage quickly, he forced himself to go on with his sad + recollections:—</p> + <p>"Poor mother! she did nothing but weep! Every time she looked at her + child—her dear little Lenora—tears filled her eyes. Thy name was always + on her lips, as if she were forever addressing a prayer for thee to God in heaven! At + last the dreadful hour arrived when she heard the Almighty's voice summoning her + above. The clergyman performed the services for the dying; and you, my child, had + been taken from her arms and sent out of the house. It was midnight, and I was alone + with her whose icy lips had already imprinted on mine their last sad kiss. My heart + bled. Oh, God! how wretched—how wretched—were those parting hours! My + beloved wife lay there before me as if already a corpse, while the tears yet trickled + down her hollow cheeks and she strove to utter your name with her expiring breath. + Kneeling beside her, I implored God's mercy for her passing hour, and kissed away the + sweat of agony that stood upon her brow. Suddenly I thought I perceived an effort to + speak, and, bending my ear to her lips, she called me by name, and said, 'It is over, + my love, it is over; farewell! It has not pleased the Almighty to assuage my dying + hour, and I go with the conviction that my child will suffer want and wretchedness on + earth!'</p> + <p>"I know not what my love inspired me to say in that solemn moment; but I called + God to witness that you <i>should</i> escape suffering, and that your life should be + happy! A heavenly smile illuminated her eyes, and she believed my promise. With an + effort, she lifted her thin hands once more round my neck and drew my lips to hers. + But soon those wasted arms fell heavily on the bed;—my Margaret was + gone;—thy mother was no more!"</p> + <p>De Vlierbeck's head fell on his breast. Lenora's bosom heaved convulsively as she + took his hand without uttering a word; and, for a long time, nothing was heard in + that sad confessional but the sobs of the maiden and the sighs of her heart-broken + father.</p> + <p>"What I have yet to say," continued the poor gentleman, "is not so painful as what + I have already told you: it concerns only myself. Perhaps it would be better if I + said nothing about it; but I need a friend who possesses all my confidence and can + sympathize with me thoroughly in all I have undergone for the last ten years.</p> + <p>"Listen, then, Lenora. Your mother was no more; she was gone;—she who was my + last staff in life! I remained at Grinselhof alone with you, my child, and with my + promise,—a promise made to God and to the dead! What should I do to fulfil it? + Quit my hereditary estate? wander away seeking my fortune in foreign lands, and work + for our mutual support? That would not do, for it would have devoted you at once to + the chances of a wretched uncertainty. I could not think of such a course with any + degree of satisfaction; nor was it till after long and anxious reflection that a ray + of hope seemed to promise us both a happy future.</p> + <p>"I resolved to disguise our poverty more carefully than ever, and to devote my + time to the most elaborate cultivation of your mind. God made you beautiful in face + and person, Lenora; but your father was anxious to initiate you into the mysteries of + science and art, and, while he endowed you with a knowledge of the world, to make you + virtuous, pious, and modest. I desired to make you an accomplished woman, and I hoped + that the nobility of your blood, the charms of your beauty, the treasures of your + heart and intellect, would compensate in society for the portion that was denied you. + Thus was it, my child, that I thought in time, you would make a suitable alliance + which would restore you to the position you hold by birth. For ten years, Lenora, + this has been my occupation and my hope. What I had forgotten or never learned, I + studied at night to teach you next morning; I labored hard that I might not only + instruct you wisely but that you might acquire easily; and, at the same time, I + strove by every honest means to conceal from you every thing that could give a hint + or cause a suspicion by which your life might be shadowed. Oh, Lenora,—shall I + confess it?—I have suffered hunger and undergone the most cruel privations; I + have passed half my nights mending my clothes, working in the garden, studying and + practising in the dark, so as to hide our poverty from you and the world. But all + that was nothing; in the silence of night I was not forced to blush before any one. + By day I had to encounter all kinds of insults, and, with a bleeding heart, swallow + affront and humiliation."</p> + <p>Lenora looked at her father with eyes moistened by compassion. De Vlierbeck + pressed her hand, and continued:—</p> + <p>"Be not sad, Lenora; if the Lord's hand inflicted deep wounds with every blow, he + bestowed a balm which cured them. One little smile of thy gentle face was sufficient + to make me pour forth an ejaculation to Heaven: you, you at least were happy, and in + your happiness I saw the fulfilment of my promise!</p> + <p>"At length I thought that God himself had thrown in our path one who would save + you from threatening danger. A mutual inclination arose between Gustave and you, and + a marriage seemed the natural consequence. Under these circumstances I apprized + Monsieur Denecker, during his last visit, of the deplorable condition of my affairs; + but no sooner did I make the disclosure than he peremptorily refused his consent to + the union. As if this terrible blow, which withered all my hopes, had not been + sufficient to overwhelm me, I learned, almost at the same time, that the friend who + loaned me four thousand francs, with the right to renew my obligation to him every + year, had died in Germany, and that his heirs demanded the payment of the debt! I ran + all over town, rapped at every friendly door, ransacked heaven and earth in my + despair, to escape this last ignominy; but all my efforts were fruitless. To-morrow, + perhaps, a placard will be stuck on the door of Grinselhof, announcing the sale not + only of our estate but also of our furniture and of every trifling object that memory + and association have rendered dear to us. Honor requires that we shall surrender, to + public sale, every thing of the least value to pay our debts. If fate were kind + enough to allow us to satisfy every creditor it would be a great consolation, my + child, in our misery. Does not this fatal history break your heart?"</p> + <p>"Is that all which makes you despond, father? Have you no other grief? Does your + heart conceal no other secret from me?" asked Lenora.</p> + <p>"None, my child. You know every thing."</p> + <p>"I can very well understand," replied Lenora, gravely, "that others would consider + a blow like this as a frightful misfortune; but how can it affect us? You even appear + calm. Why, father, do you, like me, appear indifferent to the inexorable decree of + fate?"</p> + <p>"Because you have inspired me with courage and confidence, Lenora; because your + love is restored to me fully after a long constraint; because you let me hope that + you will not be unhappy. I know what you want to say, noble child, whom God has given + me as a shield against every ill! Well, I will encounter ruin without bowing my head, + and submit with resignation to the hand of God! Alas!" continued he, sadly, "who can + tell what sufferings are yet in store for us? We may be forced to wander about the + world,—to seek an asylum far from those we know and love,—to earn our + daily bread by the labor of our hands! Oh, Lenora, you know not how bitter is the + bread of misery,—of poverty!"</p> + <p>The maiden shuddered as she saw the cloud falling once more like a curtain over + her father's face. She grasped his hand tenderly, and, fixing her gaze intently on + his, said, in beseeching tones,—</p> + <p>"Oh, father! let not the happy smile that just now lighted your features depart + from them again! Believe me, we shall still be happy. Fancy yourself in the position + that awaits us: and what do you see in it so frightful? I have skill to do all that + woman can do; and then your instructions have made me able to instruct others in the + arts and sciences you have taught me. I shall be strong and active enough for both of + us, and God will bless my labor. Behold us, father, peacefully at home, with tranquil + hearts and always together in our neat apartment: we will love one another, set + misfortune at defiance, and live together in the heaven that our common sacrifice has + made! Oh, it seems to me, father, that the true happiness of our lives is only + beginning! How can you still give yourself up to despair when pleasure is in store + for us,—a pleasure such as few upon earth are permitted to enjoy?"</p> + <p>Monsieur De Vlierbeck looked at his daughter with rapture. Those enthusiastic but + gentle tones had so touched his heart, that noble courage had inspired him with so + much admiration, that tears of joy filled his eyes. With one hand he drew Lenora to + his bosom, and, placing the other on her forehead, he looked to heaven with religious + fervor. A silent prayer, a blessing on his child, an outpouring of thankfulness, + arose from his heart, like the sacred flame from an altar, toward the throne of Him + who had bestowed that angelic child!</p> + <hr style='width: 65%;' /> + <a id="CHAPTER_VIII" name='CHAPTER_VIII'></a> + <h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + <br /> + + <p>A few days afterward, as De Vlierbeck had predicted, the public sale of all their + property was inserted in the papers and placarded over the city and neighborhood. The + affair made some noise, and every one was astonished at the ruin of a person whom + they considered rich and miserly.</p> + <p>As the sale was stated to be in consequence of his departure from the country, the + gossips would have been unable to discover the genuine motive if the news had not + come from Antwerp that De Vlierbeck had resolved to pay his debts and was wretchedly + poor. The cause of his misfortune—that is to say, his liability for his + brother—was known, though all the circumstances were not fully understood.</p> + <p>As soon as the publication was made, the poor old gentleman led, if possible, a + more retired life than ever, in order to avoid explanations. Resigned to his fate, he + quietly awaited the day of sale; and, although his feelings often strove to master + his resolution, the constant care and encouragement of his noble-hearted daughter + enabled him to encounter the fatal hour with a degree of pride.</p> + <p>In the mean while he received a letter from Gustave at Rome, containing a few + lines for his child. The young man declared that absence from Lenora had only + increased his affection, and that his only consolation was the hope of future union + with her by the bonds of marriage. But in other respects the letter was not + encouraging. He said with pain that all his efforts to change his uncle's + determination had, up to that time, been fruitless. De Vlierbeck did not conceal from + Lenora that he no longer had a hope of her union with Gustave, and that she ought to + strive against this unhappy love in order to escape from greater disappointment. + Indeed, since her father's poverty had become publicly known, Lenora was convinced + that duty commanded her to renounce every hope; yet she could not help feeling + pleased and strengthened by the thought that Gustave still loved her, and that he, + whose memory filled her heart, dreamed of her in his distant home and mourned her + absence.</p> + <p>She kept her promises to him faithfully. How often did she pronounce his name in + the solitude of that garden! How often did she sigh beneath the catalpa, as if + anxious to trust the winds with a message of love to other lands! In her lonely walks + she repeated his tender words; and often did she stop musingly at some + well-remembered spot where he had blessed her with a tender word or look.</p> + <p>But poor De Vlierbeck was obliged to undergo additional pain; for, as if every + misfortune that could assail him was to be accumulated at that moment on his devoted + head, he received from America the news of his brother's death! The unfortunate + wanderer died of exhaustion in the wilderness near Hudson's Bay. The poor gentleman + wept long and bitterly for the loss of a brother whom he tenderly loved; but he was + soon and roughly turned aside to encounter the catastrophe of his own fate.</p> + <p>The day of sale arrived. Early in the morning Grinselhof was invaded by all sorts + of people, who, moved by curiosity or a desire to purchase, overran every nook and + corner of the house, examining the furniture and estimating its value.</p> + <p>De Vlierbeck had caused every thing that was to be sold to be carried into the + most spacious apartments, where, aided by his daughter, he passed the entire + preceding night in dusting, cleaning, and polishing the various articles, so that + they might prove more attractive to competitors. He had no personal interest in this + labor; for, his funded property having been sold some days before at great loss, it + was certain that the sale of all his remaining possessions would not exceed the + amount of his debts. It was a noble sentiment of honor and probity that compelled him + to sacrifice his rest for his creditors, so as to diminish as much as he could the + amount of their losses. It was clear that De Vlierbeck did not intend to prolong his + stay at Grinselhof after the sale; for among the articles to be offered were the only + two bedsteads in the house, with their bedding, and a large quantity of clothes + belonging to him and his daughter.</p> + <p>Very early in the day Lenora went to the farm-house, where she remained until all + was over. At ten o'clock the saloon was full of people. Nobles and gentlefolks of + both sexes were mixed up with brokers and second-hand dealers who had come to + Grinselhof with the hope of getting bargains. Peasants might be seen talking + together, in low voices, with surprise at Do Vlierbeck's ruin; and there were even + some who laughed openly and joked as the auctioneer read the terms of sale!</p> + <p>As the salesman put up a very handsome wardrobe, De Vlierbeck himself entered the + apartment and mingled with the bidders. His appearance caused a general movement in + the crowd; heads went together and men began to whisper, while the bankrupt was + stared at with insolent curiosity or with pity, but by the greater part with + indifference or derision. Yet, whatever malicious feeling existed in the assembly, it + did not last long; for the firm demeanor and imposing countenance of De Vlierbeck was + never on any occasion more instinct with that dignity which inspires respect. He was + poor; fortune had struck him a cruel blow; but in his manly look and calm features + there beamed a brave and independent soul which misfortune itself had been unable to + crush.</p> + <p>The auctioneer went on with the sale, assisted in his description of the various + articles by Monsieur De Vlierbeck, who informed the bidders of their origin, + antiquity, and value. Occasionally some gentleman of the neighborhood, who, in better + days, had been on good terms with Lenora's father, approached him with words of + sympathy; but he always managed to escape adroitly from these indiscreet attempts at + consolation. Whenever it was necessary for him to speak, he showed so much + self-command and composure that he was far above the idle <i>compassion</i> of that + careless crowd; yet if his countenance was calm and dignified, his heart was weighed + down by absorbing grief. All that had belonged to his ancestors—articles that + were emblazoned with the arms of his family and had been religiously preserved as + heirlooms for several centuries—were sold at contemptible rates and passed into + the hands of brokers. As each historical relic was placed on the table or held up by + the auctioneer, the links of his illustrious race seemed to break off and depart. + When the sale was nearly over, the <i>portraits</i> of the eminent men who had borne + the name of De Vlierbeck were taken down from the walls and placed upon the stand. + The first—that of the hero of St. Quentin—was knocked off to a dealer for + little more than three francs! In the sale of this portrait, and the laughable price + it brought, there was so much bitter irony that, for the first time, the agony that + had been so long torturing De Vlierbeck's heart began to exhibit its traces in his + countenance. No sooner had the hammer fallen, than, with downcast eyes and a sigh + that was inaudible even to his nearest neighbor, the stricken nobleman turned from + the crowd and left the saloon, so as not to witness the final sacrifice of the + remaining memorials that bound him to his race.</p> + <p>The sun was but an hour or two above the horizon. A deathlike silence had taken + the place of the noise, bustle, and vulgarity that ruled at Grinselhof during the + morning; the solitary garden-walks were deserted, the house-door and gate were + closed, and a stranger might have supposed that nothing had occurred to disturb the + usual quiet of the spot. Suddenly the door of the dwelling opened, and two persons + appeared upon the sill; one, a man advanced in life, the other, a pale and serious + woman. Each carried a small package and seemed ready for travel. Lenora was dressed + in a simple dark gown and bonnet, her neck covered by a small square handkerchief. De + Vlierbeck was buttoned up to the chin in a coarse black greatcoat, and wore a + threadbare cap whose large visor nearly masked his features. Although it was evident + that the homeless travellers had literally stripped themselves of all superfluities + and had determined to go forth with the merest necessaries of decency, there was + something in the manner in which they wore their humble costumes that distinctly + marked their birth and breeding. The old man's features were not changed; but it was + difficult to say whether they expressed pleasure, pain, or indifference. Lenora + seemed strong and resolute, although she was about to quit the place of her birth and + separate herself, perhaps forever, from all she had loved from infancy,—from + those aged groves beneath whose shadows the dawn of love first broke upon her + heart,—from that remembered tree at whose feet the timid avowal of Gustave's + passion had fallen on her ear. But a sense of duty possessed and ruled her heart. + Reason in her was not overmastered by sensibility; and, when she saw her father + tottering at her side, all her energy was rallied in the effort to sustain him.</p> + <p>They did not linger at the door, but, crossing the garden rapidly, directed their + steps toward the farm-house, which they entered to bid its occupants farewell. Bess + and her servant-maid were in the first apartment below.</p> + <p>"Mother Bess," said Monsieur De Vlierbeck, calmly, "we have come to bid you + good-by."</p> + <p>Bess stared a moment anxiously at the travellers, and, lifting her apron to her + eyes, left the apartment; while the servant-maid leaned her head against the + window-frame and began to sob as if her heart would break. In a short time Bess + returned with her husband, whom she had found in the barn.</p> + <p>"Alas! is it true, sir," said the farmer, in a stifled voice,—"is it true + that you are going to leave Grinselhof, and that, perhaps, we shall never see you + again?"</p> + <p>"Come, come, mother Bess," said the poor bankrupt, as he took and pressed her + hand; "don't weep on that account; you see we bear our lot with resignation."</p> + <p>Bess raised her head, threw her eyes once more over the humble dress of her old + master, and began to cry so violently that she could not utter a word. Her husband + strove manfully to repress his emotion; and, after an effort or two, addressed + Monsieur De Vlierbeck in a manly way:—</p> + <p>"May I ask the favor of you, sir, to let me say a word or two to you in + private?"</p> + <p>De Vlierbeck entered the adjoining room, where he was followed by the farmer, who + shut the door carefully.</p> + <p>"I hardly dare, sir," said he, "to mention my request; but will you pardon me if + it displeases you?"</p> + <p>"Speak out frankly, my friend," returned De Vlierbeck, with a smile.</p> + <p>"Look you, sir," stammered the tender-hearted laborer. "Every thing that I have + earned I owe to you. I had nothing when I married Bess; and yet, with your kindness, + we have managed to succeed. God's mercy and your favor have made us prosperous; while + you, our benefactors, have become unfortunate and are forced to wander away from + their home,—God knows where! You may be forced to suffer privations and want; + but that must not be: I would reproach myself as long as I live. Oh, sir!" continued + he, as his voice faltered and his eyes filled with tears, "all that I have on earth + is at your service!"</p> + <p>De Vlierbeck pressed the hard hand of the rustic with a trembling grasp, as he + replied,—</p> + <p>"You are a worthy man indeed, and I am, happy that it was once in my power to + protect and serve you; but I cannot accept your offer, my friend: keep what you have + earned by the sweat of your brow, and do not concern yourself for our future fate, + for, with God's help, we shall find means to live."</p> + <p>"Oh, sir," said the farmer, beseechingly, and clasping his hands in an attitude of + entreaty, "do not reject the trifle I offer you;"—he opened a drawer and + pointed to a small heap of silver.—"See!" said he; "that is not the hundredth + part of the good you have done us. Grant me this favor, I beseech you: take this + money, sir; and if it spare you a single suffering or trial I shall thank God for it + on my knees!"</p> + <p>Tears streamed down the wan and wrinkled cheeks of the poor gentleman as he + replied,—</p> + <p>"Thanks! thanks! my friend; but I must refuse it. All persuasion is useless. Let + us leave this room!"</p> + <p>"But, sir," cried the farmer, in astonishment, "where do you intend to go? Tell + me, for God's sake!"</p> + <p>"I cannot," replied Monsieur De Vlierbeck, "for I don't know myself; and, even if + I did, prudence would make me silent."</p> + <p>Uttering these words, he returned to the other room, where he found everybody in + tears. He saw at once that for his own sake as well as his daughter's he must end + these trying scenes; and accordingly, in a firm voice, he told her it was time to be + gone. There were a few more tender and eager pressures of hands, a few more + farewells, a few last looks at the old homestead and its surroundings, and the + bankrupt pair sallied forth with their bundles, and, passing the bridge just at + sunset, departed on foot across the desolate moor.</p> + <p>It is hard to bid farewell and quit the spots with which, even in a summer's + journey, we have formed agreeable associations: but harder far it is to bid adieu + forever to the home of our ancestors and the haunts of our youth. This dreadful trial + was passing in De Vlierbeck's heart. From a distant point on the road where the + domain of Grinselhof was masked by thickets, the wanderer turned his eyes once more + in the direction of the old <i>château</i>. Big tears stood in his eyes and + slowly rolled down his hollow cheeks as he stood there, silent and motionless, with + clasped hands, gazing into vacancy. But night was rapidly falling around the + wayfarers; and, recalling him to consciousness with a kiss, Lenora gently drew her + father from the spot till they disappeared in the windings of the wood.</p> + <hr style='width: 65%;' /> + <a id="CHAPTER_IX" name='CHAPTER_IX'></a> + <h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + <br /> + + <p>Monsieur De Vlierbeck had not been gone a week, when a letter addressed to him + from Italy reached the village post-office. The carrier inquired of Farmer John where + the old proprietor of Grinselhof had fixed his residence; but neither from him, the + notary, nor any one else in the neighborhood, could he discover the bankrupt's + retreat. The same fate awaited three or four other letters which followed the first + from Italy; and, indeed, nobody bothered himself any more about the wanderers except + the peasant, who every market-day pestered the country-folks from every quarter with + questions about his old master. But no one had seen or heard of him.</p> + <p>Four months passed slowly by, when one morning a handsome post-chaise stopped at + the door of our old acquaintance the notary and dropped a young gentleman in + travelling-costume.</p> + <p>"Where's your master?" said he impatiently to the servant, who excused the notary + under the plea of his present engagement with other visitors, but invited the + stranger to await his leisure in the parlor.</p> + <p>The youth was evidently disconcerted by the delay; for he paced the apartment with + rapid strides and seemed altogether absorbed by some anxiety or disappointment which + made him extremely restless. The notary's visitors seemed to be either very tedious + clients or engaged in very important business; for more than half an hour elapsed + before that functionary made his appearance. He came into the room ceremoniously, + prepared to measure his words and reception by his visitor's rank; but no sooner did + he perceive who it was than his calculating features relaxed into a professional + smile, and he advanced rapidly toward Gustave with outstretched hands.</p> + <p>"How are you, how are you, my dear sir?" said he. "I have been expecting you for + several days, and I am really happy to see you at last. I am greatly flattered by the + confidence you are disposed to place in me, and am ready, whenever you please, to + devote myself to your affairs. By-the-way, I suppose there is a will?"</p> + <p>A shadow passed over Gustave's brow and his face became serious as he took a + portfolio from his overcoat and drew forth a package of papers.</p> + <p>"I am pained, sir, at your loss," said the notary. "Your excellent uncle was my + friend, and I deplore his death more than that of any one else. It pleased God that + he should die far away from his home. But such, alas! is man's fate. We must console + ourselves by the reflection that we are all mortal. Your uncle was <i>very</i> fond + of you, and I suppose you have not been forgotten in his last moments?"</p> + <p>"You may see for yourself," said Gustave, as he placed the package on the + table.</p> + <p>The notary ran his eyes over the papers, and, as he perused them, his face + exhibited by turns surprise and satisfaction.</p> + <p>"Permit me," said he, "to congratulate you, Monsieur Gustave; these documents are + all in order and unassailable. Heir of all his fortune! Do you know, sir, that you + are more than a <i>millionaire</i>?"</p> + <p>"We will speak of that another time," said Gustave, interrupting him rather + sharply. "I called on you to-day to ask a favor."</p> + <p>"You have but to name it, sir."</p> + <p>"You were the notary of Monsieur De Vlierbeck?"</p> + <p>"I was."</p> + <p>"I heard from my uncle that Monsieur De Vlierbeck had become very poor. I have + reasons for desiring that his misfortunes may not be prolonged."</p> + <p>"Sir," said the notary, "I presume that you intend to do him an act of kindness; + and, in truth, it could not be bestowed on a worthier man, for I know the cause of + his ruin and sufferings. He was a victim of generosity and honor. He may have carried + these virtues to imprudence and even to madness; but he deserved a better fate."</p> + <p>"And now, sir," said Gustave, "I want you to let me know, with the least amount of + details possible, what I can do to assist De Vlierbeck without wounding his pride. I + know the condition of his affairs; for my uncle told me all about them. Among other + debts there was a bond for four thousand francs, which belongs to the heirs of + Hoogebaen: I want that bond <i>immediately</i>, even if I have to pay four times as + much as it is worth."</p> + <p>The notary stared at Gustave without replying.</p> + <p>"You seem disconcerted by my demand," said Gustave, somewhat anxiously.</p> + <p>"Not exactly," returned the notary; "but I do not altogether understand your + emotion, although I fear the news I must impart will affect you painfully. If my + anticipations are correct I have cause to be sorry for you, sir!"</p> + <p>"Explain yourself," cried Gustave, alarmed; "explain yourself, sir! Has death been + at Grinselhof? Is my last hope destroyed?"</p> + <p>"No, no," replied the notary, quickly; "don't tremble so; they both live, but they + have been stricken by a great misfortune."</p> + <p>"Well? well?" exclaimed Gustave, with questioning eagerness, rising from his + chair.</p> + <p>"Be calm, be calm, sir," said the notary, soothingly; "sit down and listen; it is + not so terrible as you may perhaps think, since fortune enables you to soften their + misery."</p> + <p>"Oh, God be thanked!" cried Gustave. "But let me beg you to hasten your + disclosures, for your slowness racks me!"</p> + <p>"Know, then," continued the notary, "that during your absence the bond in question + fell due. For many months De Vlierbeck made unavailing efforts to find money to honor + it at maturity; but all his property was mortgaged, and no one would assist him. In + order to escape the mortification of a forced sale, De Vlierbeck offered every thing + at public auction, even down to his furniture and clothes! The sale produced about + enough to pay his debts, and everybody was satisfied by the honorable conduct of De + Vlierbeck, who plunged himself into absolute beggary to save his name."</p> + <p>"And so he lives in the <i>château</i> of his family only as a tenant?"</p> + <p>"No; he has left it."</p> + <p>"And where does he reside, then? I want to see him instantly."</p> + <p>"I do not know."</p> + <p>"How?—you do not know?"</p> + <p>"Nobody knows where he dwells: he left the province without informing any one of + his designs."</p> + <p>"Alas!" cried Gustave, with profound emotion, "and is it so? Shall I be forced to + live longer without them?—without knowing what has become of them? Can you give + me no hint or clue to their residence? Does nobody, nobody know where they are?"</p> + <p>"Nobody," replied the notary. "The evening after their sale De Vlierbeck left + Grinselhof on foot and crossed the moor by some unknown road: I made efforts to + discover his retreat, but always without success."</p> + <p>As this sad news was imparted to Gustave he grew deadly pale, trembled violently, + and covered his forehead with his clasped hands, as if striving to conceal the big + tears that ran from his eyes. What the notary first told him of De Vlierbeck's + misfortunes had wounded his sensibility, though he was less struck by that recital, + because he had already become partially aware of the poor gentleman's embarrassment; + but the certainty that he could not <i>immediately</i> discover his beloved Lenora + and snatch her from want overwhelmed him with the bitterest anguish.</p> + <p>The notary fixed his eyes on the young man, shrugged his shoulders, and regarded + him with an expression of pity.</p> + <p>"You are young, sir," said he, "and, like most men at your time of life, + exaggerate both pain and pleasure. Your despair is unfounded; for it is easy in our + time to discover people whom we want to find. With a little money and diligence we + may be sure, in a few days, to discover Monsieur De Vlierbeck's retreat, even if he + has gone abroad to a foreign country. If you are willing to charge me with the + pursuit I will spare neither time nor trouble to bring you satisfactory news."</p> + <p>Gustave stared hopefully at the notary as he grasped his hand and replied, with a + smile of gratitude,—</p> + <p>"Oh, render me that inestimable service, sir! Spare no money; ransack heaven and + earth if it is necessary; but, in God's name, let me know, and let me know + <i>soon</i>, where De Vlierbeck and his daughter are hidden. It is impossible for me + to describe the sufferings of my heart or the ardor of my desire to find them. Let me + assure you that the first good news you bring will be more grateful to my soul than + if you had restored me to life."</p> + <p>"Fear nothing, sir," answered the notary. "My clerks shall write letters of + inquiry this very night in every direction. To-morrow morning early I will be off to + Brussels and secure assistance from the public offices. If you authorize me to spare + no expense the secret will disclose itself."</p> + <p>"And I," said Gustave,—"I will put the numerous correspondents of our house + under contribution, and nothing shall be omitted to detect their refuge, even if I + have to travel over Europe."</p> + <p>"Be of good cheer, then, Monsieur Gustave," said the notary; "for I doubt not we + shall soon attain our end. And, now that you are assured of my best services, I will + be gratified if you allow me to speak to you a moment quietly and seriously. I have + no right to ask what are your intentions, and still less the right to suppose that + those intentions can be any thing else than proper in every respect. May I inquire if + it is your design to marry Mademoiselle Lenora?"</p> + <p>"That is my irrevocable determination," replied the young man.</p> + <p>"Irrevocable?" said the notary. "Be it so! The confidence which your venerable + uncle was always pleased to repose in me, and my position as notary of the family, + impose on me the duty of setting before you coolly what you are about to do. You are + a <i>millionaire</i>; you have a name which in commerce alone represents an immense + capital. Monsieur De Vlierbeck is penniless; his ruin is generally known; and the + world, justly or unjustly, looks askance at a ruined man. With your fortune, with + your youth and person, you may obtain the hand of an heiress and double your + income!"</p> + <p>Gustave listened to the first words of this calculating essay with evident + impatience; but he soon turned away his eyes and began to fold up the papers and put + them in his portfolio. As the notary finished, he answered, quickly,—</p> + <p>"Well, well, I suppose you have done your duty, and I thank you; but we have had + enough of that. Tell me who owns Grinselhof now?"</p> + <p>The man of business appeared considerably disconcerted by the contemptuous + interruption of his visitor; yet he strove to conceal his mortification by a sorry + smile, as he replied,—</p> + <p>"I see, sir, that you have taken a firm stand and will do as you please. + Grinselhof was bought in by the mortgagees, for the price offered was below its + value."</p> + <p>"Who lives there?"</p> + <p>"It is uninhabited. No one goes to the country in winter."</p> + <p>"Can it be bought from its present proprietor?"</p> + <p>"Certainly. I am authorized to offer it to any one for the amount of the + mortgages."</p> + <p>"Then Grinselhof belongs to <i>me!</i> Be kind enough to inform the owners of it + at once!"</p> + <p>"Very well, sir. Consider Grinselhof as your property from this moment. If you + wish to visit it you will find the keys at the tenant's house."</p> + <p>Gustave took his hat and made ready to go, and, as he did so, pressed the notary's + hand with evident cordiality:—</p> + <p>"I am tired and need repose, for I feel somewhat overcome by the sad news you have + given me. May God help you in your efforts to fulfil your promises! My gratitude will + surpass all you can imagine. Farewell till to-morrow!"</p> + <hr style='width: 65%;' /> + <a id="CHAPTER_X" name='CHAPTER_X'></a> + <h2>CHAPTER X.</h2> + <p>Spring, gentle spring, had thrown aside the funeral garb of winter, and earth + awoke again to vigorous life. Grinselhof reappeared in all the splendor of its wild, + natural scenery; its majestic oaks displayed their verdant domes, its roses bloomed + as sweetly as of old, elder-blossoms filled the air with delicious odor, butterflies + fluttered through the garden, and every thicket was vocal with the song of birds.</p> + <p>Nothing seemed changed at Grinselhof: its roads, its paths, were still deserted, + and sad was the silence that reigned in its shadows. Yet immediately around the house + there was more life and movement than formerly. At the coach-house two grooms were + busy washing and polishing a new and fashionable coach; while the neigh of horses + resounded from the stable. A trim waiting-maid stood on the door-sill laughing and + joking with the lackeys, and a respectable old butler looked knowingly on the + group.</p> + <p>Suddenly the clear silvery ring of a bell was heard from the parlor, and the + waiting-maid ran in, exclaiming, "Good Heavens! there's Monsieur ringing for his + breakfast, and it is not ready yet!"</p> + <p>A few moments afterward she was seen mounting the staircase with a rich silver + salver covered with breakfast-things; and, entering the parlor, she placed them + silently on a table before a young gentleman who seemed entirely absorbed by his own + thoughts, and then instantly left the room without a word.</p> + <p>The young man began his meal with a careless, indifferent air, as if he either had + no appetite or did not know what he was about. The furniture of the apartment in + which he sat presented odd and striking contrasts to an observer. While some of the + articles were remarkable for the richness and elegance of their modern style, there + were chairs, tables, and cabinets whose sombre hue and elaborate carving denoted an + antiquity of several centuries. On the walls were numerous pictures, dimmed by smoke + and time, encased in frames that had lost half their ornaments and gilding. These + were portraits of warriors, statesmen, priests, and prelates. In the dim corners of + the canvas armorial bearings of the house of De Vlierbeck might be seen, and many of + the articles of furniture were embellished with the same blazonry.</p> + <p>We were told a while ago that a public sale at Grinselhof had dispersed among a + crowd of competitors every thing that belonged to Monsieur De Vlierbeck. How has it + come to pass that these portraits have returned to their old nails on walls which + they seemed to have abandoned forever?</p> + <p>The listless youth rose from the table, walked slowly about the room, stopped, + looked mournfully at the portraits, recommenced his walk, and approached an antique + casket placed on a bracket in the corner. He opened it with apparent indifference and + took out some simple jewelry,—a pair of ear-rings and a coral necklace. He + gazed long at these objects as he held them in his hand; a few tears fell on them, a + deep sigh escaped from his bosom, and he then replaced the jewels in their + casket.</p> + <p>Quitting the room, he descended to the court. Waiters and servant-maids saluted as + he passed: he acknowledged their civility by a silent nod and went forth to the most + secluded parts of the garden. Stopping at the foot of a wild chestnut-tree, he threw + himself on the ground, where he sat long in moody reverie until aroused by the + ringing voice of Bess, who approached him with a book in her hand:—</p> + <p>"Here, sir, is a book which Mademoiselle Lenora used to read. My goodman went + yesterday to market, where he found the farmer who bought it at the sale. After + market was over John accompanied the peasant home, and would not leave him till he + had bought the book back again. I suppose it is an excellent book, as Mademoiselle + used to love it so; and neither gold nor silver could ever get it from me if it + wasn't for you, sir. Husband says it is called LUCIFER'!"</p> + <p>While she was running on, Gustave seized the book eagerly and ran over its pages + without paying attention to what she said. "Thank you, thank you for your kind + attention, mother Bess!" said he. "You can't think how happy I am whenever I find any + thing that belonged to your mistress. Be assured that I will never forget your + goodness." After offering this expression of his thanks to the farmer's wife he + opened the book again and began to read without heeding her further. But the good + woman did not go away, and soon interrupted him with a question:—</p> + <p>"May I ask, sir, if you have any news yet of our young lady?"</p> + <p>Gustave shook his head. "Not the least scrap of news, mother Bess. My search has + been fruitless."</p> + <p>"That is unlucky, sir. God knows where she may be and what she is suffering. She + told me before she went away that she meant to work for her father; but one must have + learned to work very early in life to earn a living by one's hands. My heart almost + breaks when I think of it. Perhaps that good, sweet young lady is reduced to work for + other people and labors like a slave to get a mouthful of bread! I have been a + servant, sir, and I know what it is to work from morning until night for others. And + she,—she who is so beautiful, so clever, so kind! Oh, sir, it is terrible! I + can't help crying like a child, thinking of her miserable life!"</p> + <p>Gustave was overcome by the simple eloquence of the poor woman, and remained + silent.</p> + <p>"And then to think," continued Bess, "she might now be so happy! that she might + again become mistress of Grinselhof, where she was born and grew up! that her father + might pass his old days in quietness, and that they are now wandering about the world + poor, sick, abandoned outcasts! Oh, sir, it is sad to know that our benefactors are + unhappy, and to be able to do nothing for them but pray to God and hope for his + mercy!"</p> + <p>The simple-minded woman, without meaning it, had touched some tender strings in + Gustave's heart; and, as she saw the silent tears coursing their way down his cheeks, + she said, entreatingly,—</p> + <p>"Oh, pardon me, sir, for having grieved you so by my talk! but my heart is full, + and my feelings force their way without knowing it. If I have done wrong, I am sure + you are too kind to be angry with me for loving our young lady so much and bemoaning + her misfortune. Have you no orders for me to-day, sir?"</p> + <p>She was about to go, as Gustave raised his downcast eyes and, restraining his + tears, exclaimed,—</p> + <p>"I—angry with you, mother Bess?—and angry, too, because you show + affection for our poor Lenora? Oh, no, no! On the contrary, I bless you for it with + all my heart! The tears you betrayed from my heart have done me good; for I am very + unhappy. Life is a burden; and if God, in his mercy, would take me away from earth, I + would gladly die. All hope of seeing her again in this world is gone. Perhaps she is + awaiting me in the next!"</p> + <p>"Oh, sir! sir! how you talk!" cried the peasant-woman, in alarm. "No! no! that + cannot be!"</p> + <p>"You grieve, my good woman, and shed tears for her," continued Gustave, without + heeding the interruption; "but don't you see how <i>my</i> soul must be consumed with + despair? Alas! for months and months I have implored God for the happiness of seeing + her once more! I overcame all obstacles to our marriage, and I became almost mad with + joy and impatience as I flew like lightning to the home where I left her; and then my + only recompense, my only consolation, was to find her <i>gone</i> and the house of + her fathers a wilderness!—to know, alas! that she is poor, and, perhaps, + languishing in want!—to know that my noble-hearted and beloved Lenora sinks + under the weight of misfortune, and yet to be able to do nothing to relieve + her!—to be condemned to count in powerless despair her days of affliction, and + not even to be sure that suffering has not killed her!"</p> + <p>A profound silence followed this complaining outburst, and the peasant-woman, with + her head bent to the earth, sympathized with him truly, till, after a few moments, + she attempted to console the sufferer in her simple way:—</p> + <p>"Oh, sir, I understand only too well how much you endure! And yet why despair? Who + knows but we may receive some news of our dear young lady when we least expect it? + God is good; he will hear our prayers; and our joy for her return will make us forget + all our grief!"</p> + <p>"Oh that your prophecy might be realized, my good woman! But seven months have + already gone since they departed. During three of them a hundred persons have been + employed in seeking the wanderers. They have been sought for in every direction, and + not the slightest intelligence has been obtained; not a trace, not the least sign + that they are even alive! My reason tells me not to despair; but my heart magnifies + my ills and cries aloud that I have lost her!—lost her forever!"</p> + <p>He was about quitting the garden, when a noise attracted his attention as he + pointed toward the road leading to the <i>château</i>.</p> + <p>"Listen! Don't you hear something?" cried he.</p> + <p>"It is the gallop of a horse," answered Bess, without comprehending why the noise + so much startled her master.</p> + <p>"Poor fool!" said the young man to himself; "why am I so startled by the passing + of a horseman?"</p> + <p>"But see! see! he is coming into the avenue!" cried Bess, with increasing + interest. "Oh, God! I am sure it is a messenger with news! Heaven grant it may be + good!"</p> + <p>As she said this the rider passed through the gate at full gallop, and, drawing + rein at the door they had just reached, took a letter from his pocket and handed it + to the master of Grinselhof:—</p> + <p>"I come," said he, "from your notary, who ordered me to deliver you this letter + without a moment's delay."</p> + <p>Gustave broke the seal with a trembling hand, while Bess, smiling with hope, + followed all her master's movements with staring eyes.</p> + <p>As he read the first lines the anxious youth grew pale; but as he went on a tremor + ran through all his limbs, till with a hysterical laugh and clasped hands he + exclaimed,—</p> + <p>"Thanks! thanks! Oh, God! she is restored to me!"</p> + <p>"Oh, sir, sir," cried Bess, "is it good news?"</p> + <p>"Yes! yes! rejoice with me! Lenora lives! I know where she is!" answered Gustave, + half mad with delight, running into the house and calling all the servants. "Quick! + quick! Have out the travelling-carriage and the English horses! My trunk! my cloak! + Quick! fly!"</p> + <p>He carried forth with his own hands a number of things that were necessary for the + journey. His fleetest horses were attached to the vehicle; and, although they + strained their bits and pawed the ground as if impatient for the road, the postillion + lashed them fiercely as they dashed through the gateway.</p> + <p>In a moment, and almost as if by magic, the coach was on the road to Antwerp and + hidden from the staring crowd by a cloud of dust.</p> + <hr style='width: 65%;' /> + <a id="CHAPTER_XI" name='CHAPTER_XI'></a> + <h2>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + <br /> + + <p>Suppose that we too take a trip in fancy to Nancy, in France, in search of poor De + Vlierbeck and his daughter. Let us wind through an immense number of narrow streets + in the quarter known as the Old Town and at last halt at the door of an humble + cobbler. This is the place. Pass through the shop, mount the staircase; another story + yet; open that door, and here we are.</p> + <p>Every thing indicates poverty; but order and neatness preside over the room. The + curtains of the little bed are white as snow, the stove is polished with black-lead + till it shines, and the floor is sanded in Flemish style. Mignonette and violets + bloom in a box on the window-sill, and a bird chirps in its cage above them. A young + woman sits in front of the window; but she is so intent on the linen she is sewing + that no other sound is heard in the silent room but that made by the motion of her + hands as they guide the needle. She is dressed in the plainest garments; yet they are + cut and put on so gracefully that one may declare at a glance she is a lady.</p> + <p>Poor Lenora! And this was what fate had in store for thee! To hide thy noble birth + under the humble roof of a mechanic; to seek a refuge from insult and contempt far + from thy childhood's home; to work without relaxation; to fight against privation and + want, and to sink at last into shame and poverty, heart-broken by despair! Misery, + doubtless, has cast a yellow tinge upon thy cheeks and stolen its radiance from thy + glance. But no! thank God, it is not so! Thy heroic blood has strengthened thee + against fate, and thy beauty is even more ravishing than of old! If a cloistered life + has chastened thy roses, their tender bloom has only become more touching. Thy brow + has grown loftier and purer; thine eyes still glisten beneath their sweeping lashes; + and that well-remembered smile still hovers around thy coral lips!</p> + <p>Suddenly Lenora stopped working. Her hands rested on the work in her lap, her head + bent forward, her eyes were riveted dreamily on the ground, and her soul, wandering + perhaps to other lands, seemed to abandon itself on the current of a happy reverie. + After a while she placed the linen she had been sewing on a chair and got up slowly. + Leaning languidly on the window-frame, she gathered a few violets, played with them a + while, and then looked abroad at the sky over the roof-tops, as if longing to breathe + once more the fresh air and enjoy the spring. Soon her eyes fixed themselves + compassionately on the bird that hopped about its cage and ever and anon struck its + bill against the wires as if striving to get out.</p> + <p>"Why dost thou want to leave us, dear little bird?" said she, softly. "Why dost + thou wish to be gone, dear comforter of our sadness? Sing gayly to-day; father is + well again, and life is once more a pleasure. What is it makes thee flutter about so + wildly and pant in thy cage? Ah! is it not hard, dear little one, to be captive when + we know there are joy and freedom in the open air?—when we are born in the + fields and woods?—when we know that <i>there</i> alone are independence and + liberty. Like thee, poor bird, I am a child of nature; I too have been torn from my + birthplace; I too bemoan the solitudes where my childhood was passed! But has a + friend or lover been snatched from thee—as from me—forever? Dost thou + grieve for something more than space and freedom? Yet why do I ask? Thy love-season + has come round again, has it not? and love is the greatest blessing of thy little + life! I understand thee, poor bird! I will no longer be thy fate! Fly away, and God + help you! Begone, and enjoy the two greatest blessings of life! Ah, how thou singest + as thy wings bear thee away,—away to the sky and woods! Farewell! farewell!" As + she uttered these last words Lenora opened the cage-door and released the bird, which + darted away like an arrow. After this she resumed her work and sewed on with the same + zeal as before, till aroused by the sound of footsteps on the staircase.</p> + <p>"It is father! God grant he may have been lucky to-day!"</p> + <p>Monsieur De Vlierbeck entered the room with a roll of paper in his hand, and, + throwing himself languidly into a chair, seemed altogether worn out with fatigue. He + had become very thin; his eyes were sunk in their sockets, his cheeks were pale, and + his whole expression was changed and broken. It was very evident that sickness or + depression, or perhaps both, had made fearful ravages on his body as well as + spirits.</p> + <p>The poor old gentleman was wretchedly clad. It was evident that he had striven as + formerly to conceal his indigence, for there was not a stain or grain of dust on his + garments; but the stuff was threadbare and patched, and all his garments were too + large for his shrunken limbs.</p> + <p>Lenora looked at him a moment anxiously. "You do not feel ill, father, do + you?"</p> + <p>"No, Lenora," replied he; "but I am very wretched."</p> + <p>Lenora said nothing, but embraced him tenderly and then knelt down with his hand + in hers.</p> + <p>"Father," said she, "it is hardly a week since you were ill in bed: we prayed to + God for your restoration, and he listened to our prayers; you are cured, dear father, + and yet you give way anew at the first disappointment. You have not been successful + to-day, father? I see it in your face. Well, what of it? Why should it interfere with + our happiness? We have long learned how to fight against fate. Let us be strong and + look misery in the face with heads up: courage is wealth; and so, father dear, forget + your disappointment. Look at me. Am I sad? do I allow myself to be downcast and + despairing? I suffered and wept enough when you were ill; but, now that you are well + again, come what may, your Lenora will always thank God for his goodness!"</p> + <p>The poor old man smiled feebly at the courageous excitement of his daughter.</p> + <p>"Poor child!" said he; "I understand very well how you strive to appear strong in + order to keep me up. May heaven repay your love, dear angel whom God has given me! + your word and smile control me so completely that I may say a part of your soul + passes with them into mine. I came home just now quite heart-broken and half crazy + with despair; but you, my child, have restored me to myself again."</p> + <p>"That's right, father," said she, rising from her knees and sitting down on a + chair close beside him; "come, father, tell me now all your adventures to-day, and + afterward I will tell you something that will make you laugh."</p> + <p>"Alas, my child! I went to Monsieur Roncevaux's academy to resume my English + lessons; but during my sickness an Englishman was put in my place: we have lost our + best bit of bread."</p> + <p>"Well, how is it about Mademoiselle Pauline's German lesson?"</p> + <p>"Mademoiselle Pauline has gone to Strasburg and will not come back again. You see, + Lenora, that we are losing every thing at once; so, have I not cause to be anxious + and downcast? This news seems to overcome you, my child, strong as you are!"</p> + <p>In truth, Lenora was somewhat appalled by the dejecting words; but her father's + remark restored her self-possession, and she replied, with a forced smile,—</p> + <p>"I was thinking, father, of the pain these dismissals gave you, and they really + annoyed me Yet there are some things that ought to make me happy to-day. Yes, father, + I have some good news for you!"</p> + <p>"Indeed? You astonish me!"</p> + <p>Lenora pointed to the chair.</p> + <p>"Do you see that linen?" said she. "I have a dozen fine shirts to make out of it; + and when they are done there are as many more waiting for me. They pay me good wages, + and I think, from what they say, that in time there will be something better in store + for me. But as yet that is only a hope,—only a hope."</p> + <p>De Vlierbeck seemed particularly struck by the last remark of his daughter, as he + looked at her anxiously.</p> + <p>"Well! well! what is it that makes you so happy and hopeful?" said he.</p> + <p>Lenora took up her sewing again and went busily to work.</p> + <p>"You wouldn't guess it in a week, father! Do you know who gave me this work? It is + the rich lady who lives in the house with a court-yard, at the corner of our street. + She sent for me this morning, and I went to her while you were abroad. You are + surprised, father; are you not?"</p> + <p>"I am, indeed, Lenora. You are speaking of Madame De Royan, for whom you were + employed to embroider those handsome collars. How does she come to know you?"</p> + <p>"I really don't know. Perhaps the person who gave me her collars to embroider told + her who worked them: she must have spoken to her about your illness and our poverty, + for Madame De Royan knows more of us than you imagine.'</p> + <p>"Heavens! She does not know—"</p> + <p>"No! she knows nothing about our <i>name</i> or from whence we came."</p> + <p>"Go on, Lenora; you excite my curiosity. I see you want to teaze me to-day!"</p> + <p>"Well, father, if you are tired I will cut my story short. Madame De Royan + received me with great kindness, complimented me on my embroidery, asked me some + questions about our misfortunes, and consoled and encouraged me generously. 'Go, my + child!' said she, as she gave me the linen; 'work with a good will and be prudent: I + will protect you. I have a great deal of sewing to do,—enough for two months at + least. But that would not be enough; I mean to recommend you to all my friends, and I + mean to see that you are paid for your work in such a way that your father and + yourself shall be above want.' I took her hand and kissed it, for I was touched by + the delicacy with which she give me <i>work</i> and not <i>alms</i>! Madame De Royan + understood me, and, laying her hand kindly on my shoulder, 'Keep up your spirits, + Lenora,' said she; 'the time will come when you must take apprentices to help you, + and so by degrees you will become mistress of a shop.' Yes, father, that's what she + said; I know her words by heart."</p> + <p>With this she sprang to her father, embraced him, and added, with considerable + emotion,—</p> + <p>"What say you to it, father? Is it not good news? Who knows what may come to pass? + Apprentices,—a shop,—a store,—a servant: you will keep the books + and buy our goods, I will sit in the room and superintend the workwomen! How sweet it + is to be happy and to know that we owe all to the work of our hands! Then, father, + your promise will indeed be fulfilled, and then you may pass your old days + happily."</p> + <p>There was a look of such extreme serenity in Monsieur De Vlierbeck's face, an + expression of such vivid happiness was reflected from his wrinkled cheeks, that it + was evident he had allowed his daughter's story to bewitch him into entire + forgetfulness. But he soon found it out, and shook his head mournfully at the + enchantress:—</p> + <p>"Oh! Lenora, Lenora, you witch! how easily have you managed to seduce me! I + followed your words like a child, and I really believed in the happiness you + promised. But let us be serious. The shoemaker spoke to me again about the rent, and + asked me to pay it. We still owe him twenty francs, do we not?"</p> + <p>"Yes, twenty francs for rent, and about twelve francs to the grocer: that's all. + When the shirts are done we will give my wages on account to the shoemaker, and I + know he will be satisfied. The grocer is willing to give us longer credit. I received + two francs and a half for my last work. You see very well, father, that we are still + quite rich, and before a month is over will be out of debt entirely."</p> + <p>Poor De Vlierbeck seemed quite consoled; and a gleam of fortitude shone in his + black eyes as he approached the table, unrolling the paper he had brought with him on + his return.</p> + <p>"I have something to do too, Lenora. Professor Delsaux gave me some pieces of + music to copy for his pupils, which will give me four francs in a couple of days. And + now be quiet a while, my dear child; my nerves are so shattered that if we talk I + shall make mistakes and spoil the paper."</p> + <p>"I may sing, father; may I not?"</p> + <p>"Oh, yes; that won't annoy me: your song will please my ear without distracting my + attention."</p> + <p>The old gentleman went on writing, while Lenora, with a rich and joyous voice, + repeated all her songs and poured forth her heart in melody. She sewed meanwhile + diligently, and, from time to time, glanced at her father to see whether the cloud + had fallen again over his face and spirit.</p> + <p>They had been a considerable time engaged with their several occupations, when the + parish clock struck; and, putting down her work hastily, Lenora took a basket from + behind the stove and prepared to go out. Her father looked up with surprise as he + said,—</p> + <p>"What! <i>already</i>, Lenora?"</p> + <p>"It has just struck half-past eleven, father."</p> + <p>Without making any other remark, De Vlierbeck bent his head again over the + music-paper and continued his task.</p> + <p>Lenora soon returned from her walk with her basket full of potatoes and something + else tied up in a paper, which she hid beneath a napkin. Then, pouring some water in + a pot which she placed beside her chair, she began to sing, and threw in the potatoes + as she peeled them. After this she kindled a fire in the stove and set the pot of + potatoes to boil. After the fire burned well she put a skillet, with a little butter + and a good deal of vinegar, over the coals.</p> + <p>Up to this moment her father had not looked up nor intermitted his work; he saw + her getting dinner ready every day, and it was seldom that any variety of food + appeared on their table. But, hardly had the potatoes begun to boil, when an + agreeable perfume was diffused through the chamber. De Vlierbeck glanced up from his + writing, a little reproachfully, as he exclaimed,—</p> + <p>"What! meat on Friday, my child? you know very well we must be economical."</p> + <p>"Don't be angry, father," answered Lenora; "the doctor ordered it."</p> + <p>"You are trying to deceive me, are you not?"</p> + <p>"No, no; the doctor said you required meat at least three times a week, if we + could get it; it will do you more good than any thing else in restoring your + strength."</p> + <p>"And yet we are in debt, Lenora!"</p> + <p>"Come, come, father, let our debts alone, everybody will be paid and satisfied. + Don't trouble yourself about them any more: I'll answer for them all. And now be so + good as to take your papers off of the table, so that I can lay the cloth."</p> + <p>De Vlierbeck got up and did as he was asked. Lenora covered the deal-boards with a + snowy napkin and placed on it two plates and a dish of potatoes. It was indeed an + humble table, at which all was extremely common; yet every thing was so neat, fresh, + and savory, that a rich man might have sat down to it with appetite. They took their + places and asked a blessing on the meal; but, before the prayer was finished, Lenora + started suddenly and interrupted her father. With eyes staring toward the door and + head leaned forward, she listened eagerly, motioning her father with her hand to be + silent.</p> + <p>There was a sound of footsteps and voices on the staircase, and, as they + approached, Lenora thought she recognised the tones. She bounded to the door with a + sharp cry, and, closing it, leaned against the boards to prevent any one from + entering.</p> + <p>"For God's sake, child, what are you afraid of?" cried her father.</p> + <p>"GUSTAVE! GUSTAVE!" whispered Lenora, with pale and quivering lips. "He is there! + he is there! I hear him. Take away that table quickly. Of all the world he is the + last who should see our misery!"</p> + <p>De Vlierbeck's face grew dark, his head became erect and fierce, and his eyes + flashed with their ancient fire. Advancing silently to his daughter, he drew her from + the door. Lenora fled to a corner of the room, and covered her face, which was red + with mortification.</p> + <p>Suddenly the door opened, and a young man rushed into the chamber with an + exclamation of joy as he advanced, open-armed, toward the trembling girl, whom he + would have pressed to his breast had not the hand and look of her father arrested his + steps.</p> + <p>For a moment he stood like one stupefied, glancing from the wretched board to the + miserable dress of the old man and his daughter. The sight affected the intruder, for + he covered his eyes as he exclaimed, in subdued and despairing tones, "Oh, God! has + it come to this?"</p> + <p>But he did not allow himself to remain long under the influence either of his + feelings or of her father, and, advancing anew to Lenora, seized and pressed both her + hands ardently.</p> + <p>"Oh! look at me, Lenora! Let me see if thy heart has preserved the memory of our + love!"</p> + <p>Lenora's eyes met his at once and with affection. It was a look that completely + revealed her pure and constant soul.</p> + <p>"Oh, happiness!" cried Gustave, enthusiastically; "thou art still my dear and + tender Lenora! Thank God, no power on earth can ever separate me again from my + betrothed! Receive, receive the kiss of our union!"</p> + <p>He stretched his arms toward her. Lenora, trembling with agony and happiness, + stood downcast and blushing, as if awaiting the solemn kiss; but, before Gustave + could accomplish the act, De Vlierbeck was by his side, and, grasping his hand, held + him motionless.</p> + <p>"Monsieur Denecker," said her father, severely, "have the goodness to moderate + your transports. We are certainly glad to see you once more; but neither you nor I + can forget what we are. Respect our poverty!"</p> + <p>"What do you say?" cried Gustave. "<i>What you are!</i> You are my + friend,—my father. Lenora is my betrothed! Oh heaven! why look at me so + reproachfully?"</p> + <p>He seized the hand of Lenora again, and, drawing her toward her father, rapidly + continued:—</p> + <p>"Listen! My uncle died in Italy and left me heir of all his property. He commanded + me on his death-bed to marry Lenora. I have searched heaven and earth to find you. I + have suffered for many months all the torture that a nature like mine can endure; and + at length I have discovered you! I have come, sir, to ask the reward of my suffering. + I lay my fortune, heart, and life at your feet; and, in exchange, I implore the + happiness of leading Lenora to the altar. Grant me that favor, O my <i>father!</i> + Grinselhof awaits you. I bought it for you. Every thing is there again. The portraits + of your ancestors are in their places on the wall, and every thing that was dear to + you is restored. Come! let me watch your old days, your declining years, with the + veneration of a son! let me make you happy again;—oh, how happy!"</p> + <p>The old man's expression did not change, yet a tear moistened his eye.</p> + <p>"Ah!" continued Gustave, "nothing on earth can again separate me from + her,—not even a father's power; for I feel that God himself has given her to + me! Yet pardon me, father, for my rashness, and bestow your benediction!"</p> + <p>De Vlierbeck seemed to have utterly forgotten the young man and his transports; + for he stood with clasped hands and eyes raised to heaven, as if addressing his Maker + in fervent prayer. At length his words began to be heard distinctly:—</p> + <p>"Oh, Margaret! Margaret! rejoice on the bosom of God. My promise is + fulfilled;—thy child will be happy!"</p> + <p>Gustave and Lenora stood before him hand in hand; and, as he threw his arms around + the young man,—</p> + <p>"May Heaven bless you for your love!" continued he. "Make my child happy. She is + your wife!"</p> + <p>"Gustave, Gustave,—<i>my husband!</i>" exclaimed Lenora, as they threw + themselves into each other's arms, and the first kiss of love—the first + consecrated kiss—was exchanged on the breast of that happy father, who wept + over and blessed his children.</p> + <hr style='width: 45%;' /> + <p>And now, gentle reader, I must inform you that I have had my own reasons for + concealing the situation and even the true name of the <i>château</i> of DE + VLIERBECK. None of you will, therefore, ever know where Gustave and Lenora dwell. I + know Monsieur and Madame Denecker intimately, and have taken many a walk around + Grinselhof with two charming little children and their venerable <i>grandfather</i>. + I have often beheld the beautiful picture of peace, love, and domestic happiness that + is seen in that old house beneath the grim ancestral portraits or in the fresh air + under the trees. I will not say who told me the story of this family. Let it suffice + that I know all the persons who have played a part in it, and that I have often + chatted with Farmer John and Dame Bess while they poured forth their gossip about + "The Poor Gentleman" and his trials.</p> + <br /> + <br /> + <hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE POOR GENTLEMAN***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 13576-h.txt or 13576-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/3/5/7/13576">https://www.gutenberg.org/1/3/5/7/13576</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>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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For +example an eBook of filename 10234 would be found at: + +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/0/2/3/10234 + +or filename 24689 would be found at: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/4/6/8/24689 + +An alternative method of locating eBooks: +<a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/GUTINDEX.ALL">https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/GUTINDEX.ALL</a> + +*** END: FULL LICENSE *** +</pre> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/old/13576.txt b/old/13576.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6f747d9 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/13576.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4362 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Poor Gentleman, by Hendrik Conscience + + +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 Poor Gentleman + +Author: Hendrik Conscience + +Release Date: October 2, 2004 [eBook #13576] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE POOR GENTLEMAN*** + + +E-text prepared by Audrey Longhurst, Josephine Paolucci, and the Project +Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + +THE POOR GENTLEMAN. + +by + +HENDRIK CONSCIENCE + +Author of _The Curse of the Village_, _The Happiness of Being Rich_, +_Veva_, _The Lion of Flanders_, _Count Hugo of Craenhove_, _Wooden +Clara_, _Ricketicketack_, _The Demon of Gold_, _The Village Inn-Keeper_, +_The Conscript_, _Blind Rosa_, _The Amulet_, _The Miser_, _The +Fisherman's Daughter_, etc. + +Translated Expressly for this Edition. + + + + + + + +Preface to the American Edition. + + +The story of "THE POOR GENTLEMAN," now given in our language for the +first time, is one of the series in which M. Conscience has delineated +various grades of female character in positions of trial. In "The +Village Innkeeper" he has shown the weaker traits of woman distracted +between an inborn sense of propriety and a foolish ambition for high, +life. In the "Conscript" his heroine displays the nobler virtues of +uncorrupted humble life; and, with few characters, taken from the lowest +walks, he shows the triumph of honest, straightforward earnestness and +pertinacious courage, even when they are brought in conflict with +authority. "The Poor Gentleman" closes the series; and, selecting a +heroine from the educated classes of his country-people M. Conscience +has demonstrated how superior a _genuine woman_ becomes to all the +mishaps of fortune, and how successfully she subdues that imaginary +_fate_ before which so many are seen to fall. + +It would be difficult to describe this remarkable work without analyzing +the tale and criticizing its personages. This would anticipate the +author and mar the interest of his story. We must confine ourselves, +therefore, to general remarks on its structure and characteristics. + +_Pontmartin_, the distinguished French _feuilletonist_, says, in one of +his "Literary Chats," that these simple stories are "pearls set in +Flemish gold,--a gold which alchemysts seek for in alembics and +furnaces, but which Conscience has found in the inexhaustible veins of +nature." "The Poor Gentleman," he remarks, "is a tale of not more than a +hundred and fifty pages; but I would not give its shortest chapter for +all the _romances_ I ever read. The perplexed De Vlierbeck--who ought to +have had Caleb Balderstone for a servant--is one of those characters +that engrave themselves indelibly on our memory." In every trait and +detail the author has attained a photographic minuteness; which, while +it is distinct and sharp, never interferes with that motion, breadth, +and picturesque effect that impart life and reality to a story. Nor can +we doubt that it will be read and re-read as long as there is a particle +of that feeling among us which installed the Vicar of Wakefield, Paul +and Virginia, the Crock of Gold, the Sketch-book, and the Tales of a +Traveller, among the heirlooms of every tasteful household. The "Tales +of Flemish Life" are additions to that rare stock of home-literature +which is at once amiable and gentle, simple and affectionate, familiar +and tender, and which meets a quick response from every honest heart and +earnest spirit. + +If it be objected that the stories are too short and sketchy for the +praise that has been bestowed on them, it may be answered that in their +translation we have had the best opportunity to observe the skill, +power, and perception of character which constitute their real merit. +Simple as they seem, they are written with masterly art. In design, +elaborateness, tone, and finish, they resemble the works of the Flemish +School which have made us familiar with the Low Countries and their +people through the pictures of Ruysdael, Teniers, and Ostade. There is +scarcely a leaf that does not display some of those recondite or +evanescent secrets of human nature which either escape ordinary writers, +or, when found by them, are spread out over volume instead of being +condensed into a page. + +Baltimore, August, 1856. + +THE TRANSLATOR. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + +Near the end of July, 1842, an open _caleche_ might have been seen +rolling along one of the three highways that lead from the frontiers of +Holland toward Antwerp. Although the vehicle had evidently been cleaned +with the utmost care, every thing about it betokened decay. Its joints +were open, discolored, and weather-beaten, and it swung from side to +side on its springs like a rickety skeleton. Its patched leathers shone +in the sunshine with the oil that had been used to freshen them, but the +borrowed lustre could not hide the cracks and repairs with which they +were defaced. The door-handles and other parts of the vehicle that were +made of copper had been carefully polished, and the vestiges of +silver-plating, still visible in the creases of the ornaments, denoted a +former richness which had been almost entirely worn out by time and use. + +The _caleche_ was drawn by a stout, heavy horse, whose short and +lumbering gait intimated very clearly that he was oftener employed in +the plough and cart than in carrying his owner toward the capital. + +A peasant-boy of seventeen or eighteen was perched on the driver's seat. +He was in livery; a tarnished gold band adorned his hat, and brass +buttons glistened on his coat; but the hat fell over his ears, and the +coat was so large that the driver seemed lost in it as in a bag. The +garments had been worn by many of the lackey's predecessors on the box, +and, in a long series of years, had doubtless passed from coachman to +coachman till they descended to their present possessor. + +The only person in the vehicle was a man about fifty years old. He was +unquestionably the master of both servant and cabriolet, for his look +and deportment commanded respect and consideration. With head depressed +and moody air, he sat motionless and dreamy in his seat till he heard +the approach of other vehicles, when, suddenly lifting his eyes, he +would salute the strangers graciously and then instantly relapse into +his former attitude. A moment's glance at this person was sufficient to +excite an interest in him. His face, though hard and wrinkled, was so +regular and noble in its contour, his look so mild and yet so earnest +and penetrating, his broad brow so clear and lofty, that the most +careless observer could not doubt that he was endowed with the best +qualities of human nature. Besides this, there were unquestionable +indications that he had been a sufferer. If a simple glance at his +features did not impress one with a conviction of this fact, it was +confirmed by the fringe of silvery hair that straggled over his temples, +and the sombre, melancholy fire that glimmered in his eyes like the last +rays of expiring hope. + +His dress was in perfect keeping with his physiognomy. It was of that +neat and simple style which always characterizes a man of the world who +is governed by refined and elegant tastes. His linen was spotlessly +white, his cloth extremely fine, and his well-brushed hat shone smartly +in the sunshine. Occasionally, as some one passed on the road, he might +be seen to draw forth a handsome gold snuff-box and inhale a pinch with +so graceful an air that an observer would be convinced he belonged to +the highest classes of society. A malicious eye, it is true, might have +discovered by close inspection that the brush had been too familiar with +his coat and worn it threadbare, that his silk hat had been doctored to +preserve its lustre and smoothness, and that his gloves were elaborately +darned. If an inquisitive critic could have pried into the bottom of the +vehicle, he would have detected a large crack in the side of the left +boot, beneath which a gray stocking had been carefully masked with ink. +Still, all these signs of poverty were so artfully concealed, and his +dress worn with so careless an air of opulence and ease, that every body +might have supposed the traveller did not put on better clothes only +because he had a whim for bad ones. + +The _caleche_ had rolled along rapidly for about two hours, when the +driver suddenly drew up at a small inn on the dike outside of the city +of Antwerp. The landlady and groom instantly sallied forth, and by their +profound salutations and civility exhibited their marked respect for a +well-known stranger. + +"It's a fine day, Monsieur Vlierbeck, isn't it?" said the dame; "yet +it's a trifle warm, however. Don't you think it would be well for the +high-grounds if we had a sprinkle more of rain, Monsieur Vlierbeck? +Shall we give the horse some hay, Monsieur Vlierbeck? But stay: I see, +now, your coachman has brought his hay with him. Will you take anything, +Monsieur Vlierbeck?" + +While the hostess was pouring forth this torrent of questions, Monsieur +De Vlierbeck got out of the vehicle, and, entering the house, addressed +the most flattering compliments to the dame about her good looks, +inquired as to the health of each of her children, and finished by +apprizing her that he was obliged to be in town instantly. Thereupon, +shaking her cordially by the hand, yet with a condescending air that +marked and preserved the distance between them, he gave his orders to +his lackey, and, with a farewell bow, walked toward the bridge leading +into the city. + +At a solitary spot on the outer rampart Monsieur De Vlierbeck stopped, +looked round as if to see if any one was observing him, dusted his +garments, brushed his hat with a handkerchief, and then passed on +through the Porte Rouge into the city of Antwerp. + +As he entered a town where he was likely to find himself constantly an +object of notice, he assumed a lofty carriage and self-satisfied air, +which might have deceived any one into the belief that he was the +happiest man on earth. And yet--alas, poor gentleman!--he was a prey to +the profoundest agony! He was, perhaps, about to suffer +_humiliation_,--a humiliation that would cut him to the very heart! But +there was a being in the world whom he loved better than his life or +honor,--his only child, his daughter! For her--how frequently had he +already sacrificed his pride, how frequently had he suffered the pangs +of martyrdom! Still, so great a slave was he to this passionate love +that every new endurance, every new trial, raised him in his own +estimation and exalted his pain into something that ennobled and +sanctified his very nature! + +His heart beat violently as he entered deeper and deeper into the heart +of the city and approached the house he was about to visit. Soon after +he stopped at a door, and, as he pulled the bell, his hand trembled +violently in spite of extraordinary self-control; but as soon as a +servant answered the summons he became master of himself again. + +"Is the notary in?" inquired the old gentleman. The servant replied +affirmatively, and, showing the visitor into a small room, went to +apprize his master. + +As soon as Monsieur De Vlierbeck was alone, he put his right foot over +the left to hide the rent in his boot, drew forth the gold snuff-box, +and made ready to take a pinch. + +The notary came in. He was a spare, business-looking man, and was +preparing to salute his guest graciously, but no sooner did he perceive +who it was than his face grew dark and assumed that reserved air with +which a cautious man arms himself when he expects a request which he is +predetermined to refuse. Instead, therefore, of lavishing on Monsieur De +Vlierbeck the compliments with which he habitually welcomed his +visitors, the notary confined himself to a few cold words of recognition +and then sat down silently in front of him. + +Wounded and humbled by this ungracious reception, poor De Vlierbeck was +seized with a chill and became slightly pale; still, he managed to rally +his nerves, as he remarked, affably,--"Pray excuse me, sir; but, pressed +by imperious necessity, I have come once more to appeal to your kindness +for a small service." + +"What is it you wish of me?" answered the notary, tartly. + +"I wish you to find another loan of a thousand _francs_ for me,--or even +less,--secured by a mortgage on my property. I do not want all the money +at once, but I have especial need of two hundred _francs_, which I must +ask the favor of you to lend me to-day. I trust you will not deny me +this trifling loan, which will extricate me from the deepest +embarrassment." + +"A thousand _francs_, on mortgage?" growled the notary; "and who, pray, +will guarantee the interest? Your property is already mortgaged for more +than it is worth." + +"Oh! you are mistaken, sir," exclaimed Monsieur De Vlierbeck, anxiously. + +"Not the least in the world! By order of the persons who have already +accommodated you with money, I caused your property to be appraised at +the very highest rates; and the consequence is that your creditors will +not get back their loans unless it shall sell for an extraordinary +price. Permit me to say, sir, that you have acted very foolishly: had I +been in your place, I would not have sacrificed all my fortune, and my +wife's too, to save a worthless fellow, even though he had been my +brother!" + +De Vlierbeck frowned, as a painful recollection shot through his mind, +but said nothing, though his hand grasped the golden snuff-box as if he +would have crushed it. + +"By that imprudent act," continued the notary, "you have plunged +yourself and your child into absolute want; for you can no longer +disguise it. For ten years--and God knows at what cost--you have been +able to keep the secret of your ruin; but the inevitable hour is +approaching, Monsieur De Vlierbeck, when you will be forced to +surrender every thing!" + +De Vlierbeck riveted a look of doubt and agony on the notary as the +latter continued:-- + +"I must tell you frankly the condition of your affairs. Monsieur de +Hoogebaen died during his journey in Germany; his heirs found your bond +for four thousand _francs_, and have directed me _not_ to renew it. If +Monsieur Hoogebaen was your friend his heirs certainly are not. During +ten years you have failed to cancel this debt, and have paid two +thousand _francs_ interest; so that, for your own sake, it is time the +transaction should be closed. Four months are still left, Monsieur +Vlierbeck, before the expiration of--" + +"_Only_ four months!" interrupted the poor gentleman, in a distressed +tone; "_only_ four months, and then--oh, God!" + +"Then your property will be sold according to law," said the notary, +dryly, finishing the sentence. "I can well understand, sir, that this is +a painful prospect; but, as it is a decree of fate that no one can +control, you have nothing to do but prepare to receive the blow. Let me +offer to sell your estate as if you 'were leaving the country.' By that +means you will escape the mortification of a forced sale." + +For several moments Monsieur De Vlierbeck remained silent, his face +buried in his hands, as if crushed by the notary's advice and +callousness. At length he replied, calmly but humbly,-- + +"Your counsel is, perhaps, wise and generous; yet I will not follow it. +You know that all my sacrifices, my painful life, my constant agony, +have been patiently endured for the sake of my only child. You alone +know that all I do has but, one purpose,--a purpose which I hold sacred. +I have reason to believe that God is about granting the earnest prayer I +have daily offered for ten years. My daughter is beloved by a rich +gentleman, whose character I think I may confide in, and his family +appears to sympathize in all his views. _Four months!_ it is but a short +time, alas! yet, ought I, by anticipating the legal period of a sale, to +destroy all my fond hopes? Ought I instantly to welcome misery for +myself and my child when I see the chance of sure relief from all we +have suffered?" + +"Then you want to _deceive_ these people, whoever they may be? Do you +not suppose that by such a course of conduct you may make your daughter +still more wretched?" + +At the word "_deceive_" the poor gentleman winced as if stung by an +adder, while a nervous thrill ran through his limbs and suffused his +face with a blush of shame. + +"_Deceive!_" echoed he, bitterly; "oh, no! but I dare not, by a rash +avowal of my want, stifle the love that is growing up mutually. Whenever +it becomes necessary to be decided, I will make a loyal disclosure of my +condition. If the declaration ruin my hopes I will follow your advice. I +will sell all I have; I will quit the country and seek in some foreign +land to maintain myself and my beloved child by teaching." He stopped +for a moment, as if swallowing his grief, and then continued, in a lower +tone, half speaking to himself, "And, yet, did I not promise my dear +wife on her death-bed--did I not promise it on the holy cross--that our +child should not undergo such a fate? Ten years of suffering--ten abject +years--have not sufficed to realize my promise; and now, at last, a +feeble ray of hope struggles into my sombre future--" He grasped the +notary's hand, looked wildly but earnestly into his eyes, and added, in +suppliant tones, "Oh, my friend, help me! help me in this last and +trying effort; do not prolong my torture; grant my prayer, and as long +as I live I will bless my benefactor, the savior of my child!" + +The notary withdrew his hand as he answered, with some embarrassment, +"Yet, Monsieur De Vlierbeck, I cannot comprehend what all this has to do +with the loan of a thousand _francs_!" + +De Vlierbeck thrust his rejected hand into his pocket as he replied, +"Yes, sir, it _is_ ridiculous, is it not, to fall so low and to see +one's happiness or misery depend on things about which other persons may +laugh? And yet, alas! so it is! The young gentleman of whom I spoke to +you is to dine with us to-morrow in company with his uncle,--the uncle +invited himself,--and we have absolutely _nothing to give them!_ Besides +this, my child needs some trifles to appear decently before the guests, +and it is probable that the civility will be returned by an invitation +from them. Our isolation cannot long conceal our want. Sacrifices of all +kinds have already been made to prevent our being overwhelmed with +mortification." As he uttered these last words he drew forth his hand +from his pocket with about two _francs_ in small change, which he held +exposed on his palm before the notary. "And now, behold," continued he, +with a bitter smile,--"behold every cent I have in the world; and +to-morrow rich people are to dine at my house! If my poverty is betrayed +by any thing, farewell to my child's prospects! For God's sake, my good +friend, be generous, and help me!" + +"A thousand _francs_!" muttered the notary, shaking his head; "I can't +deceive my clients, sir. What pledge can you give to secure the loan? +You possess nothing which is not already mortgaged beyond its value." + +"A thousand! five hundred! two hundred!" cried De Vlierbeck. "Lend me, +at least, _something_ to relieve me from this cruel difficulty!" + +"I have no disposable funds," replied the notary, coldly. "In a +fortnight perhaps I may have some; but even then I could promise nothing +positively." + +"Then, for the sake of friendship, I beseech you, lend me some money +yourself!" + +"I could never expect that you would return what I might lend," said +the notary, contemptuously; "and so it is an _alms_ you ask of me?" + +Poor De Vlierbeck trembled on his chair and became pale as ashes; his +eyes flashed wildly and his brow knotted with frowns. Yet he quickly +curbed the unwonted agitation, bowed his head, and sighed, resignedly, +"ALMS! Alas! so be it! let me drink the very dregs of this bitter cup: +_it is for my child_!" + +The notary went to a drawer and took from it some five-franc-pieces, +which he offered to his visitor. It is difficult to say whether the poor +gentleman was wounded by the actual receipt of charity, or whether the +sum was too small to be useful; but, without touching the money, he +glanced angrily at the silver and fell back in his chair, covering his +face with his hands. + +Just at this moment a servant entered, announcing another visitor; and, +as soon as the lackey left the apartment, Monsieur De Vlierbeck sprang +from his chair, dashing away the tears that had gathered in his eyes. +The notary pointed to the money, which he laid on the corner of the +table; but the mortified guest turned away his head with a gesture of +repugnant refusal. + +"Pardon my boldness, sir," said he, "but I have now only one favor to +ask of you" + +"And it is--?" + +"That you will keep my secret for my daughter's sake." + +'Oh, as to that, make yourself easy. You know me well enough to be +aware of my discretion. Do you decline this trifling aid?" + +"Thanks! thanks!" cried the gentleman, pushing away the notary's hand; +and, trembling as if seized by a sudden chill, he rushed from the room +and the house without waiting for the servant to open the door. + +Utterly overcome by the terrible blow to his hopes, beside himself with +mortification, with his head hanging on his bosom and his eyes bent +staringly on the ground, the poor fellow ran about the streets for a +considerable length of time without knowing what he was about or whither +he was going. At length the stern conviction of want and duty partially +aroused him from his feverish dream, and he walked on rapidly in the +direction of the gate of Borgenhout, till he found himself entirely +alone among the fortifications. + +He had no sooner reached this solitary quarter than a terrible conflict +seemed to begin within him; his lips quivered and muttered incoherently, +while his face exhibited a thousand different expressions of suffering, +shame, and hope. After a while he drew forth from his pocket the golden +snuff-box, looked long and sadly on the armorial engravings that adorned +it, and then fell into a reverie, from which he suddenly aroused himself +as if about taking a solemn resolution. With his eyes intently fixed on +the box, he began to obliterate the arms with his knife, as he murmured, +in a voice of tremulous emotion,-- + +"Remembrancer of my dear and excellent mother, protecting talisman that +has so long concealed my misery and which I invoked as a sacred shield +whenever poverty was on the eve of betraying me, last fragment of my +ancestry, I must bid thee farewell; and--alas! alas!--my own hand must +profane and destroy thee! God grant that the last service thou wilt ever +render me may save us from overwhelming humiliation!" + +A tear trickled down his wan cheek as his voice became still; but he +went on with his task of obliteration till every trace of the crest and +shield disappeared from the emblazoned lid. After this he returned to +the heart of the town and passed through a number of small and lonely +streets, glancing eagerly, but askance, at the signs as he passed onward +in his agitation. + +An hour had certainly elapsed in this bootless wandering, when he +entered a narrow lane in the quarter of Saint Andre and uttered a sudden +cry of joy as he caught a glimpse of the object for which he was in +search. His eye lighted on a sign which bore the simple but ominous +inscription--"SWORN PAWNBROKER." He passed by the door and walked +rapidly to the end of the lane; then, turning hastily, he retraced his +steps, hastening or lingering as he noticed any one passing in his +neighborhood, till at length he crept along the wall to the door, and, +seeing the thoroughfare almost empty, rushed into the house and +disappeared. + +After a considerable time De Vlierbeck came forth from the +money-lender's and quickly gained another street. There was a slight +expression of satisfaction in his eyes; but the bright blush that +suffused his haggard cheeks gave token of the new humiliation through +which the sufferer had passed. Walking rapidly from street to street, he +soon reached a pastry-cook's, where he filled a basket with a stuffed +turkey, a pie, preserves, and various other smaller equipments for the +table, and, paying for his purchases, told the cook that he would send +his servant for the packages. Farther on he bought a couple of silver +spoons and a pair of ear-rings from a jeweller, and then proceeded on +his way, probably to make additional acquisitions for the proposed +entertainment. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +In our wild and thorny region of the North a brave and toilsome +peasantry have long been engaged in victorious conflict with the barren +sleep to which nature seemed to have condemned the soil. They have +stirred up the sterile depths and watered them with their sweat; they +have summoned science and industry to their aid, drained marshes, +diverted the streamlets that descended toward the Meuse from the +highlands and put them in circulation through innumerable arteries to +fatten and enrich the land. What a glorious fight it was of man against +matter! What a magnificent triumph it has been to convert the unthrifty +Campine[A] into a fruitful and luxurious region! Indeed, our descendants +will hardly believe their own eyes when in future times they shall +behold grass-covered plains, flowery meadows, and fields waving with +grain, where the lingering patriarchs of our day may point out the sites +of burning sand-pits and barren moors! + +[Footnote A: The Flemings have given the name of _Campine_ to the vast +uncultivated spaces extending in the north of Belgium from the vicinity +of Antwerp to Venloo. The improvement of the _Campine,_ undertaken on a +large scale within some years, has already produced the happiest +results.] + +North of the city of Antwerp, toward the frontiers of Holland, there are +but few traces of this gradual improvement. It is only along highroads +that the traveller begins to observe the effect of liberal agriculture +on the sandy soil, while, farther on toward the heart of the region, +every thing is still bare and uncultivated. As far as the eye can +penetrate, nothing is to be seen in that quarter but arid plains thinly +covered with stunted vegetation, while the horizon is bounded by that +blue and cloudy line which always marks the limit of a desert. Yet, as +we journey over these vast spaces, it is impossible not to observe, from +time to time, that a clear and slender rivulet meanders here and there +over the moor, and that its verdant banks are studded with vigorous +plants and thrifty trees; while in many places the hardy sons of toil +who took advantage of the neighboring water, have opened their lonely +farms, built comfortable houses, and frequently gathered themselves +together in neat and thrifty villages. + +In one of these spots, where meadow-land and pasturage have made +agriculture profitable, and by the side of an unfrequented road, there +is a farm of considerable size and value. The massive trees which spread +their thick shade on every side attest that the spot has been occupied +and cultivated for several generations. Besides, the ditches which +surround it, and the stone bridge that leads to the principal gate, +justify the belief that the estate has some right to be considered a +lordly demesne. In the neighborhood it is known as GRINSELHOF. The +entire front of the property is covered by the homestead of the farmer, +comprising his stables and granges; so that, in fact, every thing in +their rear is concealed by these edifices as well as by dense thickets +and hedges which are growing in all the wild luxuriance of nature. +Indeed, the dwelling of the proprietor was a mystery even to the farmer +who worked the soil; for its surrounding copses were an impenetrable +veil to his eyes, beyond which neither he nor his family were ever +allowed to pass without special permission. + +Within this lonely and sacred precinct, buried in foliage, was a large +house, called THE CHATEAU, inhabited by a gentleman and his daughter, +who, without a single servant, companion, or attendant, led the lonely +lives of hermits. The neighbors said that it was avarice or ill-humor +that induced a person possessed of so beautiful an estate to bury +himself in such a solitude. The farmer who worked on the property +carefully avoided all explanations as to the conduct or purpose of the +proprietor, and sedulously respected the mysterious habits and fancies +of his master. His business prospered; for the soil was fertile and the +rent low. Indeed, he was grateful to his landlord, and, every Sunday, +lent him a horse, which carried him and his daughter, in their +weather-beaten _caleche_, to the village church. On great occasions the +farmer's son performed the duty of lackey for the proprietor. + +It is an afternoon of one of the last days of July. The sun has nearly +finished his daily course, and is declining rapidly toward the horizon; +still, his rays, though less ardent than at noontide, are hot enough to +make the air close and stifling. At Grinselhof the last beams of the +setting luminary play gayly over the foliage, gilding the tree-tops with +sparkling light, while, on the eastern side of the dense foliage, the +long, broad shadows begin to fall athwart the sward, and prepare the +groves for the gentle and refreshing breeze that springs up at twilight. + +Sadness and gloom hang over the sombre chateau and its grounds; a +deathlike silence weighs like a gravestone on the desolate scene; the +birds are songless; the wind is still; not a leaf stirs; and light alone +seems to be living in that dreary solitude. No one could observe the +entire absence of noise, motion, and vitality, without being impressed +with the idea that nature had been suddenly plunged in a deep and magic +sleep. + +Suddenly the foliage at the end of a thicket in the distance is seen to +stir, while a cloud of twittering birds, frightened from the herbage, +flies rapidly across the little path, which is immediately occupied by a +young female dressed entirely in white, who dashes from between the +branches with a silken net in pursuit of a butterfly. The beautiful +apparition, with loose and streaming hair, seemed rather to fly than +run, as her light and rapid steps, full of eagerness and animation, +scarcely touched the earth while darting after the gaudy insect. How +graceful she is, as, halting for an instant beneath the coquettish moth, +she looks up to behold its gold-and-purple wings dancing round her head, +mocking and playing with its gay pursuer! She thinks she has caught it; +but, alas! the edge of her net only touched the butterfly's wings, and +away it dashes, over hedge and copse, far, far beyond her reach! How +beautiful she is, as, in that golden light, warmed with exercise and +excitement, her eyes glistening, her lips parted, her graceful arms +stretched upward, she stands gazing, half pleased, half disappointed, +after the departing insect, till it is lost in the evening sky! Wind and +sunshine have slightly tanned her delicate cheeks, but their roses are +only heightened into the glow of perfect health. Beneath her high and +polished brow, coal-black eyes shine through long and silken fringes, +while a chiselled mouth discloses rows of faultless pearls between lips +which shame the coral! Her stately head is framed in masses of long, +curling hair; and, as the locks are floated over her ivory shoulders by +rapid motion, the proud and arching lines of her swan-like neck are +fully displayed in all their splendor. Her form is lithe and supple, and +its graceful contour is modestly marked by a snowy dress. As she lifts +her head and gazes at the sky, a poet might easily fancy her to be some +fanciful "being of the air," and convert her into the fairy queen of the +solitary realm! + +For a long while this beautiful woman wandered about the paths of the +lonely garden, seemingly absorbed in reveries of various kinds. At times +she was gay, at times sad. At length she approached a bed of violets, +which, from the training of the plants, had evidently, been carefully +tended, and, observing that they languished under the intense heat of +the past day, began to grieve over them. + +"Alas! my dear little flowers, why did I neglect to water you yesterday? +You are very thirsty, are you not, my charming pets?" + +For a moment or two she was quiet, still gazing at the violets, and +then continued, in the same dreamy tone:-- + +"But then, alas! since yesterday my mind has been so disturbed, so +happy, so--" Her eyes fell, and a blush crimsoned her cheeks, as she +murmured, softly, "GUSTAVE!" + +Motionless as a statue, and absorbed in her enchanting dream, she forgot +the poor little violets, and, probably, the whole world. + +"His image ever, ever before me! his voice ever ringing in my ears! Why +try to escape their fascination? Oh, God! what is this that is passing +within me? My heart trembles; sometimes my blood bounds wildly through +my veins, and then again it creeps and freezes; and yet how happy I am! +what inexpressible joy fills my very soul!" + +She was silent; then, seeming suddenly to rouse herself, she raised her +head and threw back the thick curls, as if anxious to disembarrass her +mind of a haunting thought. + +"Wait, my dear flowers," said she, smiling, to the violets; "wait a +moment: I will comfort and refresh you." + +With this she disappeared in the grove, and, in a short time, brought +from it a few twigs and leaves, which she arranged in a little trellis +over the flower-beds, so as to shadow the violets completely from the +sun. After this she took a small watering-pot and ran across the grass +to a basin or tank in the middle of the garden, around which a number +of weeping-willows drooped their branches into the water. On her arrival +its surface was perfectly smooth; but hardly had her image been +reflected in the tank when it appeared to swarm with living creatures. +Hundreds of gold-fishes, of all colors, swam toward her with their +mouths gaping from the water, as if the poor little animals were trying +to speak to her. Holding on by the trunk of the nearest willow, she bent +gracefully over the pond and tried to fill her watering-pot without +touching the gold-fish. + +"Come, come; let me alone just now," said she, as she carefully avoided +them; "I haven't time to play with you; I will bring you your dinner +after a while." + +But the fish fluttered around the watering-pot until she withdrew it +from the tank; and, even after her departure, continued to crowd toward +the bank she had touched with her foot. + +The young lady watered her flowers and replaced the pot gently on the +ground; then, retiring slowly to the solitary house, she returned after +a while at the same slow pace, and, throwing some crumbs to the fish, +began to saunter slowly about the garden-paths, inattentive to every +thing but her own absorbing thoughts. At length she reached a spot where +a gigantic catalpa-tree overarched the garden and bent its branches +almost to the earth. A table and a couple of chairs stood beneath the +fresh and fragrant shade, and a book, inkstand, and embroidery-frame, +gave token that the retreat had not long been abandoned by the lady +herself. She seated herself in one of the chairs, took up the book, then +the embroidery, let them fall one after another, and finally leaned her +beautiful head on her hand, like one who is weary in spirit and anxious +for rest. + +For a while her large dreamy eyes were vaguely fixed, as if gazing into +space; at intervals a smile played around her mouth, and her lips moved +as if talking with a friend. Occasionally her drooping eyelids closed +entirely; but the lashes quickly reopened, only to fall more heavily +than before, till at last a profound sleep or intense reverie seemed to +get possession of her mind and body. + +But did she sleep? There is no doubt that her spirit watched and was +happy; for a pleasant expression constantly played over her features, +and, if sometimes it became serious, the joyous look quickly returned +with all its radiance. She had long been plunged by this happy dream +into complete forgetfulness of real life, when a noise of wheels and the +neigh of a horse was heard at the gateway, disturbing the silence of +Grinselhof. Still the maiden was not aroused. + +The old _caleche_ returned from the city, drew up near the stable, and +the farmer and his wife ran out to salute their master and put up the +horse. While they were thus engaged, Monsieur De Vlierbeck got out of +the vehicle and spoke to them kindly, but in a voice so full of sadness +that both looked at him with astonishment. In fact, the gravity of this +singular person never abandoned him even in his most affable moods; but +at that moment his physiognomy indicated a degree of intense depression +which was by no means habitual. He seemed altogether worn out with +fatigue, and his eyes, which were commonly so vivacious, drooped, dull +and languishing, beneath their heavy lids. + +The horse was quickly put in the stable, and the young lackey, who had +already divested himself of his livery, took several baskets and packets +from the vehicle, carried them into the farm-house, and placed them on +the table of the antechamber. + +"And now, Master John," said De Vlierbeck, approaching the farmer, "I +shall have need of you. There will be company to-morrow at Grinselhof. +Monsieur Denecker and his nephew dine here." + +The farmer, perfectly stupefied by the announcement and scarcely able to +believe his own ears, looked at his master with staring eyes and gaping +mouth, and, after a moment's hesitation, stammered forth,-- + +"That large, rich gentleman, sir, who sits near you every Sunday at high +mass?" + +"The same, John. Is there any thing surprising in it?" + +"And young Monsieur Gustave, who spoke to _mademoiselle_ in the +churchyard when church was over?" + +"The same!" + +"Oh, sir, they are such rich people! They have bought all the land +around Echelpoel. They have at least ten horses in the stable at their +_chateau_, without counting those they have in town. Their carriage is +silver from top to bottom." + +"I know it; and it is exactly on that account that I desire to receive +them in a becoming manner. You must be ready; your wife and your son +also. I shall call you to-morrow morning very early. You will willingly +lend a hand to help me, won't you?" + +"Certainly, certainly, sir; a word from you is enough. I am always happy +to be able to serve you in any way." + +"Thank you for your kindness, John. We understand one another, my worthy +fellow; and so farewell till to-morrow." + +Monsieur De Vlierbeck entered the farm-house, gave some orders to the +young man in relation to the things he had taken from the vehicle, and, +passing through the screening grove, walked on to Grinselhof. + +As soon as he was out of the farmer's sight his physiognomy assumed a +more serene expression, and there was a smile on his lips as he cast his +eyes around in search of some one in the solitude of the garden At a +turn of the path his eye fell suddenly on the sleeping girl. How +beautiful she was in her calm repose! The golden twilight covered her +with its bright reflection, and threw a rosy tint on every thing about +her. Thick curls strayed in beautiful disorder over her cheeks, and +snowy flowers, shaken from the catalpa's branches by the evening breeze, +had fallen around her in profusion. She still dreamed, and the happy +smile yet rested on her features. De Vlierbeck gazed earnestly at his +sleeping child, and raised his eyes to heaven as he said, +tremulously,--"Thanks, Almighty Father! she is happy! Let my martyrdom +be prolonged; but may all my sufferings render thee compassionate for +her!" + +After this short and ardent ejaculation he threw himself into a chair, +leaned his arm carefully on the table, and, resting his hand on it, +remained still as a statue. For a long time he watched his sleeping +child, while his face seemed to reflect each emotion that flitted across +the delicate features of the maiden. Suddenly a modest blush overspread +her brow, and her lips began to articulate. The old gentleman watched +her narrowly, and, although she had not spoken in connected sentences, +he caught one of those stray words which often betoken what is passing +in a dreamer's mind. + +"'GUSTAVE!' She dreams of Gustave. May God be propitious to us! Ah, yes, +my child," exclaimed her father, "open thy heart to hope! Dream, dream; +for who knows what is in store for us? Yet, no!--let us not destroy +these happy moments by cold reality! Sleep, sleep! let thy soul enjoy +the heavenly enchantment of love which it is awakening!" + +Monsieur De Vlierbeck continued for a while his quiet observation of the +sleeper, and then, rising, passed behind her chair and imprinted a long +kiss on her forehead. + +Still half-dreaming, the sleeper slowly opened her eyes; and, the moment +she perceived who had awakened her, she sprang into her father's arms +with a bound, and, hanging round his neck, overwhelmed him with +questions and kisses. + +Vlierbeck gently disengaged himself from his daughter's embrace, as he +remarked, in a tone of raillery,-- + +"It seems altogether unnecessary, Lenora, to inquire what new beauties +you have discovered in Vondel's 'Lucifer.' You have not had time, I take +it for granted, to begin the comparison between this masterpiece of our +native tongue and Milton's 'Paradise Lost'?" + +"Ah! father," murmured Lenora, "my mind is indeed strangely troubled. I +do not know what is the matter with me; I cannot even read with +attention." + +"Come, Lenora, my child, don't be sad. Sit down: I have something of +importance to tell you. You do not know why I went to town to-day, do +you? It was because we are to have company to dinner to-morrow!" + +Lenora gazed at her father with an earnest and questioning look. + +"It is Monsieur Denecker," continued he:--"the wealthy merchant, you +know, who sits near me at church and lives at the _chateau_ of +Echelpoel." + +"Oh, yes! I remember him, father; he always speaks to me so kindly, and +never fails to help me from the carriage when we go to church." + +"But your _eyes_ ask, I see, Lenora, whether he is coming _alone_. +_Another_ person will accompany him, my girl!" + +"_Gustave!"_ exclaimed the maiden, involuntarily and blushing. + +"Exactly! Gustave will be here," replied Monsieur De Vlierbeck. "Don't +tremble on that account, Lenora; and don't become frightened because +your innocent heart may find itself opening to the dawn of new +sensations. Between us, my child, there can be no secret that my love +will not discover." + +His daughter's eyes looked inquiringly into his own, as if asking an +explanation of the enigma. But all of a sudden, as if a ray had darted +unexpectedly into her soul, she threw her arms around the old man's neck +and hid her face in his bosom. + +"Oh, father! beloved father," murmured she, "your kindness is +unbounded!" + +For some moments the old gentleman did not put aside the affectionate +caresses of his child; but by degrees his expression became gloomy; +tears started into his eyes, and he said, in broken tones,-- + +"Lenora, whatever may happen to us in life, thou wilt always love thy +father thus, wilt thou not?" + +"Always, always, father!' + +"Lenora, my child," continued he, with a sigh, "thy tender affection is +my only recompense and happiness here below: never deprive my soul of +its consolation!" + +The sad tone in which these words were uttered touched the maiden's +heart so deeply that she took her father's hands, without saying a +syllable, and wept in silence with her head in his bosom. + +For a long time they remained thus motionless, absorbed by a feeling +which was neither joy nor sorrow but seemed to acquire its power and +mastery by the mingling of these opposite sentiments. + +Monsieur De Vlierbeck's expression was the first to change. His features +became severe as he bent his head downward reproachfully. In truth, the +strange words that started the tears into his daughter's eyes had +excited the reflection in his own mind that another person was, perhaps, +about to share his Lenora's love and probably to separate him from her +forever. He was ready for every sacrifice, were it even infinitely +greater, provided it contributed to the happiness of his child; yet the +very idea of separation caused his heart to bleed at every pore. By +degrees he stifled this selfish anxiety, and, striving to control +himself, raised his daughter with a kiss. + +"Come, Lenora," said he, "be gay again! Isn't it a happy thing that our +hearts can sometimes get into the shade after they have been too much in +the sunshine? Let us go into the house. We have many arrangements to +make in order to receive our guests becomingly." + +Lenora obeyed her father in silence, and followed him slowly, while the +tears still dropped from her beautiful eyes. + +Some hours afterward Monsieur De Vlierbeck might have been seen seated +in the principal saloon of Grinselhof, near a little lamp, with his +elbows on the table. The apartment was dark and dreary, for the feeble +rushlight illuminated but a single spot and cast the distant and lofty +ceiling into vague obscurity. The flickering flame threw long and sombre +shadows over the wall, while a line of old portraits in the panels +seemed to fix their stern and immovable eyes on the table. Amid the +gloom nothing came out with distinctness but the calm and noble face of +the poor old gentleman, who sat there, absorbed in his reflections, +fixed as a statue. + +At length, rising from his chair and cautiously walking on tiptoe to the +end of the room, he stopped and listened at the closed door. "She +sleeps," said he, in a low voice; and, raising his eyes to heaven, +added, with a sigh, "may God protect her rest!" Then, returning to the +table, he took the lamp, and, opening a large safe which was imbedded in +the wall, he went down on his knees and drew forth some napkins and a +table-cloth, which he unfolded carefully to see whether they were torn +or stained. As he refolded the articles one after the other, a smile +betokened that he was pleased with his examination. Rising from this +task, he went back to the table, from the drawer of which he took a +piece of buckskin and whiting. Mashing the latter with a knife-handle, +he began to rub and polish several silver forks and spoons which were in +a basket. The salt-cellars and other small articles of table-service, +which were mostly of the same metal, were all subjected to a similar +process, and soon glittered brightly in the feeble lamplight. + +While he was engaged in this strange work, the soul of the poor old man +was busy with a thousand conflicting thoughts and recollections. He was +constantly muttering to himself; and many a tear escaped from his lids +as he dreamed over the past and repeated the names of the loved and +lost! + +"Poor brother!" ejaculated he; "but one man alone in the world knows +what I have done for thee, and yet that man accuses me of bad faith and +ingratitude! And thou, poor brother, art wandering in the icy solitudes +of America, a prey perhaps to sickness and suffering, while for months +no kindly look is fixed upon thee in that wilderness where thou earnest +thy miserable wages! Son of a noble race! thou hast become a slave to +the stranger, and thy toil serves to amass the fortunes which others are +to enjoy! My love for thee has made me suffer martyrdom; but, as God is +my judge, my affection has remained entire,--untouched! May thy soul, O +brother, feel this aspiration of mine even in the isolation where thou +art suffering; and may the consciousness of my love be a balm for thy +misery!" + +The poor gentleman was absorbed for some time in painful meditation; but +after a while his dream seemed over, and he betook himself again to +work. He placed all the silver utensils side by side on the table, and, +after carefully counting and examining them, resumed his soliloquy:-- + +"Six forks! eight spoons! We shall be four at table: it will be +necessary to be careful; else it will easily be seen something is +wanting. I think, however, it will do. I must give very precise +instructions to John's wife, for she is a clever woman, and knows what +she is about!" + +As be uttered the last words he replaced the silver in the basket and +locked it in the safe; after which he took the lamp, and, leaving the +saloon on tiptoe, descended through a little door into a large vaulted +cellar. Here he hunted about for a considerable time amid stacks of +empty bottles, and at last succeeded in finding what he was in search +of; but his face became extremely pale as he drew three bottles from the +sand. + +"Good heavens! _only three bottles!_" exclaimed he; "three bottles of +_table_-wine! and Monsieur Denecker is such a connoisseur of vintages! +What shall I do if they ask for more when these three bottles are empty? +I have it! I do not drink, and Lenora drinks very little; so there will +be _two_ bottles for Monsieur Denecker and _one_ for his nephew! But, +even at the worst, what is the use of anxiety? Let _luck_ settle it!" + +With this De Vlierbeck went into the corners of the cellar, where he +gathered from the walls a quantity of cobwebs, which he wound +artistically around the bottles and covered with dust and sand. + +On reaching the saloon he went to work with paste and paper to mend some +rents in the tapestry on the wall; and then, after passing nearly half +an hour in brushing his clothes and disguising their threadbare spots +with water and ink, he came back to the table and made preparations for +a task which was still more singular than any he had hitherto been +engaged in. Taking from the drawer a silk thread, an awl, and a bit of +wax, he put his boot on his knees and began to mend the rents in the +leather with the skill of a cobbler! It will readily be supposed that +this odd occupation stirred a variety of emotions in the heart of the +poor gentleman; violent twitches and spasms passed over his face; his +cheeks became red, then deadly pale; till at last, yielding to a +passionate impulse, he cut the silk, threw it on the table, and, with +his hands stretched toward the portraits, cried out, with struggling +passion,-- + +"Yes! behold me,--behold me,--ye whose noble blood runs in my veins! +You, brave captain, who, fighting at the side of Egmont, at St. Quentin, +gave your life for your country,--you, statesman and ambassador, who, +after the battle of Pavia, rendered such eminent services to the Emperor +Charles,--you, benefactor of your race, who endowed so many hospitals +and churches,--you, proud bishop, who, as priest and scholar, defended +so bravely your faith and your God,--behold me, all of you, not only +from that senseless canvas, but from the bosom of God where you are at +rest! He whom you have seen at the wretched task of mending his boots, +and who devotes his life to the concealment of his poverty,--he is your +descendant, your son! If the gaze of his fellow-men tortures him, before +you at least he is not ashamed of debasing toil! glorious ancestry! you +have fought the foes of your native land with sword and pen; but I,--I +have to contend with unmerited shame and mockery, without a hope of +ultimate triumph or glory; my weary soul sinks under its burden, and the +world has nothing in store for me but scorn and contempt! And, yet, have +I ever stained your noble escutcheon? All that I have done is generous +and honest in the sight of God;--nay, the very fountain-head of my wo is +love and compassion! Yes, yes!--fix your glittering eyes on me; +contemplate me in the abyss of poverty where I am fallen! From the +bottom of that pit I lift my brow boldly toward you, and your silent +glance does not force me to grovel in the earth with shame! Here, in the +presence of your noble images, I am alone with my soul, with my +conscience;--hero, no mortification can touch the being who, as +gentleman, Christian, brother, and father, has sacrificed himself to +duty!" + +His voice ceased; and for a few moments he stood still in the midnight +silence, looking at the antique portraits as the last echoes died away +in the lofty apartment, with his arms stretched toward the pictures as +if invoking the beings they represented. + +"Poor, senseless creature," continued he, after a while, clasping his +hands and lifting them anew to heaven, "thy soul seeks deliverance in +dreams! Yes; it is, perhaps, a dream, an illusion! Yet, thanks, thanks +to the Almighty that allows even a dream to fortify me with courage and +endurance! Enough: reality once more stares me in the face; and yet I +defy the mocking spectre which points to ruin and misery!" + +"And then to-morrow,--to-morrow!" continued he; "wilt thou not tremble +beneath the glance of those who seek the secret of thy life? Yes; study +well thy part; have ready thy mask; go on bravely with thy cowardly +farce! And now begone; thy nightly task is done;--beg, beg from sleep +the oblivion of what thou art and of thy threatening future! _Sleep!_ I +tremble at the very thought of it! Father in heaven, have mercy on us!" + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +At daybreak next morning everybody was busy at Grinselhof. John's wife +and her serving-maid scoured the corridor and staircase; the farmer +cleaned his stable; his son weeded the grass from the garden-walks. Very +early in the day Lenora set matters in order in the dining-room and +arranged with artistic taste all the pretty things she could find on the +mantel-piece and tables. There was a degree of life and activity about +Grinselhof that had not been seen in that solitude for many a year, and +everybody went to work with alacrity, as if anxious to dispel the gloom +that hung so long over the lonely dwelling. In the midst of the +industrious crowd Monsieur De Vlierbeck might be seen moving about with +words of encouragement and expressions of satisfaction; nor did he +manifest the slightest symptom of the anxiety that was secretly gnawing +his heart. A pleasant smile flattered his humble dependants, as he gave +them to understand that their labors would be greatly honored by the +approval of his expected guests. + +The farmer and his spouse had never seen De Vlierbeck so pleasant and so +gay; and, as they sincerely loved their master, they were as much +delighted by his joy as if they had been preparing for a village fair in +which they were to take part. They never dreamed of pay for their +generous toil, but derived their most grateful recompense from the +pleasure they imparted to the hermit and his child. + +As soon as the principal preparations were completed, De Vlierbeck +called his daughter and gave the necessary instructions for the dinner. +Lenora was to confine herself to drilling the farmer's wife in serving +the dishes with which she was not familiar. The old cooking-apparatus +was lighted; wood kindled and crackled in the chimney; coals glistened +in the grate; and high above the roof-tree, clouds of smoke betokened +the good cheer that was to adorn the tables. Baskets of game were +opened; stuffed poultry, savory pasties, and choice viands, were brought +forth; dishes of green peas, beans, and other vegetables, appeared; and +the women were speedily in a turmoil of stringing, shelling, cutting, +washing, and stewing. + +Lenora herself did not shun her part in these humble duties, and amused +her companions by the pleasant chat with which she whiled away the +hours. The rustics, who had rarely enjoyed an opportunity of seeing her +so closely or of enjoying a familiar conversation with the beauty, were +of course delighted with her gay and affable manners; nor could they +avoid expressing their pleasure when a few notes of a popular song +happened to drop from Lenora's lips. + +The servant-maid instantly rose, and whispered, loud enough to be heard +by Lenora,-- + +"Oh, pray, do beg _mademoiselle_ to sing a verse or two of that song! I +heard it at a distance the other day; and it was so beautiful that, fool +as I am, I blubbered like a baby for half an hour behind the +rose-bushes. And yet I think it was rather her sweet voice than the +words that made me cry." + +"Oh, yes! do sing it for us; it would give us so much pleasure! Your +voice is like a nightingale's; and I remember too, that my poor +mother--alas! she is long ago in heaven--used to sing me to sleep with +that blessed song. Pray, sing it for us, _mademoiselle_. + +"It's very long,"' said Lenora, smiling. + +"But if you only sing averse or two; it is a holiday with us, you know, +_mademoiselle!_" + +"Well," returned Lenora, musingly, "if it will make you happy why should +I refuse? Listen:-- + + "Beside a deep and rapid stream + A lonely maiden sat; + With sighs her snowy bosom heaved, + And tears bedewed the ground! + + "A noble walked along the bank + And saw her bitter grief; + And, as her tears overflowed his heart, + It melted for the maid!" + + 'Speak, maiden, speak!' the wanderer cried! + 'Why moan you here alone?'-- + 'Ah, sir, an orphan-child am I, + Whom God alone can save! + + 'Ah! seest thou not yon grassy mound + There sleeps my mother dear. + Behold yon rock, above the flood; + There fell my father down! + + 'The whirling torrent bore him on; + He struggled long in vain; + My brother leaped to help his sire, + And both together sank! + + 'And now I fly our silent hut, + Where desolation dwells, + To mourn upon this dreary bank, + And watch the wave and grave!' + + 'No longer grieve,' the stranger said, + 'Thy heart shall ache no more; + A father and a brother too + To thee, poor lonely girl, I'll be!' + + "He took her hand; he led her off; + In garments rich he clad the maid; + Before the altar promised love, + And blessed her life in happy home!"[A] + +[Footnote A: This simple and popular ballad, known in the Campine as +_The Orphan_, is sung by all classes to an air which is full of touching +melody.] + +As Lenora was about beginning the last verse of her song De Vlierbeck +appeared on the sill of the kitchen door, and the peasants instantly +rose in alarm at the freedom with which they were sitting in the +presence of their young mistress, listening to her songs; but the poor +gentleman at once understood the meaning of her action, and with a +gesture of approval signaled them to be quiet. As the last words died on +his ear,--"I'm glad to see you amusing yourselves," said he; "but, now +that the song is ended, I want your services in another quarter, my good +woman." + +Followed by Bess, the farmer's wife, he ascended to the dining-room, +where the table-cloth was already laid and every thing in order for the +reception of the dishes. Bessy's son was already there in livery, with a +napkin over his arm; and De Vlierbeck immediately began to assign them +their several tasks during the service of dinner, and to repeat and +drill them in their tasks till he was perfectly satisfied with their +performances. + +The hour for dinner was at length near at hand. Every thing was ready in +the kitchen, and all were at their posts. Lenora, in full dress and with +a palpitating heart, lingered in her chamber; while her father, with a +book which he appeared to be reading, sat beneath the _catalpa_ in the +garden. + +It was about two o'clock when a splendid equipage, drawn by a pair of +superb English horses, entered the demesne of Grinselhof and drew up in +front of the portal. De Vlierbeck welcomed his guests courteously, and +Monsieur Denecker gave orders to the coachman to return precisely at +five o'clock, as matters of importance required his presence in Antwerp +before nightfall. + +Denecker was a large, stout person, dressed rather extravagantly, but in +a style of studied carelessness which he evidently regarded as stylish. +The expression of his face, it must be owned, was rather vulgar, and +exhibited a compound of cunning and good-nature tempered by +indifference. But Gustave, his nephew, belonged to an entirely different +class of persons. His tall figure was graceful and easy, his countenance +frank and manly, and his whole demeanor denoted refined manners and high +cultivation. Blue eyes and blonde hair imparted a poetic air to his +head; but an energetic glance and lofty brow took from it every +expression of sentimental weakness. + +No sooner had De Vlierbeck presented his guests to Lenora, in the +saloon, than Denecker broke forth in exclamations of undisguised +admiration-- + +"How charming, how beautiful she is! and yet so hidden in this +Grinselhof of yours, Monsieur de Vlierbeck! What a shame, sir! what a +shame!" + +In the mean time Gustave and Lenora had moved off to a short distance +from the old gentlemen, and were busy in a chat of their own, inaudible +to the rest but evidently interesting to themselves, for they were +observed not only to blush but tremble. Denecker, in fact, could not +help observing the young people's emotion; and, as De Vlierbeck passed +down the saloon with him, remarked that the young beauty was evidently +turning his nephew's head. "He talks of her constantly," said he, "and I +don't know what may come of it; but I give you fair warning, Monsieur De +Vlierbeck, if you are unwilling to see something more than compliments +between these children you had better take time by the forelock. It will +soon be too late to reason with them; for my nephew, with all his calm +gentleness, is not the man to retreat before difficulties." + +De Vlierbeck was secretly delighted by the merchant's counsels, but was +too wise to display anxiety. + +"You are joking, Monsieur Denecker," said he: "I can't think there is a +particle of danger. They are both young, and there is nothing surprising +in mutual attraction under such circumstances. There can hardly be any +thing serious in their intercourse. But, come," added he, aloud; "I +perceive that dinner is served; and so let us adjourn to the table!" +Gustave led in the blushing girl, and the elders followed admiringly in +their rear, while the merchant shook his finger coquettishly at his +gallant nephew. De Vlierbeck placed Monsieur Denecker opposite him at +table, and made Gustave the _vis-a-vis_ of Lenora. + +Bess brought in the dishes, while her son waited on the guests. The +viands were prepared with considerable skill, and Denecker took frequent +occasion to express his satisfaction with their exquisite flavor. In +truth, he was rather surprised at the sumptuousness of the repast; for +he had been prepared to expect lenten fare in a household which was +renowned throughout the neighborhood for its austere economy. + +In a short time the conversation became general; and Lenora astonished +Monsieur Denecker by the extent of her information and the admirable +style in which she expressed herself and did the honors of the table. +But, notwithstanding her ease and freedom while conversing with the +uncle, an observer could not help detecting that she was shy, if not +absolutely embarrassed, when obliged to reply to some casual remark of +the nephew. Nor was Gustave more at ease than the maiden. In fact, they +were both happy at heart because fate had thrown them together; but they +would have been quite willing to enjoy that delicious silence which in +love is often more eloquent than in language. + +In the mean while De Vlierbeck rattled away, with the ease of a man of +the world, on all subjects that might interest his guests; yet he +listened, with equal good manners, to Denecker's conversation, and now +and then adroitly threw in such hints as allowed him to speak learnedly +upon commercial matters. The merchant was gratified by his deferential +civility, and was drawn toward his entertainer by a stronger bond than +that of mere social politeness. + +Indeed, all went on swimmingly, and all were pleased with themselves. +De Vlierbeck was especially gratified to find that Bess and her boy +performed their tasks so well, and that the spoons and plates were so +quickly washed and brought back that it was impossible to notice the +deficiency of their number. One thing alone began to worry him. He saw +with pain that while Denecker was busy with his food and chat he was +equally busy with the wine, and that glass after glass disappeared with +more rapidity than was agreeable to his supply. Besides this, Gustave, +who was probably anxious for some excuse to have a word with Lenora upon +any pretext, constantly asked permission to fill her glass; so that, +very soon after the soup and meat had been disposed of, the first bottle +was entirely emptied. + +Civility required that it should be immediately replaced; and, as De +Vlierbeck observed that the more Monsieur Denecker talked the more he +drank, he thought he might try whether less conversation would not +moderate the merchant's thirst. But, alas! he was disappointed; for at +that moment Denecker introduced the topic of wine, and, lauding the +generous juice of the grape, expressed surprise at the extraordinary +sobriety of his host. With this he redoubled his attack on the bottle, +and was in some degree, though less vigorously, seconded by Gustave. De +Vlierbeck's agony became more and more intense as he saw the rosy fluid +sink and sink in the second bottle, until at length the last drop was +drained into the merchant's glass. + +"Yes," said Denecker, "your wine is both old and good; but I have +always found, in tasting liquors, that if we don't change them we lose +their flavor. I take it for granted that you have a first-rate cellar, +if I may judge by your first samples; so I propose that we now try a +bottle of your _Chateau-margaux_; and, if we have time, we can finish +with a bottle of _hochheimer_. I never drink _champagne_: it is a bad +liquor for wine-drinkers." + +As the last words fell from Denecker, poor De Vlierbeck grew deadly +pale, as his frightened spirit went rummaging through the cracks and +crannies of his brain for some inspiration or expedient which might +extricate him from his deep perplexity. + +"_Chateau-margaux?_" inquired he, with a calm smile. "Certainly, sir, if +you wish it." And then, turning to the lackey,--"John," said he, "bring +a bottle of _Chateau-margaux_: you will find it in the third cellar on +the left-hand side." + +But the rustic stared at his master with gaping mouth, as if he had been +addressed in one of the dead languages. Seeing the predicament, and +mastering it rapidly,-- + +"Excuse me," said De Vlierbeck, rising; "he would not find it, I fear. I +will be back in a moment." + +Rushing into the kitchen, he seized the third and last bottle and +descended to the cellar, where he stopped to draw breath and compose +himself. + +"_Chateau-margaux! hochheimer! champagne!"_ exclaimed poor De +Vlierbeck, "and not another drop of wine in my house but what is in this +last bottle of claret! What _shall_ I do? what _can_ I do?" continued +he, as he held the cobwebbed bottle in one hand and stroked his chin +with the other. "But no matter: there's no time for reflection: the die +is cast, and may God help me in my need!" + +He ascended the stair, entered the dining-room with the corkscrew in the +last cork, and found that during his absence Lenora had ordered fresh +glasses on the table. + +"This wine," said De Vlierbeck, holding the bottle knowingly to the +light, "is at least twenty years old, Monsieur Denecker, and I sincerely +hope it will please your palate." So saying, he filled the glasses of +uncle and nephew, and gazed anxiously in their faces for the verdict. + +Denecker tasted the wine, drop by drop, like an epicure, and, shaking +his head disappointedly,-- + +"There's a mistake, doubtless," said he; "for it's the identical wine we +had before." + +De Vlierbeck feigned surprise admirably, tasted the wine in turn, and +replied,-- + +"I _believe_ you are right, and that I _have_ made a mistake; yet, as +the bottle is opened and not bad, suppose we drink it before I make +another descent to the cellar' There's abundance of time." + +"I've no objection," answered the merchant, "provided you help us, so as +to get through it the quicker." And so the column in the third and last +bottle diminished more rapidly than its predecessors, till two or three +glasses alone remained at the bottom to crown the festival. + +Poor De Vlierbeck could no longer conceal his agitation. He tried to +keep his eyes off the fatal bottle; but a sort of fascination drew him +back to it, and each time with increased anxiety. That dreadful word +'_Chateau-margaux_' rang in his ears. His face blushed and grew pale, +and a cold, clammy sweat stood in big beads on his forehead. Yet he felt +that he had not entirely exhausted his resources, and resolved to fight +the battle of humiliation to the end. He wiped his brow and cheeks, +coughed, and turned aside as if about to sneeze. By dint of these +manoeuvres he continued to conceal his nervousness till Denecker grasped +the bottle to pour out its last drop. As he clasped the neck, a chill +seized the hysterical frame of the poor gentleman, a deadly paleness +overspread his features, and his head fell with a groan against the tall +back of the chair. Was it in truth a fainting-fit, or did the sufferer +take advantage of his emotion to play a part and escape the +embarrassment of his situation? + +In a moment the whole party were on their feet, while Lenora screamed +and ran to her father. + +"It's nothing," said De Vlierbeck, striving, after a minute or two, to +rally himself. "I am faint; the confined air of this room overcame me. +Let me walk a while in the garden and I will soon be better." + +As he said this he staggered to his feet, and, supported by Lenora and +Gustave, moved toward the garden, followed by Denecker with an +expression of the deepest concern. A short rest in the open air beneath +the shade of a noble chestnut-tree quickly restored a faint color to De +Vlierbeck's cheek and enabled him to tranquillize their anxiety about +his sudden attack. + +"I will rest here a while out of doors," said he, "for fear the fit +might return; and perhaps a slow walk in the garden might hasten my +recovery." + +"It will do both of us good," answered Denecker; "and, besides, as I +have to quit you at five o'clock, I don't want to leave Grinselhof +without seeing its garden. Let us take a turn through your walks, and +afterward we shall have time enough to finish another bottle." + +As he said this he passed Lenora's arm within his own, and, casting a +coquettish glance at Gustave, began their promenade. By degrees De +Vlierbeck rallied sufficiently to take part in the chat; and gardening, +agriculture, sporting, and a hundred different country topics, were +fully discussed. Lenora recovered her spirits and charmed their +commercial guest by the mingled charms of her intellectual cleverness +and innocent gayety. Wild as a deer, she dared him to run a race with +her, and danced along the paths by his side full of mirth and +sportiveness. In truth, Denecker was altogether captivated by the +ingenuous girl, and, as he looked on her radiant face, could not help +thinking that the future had some happy days in store for his gallant +nephew. After a while Lenora strayed off in advance with Gustave, while +the two elders lingered lazily along the path. Gustave was charmed with +the flowers, the plants, the gold-fish, which Lenora pointed out to him; +nor was he at all desirous to shorten their delicious flirtation by +returning to the table. This chimed precisely with the anxiety of De +Vlierbeck, who employed every stratagem he could conceive to keep his +guest in the open air. He told stories, repeated jokes, appealed to +Denecker's commercial knowledge, and even quizzed him a little when he +found their conversation beginning to flag. In fact, he was rejoicing +that five o'clock, and, of course, the carriage, were rapidly +approaching, when Denecker suddenly recalled his nephew from a distant +quarter of the garden where he was strolling with Lenora. + +"Come, Gustave; come," said he; "if you wish to drink a parting glass +with us let us get in, for the coach will be here in a moment." + +De Vlierbeck instantly became pale as a sheet, and, trembling from head +to foot, stared silently at Denecker, who could no longer restrain his +surprise at these exhibitions. + +"Are you ill, sir?" said he. + +"My stomach is a singular one, Monsieur Denecker, and I suffer spasms if +you even mention _wine!_ It is a strange malady; but--Oh, I hear your +coach, Monsieur Denecker; and there it is, drawing up, I see, at the +gateway." + +Of course Denecker spoke no more of wine; but, as he could not help +noticing the alacrity with which De Vlierbeck hailed the prospect of his +departure, he would have been deeply mortified, if not offended, had not +the previous hospitality of his host satisfied him of their welcome. He +thought, perhaps, that he ought to attribute his entertainer's conduct +to some singular nervous disease which he masked under an antipathy for +wine; and accordingly he took leave with a warm and friendly farewell. + +"I have passed a delightful afternoon with you, Monsieur De Vlierbeck," +said he. "We have found ourselves, I am sure, extremely happy in your +and your daughter's charming society. It is a pleasure added to my life +to have made your acquaintance; and I hope that further intimacy may +assure me your friendship. In the mean while, let me thank you from the +bottom of my heart for your kind reception." + +As he finished the sentence, Lenora and Gustave joined them. + +"My nephew," continued Denecker, "will confess, as I have done, that he +has spent few happier hours than those that are just gone. I hope, +Monsieur de Vlierbeck, that you and your charming daughter will return +our visit and dine with us. Yet I shall have to ask your pardon for +postponing the pleasure it will afford us till I return from Frankfort, +where I am summoned, the day after to-morrow, on urgent business. It is +probable I may be detained away a couple of months; but if my nephew +should be allowed to visit you in my absence let me hope he will be +welcome." + +De Vlierbeck reiterated his professions of delight at the new +acquaintance; Lenora was silent; and Denecker moved off toward the +coach. + +"But the parting glass, uncle!" exclaimed Gustave. "Let us go in for a +moment and drink it." + +"No, no," said Denecker, interrupting him tartly. "I believe we would +never get hence at all if we listened to you. It is time to be off, and +I can delay no longer. Adieu!" + +Gustave and Lenora exchanged a long and anxious look, full of regret at +separation and of hope for speedy reunion. In a moment the uncle and +nephew were in the vehicle and the spirited horses in motion; but, as +long as the group was in sight at the gate, a couple of white-gloved +hands might have been seen waving farewells from the coach-window. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +A few days after the departure of his uncle, Gustave paid a visit to +Grinselhof. He was received by Monsieur De Vlierbeck and his daughter +with their usual kindness, passed the greater part of an afternoon with +them, and went home at nightfall to the _chateau_ of Echelpoel full of +delightful recollections and hopes. Either from a fear of disturbing the +reserved habits of the old gentleman, or from a sense of politeness, +Gustave did not at first repeat his visits too frequently; but after a +couple of weeks the extreme cordiality of Vlierbeck dispelled all his +scruples. The ardent youth no longer resisted an impulse that drew him +toward the bewitching girl, nor did he allow a single day to roll by +without passing the afternoon at Grinselhof. The happy hours flew +rapidly on the wings of love. He strolled with Lenora through the shady +walks of the old garden, listened to her father's observations on +science and art, drank in the delicious notes of his loved one's voice +as it was breathed forth in song, or, seated beneath the flowery and +spreading catalpa, dreamed the dream of happiness that was in store for +him with her who was probably soon to become his betrothed. + +If the noble and beautiful face of the maiden had won his eye and +enlisted his feelings the moment he first beheld her in the village +churchyard, _now_, that he had become familiar with her character, his +love grew so ardently absorbing that the world seemed sad and dead if +she were not present to shed the light of her joyous spirit upon every +thing around him. Neither religion nor poetry could conjure up an angel +more fascinating than his beloved. Indeed, though God had endowed her +person with all those feminine graces that adorned the first woman in +Paradise, he had also lavished on her a heart whose crystalline purity +was never clouded, and whose generosity burst forth with every emotion +like a limpid spring. + +But in all his interviews, Gustave had never yet been alone with Lenora. +When he visited her she never left the apartment where she commonly sat +with her father, unless the old gentleman expressed a wish that they +should unite in a walk through the garden; and, of course, he had never +enjoyed an opportunity to breathe the love that was rising to his lips. +Still, he felt that it was altogether useless to express by words what +was passing in their hearts; for the kindness, the respect, the +affection, that shone in everybody's eyes, betokened the feeling which +united them in a mingled sentiment of attachment and hope. + +Though Gustave entertained profound veneration for Lenora's father and +really loved him as a son, there was something which at times came like +a cloud betwixt himself and the old gentleman. What he heard outside of +Grinselhof of De Vlierbeck's extraordinary avarice had been fully +realized since he became intimate at the house. No one ever offered him +a glass of wine or beer; he never received an invitation to dinner or +supper; and he frequently observed the trouble that was taken by the +master of the house to disguise his inhospitable economy. + +Avarice is a passion which excites no other emotion than that of +aversion or contempt, because it is natural to believe that when so +degrading a vice takes possession of one's soul it destroys every spark +of generosity and fills it with meanness. Accordingly, Gustave had a +long and fearful conflict with himself in order to subdue this +instinctive feeling and to convince his judgment that De Vlierbeck's +conduct was only a caprice which did not detract from the native dignity +of his character. And yet, had the young man known the truth, he would +have seen that a pang was hidden beneath every smile that flitted over +the old man's face, and that the nervous shudders which at times shook +his frame were the results of a suppressed agony that almost destroyed +him. As he gazed on the happy face of Lenora and steeped his soul in the +intoxication of her love, he never dreamed that her father's life was a +prolonged punishment; that, day and night, a terrible future opened its +vista before him; and that each moment of his existence brought him +nearer and nearer to a dreadful catastrophe. He had not heard the +inexorable sentence of the notary:--"Four months more and your bond +expires, when all you possess in this world will be sold by the officers +of justice to satisfy your creditors!" + +Two of those fatal months had already expired! + +If Monsieur De Vlierbeck appeared to encourage the young man's love, it +was not alone in consequence of his sympathy with his feelings. No: the +_denouement_ of his painful trial was to be developed within a defined +period; and, if it proved inauspicious, there was nothing but dishonor +and moral death for himself and child! Destiny was about to decide +forever whether he was to come out victorious from this ten years' +conflict with poverty, or whether he was to fall into the abyss of +public contempt! These were the feelings that induced him to conceal his +true position more carefully than ever, and, while he watched over the +lovers like a guardian spirit, made him do nothing to check the rapid +progress of their passion. + +As the time of his uncle's return approached, the two months seemed to +Gustave to have flown by like a pleasant dream; and, although he felt +sure that his relative would not oppose the union, he foresaw that he +would not be allowed hereafter to spend so much of his time away from +business. Indeed, the very idea that he might be obliged to pass +considerable periods without seeing Lenora made him look for his +uncle's return with any thing but delight. + +One day he contrived to whisper his fears and anticipations to Lenora, +and, for the first time since their acquaintance, saw tears gathering in +her eyes. The girl's emotion touched his heart so sensibly that he +ventured timidly to take her hand, and held it in his for a long time +without uttering a word. De Vlierbeck, who had overheard the remark, +tried to comfort him, but his words did not seem to produce the desired +effect; and, after a short time, Gustave rose abruptly and took leave, +though his usual time of departure had not yet arrived. Lenora read in +his expression that some sudden revolution had occurred in her lover's +mind, for his eyes glistened with extraordinary animation. She strove +eagerly to retain him by her side; but he resisted her appeal +pleasantly, and declared that nothing should unveil his secret till the +following day, when he would return to Grinselhof. De Vlierbeck, +however, was more familiar with the world than his daughter; and, +imagining that lie had penetrated the mystery of Gustave's conduct, many +a pleasant dream hovered that night around his pillow. + +As the usual hour of Gustave's visit approached next day, De Vlierbeck's +heart beat high with hope; and when the visitor appeared, clad with +unusual neatness and care, the old gentleman welcomed him with more than +ordinary warmth. After the compliments of the day had been paid to his +ladylove, Gustave expressed a desire for a few moments' conversation +with her father, who led him into an adjoining cabinet and seated +himself by his side. + +"What is it you wish of me, my young friend?" said he, kindly. + +Gustave was silent for a moment, as if endeavoring to rally his ideas, +and then spoke out in a manly way:-- + +"I am about, my dear sir, to speak to you in regard to a matter that +concerns my happiness; and, no matter what may be your decision, I am +sure, from your kindness upon all occasions, that you will pardon my +boldness. I can hardly imagine that the feeling--the irresistible +feeling--I have entertained for Lenora from the first moment I saw her, +has escaped your penetrating eye. I ought probably to have asked your +consent long ago, before she obtained so complete a dominion over my +heart; but I have always secretly encouraged the belief that you read my +soul and wore not displeased with my motives." + +Gustave was silent, awaiting the hoped-for words of encouragement; but +De Vlierbeck only looked at him with a gentle smile, and gave no other +indication of his pleasure. A motion of the hand, as if he wished the +lover to go on with his conversation, was the only sign he made in +reply, + +Gustave's resolution began to ebb at this discouraging by-play; but, +summoning all his energy for another attack, he continued:-- + +"Yes, sir, I have loved Lenora from my first sight of her; but what was +then a spark is now a flame. Don't think it is her loveliness alone that +bewitched me. She might indeed enchant the most insensible of mankind; +but I found a far more glorious treasure in the angelic heart of your +daughter. Her virtue, the immaculate purity of her soul, her gentle and +magnanimous sentiments,--in a word, the prodigal gifts of mind and body +which God has lavished on her,--have increased my admiration to love, my +love to absolute idolatry! How dare I conceal my emotion from you any +longer? I cannot live without Lenora; the very thought of even a short +temporary separation from her overwhelms me with despair. I long to be +with her every day, every hour; I long to hear her voice and read my +happiness in her eloquent eyes! I know not what may be your decision; +but, believe me, if it shall be adverse to my hopes, I shall not long +survive the blow. If your decree separate, me from my beloved Lenora, +life will no longer have a charm for me!" + +Gustave uttered his romantic rhapsody--the rhapsody of most lovers--with +that genuine emotion which bespoke his sincerity, and touched the heart +of De Vlierbeck so deeply that he grasped his hand and implored him to +be calm. + +"Don't tremble so, my young friend," said the old gentleman. "I know +very well that you love Lenora, and that she is not insensible to your +affection for her. But what have you to propose to me?" + +Gustave replied, dejectedly,--"If I still doubt your approval, after all +the marks of esteem you have given me, it is because I fear you do not +consider me worthy the happiness I have sought. I have no ancestral tree +whose roots are buried in the past; the good deeds of my forefathers do +not shine in history; the blood that runs in my veins comes from a +common stock." + +"Do you think," said De Vlierbeck, interrupting him, "that I was +ignorant of all this from the first day of our acquaintance? No Gustave; +no matter what your lineage may be, your own heart is generous and +noble; and, had it not been so, I would never have esteemed and treated +you as my son." + +"And so," exclaimed Gustave, catching at the last words with a burst of +joyous impatience, "you don't refuse me Lenora's hand?--you will +interpose no objection, provided my uncle gives his consent?" + +"No," replied De Vlierbeck; "I shall not refuse it to you. On the +contrary, it will give me unbounded happiness to intrust the fate of my +only child to your keeping. And yet there is an obstacle of which you +have no idea." + +"An obstacle!" exclaimed Gustave, growing pale;--"an obstacle between +Lenora and me?" + +"Be silent a moment," said De Vlierbeck, "and listen to the explanation +I shall give you. You think, Gustave, I suppose, that Grinselhof and +all its dependencies belong to us? It is not so: we are penniless. We +are poorer far than the peasant who rents our farming-land and lives +yonder at the gate!" + +Gustave looked doubtingly at De Vlierbeck, with so incredulous a smile +that the poor gentleman blushed, and trembled like an aspen. + +"I see you do not believe me," continued he; "I see it in your smile and +look. Like the rest of them, you think me a miser, hiding my wealth and +starving my child and myself to amass riches,--a wretch who sacrifices +every thing for money,--a vagabond whom all ought to fear and despise!" + +"Oh, pardon me, pardon me, sir!" interrupted Gustave, moved by the +excitement of the old man "I think nothing of the kind! My veneration +for you is unbounded!" + +"Nay, don't be frightened at my words, young man," continued De +Vlierbeck, in a calmer tone. "I make no accusations against you, +Gustave. I only saw in your incredulous smile that I had succeeded in +masking my poverty even from you, and in making you suppose that my +economy was avarice. But it is needless for me to give you any further +explanation just now. Let it suffice you to know that what I say is +strictly, honestly true. I possess nothing,--nothing!" + +"And now," added he, after a moment's silence on both sides, "let me +give you a piece of advice. Go home to-day without seeing Lenora; +examine your soul calmly, and see whether there are no secret emotions +that may make you change your present views; let a night pass, and if, +to-morrow, Lenora, poor as you now know her to be, is still dear to +you,--if you still think you can be happy with her and can make her +happy,--seek your uncle and ask his consent. Here is my hand: if the day +shall ever come when I can offer it as a father's, it will be the +happiest of my life!" + +Although the revelation made by Monsieur De Vlierbeck was astonishing to +Gustave, the solemn tone in which he announced it convinced the lover of +its truth. He was silent for a moment; but soon a spark of enthusiasm +began to glisten in his eye and light up his face, as he exclaimed,-- + +"How can you ask me if I shall continue to love Lenora now that I know +her to be poor? It will be happiness enough for me to receive her as a +wife, to be bound to her by the eternal bonds of love, to be forever +within her reach, and to receive my happiness from her look and voice! +What delight it will be for me to protect her and know that I have the +privilege of working for her! Palace or hovel; riches or poverty, all +are equally indifferent to me, provided her presence animates the spot! +A night's reflection, Monsieur De Vlierbeck, cannot change my +resolution. Grant me Lenora's hand, and I will thank you on my knees for +the priceless gift!" + +"And suppose I do," replied the old gentleman; "generosity and +constancy are natural to the ardent character of youth:--but your +uncle?" + +"My uncle!" murmured Gustave, with evident grief; "that is true; I need +his consent. All I possess or ever shall possess in the world depends on +his affection for me. I am the orphan son of his brother. He adopted me +as his child and has overwhelmed me with kindness. He has the right to +decide my lot in life, and I must obey him." + +"And do you think that he, a merchant, who probably places a very high +value on money, because experience has taught him its value, will say, +like you, 'Palace or hovel, poverty or wealth, it makes no difference'?" + +"Alas! I know not, Monsieur De Vlierbeck," said Gustave, droopingly. +"But my uncle is so good to me--so extraordinarily good--that I may +rightly hope for his consent. He will return to-morrow. When I embrace +him I will declare all my wishes. I will say my comfort, my happiness, +my life, depend on his consent. I know that he loves Lenora sincerely; +for, before his departure, he even seemed to encourage my pretensions to +her hand. Your disclosures will undoubtedly surprise him; but my prayers +will conquer: believe it!" + +Monsieur De Vlierbeck rose, to put an end to the conversation. + +"Well, ask your uncle's consent," said he; "and, if your hopes are +realized, let him come here and consult about the marriage. Whatever +may be the issue of this affair, Gustave, you at least have always +behaved toward us with the delicacy of a generous youth. My esteem and +friendship shall always be yours. Go now; quit Grinselhof this time +without seeing Lenora, for you ought not to meet her until this affair +is settled. I will tell her myself whatever I think proper for her to +know." + +Half pleased, half sad,--his heart divided between joy and +anxiety,--Gustave bade farewell to Lenora's father and returned to +Echelpoel. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +On the afternoon of the following day Monsieur De Vlierbeck was seated +in his parlor, his head resting on his hand. He seemed plunged in +profound thought, for his eyes were fixed on vacancy and his face +exhibited by turns contentment and hope, inquietude and anxiety. + +Occasionally Lenora came into the apartment, and, seeming unusually +restless, wandered about from spot to spot, arranging and rearranging +the little fancy articles upon the tables, looking out of the window +into the garden, and at last running down-stairs suddenly as if she were +pursued. No one who saw her could doubt that she was nervously anxious +about something; yet her expression was one of joy and hope. Had she +been able to penetrate her father's mind and behold the various emotions +that excited it, she would not perhaps have been so gay and blithesome; +but poor De Vlierbeck restrained himself with his habitual care in her +presence, and smiled at her impatience as if he too were confident of +approaching happiness. + +At length, tired of running about, Lenora seated herself by her father +and fixed her clear and questioning gaze on his face. + +"Don't be so excited, my good child," said he. "We shall know nothing +to-day; but we may, perhaps, to-morrow. Moderate your joy, my daughter; +if it please Heaven to decide against your hope in this matter your +grief will be more easily conquered." + +"Oh, no, father!" stammered Lenora; "God will grant my prayer; I feel it +in my heart. Don't be astonished, father, that I am full of joy, for I +think I see Gustave speaking to his uncle. I hear what he says, and +Monsieur Denecker's replies; I see him embrace Gustave and give his +consent! Who can doubt, father, that I ought to hope, when I know that +Monsieur Denecker loved me and was always kind?" + +"Would you be very happy, Lenora," asked De Vlierbeck, with a smile, "if +Gustave were betrothed to you?" + +"Never to leave him!" cried Lenora,--"to love him,--to be the happiness +of his life, his consolation, his joy,--to enliven the solitude of +Grinselhof by our love!--ah! that, father, would be delight indeed; for +then there would be two of us to contribute to the pleasures of your +life! Gustave would have more skill than I to chase away the grief that +sometimes clouds your brow; you could walk, talk, or hunt with him; he +would venerate and love you as a son and watch you with the tenderest +care; his only thought on earth would be to make you happy, because he +knows that your happiness is mine; and I--I, father, will recompense him +for his devotion by the gratitude of my heart, and love. Oh, yes, dear +father! we shall live together in a paradise of contentment!" + +"Ingenuous girl!" exclaimed De Vlierbeck, with a sigh; "may the Lord +hear your prayer! But the world, my child, is governed by laws and +customs of which you are altogether ignorant. A wife must follow her +husband wherever he goes. If Gustave shall select another residence you +must follow him and console yourself gradually at the separation from +your father. Under other circumstances, parting might be painful; but +solitude will not sadden me if I know you are happy, my child." + +The startled maiden looked at her father with surprise as he uttered +these words; and, as he finished, her head fell heavily on her breast +and tears streamed silently from her eyes. Monsieur De Vlierbeck took +her hand tenderly as he said, in faltering words,-- + +"I feared, Lenora, that I would make you sad; but you must become +accustomed to the idea of our separation." + +Lenora raised her head quickly as she replied, in a firm and resolute +manner, "What! could Gustave ever dream of our separation? To leave you +at Grinselhof passing your days in seclusion while I and my husband were +in the world in the midst of festivity? I should not have an instant's +rest, wherever I might be; conscience would cry aloud in my heart, +'Ungrateful and insensible child, thy father is abandoned to suffering +and solitude!' Yes, I love Gustave; he is dearer to me than life itself, +and I receive his hand as a blessing from God; but if he should say to +me, 'Abandon your father!'--if he left me no choice except you or +him,--I would close my eyes and reject him! I should be sad; I should +suffer; perhaps even I should die; but, father dear, I would die in your +arms!" + +She bent down her head for a moment as if oppressed by a dreadful +thought; but, raising her large eyes, liquid with tears, she fixed them +on her father, as she added,-- + +"You doubt Gustave's affection for you; you imagine him capable of +filling your life with sorrow,--of separating me from you! Oh, father, +you do not know him; you do not know how much he respects and loves you; +you do not comprehend the warmth of his generous and loving heart!" + +De Vlierbeck bent over his child and impressed a kiss on her forehead, +as he was about to utter some words of consolation, when suddenly Lenora +sprang from his arms and pointed eagerly to the window, as if listening +to approaching sounds. + +The noise of wheels and the clatter of horses on the road soon gave +Monsieur De Vlierbeck to understand why his daughter had been so +startled. His face assumed a more animated expression, and, descending +hurriedly, he reached the door as Monsieur Denecker alighted from his +coach. + +The merchant seemed in exceedingly good humor; he grasped De Vlierbeck's +hand, expressing his delight at seeing him once more. "How goes it with +you, my old friend? It seems that rogue, my nephew, has taken advantage +of my absence." And, although De Vlierbeck ushered him into the saloon +with all the formality imaginable, Denecker slapped him familiarly on +the shoulder, and continued,-- + +"Well! well! we were good friends from the beginning; and now I +understand we are to be regular gossips:--at least I hope so. That scamp +hasn't bad taste, I must confess. He would have to make a long search +before he found a handsomer or more amiable woman than Lenora. Look you, +Monsieur De Vlierbeck, we must have a wedding frolic that people will +talk of twenty years hence!" + +By this time they had got into the saloon and taken their seats; but De +Vlierbeck, nervous as he was, had considerable doubt as to the tone of +Denecker's remarks, and whether he was jesting or serious. + +"It seems," continued Denecker, assuming a graver tone, "that Gustave is +madly impatient for this union, and begs me to hasten it. I have taken +compassion on the young fellow and left all the business of our house +topsy-turvy to-day to arrange matters with you. He tells me you have +given your consent. That was kind of you, sir. I thought a great deal of +this affair during my journey, for I had observed that Cupid's arrows +had gone clean through and through the boy; yet I had fears about your +consent. Inequality of blood, old-fashioned ideas, might perhaps +interfere." + +"And so Gustave told you that I consented to his marriage with Lenora?" +said the old gentleman, paying no attention to Monsieur Denecker's +remarks. + +"Did he deceive me, sir?" said Denecker, with surprise. + +"No; but did he communicate something else to you, which ought to strike +you as of equal importance?" + +Denecker threw back his head with a laugh, as he replied,-- + +"What nonsense you made him believe! But, between us two, that passes +for nothing. He tells me that Grinselhof don't belong to you and that +you are _poor_! I hope, Monsieur De Vlierbeck, you have too good an +opinion of my sense to imagine I have the least faith in such a story?" + +A shudder passed over the poor gentleman's frame. Denecker's +good-humored familiarity had made him believe that he knew and credited +all, and nevertheless responded to his nephew's hopes; but the last +words he heard taught him that he must again go over the sad recital of +his misfortunes. + +"Monsieur Denecker," said he, "do not entertain the least doubt, I beg +you, in regard to what I am about to say. I am willing instantly to +consent that my daughter shall become your nephew's wife; but I solemnly +declare that I am poor,--frightfully poor!" + +"Come, come!" cried the merchant; "we knew long, long ago that you were +mightily fond of your money; but when you marry your _only_ child you +must open your heart and your purse, my dear sir, and portion her +according to your means. They say--pardon me for repeating it--that you +are _a miser_; but what a shame it would be to let your only daughter +leave your house unprovided for!" + +Poor De Vlierbeck writhed on his chair as Denecker poured forth his +incredulous jokes. "For God's sake, sir," cried he, "spare me these +bitter remarks. I declare, on the word of a gentleman, that I possess +_nothing_ in the world!" + +"Well!" cried the merchant, taking no heed of his remarks, and with a +mocking smile, "come; let us cipher the matter out on the table. You +suppose, perhaps, that I have come here to ask some great sacrifice of +you: but no, De Vlierbeck, thank God, I have no occasion to be so close +in my calculations. Yet a marriage is a thing to which there are always +two parties, and it is just that each should bring something into the +common stock." + +"Oh, God! oh, God!" muttered the poor gentleman, as he clenched his +hands convulsively. + +"I propose to give my nephew one hundred thousand francs," continued +Denecker; "and if he wants to continue in business my credit will be +worth as much more to him. I have no wish that Lenora's portion shall +equal his. Your high birth, and especially your character, will make up +what is wanting in her fortune; but what say you to the half,--fifty +thousand francs? You will consent to that, or I am much mistaken. What +say you? Is it a bargain?" + +Pale and trembling, De Vlierbeck sat riveted to his chair; but at last, +in a low, melancholy voice,-- + +"Monsieur Denecker," said he, "this conversation kills me. I beg you to +stop this infliction. I repeat that I possess _nothing_; and, since you +force me to speak before you apprize me of your own intentions, know +that Grinselhof and its dependencies are mortgaged beyond their value! +It is useless to inform you of the origin of these debts. Let it suffice +to repeat that I tell the truth; and I beg you, without going further, +now that you are informed of the state of my affairs, to declare frankly +what are your designs as to your nephew's marriage." + +Although this declaration was made with that feverish energy which ought +to have satisfied Denecker of its truth, it nevertheless failed to +convince him. A degree of surprise displayed itself on the merchant's +face; but he continued his observations in the same incredulous tone:-- + +"Pardon me, De Vlierbeck, but it is impossible to believe you. I did not +think you were so hard in a bargain. Yet be it so: every man has his +weakness; one is too miserly, another too prodigal. Now, for my part, I +confess that I am extremely anxious to spare Gustave the anxiety of +delay. Give your daughter twenty-five thousand francs, with the +understanding that the amount of her portion is to remain a secret; for +I don't want to be laughed at. Twenty-five thousand francs!--you cannot +say it is too much;--in fact, it is a trifle that will hardly pay for +their furniture. Be reasonable, my good sir, and let us shake hands on +it!" + +De Vlierbeck said nothing; but, rising abruptly from the table, opened a +closet with a trembling hand, and, taking from it a package of papers, +threw them on the table. + +"There!" said he; "read; convince yourself." + +Denecker took up the papers and began to examine them. As he went on, +the expression of his face gradually changed, and at times he raised +his head and looked upward, as if in deep thought. After he had been +engaged for some time in this disagreeable task, De Vlierbeck +recommenced the conversation in a tone of cutting irony:-- + +"Ah! you would not believe me, sir. Well, let your determination be +founded on those papers alone. It is right you should know every thing; +for I have determined never again to be tortured. Besides the evidences +of debt which are before you, I owe a bill of exchange for four thousand +francs, which I cannot pay! You see now, Monsieur Denecker, that I am +worse than poor, for I have debts!" + +"Alas! it is but too true," said the stupefied merchant; "you have +indeed nothing! I see by these documents that my notary is also yours; +and, although I spoke to him of your fortune, he left me unadvised, or, +I should rather say, in error." + +De Vlierbeck breathed more freely, for he felt as if a rock had fallen +from his breast. His face resumed its ordinary calmness; and, seating +himself, he continued:-- + +"Now, sir, if you have no longer any reason to doubt my poverty, let me +ask what are your intentions." + +"My intentions?" replied the merchant; "my intentions are that we shall +remain as good friends as we were before; but, as to the marriage, that +of course falls to the ground. We will speak no more about it. What were +_your_ calculations, Monsieur De Vlierbeck? I think I am just beginning +to see a little clearly into this matter! You imagined, I suppose, that +you would make a good business out of it and sell your merchandise as +high as possible!" + +"Sir," exclaimed De Vlierbeck, bounding from his chair in rage, "speak +respectfully of my daughter! Poor or rich, do not dare to forget who she +is!" + +"Don't get angry! don't get angry! Monsieur De Vlierbeck. I have no +desire to insult you. Far from it. Had your enterprise succeeded I would +probably have admired you; but _finesse_ against _finesse_ always makes +a bad game! Permit me to ask, since you are so touchy on the point of +honor, if you have acted a very honorable part in courting my nephew and +allowing his passion to absorb him?" + +De Vlierbeck bowed his head to conceal the blush that suffused his aged +cheeks; nor did he awake from his painful stupor till the merchant +recalled him by the single word,-- + +"Well?" + +"Ah!" stammered De Vlierbeck, "have mercy on me! Love for my child, +probably, led me astray. God endowed her with all the gifts that can +adorn a woman. I hoped that her beauty, the purity of her soul, the +nobility of her blood, were treasures quite as precious as gold!" + +"That is to say, for a gentleman, perhaps; but not for so common a +person as a merchant," interrupted Monsieur Denecker, with a sneer. + +"Don't reproach me with having _courted_ your nephew," continued De +Vlierbeck. "That is a word that wounds me deeply; for it is unjust. +Their attachment was reciprocal and in every way unstudied. I thanked +God daily in my prayers that he had cast in our path a savior for my +child:--yes, a savior, I say; for Gustave is an honorable youth, who +would have made her happy not so much by money as by his noble and +generous character. Is it then so great a crime for a father who has +unfortunately become poor to hope that his child should escape want?" + +"Certainly not," replied the merchant; "but every thing is in _success_; +and in that respect, Monsieur De Vlierbeck, your enterprise has been +unfortunate. I am a man who examines his goods twice before he buys, and +it is difficult to pass apples on me for lemons!" + +This heartless, trafficking slang tortured the unfortunate bankrupt to +such a degree that he arose from his seat in a passion and began to pace +the apartment. + +"You have no consideration for my misfortunes, sir," said he. "You +pretend that I designed deceiving you; but was it _you_ who discovered +my poverty? Are you not free to act as you please, after the disclosures +that I have voluntarily given you? And let me remark, sir, that if I +listen humbly to your reproaches--if I even acknowledge my fault--the +sense of manhood is not dead in my soul. You talk of 'merchandise' and +'goods,' as if you came here to buy something! You allude to my Lenora, +do you? All your wealth, sir, could not purchase her! and, if love is +not powerful enough in your eyes to obliterate the pecuniary inequality +between us, know that I am a De Vlierbeck, and that name, even in +poverty, weighs more than all your money!" + +During this explosion his face kindled with indignation and his eyes +shot forth their fiery rays upon the merchant, who, alarmed by the loud +words and animated gestures of De Vlierbeck, regarded him with an air of +stupefaction from the other side of the apartment. + +"Good God, sir," said he at last, "there is no need of so much violence +and loud talk! Each of us remains where he is; each keeps what he has, +and the affair is at an end. I have but one request to make of you, and +it is that you will never again receive my nephew,--or else--" + +"Or else?" interrupted De Vlierbeck, passionately; "do you _dare_ to +threaten me?" But, restraining himself almost instantly, he continued, +with comparative calmness, "Enough! Shall I call Monsieur Denecker's +carriage?" + +"If you please," replied the merchant. "We cannot do business together, +it seems; but that is no reason why we should become enemies." + +"Well! well! we will stop short of that, sir. But this conversation +annoys me; it must end!" And, so saying, he led Monsieur Denecker to the +door and bade him farewell abruptly. Be Vlierbeck returned to the +parlor, fell into his chair and covered his brow with both hands, as a +heavy groan burst from his breast, which heaved with almost hysterical +emotion. For a long time he remained silent and motionless; but soon his +hands fell heavily on his knees, a deathly paleness overspread his face, +and the room whirled around the heart-broken man. + +Suddenly he heard footsteps in the chamber above, and, rousing himself +by a strong effort, "Oh, God! my poor child!" cried he; "my poor +Lenora! She comes! my punishment is not yet complete! I must break the +heart of my own child; I must tear from it all its hopes, blot out its +dream, behold it withered up with grief! Oh that I could escape this +dreadful disclosure! Alas! What to say to her? how to explain it?" + +A bitter smile contracted his lips as he continued, with bitter +irony:--"Ah! hide thy suffering, old man; rally thy strength; take +courage! If thy heart is torn and bleeding,--if despair devours thy +soul,--oh, smile, still smile! Yes! your life has been a continual +farce! Yet, miserable abortion that thou art, what canst thou do but +submit, yield without a fight, and bow thy neck to the yoke like a +powerless slave? Begone, rebellious feeling! Be silent, and behold thy +child!" + +Lenora opened the door and ran to her father, her questioning eyes fixed +on his with a look of hope. All of poor De Vlierbeck's efforts to +disguise his suffering were unsuccessful, and Lenora soon read in his +face that he was a prey to some overwhelming sorrow. As he still +obstinately kept silence, she began to tremble, and asked, with feverish +impatience,-- + +"Well, father,--well,--have you _nothing_ to say to me?" + +"Alas! my child," said he, sighing, "we are not happy. God tries us with +heavy blows. Let us bow before the will of the Almighty." + +"What do you mean? what is there to fear?" said Lenora, beside herself. +"Speak, father! Has he _refused_ his consent?" + +"He has refused it, Lenora!" + +"Oh, no! no!" cried the maiden; "it is impossible!" + +"Refused it, because he possesses millions and we--nothing!" + +"It is true, then? Gustave is hopelessly lost to me!--lost to me +forever! + +"Hopelessly!" echoed the father. + +A sharp cry escaped Lenora as she tottered to the table and fell on it, +weeping bitterly. + +De Vlierbeck arose and stood above his sobbing daughter, and, joining +his uplifted hands, exclaimed, in suppliant tones,-- + +"Oh, pity me, pity me, Lenora! In that fatal interview I have suffered +all the torments that could rack the heart of a parent; I have drunk the +dregs of shame; I have emptied the cup of humiliation; but all, all are +nothing in comparison with thy grief! Calm yourself, child of my love; +let me see the sweet face I so love to look on; let me regain my lost +strength in thy holy resignation! Lenora! my head swims; I shall die of +despair!" + +As he uttered these words he sank heavily into a chair, overpowered by +emotion. The sound of his fall seemed instantly to recall Lenora to +herself, and, dashing the tears from her eyes, she leaned her head on +his shoulder to listen and assure herself that he had not fainted. + +"Never to see him more! to renounce his love forever! to lose the +happiness I dreamed of! Alas! alas!" + +"Lenora! Lenora!" exclaimed her father, entreatingly! + +"Oh, beloved father," sobbed the poor girl, "to lose Gustave _forever_! +The dreadful thought overwhelms me! While I am near you I will bless God +for his kindness; but my tears overpower me; oh! let me weep, let me +weep, I beseech you!" + +De Vlierbeck pressed his daughter more closely to his heart, and +respected her affliction in silence. + +The stillness of death reigned throughout the apartment, while they +remained locked in each other's arms until the very excess of grief +relaxed their embrace and opened their hearts to mutual consolation. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +Four days after Denecker had refused his consent to the marriage, a +hired carriage might have been Been drawing up carefully in a screen of +wood that bordered a by-road about half a league from Grinselhof. A +young man got out of it, and, giving directions to the coachman to await +him at a neighboring inn, walked briskly across the moor toward the old +_chateau_. As soon as Grinselhof began to loom up over the trees, he +moved cautiously along behind the hedges and thickets, as if seeking to +avoid observation; and then, stealing across the bridge, he opened the +gate, passed through the dense copse that surrounded the house, and +entered the garden. + +The first object that greeted his sight was Lenora, seated at her table +beneath the well-known catalpa, with her head resting on the board, +evidently absorbed in sorrow. Her back was turned toward him as he +approached; and, although he advanced with the utmost caution, the +sound of his footsteps disturbed her in the intense silence of the spot, +and she leaped to her feet, while the name of Gustave broke in surprised +accents from her lips. She was evidently anxious to escape into the +house; but her lover threw himself on his knees, and, grasping her hand, +poured forth a passionate appeal:-- + +"Listen to me, Lenora! listen to me! If you fly and refuse me the +consolation of telling you with my last farewell, all I have suffered +and all I hope, I will either die here at your feet, or I will go hence +forever, a broken-hearted wanderer over the face of the earth! Listen to +me! listen to me! Listen to me, Lenora, my sister, my beloved, my +betrothed! By our pure and holy love, I beseech you not to repulse me!" + +Though Lenora trembled in every limb, her features assumed an expression +of wounded pride, as she answered, with cold decision,-- + +"Your boldness surprises me, sir! You are indeed a daring man, to appear +again at Grinselhof after your uncle's insulting conduct to my father! +He is ill in bed; his soul is crushed by the outrage. Is this the reward +of all my affection for you?" + +"Oh, God! oh, God! Lenora, do I hear _you_ accuse me? Alas! what have I +done, and what could I prevent?" + +"There is nothing, sir, any longer, in common between us," said the +girl. "If we are not as rich as you, the blood that runs in our veins +cannot suffer by comparison. Arise! begone! I will see you no more!" + +"Mercy! pity!" exclaimed Gustave, lifting his clasped hands toward her; +"mercy, Lenora, for I am innocent!" + +The maiden dashed away the tears that began to start in her eyes, and, +turning her back on him, was about to depart. + +"Cruel, cruel!" exclaimed Gustave, in broken tones. "Can you leave me +without a farewell?--without a word of consolation? Will you remain +insensible to my grief and deaf to my prayers? 'Tis well; I will submit +to my lot, for _you_ have decided it! You, Lenora, my love, have +sentenced me! I forgive you: be happy on earth without me, and farewell +forever!" + +As he uttered those words his strength seemed utterly to fail him, and, +sinking into the chair which Lenora had quitted, his head and arms fell +lifeless on the table. + +The determined girl had made a few steps in her retreat to the house, +when she suddenly halted on hearing the agonized tones of Gustave's +farewell and the sudden sound of his fall on the table. As she glanced +backward at the convulsed frame of her lover, a spasm that denoted the +violent conflict between duty and affection passed over her beautiful +face; and, as her heart appeared gradually to conquer in the fight, the +tears began to pour in showers from her eyes. Step by step and slowly +she retraced the path to the table, and leaning over the sufferer, took +one of his hands tenderly in hers:-- + +"Are we not wretched, Gustave? Are we not wretched?" + +At the touch of that gentle hand and the sound of that beloved voice, +life seemed once more to stir in his veins, and, raising his eyes +languidly to hers, he gazed mournfully into them as he half said, half +sighed,-- + +"Lenora, dear Lenora, have you come back to me? Have you taken pity on +my agony? You do not _hate_ me, do you?" "Is a love like ours +extinguished in a day?" returned Leonora, with a sigh. + +"Oh, no, no!" cried Gustave aloud; "it is eternal! Is it not eternal, +Lenora, and omnipotent against every ill as long as the hearts beat in +our bosoms?" + +Lenora bowed her head and cast down her eyes. + +"Do not imagine, Gustave," said she, solemnly, "that our separation +causes me less grief than it does you; and, if the assurance of my love +can assuage the pangs of absence, let it strengthen and encourage you. +My lonely heart will keep your image sacred in its holiest shrine; I +will follow you in spirit wherever you go, and I will love you till +death shall fill up the gulf that separates us. We shall meet again +above, but never more on earth." + +"You are mistaken, Lenora," cried Gustave, with a feeble expression of +joy; "you are mistaken! There is still hope; my uncle is not +inexorable, and his compassionate heart must yield to my despair." + +"That may be," replied Lenora, in sad but resolute tones; "that may be, +Gustave; but my father's honor is inflexible. Leave me, Gustave; I have +already disobeyed my father's orders too long, and slighted my duty in +remaining with a man who cannot become my husband. Go now; for, if we +should be surprised by some one, my poor, wretched father would die of +shame and anger." + +"One moment more, beloved Lenora! Hear what I have to tell you. My uncle +refused me your hand; I wept, I besought him, but nothing could change +his determination. In despair I was transported beyond myself; I +rebelled against my benefactor; and, treating him like an ungrateful +wretch, I said a thousand things for which I begged his pardon on my +knees when reason resumed her empire over my excited soul. My uncle is +goodness itself to me: he pardoned my sin; but he imposed the condition +that I should instantly undertake a journey with him to Italy, which he +has long designed making. He idly hopes that travel may obliterate your +image from my mind; but think not, Lenora, that I can ever forget you! A +sudden thought flashed through my fancy, and I accepted his terms with a +secret joy. For months and months I will be alone with my uncle; and, +watching him ever with the love and gratitude I feel for all his +kindness, I will gradually wear away his objections, and, conquering his +heart, return, my love, to place the bridal wreath upon your brow, and +claim you, before the altar of God, as the companion of my choice!" + +For an instant a gentle smile overspread the maiden's face, and her +clear, earnest gaze was full of rapture at the vision of future +happiness; but the gleam disappeared almost as quickly as it arose, and +she answered him, with bitter sadness,-- + +"Alas! my dear friend, it is cruel to destroy this last hope of your +heart; and yet I must do it. Your uncle might consent; but my father--" + +She faltered for an instant. + +"Your father, Lenora? Your father would pardon all and receive me like a +long-lost son." + +"No, no; believe it not, Gustave; for his honor has been too deeply +wounded. As a Christian he might pardon it; but as a gentleman he will +never forget the outrage." + +"Oh, Lenora, you are unjust to your father. If I return with my uncle's +consent, and say to him, 'I will make your child happy; give her to me +for my wife; I will surround her path with all the joys a husband has +ever bestowed on woman;'--if I tell him this, think you he will deny +me?" + +Lenora cast down her eyes. + +"You know his infinite goodness, Gustave," said she. "My happiness is +his only thought on earth; he will thank God and bless you." + +"Yes, yes; he _will_ consent," continued Gustave, with ardor; "and all +is not lost. A blessed ray lightens our future, and let it rekindle your +hope, beloved of my heart! Yield not to grief; let me go forth on this +dreary journey, but let me bear along with me the assurance that you +await my return with trust in God. Remember me in your prayers; utter my +name as you stray through these lonely paths which witnessed the dawn of +our love and where for two months I drained the cup of perfect bliss. +The knowledge that I am not forgotten by you will sustain my heart and +enable me to endure the pangs of separation." + +Lenora wept in silence. Her lover's eloquence had extinguished every +spark of her pride; and the rebellious heart which so lately was ready +to cast off its rosy fetters had no longer a place for any thing but +love and sadness. Gustave saw that he had conquered. + +"I go, Lenora," said he, "strong in your affection. I quit my country +and my loved one with a confident hope. Whatever may happen to me, I +will never be downcast. You will think of me daily, Lenora, will you +not?" + +"Alas! I have promised my father that I will forget you!" sobbed the +maiden, as her hand trembled in his. + +"_Forget_ me!" exclaimed Gustave. "_Can_ you force yourself to forget +me?" + +"No, Gustave; NO!" said she, firmly, fixing her large eyes on him with +an intense and lingering gaze. "No: for the first time in my life I +will disobey my father. I feel that I have net the strength to keep my +idle word. I cannot forget you: till the last hour of my life I will +love you; for it is my fate, and I cannot resist." + +"Thanks, thanks, a thousand thanks, Lenora!" exclaimed Gustave, in a +transport. "Thy tender love strengthens me against destiny. Beloved of +my heart, rest here under the guardian eye of God. Thy image will follow +me in my journey like a protecting angel; in joy and grief, by day and +night, in health and sickness, thou, Lenora, wilt ever be present to me! +This cruel separation wounds my heart beyond expression; but duty +commands, and I must obey. Farewell, farewell!" + +He wrung her hands convulsively, and was gone. + +"Gustave!" sobbed the poor girl, as she sank on the chair and allowed +the pent-up passion of her soul to burst forth in tears. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +Leonora secretly cherished in her heart the hope of a happy future; but +she did not hesitate to inform her father of Gustave's visit. De +Vlierbeck heard her listlessly, and gave no other reply but a bitter +smile. + +From that day Grinselhof became sadder and more solitary than ever. The +old gentleman might generally be seen seated in an arm-chair, resting +his forehead on his hand, while his eyes were fixed on the ground or on +vacancy. The fatal day on which the bond fell due was perhaps always +present to his mind; nor could he banish the thought of that frightful +misery into which it would plunge his child and himself. Lenora +carefully concealed her own sufferings in order not to increase her +father's grief; and, although she fully sympathized with him, no effort +was omitted on her part to cheer the old man by apparent contentment. +She did and said every thing that her tender heart could invent to +arouse the sufferer from his reveries; but all her efforts were in vain: +her father thanked her with a smile and caress; but the smile was sad, +the caress constrained and feeble. + +If Lenora sometimes asked him, with tears, what was the cause of his +depression, he adroitly managed to avoid all explanations. For days +together he wandered about the loneliest paths of the garden, apparently +anxious to escape the presence even of his daughter. If she caught a +glimpse of him at a distance, a fierce look of irritation was +perceptible on his face, while his arms were thrown about in rapid and +convulsive gesticulations. If she approached him with marks of love and +devotion, he scarcely replied to her affectionate words, but left the +garden to bury himself in the solitude of the house. + +An entire month--a month of bitter sadness and unexpressed suffering on +both sides--passed in this way; and Lenora observed with increased +anxiety the rapid emaciation and pallor of her father, and the +suddenness with which his once-lively eye lost every spark of its wonted +vivacity. It was about this time that a slight change in the old +gentleman's conduct convinced her that a secret--and perhaps a terrible +one--weighed on his heart. Every day or two he went to Antwerp in the +_caleche_, without informing her or any one else of the object of his +visit. He came back to Grinselhof late at night, seated himself at the +supper-table silent and resigned, and, persuading Lenora to go to bed, +soon went off to his own chamber. But his daughter was well aware that +he did not retire to rest; for during long hours of wakefulness she +heard the floor creak as he paced his apartment with restless steps. + +Lenora was brave by nature, and her singular and solitary education had +given her a latent force of character that was almost masculine. By +degrees the resolution to make her father reveal his secret grew in her +mind. And, although a feeling of instinctive respect made her hesitate, +a restless devotion to the author of her being gradually overcame all +scruples and emboldened her for the enterprise. + +One day Monsieur De Vlierbeck set off very early for town. The morning +wore away heavily; and, toward the afternoon, Lenora wandered wearily +about the desolate house, with no companion but her sad reflections. At +length she entered the apartment where her father usually studied or +wrote, and, after a good deal of hesitation, in which her face and +gestures displayed the anxiety of her purpose, opened the table-drawer, +and saw in it, unrolled, a written document. The paleness of death +overspread her countenance as she perused the paper and instantly closed +the drawer. After this she left the apartment hastily, and, returning to +her chamber, sat down with hands clasped on her knees and eyes fixed on +the floor in a stare of wild surprise. + +"_Sell Grinselhof!_" exclaimed she. "Sell Grinselhof! Why? Monsieur +Denecker insulted my father because we were not rich enough for him. +What is this secret? and what does it all mean? If it should be _true_ +that we are beggars! Oh, God! does a ray of light penetrate my mind? is +this the solution of the enigma and the cause of my father's +depression?" + +For a long time she remained motionless in her chair, absorbed in +reverie; but gradually her face brightened, her lips moved, and her eyes +glistened with resolution. As she was endeavoring to fight bravely +against misfortune, she suddenly heard the wheels of her father's +_caleche_ returning to Grinselhof. She ran down instantly to meet him; +and as he drew up at the door she perceived the poor sufferer buried in +a corner of the vehicle, apparently deprived of all consciousness; and, +when he descended from the vehicle and she saw his expression +distinctly, the deadly pallor that covered his haggard cheeks almost +made her sink to the earth with anxiety. Indeed, she had neither heart +nor strength to utter a word to him; but, standing aside in silence, she +allowed the old man to enter the house and bury himself as usual in his +chamber. + +For some minutes she stood on the door-sill, undecided as to what she +should do; but by degrees her brow and cheeks began to redden, and the +light of resolution shone in her moistened eyes. + +"Ought the feeling of respect to restrain me longer?" said she to +herself; "shall I let my father die without an effort? No! no! I must +know all! I must tear the worm from his heart; I must save him by my +love!" + +Without a moment's further delay, she ran rapidly through three or four +chambers, and came to the apartment where her father was seated with his +elbows resting on the table and his head buried in his hands. Throwing +herself on her knees at his feet, and with hands raised to him in +supplication,-- + +"Have mercy on me, father!" exclaimed she; "have mercy on me, I beseech +you on my knees; tell me what it is that distresses you! I must know why +it is that my father buries himself in this solitude and seems to fly +even from his child!" + +"Lenora! thou last and only treasure that remainest to me on earth," +replied De Vlierbeck, in a broken voice, with despair in his wild +gaze,--"thou hast suffered, dreadfully, my child, hast thou not? Rest thy +poor head in my bosom. A terrible blow, my child, is about to fall on +us!" + +Lenora did not seem to pay any attention to these remarks, but, +disengaging herself from her father's embrace, replied, in firm and +decided tones,-- + +"I have not come here, father, for consolation, but with the unalterable +determination to learn the cause of your suffering. I will not go away +without knowing what misfortune it is that has so long deprived me of +your love. No matter how much I may venerate you and respect your +silence, the sense of duty is greater even than veneration. I must--I +_will_--know the secret of your grief!" + +"Thou deprived of thy father's love?" exclaimed De Vlierbeck, +reproachfully and with surprise;--love for thee, my adored child, is +precisely the secret of my grief. For ten years I have drained the +bitter cup and prayed the Almighty to make you happy; but, alas! my +prayers have always been unheard!" + +"Shall I be unhappy, then?" asked Lenora, without betraying the least +emotion. + +"Unhappy, because of the misery that awaits us," replied her father. +"The blow that is about to fall on our house destroys all that we +possess. We must leave Grinselhof." + +The last words, which plainly confirmed her fears, seemed for a moment +to appall the girl; but she repressed her feelings, and answered him, +with increased courage,-- + +"You are not dying this slow death because ill-fortune has overtaken +_you_, my father; I know the unconquerable force of your character too +well for that. No! your heart is weak and yielding because _I_ have to +partake your poverty! Bless you, bless you, for your affection! But, +tell me, father, if I were offered all the wealth of the world on +condition that I would consent to see you suffer for a single day, what +think you I would answer?" + +Dumb with surprise, the poor man looked proudly at his daughter, and a +gentle pressure of her hand was his sole reply. + +"Ah!" continued she, "I would refuse all the treasures of earth and meet +poverty without a sigh. And you, father,--if they offered you all the +gold of America for your Lenora, what would you do?" + +"How can you ask, child?" exclaimed her father; "do we sell our hearts' +blood for gold?" + +"And so," continued the girl, "our Maker has left us that which is +dearest to us both in this world; why then should we mourn when we ought +to be grateful for his compassionate care? Take heart once more, dear +father; no matter what may be our future lot,--should we even be forced +to take refuge in a hovel,--nothing can harm us as long as we are not +separated!" + +Smiles, astonishment, admiration, and love, by turns flitted over the +wan features of the poor old man, who seemed altogether unnerved and +disconcerted by the painful _denouement_. At length, after some moments +of unbroken silence, he clasped his hands, and, gazing intensely into +her eyes through his starting tears-- + +"Lenora, Lenora! my child!" he exclaimed, "thou art not of earth--thou +art an angel! The unselfish grandeur of thy soul unmans me completely!" + +She saw she had conquered. The light of courage was rekindled again in +her father's eye, and his lofty brow was lifted once more under the +sentiment of dignity and self-devotion that struggled for life in his +suffering heart. Lenora looked at him with a heavenly smile, and +exclaimed, rapturously, + +"Up! up! father; come to my arms; away with grief! United in each +other's love, fate itself is powerless in our presence!" + +Father and daughter sprang into each other's arms, and for a long while +remained speechless, wrapped in a tender embrace; then, seating +themselves with their hands interlocked, they were silent and absorbed, +as if the world and its misery were altogether forgotten. + +"A new life--a new and refreshing current of blood--seems to have been +suddenly poured into my veins," said Monsieur De Vlierbeck. "Alas, +Lenora, what a sinner I have been! how wrong I was not to divulge all! +But you must pardon me, beloved child; you must pardon me. It was the +fear of afflicting you--the hope of finding some means of rescue, of +escape--that sealed my lips. I did not know you, my daughter; I did not +know the inestimable treasure that God in his mercy had lavished on me! +But _now_ you shall know all; I will no longer hide the secret of my +conduct and my grief. The fatal hour has come; the blow I desired to +ward off is about to fall and cannot be turned aside! Are you prepared, +dear child, to hear your father's story?" + +Lenora, who was delighted to behold the calm and radiant smile that +illuminated the face of her heart-broken parent, answered him instantly, +in caressing tones,-- + +"Pour all your woes into my heart, dear father, and conceal nothing. The +part I have to perform must be based on complete knowledge of every +thing; and you will feel how much your confidence relieves your burdened +soul." + +"Take, then, your share of suffering, daughter," replied De Vlierbeck, +"and help me to bear my cross! I will disguise nothing. What I am about +to disclose is indeed lamentable; yet do not tremble and give way at the +recital, for, if any thing should move you, it must be the story of a +father's torture. You will learn now, my child, why Monsieur Denecker +has had the hardihood to behave toward us as he has done." + +He dropped her hand, but, without averting his eager gaze from her +anxious eyes, continued:-- + +"You were very young, Lenora, but gentle and loving as at present, and +your blessed mother found all her happiness centered in your care and +comfort. We dwelt on the lands of our forefathers; nothing disturbed the +even tenor of our simple lives; and, by proper economy, our moderate +income sufficed to support us in a manner becoming our rank and name. + +"I had a younger brother, who was endowed with an excellent heart, but +generous to a fault and somewhat imprudent. He lived in town, and +married a lady of noble family who was no richer than himself. She was +showy in her tastes and habits, and, I fear, induced him to increase his +revenue by adventurous means. There can be no doubt that he speculated +largely in the public funds. But probably you do not understand what +this means, my child. It is a species of _gambling_, by which a man may +in a moment gain millions; and yet it is a game that may, with equal +rapidity, plunge him into the depths of misery and reduce him as if by +magic to the condition of a beggar. + +"At first, my brother was remarkably successful, and established himself +in town in a style of living that was the envy of our wealthiest +citizens. He came to see us frequently, bringing you, who were his +godchild, a thousand beautiful presents, and lavished his affection with +testimonials of kindness which were proportioned to his fortune. I spoke +to him often about the dangerous character of his adventures, and +endeavored to convince him that it was unbecoming a gentleman to risk +his property upon the hazards of an hour; but, as continued success +emboldened him more and more, the passion for gambling made him deaf to +all my appeals, all my advice. + +"At last the evil hour came! The luck which had so long favored him +became inconstant; he lost a considerable portion of his gains, and saw +his fortune diminishing with every venture. Still, courage did not fail +him; but, on the contrary, he seemed to fight madly against fate, with +the idle hope of forcing fortune to turn once more in his favor. But, +alas, it was a fatal delusion! + +"One night--I tremble as I recall it--I was in my chamber and nearly +ready to retire; you were already in bed, and your mother was saying her +prayers on her knees beside your little couch. A tremendous storm raged +without: hail beat in torrents against the windows, and the wind howled +in the chimneys and swayed the trees as if it was about to blow down the +house. The violence of the tempest began to make me somewhat anxious, +when suddenly the door-bell was pulled and the sound of horses heard at +the gate. In a moment the summons was answered by one of our +servants,--for we kept two then,--and a female rushed into the room, +throwing herself in tears at my feet. It was my brother's wife! + +"Trembling with fright, I of course hastened to raise her; but she +clung to my knees, begging my assistance, imploring me, by every +passionate appeal she could think of, to save her husband's life, and +convincing me by her sobs and distraction that some frightful calamity +was impending over my brother! + +"Your mother joined me eagerly in my efforts to calm the sufferer, and +by degrees we managed to extract the cause of her singular conduct and +unseasonable visit. My brother--alas!--had lost all he possessed, and +even more! His wife's story was heart-rending; but its conclusion filled +us with more anxiety for her husband than his losses; for, overcome by +the certainty of a dishonored name, haunted by the reflection that law +and justice would soon overtake him, my poor brother had made an attempt +upon his life! The hand of God had providentially guided his wife to the +apartment, where she surprised him at the fatal moment and snatched the +deadly instrument from his grasp! He was then locked up in a room; dumb, +overcome, bowed down to the earth, and guarded by two faithful friends. +If any one on earth could save him, it was surely his brother! + +"Such was the wild appeal of my wretched sister-in-law, who, heedless of +the stormy night, had thrown herself into a coach and fled to me, +through the tempest, as her only hope for their salvation. There she was +at my feet, bathed in tears, sobbing, screaming, beseeching me to +accompany her to town. _Could I--did I_--hesitate? Your tender mother, +who saw at once the frightful condition of the family, and sympathized +as woman's heart alone can do with human misery, eagerly implored me not +to lose a moment. 'Save him, save him!' exclaimed she; 'spare nothing: I +will consent to every thing you may think proper to do or sacrifice!' + +"We flew back to town through the storm and darkness. You grow pale, +Lenora, at the very thought of it, for it was indeed frightful, and you +can never know the impression it made on me: these whitened +hairs--whitened before their time--are the records of that terrible +night! But let me continue. + +"It is needless to describe the wild despair in which I found my +brother, or to tell you how long I had to wrestle with his spirit in +order to force a ray of hope into his soul. There was but one means by +which we could save his honor and life; but--oh God!--at what a +sacrifice! I was obliged to pledge all my property as security for his +debts. Nothing could be spared; our ancestral manor-lands, your mother's +marriage-portion, your moderate dowry,--all were ventured with the +certainty that the greater part would unquestionably be lost! On these +hard conditions my brother's honor might be saved; and, if that could be +rescued, he was willing to renounce the determination to escape shame by +death. I must in justice say that it was not he who demanded the +sacrifice from me: on the contrary, he did not suppose that I could or +would make it; but I was satisfied in my mind that if I did not settle +his affairs, at all hazards, he would execute his criminal project +against his life. And yet--and yet, my child--_I hesitated!_" + +"Father!" exclaimed Lenora, "_you did not refuse!_" + +A happy smile beamed on his face as he met the questioning glance of his +daughter and answered, firmly,-- + +"I loved my brother, Lenora; but I loved _you_, my only child, much +more. The sacrifice demanded of me by his creditors insured misery for +your mother and for you!" + +"Oh, God! oh, God!" sobbed Lenora. + +"On one side my heart was distracted by this dreadful thought, while on +the other I was assailed by the despair that was present in the +bankrupt's chamber; but generosity conquered in the awful trial, and at +daylight I sought out the principal creditors and signed the documents +that saved a brother's life and honor but gave up my wife and child to +want." + +"Thank God!" gasped Lenora, as if she had been relieved from a horrible +nightmare. "Bless you, bless you, father, for your noble, generous +conduct!" + +She rose from her seat, and, passing her arms around his neck, gave him +a glowing kiss with as much solemnity as if she had been anxious to +endue this mark of love with all the fervor and sacredness of a +benediction. + +"Ah! but canst thou bless me, my child," said he, with eyes foil of +gratitude, "for an act that should implore thy pardon?" + +"_My_ pardon, father!" exclaimed Lenora, with surprise on all her +features. "Oh, had you done otherwise, what would I not have suffered in +doubting the goodness of my parent's heart! Now, now, I love you more +than ever! _Pardon you_, father? Is it a crime to save a brother's life +when it is in your keeping?" + +"Alas, Lenora, the world does not reason thus, and never forgives us for +the guilt of poverty. Reduced to that, we suffer humiliations which any +one may observe in the lives of multitudes of our nobles. Yes; society +regards poverty as a crime, and it treats us like outcasts. Our equals +avoid us in order not to be confounded in our misery; while peasants and +tradesmen laugh at our misfortune as if it was a sort of agreeable +revenge. Happy, happy they to whom heaven has given an angel to pour +comfort and consolation into their hearts in hours of want and +dejection! But listen, my child! + +"My brother was saved, and I concealed most carefully the assistance I +had been to him; he left the country and went with his wife to America, +where, ever since, he has worked hard and gained hardly enough to +support a miserable existence. His wife died during the voyage. And, as +to ourselves, we no longer possess any thing; for Grinselhof and our +other lands were mortgaged for more than they were worth. Besides this, +I was forced to borrow from a gentleman of my acquaintance four thousand +_francs_ upon my bond. + +"When your mother heard of the sacrifices to which I was forced to +submit, she made no reproaches; at first she fully approved my conduct. +But very soon we became necessarily subjected to privations under which +your mother's strength declined, till, without a sigh or complaint, she +began to fade away slowly from earth. It was a dreadful situation; for, +to conceal our ruin and save our ancestral name from contempt, we were +forced to part with the last ounce of our silver to pay the interest on +our debts. Gradually our horses and servants disappeared; the paths that +led to our neighbors soon became grass-grown; and we declined all social +invitations, so as to avoid the necessity of returning the compliment. A +rumor about us began to spread through the village and among the noble +families that had formerly been on terms of intimacy with us; and +scandal declared that _avarice_ had driven us to a life of meanness and +isolation! We joyously accepted the imputation, and even the coldness +with which our holiday friends accompanied it; it was a veil with which +society thought proper to cover us, and beneath its folds our poverty +was safe from scrutiny. + +"But I am approaching scenes, my child, the recollection of which almost +unnerves me. My story has reached the most painful moment of my life, +and I beseech you to hear me calmly. + +"Your poor mother wasted away to a skeleton; her sunken-eyes were +hardly visible in their deep sockets; a livid pallor suffused her +cheeks. As I saw her fading,--fading,--the wife whom I had loved more +than life,--as I gazed on those death-struck features and saw the fatal +evidences each day clearer and clearer,--I became nearly mad with +despair and grief." + +Lenora shuddered with emotion as her breast heaved convulsively under +the sobs she strove to repress. Her father stopped a moment, almost +overcome by the recital; but, rallying his courage quickly, he forced +himself to go on with his sad recollections:-- + +"Poor mother! she did nothing but weep! Every time she looked at her +child--her dear little Lenora--tears filled her eyes. Thy name was +always on her lips, as if she were forever addressing a prayer for thee +to God in heaven! At last the dreadful hour arrived when she heard the +Almighty's voice summoning her above. The clergyman performed the +services for the dying; and you, my child, had been taken from her arms +and sent out of the house. It was midnight, and I was alone with her +whose icy lips had already imprinted on mine their last sad kiss. My +heart bled. Oh, God! how wretched--how wretched--were those parting +hours! My beloved wife lay there before me as if already a corpse, while +the tears yet trickled down her hollow cheeks and she strove to utter +your name with her expiring breath. Kneeling beside her, I implored +God's mercy for her passing hour, and kissed away the sweat of agony +that stood upon her brow. Suddenly I thought I perceived an effort to +speak, and, bending my ear to her lips, she called me by name, and said, +'It is over, my love, it is over; farewell! It has not pleased the +Almighty to assuage my dying hour, and I go with the conviction that my +child will suffer want and wretchedness on earth!' + +"I know not what my love inspired me to say in that solemn moment; but I +called God to witness that you _should_ escape suffering, and that your +life should be happy! A heavenly smile illuminated her eyes, and she +believed my promise. With an effort, she lifted her thin hands once more +round my neck and drew my lips to hers. But soon those wasted arms fell +heavily on the bed;--my Margaret was gone;--thy mother was no more!" + +De Vlierbeck's head fell on his breast. Lenora's bosom heaved +convulsively as she took his hand without uttering a word; and, for a +long time, nothing was heard in that sad confessional but the sobs of +the maiden and the sighs of her heart-broken father. + +"What I have yet to say," continued the poor gentleman, "is not so +painful as what I have already told you: it concerns only myself. +Perhaps it would be better if I said nothing about it; but I need a +friend who possesses all my confidence and can sympathize with me +thoroughly in all I have undergone for the last ten years. + +"Listen, then, Lenora. Your mother was no more; she was gone;--she who +was my last staff in life! I remained at Grinselhof alone with you, my +child, and with my promise,--a promise made to God and to the dead! What +should I do to fulfil it? Quit my hereditary estate? wander away seeking +my fortune in foreign lands, and work for our mutual support? That would +not do, for it would have devoted you at once to the chances of a +wretched uncertainty. I could not think of such a course with any degree +of satisfaction; nor was it till after long and anxious reflection that +a ray of hope seemed to promise us both a happy future. + +"I resolved to disguise our poverty more carefully than ever, and to +devote my time to the most elaborate cultivation of your mind. God made +you beautiful in face and person, Lenora; but your father was anxious to +initiate you into the mysteries of science and art, and, while he +endowed you with a knowledge of the world, to make you virtuous, pious, +and modest. I desired to make you an accomplished woman, and I hoped +that the nobility of your blood, the charms of your beauty, the +treasures of your heart and intellect, would compensate in society for +the portion that was denied you. Thus was it, my child, that I thought +in time, you would make a suitable alliance which would restore you to +the position you hold by birth. For ten years, Lenora, this has been my +occupation and my hope. What I had forgotten or never learned, I studied +at night to teach you next morning; I labored hard that I might not only +instruct you wisely but that you might acquire easily; and, at the same +time, I strove by every honest means to conceal from you every thing +that could give a hint or cause a suspicion by which your life might be +shadowed. Oh, Lenora,--shall I confess it?--I have suffered hunger and +undergone the most cruel privations; I have passed half my nights +mending my clothes, working in the garden, studying and practising in +the dark, so as to hide our poverty from you and the world. But all that +was nothing; in the silence of night I was not forced to blush before +any one. By day I had to encounter all kinds of insults, and, with a +bleeding heart, swallow affront and humiliation." + +Lenora looked at her father with eyes moistened by compassion. De +Vlierbeck pressed her hand, and continued:-- + +"Be not sad, Lenora; if the Lord's hand inflicted deep wounds with every +blow, he bestowed a balm which cured them. One little smile of thy +gentle face was sufficient to make me pour forth an ejaculation to +Heaven: you, you at least were happy, and in your happiness I saw the +fulfilment of my promise! + +"At length I thought that God himself had thrown in our path one who +would save you from threatening danger. A mutual inclination arose +between Gustave and you, and a marriage seemed the natural consequence. +Under these circumstances I apprized Monsieur Denecker, during his last +visit, of the deplorable condition of my affairs; but no sooner did I +make the disclosure than he peremptorily refused his consent to the +union. As if this terrible blow, which withered all my hopes, had not +been sufficient to overwhelm me, I learned, almost at the same time, +that the friend who loaned me four thousand francs, with the right to +renew my obligation to him every year, had died in Germany, and that his +heirs demanded the payment of the debt! I ran all over town, rapped at +every friendly door, ransacked heaven and earth in my despair, to escape +this last ignominy; but all my efforts were fruitless. To-morrow, +perhaps, a placard will be stuck on the door of Grinselhof, announcing +the sale not only of our estate but also of our furniture and of every +trifling object that memory and association have rendered dear to us. +Honor requires that we shall surrender, to public sale, every thing of +the least value to pay our debts. If fate were kind enough to allow us +to satisfy every creditor it would be a great consolation, my child, in +our misery. Does not this fatal history break your heart?" + +"Is that all which makes you despond, father? Have you no other grief? +Does your heart conceal no other secret from me?" asked Lenora. + +"None, my child. You know every thing." + +"I can very well understand," replied Lenora, gravely, "that others +would consider a blow like this as a frightful misfortune; but how can +it affect us? You even appear calm. Why, father, do you, like me, appear +indifferent to the inexorable decree of fate?" + +"Because you have inspired me with courage and confidence, Lenora; +because your love is restored to me fully after a long constraint; +because you let me hope that you will not be unhappy. I know what you +want to say, noble child, whom God has given me as a shield against +every ill! Well, I will encounter ruin without bowing my head, and +submit with resignation to the hand of God! Alas!" continued he, sadly, +"who can tell what sufferings are yet in store for us? We may be forced +to wander about the world,--to seek an asylum far from those we know and +love,--to earn our daily bread by the labor of our hands! Oh, Lenora, +you know not how bitter is the bread of misery,--of poverty!" + +The maiden shuddered as she saw the cloud falling once more like a +curtain over her father's face. She grasped his hand tenderly, and, +fixing her gaze intently on his, said, in beseeching tones,-- + +"Oh, father! let not the happy smile that just now lighted your features +depart from them again! Believe me, we shall still be happy. Fancy +yourself in the position that awaits us: and what do you see in it so +frightful? I have skill to do all that woman can do; and then your +instructions have made me able to instruct others in the arts and +sciences you have taught me. I shall be strong and active enough for +both of us, and God will bless my labor. Behold us, father, peacefully +at home, with tranquil hearts and always together in our neat apartment: +we will love one another, set misfortune at defiance, and live together +in the heaven that our common sacrifice has made! Oh, it seems to me, +father, that the true happiness of our lives is only beginning! How can +you still give yourself up to despair when pleasure is in store for +us,--a pleasure such as few upon earth are permitted to enjoy?" + +Monsieur De Vlierbeck looked at his daughter with rapture. Those +enthusiastic but gentle tones had so touched his heart, that noble +courage had inspired him with so much admiration, that tears of joy +filled his eyes. With one hand he drew Lenora to his bosom, and, placing +the other on her forehead, he looked to heaven with religious fervor. A +silent prayer, a blessing on his child, an outpouring of thankfulness, +arose from his heart, like the sacred flame from an altar, toward the +throne of Him who had bestowed that angelic child! + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +A few days afterward, as De Vlierbeck had predicted, the public sale of +all their property was inserted in the papers and placarded over the +city and neighborhood. The affair made some noise, and every one was +astonished at the ruin of a person whom they considered rich and +miserly. + +As the sale was stated to be in consequence of his departure from the +country, the gossips would have been unable to discover the genuine +motive if the news had not come from Antwerp that De Vlierbeck had +resolved to pay his debts and was wretchedly poor. The cause of his +misfortune--that is to say, his liability for his brother--was known, +though all the circumstances were not fully understood. + +As soon as the publication was made, the poor old gentleman led, if +possible, a more retired life than ever, in order to avoid explanations. +Resigned to his fate, he quietly awaited the day of sale; and, although +his feelings often strove to master his resolution, the constant care +and encouragement of his noble-hearted daughter enabled him to encounter +the fatal hour with a degree of pride. + +In the mean while he received a letter from Gustave at Rome, containing +a few lines for his child. The young man declared that absence from +Lenora had only increased his affection, and that his only consolation +was the hope of future union with her by the bonds of marriage. But in +other respects the letter was not encouraging. He said with pain that +all his efforts to change his uncle's determination had, up to that +time, been fruitless. De Vlierbeck did not conceal from Lenora that he +no longer had a hope of her union with Gustave, and that she ought to +strive against this unhappy love in order to escape from greater +disappointment. Indeed, since her father's poverty had become publicly +known, Lenora was convinced that duty commanded her to renounce every +hope; yet she could not help feeling pleased and strengthened by the +thought that Gustave still loved her, and that he, whose memory filled +her heart, dreamed of her in his distant home and mourned her absence. + +She kept her promises to him faithfully. How often did she pronounce his +name in the solitude of that garden! How often did she sigh beneath the +catalpa, as if anxious to trust the winds with a message of love to +other lands! In her lonely walks she repeated his tender words; and +often did she stop musingly at some well-remembered spot where he had +blessed her with a tender word or look. + +But poor De Vlierbeck was obliged to undergo additional pain; for, as if +every misfortune that could assail him was to be accumulated at that +moment on his devoted head, he received from America the news of his +brother's death! The unfortunate wanderer died of exhaustion in the +wilderness near Hudson's Bay. The poor gentleman wept long and bitterly +for the loss of a brother whom he tenderly loved; but he was soon and +roughly turned aside to encounter the catastrophe of his own fate. + +The day of sale arrived. Early in the morning Grinselhof was invaded by +all sorts of people, who, moved by curiosity or a desire to purchase, +overran every nook and corner of the house, examining the furniture and +estimating its value. + +De Vlierbeck had caused every thing that was to be sold to be carried +into the most spacious apartments, where, aided by his daughter, he +passed the entire preceding night in dusting, cleaning, and polishing +the various articles, so that they might prove more attractive to +competitors. He had no personal interest in this labor; for, his funded +property having been sold some days before at great loss, it was certain +that the sale of all his remaining possessions would not exceed the +amount of his debts. It was a noble sentiment of honor and probity that +compelled him to sacrifice his rest for his creditors, so as to diminish +as much as he could the amount of their losses. It was clear that De +Vlierbeck did not intend to prolong his stay at Grinselhof after the +sale; for among the articles to be offered were the only two bedsteads +in the house, with their bedding, and a large quantity of clothes +belonging to him and his daughter. + +Very early in the day Lenora went to the farm-house, where she remained +until all was over. At ten o'clock the saloon was full of people. Nobles +and gentlefolks of both sexes were mixed up with brokers and second-hand +dealers who had come to Grinselhof with the hope of getting bargains. +Peasants might be seen talking together, in low voices, with surprise at +Do Vlierbeck's ruin; and there were even some who laughed openly and +joked as the auctioneer read the terms of sale! + +As the salesman put up a very handsome wardrobe, De Vlierbeck himself +entered the apartment and mingled with the bidders. His appearance +caused a general movement in the crowd; heads went together and men +began to whisper, while the bankrupt was stared at with insolent +curiosity or with pity, but by the greater part with indifference or +derision. Yet, whatever malicious feeling existed in the assembly, it +did not last long; for the firm demeanor and imposing countenance of De +Vlierbeck was never on any occasion more instinct with that dignity +which inspires respect. He was poor; fortune had struck him a cruel +blow; but in his manly look and calm features there beamed a brave and +independent soul which misfortune itself had been unable to crush. + +The auctioneer went on with the sale, assisted in his description of +the various articles by Monsieur De Vlierbeck, who informed the bidders +of their origin, antiquity, and value. Occasionally some gentleman of +the neighborhood, who, in better days, had been on good terms with +Lenora's father, approached him with words of sympathy; but he always +managed to escape adroitly from these indiscreet attempts at +consolation. Whenever it was necessary for him to speak, he showed so +much self-command and composure that he was far above the idle +_compassion_ of that careless crowd; yet if his countenance was calm and +dignified, his heart was weighed down by absorbing grief. All that had +belonged to his ancestors--articles that were emblazoned with the arms +of his family and had been religiously preserved as heirlooms for +several centuries--were sold at contemptible rates and passed into the +hands of brokers. As each historical relic was placed on the table or +held up by the auctioneer, the links of his illustrious race seemed to +break off and depart. When the sale was nearly over, the _portraits_ of +the eminent men who had borne the name of De Vlierbeck were taken down +from the walls and placed upon the stand. The first--that of the hero of +St. Quentin--was knocked off to a dealer for little more than three +francs! In the sale of this portrait, and the laughable price it +brought, there was so much bitter irony that, for the first time, the +agony that had been so long torturing De Vlierbeck's heart began to +exhibit its traces in his countenance. No sooner had the hammer fallen, +than, with downcast eyes and a sigh that was inaudible even to his +nearest neighbor, the stricken nobleman turned from the crowd and left +the saloon, so as not to witness the final sacrifice of the remaining +memorials that bound him to his race. + +The sun was but an hour or two above the horizon. A deathlike silence +had taken the place of the noise, bustle, and vulgarity that ruled at +Grinselhof during the morning; the solitary garden-walks were deserted, +the house-door and gate were closed, and a stranger might have supposed +that nothing had occurred to disturb the usual quiet of the spot. +Suddenly the door of the dwelling opened, and two persons appeared upon +the sill; one, a man advanced in life, the other, a pale and serious +woman. Each carried a small package and seemed ready for travel. Lenora +was dressed in a simple dark gown and bonnet, her neck covered by a +small square handkerchief. De Vlierbeck was buttoned up to the chin in a +coarse black greatcoat, and wore a threadbare cap whose large visor +nearly masked his features. Although it was evident that the homeless +travellers had literally stripped themselves of all superfluities and +had determined to go forth with the merest necessaries of decency, there +was something in the manner in which they wore their humble costumes +that distinctly marked their birth and breeding. The old man's features +were not changed; but it was difficult to say whether they expressed +pleasure, pain, or indifference. Lenora seemed strong and resolute, +although she was about to quit the place of her birth and separate +herself, perhaps forever, from all she had loved from infancy,--from +those aged groves beneath whose shadows the dawn of love first broke +upon her heart,--from that remembered tree at whose feet the timid +avowal of Gustave's passion had fallen on her ear. But a sense of duty +possessed and ruled her heart. Reason in her was not overmastered by +sensibility; and, when she saw her father tottering at her side, all her +energy was rallied in the effort to sustain him. + +They did not linger at the door, but, crossing the garden rapidly, +directed their steps toward the farm-house, which they entered to bid +its occupants farewell. Bess and her servant-maid were in the first +apartment below. + +"Mother Bess," said Monsieur De Vlierbeck, calmly, "we have come to bid +you good-by." + +Bess stared a moment anxiously at the travellers, and, lifting her apron +to her eyes, left the apartment; while the servant-maid leaned her head +against the window-frame and began to sob as if her heart would break. +In a short time Bess returned with her husband, whom she had found in +the barn. + +"Alas! is it true, sir," said the farmer, in a stifled voice,--"is it +true that you are going to leave Grinselhof, and that, perhaps, we shall +never see you again?" + +"Come, come, mother Bess," said the poor bankrupt, as he took and +pressed her hand; "don't weep on that account; you see we bear our lot +with resignation." + +Bess raised her head, threw her eyes once more over the humble dress of +her old master, and began to cry so violently that she could not utter a +word. Her husband strove manfully to repress his emotion; and, after an +effort or two, addressed Monsieur De Vlierbeck in a manly way:-- + +"May I ask the favor of you, sir, to let me say a word or two to you in +private?" + +De Vlierbeck entered the adjoining room, where he was followed by the +farmer, who shut the door carefully. + +"I hardly dare, sir," said he, "to mention my request; but will you +pardon me if it displeases you?" + +"Speak out frankly, my friend," returned De Vlierbeck, with a smile. + +"Look you, sir," stammered the tender-hearted laborer. "Every thing that +I have earned I owe to you. I had nothing when I married Bess; and yet, +with your kindness, we have managed to succeed. God's mercy and your +favor have made us prosperous; while you, our benefactors, have become +unfortunate and are forced to wander away from their home,--God knows +where! You may be forced to suffer privations and want; but that must +not be: I would reproach myself as long as I live. Oh, sir!" continued +he, as his voice faltered and his eyes filled with tears, "all that I +have on earth is at your service!" + +De Vlierbeck pressed the hard hand of the rustic with a trembling grasp, +as he replied,-- + +"You are a worthy man indeed, and I am, happy that it was once in my +power to protect and serve you; but I cannot accept your offer, my +friend: keep what you have earned by the sweat of your brow, and do not +concern yourself for our future fate, for, with God's help, we shall +find means to live." + +"Oh, sir," said the farmer, beseechingly, and clasping his hands in an +attitude of entreaty, "do not reject the trifle I offer you;"--he opened +a drawer and pointed to a small heap of silver.--"See!" said he; "that +is not the hundredth part of the good you have done us. Grant me this +favor, I beseech you: take this money, sir; and if it spare you a single +suffering or trial I shall thank God for it on my knees!" + +Tears streamed down the wan and wrinkled cheeks of the poor gentleman as +he replied,-- + +"Thanks! thanks! my friend; but I must refuse it. All persuasion is +useless. Let us leave this room!" + +"But, sir," cried the farmer, in astonishment, "where do you intend to +go? Tell me, for God's sake!" + +"I cannot," replied Monsieur De Vlierbeck, "for I don't know myself; +and, even if I did, prudence would make me silent." + +Uttering these words, he returned to the other room, where he found +everybody in tears. He saw at once that for his own sake as well as his +daughter's he must end these trying scenes; and accordingly, in a firm +voice, he told her it was time to be gone. There were a few more tender +and eager pressures of hands, a few more farewells, a few last looks at +the old homestead and its surroundings, and the bankrupt pair sallied +forth with their bundles, and, passing the bridge just at sunset, +departed on foot across the desolate moor. + +It is hard to bid farewell and quit the spots with which, even in a +summer's journey, we have formed agreeable associations: but harder far +it is to bid adieu forever to the home of our ancestors and the haunts +of our youth. This dreadful trial was passing in De Vlierbeck's heart. +From a distant point on the road where the domain of Grinselhof was +masked by thickets, the wanderer turned his eyes once more in the +direction of the old _chateau_. Big tears stood in his eyes and slowly +rolled down his hollow cheeks as he stood there, silent and motionless, +with clasped hands, gazing into vacancy. But night was rapidly falling +around the wayfarers; and, recalling him to consciousness with a kiss, +Lenora gently drew her father from the spot till they disappeared in the +windings of the wood. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +Monsieur De Vlierbeck had not been gone a week, when a letter addressed +to him from Italy reached the village post-office. The carrier inquired +of Farmer John where the old proprietor of Grinselhof had fixed his +residence; but neither from him, the notary, nor any one else in the +neighborhood, could he discover the bankrupt's retreat. The same fate +awaited three or four other letters which followed the first from Italy; +and, indeed, nobody bothered himself any more about the wanderers except +the peasant, who every market-day pestered the country-folks from every +quarter with questions about his old master. But no one had seen or +heard of him. + +Four months passed slowly by, when one morning a handsome post-chaise +stopped at the door of our old acquaintance the notary and dropped a +young gentleman in travelling-costume. + +"Where's your master?" said he impatiently to the servant, who excused +the notary under the plea of his present engagement with other visitors, +but invited the stranger to await his leisure in the parlor. + +The youth was evidently disconcerted by the delay; for he paced the +apartment with rapid strides and seemed altogether absorbed by some +anxiety or disappointment which made him extremely restless. The +notary's visitors seemed to be either very tedious clients or engaged in +very important business; for more than half an hour elapsed before that +functionary made his appearance. He came into the room ceremoniously, +prepared to measure his words and reception by his visitor's rank; but +no sooner did he perceive who it was than his calculating features +relaxed into a professional smile, and he advanced rapidly toward +Gustave with outstretched hands. + +"How are you, how are you, my dear sir?" said he. "I have been expecting +you for several days, and I am really happy to see you at last. I am +greatly flattered by the confidence you are disposed to place in me, and +am ready, whenever you please, to devote myself to your affairs. +By-the-way, I suppose there is a will?" + +A shadow passed over Gustave's brow and his face became serious as he +took a portfolio from his overcoat and drew forth a package of papers. + +"I am pained, sir, at your loss," said the notary. "Your excellent uncle +was my friend, and I deplore his death more than that of any one else. +It pleased God that he should die far away from his home. But such, +alas! is man's fate. We must console ourselves by the reflection that we +are all mortal. Your uncle was _very_ fond of you, and I suppose you +have not been forgotten in his last moments?" + +"You may see for yourself," said Gustave, as he placed the package on +the table. + +The notary ran his eyes over the papers, and, as he perused them, his +face exhibited by turns surprise and satisfaction. + +"Permit me," said he, "to congratulate you, Monsieur Gustave; these +documents are all in order and unassailable. Heir of all his fortune! Do +you know, sir, that you are more than a _millionaire_?" + +"We will speak of that another time," said Gustave, interrupting him +rather sharply. "I called on you to-day to ask a favor." + +"You have but to name it, sir." + +"You were the notary of Monsieur De Vlierbeck?" + +"I was." + +"I heard from my uncle that Monsieur De Vlierbeck had become very poor. +I have reasons for desiring that his misfortunes may not be prolonged." + +"Sir," said the notary, "I presume that you intend to do him an act of +kindness; and, in truth, it could not be bestowed on a worthier man, for +I know the cause of his ruin and sufferings. He was a victim of +generosity and honor. He may have carried these virtues to imprudence +and even to madness; but he deserved a better fate." + +"And now, sir," said Gustave, "I want you to let me know, with the +least amount of details possible, what I can do to assist De Vlierbeck +without wounding his pride. I know the condition of his affairs; for my +uncle told me all about them. Among other debts there was a bond for +four thousand francs, which belongs to the heirs of Hoogebaen: I want +that bond _immediately_, even if I have to pay four times as much as it +is worth." + +The notary stared at Gustave without replying. + +"You seem disconcerted by my demand," said Gustave, somewhat anxiously. + +"Not exactly," returned the notary; "but I do not altogether understand +your emotion, although I fear the news I must impart will affect you +painfully. If my anticipations are correct I have cause to be sorry for +you, sir!" + +"Explain yourself," cried Gustave, alarmed; "explain yourself, sir! Has +death been at Grinselhof? Is my last hope destroyed?" + +"No, no," replied the notary, quickly; "don't tremble so; they both +live, but they have been stricken by a great misfortune." + +"Well? well?" exclaimed Gustave, with questioning eagerness, rising from +his chair. + +"Be calm, be calm, sir," said the notary, soothingly; "sit down and +listen; it is not so terrible as you may perhaps think, since fortune +enables you to soften their misery." + +"Oh, God be thanked!" cried Gustave. "But let me beg you to hasten your +disclosures, for your slowness racks me!" + +"Know, then," continued the notary, "that during your absence the bond +in question fell due. For many months De Vlierbeck made unavailing +efforts to find money to honor it at maturity; but all his property was +mortgaged, and no one would assist him. In order to escape the +mortification of a forced sale, De Vlierbeck offered every thing at +public auction, even down to his furniture and clothes! The sale +produced about enough to pay his debts, and everybody was satisfied by +the honorable conduct of De Vlierbeck, who plunged himself into absolute +beggary to save his name." + +"And so he lives in the _chateau_ of his family only as a tenant?" + +"No; he has left it." + +"And where does he reside, then? I want to see him instantly." + +"I do not know." + +"How?--you do not know?" + +"Nobody knows where he dwells: he left the province without informing +any one of his designs." + +"Alas!" cried Gustave, with profound emotion, "and is it so? Shall I be +forced to live longer without them?--without knowing what has become of +them? Can you give me no hint or clue to their residence? Does nobody, +nobody know where they are?" + +"Nobody," replied the notary. "The evening after their sale De Vlierbeck +left Grinselhof on foot and crossed the moor by some unknown road: I +made efforts to discover his retreat, but always without success." + +As this sad news was imparted to Gustave he grew deadly pale, trembled +violently, and covered his forehead with his clasped hands, as if +striving to conceal the big tears that ran from his eyes. What the +notary first told him of De Vlierbeck's misfortunes had wounded his +sensibility, though he was less struck by that recital, because he had +already become partially aware of the poor gentleman's embarrassment; +but the certainty that he could not _immediately_ discover his beloved +Lenora and snatch her from want overwhelmed him with the bitterest +anguish. + +The notary fixed his eyes on the young man, shrugged his shoulders, and +regarded him with an expression of pity. + +"You are young, sir," said he, "and, like most men at your time of life, +exaggerate both pain and pleasure. Your despair is unfounded; for it is +easy in our time to discover people whom we want to find. With a little +money and diligence we may be sure, in a few days, to discover Monsieur +De Vlierbeck's retreat, even if he has gone abroad to a foreign country. +If you are willing to charge me with the pursuit I will spare neither +time nor trouble to bring you satisfactory news." + +Gustave stared hopefully at the notary as he grasped his hand and +replied, with a smile of gratitude,-- + +"Oh, render me that inestimable service, sir! Spare no money; ransack +heaven and earth if it is necessary; but, in God's name, let me know, +and let me know _soon_, where De Vlierbeck and his daughter are hidden. +It is impossible for me to describe the sufferings of my heart or the +ardor of my desire to find them. Let me assure you that the first good +news you bring will be more grateful to my soul than if you had restored +me to life." + +"Fear nothing, sir," answered the notary. "My clerks shall write letters +of inquiry this very night in every direction. To-morrow morning early I +will be off to Brussels and secure assistance from the public offices. +If you authorize me to spare no expense the secret will disclose +itself." + +"And I," said Gustave,--"I will put the numerous correspondents of our +house under contribution, and nothing shall be omitted to detect their +refuge, even if I have to travel over Europe." + +"Be of good cheer, then, Monsieur Gustave," said the notary; "for I +doubt not we shall soon attain our end. And, now that you are assured of +my best services, I will be gratified if you allow me to speak to you a +moment quietly and seriously. I have no right to ask what are your +intentions, and still less the right to suppose that those intentions +can be any thing else than proper in every respect. May I inquire if it +is your design to marry Mademoiselle Lenora?" + +"That is my irrevocable determination," replied the young man. + +"Irrevocable?" said the notary. "Be it so! The confidence which your +venerable uncle was always pleased to repose in me, and my position as +notary of the family, impose on me the duty of setting before you coolly +what you are about to do. You are a _millionaire_; you have a name which +in commerce alone represents an immense capital. Monsieur De Vlierbeck +is penniless; his ruin is generally known; and the world, justly or +unjustly, looks askance at a ruined man. With your fortune, with your +youth and person, you may obtain the hand of an heiress and double your +income!" + +Gustave listened to the first words of this calculating essay with +evident impatience; but he soon turned away his eyes and began to fold +up the papers and put them in his portfolio. As the notary finished, he +answered, quickly,-- + +"Well, well, I suppose you have done your duty, and I thank you; but we +have had enough of that. Tell me who owns Grinselhof now?" + +The man of business appeared considerably disconcerted by the +contemptuous interruption of his visitor; yet he strove to conceal his +mortification by a sorry smile, as he replied,-- + +"I see, sir, that you have taken a firm stand and will do as you please. +Grinselhof was bought in by the mortgagees, for the price offered was +below its value." + +"Who lives there?" + +"It is uninhabited. No one goes to the country in winter." + +"Can it be bought from its present proprietor?" + +"Certainly. I am authorized to offer it to any one for the amount of the +mortgages." + +"Then Grinselhof belongs to _me!_ Be kind enough to inform the owners of +it at once!" + +"Very well, sir. Consider Grinselhof as your property from this moment. +If you wish to visit it you will find the keys at the tenant's house." + +Gustave took his hat and made ready to go, and, as he did so, pressed +the notary's hand with evident cordiality:-- + +"I am tired and need repose, for I feel somewhat overcome by the sad +news you have given me. May God help you in your efforts to fulfil your +promises! My gratitude will surpass all you can imagine. Farewell till +to-morrow!" + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + +Spring, gentle spring, had thrown aside the funeral garb of winter, and +earth awoke again to vigorous life. Grinselhof reappeared in all the +splendor of its wild, natural scenery; its majestic oaks displayed +their verdant domes, its roses bloomed as sweetly as of old, +elder-blossoms filled the air with delicious odor, butterflies fluttered +through the garden, and every thicket was vocal with the song of birds. + +Nothing seemed changed at Grinselhof: its roads, its paths, were still +deserted, and sad was the silence that reigned in its shadows. Yet +immediately around the house there was more life and movement than +formerly. At the coach-house two grooms were busy washing and polishing +a new and fashionable coach; while the neigh of horses resounded from +the stable. A trim waiting-maid stood on the door-sill laughing and +joking with the lackeys, and a respectable old butler looked knowingly +on the group. + +Suddenly the clear silvery ring of a bell was heard from the parlor, and +the waiting-maid ran in, exclaiming, "Good Heavens! there's Monsieur +ringing for his breakfast, and it is not ready yet!" + +A few moments afterward she was seen mounting the staircase with a rich +silver salver covered with breakfast-things; and, entering the parlor, +she placed them silently on a table before a young gentleman who seemed +entirely absorbed by his own thoughts, and then instantly left the room +without a word. + +The young man began his meal with a careless, indifferent air, as if he +either had no appetite or did not know what he was about. The furniture +of the apartment in which he sat presented odd and striking contrasts +to an observer. While some of the articles were remarkable for the +richness and elegance of their modern style, there were chairs, tables, +and cabinets whose sombre hue and elaborate carving denoted an antiquity +of several centuries. On the walls were numerous pictures, dimmed by +smoke and time, encased in frames that had lost half their ornaments and +gilding. These were portraits of warriors, statesmen, priests, and +prelates. In the dim corners of the canvas armorial bearings of the +house of De Vlierbeck might be seen, and many of the articles of +furniture were embellished with the same blazonry. + +We were told a while ago that a public sale at Grinselhof had dispersed +among a crowd of competitors every thing that belonged to Monsieur De +Vlierbeck. How has it come to pass that these portraits have returned to +their old nails on walls which they seemed to have abandoned forever? + +The listless youth rose from the table, walked slowly about the room, +stopped, looked mournfully at the portraits, recommenced his walk, and +approached an antique casket placed on a bracket in the corner. He +opened it with apparent indifference and took out some simple +jewelry,--a pair of ear-rings and a coral necklace. He gazed long at +these objects as he held them in his hand; a few tears fell on them, a +deep sigh escaped from his bosom, and he then replaced the jewels in +their casket. + +Quitting the room, he descended to the court. Waiters and servant-maids +saluted as he passed: he acknowledged their civility by a silent nod and +went forth to the most secluded parts of the garden. Stopping at the +foot of a wild chestnut-tree, he threw himself on the ground, where he +sat long in moody reverie until aroused by the ringing voice of Bess, +who approached him with a book in her hand:-- + +"Here, sir, is a book which Mademoiselle Lenora used to read. My goodman +went yesterday to market, where he found the farmer who bought it at the +sale. After market was over John accompanied the peasant home, and would +not leave him till he had bought the book back again. I suppose it is an +excellent book, as Mademoiselle used to love it so; and neither gold nor +silver could ever get it from me if it wasn't for you, sir. Husband says +it is called LUCIFER'!" + +While she was running on, Gustave seized the book eagerly and ran over +its pages without paying attention to what she said. "Thank you, thank +you for your kind attention, mother Bess!" said he. "You can't think how +happy I am whenever I find any thing that belonged to your mistress. Be +assured that I will never forget your goodness." After offering this +expression of his thanks to the farmer's wife he opened the book again +and began to read without heeding her further. But the good woman did +not go away, and soon interrupted him with a question:-- + +"May I ask, sir, if you have any news yet of our young lady?" + +Gustave shook his head. "Not the least scrap of news, mother Bess. My +search has been fruitless." + +"That is unlucky, sir. God knows where she may be and what she is +suffering. She told me before she went away that she meant to work for +her father; but one must have learned to work very early in life to earn +a living by one's hands. My heart almost breaks when I think of it. +Perhaps that good, sweet young lady is reduced to work for other people +and labors like a slave to get a mouthful of bread! I have been a +servant, sir, and I know what it is to work from morning until night for +others. And she,--she who is so beautiful, so clever, so kind! Oh, sir, +it is terrible! I can't help crying like a child, thinking of her +miserable life!" + +Gustave was overcome by the simple eloquence of the poor woman, and +remained silent. + +"And then to think," continued Bess, "she might now be so happy! that +she might again become mistress of Grinselhof, where she was born and +grew up! that her father might pass his old days in quietness, and that +they are now wandering about the world poor, sick, abandoned outcasts! +Oh, sir, it is sad to know that our benefactors are unhappy, and to be +able to do nothing for them but pray to God and hope for his mercy!" + +The simple-minded woman, without meaning it, had touched some tender +strings in Gustave's heart; and, as she saw the silent tears coursing +their way down his cheeks, she said, entreatingly,-- + +"Oh, pardon me, sir, for having grieved you so by my talk! but my heart +is full, and my feelings force their way without knowing it. If I have +done wrong, I am sure you are too kind to be angry with me for loving +our young lady so much and bemoaning her misfortune. Have you no orders +for me to-day, sir?" + +She was about to go, as Gustave raised his downcast eyes and, +restraining his tears, exclaimed,-- + +"I--angry with you, mother Bess?--and angry, too, because you show +affection for our poor Lenora? Oh, no, no! On the contrary, I bless you +for it with all my heart! The tears you betrayed from my heart have done +me good; for I am very unhappy. Life is a burden; and if God, in his +mercy, would take me away from earth, I would gladly die. All hope of +seeing her again in this world is gone. Perhaps she is awaiting me in +the next!" + +"Oh, sir! sir! how you talk!" cried the peasant-woman, in alarm. "No! +no! that cannot be!" + +"You grieve, my good woman, and shed tears for her," continued Gustave, +without heeding the interruption; "but don't you see how _my_ soul must +be consumed with despair? Alas! for months and months I have implored +God for the happiness of seeing her once more! I overcame all obstacles +to our marriage, and I became almost mad with joy and impatience as I +flew like lightning to the home where I left her; and then my only +recompense, my only consolation, was to find her _gone_ and the house of +her fathers a wilderness!--to know, alas! that she is poor, and, +perhaps, languishing in want!--to know that my noble-hearted and beloved +Lenora sinks under the weight of misfortune, and yet to be able to do +nothing to relieve her!--to be condemned to count in powerless despair +her days of affliction, and not even to be sure that suffering has not +killed her!" + +A profound silence followed this complaining outburst, and the +peasant-woman, with her head bent to the earth, sympathized with him +truly, till, after a few moments, she attempted to console the sufferer +in her simple way:-- + +"Oh, sir, I understand only too well how much you endure! And yet why +despair? Who knows but we may receive some news of our dear young lady +when we least expect it? God is good; he will hear our prayers; and our +joy for her return will make us forget all our grief!" + +"Oh that your prophecy might be realized, my good woman! But seven +months have already gone since they departed. During three of them a +hundred persons have been employed in seeking the wanderers. They have +been sought for in every direction, and not the slightest intelligence +has been obtained; not a trace, not the least sign that they are even +alive! My reason tells me not to despair; but my heart magnifies my ills +and cries aloud that I have lost her!--lost her forever!" + +He was about quitting the garden, when a noise attracted his attention +as he pointed toward the road leading to the _chateau_. + +"Listen! Don't you hear something?" cried he. + +"It is the gallop of a horse," answered Bess, without comprehending why +the noise so much startled her master. + +"Poor fool!" said the young man to himself; "why am I so startled by the +passing of a horseman?" + +"But see! see! he is coming into the avenue!" cried Bess, with +increasing interest. "Oh, God! I am sure it is a messenger with news! +Heaven grant it may be good!" + +As she said this the rider passed through the gate at full gallop, and, +drawing rein at the door they had just reached, took a letter from his +pocket and handed it to the master of Grinselhof:-- + +"I come," said he, "from your notary, who ordered me to deliver you this +letter without a moment's delay." + +Gustave broke the seal with a trembling hand, while Bess, smiling with +hope, followed all her master's movements with staring eyes. + +As he read the first lines the anxious youth grew pale; but as he went +on a tremor ran through all his limbs, till with a hysterical laugh and +clasped hands he exclaimed,-- + +"Thanks! thanks! Oh, God! she is restored to me!" + +"Oh, sir, sir," cried Bess, "is it good news?" + +"Yes! yes! rejoice with me! Lenora lives! I know where she is!" answered +Gustave, half mad with delight, running into the house and calling all +the servants. "Quick! quick! Have out the travelling-carriage and the +English horses! My trunk! my cloak! Quick! fly!" + +He carried forth with his own hands a number of things that were +necessary for the journey. His fleetest horses were attached to the +vehicle; and, although they strained their bits and pawed the ground as +if impatient for the road, the postillion lashed them fiercely as they +dashed through the gateway. + +In a moment, and almost as if by magic, the coach was on the road to +Antwerp and hidden from the staring crowd by a cloud of dust. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + +Suppose that we too take a trip in fancy to Nancy, in France, in search +of poor De Vlierbeck and his daughter. Let us wind through an immense +number of narrow streets in the quarter known as the Old Town and at +last halt at the door of an humble cobbler. This is the place. Pass +through the shop, mount the staircase; another story yet; open that +door, and here we are. + +Every thing indicates poverty; but order and neatness preside over the +room. The curtains of the little bed are white as snow, the stove is +polished with black-lead till it shines, and the floor is sanded in +Flemish style. Mignonette and violets bloom in a box on the window-sill, +and a bird chirps in its cage above them. A young woman sits in front of +the window; but she is so intent on the linen she is sewing that no +other sound is heard in the silent room but that made by the motion of +her hands as they guide the needle. She is dressed in the plainest +garments; yet they are cut and put on so gracefully that one may declare +at a glance she is a lady. + +Poor Lenora! And this was what fate had in store for thee! To hide thy +noble birth under the humble roof of a mechanic; to seek a refuge from +insult and contempt far from thy childhood's home; to work without +relaxation; to fight against privation and want, and to sink at last +into shame and poverty, heart-broken by despair! Misery, doubtless, has +cast a yellow tinge upon thy cheeks and stolen its radiance from thy +glance. But no! thank God, it is not so! Thy heroic blood has +strengthened thee against fate, and thy beauty is even more ravishing +than of old! If a cloistered life has chastened thy roses, their tender +bloom has only become more touching. Thy brow has grown loftier and +purer; thine eyes still glisten beneath their sweeping lashes; and that +well-remembered smile still hovers around thy coral lips! + +Suddenly Lenora stopped working. Her hands rested on the work in her +lap, her head bent forward, her eyes were riveted dreamily on the +ground, and her soul, wandering perhaps to other lands, seemed to +abandon itself on the current of a happy reverie. After a while she +placed the linen she had been sewing on a chair and got up slowly. +Leaning languidly on the window-frame, she gathered a few violets, +played with them a while, and then looked abroad at the sky over the +roof-tops, as if longing to breathe once more the fresh air and enjoy +the spring. Soon her eyes fixed themselves compassionately on the bird +that hopped about its cage and ever and anon struck its bill against the +wires as if striving to get out. + +"Why dost thou want to leave us, dear little bird?" said she, softly. +"Why dost thou wish to be gone, dear comforter of our sadness? Sing +gayly to-day; father is well again, and life is once more a pleasure. +What is it makes thee flutter about so wildly and pant in thy cage? Ah! +is it not hard, dear little one, to be captive when we know there are +joy and freedom in the open air?--when we are born in the fields and +woods?--when we know that _there_ alone are independence and liberty. +Like thee, poor bird, I am a child of nature; I too have been torn from +my birthplace; I too bemoan the solitudes where my childhood was passed! +But has a friend or lover been snatched from thee--as from me--forever? +Dost thou grieve for something more than space and freedom? Yet why do I +ask? Thy love-season has come round again, has it not? and love is the +greatest blessing of thy little life! I understand thee, poor bird! I +will no longer be thy fate! Fly away, and God help you! Begone, and +enjoy the two greatest blessings of life! Ah, how thou singest as thy +wings bear thee away,--away to the sky and woods! Farewell! farewell!" +As she uttered these last words Lenora opened the cage-door and released +the bird, which darted away like an arrow. After this she resumed her +work and sewed on with the same zeal as before, till aroused by the +sound of footsteps on the staircase. + +"It is father! God grant he may have been lucky to-day!" + +Monsieur De Vlierbeck entered the room with a roll of paper in his hand, +and, throwing himself languidly into a chair, seemed altogether worn out +with fatigue. He had become very thin; his eyes were sunk in their +sockets, his cheeks were pale, and his whole expression was changed and +broken. It was very evident that sickness or depression, or perhaps +both, had made fearful ravages on his body as well as spirits. + +The poor old gentleman was wretchedly clad. It was evident that he had +striven as formerly to conceal his indigence, for there was not a stain +or grain of dust on his garments; but the stuff was threadbare and +patched, and all his garments were too large for his shrunken limbs. + +Lenora looked at him a moment anxiously. "You do not feel ill, father, +do you?" + +"No, Lenora," replied he; "but I am very wretched." + +Lenora said nothing, but embraced him tenderly and then knelt down with +his hand in hers. + +"Father," said she, "it is hardly a week since you were ill in bed: we +prayed to God for your restoration, and he listened to our prayers; you +are cured, dear father, and yet you give way anew at the first +disappointment. You have not been successful to-day, father? I see it in +your face. Well, what of it? Why should it interfere with our happiness? +We have long learned how to fight against fate. Let us be strong and +look misery in the face with heads up: courage is wealth; and so, father +dear, forget your disappointment. Look at me. Am I sad? do I allow +myself to be downcast and despairing? I suffered and wept enough when +you were ill; but, now that you are well again, come what may, your +Lenora will always thank God for his goodness!" + +The poor old man smiled feebly at the courageous excitement of his +daughter. + +"Poor child!" said he; "I understand very well how you strive to appear +strong in order to keep me up. May heaven repay your love, dear angel +whom God has given me! your word and smile control me so completely that +I may say a part of your soul passes with them into mine. I came home +just now quite heart-broken and half crazy with despair; but you, my +child, have restored me to myself again." + +"That's right, father," said she, rising from her knees and sitting down +on a chair close beside him; "come, father, tell me now all your +adventures to-day, and afterward I will tell you something that will +make you laugh." + +"Alas, my child! I went to Monsieur Roncevaux's academy to resume my +English lessons; but during my sickness an Englishman was put in my +place: we have lost our best bit of bread." + +"Well, how is it about Mademoiselle Pauline's German lesson?" + +"Mademoiselle Pauline has gone to Strasburg and will not come back +again. You see, Lenora, that we are losing every thing at once; so, have +I not cause to be anxious and downcast? This news seems to overcome you, +my child, strong as you are!" + +In truth, Lenora was somewhat appalled by the dejecting words; but her +father's remark restored her self-possession, and she replied, with a +forced smile,-- + +"I was thinking, father, of the pain these dismissals gave you, and they +really annoyed me Yet there are some things that ought to make me happy +to-day. Yes, father, I have some good news for you!" + +"Indeed? You astonish me!" + +Lenora pointed to the chair. + +"Do you see that linen?" said she. "I have a dozen fine shirts to make +out of it; and when they are done there are as many more waiting for me. +They pay me good wages, and I think, from what they say, that in time +there will be something better in store for me. But as yet that is only +a hope,--only a hope." + +De Vlierbeck seemed particularly struck by the last remark of his +daughter, as he looked at her anxiously. + +"Well! well! what is it that makes you so happy and hopeful?" said he. + +Lenora took up her sewing again and went busily to work. + +"You wouldn't guess it in a week, father! Do you know who gave me this +work? It is the rich lady who lives in the house with a court-yard, at +the corner of our street. She sent for me this morning, and I went to +her while you were abroad. You are surprised, father; are you not?" + +"I am, indeed, Lenora. You are speaking of Madame De Royan, for whom you +were employed to embroider those handsome collars. How does she come to +know you?" + +"I really don't know. Perhaps the person who gave me her collars to +embroider told her who worked them: she must have spoken to her about +your illness and our poverty, for Madame De Royan knows more of us than +you imagine.' + +"Heavens! She does not know--" + +"No! she knows nothing about our _name_ or from whence we came." + +"Go on, Lenora; you excite my curiosity. I see you want to teaze me +to-day!" + +"Well, father, if you are tired I will cut my story short. Madame De +Royan received me with great kindness, complimented me on my embroidery, +asked me some questions about our misfortunes, and consoled and +encouraged me generously. 'Go, my child!' said she, as she gave me the +linen; 'work with a good will and be prudent: I will protect you. I have +a great deal of sewing to do,--enough for two months at least. But that +would not be enough; I mean to recommend you to all my friends, and I +mean to see that you are paid for your work in such a way that your +father and yourself shall be above want.' I took her hand and kissed it, +for I was touched by the delicacy with which she give me _work_ and not +_alms_! Madame De Royan understood me, and, laying her hand kindly on my +shoulder, 'Keep up your spirits, Lenora,' said she; 'the time will come +when you must take apprentices to help you, and so by degrees you will +become mistress of a shop.' Yes, father, that's what she said; I know +her words by heart." + +With this she sprang to her father, embraced him, and added, with +considerable emotion,-- + +"What say you to it, father? Is it not good news? Who knows what may +come to pass? Apprentices,--a shop,--a store,--a servant: you will keep +the books and buy our goods, I will sit in the room and superintend the +workwomen! How sweet it is to be happy and to know that we owe all to +the work of our hands! Then, father, your promise will indeed be +fulfilled, and then you may pass your old days happily." + +There was a look of such extreme serenity in Monsieur De Vlierbeck's +face, an expression of such vivid happiness was reflected from his +wrinkled cheeks, that it was evident he had allowed his daughter's story +to bewitch him into entire forgetfulness. But he soon found it out, and +shook his head mournfully at the enchantress:-- + +"Oh! Lenora, Lenora, you witch! how easily have you managed to seduce +me! I followed your words like a child, and I really believed in the +happiness you promised. But let us be serious. The shoemaker spoke to me +again about the rent, and asked me to pay it. We still owe him twenty +francs, do we not?" + +"Yes, twenty francs for rent, and about twelve francs to the grocer: +that's all. When the shirts are done we will give my wages on account to +the shoemaker, and I know he will be satisfied. The grocer is willing to +give us longer credit. I received two francs and a half for my last +work. You see very well, father, that we are still quite rich, and +before a month is over will be out of debt entirely." + +Poor De Vlierbeck seemed quite consoled; and a gleam of fortitude shone +in his black eyes as he approached the table, unrolling the paper he had +brought with him on his return. + +"I have something to do too, Lenora. Professor Delsaux gave me some +pieces of music to copy for his pupils, which will give me four francs +in a couple of days. And now be quiet a while, my dear child; my nerves +are so shattered that if we talk I shall make mistakes and spoil the +paper." + +"I may sing, father; may I not?" + +"Oh, yes; that won't annoy me: your song will please my ear without +distracting my attention." + +The old gentleman went on writing, while Lenora, with a rich and joyous +voice, repeated all her songs and poured forth her heart in melody. She +sewed meanwhile diligently, and, from time to time, glanced at her +father to see whether the cloud had fallen again over his face and +spirit. + +They had been a considerable time engaged with their several +occupations, when the parish clock struck; and, putting down her work +hastily, Lenora took a basket from behind the stove and prepared to go +out. Her father looked up with surprise as he said,-- + +"What! _already_, Lenora?" + +"It has just struck half-past eleven, father." + +Without making any other remark, De Vlierbeck bent his head again over +the music-paper and continued his task. + +Lenora soon returned from her walk with her basket full of potatoes and +something else tied up in a paper, which she hid beneath a napkin. Then, +pouring some water in a pot which she placed beside her chair, she began +to sing, and threw in the potatoes as she peeled them. After this she +kindled a fire in the stove and set the pot of potatoes to boil. After +the fire burned well she put a skillet, with a little butter and a good +deal of vinegar, over the coals. + +Up to this moment her father had not looked up nor intermitted his work; +he saw her getting dinner ready every day, and it was seldom that any +variety of food appeared on their table. But, hardly had the potatoes +begun to boil, when an agreeable perfume was diffused through the +chamber. De Vlierbeck glanced up from his writing, a little +reproachfully, as he exclaimed,-- + +"What! meat on Friday, my child? you know very well we must be +economical." + +"Don't be angry, father," answered Lenora; "the doctor ordered it." + +"You are trying to deceive me, are you not?" + +"No, no; the doctor said you required meat at least three times a week, +if we could get it; it will do you more good than any thing else in +restoring your strength." + +"And yet we are in debt, Lenora!" + +"Come, come, father, let our debts alone, everybody will be paid and +satisfied. Don't trouble yourself about them any more: I'll answer for +them all. And now be so good as to take your papers off of the table, so +that I can lay the cloth." + +De Vlierbeck got up and did as he was asked. Lenora covered the +deal-boards with a snowy napkin and placed on it two plates and a dish +of potatoes. It was indeed an humble table, at which all was extremely +common; yet every thing was so neat, fresh, and savory, that a rich man +might have sat down to it with appetite. They took their places and +asked a blessing on the meal; but, before the prayer was finished, +Lenora started suddenly and interrupted her father. With eyes staring +toward the door and head leaned forward, she listened eagerly, motioning +her father with her hand to be silent. + +There was a sound of footsteps and voices on the staircase, and, as they +approached, Lenora thought she recognised the tones. She bounded to the +door with a sharp cry, and, closing it, leaned against the boards to +prevent any one from entering. + +"For God's sake, child, what are you afraid of?" cried her father. + +"GUSTAVE! GUSTAVE!" whispered Lenora, with pale and quivering lips. "He +is there! he is there! I hear him. Take away that table quickly. Of all +the world he is the last who should see our misery!" + +De Vlierbeck's face grew dark, his head became erect and fierce, and his +eyes flashed with their ancient fire. Advancing silently to his +daughter, he drew her from the door. Lenora fled to a corner of the +room, and covered her face, which was red with mortification. + +Suddenly the door opened, and a young man rushed into the chamber with +an exclamation of joy as he advanced, open-armed, toward the trembling +girl, whom he would have pressed to his breast had not the hand and look +of her father arrested his steps. + +For a moment he stood like one stupefied, glancing from the wretched +board to the miserable dress of the old man and his daughter. The sight +affected the intruder, for he covered his eyes as he exclaimed, in +subdued and despairing tones, "Oh, God! has it come to this?" + +But he did not allow himself to remain long under the influence either +of his feelings or of her father, and, advancing anew to Lenora, seized +and pressed both her hands ardently. + +"Oh! look at me, Lenora! Let me see if thy heart has preserved the +memory of our love!" + +Lenora's eyes met his at once and with affection. It was a look that +completely revealed her pure and constant soul. + +"Oh, happiness!" cried Gustave, enthusiastically; "thou art still my +dear and tender Lenora! Thank God, no power on earth can ever separate +me again from my betrothed! Receive, receive the kiss of our union!" + +He stretched his arms toward her. Lenora, trembling with agony and +happiness, stood downcast and blushing, as if awaiting the solemn kiss; +but, before Gustave could accomplish the act, De Vlierbeck was by his +side, and, grasping his hand, held him motionless. + +"Monsieur Denecker," said her father, severely, "have the goodness to +moderate your transports. We are certainly glad to see you once more; +but neither you nor I can forget what we are. Respect our poverty!" + +"What do you say?" cried Gustave. "_What you are_! You are my +friend,--my father. Lenora is my betrothed! Oh heaven! why look at me so +reproachfully?" + +He seized the hand of Lenora again, and, drawing her toward her father, +rapidly continued:-- + +"Listen! My uncle died in Italy and left me heir of all his property. He +commanded me on his death-bed to marry Lenora. I have searched heaven +and earth to find you. I have suffered for many months all the torture +that a nature like mine can endure; and at length I have discovered you! +I have come, sir, to ask the reward of my suffering. I lay my fortune, +heart, and life at your feet; and, in exchange, I implore the happiness +of leading Lenora to the altar. Grant me that favor, O my _father_! +Grinselhof awaits you. I bought it for you. Every thing is there again. +The portraits of your ancestors are in their places on the wall, and +every thing that was dear to you is restored. Come! let me watch your +old days, your declining years, with the veneration of a son! let me +make you happy again;--oh, how happy!" + +The old man's expression did not change, yet a tear moistened his eye. + +"Ah!" continued Gustave, "nothing on earth can again separate me from +her,--not even a father's power; for I feel that God himself has given +her to me! Yet pardon me, father, for my rashness, and bestow your +benediction!" + +De Vlierbeck seemed to have utterly forgotten the young man and his +transports; for he stood with clasped hands and eyes raised to heaven, +as if addressing his Maker in fervent prayer. At length his words began +to be heard distinctly:-- + +"Oh, Margaret! Margaret! rejoice on the bosom of God. My promise is +fulfilled;--thy child will be happy!" + +Gustave and Lenora stood before him hand in hand; and, as he threw his +arms around the young man,-- + +"May Heaven bless you for your love!" continued he. "Make my child +happy. She is your wife!" + +"Gustave, Gustave,--_my husband!_" exclaimed Lenora, as they threw +themselves into each other's arms, and the first kiss of love--the +first consecrated kiss--was exchanged on the breast of that happy +father, who wept over and blessed his children. + + * * * * * + +And now, gentle reader, I must inform you that I have had my own reasons +for concealing the situation and even the true name of the _chateau_ of +DE VLIERBECK. None of you will, therefore, ever know where Gustave and +Lenora dwell. I know Monsieur and Madame Denecker intimately, and have +taken many a walk around Grinselhof with two charming little children +and their venerable _grandfather_. I have often beheld the beautiful +picture of peace, love, and domestic happiness that is seen in that old +house beneath the grim ancestral portraits or in the fresh air under the +trees. I will not say who told me the story of this family. Let it +suffice that I know all the persons who have played a part in it, and +that I have often chatted with Farmer John and Dame Bess while they +poured forth their gossip about "The Poor Gentleman" and his trials. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE POOR GENTLEMAN*** + + +******* This file should be named 13576.txt or 13576.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/3/5/7/13576 + + + +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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