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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/15956-8.txt b/15956-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..87a96eb --- /dev/null +++ b/15956-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7403 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Vellenaux, by Edmund William Forrest + +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: Vellenaux + A Novel + +Author: Edmund William Forrest + +Release Date: May 31, 2005 [EBook #15956] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK VELLENAUX *** + + + + +Produced by Early Canadiana Online, Robert Cicconetti, +Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + + + VELLENAUX + + A NOVEL BY E.W. FORREST + +AUTHOR OF THE "BLUE JACKET," "CRONOTONTOLLIENS," "NED FORTESQUE," ETC. + + 1874. + + + + +PREFACE + + +The consideration and favor accorded to the writer's former works by a +generous reading public, has induced him to try his hand as a novelist, +and the present effort "Vellenaux" is the result. + +The Book, although essentially one of fiction, contains many episodes of +an historical character. In fact, truth and imagination are so blended +together, that the reader will scarcely discover where the one begins or +the other ends. Scenes and occurrences are portrayed which took place +during the Sheik Wars, the siege of Mooltan, the battle of +Chillianwalla, and the never to be forgotten Sepoy Mutiny, with the +simple alteration of names, dates and localities. On the shoulders of +the hero has been grafted many of the adventures, exploits and escapes +which in reality occurred either to the Author himself or some of his +many military acquaintances, in doing which the reader may rest assured +that no character or incident has been in any way overdrawn. + +THE AUTHOR. + + + + +VELLENAUX. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + +The bright rays of an Autumn sun fell upon the richly stained glass, +sending a flood of soft, mellow rainbow tinted light through the +quaintly curved and deeply mullioned windows which adorned a portion of +the eastern wing of that grand old Baronial residence, Vellenaux, on a +fine September morning, at the period during which our story opens. This +handsome pile, now the property of Sir Jasper Coleman, had been erected +by one of his ancestors, Reginald De Coleman, during the reign of the +fifth Henry. + +This gallant Knight had rendered that Monarch great service during his +wars in France, especially at Agincourt, where his skill and bravery was +so conspicuous, and used to so great advantage, that King Henry, on his +return to England, rewarded his faithful follower with a grant of land +in Devonshire, on which he was enabled, with the spoils he had acquired +and the ransoms received from his French prisoners of note, to erect a +magnificent chateaux, which he called Vellenaux, after Francois, Count +De Vellenaux, a French noble, whose ransom contributed largely to its +construction. Here he continued to reside until his death, which +occurred several years after. + +It was now an irregular edifice, having been partially destroyed and +otherwise defaced during the contests which ensued between the cavaliers +and roundheads at the time of the Commonwealth. Since then alterations +and additions had been made by his successors, and, although of +different styles of architecture, was now one of the handsomest and most +picturesque structures that could be met with throughout the length and +breadth of the shire. + +A broad avenue of noble elms led from the lodge at the entrance of the +domain and opened upon a beautiful carriage drive that wound round the +velvet lawn, which formed a magnificent and spacious oval in front of +the grand entrance. + +Beneath the outspreading branches of the venerable oaks, with which the +home park was studded, browsed the red and fallow deer, who, on the +approach of any equestrian parties, or at the advance of some +aristocratic vehicle bearing its freight of gay, laughing guests towards +the hospitable mansion, would toss their antlered heads, or, startled, +seek the cover of those green shady alleys leading to the beech woods +which adjoined the park and stretched away towards the coast of Devon. + +Sir Jasper, who was still a bachelor, and on the shady side of sixty, +retained much of the fire and energy of his earlier years, although at +times subject to an infirmity which the medical faculty describe as +emanating from disease of the heart. He had served with great +distinction during the Peninsular war, under the iron Duke, but, on +succeeding to the Baronetcy, left the service and retired to his present +estate, where he spent most of his time at this his favorite residence, +as hunting, shooting and field sports generally had for him a charm +that no allurements of city life could tempt him to forego; besides he +had, in the earlier part of his military career, visited many of the gay +capitals of Europe and engaged in the exciting pleasures always to be +met with in such places, until he had become satiated and lost all taste +for such scenes. His kind heartedness and benevolence won for him the +esteem of the neighboring gentry. + +On the morning in question the Baronet, who had but the evening previous +returned from London, entered his study, and seating himself in an easy +chair, drew towards him a small but elaborately carved antique +escritoire, and for several moments was deeply engaged in the perusal of +certain papers and memoranda; finally he drew from his pocket a sealed +packet which, having opened carefully, he read over; then as if not +quite satisfied with the contents, allowed the paper to slip from his +hand to the table before him and was soon lost in thought. An English +gentleman, unquestionably in the highest sense of the word, was Sir +Jasper Coleman; a true type of that class who, from the time of the +Norman conquest to the present day, whether beneath the Torrid or Frigid +Zone's; on the bloody battlefield, or launching their thunders on the +billows of the white-crested main, nobly upheld the honor of their +country's flag, whose heroic deeds and honorable names have been handed +down unsullied and untarnished for many generations. Since leaving the +service the worthy Baronet had taken no part in the political events of +the nation, but devoted himself entirely to the welfare of his numerous +tenantry, and those residing in the neighborhood of his large estate, to +whom assistance and advice was at all times needed, nor was it ever +withheld or given grudgingly when any case of real distress came under +his notice. + +A fine subject fog poet's pen or artist's pencil was that aristocratic +old warrior, as he sat there gazing upon the rich woodlands warmed by +the glorious autumn sun, thinking over by-gone days--days when he had +loitered by some fair one's side in many a brilliant assembly, or when +his nerves were steady and his voice all powerful, leading the charge on +many a well-fought field. How long he might have remained ruminating on +things of the past it is impossible to say; the retrospect might have +continued much longer had not his attention been arrested by a slight +noise, when suddenly raising his head a smile of pleasure lit up his +finely cut features as the door opened and a lovely girl, just merging +into womanhood, stepped softly into the room. She was, indeed, very +beautiful; hair of the darkest shade of brown hung in long and glossy +curls from her perfectly shaped head, and rested on the exquisite white +neck and shoulders, the contrast of which showed to a great degree the +almost alabaster whiteness of her skin; grecian nose, and eyes of the +deepest blue, whose long lashes, when veiled, rested lovingly on her +damask cheek, and when raised, revealed a depth and brilliancy which +does not often fall to the lot of mortals; a mouth not too small, whose +beautifully shaped lips, when parted, disclosed to the beholder teeth of +ivory whiteness, small and most evenly set, dazzling indeed was the +effect of those pearly treasures; tall, slight, and elegantly formed, +with a bearing aristocratic and queenly in the extreme; what wonder that +she was the sunshine of old Sir Jasper's declining days and his much and +dearly loved niece. + +Gliding up to her uncle she threw heir arms about his neck and +imprinted a kiss on his noble brow, then sinking on a stool at his feet +began to take him to task after the following fashion: "You truant, you +naughty uncle, to let me breakfast alone in my own room thinking you +hundreds of miles away, and not to let me know that you returned last +night; and Mrs. Fraudhurst is just as bad, and I will not forgive her or +you, unless you tell me where you have been and all you have seen and +done. Now, Sir Wanderer, commence and give an account of yourself; you +see I am prepared to listen," apparently waiting with much attention for +her uncle to enlighten her as to the why and wherefore he had journeyed +to London. It was evident that the Baronet had been in the habit of +making a confidant of his pretty niece, but on this occasion, for one +reason or another he had failed to do so; she had taken out of one of +her little embroidered pockets in her apron, some crochet work, and +applied herself diligently thereunto. + +Edith was the orphan child of Sir Jasper's much loved and only sister, +who did not long survive the death of her husband, and on her decease +the Baronet had adopted the child, and as she grew up, her affectionate +disposition and natural simplicity wound themselves round the old man's +heart, and thus she soon became the apple of his eye, and he loved her +with all the tender solicitude of a father. + +She was gentle and friendly to those beneath her, but dignified and firm +with those of her own station of life, with a fund of good practical +common sense, and was not easily dissuaded from doing any thing when she +had once made up her mind that it was her duty so to do. She loved her +uncle well and was ever ready to minister to his slightest wishes. She +used to delight him with the rich tone of her voice by singing +selections from his favorite operas, being an accomplished musician both +vocal and instrumental. They would frequently wander for hours through +the park or woods, but of late he had restricted his walks to the lawn, +or down the avenue to the lodge at the park gate, to hold converse with +the keeper, an old soldier who had served under him in his Peninsular +Campaigns, and often when relieved from the attendance on him would +Edith and Arthur Carlton, hand in hand, stroll down the said avenue to +listen to the wonderful stories related by the old lodge keeper. But +this was some time ago, for this youth (of which more will be heard +anon) was now, and had been for some time, at College at Oxford. + +"Edith my darling," said the kind old man, bending over as he did so and +tapping her soft rosy cheek, "my visit to London was purely a business +one, and I delayed no longer than was necessary to complete it, but what +I saw and heard during my journey to and fro, I will relate to, you in +the evening." + +The lively girl was about to make some reply to her good natured uncle +when a light rapping was heard; the door gently opened and a lady about +five and thirty entered; she was attired in a dress of black silk of +most undeniable Paris cut, which fitted her to a miracle; to Edith she +made a slight inclination of the head so as not to disarrange her +coiffure which was most elaborately got up doubtless with a view to +produce an effect. + +"I trust, Sir Jasper, you slept well after your tedious journey." + +"Very well, I thank you. Oh! I see you have the post bag, I am somewhat +anxious about some letters I expect to receive." + +Moving around the back of the Baronet's chair she came between him and +Edith, who took the bag from her and held out her hand to her uncle for +the key to open it with, as was her usual custom of a morning; the key +was handed to her, and while they were thus engaged the eagle eye of the +lady in black fell upon the will which was still lying partially exposed +on the escritoire just as it had fallen from Sir Jasper's hand ere he +had sank into that reverie which had been disturbed by the entrance of +Edith; she obtained but a hurried glance, yet it was sufficient for her +to decipher its full meaning. As she realized this a dark cloud passed +across her features, she moved silently to the window and looked out; +when she again turned the cloud had vanished and her face was calm and +serene. So occupied with the mail bag had been both uncle and niece that +the action of the lady in question, in first glancing over the paper on +the desk and her subsequent movement towards the window, had remained +unnoticed by either. + +"There is a letter for you, my dear," said the Baronet handing one to +Edith. "Oh!" said she joyously, "it is from Arthur. He is the dearest +old fellow, and one of the best correspondents alive; he tells the +funniest stories of the college scrapes he gets into, and how cleverly +he gets out of them, and makes all manner of fun in his caricatures of +the musty old professors." + +"There, there now, away to your own room," said her uncle, "and let me +know what new scrape your dear old fellow has been getting in and out +of, during our walk after dinner." Edith blushed slightly and hurried +out of the apartment. + +"There are no letters for you this morning, Mrs. Fraudhurst, but here +are the London papers, I have no time at present to look over them, and +would feel obliged if you would lay them on the library table." She took +them, and with a graceful courtesy, smilingly left the room, and went +direct to the library, sat down at the table and drew the writing +materials towards her as if about to write; but ere she commenced her +head sank on her hand and she appeared to be, for some moments, lost in +thought. As she will be brought prominently forward as our story +progresses, we had better inform the reader at once, all we know of her +antecedents. + +Mr. Fraudhurst had been a lawyer of some standing in the village of +Vellenaux; he was reported wealthy, and when on the shady side of fifty +married the niece of his housekeeper, much to the disgust of the said +housekeeper, and several maiden ladies of doubtful ages who resided in +the neighbourhood, who had each in her own mind marked him as her +especial property, to be gobbled up at the first opportunity he or +chance might afford them for so doing, and they waxed wrath and were +very bitter against her who had secured the prize and carried it off +when as they thought it just within their grasp. The lawyer and the +Baronet had been upon terms of intimacy for several years prior to the +marriage, and Sir Jasper being a bachelor saw no objection to his +friend's wife visiting Vellenaux, although she had, as he would +facetiously observe, risen from the ranks. + +The lady in question was, at eighteen, tall, pretty and ambitious. She +had at an early age determined to rise above the station in which she +was born, and for that object she had studied most assiduously at the +village school, where she attained the reputation of being the most apt +scholar of her class. A few years residence with a relative London +served to develop her natural abilities, and she lost no opportunity of +pursuing her studies or of affecting the tone and fashion of persons +moving in a far higher circle than her own. + +Education and application she knew would doubtless do much to elevate +her in the social scale, but the position she so earnestly sought for +was to become the wife of some man of good standing in society, whose +means would be sufficient to support her in that style to which her +ambition led her to hope for, and for this she strove hard and was +rewarded for her perseverance by becoming the wife of a reputed wealthy +barrister some thirty years her senior, and for a few years enjoying the +position she had attained, visiting and visited by the uppercrusts of +the place and not unfrequently dining at Vellenaux and otherwise +enjoying the hospitality of its owner. + +When little Edith was about seven years old, Mr. Fraudhurst was gathered +to his fathers, and the sorrowing widow was left in a very different +position than was anticipated either by herself or others who took any +interest in such matters; the house and grounds which she fully believed +to be her own property, passed into the hands of a distant relative of +the deceased barrister, and with the exception of the furniture and some +three hundred pounds in cash, she was no better off than she had been +prior to her marriage; but, being a woman of great tact, she contrived +to keep this circumstance from the knowledge of the enquiring +neighbours, and having applied to the new owner of the premises she +obtained permission to occupy them for a period of six months. + +On the Baronet calling to pay his visit of condolence the lady, who had +previously arranged what she should say and do on the occasion, unfolded +to Sir Jasper her real position and out of friendship for her late +husband claimed his advice and assistance. The worthy old bachelor +declared his willingness to assist her if she could only point out the +way; as to advice he could realty give none on so difficult a matter. + +"Oh! Sir Jasper," exclaimed the widow, in a voice so excellently +modulated to suit the occasion, that the old bachelor was beginning to +feel a real interest in her affairs, "so like yourself, so good of you +to allow me to suggest the way in which you can best serve me in my +peculiar and, I may say, awkward position." + +"There is a way, my dear Sir Jasper, (and here the widow bent over and +placed her soft white hand on his arm) in which I believe you can +materially serve me, and at the same time advance the interest of one +who is, without doubt, more dear to you than any living being; I allude +to dear little Edith." At the mention of his niece's name he looked up +enquiringly as if not quite catching the meaning of her words. + +"You must understand, Sir Jasper," she continued, "that the little +darling is now of an age that will require some person to guide and +direct the development of her young mind and superintend her studies. Of +course, old nurse Simms is an excellent and worthy woman, but not such +an one as the future heiress of Vellenaux should be entrusted to, as she +advances from childhood to maturity. It is an important and responsible +position, and should only be undertaken by those who have already passed +through the struggles and trials of the world, and drank of the cup of +affliction." Here a pearly tear fell upon the hand of the good-natured +Baronet, and here she applied her white laced cambric to her eyes. + +This was the _coup de main_ that carried the day. The soft-hearted +bachelor was not proof against this, besides there was truth and reason +in her suggestions for his darling little niece, and he did not see how +he could, for the present, do better than to offer to Mrs. Fraudhurst +the charge of Edith, and before he took leave it was arranged that the +widow should call at Vellenaux daily and endeavor to gain the confidence +of the child, and at the end of the six months she should give up +housekeeping and be installed as governess and companion for Edith; and +so well did she play her cards that she had scarcely been there twelve +months when she ruled the household as though she were its legitimate +mistress; always heading the table when Sir Jasper entertained his +bachelor friends, and thus, we may say, for several years lived in +clover. Her chief duties consisted in educating Edith and Arthur, which, +for several years, was a task which did not require much mental +endowment or physical exertion. It was, in fact, more of a pastime than +otherwise, and as she always accompanied Edith when visiting the +neighboring families, there was but little monotony to complain of. + +She had a double object in becoming an inmate of Vellenaux. First, that +of securing a comfortable home for several years. But her grand scheme +was that of making herself so necessary to the Baronet, that she could, +in time, undermine the defences, carry the Citadel by stratagem, and +finally become the envied mistress of Vellenaux. But a few months +residence under the same roof served to convince her of the fallacy of +the project; for there were two grand difficulties that she could not +overcome; his strong objection to matrimony, and his affection for his +niece. Therefore, the shrewd and cautious widow had to relinquish her +attack in that direction; and as Edith advanced towards womanhood, her +position became more precarious. There were two events to be dreaded, +and in either case she believed her occupation gone, and these were the +death of Sir Jasper or Edith's marriage. Her income during the years of +her residence with Sir Jasper had been a handsome one, and being at +little or no expense, she managed to accumulate a goodly sum at her +bankers; but the idea of losing her present abode was to her +disagreeable in the extreme, and her busy mind was continually at work +to devise how this could be averted, and this was the way matters stood +with her on the morning alluded to. + +"He is coming home from College next month not again to return, and she +loves him, though she may not at present realize the fact, but that +knowledge will come, and I fear much too soon. Sir Jasper will not +object, and the youth will hardly refuse to accept Vellenaux and twenty +thousand a year, although there be an incumbrance in the shape of a wife +attached to the bargain. Yes, I see it all, they will marry and I shall +be thrown out in the cold unless I have wit enough to prevent it without +appearing to interest myself in any way with what ought not to concern +me. But Arthur Carlton must not remain here. He must be sent abroad, to +America, India, anywhere, it matters not where, so that they be +separated, and that ere long." These were the thoughts that chased each +other through the active brain of Mrs. Fraudhurst, as she sat alone in +the Library. Half an hour had elapsed ere she had quite made up her mind +as to what course she should pursue to avoid the impending evil. Then, +at length, seeming to grasp the difficulty, she took up her pen and +wrote what she thought was likely to transpire at Vellenaux should there +be no one sufficiently interested in the matter to prevent the estate +(which had been in the Coleman family for several generations) from +passing into other hands. This she sent to one whom she had every reason +to believe (for she had observed him well) would not scruple to use any +means to gain possession of the broad lands of Vellenaux. This letter +the cautious widow posted with her own hands, to prevent the possibility +of the address being noticed by either Sir Jasper or Edith. The matter +being thus satisfactorily arranged, she patiently awaited the +developments of the first fruits of the plot against young Carlton. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +It may be remarked, and with a great deal of truth, that the chapters of +a novel bear a certain resemblance to those pleasing illusions known as +dissolving views, where one scene glides almost imperceptibly into +another. The reader has been gazing mentally on woods, landscapes and +water in the South of England, when lo! in the twinkling of an eye, the +busy haunts of men in the world's great capitol, London, stands unveiled +before him. It must, however, be admitted that, so far as scenic effect +is concerned, the change is at times less pleasing than the one just +fading from view. Yet if we wish to realize the plot of the story, the +dark and uncertain shades of the picture should be looked on, from time +to time, as they present themselves. + +On a door, which stood partially open, in the last of a row of gloomy +looking houses situated in one of those dark and narrow paved courts +leading from Chancery Lane to Lincoln Inn Field's, was painted in black +letters on a white ground--"Ralph Coleman, Attorney-at-Law." + +In the ill lit passage to the right was a door that opened into the +front office, where, seated at an old-fashioned desk, was a youth, tall, +thin and pale, busily engaged engrossing some legal documents. A short, +quick step was heard coming up the Court, the handle turned, the door +opened, and a man about the middle height with a slight tendency to be +corpulent, and about thirty-five years of age, entered. "Are those +papers ready," enquired Mr. Coleman of the young clerk, who had ceased +writing on the entrance of his employer. + +"I am finishing the last one now," was the ready reply. + +"Good; and my letters?" + +"They are in the usual place, on your desk," answered the youth, +re-commencing his work. The Attorney moved away and entered his private +office, and seating himself in his old leathern chair, commenced in a +methodical way to open and peruse his letters. + +Ralph Coleman commenced life with very fair prospects. He came of a good +old family and had received a University education, and studied for the +Bar very assiduously for three or four years, but on the death of his +father he came in for five thousand pounds. He then neglected his +profession, and, for a time, led a very fast life in London. When he had +run through about half of his money he went abroad, and while there +married a lady who had a tolerable fortune. They travelled together over +the European Continent, and for several years enjoyed what is termed +life. + +An accident happened to Mrs. Coleman in Switzerland which resulted in +her death. Ralph being again alone in the world, as it were, entered +into all the wild dissipations of Vienna and Paris, which ended in his +ruin; and he returned to England with only a five pound note between him +and beggary. As the cousin and only male relative of Sir Jasper Coleman, +he was heir to the Baronetcy but not to the property. This was +unentailed, and at the will of the Baronet; but should he die intestate +the whole would fall to Ralph. + +But the hope of succeeding to the estate banished, or was at least, to +a considerable extent, quashed, when he learned that Miss Effingham had +been adopted by her uncle, and that likewise he had made a protégé of +the son of his old friend Eustace Carlton, and would no doubt eventually +make a will in their favor; but so far as he could learn, up to the +present time no will had been made. There was a degree of consolation in +this; but in the meantime he must live; he therefore resumed his +profession, and by energy, and the aid of his aristocratic friends, +succeeded in obtaining a tolerable practice. + +He was on pretty good terms with his cousin, and usually went down to +Devonshire for a few days during the shooting season, and on more than +one occasion had Sir Jasper spoken to him of the future career of young +Arthur; but the lawyer generally managed to evade the subject by saying +there was plenty of time to think about that when the youngster should +leave College, and appeared to interest himself very little in the +matter, because he did not see in what way the youth's future career +could affect him; that Sir Jasper might assist Arthur with his interest, +at the outset, and perhaps give him a couple of hundred pounds to help +him on in his profession or calling, he did not at all doubt; but beyond +this Ralph did not believe the Baronet would assist him. + +"Ah!" said the Attorney, as he took up the fourth letter and glanced at +the postmark, "from Devonshire, and the handwriting is that of Mrs. +Fraudhurst; what can that maneuvering woman have to communicate? but we +shall see, we shall see," and at once opened the letter. The contents +were evidently not of an agreeable character, for his brow darken and +his lips were firmly compressed as he read the long and closely written +epistle. At its conclusion he moved for a few seconds uneasily in his +chair, then re-folded the letter and placed it carefully in his +pocketbook. With his head resting on his hand he remained sometime in +deep thought; presently his brow became clear and, turning to his desk, +wrote rapidly for the space of an hour. + +"Scrubbins," said he, addressing his confidential (and only) clerk, "I +am going to Devonshire, but will return the day after to-morrow; you +will find your instructions on my desk, and now give me the deeds; and +remember, should any one enquire for me tell them I am gone to the +country on business, and shall be back the day after to-morrow," and +without farther comment, Ralph Coleman passed out of the office. + +It was a still, calm night in early autumn, the silvery moon looked down +from her deep violet throne amidst the starry heavens; the dull, heavy +sound made by the mighty ocean, as its huge waves were dashed upon the +sea-beat shore, fell audibly on the ear in the silent night. A light sea +breeze swept through the furze bushes that were scattered over the +Downs, across which lay the high road leading past the Park. + +Bridoon, the old gate keeper, was seated on his wooden settle within the +porch of the lodge, smoking a long clay pipe, and occasionally quaffing +long draughts of rare old cider. He was just thinking of turning in for +the night, when a vehicle stopped, and a voice demanded admittance. As +the gates swung open a gig and its occupant passed through and proceeded +at a smart pace along the broad avenue towards the mansion. + +The clock of the village church was striking ten as Ralph Coleman +pulled up at the principal entrance of Vellenaux, and was met in the +hall by Reynolds the old butler, and conducted to the room he usually +occupied when visiting there during the shooting season. + +"Sir Jasper," said the old servant, "has retired for the night, and Miss +Effingham is on a visit to the Willows, but Mrs. Fraudhurst is, I +believe, still in the drawing room; will you please to step in there +until supper is prepared for you." This suited the lawyer exactly, as he +wished to have a few minutes conversation with that lady previous to +meeting the Baronet, for the letter he had received from Mrs. Fraudhurst +was so cautiously worded, that although sufficiently explicit on most +points, there were some portions of it which he could not exactly +understand, or see in what way he ought to act, but doubtless she would +put him right on all matters that were to be brought quietly to the +notice of Sir Jasper. While making some addition to his toilet, it +occurred to him that she might be only making a cat's paw of him to +feather her own nest, but as he could not see clearly how this could be, +dismissed the idea from his mind, and shortly after made his bow to the +widow. + +She rose and received him courteously; apologised for the absence of the +host and his niece, supposed he would feel inclined to retire early, as +doubtless he would wish to rise at the dawn of day, to avail himself of +the excellent shooting which was to be had in the turnip fields, and was +altogether very chatty and agreeable; but she in no way alluded to the +letter she had written, to him, he was therefore compelled to broach the +subject, and before the supper bell rang, a mutual understanding as to +what was to be said and done was arrived at between them. + +The Baronet and Mr. Coleman breakfasted alone on the following morning. +Edith had not returned, and Mrs. Fraudhurst excused herself on the plea +of indisposition, but doubtless she had some other motive for absenting +herself. + +"And you found the birds plentiful, and in good condition," enquired Sir +Jasper, as he pushed away his plate, and turned his chair towards the +bright, cheerful fire which was blazing in the polished grate, and +stooping down to pat a couple of pointers that were crouching +comfortably on the hearth rug at his feet. + +"Yes, indeed, quite so, I do not remember a season when the partridges +have been so plump or in such numbers, but had hoped to have had your +company this morning, but perhaps to-morrow." + +"So I have heard, but you must really excuse me, it used to be my chief +delight to shoot over the grounds and preserves on a fine autumn morning +like the present one, but it is too much for me now, and I have given it +up, but I like my friends to enjoy it. How long can you stay this time?" + +"Only three days; I cannot be absent from town more than that, but it is +well worth the journey to shoot over a friends property, even if only +for three days." + +"Then you must make the most of your time; old Tom the game-keeper will +show you the best covers and general shooting ground. I wish you could +have remained for a week or two, the young fellows belonging to the +neighboring families will be home from school and college, and there +will be plenty of popping then, I promise you. Ah! that reminds me that +Arthur Carlton has finished his education, and is coming home, and it is +not my intention that he should again return to Oxford; and now we are +alone and not likely to be disturbed, I wish you would give me your +opinion as to what profession or occupation it would be best for him to +embark in. I should like to give the youngster a fair start in life. I +have given him the education of a gentleman, and I should like him to +retain that position." + +This was the turn in the conversation the lawyer had been anxiously +waiting for, but he seemed in no hurry to take advantage of it; he +shifted his position so that the light might not fall on his features, +took a pinch of snuff and crossed one knee over the other before he +ventured an opinion on the subject. + +"I know so very little of the young gentleman," he began, "as scarcely +to be able to advise you on a matter of such moment, and have hitherto +declined from so doing on that account, but as you so desire it, I will +give my opinion on the matter according to the best of my judgment." + +"Thank you, thank you, that is all I ask. Then," resumed the lawyer, +"the road by which a young man of education can, by perseverance, hope +to earn for himself a competency and a good position in the social +scale, is that of the church, the navy or in the military service of his +country. As for the pulpit, unless the aspirant has a special tendency +for it, or some good friend who has a living to bestow, he will hardly +realize a sufficient income to support himself as a gentleman; and to +send him up to London to study law, or medicine for two or three years +would but expose him to the temptations and dissipations of that great +city, and it would take years of drudgery before he would be able to +obtain a competency. In my opinion the safest and most expeditious way +of proceeding is to put him into the army; his commission and outfit is +the only outlay, and can be done at once; his position is established, +and it only remains with himself to rise in his profession, and you will +be relieved from all care and responsibility on his account; but +understand me, I do not mean that he should enter one of the regiments, +now in England, to loiter his time away at some country quarters or +fashionable watering place, to fall into debt, difficulty, love, or some +other absurd scrape, but put him into some corps that is now and will be +for some years stationed somewhere abroad, India, for instance, for I +have been, by competent authorities, informed that there an officer can +live comfortably on the pay of his rank. + +"If he is abstemious, and takes care of his health, his promotion must +ensue without purchase, and that, too, in a few years. It is a prospect +that thousands of youngsters would jump at, and one I think that is in +every way suitable for him; this Sir Jasper, is all I have to offer on +this subject." + +This advice of Ralph Coleman's, although given to effect a preconcerted +scheme, was so in unison with the Baronet's views, that he could but +assent to what had been uttered by Ralph, and the lawyer had the +satisfaction of knowing, ere he left the breakfast room, that his +suggestions would be carried out to the letter; and prior to his return +to London he had another interview with the wily widow, at which he +informed her of the arrangement that had been decided upon by the +Baronet in regard to Arthur Carlton's future career. "He will," Ralph +went on to say, "be thus removed out of harm's way for several years, +and perchance may never again cross your path, and I have no doubt while +Sir Jasper lives your position will be secure. I have served your turn +without benefitting myself in any way." + +"Not so," was the lady's reply, "you have but been paving the way for +your own advancement. Why not marry Edith, she is aware that the title +falls to you, but is ignorant of the fact that her uncle has made her +sole heiress, and girls brought up as she has been, will frequently +overlook much to gain a title, and become the envied lady of Vellenaux." + +"With young Carlton out of the way, and separated, as they will be, for +years, any rising passion she may now feel for him will soon die out, +and if you make your advances with caution, and be not too precipitate, +I have no doubt that you will eventually secure both the lady and the +estate, so of the two, I fancy that you have rather the best of the +bargain." And after a little more conversation on the subject, this +worthy pair parted. + +And now let us introduce the youth whose future welfare had been the +difficulty about which the widow and Ralph had given themselves so much +concern. + +A tall, slight, but decidedly handsome youth, between eighteen and +nineteen years of age, wearing the Collegiate cap and gown, was pacing +somewhat impatiently up and down the quadrangle of St. John's College, +evidently expecting the approach of some person whom he was most +desirous of seeing. This was Arthur Carlton, the protégé of Sir Jasper +Coleman. He was an orphan, having lost both parents 'ere he knew them. +His father had been a Peninsular officer and companion-in-arms of the +Baronet, who, on the death of his friend, undertook to see to the +education and future welfare of the little Arthur. On losing his mother +he had been removed under the care of his nurse to Vellenaux, where he +had been only a few months, when the little Edith made her appearance on +the scene of action, and being nearly of an age they soon became good +friends and fond of the society of each other, because of mutual +assistance while pursuing their studies together, which they continued +to do until young Carlton was by his kind patron sent to school, prior +to his going to college at Oxford. Fond of study, he readily acquired +knowledge which he stored up to be used hereafter as circumstances might +demand; he was aware of his real position, and that his future success +in life must chiefly depend upon his own exertions. + +His patron in caring for him during his early years, and giving him the +benefit of a university education, had, in the young man's opinion, +fully carried out the promise made to his father, on his death bed, +whether on the completion of his education his benefactor would continue +to assist him by using his interest to procure him some suitable +position in which he could carve out for himself, a road to name and +fame, he knew not, but nevertheless he felt a deep sense of gratitude +for what had already been done for him, by his father's old friend. He +was becoming restless when the friend expected advanced at a smart pace +to meet him, and proved to be Tom Barton, the youngest son of the +Bartons of the Willows, a worthy old couple who resided on their own +property, the so called Willows which joined the estate of Sir Jasper +Coleman. In this family besides daughters there were two sons, the +eldest Horace Barton had graduated at St. John's, and subsequently had +obtained an appointment in the civil service of the East India Company, +and had gone out to Calcutta, where he had now been for several years. +Tom, like his brother, had been educated at Oxford, and was now about +leaving college to return to his home for a few weeks, prior to his +leaving for London, to pursue the profession he had chosen, that of the +law. + +"Carlton, my dear fellow, you must really excuse me for thus keeping you +waiting; I assure you I could not get away a moment sooner. You can +easily imagine the sort of thing, leaving the companionship of those +whom for years you have been associated with in many a frolic or +academical scrape; but to the point; in what way can I serve you?" + +Carlton drew forth a sealed packet from the pocket of his gown, which he +handed to him, saying as he did so, "you will confer on me a great favor +by calling at Vellenaux and giving this packet into the hand of Miss +Effingham. I would rather she should receive it when alone, you will +manage this for me, will you not?" + +"Certainly, most certainly. I perfectly understand, ah you sly dog; +after the pretty heiress are you? I admire your choice, and would I +think take the field against you, but for my darling cousin Kate, she +will not allow me to flirt with any but herself, so I will do my best +for you." + +Arthur thanked him heartily, and after a few more words the friends +parted, one for his home at the Willows, the other for his small room in +the college. + +Tom Barton kept his promise, and the packet was duly handed to Edith by +him, he having met her walking in the home park the very day of his +arrival. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +The time for Arthur's leaving College had now arrived. A few brief lines +from Sir Jasper, informing him that he was to leave College at the end +of this term for good, but in no way hinting what his future position +through life might be, with a small note enclosed from Edith, was all +that he had heard from Devonshire since his friend, Tom Barton, had left +Oxford; but it was evident from the tone of the Baronet's epistle that +he expected him to make Vellenaux his home, at least for the present or +until some arrangements could be made for his future. + +He was now nineteen, nearly six feet in height and possessed an amount +of strength and muscular power seldom met with at his age. These had +been developed and matured by boat-racing, cricket and athletic +exercises, in which he took great delight. He was likewise an ardent +lover of field sports. From the old Lodge keeper, who had been a rough +rider in Sir Jasper's troop in the light Dragoons through the greater +part of the Peninsular Campaign, he acquired the knowledge of how to sit +the saddle and ride like a dragoon, likewise the complete management of +his horse; nor was the sabre (the favorite weapon of the old soldier) +forgotten, and many a clout and bruise did the youth receive before he +could satisfy his instructor as to his efficiency. Being of an obliging +disposition, the game keepers took a great deal of trouble to make him a +first rate shot, and their exertions were not thrown away, and very +proud they were at the way in which he brought down his birds. + +Surrounded by some half dozen of his most intimate acquaintances, young +Carlton was eating his last collegiate breakfast, as he had to leave for +Vellenaux that morning by the 8.20 train, the usual toasts and +congratulations had been exchanged, and farewell bumpers of champagne +drank, when the porter put his head in at the door and announced in a +sharp short tone, "times up, cab at the door." A general rush was made +in the direction indicated, Arthur jumped into the vehicle, and amid the +shouts and cheers of his friends, was quickly rolled over the stones to +the railway terminus. Ding, dong, ding, dong, waugh, waugh, puff, puff, +and the train moved slowly out of the station, increasing its velocity +until it was whirling along at something very like fifty miles an hour. +On reaching Switchem, the station nearest to Vellenaux, Arthur found his +horse waiting for him, and from the groom he learned that Sir Jasper was +anxiously expecting him, for he had that day accompanied by Edith, gone +as far as the lodge gate, a distance much greater than he had walked for +some time past. This was very satisfactory for Carlton to know, and with +a light heart he sprang into the saddle and cantered merrily along the +high road, leading to the park gates, within which the happiest years of +his youth had been spent; and the welcome he received from all was of +such a character as at once to set at rest any misgivings or +apprehensions he might have felt on this score. + +Sir Jasper was kind, courteous and almost paternal. Edith could +scarcely restrain her delight at the idea of again having in that social +circle the playfellow of her childhood and one who had ever been to her +as a dear brother, a companion and confidant, one from whom she could +always obtain sympathy and advice when annoyed with the petty vexations +of childhoods fleeting day. Even Mrs. Fraudhurst, always courteous and +polite since his exodus from her scholastic charge, was now more affable +and condescending than ever to the Baronet's _protégé_; but she could +afford to be so, for she well knew that he was about to be swept from +her path, for years, perhaps forever. + +The conversation during dinner that evening was animated and general; +all parties appeared in the best possible spirits, and anxious to render +Arthur's return from college an event to be remembered hereafter with +feelings of infinite satisfaction. Soon after the removal of the cloth, +the ladies retired, leaving our hero and Sir Jasper alone; the latter +having finished a glass of fine old crusted port, settled himself +comfortably in his easy chair, and thrusting his thumbs in the armholes +of his waistcoat, thus addressed his _protégé_. + +"Arthur, my boy, you are now, I think, of an age that would warrant you +in judging for yourself as to what particular profession or calling you +are best suited to pursue, in order to make a successful career through +life. Have you ever given this subject a thought? If so, now we are +alone, I should like to hear what your views or ideas may be concerning +that matter; it is one of great importance, and requires serious +consideration." + +Now, although Arthur had anticipated that some such enquiry would be +made by the Baronet, he was not quite prepared as to the precise answer +it would be best for him to make; in fact he was taken a little aback at +the suddenness of the question. He had expected that some days would +elapse before Sir Jasper would broach the subject, but being of a +straightforward and truthful nature, he frankly stated what he thought +respecting his future. "Of course," he said, "Sir Jasper, I shall be +guided entirely by any suggestions you may kindly offer, for to you I +owe everything. The only path that I believe is open to me is that of +Law or Medicine; (and since you allow me) I must candidly acknowledge to +either of those professions I have an antipathy; but if it is your wish +that I should follow either of these, I can assure you that energy and +perseverance shall not be wanting on my part to attain a respectable +standing in whatever undertaking I embark in." + +"Right, Arthur, right; there is nothing like energy and perseverance in +whatever situation, we may be placed in, and now listen to me." The +Baronet here took another glass of port, and motioned to Arthur to do +the same; then continued he, "Law and Physic are both distasteful to me, +nor do I think they are at all suitable for you. The Church is almost +out of the question, as I have no interest in that quarter, and could be +in no way of use to you. You are beyond the age that lads generally +enter the navy; but what say you to the army?" Arthur gave a start at +this proposal, and a beam of delight--which he could not conceal--lit up +his handsome, though somewhat thoughtful face. + +"Oh, Sir Jasper," he exclaimed, "it is the very position I most prize, +but one that I had not ventured to hope could be realized; it has been +the day dream of my youth." + +The kind-hearted old Baronet was evidently much pleased at his young +friend's reply and enthusiasm. He took another glass of wine, then said: +"I promised your father to give you a fair start in life, and I will +keep my word. I have already applied to the Horse Guards on your behalf, +and have the refusal of a cornetcy in the Light Dragoons. There, there, +say nothing; I see you accept it, so that part of the business is +settled so far; but the regiment is now in India, and likely to remain +there for some years. Have you any objections to leaving England? If so, +you are at liberty to withdraw your consent." + +"There is no part of the world that I have so great a desire to visit as +British India. I have both heard and read a great deal of that +extraordinary country. Besides, is it not the land of my birth?" was +Arthur's immediate reply. + +"Then consider the matter settled. You will not be required to join your +regiment until six months after your name appears in the Gazette. I will +write to headquarters and likewise see to your outfit. Of course, you +will remain here until after New Year's, and help us to keep up +Christmas in the good old English style, for probably it may be the last +of the sort you will see for some years; but whatever trials and +difficulties you may have to contend with out there, you may rest +assured that when the time arrives for you to have your troop, the +purchase money shall not be wanting. And now," continued he, as Arthur +was about to reply, "send Reynolds to me, I wish to see him on some +matters before I retire, and you seek Edith and let her know that you +have accepted a commission in the army, as I have not mentioned a word +to her concerning it. Please make my excuses to the dear girl for not +joining her in the drawing room," then shaking him cordially by the +hand, wished him good night. + +On entering the drawing room, Arthur found Mrs. Fraudhurst poring over +her novel and Edith standing by the French window, looking out upon the +Terrace which was now bathed in a flood of pale moonlight. She was +wondering what her uncle could have to say to Arthur to detain him so +long: she had so much to ask about her ponies and her grayhounds and +improvements in her flower gardens, &c. He delivered Sir Jasper's +message, then asked her to step out on the Terrace with him. Hastily +throwing a mantle around her, she was ready to accompany him. Gently +drawing her arm within his own, they passed out of the room, and stepped +on to the Balcony that ran along the entire length of the South of the +building and joined the broad Terrace below by means of a flight of +marble steps. At the extreme end this Terrace overlooked the rich +_partierre_ which, although late in the season, still sent forth its +delicious perfume, borne upwards on the soft breeze of the evening. + +"He has caught at the Indian bait. We have hooked our fish; our next +care is to have him safely landed. The poison of love has not, as yet, +developed itself. The Scarlet Fever will quench all other maladies, at +least until the seas will divide them," and with a self-satisfied smile +upon her still pretty features, Mrs. Fraudhurst betook her self to her +own apartments to concoct an epistle for the information of Ralph +Coleman. + +For nearly an hour did the fair young creature and the youth, who had +ever been to her as a brother, pace up and down the moonlit Terrace. +Arthur related all that passed between him and her uncle. She was as +much delighted as himself at the prospect which had thus suddenly opened +before him; the only drawback was that he would be absent so long from +Vellenaux. + +"But you will write frequently, and come home whenever you can procure +leave of absence. And to think that you will not leave us for three +months. We will have a merry time this Christmas, Arthur, will we not? +and wind up with a fancy ball on the eve of your departure. Oh, it will +be delightful," said the excited girl, carried away by the idea of such +an event. + +Verily, Mrs. Fraudhurst had divined truly. Love's insidious poison had +not yet developed itself in the bosom of either. They returned to the +drawing room, and, after singing together some of their favourite +pieces, they retired for the night. + +It was near morning before Carlton fell asleep; even then his brain +continued to be disturbed by exciting dreams. Now leading a charge of +horses or storming some Indian fortress. Finally he dreamed that he had +rescued some Princess or Rajah's daughter from becoming the prey of an +enormous Bengal tiger, the head of which, strange to say, bore a +striking resemblance to Mrs. Fraudhurst; that the Rajah, in return for +his services, gave his daughter to him for a bride; that the marriage +took place at the little church at Vellenaux. He thought that as the +bride approached the altar in gorgeous attire, and was about to place +her hand within his, a seraph-like form glided between them and his hand +was lovingly grasped by Edith Effingham, when all suddenly vanished in a +thunder storm. He awoke with a start and leaped from the bed, for there +was a loud knocking at the door and the voice of the old Butler +exclaiming, "Master Arthur, master Arthur, Miss Edith desires me to say +that she is going to ride over to the Willows this bright morning and +wishes to know if you would like to accompany her; she is now on the +lawn." + +"Thank you, thank you, Reynolds. My compliments to Miss Effingham, and +say I shall be most happy to be her escort on the occasion," and +hurriedly dressing, was soon by her side, laughing and chatting merrily +as they cantered over the green turf on their way to the Bartons. Yet +Arthur could not altogether dispel the feelings that arose within him, +produced, doubtless, by the strange dreams that haunted his pillow +during the night, or early that morning. + +"Is not that Tom Barton?" said Edith, pointing to the figure of a man, +dressed in sporting costume, seated on the step of a stile, engaged in +lighting a small German pipe, his gun leaning against one of the +uprights and some half dozen partridges lying on the grass at his feet. +As they rode up, Tom advanced to meet them, raised his hat politely to +Edith, and shouted out, "Hallo Arthur, old fellow, how are you. Glad to +have you back amongst us; not much fun in tramping through the turnip +fields alone, although the birds are by no means scarce this season." + +"Thank you, I intend to be amongst them, and together, I think we can +do some execution. How are the ladies at the Willows? And is pretty +little Cousin Kate as capricious as ever?" And here Carlton gave his +friend a poke in the ribs with his riding whip. + +Edith laughed heartily at the sallie; for his attachment to the lady in +question was no secret to her. Tom parried his friend's enquiries as +best as he could, and the trio proceeded at a walk in the best possible +good humour. + +On reaching the Willows they found Tom's sisters and Kate Cotterell on +the gallery. Their approach had been observed by old Mrs. Barton, from +the window of the breakfast room. They were received with a shower of +welcomes, for both Edith and Arthur were general favourites with all the +neighbouring families, and especially so at the Bartons. + +Of course, Arthur's appointment and approaching departure for India was +communicated; all were pleased to hear of his good fortune, though sorry +to lose his society. + +"You will, of course, call upon Horace and Pauline when you reach +Calcutta," suggested old Mrs. Barton, "I dare say you may not recollect +him, but he will remember you, although you were but a curly-headed boy +when he was last in England. You must take out some letters from us to +them." + +Edith had a hurried conversation with Kate Cotterell, Julia and Emily +Barton, on some little project of her own. This being finished, she +beckoned to Arthur, who was smoking and arranging some matters with Tom +Barton at the other end of the gallery; then mounting their horses they +rode slowly back to Vellenaux, in time to breakfast with Sir Jasper, who +was, by no means, an early riser. + +With shooting, (with Tom Barton and some half dozen other College +chums,) visiting his acquaintances, and taking long rides through the +beech woods and over the downs with Edith, who was an excellent +equestrian, for his companion, the first six weeks of Arthur's return +passed pleasantly and rapidly away. He then had to post up to London to +get measured for his uniform, and general outfit, to say nothing of the +numberless commissions which he had been entrusted to execute by his +lady acquaintances, in view of the approaching fancy ball. Being his +first visit to the Metropolis, Arthur determined to see and hear all +that could be and seen heard during his short stay in that wonderful +city. + +Jack Frost, with his usual attendant and companion, snow, heralded the +approach of old Father Christmas, who filed an appearance at Vellenaux +on the morning of the twenty-fifth of December, and right heartily was +the old fellow welcomed. His advent had been announced at daybreak, by +discharges from an old-fashioned field piece which Bridoon (with the +permission of his old commander) had mounted on a wooden carriage to +commemorate his Peninsular victories, while the Bell Ringers rang out a +merry peal from the belfry of the quaint old church in the little +village hard by. Then came troops of merry, laughing children, singing +and chanting old Christmas Carols, and were rewarded by the old +housekeeper with a piping hot breakfast of mince pies, etc., etc. + +After morning service in the church, which was numerously attended, the +laborers and many of the poorer tenants of the estate were regaled with +roast beef and plum pudding, good old October ale and mighty flagons of +that cider for which Devonshire is so justly celebrated. During the +evening there was a dance and supper in the servants' hall, to which +many of the small farmers with their wives, sons and daughters, had been +invited, and a right jovial time they had of it. Dancing, songs, scenes +from the magic lantern, hunt the slipper, blind man's buff, kissing +under the mistletoe, and many other Christmas gambols were the order of +the evening,--and, if one might judge from the bursts of mirth and +laughter that prevailed, this was very much to the satisfaction of all +present. + +The worthy Baronet, attended by Edith and Arthur, visited his work +people during the dinner in the great barn, addressing words of welcome +and kindness to all, nor did he absent himself from the merry-makings in +the servants' hall. + +"Attention, form a line there!" shouted old Bridoon, the lodge keeper, +who was the Sir Oracle of the hour, and had seated himself in a large +arm chair beside the enormous fireplace, wherein the Yule logs burnt +brightly, darting out forked flames of blue, yellow, and crimson, and +sending forth great showers of sparks up the huge old-fashioned chimney +like fire-works on a gala night. + +"Make way there for the Brigadier and his handsome aides-de-camp." The +sharp eye of the old campaigner had caught sight of the party from the +drawing room, which had halted in the door way and was looking on highly +amused at the merry groups that were footing it bravely, and with +untiring energy through the mazes of Irish jigs, Scotch reels and +English country dances. On entering, the mirth ceased for a moment out +of respect to Sir Jasper. "Go on, my good friends, we came to witness, +not to put a stop to your amusement," said the Baronet, as he took a +seat in the chimney corner, supported by Edith and Arthur. The dancing +was again resumed in about half an hour, and the party rose to retire. +Here Reynolds, the old butler, presented his master with a magnum of his +favorite port, which the old gentleman tossed off, wishing them all a +merry Christmas. This was the moment for which Bridoon had been waiting; +he rose and proposed the health of Sir Jasper, Miss Edith, and Master +Arthur, and said, "When lying wounded on the bloody field of Salamanca +little did I think that I should live to enjoy so many years of peace +and comfort in such snug quarters as is now provided for me by my old +commander and benefactor, God bless him," Then addressing Arthur he +said, "Master Arthur, it does my old heart good to know that you have +entered her Majesty's service. You are a good swordsman, a bold rider +('and the best shot in the country,' put in the head game-keeper), no +mean qualifications," continued he, "for a Light Dragoon; and I feel +certain you will turn out as fine a soldier as the Colonel, your +father,--I drink to his memory and your success." Whereupon the veteran +raised a massive tankard of sparkling cider to his lips and took a +mighty draught, which laudable example was immediately followed by all +the men present. The Baronet and his _protégés_ then left the hall. + +There was open house to all comers until after the New Year, and in this +way Christmas had been kept up in that part of Devonshire from time +immemorial. + +But the great event of the season to the upper tandem of Vellenaux, and +its vicinity was the approaching twelfth-night Ball. Sir Jasper had +given _carte blanche_ to his niece to do as she pleased on the occasion +and she did so accordingly. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +Great was the excitement and preparation going on among those invited to +participate in the coming festivities. Of all the places in the county, +Vellenaux was considered the most suitable for the purpose of a Fancy +Dress Ball. There had not been anything of the kind within a circuit of +fifty miles, for at least as many years. The grand old hall, with its +banners and knightly armour of different periods, the magnificent +apartments filled with curiously carved antique furniture, ancient +mirrors and embroidered tapestries, all of which would harmonize with +the costumes of those who would figure about for the _nonce_. Of course +the characters to be assumed were to be kept a secret until they +appeared in the ball room. Edith entered with enthusiasm into all the +arrangements necessary on the occasion, and was materially assisted by +the good taste and judgment of Arthur, to whom she turned for counsel +when at fault as to the grouping of statuary or position of pictures, +and the _toute ensemble_ of the _salle-a-manger_. + +The spacious old picture gallery with its Gothic windows of stained +glass was fitted up as the dancing hall. The statuary armour, banners, +and ancient weapons of past generations had been brought from the Hall +and placed in different positions along the oak pannelled walls, while +large bunches of dark green holly with the bright scarlet berries, +peeping out here and there was hung between the antique pictures of +brave Knights and fair Dames, ancestors of the Coleman family, that +seemed to look down from their massive frames upon the fantastic scenes +below. The oaken floor was covered with a cloth, figured to represent a +tesselated pavement. At the upper end a dais had been erected, +surmounted by an antique chair of state, with several others of the same +description, but smaller on each side. The orchestra was in a small +gallery that crossed the hall at the lower end, the whole brilliantly +illuminated by three massive chandeliers, the adjoining apartments were +arranged as refreshment and supper rooms. + +The Ball was opened with a triple set of quadrilles. The top set, +nearest to the dais or place of honour, was composed as follows: Sir +Jasper as the fine old English gentleman in doublet and trunk hose, with +Edith, looking very lovely, as the Lady Rowena; their _vis a vis_ being +Julia Barton, in the character of Mary Stuart, attended by Arthur, +dressed as a Light Dragoon of the period. The side couples were, Kate +Cotterell, bewitchingly pretty, in the costume of Rebecca the Jewess, +assisted by Tom Barton as the famous Robin Hood. Emily Barton +represented, with very good effect, Maid Marion, under the escort of +young Snaffle of the Lancers, who rode over from the nearest Garrison +Town to captivate some stray heart by personating Young Lochinvar. The +other two sets, figuring in costumes as handsome as they were varied, +were made up of the youth and beauty of the neighbourhood, with the +exception of the bottom couple of the last set; here, Mrs. Fraudhurst +appeared, gorgeously attired, as Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough, with no +other for her partner than Ralph Coleman in the garb of Mephistopheles. +At the conclusion of the first Quadrille, the Baronet seated himself in +the state chair, with his old friends on either side, for their dancing +days like his own was now as a thing of the past, but looking on with +inward satisfaction at the gay assembly, until the memories of their own +youthful days rose pleasantly before them, the rare old wines of the +choicest vintage, from the well-stored cellars of Vellenaux aiding to +keep up these associations, as Waltzes, Polkas, Mazourkas, followed in +rapid succession. Nor was the supper the least agreeable feature of the +entertainment, for country life, and country exercise, equestrian and +pedestrian, over the frozen earth, were wonderful auxiliaries to the +appetite, and both old and young did ample justice to the good things +that were provided for them. + +The Duchess and Mephistopheles kept watchful eye on Edith and Arthur, +but their joyous light-heartedness, and that, too, on the eve of his +departure, convinced the two conspirators that all was going on as +satisfactorily as they could desire. After supper, Sir Roger de Coverly, +the Triumph, and other old-fashioned country dances were introduced, +followed by questions, answers and forfeits, and other Twelfth-night +games, which were entered into with such spirit and animation, that +showed how thoroughly they were enjoyed by those who participated +therein, and it was universally allowed by all present to be the most +charming thing of the kind they had ever attended, and the grey dawn of +day appeared on the eastern horizon ere the last vehicle drove away from +the hospitable mansion of Sir Jasper Coleman. + +On the afternoon of the following day, Arthur was to leave Vellenaux +for Southampton en route for the East. He had put off his leave takings +until the last moment, and he now entered his patron's private library +to say farewell. The parting was more like what might have been expected +between a kind father and a favourite son. "Remember, Arthur," said the +kind old Baronet, in conclusion, "that, should your regiment be suddenly +ordered home, it will always afford me the greatest pleasure to receive +you here whenever the duties of your position will admit of your +visiting us." Here he shook him cordially by the hand, placing as he did +so, a draft on a Calcutta house for three thousand rupees. + +Hastily ascending the grand staircase, Carlton made his way to the +drawing room. His adieu to Mrs. Fraudhurst was courteous and polite, but +there was no exhibition of kindly feeling or sympathy evinced by either. + +Now, although Arthur and Edith in their long rides together had +canvassed over the subject of his departure repeatedly, and the great +benefit he was likely to derive therefrom till they had quite accustomed +themselves to the idea, yet, when the moment arrived, a deep feeling of +regret visibly agitated them both, a feeling which they had never before +experienced, and which there was now no time to analyze. The unbidden +tear rose to Edith's eye as he clasped her hand within his own, and +unable to control himself any longer, he gently drew her towards him and +imprinted a loving kiss on her rosy lips. The next instant he was gone. +No word of love had ever been spoken between them, and this was the +first time that their lips had ever met. At that moment Mrs. Fraudhurst +had looked up from her embroidery, but not in their direction; she was +too discreet for that, her glance rested on one of the large mirrors at +the opposite end of the room, wherein was reflected the full length +figures of the two young friends. The salute did not escape her notice, +nor did she fail to mark that the deep crimson blush that diffused +itself over Edith's beautiful features certainly was not one of +displeasure. + +"Gone, but not a moment too soon," she muttered half aloud. Then turning +to address a few words to Edith found that she also had left the +apartment; gone, doubtless, to seek the privacy of her own chamber. + +On reaching Calcutta, the young Cornet presented himself at the +hospitable Bungalow of the Bartons, and was by them cordially received. +The pretty little Mrs. Barton and Arthur had not previously met, he +being at College when she had paid her wedding visit to Devonshire, but +nevertheless, she was much pleased to have so handsome a cavalier, to +occupy a seat in her barouche while driving along the Chowringee road or +cantering by her side across the Esplanade or round and round the stand +while listening to the delightful music of the band, as was their usual +custom of an evening. + +Good, easy Horace Barton had got over that sort of thing, for after +returning from the Suddur Aydowlett, he would seek the quiet of his +sanctum sanctorum, and with his Hooka and iced Sherbet, would regale +himself until the dressing bell rang for dinner, after which he would +entertain Arthur with stories of the Pindaree War, the suppression of +Thuygee, and relate wonderful feats of looting, perpetrated by the most +expert robbers in the world, the Bheel tribes. + +"But, my friend," said Horace, on one of these occasions, "the greatest +drawback to a young soldier's advancement in this country, is the great +facility that is afforded him for getting into debt; and should you +unfortunately fall into the difficulty, I strongly advise you to draw on +your paymaster, go under stoppages or apply to a friend, but not under +any circumstances have recourse to those scourges of the country, the +native Sheroffs or money-lenders, and in order to fix your attention to +this matter, I will relate a circumstance that occurred to a friend of +mine some years ago, which will, I think, prove to you the danger of +having anything to do with those gentry, as you might not escape their +clutches as my friend ingeniously did. + +"There was no denying that Harry Esdale was the handsomest, gayest and +most popular man in the station, and was generally to be found taking +the lead in any thing that promised fun and frolic. In fact, no ball, +party, picnic, cricket-match, race or private theatricals were +considered complete without him. Having little else to depend upon +besides his pay, no wander that his pecuniary affairs became embarrassed +and were to him a source of great annoyance and trouble. To extricate +himself for the time being from this unpleasant dilemma, he had recourse +to the native Sheroffs, from whom he had borrowed from time to time +certain sums of different amounts at an enormous rate of interest, until +at last he found that he was totally unable to free himself from his +difficulties, or evade his creditors, who haunted him night and day, +dogged his steps, and presented themselves most inopportunely when they +were least expected or desired. + +"He had procured a furlough to Europe, which alone would relieve him +from his tormentors, but alas, he was too well watched to admit of his +leaving the Presidency. Affairs were in this unpleasant state when a +circumstance occurred, which he very adroitly took advantage of, in +order to elude the vigilance of his native persecutors. + +"It so happened that in his troop there was a man that bore a striking +resemblance to him in height and figure, as well as in feature. Just at +this particular juncture, and when his creditors were most clamorous for +settlement, this man died in the Regimental Hospital. On this +circumstance coming to his knowledge, it struck him that he might turn +it to his own advantage, could he but obtain the co-operation of the +Surgeon and one or two of his brother officers. This he soon effected, +so great a favourite as he was could not be refused, besides, was it not +a glorious thing to outwit those native dealers in extortion? + +"The body of the late Trooper was secretly removed from the Hospital to +Esdale's Bungalow, dressed in his full uniform and laid on the bed; a +pistol was then discharged into the mouth of the corpse, and the head +and pillow besmeared with blood, disfiguring the face considerably; the +pistol was then placed on the bed, close to the right hand, and there +was all the appearance that death had been caused by suicide. + +"Fortunately there was a Ball at Government House that evening; this +accounted for his being in full dress. His absence was noticed by many, +and later in the evening the startling intelligence was announced that +Captain Esdale, had destroyed himself by blowing out his brains while +laboring under a fit of temporary insanity. This report spread like +wildfire throughout the native town and soon reached the ears of his +creditors, who flocked to the Bungalow like so many vultures, fighting +and scrabbling with each other for admission, in order that they might +secure for themselves whatever effects might be in the Bungalow, but +were informed by the guard which had been placed there that nothing +could be touched until after the funeral, which took place in a few days +with all the pomp and ceremony necessary on such occasions. + +"All this time Esdale was snugly stowed away in a little room in the +Bungalow of one of his brother officers, and in about a fortnight, when +the hubbub caused by this event had subsided, and the vigilance of the +money lenders withdrawn, they being completely outwitted, he quietly +stepped on board the English Mail. + +"A few months after reaching England, he obtained some cash from his +governor, and through the agency of a friend who offered his creditors +an amount equal to what Esdale had received with an interest of seven +per cent added. This they had at first rejected, but seeing no hope of +any other settlement, at last concluded to accept and delivered up the +I.O.U.'s they had against Esdale. Imagine the surprise and vexation of +these people some two years after on seeing the identical Harry Esdale, +who many believed they had seen buried, coolly smoking his cheroot in +the mess verandah, or basking in smiles of the fair ones as they +cantered gaily across the midan after the heat of the day had passed." +Horace would, doubtless, have added other words of warning and advice, +but Arthur was summoned to attend the Madame Sahib, either in her +drawing room or in the spacious verandah, where she entertained her +friends. And for nearly a month did he enjoy this kind of life, until he +began to believe that India was not the infernal hole that it had been +represented to him by Snaffle of the Lancers (who, by the way, had never +been there); and in his letters to Edith he gave a glowing account of +the city of Palaces and the fascinating Mrs. Barton. + +But it must not be supposed that these matters dwelt long in Arthur's +mind, for a more engrossing subject was ever before him, and that was +the profession he was now entering upon, and the probabilities of his +attaining a position in the service equal to that held by his father, +and he started to join his regiment with a determination to accomplish +this desirable end, or perish in the attempt. + +The district through which he had to pass in order to reach head +quarters was a wild one. There were also several Bheel villages along +the route, nor was there any scarcity of wild beasts in that region, but +to Arthur this was not at all alarming. He had read of adventures and +difficulties that had been met with by officers of the India army while +travelling from one station to another, besides he had a strong desire +to engage in the exciting sport of tiger hunting, boar spearing, etc., +within the Indian jungles. + +On quitting Calcutta, his good friends gave him a _carte blanche_ to +visit them whenever duty or pleasure should bring him into their +neighborhood. + +Fortunately for him a small party of Sepoys escorting treasure to a +station not far distant from the one in which his regiment was +quartered, were to start from Calcutta the same morning. This party he +was directed to take charge of as far on the road as he was going. Nor +was his journey without an adventure as the following incident will +show: + +Within the deep shadow of a grove of stately tamarind trees that grew +on the roadside, and distant about half a mile from a large and populous +Bheel village the tent of our young traveller had been pitched. + +It was a lovely night, Corinnua in her glory diffused her soft silvery +light far and near rendering the shades of the jungle still more deep by +contrast. All was hushed in silence; the busy hum in the village had +ceased and no sound broke on the silent night, except the occasional +bark of the Parrier dog, or the cry of the lurking jackall and the +measured tread of the native sentinel, as he paced to and fro in front +of the door of the tent. The remainder of the small guard were soundly +sleeping in a little routie tent on the opposite side of the road. + +Arthur had been out shooting the latter part of the afternoon and +evening, and had, as usual, taken from the village several natives as +guides and beaters. On his return he had called them to the door of his +tent, opened one of his trunks, and out of a bag, containing two or +three hundred rupees, paid them liberally for their trouble; one of the +party he noticed appeared to eye the bag with a greedy, covetous eye, +but he said nothing, and the party left, seeming well satisfied with +what they had received. After indulging in a bath he was ready for the +evening meal, which consisted of chicken, curry or broiled partridge +with several etceteras, which he washed down with a bottle of Allsopps' +pale ale, and betook himself to his easy chair and cheeroot under the +majestic Tamarinds, which were undulating gently in the soft breeze of +the evening. + +There was a small shade lamp burning on the camp table by the side of +the iron cot, on which Arthur had thrown himself, being somewhat tired +of his ramble in the jungle. He had taken up a volume of the Pindaree +war, but had not perused more than a dozen pages when he felt drowsy and +sleepy. He had accustomed himself to sleep with his revolver under his +pillow, his right hand grasping the handle. Somewhere about eleven +o'clock he was lying on his back with his left arm thrown across his +chest, and his hand over his face, half asleep and half awake, he +fancied he heard a sound similar to that made by sand rats or rabbits +while burrowing. The sinister look of the Bheel he had paid in the +evening instantly flashed across his mind. Separating his fingers, +sufficiently to admit of his seeing through them, he glanced in the +direction from which the sound proceeded, and waited patiently, keeping +a firm grasp of his pistol. Presently the sand beneath the wall of the +tent near the foot of his cot gave way gradually, and a small aperture +presented itself, which increased by degrees. By and by the head and +shoulders of the identical Bheel showed themselves inside the tent; his +hawk eye darted a rapid glance all around, but most especially at the +prostrate and apparently sleeping form of Carlton he then drew the +remainder of his body, which was perfectly naked, through the aperture +and stood erect and for a few seconds remained at the foot of Arthur's +bed, and listened to the heavy breathing which he effected; then, with a +gliding motion, moved towards the trunk containing the rupees, but still +keeping his face half turned in the direction of the bed so that he +could observe the slightest alteration, should any be made in the +position of its occupant, he then endeavored to force open the lid with +his creese, but finding he could not succeed in this, he took from +behind his ear a small piece of wire, with which he attempted to pick +the lock, but in order to effect this he had to rest his eye on the key +hole for a second or two. This was the moment for which Arthur had been +anxiously waiting. Instantly the eyes of the Bheel were withdrawn from +him. He brought his revolver from under his pillow, and passing it +beneath the light coverlet, placed the barrel across his left leg, which +he gently raised, at the same time removing the cloth clear of the +muzzle, brought it in line with the ribs of the robber and fired. The +bullet went straight to the heart, and the ruffian Bheel fell dead +without uttering a groan or sound. + +"What is the matter," enquired the sentry, stopping at the door of the +tent, which had been closed to keep out the night dews. + +"Nothing," Arthur had promptly replied, "I have discharged my pistol by +accident, and am going to reload it, that is all. But when the Nique +comes with the relief tell him to send the Havildar to me, I wish to +speak to him." The sentinel then resumed his walk up and down his post. +Arthur then with his hands quietly enlarged the hole by which the robber +had entered, into which he pushed the body and covered it with the sand +which had been thrown up, and the tent resumed its original appearance; +then, after washing his hands and refilling the empty chamber of his +revolver, he dressed himself for the march. + +At twelve o'clock the Havildar made his sallam at the tent door. "Come +in, Havildar," said Carlton, "I have changed my mind; instead of +marching at four a.m., the usual hour, I wish to start with as little +delay as possible. Go round, wake up the cart men and have the cattle +put to with as little noise as practicable, fall in the guard, and, +when we have moved off some distance, I will tell you the reason of this +change in the hour of marching. Let everything be done as quietly as may +be; also tell the Syce to bring my horse round directly." The Havildar +received his orders (native like) without remark, saluted and went to +see them carried out. When the escort had got about a mile from where +they had encamped, Arthur related what had taken place in his tent the +night previous. This was a sufficient inducement for them to accelerate +their speed to the utmost in order to get beyond the precincts of the +Bheel, as they well knew that in the event of the discovery of the body +the whole village would turn out _en masse_ to revenge his death, but +having some four hours start Arthur and his party arrived at the +station--where he was to part from them--without molestation or pursuit, +as far as he was aware of. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +This adventure fully developed his coolness and courage when aroused to +immediate action by any unexpected danger. This gained for Arthur the +favorable opinion of his brother officers. Although he, on joining, made +no mention of the circumstance, until in course of casual conversation +the affair leaked out. Soon after joining he wrote to Sir Jasper +informing him of his safe arrival, and to Edith a long and interesting +account of his journey from Calcutta to Karricabad, in which he +portrayed with faithful accuracy his encounter with a Bheel, and many +other incidents which he thought likely would interest or amuse her. In +describing the scenery and general features of the wild districts he had +to pass through, he said: + +"After traversing for miles the hot and dusty plains of Hindostan, quite +unexpectedly you will come upon a tope or grove of fruit trees, planted +in regular rows, with a well or tank of spring water, and a place to +bathe in built in the centre, where the weary and way-worn traveller +could bathe and wash away the heat and dust of the road, and cool his +parched throat with a draught of the pure element, gather as much of the +rich fruit as he may wish, to appease his appetite if hungry; then, in +the soft mossy grass, beneath the overhanging branches which effectually +protect him from the heat and glare of the sun, enjoy a sound sleep, +awake refreshed and proceed on his way rejoicing. In European countries +where hotels and places of accomodation are to be met with at every +turn, this may appear of little moment, but in the East where there are +no such places to obtain food or shelter from the powerful rays of the +sun, this is an inestimable boon. On enquiring how these Topes or groves +came to grow in places so far distant from any other cultivation, I was +informed that they were planted by rich high caste natives, as a penance +that was imposed upon them by the Brahmin priests for sins of omission +or commission against their creed. By the way, I heard the other day a +good story concerning these said Topes. It appears that a certain ensign +of the Company's service, who had been furnished with his commission and +outfit by an elderly maiden aunt of a serious and pious turn of mind, +whose positive injunctions to him on leaving England were that he was +not to attempt to impose upon her with any account of dangers, +difficulties, or surprising adventures that were not strictly true, for +she hated liars, and would cut him out of her will if she detected him +indulging in anything of the sort; but requested that he would write to +her a full, true and particular account of his first battle, should he +be engaged in one. + +"At the commencement of his first campaign he wrote to the old lady a +long descriptive letter, but unfortunately he did not pay sufficient +attention to his orthography, and so came to grief, for one paragraph of +the letter ran thus: + +"'Our entire brigade, ten thousand strong, halted about six in the +morning, and by seven the whole of the tents were snugly pitched, and we +were taking our breakfast comfortably in the tops of trees which grew on +both sides of the road.' + +"He spelt the word Topes without the capital or letter e. Tents for ten +thousand men pitched in the tops of trees. Oh, was there ever such a +monstrous falsehood, and the poor old lady fairly shook from head to +foot with pious indignation. The letter was returned to the writer +without remark or comment, and she was never again heard to mention the +name of her nephew, and on her death, which occurred soon after, it was +found that she had bequeathed the whole of her property to establish a +mission for diffusing the Gospel truth among the natives of the Fiji +Islands, and the unfortunate victim to bad spelling was left lamenting." + +In another of his epistles to the fair young girl in merry England, he +winds up with the following: "Much has been said and written concerning +the sagacity of some animals, especially the elephant, horse and dog, +but the other day I was an eye witness to a fact which developed the +cunning, reason, instinct, or call it what you will, of the Indian +Jackall. Having sauntered from my tent in the cool of the evening +through some wild cotton plants, down to a clump of shady trees that +grew at no great distance from the river, I sat down to enjoy a cigar, +and while so doing I observed the following incident: A jackall, one of +the largest I believe I had ever seen, came quietly out from the cover +of the jungle and made for the river, having in his mouth a large bunch +of cotton; curious to know to what purpose he intended applying his +mouthful, I watched him. Having reached the water's edge he turned +deliberately round and faced in the direction where I was seated, but +not in view, then depressing his bushy tail he gradually backed into the +water; very slow, indeed, was his backward movement, but on gaining the +centre of the somewhat shallow stream his whole body became submerged, +leaving nothing visible above the water but the tip of his nose; +suddenly he dived, and reappeared on the opposite bank. After giving +himself a good shake, he scampered off, apparently in high glee, leaving +the cotton floating on the surface of the water. Determined to find out +if possible the meaning of this strange proceeding, I walked to the +river's bank, and wading some paces in contrived, with my long riding +whip, to get hold of the piece of cotton. You may judge of my surprise +on finding it to be actually alive with enormous flees. The cunning +jackall had taken this effectual means of ridding himself of his +troublesome companions." + +But ere long scenes of a much more stirring character engaged the +attention of our young soldier, and letter-writing had to a considerable +extent to give way to the flashing of the sabre and the blurr of the +trumpet. The Punjaub was again swarming with a discontented population, +whose warlike natures rendered them a most formidable foe for everywhere +it was acknowledged that the Seik soldiery as a body were very +effective, and their cavalry the finest horsemen in the country. These +had yet to be conquered and the bloody fields of Mooltan and +Chillianwalla had to be fought and won, and the campaign on the Sutlej +brought to a successful termination, ere the troops about to be engaged +could return to peaceful quarters. + +These brave, but now lawless people, rendered desperate by the internal +commotion of petty factions under different leaders, each seeking his +own personal aggrandizement, endeavored to throw the onus of the coming +struggle on the shoulders of the British Government, though it was +patent to all nations, European and Asiatic, that it had been brought +about by the Punjaubees themselves. + +The bloody fields of Allewal and Sabranon, where they had been severely +beaten, was not sufficient to deter these dusky warriors or prevent them +from again trying their strength with the paramount power in India, +formidable as they knew it to be from past experience, but it is +doubtful whether the Seik soldiery ever seriously thought, although they +often hauntingly boasted of fighting with the greatest power in +Hindostan, until within two or three months of the first battle, and +even then the rude and illiterate yeoman considered that they were about +to enter upon a war purely defensive, although one in every way +congenial to their feelings of pride and national jealousy. To the +general impression of the Seiks, in common with other Indian nations, +that the English were and are ever ready to extend their power, is to be +added the particular bearing of the British Government toward the +Punjaub itself. + +Throughout this campaign it was by the fortune of war determined that +Arthur's Regiment should serve, and among the brave men who rode in its +ranks no heart beat higher or bosom burned with greater military ardor +at the prospect of glory now opening before them, than that of Arthur +Carlton, for with him promotion was the oyster to be eagerly sought for, +but which could only be opened by the sword, and no service, however +dangerous, must be shirked, in order to attain this desired end. + +"Gentlemen, it affords me much pleasure to be able to announce to you +that I have just received the order for the Light Dragoons to proceed +forthwith and join the field force now advancing towards the river +Sutlej, for the purpose of reducing the strong fortress of Mooltan, and +capturing its Dewan, the notorious Moolraj, who for some time past has +been sowing the seeds of disaffection amongst his subjects, and has at +last succeeded in inducing the Seiks and others to take up arms and act +offensively against our Government. This, of course, can lead to but one +result--their overthrow and ultimate defeat; but it will also give our +regiment an opportunity of gaining fresh laurels and again proving to +these fellows how dangerous it is to measure weapons with British +cavalry. We march the day after to-morrow." + +Thus spoke Colonel Leoline, commanding the regiment in which young +Carlton was serving as a cornet. + +This news, so pleasing to the ear of the soldiers, was received with the +utmost enthusiasm by every officer present. They gave three cheers for +their gallant leader, and another rouser for the service they belonged +to, which made the walls of their mess room ring again, so delighted +were they at the prospect of leaving their quiet, humdrum quarters for +the dash and excitement of the battle field. + +The panorama which opened to the view on the mornings of the--was +glorious in the extreme, and one well calculated to awaken feelings of +emotion in the most obdurate breast. The dark waters of the Sutlej +glittering in the sun's rays as they flowed onward, all unconscious of +the bloody strife about to be enacted on its banks: the frowning +fortress, with its embattled walls bristling with cannon and swarming +with men, whose dusky figures beamed with hate and defiance; around the +outskirts of the town were the battalions of Seik soldiery, drawn up +under the Dewan Moolraj, watching with savage anxiety the approach of +the British force, whose regiments of cavalry that headed the advance +opened their glittering ranks to the right and left and made apparent +the serried battalions of infantry and the frowning batteries of cannon. + +The scene was grandly magnificent. The eye included the whole field and +glanced approvingly from the steady order of one foe to the even array +of the other. All this spoke gladness of mind and strength of heart; but +beneath the elate looks of the advancing warriors there lurked that +fierce desire for the death of their fellow-men which must ever impel +the valiant soldier. + +With the general details during the progress of the siege our story has +little to do,--suffice it to say that it was a bloody and protracted +affair. The Mooltanees fought with their usual desperate valor, but they +had to cope with men who never turned their backs upon a foe when the +fiat of battle had gone forth, who scorned to yield even when greatly +outnumbered, and regarded defeat, if not actually a crime, an +imperishable disgrace; and so the strife waged fast and furious up to +the closing hours of the conflict. + +The siege and train heavy ordinance of the besieging force hurled their +ponderous shot and shell against the masonry and buildings that defended +the town and citadel, destroying, crushing, and burning with terrible +effect, while the field artillery poured forth continuous discharges of +lighter projectiles of every description then in use, sweeping with +dreadful result every opposing force that appeared on the walls or other +parts of the fortification. Amid the dire confusion and heavy clouds of +smoke caused by the incessant cannonading the Infantry effected an +entrance among the advanced mounds and trenches of petty outworks, and +animated by their partial success, formed themselves simultaneously into +wedges and masses, and headed by their brave leaders rushed forward in +gallant style. With a shout they leaped the ditch and up swarming +mounted the ramparts and stood victorious amid the captured cannon. + +The cavalry were effectually employed around and about the outworks of +the town, and many a dashing charge and smart encounter took place +wherever the enemy's horse made a sortie or sally, which was of frequent +occurrence. + +Wherever the blows from the tulwa's of the Seik horse rained heaviest +there was to be seen the flashing sabre of our young Cornet, cutting and +slashing with right good will. The early training of old Bridoon stood +him in good stead, and although scarcely twenty-one he had strength and +nerve far beyond his age, and on several occasions his conspicuous +bravery drew forth the hearty plaudits of his own men and others who +witnessed his dashing courage. + +In one of the outworks captured from the enemy during the early part of +they siege had been erected a field hospital for the wounded, under +charge of Assistant Surgeon Dracott of the Light Dragoons. Now it so +happened that on the day of the grand attack a party of Seik horse in +attempting to effect a retreat from the town were met by the Dragoons, +and after a severe contest driven back and pursued as far as it was +thought advisable. A number of these fellows turned down a narrow +passage in hopes of escaping into the country at another point less +guarded, and in so doing came suddenly upon the hospital alluded to, in +which there was a considerable number of poor fellows who had been more +or less hurt during the attack. Filled with rage and discomfiture at the +failure of their first attempt, and seeing the place was guarded only by +a small party of Sepoys, for whom they had a supreme contempt--for the +independent yeomanry warriors of Afghanistan and the Punjaub held in +light estimation the hired native soldiery of Southern India. There were +numerous instances on record during the Afghan and Seik wars where the +men of the North were seen, sword in hand, to attack the Company's +Sepoys, beat down or turn aside their bayonets, and with the other hand +drag them from the ranks by their cross belts and slay them. Even when +run through the body they have been known to seize a firm grip of the +musket until they had dealt a fatal blow to their antagonist and both +fall together mortally wounded, so hostile and revengeful were they one +to another when engaged in conflict, creed against creed, for the Sepoys +of the South were, as a rule, Hindoos, while the Seiks and Afghans were +Mahomedans--they conceived the brutal design of destroying the Hospital +and ruthlessly putting to death all they could lay their hands on, in +revenge for the morning's defeat, then escape to the plains beyond the +town. After a few moments' consultation they commenced the onslaught; +the Sepoy guard made but a feeble resistance to these powerful horsemen, +they threw down their arms and fled in haste leaving the poor invalids +to their mercy. + +Draycott the moment he guessed their design sprang on to his horse, +which fortunately stood ready saddled at the door of the Surgery, and +rode straight at the leader of the party, a huge, burly Seik, and +engaged him; but he with his light sabre, and less powerful arm, was no +match for the Mahomedan soldier, who with one blow smashed the +regulation toasting fork, and with his left hand seized the Surgeon by +the shoulder, and was forcing him backwards preparatory to giving him +the final thrust through the throat; the other scoundrels being engaged +in beating down the bayonets of the guard. At this critical moment, and +before a man of the wounded had been touched, about a score of troopers, +headed by Carlton, appeared on the scene of action, and entirely changed +the programme. With a single stroke of his flashing sabre, Arthur dealt +their leader such a blow that he was fain to release his hold on +Draycott and turn to defend himself; by this time the conflict had +become general fierce and bloody. + +"Death to the cowardly ruffians; save our wounded comrades," shouted +Carlton, as, with a vigorous thrust he sent his weapon deep into the +chest of his dusky opponent, placing him at once and forever _hors de +combat_. Imitating the dashing conduct of their youthful leader the +Dragoons fought as British Soldiers can fight when their mettle is up, +and roused by the gallant bravery of their pet officers, in less than +twenty minutes from the striking of the first blow every one of the Seik +horse were either cut to pieces or taken prisoners. The report of the +encounter was spread far and wide, and not a man in the regiment, from +the colonel to the trumpeter stood so high in the estimation of both +officers and men throughout the Brigade as did our hero. Conspicuous +bravery on the battle field seldom fails to elicit rapturous applause +from every branch of the service. + +The fall of Mooltan and the capture of its Dewan Moolraj did not, as +had been anticipated by many, put an end to the campaign. Disaffection +and disloyalty had spread throughout the country, and the Seiks were +everywhere arming to resist what they were pleased to assert was the +intention of the East India Company, namely: the subjugation of the +entire country of the five rivers; and large masses of soldiery, under +experienced leaders, had congregated on the plains eager for the fray. +Not many days elapsed after the reduction of Mooltan before the army +received orders and pressed on with all expedition to that part of the +country where the battle of Chillianwalla was to decide the question at +issue between the contending forces. + +The result of the first day's struggle was undoubtedly very much in +favor of the Seiks, and can only be accounted for in this way: The +followers of the Prophet had for a considerable time been massing +themselves under experienced leaders and had established their position +in a manner best suited to resist the advancing foe, this they were +enabled to do by their thorough knowledge of the the country, without +any great exertion or hardship, being undisturbed, and certain that the +enemy could not approach but in a certain direction, and that point +alone had to be watched. But not so with the British. Long forced +marches, outlying pickets, advance guards, and all the harrassing +fatigues incident to moving through an enemy's country had to be borne. +This to a considerable extent wearied the European soldiery, though it +could not dispirit or discourage them, and again they were suddenly +attacked ere they were well prepared to do battled. Yet they pressed on +to a scene which was to terminate in so bloody a conflict. But the +second day told a very different tale; whatever advantage had been +gained, during the early stage of the fight, was not only nullified, but +their successes became a sort of _Ignis Futuris_ that lured them on to +their destruction, for during the night the British were reinforced by a +column of fresh troops from Bombay and the action opened with twofold +vigor, and so the mighty tide of battle rolled on. Towards evening the +decisive blow was struck; the Seiks were beaten at all points and fled +in wild confusion and dismay, leaving their unconquerable antagonists +masters of the field. + +"Colonel," said an aide-de-camp, dashing up at full gallop, "your +regiment will move one hundred and fifty paces to the right," and then, +touching his horse with his spur, darted off in another direction. +"Threes right forward," and the Dragoons moved to the position assigned +them. A brigade of guns that had been brought up under cover of the +cavalry now opened upon the advancing Seik horse with terrible effect, +throwing them into such confusion as to prevent them from rapidly +reforming. At this moment the order was received for the Dragoons to +wheel into line and charge, and ere the Seiks had recovered, were among +them, and the flower of the enemy's cavalry had to give way before the +impetuous charge of our light Dragoons. There were more hand to hand +encounters in this affair than has been recorded in any other engagement +of the campaign. During the melee, one of the commanding General's +A.D.C.'s had a narrow escape. A powerful looking Seik rode at him, but +on coming within arm's length the staff officer's horse stumbled over +some dead or wounded men; the sword of the dusky warrior was raised to +give the blow, which must have proved fatal, and in another moment there +would have been a vacancy on the General's staff, but Arthur, who had +been hewing with might and main within a few yards of the spot, seeing +the imminent peril of his countryman, dashed up, shortening his sabre as +he did so, and, with a powerful thrust, sent it clean through the body +of the Seik; the blow intended for the head fell harmless on the plated +scales of the epaulet of the aide as he recovered himself in the saddle. + +"Thanks, Carlton, my dear fellow, for this good service; I will not +forget it, should it ever come to my turn to assist you in any way," was +all that could be said in the hurry and excitement of the conflict, for +the tide of battle still rolled on. A two gun sheet battery which had +been committing great havoc on a column of infantry, was still throwing +grape and canister with murderous effect. These discharges had again and +again swept through the little party. The Seik gunners stood manfully to +their guns until the Infantry came within fifty yards of them. "Charge, +men, charge," shouted a very handsome officer of the Bombay Fusiliers, +"they cannot stand the bayonets of the old Toughs. Forward." The men +sprang to the charge, and about one hundred of the Fusiliers to the very +teeth of destruction, facing inevitable death with a coolness and +fearlessness so characteristic of the British soldier. But a body of the +enemy's horse suddenly appeared on the flank of the column of Infantry +compelling them to form square to resist cavalry, and thus the brave +little party were placed in a precarious position, being cut off from +their supports. A withering volley from the right and rear face of the +square, followed by a rapid file-firing from the standing ranks, emptied +quite a number of saddles and drove the troopers off. + +An officer of Dragoons at the head of a party of his men rode at the +Seik artillerest, who, with the exception of two, abandoned their guns +and were endeavouring to escape by retreat, but they were all either cut +down or captured. The two who yet remained at their post waited for the +Infantry to advance sufficiently close to make their fire tell with +murderous effect, they then raided their lintstocks to fire, which must +have proved horribly fatal to the Fusiliers, when Arthur Carlton, for it +was he who led, appeared out of a cloud of dust and smoke close to the +Battery. Leveling his pistol, he shot down one of the Seik gunners, the +lintstock of the other was within a few inches of the vent. A second +more and a frightful gap would have been made in the ranks of the +advancing Fusiliers. + +A shout that can only be given by a British throat, broke on the ear of +the unfortunate artillerest, who hesitated for a moment. It was his +last, for a down stroke from Arthur's flashing sabre fell upon his neck, +separating the head from the body. The Fusiliers dashed up, and the +battery that dealt so much destruction among the Infantry was captured +at last. + +"Splendidly done, by Jupiter. Those men are the Fusiliers of the Bombay +column, are they not? and who is that cavalry officer?" + +"Cornet Carlton, Light Dragoons, your Excellency; the same officer who +saved your Excellency's despatch and my life, that I mentioned to you +some half hour since," was the earnest reply, of one of the aides. +"Gallant fellow, bravely done, only a Cornet, must have his +Lieutenancy, Hargraves, see that I do not forget this in my despatches +to the Government to-morrow." Then, turning to his Chief of Staff, said, +"Give orders for the Dragoons and Light Artillery to pursue for half an +hour. The enemy is beaten at all points, and get the Infantry under +canvass with as little delay as possible." "The action is over," said +the Commander-in-chief, closing his field glass, and with his staff left +the ground. And thus, after two days hard fighting, the name of +Chillianwalla was added to the list of victories that has been +emblazoned on the page of history, showing the prowess and valour of +British troops in India, and the name of Arthur Carlton was added to the +list of Lieutenants borne on the muster roll of the Light Dragoons. + +It is not our intention to take the reader over the battle fields of +Peshawa, suffice it to say that our Dragoon, with his regiment, scoured +the plains of the Punjaub up to the very mouth of the Iron Kybre itself, +which had proved fatal to so many of our gallant countrymen. + +A group of officers had assembled around the withered and charred stump +of a large tree, chatting and smoking, the ruddy glare of the +neighboring camp fire throwing its fitful light upon the uniform and +accoutrements of the little party, showing them to be no other than our +old friends of H.M. Light Dragoons, waiting for the order to commence +their morning's march. + +"Why are we not on the move?" enquired Major Hackett, as he joined them. + +"Something gone wrong with the baggage, I suppose," responded one of the +party, "but here comes old Rations, (for it was by this name that the +Quartermaster was usually styled by the men of his Regiment) he, +perhaps, can tell us something about it." + +"Well, Quartermaster, can you explain the cause of the delay. Have you +seen the Colonel, or are we to be kept here all day?" and the Major +flung away the end of his cigar with an air of annoyance. The +good-humored Quartermaster explained, in somewhat of a round-about way, +that everything would be all right in a few minutes. + +"Out with it, Davison, tell us what is the row. You don't laugh all over +your face and half way down your back for nothing, I know," said Arthur, +reining up his horse alongside that of the Quartermaster, who, by the +way, was a special friend of our young Lieutenant. "Just illuminate and +turn on the gas a little, as it were." + +"Well, then, gentlemen," resumed that worthy functionary, "it appears +that this morning, on the elephants being brought up to carry the mess +and Hospital Tents, one of the number was found to be missing, and the +Muccadem declared that it was useless to attempt to put anything extra +on the others, for that they would not stir a peg if so overloaded. I +did not know what to do in this dilemma; the tents could not be left +behind, so I sent for Fortescue, who was in charge of the Government +cattle, to ask his advice. In a few minutes he came cantering up. I +explained matters. The elephant cannot be far off." At this moment a +Muccadem came running up to say that the animal was in the jungle, about +a quarter of a mile off, but was refractory and would not budge an inch +in the direction of the camp. + +"Divide his load among the other four," said Fortescue. + +"But they will not carry it, sir," replied the native Inspector. + +"I know that as well as you can tell me, but do as I order you." + +The Inspector salammed and obeyed, but the animals would not move. "Now +take off the load from two and give them a couple of tether chains." +This was done, the loads removed, and a long chain, used for camp +purposes given to each, who caught them up with their trunks and seemed +to know exactly what they were expected to do with them. They were then +led into the jungle where the other one was said to be. + +"You will see some fun presently," said Fortescue, and he was right, for +in a very short time the refractory animal was seen coming into camp at +the top of his speed, shrieking and crying, closely followed by the +other two, who were thrashing him soundly with the chains that had been +given to them for that purpose. There is no doubt they gave him to +understand that they did not intend to carry his load for him. + +I have heard elephant stories before, but it was most ridiculously +absurd to see that great mountain of flesh crying like a whipped child, +go down on his knees and quietly receive his burden without any attempt +to hurt or molest his keeper. + +All the baggage was by this time off the ground; the regiment got the +order to advance, which they did with right good will, for both officers +and men of the Light Dragoons were equally satisfied to find themselves +once more approaching their comfortable quarters in Karricabad. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +Smiling Spring, with her ever-changing episode of sunshine and tears, +had twice come and gone. The gorgeous fields of golden grain had for a +second time bent their heads beneath the harvest side, and the autumnal +tints of every hue and shade had again fallen on the rich foliage of the +magnificent old woods of Devon, while the whirr of the pheasant in the +preserves, and the popping at the partridges among the turnips, +indicated that the shooting season had once more commenced over the +broad lands around Vellenaux. + +Things wore much the same aspect as they had done on Arthur's return +from College and prior to his departure for the sunny plains of +Hindostan some eighteen months since. Sir Jasper was apparently hale and +hearty. Edith had finished her education, on which her uncle had spared +no expense, for masters and professors had been procured from London to +superintend her studies. She was perfectly happy, occasionally receiving +letters from Arthur, which always afforded her much pleasure to peruse +and think over, and frequently would she detect herself gazing upon his +photograph in the pretty little locket he had sent her from Oxford by +Tom Barton, and which, since his departure, she constantly wore. + +Ralph Coleman's visits had become more frequent of late; this at first +did not attract Edith's notice. She had never been prepossessed in his +favour, but as her uncle's kinsman, and being heir to the Baronetcy, her +deportment to him had ever been polite and affable, but subsequently his +attentions became so marked that they aroused her to a sense of his real +meaning. Yet she could scarcely bring herself to believe that such was +really the case, and but for the delicate hints and inuendos that +occasionally fell from the double dealing widow, she would, there is no +doubt, have remained for a much longer time unconvinced of his +intentions towards her. However, time was passing on and Ralph made up +his mind to bring matters to the point. One lovely afternoon, as he was +entering the conservatory, he espied the fluttering of a woman's dress +among the shrubs and flowers, and on coming nearer, though still at some +little distance, perceived a lady walking slowly and as if in deep +thought. Feeling quite certain that it was no other than the one he was +in quest of, and thanking the fates for giving him the long wished for +opportunity, he advanced more quickly and was soon beside Edith (for she +it proved to be) before she was aware that any one was near. Turning, +with something of a surprised look on her lovely face, she exclaimed, +"Oh, how you startled me. I thought you were on the way to London. I am +quite amazed to find you here." + +"I hope my presence is not distasteful to you," he said, gently, at the +same time lifting his hat and bowing low before her. He really cared +nothing for the beautiful girl at his side, for he was thoroughly +selfish; nor did he care by what means or how low he had to stoop to +gain possession of the object wished for. + +Edith, knowing her own feelings, and not wishing to say aught to hurt +or offend him more than was actually necessary, scarcely knew how to +answer him, disliking him as she did. Still she had nothing to complain +of, for he had ever paid her the most marked respect. Before she could +frame her answer he spoke again, "Edith, I have for some time been +wishing to speak to you on a subject very near my heart. I love you +dearly and have long done so, will you be my wife, or, at least, give me +some hope that my suit may be acceptable at some future time? only give +me one encouraging smile, one ray of hope, and I will drudge on +patiently until you bid me come to you." + +"Oh no," Edith replied, "you must not wait, you must not hope, I can +never be yours. Go, leave me." Before she had well finished, Ralph +Coleman had seized her little white hands in his strong grasp, and said +in a deep, hoarse voice, "Edith, I ask you again will you be mine?" + +Surprise, astonishment, and a feeling very like indignation took +possession of Edith. + +"Mr. Ralph Coleman," she said, "before I answer any more questions, +release my hands." As he did so she raised her head proudly, and turning +towards him with a heightened color, said, "I have already told you that +I cannot love you, and am surprised that it is not sufficient. I thank +you for the honor you intended, but beg that you will never mention this +subject to me again." + +As these words fell upon his ear, Ralph Coleman's face changed and +darkened visibly, an evil light came into his eyes, and an ugly frown +contracted his brow, then, with a smile, whose meaning could not be +mistaken, he said: + +"Take care, proud girl, I have sworn that you shall be mine, and by the +Heavens above us, I intend to keep my vow, and neither man nor devil +shall turn me from my purpose!" + +Edith's eyes flashed, her beautiful lips curled in scorn, and her whole +face beamed with intense disgust, and with a voice low and deep she +said, + +"Have a care, sir, beware how you threaten the niece of Sir Jasper +Coleman. Before to-morrow my uncle shall be made acquainted with what +has just passed, and the character of the man who has partaken so often +of his hospitality, and been ever treated with kind attention, he has +yet to learn how these courtesies have been returned," and sweeping past +him with a look of supreme contempt, Edith was about to pass on. + +It was evident that he had gone too far and that she was not a girl to +be intimidated by anything that he might say, and at once changed his +tactics--for he was an excellent actor--"Pardon me, Miss Effingham, I +know not what I am saying, I am mad. Yes, lady, mad! for your beauty +like the moon, makes all men mad, who comes within the sphere of its +attraction. Forgive me for thus offending you." Edith turned towards +him, and with calm dignity replied, "Promise me never again to revert to +this subject, and in no way further molest me, and what has just passed +shall be forgiven." He gave the required promise. Edith then pursued her +way to the end of the conservatory, passed through the doorway, and on +to the terrace where she was met by her Uncle. He observed her +heightened color, but as she made no complaint he allowed it to pass +without comment. + +Ralph Coleman stood for a few moments irresolute. She must, he thought, +either be aware that her uncle has left her sole heiress, or else is in +love with another, Carlton perhaps. Fool that I was to run so great a +risk, and that, at the instigation of that scheming woman. Should she +say aught to her uncle on this matter, it would ruin me with him. I will +at once seek an interview and endeavour to wheedle him out of a promise +to make a codicil in my favor. + +Failing in the attempt to secure the hand of the beautiful Miss +Effingham, and not daring to risk another trial, as it might spoil the +plans he had been contemplating since Edith's dismissal of him, he had +kept shy of that young lady during the remainder of his stay, and prior +to his departure for London, he had contrived to have a long interview +with the Baronet, during which he very ably showed the position that he +would hold should the Baronetcy eventually descend to him who was +totally unable to support the dignity of the rank that would thus be +thrust upon him. So well and ably did he argue this point, that ere he +left Vellenaux he extorted a sort of promise from Sir Jasper that he +would think the matter over and make a bequest in his favor. + +He returned to his office, in deed court, annoyed and disheartened to a +considerable extent by the failure of his designs as far as related to +Miss Effingham, but his wounded vanity he could afford to bear and hide +within his own breast, as he now confidently believed that Sir Jasper +would adopt the suggestions he had made to him, and settle, at least, +two or three thousand per annum on the successor to the Baronetcy during +the said successor's life; and in this frame of mind the Lawyer +determined to de vote himself entirely to his profession, and to avoid +the pretty Edith, Mrs. Fraudhurst, and Vellenaux, until the present +owner should have been gathered to his fathers. + +There is perhaps no season of the year in the South of England so +pleasing to the eye or more genial to the corporeal faculties than that +of early autumn, especially that part of Devonshire which we have +selected for the opening and closing scene of our story. Vellenaux, with +its varied and picturesque styles of architecture, embosomed, as it +were, in rich woodlands, with a perfect amphitheatre of hills on three +sides, and ever and anon the soft breezes of the ocean sweeping over the +downs, and through the beech woods on the other. It was, indeed, a +domain of which any one might have been proud. + +It was a lovely evening, the sun had just commenced to dip behind the +crest of the adjacent hills, and was sending its golden rays through the +bright foliage of the trees and down the long paths that led to the +woods hard by. Edith had strolled, book in hand, to her favourite knoll, +beneath a stately elm, and was engaged in reading. Her two favourite +dogs, fine specimens of the Italian greyhound, chased each other in +circles which gradually grew smaller until it brought them to the very +feet of their mistress. One placed his small smooth nose in the little +white hand that was thrown carelessly on the moss grown roots beside +her, while the other, to attract her attention, placed his paw on the +page she was reading and looked up in her face. Suddenly their ears +elongated and away they bounded, as the noise of horses hoofs were heard +approaching in her direction, aroused her from her recumbent position, +as Julia Barton, on her quiet little pony, trotted up. She was off in an +instant, and running up to her friend, greeted her in the animated, +lively way, as was her custom when she had anything to communicate that +she thought would please or interest her. "At your studies," she said, +taking up the volume that Edith had let fall on her appearance. "Long +engagements, a tale of the Affghan war. Oh, oh, thinking of our old +playfellow are we?" and the merry girl laughed heartily, "we shall soon +hear more of him, for my sister-in-law, Pauline, has just most +unexpectedly arrived, and I wish you to know her. She is very charming +and improves wonderfully on acquaintance, is very good-natured, and +tells such funny stories about the people she lived among, and has a +great deal to say about Arthur Carlton. You will come to the Willows +to-morrow, will you not, and call on her?" Edith gave the required +assent, and Julia, mounting her pony, cantered down the avenue to the +lodge gate, where she was joined by a tall, gentlemanly looking man, +mounted on a small bay mare, and the two walked their horses at an easy +pace down the green lane in the direction of the Willows, and Edith +returned to the house in time to dress for dinner, well pleased with the +prospect of hearing something of him who was scarcely absent from her +thoughts for any great length of time. She did not attempt to analyze +her feelings on the subject. It was pleasant to think of her absent +friend, and that was sufficient for the present. + +Mr. Barton, Sen., or old Mr. Barton as he was usually styled, for he was +upwards of eighty years of age, and had been born in the house he now +occupied, a good comfortable and substantial, but old fashioned +dwelling, which had passed from father to son for several generations. +His father had been what is termed a gentleman farmer, and attended +personally to the superintending of his acres. His son, the present +occupant, had followed his example. He married early in life, but the +lady of his choice died young, leaving one son to remind the sorrowing +widower of his loss. This was Horace Barton, whom we have already +introduced; he chose a different field for his labors, and managed to +secure, while yet young, on appointment in India. Our friend Tom and his +two sisters, Julia and Emily, were the result of a second marriage, and +although there was every comfort to be had, and a good home for all +during the life of the old couple, yet it was absolutely necessary that +Tom should make his own road through life, and that the girls should, by +early marriage, secure for themselves suitable establishments, as the +Willows would fall to Horace on the death of his father, and it would +not be many years before his term of service in the East would expire, +and he would then, doubtless, return to England and occupy the old house +in Devonshire. + +The arrival of Mrs. Horace Barton from Calcutta had been quite +unexpected at the Willows, as no preparatory letter had announced her +intentions or arrival in England. Nevertheless she found all delighted +to receive her. She had spent the most of her visit to Europe in the gay +capitals of Paris and London, and a couple of months was all the time +she could spare to remain in Devonshire. + +On her first visit she had not been introduced to Miss Effingham, and +had only caught a casual glance at her while crossing the lawn, as Edith +was returning from a visit to Julia Barton; but on this occasion was +determined to become acquainted with her, and find out if she really +deserved the high encomiums that had been bestowed upon her by Arthur +Carlton. She had anticipated seeing a pretty lively English country +girl, but was totally unprepared for the brilliant beauty and perfectly +self-possessed manners of Edith, and she always found an attentive +listener in her to all she had to relate on the subject of India and +Arthur Carlton whenever they met, which was now frequent, for an +introduction had taken place between them very shortly after her +arrival, and they consequently became on the most intimate and friendly +footing. The magnificence of the ancestral dwelling of the Colemans, +with its Parks, Parterres and grounds, was quite a novelty to Pauline +Barton, and with Edith she traversed the long corridors, picture +galleries, and armories with wonderment, for they contrasted strangely +with the Pagodas, Temples, and Bungalows in the country where the +greater part of her life had been spent (for she had been born there), +and she thought that Edith's life must be one of never-ending delight, +and for a time it was so, but a sad change was about to come over the +bright spirit of her dream of happiness for a time, and perhaps for +ever, and dash the cup of joyous light-heartedness from her grasp. + +The event so much desired by the man of law took place at a much earlier +date than had been anticipated by that gentleman, or, indeed, by any one +of his acquaintances as the sequel will show. + +"Reynolds," said the Baronet, one evening after dinner, some few weeks +after his interview with his worthy cousin, the heir to the title, +"place candles in my study, and you need not wait up for me. It is +likely that I shall sit writing to a late hour." The old servant bowed, +and retired to do the bidding of his master. + +After affectionately wishing his niece good-night, and a passing remark +to Mrs. Fraudhurst, Sir Jasper entered his study, closing the door +quietly behind him. + +For a considerable time he paced the room, with his hands crossed behind +his back, as was his custom when in a meditative mood. Finally, seating +himself at his escritoire, he placed the massive silver candlesticks, +with their wax lights, in such a position that the glow would not effect +his sight, and arranged his materials for writing to suit him. For a few +moments he leaned back in his chair, then selecting a small key from a +bunch he always carried, unlocked the centre drawer which contained only +a few memorandums and drew it completely out. He next touched a small +spring at the side, when a panel of the back slid open, disclosing an +aperture from which he took the packet he had brought from London the +evening previous to the opening of our story. This was the will and +testament of Sir Jasper Coleman, in which he had left his niece, Edith +Effingham, sole heiress of all he possessed, with the exception of a +gratuity of five thousand pounds to be paid to his _protégé_, Arthur +Carlton, within six months after his (the Baronet's) decease, and to be +free from all legacy or other duties. Having re-read the document, he +laid it on the table beside him and then commenced writing. + +Sir Jasper had thus acted without the knowledge of his lawyer, the man +with whom he had consulted on every other matter since his succession to +the Baronetcy, consequently that gentleman was in ignorance of any such +will being in existence. It had been drawn by a competent lawyer +residing in one of the suburbs of London, and had been properly +witnessed, and was, in every particular, a regular, complete document. +The parties present on the occasion knew nothing of Sir Jasper, had +never heard of Vellenaux or its owner, and in all probability would +never hear of him again, as there was no likelihood of the will being +contested. Why he had acted in this manner is hard to say. + +The Baronet had finished his letter, and was again musing, and muttering +to himself, "Ralph Coleman, you are an unprincipled man. Do you think +your attempt to coerce my darling niece to listen to your suit has +escaped me. You have failed in that quarter and now come to me to assist +you. Well, well as she is safe I can afford to forgive you, and let you +have a couple of thousand a year, to enable you to support yourself like +a gentleman when the title descends to you." Here the Baronet resumed +his pen and commenced the writing of a codicil in behalf of his cousin, +Ralph Coleman. + +Perfect tranquility reigned throughout the house, all, with the +exception of Sir Jasper, had retired to rest, and there was no sound, +save the ticking of the old-fashioned time-piece, with its monotonous +and never varying tick, tick, and the scratching noise made by the quill +as it traced its inky characters on the yet incomplete codicil the +Baronet was preparing. The candles had burned low in their sockets, and +the fire on the hearth had died out unheeded by him who sat writing line +after line. Suddenly a spasm seized him. He, with great difficulty, +raised himself from the stooping position over the escritoire, but as he +did so, another spasm, more violent than the first, attacked him. He +tried to call for assistance, but his tongue clove to his mouth. He was +suffocating. He stretched his arm towards the silver bell, which stood +on the table, but it was beyond his reach. His head sank on the cushion +of the chair. His eyes closed, another convulsive start, and all was +over. Sir Jasper Coleman was no more. + +For many months past it was customary whenever it was known that Sir +Jasper would sit up late, for Mrs. Fraudhurst, on passing the door of +his chamber before descending to the breakfast room, to tap and enquire +whether the Baronet would come down to his breakfast or have it sent up +to him. On the following morning the widow on stopping at the chamber +door discovered that it was ajar, and on pushing it gently open found +the room was vacant, the bed undisturbed and, it was quite evident from +its general appearance, that Sir Jasper could not have passed the +night--or any part of it--there. Though startled a little at first, Mrs. +Fraudhurst was not long in coming to a conclusion as to what really had +happened during the night. It had more than once occurred to her active +mind that such might be the manner in which the Baronet's life would +terminate. "And the hour I so feared may have come at last," thought +she, as the consequences that might accrue to herself, should such turn +out to be the case, rose up before her; but she was equal to the +emergency; quickly and noiselessly she descended to the private library +and, without rapping, entered, closing the door quietly after her. + +The morning sun streamed through the stained glass windows, casting +their brilliant hues full on the face of the corpse, rendering the pale +features more ghastly to look on than the convulsions had left them. +Mrs. Fraudhurst was a woman of strong mind, but no feeling, and the +presence of death had no terrors for her. She had entered, prepared in +her own mind for the spectacle that now presented itself. Her plans had +been already arranged, but she had hardly counted on their being so +easily executed. With a firm hand she took up the will and unfinished +codicil, folded them, and placed them carefully in the bosom of her +dress. She now took up the bunch of keys, and replacing the centre +drawer, locked it and dropped the bunch of keys into one of the pockets +of Sir Jasper's dressing gown, and finding that the open letter related +to general business connected with the estate and some charitable +institution, left them as she found them, and without one look of pity +or regret on her now flushed face towards him to whose liberality she +had for years been indebted for a home, with all the comforts and +conveniences of life, left the apartment and regained her own chamber +without meeting or being seen by any one. Her first act was to securely +lock up the papers so feloniously obtained, then, applying cold water to +her heated brow, to wait for the ringing of the second bell for +breakfast. She could hear the voice of Edith, as her laugh rang out upon +the lawn beneath her open window, at the gambols of the two greyhounds. + +"Reynolds, ascertain whether Sir Jasper will have his breakfast sent up +to him," said Mrs. Fraudhurst, as she and, Edith took their seats at the +table, some twenty minutes later. + +Edith did not speak, but waited patiently to know if her uncle would +come down. There had been a growing coolness between her and the lady +who headed the table. She could not but think that there was some +complicity between her and Ralph Coleman with respect to herself. She +could not tell why this should be, but could not divest herself of the +idea, nevertheless. + +"My master is not in his own room, and has not slept in his bed," +hurriedly exclaimed Reynolds, re-entering the breakfast room. Edith +started up, visibly agitated, but not so with the widow, she coolly +said, "you had better look in at the library, he was writing there late +last night and may probably have thrown himself on the lounge, and +fallen asleep there." + +"I will go with you," Edith said to the old servant, as she proceeded a +little in advance of him. + +Mrs. Fraudhurst sat staring blankly out of the window waiting for the +result, which she knew must ensue. A loud shriek from Edith rang through +the house, and breathless with excitement, Reynolds entered and +announced Sir Jasper's death and that Miss Effingham had fainted. + +The time for action had now arrived. "He may be only in a fit," said +Mrs. Fraudhurst. "I will myself drive over for Dr. Martin. Call Miss +Effingham's maid and let her be carried to her own room and properly +attended to. I will return with all speed; in the meantime, Reynolds, be +sure that no one enters the room. You had better lock the door and take +possession of the key as soon as Miss Edith has been removed." After +quickly dressing, she proceeded towards the stables to hurry forward the +harnessing of the pony phaeton, which was at all times at her disposal, +and drove rapidly to the house of Dr. Martin, though she well knew his +services would be of no avail, but it was a part of the plan she had +matured, and was now carrying out. + +Fortunately for her the Rector and Sir Jasper's lawyer and general +business agent were at the time with the Doctor in his surgery, +consulting on some Parish business and without a moment's delay they +proceeded to Vellenaux, the Rector riding with Mrs. Fraudhurst, whose +appearance and conduct were well suited to the occasion. + +Life was pronounced extinct, and the cause of death was supposed to be a +sudden attack of his old complaint, disease of the heart. The lawyer, in +the presence of all, placed seals on the escritoire and doors of the +study immediately after the body had been transferred to the bedchamber, +and wrote to Ralph Coleman, as the only male relation of the late +Baronet, acquainting him with what had occurred, and it was not long +before that gentleman presented himself at Vellenaux. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +The morning prior to the funeral it pleased Mrs. Fraudhurst, on meeting +Ralph Coleman in the long corridor, to request that worthy individual to +grant her a private interview in the general library at eleven o'clock, +precisely, the lawyer bowed in the affirmative and passed on. + +At the time appointed the widow, in very deep but fashionable mourning, +entered the library by one door, and a few minutes later the new baronet +presented himself at another. After closing it he advanced to the centre +table and waited for the lady to announce the nature of her business +with him. + +In a low, clear and cold, but perfectly steady voice she thus addressed +him, "Some two years since I informed you by letter of the existence of +a will in which the late baronet, after paying a gratuity of five +thousand pounds to Arthur Carlton, left Miss Effingham sole heiress. In +that will the name of Ralph Coleman does not appear. If this document be +read to-morrow," she continued after a slight pause, "Vellenaux is lost +to you forever." + +"But, my dear madam," he replied, "among the late baronet's papers will, +doubtless, be found a codicil in my behalf, in fact my cousin distinctly +promised me that he would make a suitable provision for the successor to +the title." + +"And so he would have done had he lived long enough to complete it," was +the lady's quiet reply. + +"You do not mean to say that you are certain Sir Jasper made no such +provision," enquired the lawyer in a quick and excited tone. + +"No document of that kind had been executed prior to the baronet's +death," she boldly asserted, advancing towards him. "Now listen to me: +providing the will in question be not forthcoming after the funeral, the +law will declare you heir to the estate. Now, if you swear to me by all +that you hold most sacred, that you will allow me one thousand per annum +and a suite of apartments at Vellenaux so long as I shall live, no will +shall appear, and within one hour after the body of the late Sir Jasper +has been consigned to the tomb, you shall become Sir Ralph Coleman and +master of Vellenaux and its broad lands." + +"But," was the cautious reply of the wily lawyer, "how know I that any +will has been made or that the Baronet has not kept faith with me. Your +word is all that I have to depend on for the truth or falsity of the +statement." He knew her to be an unscrupulous woman, but shrewd withal, +and could not bring himself to believe that she would compromise herself +so far as to have fraudulently possessed herself of, Sir Jasper's +papers, yet her language indicated very strongly that something of the +kind was the case. + +"If she really has them," he thought, "one thousand per annum would not +be too large a sum to purchase her silence concerning them; and as the +bargain would be a verbal one, and unknown to any but ourselves, she +could not hereafter, by any disclosures that she might make, convict me +as an accomplice to the transaction." These thoughts flashed through his +mind ere she again spoke. + +"Your words, sir, though not complimentary to me, I can excuse, on +account of the peculiarity of your present position and frame of mind, +and you shall be satisfied of the truth of that which you pretend to +doubt," and drawing from her pocket two papers, Mrs. Fraudhurst held +them with a firm grasp before him, but in such a position that it +enabled him to read every line. "There," she continued, in a low tone, +"is the will in question, and the codicil which you so much depend on; +are you satisfied?" Then, refolding the papers somewhat hastily, +replaced them in her dress and turned to leave the room, remarking as +she did so, "I shall return in a few moments, and you must make up your +mind as to how you intend to act before I do so." + +Ralph had read every line and word, and saw how hopeless was his case +unless he closed with the widow's offer, but he would make one more +trial to obtain the best position, and as she re-entered said, "Place +those documents in my possession and I will swear to fulfil the terms +you propose." + +"Not so," she replied with a contemptuous curl on her lip, "they remain +with me, and I remain here; there will be no difficulty in that. Of +course Miss Effingham must find shelter beneath your roof for some time +at least, and as you are a single man, you will require some one to +superintend your establishment until the future Lady Coleman shall +appear on the scene, and ere that event takes place, other arrangements +can be made. Accept my conditions and you become one of the wealthiest +men in the county. Reject them, and I immediately place both documents +in the hands of the late Baronet's lawyer, who is now in the house. I +have merely to say that I gathered them from the floor of the study, on +the morning of Sir Jasper's death, and that, in the hurry and excitement +of the moment, carried them to my own room, unconscious of their +importance, until this morning. This statement, true or otherwise, will +suffice to account for their being in my possession" + +Ralph Coleman would have still hesitated, but her's being the stronger +will of the two, he succumbed, took the required oath, and the compact +between them was complete. No sooner was this effected than both parties +left the place of meeting in the same order as they entered. + +Having carried her point and thus secured for herself a comfortable +income, together with a handsome suite of apartments within the walls of +Vellenaux, which she very naturally concluded would be a permanent home, +at least during the life of Sir Ralph, he being completely in her power, +as she could at any time, by the production of the late Baronet's will, +drive him ignominiously from his present luxurious abode. It is true, in +effecting this she would have to seek refuge in a foreign land, yet a +vindictive spirit will often, as the old adage runs, cut off the nose to +be revenged on the face. + +Having gained the mastery of the position, she turned her thoughts in +the direction of the new Baronet with a view of inducing him to submit +to the matrimonial yoke and by that means establish herself as +Vellenaux's envied mistress with the prefix of Lady before her name. +However, she could afford to bide her time, feeling certain that in the +long run Sir Ralph would yield, her stronger will working on his fears. + + +The funeral was over. The family vault of the Coleman's in the quaint +old church, a little beyond the Park limits, had received the mortal +remains of the worthy man, who for forty years had attended divine +service within that sacred edifice where the last sad rite for the +departed had just been performed. It had been a solemn and imposing +ceremony. The cortege passed slowly and silently down the broad avenue +of venerable elms, through the Park gate and up the road leading to the +old church yard. The superbly mounted coffin, borne on its funeral +hearse, whose black plumes, undulated in the soft winds that sighed +through the trees, was drawn by six velvet palled horses, and +accompanied by mutes, pall bearers and others in all the solemn +paraphernalia of woe, followed by the mourning coaches, and the long +line of private carriages, some occupied and others empty, for by one of +the conventionalities of English well-bred society, one can be present +on such occasions by proxy. Your carriage will suffice, should you not +feel equal to the task of attending in person. The full, deep, rich +tones of the organ poured forth the funeral dirge, as the coffin was +carried up the centre aisle and placed on trussels in front of the +altar. The pews, gallery and aisles were filled by rich and poor; so +much had the late Baronet been respected by friend and tenant. The +venerable Rector who performed the service, although accustomed to such +scenes, was deeply affected. He had been on the most intimate terms with +Sir Jasper, and had never solicited his kind offices on behalf of the +poor in vain. Besides, he was more advanced in years than the friend +whom he had now consigned to the cold embraces of the grave, for were +not his own days numbered and must soon draw to a close? + +As the different parties separated on the conclusion of the ceremony, +various were the comments and conjectures as to the manner in which Sir +Jasper had divided his property, and it was almost universally believed +that Miss Edith would come in for a greater part of his wealth and the +estate of Vellenaux would undoubtedly become hers. + +Sir Ralph, as he must now be called, and others interested in such +proceedings, returned, to Vellenaux to examine and hear read the will +and such other documents relating to the distribution of the property +real and personal of the late Baronet, and great was the surprise of all +present except one, when it was announced that, after the strictest +search, no will or other document of the kind had been found among the +papers of the late Baronet. Mr. Russell, a man of integrity, and well +known for the uprightness of his dealings, and who had for upwards of +thirty years transacted all the legal business and had the management of +the estate of the late Sir Jasper, declared that, to the best of his +knowledge no will had been made. This was followed by a statement from +Sir Ralph to the effect that it was but a few weeks since, that his +cousin, the late Sir Jasper Coleman, had declared to him his intention +of making a will in his (Sir Ralph's) favor. Miss Effingham, on being +asked, had sent word that she had never heard her uncle say anything on +the subject, and Mrs. Fraudhurst, on being interrogated, announced that +she had always been of the opinion that Miss Effingham was to be sole +heiress of her uncle's wealth, but had never heard Sir Jasper speak of +having actually made any will at all. Consequently the law gave to Sir +Ralph Coleman the entire property of the late Baronet, whose much-loved +niece was thus left a penniless orphan. + +Old Reynolds, who had been in the library when it was announced the +Baronet had left no will, and that the entire property fell to his +cousin, Sir Ralph, immediately summoned the domestics in the servants' +hall and related to his astonished hearers what he had heard. +Consternation was depicted on the countenance of all, and a wordy +colloquy ensued as to what would become of their dear young mistress, +and whether they would be discharged to make room for others whom the +new Baronet might choose to appoint. The grey-headed old Butler had been +at Vellenaux since he was a lad of fourteen, and had known Colonel +Effingham, who had frequently, prior to leaving the service, visited his +old companion-in-arms, Sir Jasper Coleman, at his favorite residence, +felt much concerned that the niece of his old master should have been +left unprovided for. "Of course," Said Annette, Edith's own maid "I +shall have to return home, for I do not suppose Miss Effingham will +remain here very long, as Sir Ralph is a bachelor, and I know for +certain that she dislikes him exceedingly." + +"But what will madam, the widow, do," enquired the footman. + +"Set her cap at him as she did at our poor, dear old master," responded +the housekeeper, "No fear, she will take care not to be a loser by the +change." "She will, no doubt," suggested another, "keep house for Sir +Ralph until he brings home a Lady Coleman, or is persuaded into marrying +the widow herself." + +It was quite evident, that sympathy ran high in Edith's favour, and that +they cared not a jot for the ex-governess or the new master. But they +were too well trained to betray what they thought concerning the two +last named persons. + +The matter was duly talked over throughout the neighbourhood. Some shook +their heads but said nothing, and others said a great deal that meant +nothing. The Bartons sent a very kind and sympathizing letter to Edith +in which they offered her an asylum at the Willows, should she think a +little change of scene would in any way reconcile her to the loss she +had sustained, they having heard that Miss Effingham had in her grief +declined for the present to receive her most intimate friends and +acquaintances. + +For many days after the funeral Edith kept within the seclusion of her +own chamber, alas, hers now no longer, but the property of another and +of one whose presence was repugnant to her. With returning consciousness +also came the realization of the sad spectacle that had met her view in +the private library. She had loved and respected her uncle, and had ever +looked up to him as a father, which he had indeed been since the death +of her parents, whom she did not recollect, and grief for his loss had +outweighed all other thoughts and considerations for the future, and for +the first week she gave herself up to inconsolable sorrow. But at length +that practical good sense with which nature had endowed her, came to her +relief. She stifled the rising sobs in her young bosom and prepared to +face the stern realities of life, which must ere long, she knew, force +themselves upon her. + +To remain in the house of the man she so despised and whose proffered +vows of love she had so indignantly rejected, was impossible. + +Of the malady which was the cause of her uncle's sudden death, she knew +nothing. He had never hinted of its existence, therefore she was totally +unprepared and inexpressibly shocked at the suddenness with which he had +been struck down, and it was some time before she could sufficiently +subdue her agitated feelings to enable her to give any instructions to +the household, who, like herself, had been almost stupefied by the +calamity. + +But not so with Mrs. Fraudhurst; that cold, unfeeling woman cared only +for the safety of her own position, and had already arranged what she +should do. At her suggestion, no changes were made in the establishment. +Every servant was retained, and the business of the estate still left in +the hands of Mr. Russell, the former agent, and matters soon resumed +their usual routine, as though the late proprietor was merely absent on +a visit. + +Notwithstanding the precautions taken in order to prevent suspicion from +gaining ground that there had been any complicity between Sir Ralph and +the widow, which might account for the absence of any legal document +making a suitable provision for that niece to whom Sir Jasper was so +sincerely attached, there were many who could not divest themselves of +the idea that there had been foul play practiced in some way, but as +there was nothing tangible to go upon they were compelled to confine +their suspicions within their own breasts, and show their sympathy for +Miss Effingham by letters of condolence and offers of friendship and +protection should she need them; for of course, it was understood by all +that her position was materially altered by the apparent fact that Sir +Jasper had died intestate. + +Both Mrs. Fraudhurst and Sir Ralph were struck with the visible inroad +that grief had made in the pale but still beautiful features of Edith, +as she entered the drawing room for the first time since her uncle's +funeral. + +The new Baronet rose as if to conduct her to a seat, but there was +something in her eye and manner that checked him, and he contented +himself with bowing to her somewhat stiffly, and resumed his chair. She +advanced toward the table at which he was seated, with a coolness and +self-possession so natural to her, whenever placed in any awkward and +trying position; her elegant figure fully developed by the tight fitting +habit she wore, and the ringlets of her rich brown hair falling upon her +magnificent shoulders from beneath her black riding hat, and in a voice +calm, clear and distinct, but without the least bitterness or anger, +thus addressed him: "Sir Ralph Coleman, the law, I am told, pronounces +you master of Vellenaux and its broad acres. The death of my uncle has +left me without a home, but, I trust, not without friends. Do not +interrupt me, sir," said she, seeing that he was about to speak, "Your +importunities and ungenerous conduct previous to the death of my late +lamented uncle and more than father, would, in itself, be a sufficient +inducement for me to take the step I am now about to do. It is my +intention to leave Vellenaux this morning for the Willows, and request +that my personal effects and such property as may have been presented to +me by my late uncle may be sent to me there." Then, with a slight +inclination of the head towards him, and without a word or glance in the +direction of Mrs. Fraudhurst, who was seated at the open window, +examining the contents of the post bag, turned and left the apartment. +Her intended departure had been made known to the whole of the household +by Annette, and, much to her surprise, she found all the servants +assembled in the hall to pay their respects to her as she quitted the +only home she had ever known. Edith felt deeply their respectful +sympathy and parted from them with unfeigned regret. Poor old Bridoon at +the Lodge felt keenly for his young mistress, and could not refrain from +expressing to her, as she wished him farewell, that there was something +wrong about the absence of any will or other document. He would not +believe that his dear old master would put off making a provision for +his niece until it was too late, and he sincerely hoped that he might +live to see the day of her return to Vellenaux as its mistress. This +feeling was shared alike by tenantry and servants, for they all had, in +some way, been indebted to her for acts of kindness. + +"You have been too precipitate, and frightened the bird away," remarked +Mrs. Fraudhurst. "But," continued she, after a moment's pause, "perhaps +it is as well she has taken this step. Her presence here is now no +longer necessary. You have the property without the encumbrance." + +Whatever Sir Ralph's opinions on the subject might have been he did not +express them; but in his inmost heart he wished that she had remained +under his roof, for time, he thought, would cause her to change her +mind, and think more favorably of his suit, and once his wife, she could +not give evidence against him should the affair of the stolen will ever +come to her knowledge. He distrusted his partner in crime, and avoided +as much as possible being left alone with her. + +In the Bartons Edith found true friends, Julia and Emily doing +everything in their power to render her stay with them as agreeable as +possible. The pretty Mrs. Horace, who, from the first, had taken a great +interest in her, now felt a real desire to serve one who, by the force +of circumstances over which she had no control, had been left, as it +were, alone in the world, and that, too, at an age and with such +personal attractions as usually require the most careful watching of +parent or guardian, and it entered her pretty head that she could serve +her friend most effectually and at the same time secure for herself that +which was so much needed in her Indian home in the far East, a personal +friend and companion. Good, easy Horace, she knew, would not object, and +scarcely had Edith been one week at the Willows before she had unfolded +to her the scheme she had worked out for their mutual benefit; and +meeting the approval of the whole family, Edith was only too happy to +accompany Mrs. Barton on her return to Calcutta, for, thought she, I +have no relative in England to miss me, or mourn for me, but in India I +perhaps have, and her thoughts wandered to Arthur Carlton and the +probability of their meeting in the land beyond the seas. After a few +weeks' longer residence in Devonshire, the pretty little wife of the +Judge, accompanied by Edith, left by the overland route to return to her +home in the City of Palaces. And such was the effect on Edith of change +of scene and a life so entirely new to her, among a people whose habits, +manners and customs were strangely at variance with anything she had +hitherto experienced, and she now remembered, with feelings of emotion +softened by time, that uncle, whose death she had so deeply lamented, +that her health and spirits gradually returned, and with them that +beauty, which had adorned her before her sad bereavement, and for a few +years her residence in India was in no way distasteful to her. During +this time she had frequently heard of Arthur Carlton, but they had only +met twice, his regiment being employed at so great a distance from +Calcutta in settling some disturbances among the Rohillas of Rohilcund, +that it was very difficult for a subaltern to obtain leave of absence. + +A few weeks after her return, Mrs. Barton had written to Arthur, +acquainting him with the fact of Edith's being in the country, and +certain circumstances connected with the death of Sir Jasper Coleman, +and wound up by giving him a special invitation to Chowringee for a few +weeks. This she had done out of kindness to Edith, for she had some +suspicion of how that young lady might be influenced by the presence of +the playmate of her childhood. + +Carlton received this intelligence with the utmost astonishment. He had +been in complete ignorance of the Baronet's death and the changes that +had taken place at Vellenaux. His last two letters to Edith had remained +unanswered, or at least he had not received them. But he little knew +that Mrs. Fraudhurst had taken possession of the post bag and abstracted +therefrom Edith's letters to him as well as those he had sent to her. +She had some apprehensions that he might contrive to make his appearance +at Vellenaux at a time it was least expected or desired by either +herself or Sir Ralph Coleman. His next feeling was that of joy at the +thought of again meeting her, and at the idea that she was to remain in +the same country perhaps for several years. As has been mentioned +before, no direct words of love had passed between them, and it was not +until the mighty ocean had divided them that he had realized how dear +she was to him, or the strength or depth of his love for her. In his +heart he secretly rejoiced that Sir Jasper's estate had passed into +other hands, for what chance had he, a poor Lieutenant of Dragoons, in +aspiring to the hand of the beautiful Edith, heiress of Vellenaux. + +He lost no time in procuring the required furlough, and at their first +meeting, the four missing letters were commented upon, and their +non-delivery ascribed to the right party, namely, Mrs. Fraudhurst, as +they wandered together down the pomegranate and orange groves in the +cool of the evening, or pacing the broad, open verandah beneath the star +lit sky. + +"I think, Carlton, you must be in high feather with the Colonel, or your +lucky star is in the ascendant," said Captain Hastings to our young +hero, a few days after his return from Calcutta, as they rode home from +stables together. + +"How so? What is in the mind now?" enquired Arthur, as he reined his +horse nearer to that of his companion. + +"Why, there is another row among those fellows in Bundlecund, and a +squadron of our regiment has been ordered out. My troop and yours have +been selected for the business, and as your Captain is in Europe and the +other two troop commanders absent from headquarters, you are to have +charge on, this occasion. I command the squadron, so they may look out +for hard knocks if we get a chance at them. I will teach the blackguards +a lesson they will not forget for some time. They will find no +philanthropy or mistaken clemency about me, and to tell you the truth, I +would rather have you for my second in command than either Dalzell or +Harcly." + +"Many thanks for your good opinion; and depend upon it I shall not be +backward in proving its correctness, should an opportunity offer," +responded Arthur, as they entered the mess room. + +The affair in Bundlecund proved a more obstinate contest than had been +at first expected, and lasted for a considerable time. But the coolness +and determination of the light Dragoons were too much for them, +consequently the disturbance was quelled, but not before a large number +of the rascals had been made to bite the dust. Here, as in +Chillianwalla, Carlton's bravery and skill, as a troop leader, were +conspicuous, and he well merited the encomiums that were poured upon him +by his brother officers on the return of the squadron from the disturbed +districts, now in a tranquil state. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +Such of our readers as may have been acquainted with the West end of +London some thirty-five years since, must recollect old Cavendish +Square. Prior to that date it had been very exclusive, but on Belgravia +and Tybernia springing into existence, the nobility and aristocratic +families moved from there to the new suburban localities, and their old +quarters were occupied by quite a different class, which had migrated +principally from that region east of Temple Bar, such as merchants, +bankers, eminent barristers, and physicians of first standing. One of +the main avenues leading from this square westward, and known as Harley +Street, was inhabited by another set, usually styled very respectable +people, chiefly consisting of maiden ladies of doubtful ages, who kept +their carriages and lived in good style, whist playing dowagers, who +kept their carriages but hired job horses, when it was necessary to +visit their friends whose circumstances were more flourishing than their +own, and the families of country members who usually remained in town +daring the session of Parliament, and often for a much longer period. It +was in this street and in this circle that the Cotterells lived and +moved. Mr. Cotterell, the father of Kate--the prettiest Kate in all that +locality, at least, so Tom Barton said, and he ought to know for he had +seen her often, and never failed to get his face as close to hers as +possible whenever a chance presented itself for his so doing--was a +retired stock broker who, having made a considerable hit in a great +speculation by which he realized a handsome sum, prudently took the +advice of his spouse and let well enough alone, retired from business, +left their dusky residence in the city, and moved to their present +abode, No. 54 Upper Harley Street. Mrs. Cotterell was the youngest +sister of Mrs. Barton of the Willows, in Devonshire, hence the +relationship between our friend, Tom Barton, and pretty cousin Kate, the +charm of whose gay and lively manners had made quite an impression on +the susceptible heart of cousin Tom, which increased and strengthened +during the frequent visits of that young lady to her aunt's in +Devonshire. Nor was it a one sided affair, for she had been captivated +by the handsome person and agreeable address of her cousin, but being +petit in stature, she was like most little beauties, very arbitrary and +capricious towards her lover, yet, with all this, she was a girl of +good, sound sense, and knowing that her portion on the death of her +parents would be but small, would not consent to entangle herself in the +meshes of matrimony until Tom had established himself in his profession, +and there was a fair prospect of their succeeding in life. + +It will be remembered that Tom Barton left for London about the same +time that Arthur Carlton started for India. He had been more fortunate +than could have been expected in the profession he had chosen, for he +had scarcely been three years turning over musty deeds, copying legal +documents and other drudgeries appertaining to a lawyer's office, when +his employer died, leaving him the business and recommending him to the +notice of his clients generally. Now, although Tom's chambers were +situated in Lincoln's Inn Fields which everybody knows (who knows +anything of London) is a large, airy space, surrounded with iron +railings, wherein there are plenty of trees, flowers, grasses, and +gravel walks to stroll about in, all of which could be seen from his +chamber window. But this was not sufficient for him. He wanted something +more suburban and evidently considered the atmosphere north of Oxford +street more conducive to his health, or he would never have imposed upon +himself the task of walking from Lincoln's Inn so far westward up Harley +Street. Yet, although the air must have been more pure some half a mile +further on, he never by any chance, succeeded in getting beyond No. 54. + +There was also another gentleman who found it convenient and agreeable +to walk in the same direction and stop at the same house. This for some +time perplexed our friend, Tom, and gave him considerable uneasiness in +the region of the heart. His first business was to discover who he was; +this did not take long to accomplish, but he was more puzzled than ever; +there was no one ill at No. 54, and the gentleman turned out to be a +physician of good standing, residing in Cavendish Square. He dared not +speak to Kate on the subject, for fear of committing himself and +becoming exposed to that little lady's raillery, for he well knew that +she would torment him unmercifully if he betrayed the least sign of +jealousy. Wishing to be satisfied on a point that so troubled him, he +determined to sound his aunt on the matter. He was a great favourite +with her, and she was not likely to betray him to his lady love. + +"Very quiet, gentlemanly sort of person, Doctor Ashburnham; don't you +think so," he enquired of his aunt one evening, as they were seated +alone in the drawing room on Harley Street? + +"It is well that you are that way of thinking, for he has the same +opinion of you," remarked Mrs. Cotterell with a quiet smile. "Do you +remember to have met him anywhere but in London?" she asked, after a few +moments' pause. + +Tom shook his head and replied, "I think not, but perhaps I may have +seen him somewhere. I meet all sorts of people." + +"Well, well, your sister Julia is coming up to town some evening next +week, and she is such a clever girl, perhaps she can enlighten you on +the subject." + +Tom stared at his aunt for a moment, then the mist began to clear away. +It now struck him that he had never met the Doctor in Harley Street +except during the time that his sister was on a visit there, and it also +occurred to him now, that on his last flying visit to Devonshire he had +met a gentleman much resembling Doctor Ashburnham, riding with Julia in +one of the green lanes in Vellenaux. It was all dear enough now, it was +Julia's lover who had given him so much concern of late, and this fact +removed a great load from Tom's heart. On this discovery his face +brightened up. "But, my dear aunt, is there really anything in it." + +"Anything in what?" enquired the good lady, looking up from her +knitting, somewhat amused at the manner in which her nephew had put the +question. + +"Why, I mean, is there any love affair, engagement or that sort of thing +between Julia and the Doctor?" + +"Well, Tom, all I can say is, that Doctor Ashburnham seldom calls here +except during the time your sister is in London, or occasionally pays +us a visit to enquire when she is likely to be in town again. They have +met, I believe, in Devonshire, and he has visited her at the Willows. He +is certainly very attentive to her when she is with us, and she appears +to be anything but indifferent to his addresses; you can draw your own +conclusions from that, but, as I before stated, she will be here next +week and then, perhaps, she may take you into her confidence. I can say +no more on the matter." + +"By George! I hope it is as you say. It would be a capital match for +her. He has a first rate practice, keeps quite a stylish turn out, and +occupies a handsome house in Cavendish Square. I must become more +intimate with him, and see if I cannot worm out exactly what he is +driving at." Here Tom took his hat, and started down stairs three steps +at a time, nearly upsetting the Doctor in the hall in his great hurry. +"Beg pardon, my dear sir, quite accidental I assure you; in haste to +speak to Mr. Cotterell in the library," said Tom apologetically. + +"Don't mention it, pray, Mr. Barton," was the reply, as that gentleman +quickly ascended the staircase leading to the drawing room. + +Now, Tom really had no business with Mr. Cotterell that evening, nor +would he have intruded on that worthy person, but for his encounter with +the Doctor. He would, he thought, not remain long with his aunt, and it +would be a good opportunity to push his enquiries, could he but manage +to go out with him. His anticipations proved correct. The Doctor did not +remain long up stairs, and our friend Tom managed to meet him again as +he was passing through the hall. + +"Fine evening, sir; which way are you walking?" said Tom, seeing no +vehicle in attendance. + +"I am returning to Cavendish Square, sir," was the ready reply. + +"I also am going in that direction, and if you have no objection will +walk with you," returned Tom Barton. The two gentlemen walked together, +chatting in a very friendly way on the different topics of the day until +they had reached the door of the Doctor's residence, when that gentleman +surprised Tom by saying, "Mr. Barton, will you do me the favor to step +in for a few moments? I wish to speak to you on a subject that cannot +very well be discussed in the public street." Nothing loath, Tom agreed +and was ushered into a very snug apartment, half library, half smoking +divan. + +"You smoke, of course," said the Doctor, pointing at the same time to an +array of pipes and tobacco of different kinds on a small side table. +Fill, then, drop into that easy chair, and I will tell you why I have +requested you to enter my snuggery. Tom acted upon his suggestion, and +was soon sending great puffs of smoke half way across the room. His host +followed this very laudable example, and after a few whiffs, at once +opened the business by candidly, and in a straightforward, manner, +telling Tom the great love and admiration he felt for Miss Barton, whom +he had frequently met in Devonshire as well as in London, and that he +had vanity enough to believe that his love was reciprocated, and +declared his intention on Julia's arrival to decide the affair by making +her an offer of his hand and heart, and finished by requesting Tom to +forward his views to the best of his ability. + +To this Tom readily assented. "The sly little puss," he continued, "not +to mention a word of it even to me. But I suppose it is not considered +by the fair sex quite the thing to speak to any one on so delicate a +subject until after the gentleman has popped the question." Shortly +after, he took his departure for his chambers at Lincoln's Inn, and it +was noticed that Doctor Ashburnham and Mr. Tom Barton were seen more +frequently together than had hitherto been the case. + +Miss Barton arrived, as had been expected by her relatives in Harley +Street, and the physician from Cavendish Square called there every day, +although there was no illness or epidemic in the house, save that known +as the heart disease, and so earnestly did the Doctor press his suit +that Julia must have been hard-hearted indeed to have refused to add to +his happiness by encumbering him with a wife, and ere she returned to +Devonshire, it was finally settled that the wedding was to take place at +the end of the following month, and a very dashing affair it proved. The +lawn sleeves at Saint George's, Hanover Square, were called into +requisition on the occasion. There was a great display of white corded +silk, lace orange blossoms, muslins and wreaths of white roses. Gunter, +of Berkly square, was called upon to supply a wedding breakfast, which +was partaken of at the Cotterells', and after some champagne had been +drank, and the speeches usual on the occasion made, the happy pair +started on their wedding tour through the South of England, calling, of +course, at the Willows on their way. After visiting Scotland they +returned to London, and settled comfortably down to the humdrum of +every day life in the Doctor's handsome establishment in Cavendish +Square, which had been re-decorated and furnished for them during their +absence. + +Not many months elapsed before the happiness of our young friends was +somewhat over-shadowed by the death of the worthy old couple at the +Willows, who expired within two months of each other. Mr. Barton died of +old age, and his wife from influenza, caught while attending church to +hear the funeral sermon. + +Horace Barton not being expected in England for some time, the Willows +was let on a short lease, and Emily came up to London to reside with her +aunt in Harley Street, occasionally spending several weeks with her +sister, Mrs. Ashburnham. + +Our young lawyer was slowly but surely increasing his practice. He had +used all his powers of persuasion to induce Kate to allow him to lead +her to the altar on the same day that his sister was married, but in +vain, for that young lady declared that she would rather take a second +class character in the interesting tableau this time, with the view of +being better able to sustain the role of the principal actress in a +similar pageant at some future time. With this decision Tom had to +remain satisfied for the present and attend to business. But in the +course of time circumstances transpired which prevented him from +attaining any eminence as a lawyer. A distant relative of Mr. +Cotterell's and Godmother to Kate, departed this life, leaving her +Godchild the very comfortable sum of six hundred per annum, secured in +the four per cents., and after wearing mourning for a suitable period, +Kate took the initiative by announcing to Tom, very much to his surprise +and delight, that she was both ready and willing to become his wife on +the following conditions, which were, that he should give up practising +law, take a snug cottage in Devonshire, and turn his attention to +haymaking, shooting, &c, and retire from London life altogether, for she +said that in the country they could live very comfortably on six hundred +a year and be thought somebodies, but they could scarcely exist in +London on that sum and then be thought nobodies. + +If our young lawyer had any scruples on the score of giving up his +profession and thereby losing all chance of ever attaining to the +dignity of Lord Chancellor, he certainly kept them to himself, for he +had no wish to run counter to the inclination of Kate, or he might find +himself in the position of the dog in the fable, who had thrown away the +substance to endeavour to grasp the shadow. Tom, in reality, had never +liked a London life, and had a constant hankering after field sports, +shooting and fishing; and now he believed he could indulge in these to +the top of his bent. They could live very comfortably on their joint +income, for he had received a certain sum on the death of his parents, +and likewise made something during the past few years by his profession, +which he had increased by placing it out at interest. Moreover, he knew +exactly where to find a house and grounds that would suit them; the very +one that Kate had so admired during their strolls around Vellenaux. It +was picturesquely situated in a shady dell, through which ran a flowing +brook which deepened and widened as it flowed on towards the sea, and +was the favourite resort of the angler and amateur fisherman--about an +equal distance from the Willows and the Rectory, and but a short walk +from the woods and park of Vellenaux. There were Horace's grounds to +shoot over, and although Sir Ralph Coleman was not a neighbour best +suited to his taste, yet he felt certain that he would not object to his +occasionally using his preserves, or bagging a few brace of birds on his +turnip fields. All this, together with a pretty little loving wife for a +companion, was, to Tom's notion, something worth living for, and a +position he would not exchange for all the gaieties of London life with +a seat on the woolsack into the bargain. + +Again No. 54 Harley Street was thrown into a state of bustle and +confusion. Millinery girls, with innumerable band boxes, and oddly +shaped parcels were continually arriving. In the drawing room there was +assembled daily a sort of joint high commission, consisting of a bevy of +pretty maidens with one or two handsome matrons, who were engaged in +deciding on the colour, material, and cut of certain wearables +appertaining to the wedding trousseau of Miss Cotterell. There were +continual visits made to the fashionable emporiums of silk, lace &c., in +Oxford and Regent streets, and other parts of the metropolis. The +wedding day at length arrived. A considerable distance up Harley Street +was lined with carriages of various descriptions, the coachmen and +footmen of which appeared in holiday costume and wearing white satin +favors, and there was quite an excitement in the immediate vicinity to +witness the arrival and departure of the wedding party to and from +church. Kate Cotterell, attended by her six bridesmaids all looking very +lovely in toilettes befitting the occasion, created quite a sensation +among the spectators as they stepped from No. 54 into the carriages that +were to convey them to Hanover Square. + +After a very _recherche_ breakfast, served in Gunter's best style, in +the handsome drawing room of the Cotterells', in Harley Street, Tom and +his fair bride took their departure _en route_ for the Continent. They +were to make a tour of several months through France, Germany and +Switzerland, likewise enjoy several weeks on the banks of the beautiful +Rhine. + +Mr. Cotterell undertook to arrange matters concerning the purchase of +the cottage so much admired, which he intended to present to his +daughter as a marriage gift, and aunt Sarah, Emily, and Mrs. Ashburnham +took upon themselves the responsibility of furnishing the said cottage, +and otherwise rendering it in every way suitable for the reception of +the happy couple, and thus enable them to commence housekeeping +immediately on their return to England. + +The various events and proceedings were duly recorded and forwarded from +time to time for the information of Horace and Pauline Barton, in their +Eastern home on the banks of the Hoogly; and Edith, who still kept up a +correspondence with Kate and Julia, received a full account, descriptive +of the wedding trousseaus and paraphernalia incident to both ceremonies, +and followed up by a delicate enquiry as to when she intended to return +the compliment by favouring them with the details of an Indian wedding, +which they supposed must soon take place, and would, no doubt, prove a +gorgeous and magnificent affair in true oriental style. So wrote the +happy girls to their old friend and companion in Calcutta, for, +according to Pauline's account, she had no end of suitors among the +wealthiest in the land. + +To all those enquiries Edith's usual reply was that the time was +somewhat distant when she could indulge in dreams of happiness. Her +position was somewhat changed, thus, probably, the event they so often +alluded to might never take place, and the reader must remember, that +although Edith and Arthur were, beyond doubt, devotedly attached to each +other, the word that would have made them both happy had not yet been +spoken; there was no engagement, or in fact, any advance towards one, +yet both, in their heart of hearts, realized the great love they felt +for each other. But prudential motives had kept Arthur silent. Edith +knew this and was content to wait for the developments of the future. In +the meantime she did not hesitate to participate in the amusements and +enjoyments which offered, and which were continually pressed upon her by +her kind friends, the Bartons. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +The capital of Bengal was a very gay city. What with balls and public +breakfasts at the Governor General's, brilliant assemblages given by the +Civil Service Granders, with no end of picnics, theatricals, cricket +matches and races improvised by the military and naval officers, for the +especial benefit (at least so they said) of the beautiful, gay +butterflies that condescended to grace, with their presence, such +assemblages; and Pauline Barton never allowed these occurrences to +transpire without inducing the beautiful Miss Effingham, as she was +usually styled, to accompany her, for Pauline was, indeed, very popular +in Chowringee and around its vicinity, and her Bungalow was a constant +lounge for the gallants of all services. Horace was no niggard in his +hospitality, but preferred the ease and comfort of his own sanctum to +the gay rattle that was continually going on in his pretty little wife's +drawing room or verandahs. And Arthur was again, for a fourth time since +his arrival in the country, in Calcutta. He had contrived to get +appointed one of a committee for the purchasing of troop horses for his +regiment and this would detain him at the Presidency for a couple of +months. This was a source of much pleasure to Edith, for sometimes +accompanied by Mrs. Barton, but more frequently alone, would Arthur and +Edith, either driving or on horseback, wend their way through the shaded +avenues that crossed the Midan, along the strand by the river side to +Garden, reach and loiter in the Botanical Gardens; this being +considered by the Grandees the most fashionable resort for a canter in +the early morn or a pleasant drive about sunset. + +It never entered the head of pretty Mrs. Barton that there could be any +serious love making between her friend and the handsome Lieutenant. She +knew that they had been brought up together from childhood and were more +like brother and sister than lovers, and had such an idea been suggested +to her by any of her friends, she would have pooh poohed it as mere +moonshine. She knew that it was out of the question for a Subaltern to +enter the matrimonial arena; besides the brilliant beauty of Miss +Effingham must command a suitable alliance and an enviable position +whenever she cared to enter upon the responsibility of married life, and +it appeared evident that Edith was in no hurry to take the initiative or +allow herself to be led away by the flattering speeches she daily heard +from those, by whom she was surrounded. Nor was Mrs. Barton at all +desirous that she should enter into any such engagement, for she was +well aware that it was the charm of her fair friend's manner that drew +to her house the most agreeable and handsomest men of the capital. She +knew likewise that it was Horace's intention to settle in England as +soon as his term of service should expire, and it would then be time for +Edith to select from her numerous admirers the one she most preferred, +but until that time she should be exceedingly sorry to part with her. + +"Do you intend spending the day at Mrs. Deborah's?" enquired Mrs. Barton +of Edith as they rose from the breakfast table. Edith replied in the +affirmative. "Well, then, I will send the palkee for you; but do not be +late, my dear, for dinner." She had no intention of being too late, as +she knew that in all probability Arthur would make his appearance during +the evening. The distance from the Bartons to her friend's Bungalow was +not more than half a mile. The road lay through a very picturesque but +somewhat lonely part of the suburbs. The Date and stately Palms, +intermingled with the blossom of the gold Mohur trees, looked so very +lovely by the light of the setting sun. For some cause or other Edith's +palkee did not arrive at the time appointed, and not wishing to trouble +her friend--who usually sent her children at sunset in their palkee for +an airing--and attracted by the beauty of the scene, she started to walk +home, thinking of the pleasure of meeting Arthur. Her mind was engaged +on this subject when she reached a Date grove, a short distance from the +road side, and so busy was she with her thoughts, she had not noticed +that for the past few minutes she had been followed by a tall, burly +mussulman, and he came upon her before she was aware of his presence. +Without a word of warning, he threw his long arms around her waist, and +endeavored to drag or carry her to the Date grove. There could be no +mistaking his intentions, and he would no doubt have succeeded in +carrying out his villainous design--for the terrified girl was in a half +fainting condition, and unable from the suddenness of the attack, to +offer much resistance--when Arthur Carlton, who had been attracted to +the spot by her shrieks and cries for help, came to the rescue. He had +called at the Bungalow, and learning where she might be found, had set +out in search of her, and arrived just in time. The ruffian managed to +make good his escape, not, however, before he had received several +marks of Arthur's favor from the horsewhip he carried. He then supported +the still, trembling girl home, and she soon forgot, in his society, the +danger which had menaced her. + +Exasperated beyond measure at so rare an occurrence as the attack made +on his beloved Edith, he at once sought the aid of the police, and from +the description given they soon succeeded in tracing the offender, who +proved to be a Subaltern of the native cavalry. The affair was reported +to head quarters, and a court of enquiry was summoned which resulted in +the court martial and dismissal from service of the blackguard, who +immediately left the station, vowing to have his revenge on Carlton, +should ever an opportunity occur for so doing, and this, with a +Mahammedan means mischief, for they never rest in their endeavors to +effect a purpose. + +The duties which brought Carlton to Calcutta were now at an end, and the +Lieutenant had to return to head quarters. Edith, being of an enquiring +turn of mind, acquired a great deal of information respecting the +natives' character, their castes, customs and ceremonies, and by the aid +of a Moonshee soon learned to speak with ease and fluency the Hindostan +language. This she turned to account in the management of the household +servants. + +Calcutta is the largest city in British India, and is situated on the +bank of the Hoogley, one of the branches of the river Ganges, held as +sacred by the natives. There are quite a number of Europeans and +professing Christians, numbering in the aggregate about fourteen +thousand, the principal portions of which are half castes, three +quarter castes, Euroasians, Portuguese and Hindoo Britons. The half +castes are the progeny of the European men and native women. The +three-quarter-castes, that of European fathers and half-caste mothers. +The Euroasians spring from European and three-quarter-caste parents, +while the Hindoo Britons are the children of European parents, born in +India. The Portuguese likewise intermarry with these classes. These +people make up the principal number of those professing Christianity +throughout the Presidency. The churches of England, Rome, and Scotland +were well attended by the officers of the civil service, army and navy, +with their families, among which there is very little sectarianism. But +the Roman Catholic faith is largely diffused among the other classes. +The native population of all castes number about six hundred thousand, +and although they have no regular Sunday or day of rest, they have quite +a number of religious festivals or holidays which they scrupulously +observe. + +The principal festival, and the one most religiously kept of all the +holidays among the true believers--as the followers of Mahomet style +themselves--is that of the Moharum, which lasts ten days, commencing +from the appearance of the new moon, in the month of November, during +which time handsome temples and mosques are constructed of bamboo and +paper, and embellished with glass, paint and gilding. On the last day +they are carried in grand procession through the public thoroughfares, +proceeded by a band of music and accompanied by an immense concourse of +spectators. Many of the faithful prostrate themselves before these +Taboots, and in many instances rolling over and over in the muddy +streets for a considerable distance, being generally well primed with +bang or opium. There are occasional disturbances between the fanatics of +the different castes, for many of these work themselves up to a pitch of +frenzy by the use of narcotics and other stimulants, but the Government +always take steps to prevent any serious outbreak, by having the troops +posted in different parts of the town, ready to turn out at a moment's +notice, and a strong body of police mounted and on foot accompany the +procession to enforce order. At sunset they reach the river, and the +day's proceedings terminate by the Taboots being thrown into the water, +amid the shouts, gesticulation and vociferations of the now thoroughly +excited populace. + +The Dewally Festival is equally recognized by natives of all castes and +denominations as a sort of New Year's Day. Accounts for the past year +are closed, and new books are opened. The dirt and rubbish of the past +twelvemonth is removed, the houses thoroughly cleansed and at night the +city or town is illuminated with lamps, Chinese lanterns, and other +descriptions of lights, and the houses thrown open for general +hospitality. + +The Hooley, the most revolting of all Hindoo Festivals, draws together +an immense concourse of people. Large fires are made on the sides of the +public streets and liquid dye stuffs, with every description of filth is +thrown by the Hindoos on each other, and should any unfortunate Hindoo +woman show herself in the street on these occasions, she is assaulted +with language of the most obscene and disgusting nature. These festivals +have of late years been curtailed by the Government, and now seldom last +more than two days--that is, in large cities containing European +communities--but in native towns it is still of many days duration. + +Accounts of these and other native ceremonies, together with the horrors +of the black hole, experienced by Europeans, nearly one hundred years +since at the suggestion of the native princes, had been related to Edith +by her Moonshee Ayah, but their dominion, or power for good or evil, has +now passed away, and Calcutta of the present day is one of the +pleasantest and finest cities to the European to be found throughout our +Indian possessions. + +And were it not for the great change in her position, from absolute +affluence to becoming the recipient of another's bounty, Edith would +have been, if not quite happy, at least contented. Yet it must not be +imagined that she was ungrateful or the less thankful to her kind +protectors, the Bartons, for she could now well realize what might have +been her situation had she been compelled to act upon the plan that had +first suggested itself to her on leaving Vellenaux--that of becoming a +governess or companion to some antiquated Dowager in Europe. + +The repeated assurances from Mrs. Barton that she would, at no distant +period, secure a brilliant alliance, fell coldly on her ear, but she +made no ostentative demonstration of her own ideas on the subject, but +with a gentle and quiet dignity, repelled the advances of certain +aspirants for her hand, who were continually to be found in her train +whenever she appeared abroad. She had a smile for all and a fascinating +and bewitching manner which was equally bestowed among her would-be +admirers. But beyond this all was calm and cold. Her heart had +imperceptibly slipped from her, and was now in the care of another, nor +would she wish it were otherwise. The future was before her and she was +willing to wait. + +Let it not be imagined that Arthur Carlton was a lukewarm lover, coldly +prudential, or thinking it would be time enough to marry when he should +have obtained his Captaincy, and careless as to what trying position +Edith might be placed in, surrounded, as he knew her to be, by those who +would willingly wed her at any moment. Far from it. He loved her too +well to ask her to share at present the inconveniences incident to a +camp life, as experienced by the wives of subalterns, not that he +doubted she would yield up without a single regret the gay society and +splendid establishment of Mrs. Barton, and contentedly share with him +his home, be it ever so humble. But the thought of her having to make +any such sacrifice was to him one that could not be entertained for a +moment. He believed he knew her sufficiently well to trust implicitly in +her constancy, and await the happy time when he could in all honour +formally propose for her hand. + +About a twelvemonth prior to the outbreak of the great Sepoy mutiny, it +pleased the authorities to change the scene of Mr. Barton's labors from +Chowringee, that Belgravia of Calcutta, to Goolampore, a military +station of some importance in the northwest provinces, or more properly +speaking in the Goozeratte country. This act of the Government, although +particularly objectionable to Mrs. Barton, was exactly what her lord and +master desired. His term of service would shortly come to a close, and +therefore, in his opinion, it became expedient, not only to retrench his +expenses, which he could not do at the gay Capitol, but likewise gather +in a few more of the loaves and fishes of office, which were said to be +found in greater abundance at a distance from the seat of Government, +besides Mr. Barton was in the decline of life, and felt that the harness +of office life did not fit so easily upon him while under the immediate +supervision of the Suddur Aydowlett, as it would do when removed from +its immediate influence. However, be this as it may, he was quite +content with the change, nor was he the only one to whom this change was +a sort of relief. The City of Palaces and its surroundings had become +distasteful to Edith; not that she disliked the Capitol or the pleasures +to be found there; but she felt wearied and annoyed by the attentions +that were showered upon her by the numerous suitors who thronged around +her, using all the powers of persuasion they had at command, to induce +her to listen to their respective suits. The parchment visaged Nabob, +with his sacks of rupees, the wealthy planter, whose fortune had been +wrung from either opium or indigo, perhaps both, the rich civil servant +and field officer, with numerous others, all jostling and hedging each +other in the race for the hand of the beautiful Miss Effingham; but the +prize was not for them. She cared not a jot for either their persons or +their purses and would not consent to be caught, and like a bird in a +golden cage, flutter without the means of escape. + +But there was one for whom she did care, one whose image was indelibly +stamped on her heart, and whom she loved as woman only can love, and +this favored one was Arthur Carlton, Lieut. H.M. Light Dragoons--the +playmate of her childhood, and companion of her riper years in the +golden days at Vellenaux, in dear old England. + +"It is absurd in the directors, or whoever has to do with it, to send +Horace off to the Northwest, just at the commencement of the season too; +besides, we shall scarcely be settled before we shall have to return to +England. I declare we are being treated shamefully," said Mrs. Barton, +as she stepped from the Chuppaul Ghat to the Budgerow that was to convey +them to the steamer, in which a passage had been provided by the +Government for them, to the nearest port on the coast of Goozeratte, _en +route_ for Goolampore, "and to think," again resumed the little lady to +Edith, as they sat together in the handsomely furnished cabin, "that +your brilliant prospects will be destroyed; for who is there in the +interior that will compensate for the loss of those eligible suitors for +your hand?" Edith disclaimed against brilliant alliances or the admirers +referred to. + +"It is all very fine, my dear, for you to say so; but depend upon it, +for a young lady in your position and circumstances, there is nothing +equal to a wealthy husband, and an establishment of your own. But what I +shall do without you I really do not know; but I expect it must come to +that some day or other." Here the good lady sank back among her +cushions, and resigned herself to her fate, her Ayah, and her last new +novel. + +For several months all went pleasantly enough with the Bartons, much +more so, indeed than had been anticipated by her little ladyship; for +she found that as wife of the judge, the highest civil functionary in +the station, she was leader of fashion, and took precedence of all other +ladies in Goolampore; and Edith, for a time, found herself relieved from +the importunities that beset her at Calcutta. Not that she lacked +admirers, but certainly at present their attentions were not +sufficiently marked to give her any annoyance. + +The worthy judge was retrenching. His expenses were scarcely one fourth +of what they had been at the Presidency. He had attained his object, and +all things for the time being _couleur de rose_. + +"Come here pretty one," said he as he noticed Edith dismounting, after +her usual ride around the race course and band stand, one beautiful +evening. "Listen! here is something in the papers that will greatly +interest you, or I am much mistaken." Edith was soon at his side, all +attention, when the gentleman proceeded to read as follows:--"Extract +from general orders. His Excellency the Commander in Chief has been +pleased to appoint Lieutenant Arthur Carlton, H.M. Light Dragoons, to +act as A.D.C. on the staff of General D----, at Goolampore. That officer +will proceed and assume his duties at that station forthwith." Edith +could not conceal her joy at this unexpected event, and retired to her +chamber in a flutter of agitation, but happier in heart than she had +been for many months past. + +It was the anniversary of Her Majesty's birthday, and, as was customary +at all military stations, it was celebrated by a military display in the +morning, theatricals, and a supper and ball at night. The Assembly +rooms, as they were called at Goolampore, were built by Government. It +was a building of considerable length, divided into three rooms, eighty +feet long, by forty feet wide. The end one was fitted up in very +handsome style as a theatre, the other two communicating with it by +means of enormous folding doors, and were used on ordinary occasions by +the military department for holding courts martial, courts of enquiry, +committees, &c. The other was at the disposal of the political agents or +chief magistrate to transact such business as they might deem necessary. +But on such occasions as the present, or others of a similar character, +the whole three were brilliantly illuminated and thrown open for the +amusement of the _elite_ of the station. + +"I say Hopkins, as you know everything and everybody, tell me, who is +that young fellow in staff uniform, dancing with Miss Effingham?" +enquired a Colonel of the N.I. + +"That is young Carlton of the Dragoons, the new A.D.C. He only arrived +this morning. Capital fellow I am told; a tip top sportsman; goes in +strong for tiger shooting and all that kind of game," was the reply. + +"He appears to go in--as you call it--pretty strong for another +description of game. Why, this is the third time he has danced with that +young lady. Rather strong, that, I should say for a first introduction," +responded the Colonel, about to move off, when his friend continued: + +"Oh, they are old acquaintances. I met him at the Bartons this +afternoon, where he appeared quite at home, turning over the music and +accompanying _la belle_, Edith, in one of her favourite songs, +apparently very much to each others satisfaction. But the next waltz is +about to commence," said Captain Hopkins, "and I must claim my partner," +and the man who knew everything and everybody was soon waltzing with +great assiduity. + +"You will allow me the pleasure of attending you in your morning and +evening rides, whenever my duties will admit of it, dear Edith," +whispered Arthur as he handed her to the carriage at the close of the +festivities. With a sweet smile the promise was given, and the carriage +whirled off. + +The new A.D.C. soon became a general favourite. Courteous and +gentlemanly in the drawing room, and ever ready to attend the ladies _en +cavalier_, he could not fail to win the esteem of the fair sex. He was a +first-class swordsman, a bold rider, and a keen sportsman; therefore +held in great repute by his companions in arms. He had scoured the +jungles for thirty miles around Goolampore, and knew the haunts of the +tiger and cheetah better than any man in the station. This was proved by +the numerous trophies in the shape of skins and heads that he brought +in. So our young friend, basking in the smiles of beauty, and especially +of hers whom he loved so well, was consequently envied by others less +fortunate in this respect than himself; and in this delightful manner +weeks passed away. But dark clouds were rising in the distance which +were gradually closing around them to destroy the tranquility of the +station. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + +Reports began to arise of the disloyalty and insubordination of some of +the native regiments; but at first little notice was taken of the +circumstance, it being believed that the rumours were greatly +exaggerated, and that, if there was anything really in it, the matter +would soon be put to rights by the Government, either by proclamation or +by force of arms. But report followed report and the mutiny continued, +when the massacre at Cawnpore took place, and the affair at Lucknow, and +the horrors enacted at the Star Fort of Jansee, where the officer +commanding, after doing everything that could be done to protect the +unfortunate inmates, just as the mutineers were in the act of bursting +open the gates, well knowing what would be the result should they fall +into the hands of the remorseless natives, with his own hand shot his +wife and child, and then deliberately blew out his own brains. Those who +were captured met a death so horrible and revolting at the hands of and +under the immediate supervision of that incarnate fiend and she devil, +the Rannee of Jansee, the details of which are totally unfit for +publication. Then, and not till then, the magnitude of the danger was +realized. + +Mr. Barton, whose health had been on the decline some weeks past, and +whose term of service in India nearly expired, declared that he would no +longer remain in the country, and obtained leave of absence to proceed +to Bombay, in anticipation of finally leaving for Europe. Mrs. Barton, +always nervous, became alarmed for her personal safety, and urged their +immediate departure with much vehemence, and it was arranged that they +should start at once for Rutlaum _en route_ for the sea coast, and that +Miss Effingham should remain and see everything packed up and the +servants sent on, then follow herself and overtake them at Rutlaum, +where they were to make a halt for a few days. Several other families +also left about the same time, for the tide of mutiny and rebellion was +now sweeping like the red pestilence through the whole of the North West +provinces. Mohow, Indore, Meidpoore, Mundasore, Neemuch and other places +of greater or lesser note, had already become the scene of many a bloody +drama and fiendish outrage. In fact, whenever native troops had been +located, ruin and desolation reigned triumphant. Public edifices were +thrown down, Bungalows burned and the Bazaars plundered, while helpless +and unprotected Europeans, irrespective of sex or age, were seized, and +after suffering the most brutal indignities, ruthlessly slaughtered by +the fanatical and blood-thirsty native soldiery. + +Goolampore and its immediate vicinity, up to the present period, had +remained in perfect tranquility. The native mind was apparently +undisturbed by the great convulsions that were now shaking, to its very +centre, the supremacy of British power in India; but it was only the +lull before the storm, which was so soon to burst and fall like a +thunderbolt on the hitherto peaceful station. + +The Brigade here consisted of the following troops: One troop of +European horse artillery, one regiment of native cavalry, and two +battalions of Sepoys. This force was commanded by a Brigadier of the +Bengal army; but, having been on the staff for many years, was unequal +to an emergency like the present, and such was his belief in the loyalty +of the men under his command, that he refused to listen to the reports +made to him from time to time by his staff, and others well qualified to +give an opinion on the matter, until it was too late and many valuable +lives had been sacrificed. + +The evening was clear and calm, countless stars studded the dark purple +vault of heaven. The young moon shed her silvery light o'er lake and +mountain, the atmosphere was no longer influenced by the stifling heat +of the scorching sun; a deliciously cool breeze wafted from the ocean +that rolled into the Gulf of Cambay, and washed the shores of the +Goozeratte, played and rustled among the leaves of the trees and +flowers, imparting to the senses a delicious feeling of relief and +delight. + +In a broad and spacious verandah of the cavalry mess house were +assembled a group of officers of different corps. Some stretched at full +length on ottomans, enjoying the music of an excellent band; others +smoking, laughing or chatting on the various events that were passing +around them. + +"Listen to me, gentlemen," said a tall, handsome man, about thirty, and +the very _beau ideal_ of a cavalry officer, who had for some time been +leaning over the balustrade of the verandah, quietly puffing circles of +white smoke from his cheroot, and gazing thoughtfully on the moonlit +scene before him, and who had hitherto taken no part in the conversation +that was going on. "This deceitful calm," said he, drawing himself up to +his full height, and advancing to the centre of the group, "will not, +cannot last much longer, and it is high time that something should be +done for the protection of the families of the European Warrant Officers +and staff, Non-Commissioned Officers and others who are residing at +different parts of the station, and who would be the first to fall +victims to the licentious passion and murderous designs of the troops, +should an outbreak ensue before we are re-enforced by more Europeans." + +"Right! Major Collingwood is right," exclaimed a Colonel of one of the +Sepoy battalions; "too much valuable time has already been lost. What +the deuce has come to the Brigadier? Huntingdon, of the Artillery, +proposed to him to give an order for the families of the Europeans of +his troop to move at once into the Fort, but he would not listen to him, +stating that there was no necessity for such a course, and that he would +answer for the loyalty and good behavior of the troops under his +command." + +"This comes of trusting the lives and property of Europeans in the care +of General D---- and others of his stamp, who from a long association in +a civil capacity with the natives, have become so wrapped up in them, +and so hoodwinked, that they will see nothing, only through the +spectacles provided for them by the native functionaries, who always +toady and flatter their European masters," was the contemptuous remark +of one of the party. The last speaker was here interrupted by the +Brigade Major, who came bounding up the steps of the verandah, three at +a time. "What is the matter, Grey?" enquired several voices at one time. +"Oh! there has been the devil to pay at Headquarters, and no pitch hot," +was the hasty reply of the staff officer. "Explain yourself, if you +please," said Major Collingwood. "What has taken place?" + +"Why Huntingdon, in spite of the Brigadier's refusal to grant +permission, has sent the married people of his troop within the Fort, +and detailed several troopers to man the guns, and put the place in a +state of defence, in case of any sudden rising among the natives. +General D---- became furious when Huntingdon told him what he had done, +and threatened to arrest him. On young Carlton, the new A.D.C., taking +sides with the commander of the artillery, and applauding the act, old +D---- turned upon him like a lion. A violent squabble ensued, which +resulted in Arthur Carlton resigning his appointment on the Staff, and +expressed his determination to rejoin his regiment without delay." + +"Well done, Huntingdon. That is a step in the right direction. It is a +pity that the non-commissioned staff of the station could not have been +included," responded several voices; and all praised the plucky way in +which young Carlton had acted, though sorry to lose the services of so +valuable a sabre as Arthur was known to be, especially at a time when +stout hearts and bold riders were necessary to the salvation of the +station. + +"Pinkerton, Jones, and others acted wisely in sending their families +away last week; but I do not think it was quite the thing for the +Bartons to leave the pretty Miss Effingham behind to arrange their +household affairs, and then make her way to Rutlaum as she best could. +Who will see her there in safety?" exclaimed the staff Surgeon. + +"Oh, as far as that matters, that young lady would, doubtless, have a +score of volunteers to act as her escort, should she require one," said +the first speaker; "but I do not think she would accept such an offer, +nor do I imagine Arthur Carlton would feel obliged to any one in +Goolampore for acting as her guide and protector, while he was at hand +to perform so delightful a service," responded Captain Hopkins, with a +light laugh, "for you must know that he has been a constant visitor at +the Bartons since his arrival, and are they not always to be seen riding +together at the race course and band stand? Why, he is her very shadow." + +"Miss Effingham is too fine a girl, and has too much good sense to throw +herself away on a penniless Lieutenant of Dragoons, when she knows that +there are others of high standing in the service who are both able and +willing to offer her an establishment and position in society that he +will be unable to do for years to come," said a grey haired Colonel of +Infantry. + +"Phew!" ejaculated a young Cornet. "Sets the wind in that quarter? I +wonder if the pretty Edith will be proof against three lacs of rupees? I +am afraid the A.D.C.'s chances for the lady will soon sink below par; +but there is no accounting for the doings of pretty women, for 'Love +levels rank--lords down to cellar-bears, etc.'" + +The parties now began to disperse to their various quarters. No doubt +many were ruminating as to what might be the result of the fracas at the +Brigadiers quarters, just related to them by the Major of Brigade. + +The following morning as the Brigadier was preparing to mount his horse +and take his usual ride through the cantonments, the Adjutant of one of +the Sepoy battalions came up at full gallop to where he was standing, +with the, (to him) astounding intelligence that, during the night, a +large body of irregular horse had entered the limits of the station, +visiting the cavalry and Sepoy lines, and had arranged with them to +unite in plundering the Bazaar, seize the guns of the artillery, put to +death all the Europeans that might oppose them, and that the men of his +own corps and those of the other battalion were then in the act of +breaking open the bells-of-arms and taking therefrom the muskets and +ammunition. + +"Phew! There must be some mistake, your fears must have misled you. The +men may be somewhat excited. I will go down and reason with them--they +will listen to me, for they know I am their friend"--and the General +turned his horse's head in the direction of the Sepoy lines, requesting +him to follow. The Adjutant replied: + +"My instructions from the Colonel were to report the circumstance to +you, then ride to the horse artillery and acquaint Major Huntingdon and +others with it," then, saluting his superior officer, he galloped off. +Bursting with indignation at the conduct of those around him, who, until +the last few hours, were ready to obey without scruple any order, he +might give, the General called his Brigade Major, and ordered him to +ride with him. That officer shrugged his shoulders, but obeyed the +command, and they rode off together. They were soon recognized by the +mutineers. A hurried consultation among the native commissioned and +non-commissioned officers took place. Some Were for arresting the +Brigadier and his Major of Brigade, and holding them prisoners until the +guns and Fort were surrendered to them; others were of a different +opinion, and insisted that the two officers should be put to death. They +argued that delay was dangerous; reinforcements of Europeans might +arrive at any hour, and that nothing would be left for them but to make +a rapid retrograde movement, and advised the immediate looting of the +town. This party, being the strongest and most clamorous, carried their +point; and three Sepoys thereupon leveled their muskets and fired, but +without having any effect, as the bullets flew wide of their mark. But +this was the signal that the irregular cavalry were so anxiously +watching for, and immediately encircled the two unfortunate gentlemen +who, drawing their weapons, prepared to defend their lives to the last. +But what could two men do against a score of fanatical ruffians, +thirsting for the blood of Christians. Some of the troopers fell from +the effect of the bullets from the Brigadier's revolver, and some were +severely wounded by the sabre of poor Captain Grey, but all to no +purpose; they were soon overpowered and literally hewn to pieces by the +sowars of the cavalry who, by this time, had been joined by the +regulars. The party then started off at a canter to the artillery lines, +to secure the guns and open the magazine, if they could but obtain the +key from the ordinance warrant officer, while the infantry made an +attempt to carry the Fort by storm; but having neither guns nor scaling +ladders, they signally failed in their attempt, and suffered +considerable loss from the spherical case and round shot that was hurled +at them from the guns of the fort. The party, to whom fell the work of +plundering the Bazaar, were, for a time, very successful, and numerous +large Bungalows were soon in a blaze. + +The party of cavalry, regular and irregular, who were to attempt to +carry off from the magazine such ammunition as they might find, went in +the direction of the place, and on their way intercepted the European +ordnance conductor, who had charge of the keys, which they at once +demanded, but were promptly refused by that officer, who declared he had +them not, and immediately stood on the defensive; but a shot from the +carbine of one of the troopers, brought him bleeding to the earth. A +couple of them dismounted, and with oaths and imprecations, both loud +and bitter, stripped off his uniform in search of the magazine keys, but +they were not to be found. Drawing his creese, one of the villains cut +the throat of the wounded man, nearly severing the head from the body. +The others satisfied themselves by merely spitting upon the naked body. + +"It is useless to go on without the keys," said a Havildar of the +regulars. "Let us move off at once to his Bungalow, they must be there. +I know the road, follow me!" and the whole party galloped off and soon +reached the murdered man's quarters, where they halted and dismounted. + +The terrified woman, wife of the poor fellow who had just been so +savagely slaughtered, saw them approaching, and judging their +intentions, bolted and barred all the doors and windows, and with her +two young children, mere babes, the eldest being scarcely four years of +age, retreated to a small closet in an inner room, and locked the door. +For some time the troopers, who had now worked themselves up to a pitch +of frenzy, could not effect an entrance: but at length, tearing down one +of the wooden uprights of the verandah, used it as a sort of ram, and +soon battered down the door. Then, with a yell of triumph, rushed into +the house, searched every nook and corner far what they so much wished +to find, smashing and destroying everything that came in their way, but +they were doomed to disappointment. A bullet from one of their holster +pistols blew the lock from the door of the closet, and the poor mother +and her helpless babes were seized and dragged forth by these monsters +in human form. The mother was brutally outraged, and her clothing torn +and stripped from her person. A large empty chest, which usually +contained clothing, caught the attention of one of the number, and a +fiendish thought flashed through his mind, which he communicated to some +of the others, and they proceeded to carry it out. Collecting the broken +furniture, bed linen, etc., they made a large fire and placed the box in +question thereon; then tossed the helpless children into it and +literally roasted them alive in the presence of the agonized mother, who +made frantic attempts to break from her captors, and rescue her +offspring, but it was in vain; they held her firmly until the chest and +its contents were reduced to embers; then two of them plunged their +creeses into her naked bosom, and flung her bleeding body into the fire +to be consumed like those of her children. Other enormities were being +enacted in various parts of Goolampore during the short time the +mutineers remained there. But an act of unparalleled atrocity was +perpetuated on the Postmaster and his wife, who, it appears, had, on the +morning in question, gone to look at their new Bungalow which was in +course of erection in the suburbs, when they were pounced upon by a body +of Sepoys, who were making good their exodus from the station, having no +desire to come in contact with the horse artillery, the booming of whose +guns sounded not at all pleasantly in their ears. These inhuman wretches +dashed at their victims and, after tormenting them almost to madness by +their devilish cruelties, dragged them to a sawpit, where pieces of +square timber, which had been partially cut into planks for building +purposes, lay. The unhappy pair were then bound on two separate planks, +then another plank was placed on the top of each, and tightly bound +together with strips of fine bamboo; the monsters laughing and +gesticulating at what they termed the living sandwiches, dainty morsels +to be offered up as a sacrifice to their Deities. The crowning act of +this fearful drama was at last enacted by the remorseless villains: With +two large cross-cut saws, sawing into two feet lengths the planks which +encased their victims, commencing at the feet of each, and then throwing +the pieces into the unfinished Bungalow, set fire to it, and made off at +the top of their speed along the high road towards Islempoora, a small +village at no great distance, which had been appointed as a rendezvous +for the whole to assemble at, when their bloody work at Goolampore had +terminated. + +Major Huntingdon had, early that morning, received private information +of the intended outbreak, and the general plan of the mutineers. He was +therefore prepared for the emergency, and acted accordingly; so that +when the party of horse, accompanied by the Goolandowz (native +artillery) arrived at the artillery lines, they found that the birds had +flown; the gun sheds were empty, and those whom they thought to have +found quietly taking their breakfasts, were, doubtless, then hovering +around, ready to fire upon them at the first convenient opportunity; nor +was there any one on whom they could wreak their vengeance, for the +whole of the families of the Europeans had, by the prudence and +determined conduct of their commanding officer, been removed to a place +of safety within the walls of the Fort, where, but for the obstinacy and +infatuation of General D----, the whole of the Europeans, unable to bear +arms, might have found a refuge ere it was too late. Foiled in their +attempt to capture the guns, without which they knew they could not hold +possession of the town, they turned in the direction of the Bazaar, +which they determined to plunder, then make their way to Islempoora. +They shortly fell in with the Sepoy battalions, which had made the +ineffectual attempt to carry the Fort by assault. Chafing with rage at +their disappointment, they accompanied the cavalry, vowing vengeance on +all the whites or other Christians that should fall into their hands. +But their villainous designs were frustrated, for on the head of the +column of cavalry, wheeling into the narrow road leading to the +principal Bazaar, they beheld, much to their consternation, four of the +guns of the horse artillery, which immediately opened upon them with +grape and canister, which told fearfully among them, as the number of +riderless and wounded horses plainly showed, and the irregular horse, +not being trained to act in concert with the regular troops, the whole +were thrown into confusion, and were unable to reform or advance upon +the guns. By a rapid movement, Major Huntingdon had brought his two +twelve pound Howitzers to play on the Sepoy battalion, with shrapnel, +shell and spherical case, with considerable effect. The native officer +who commanded them deployed his right wing into line, and sent the left +to endeavour to take the artillery in flank or rear. But in order to +accomplish this they had to make a _detour_ to the right, and in so +doing came to grief. The road they had taken led them across the open +plain and in front of the station gun, a long thirty-two pounder. This +movement had been anticipated by the artillery officer, consequently it +was loaded with as much canister as was considered safe, and a Sergeant, +who volunteered, was appointed to take charge, and act as circumstances +might require. A small pit had been dug, in which the Sergeant was +snugly ensconced, and there was nothing to indicate to those passing +within a short distance, that there was anything to be feared from that +quarter; but in this they were terribly mistaken, for at the right +moment the gun belched forth its storm of bullets into the very centre +of the little column of infantry with fearful effect. So unexpected was +the charge that the utmost confusion prevailed, which was considerably +increased by the sudden appearance of about one hundred well mounted +horsemen, acting as cavalry, sweeping down upon them, sabreing right and +left. This party of horsemen consisted of officers of all corps in +garrison, and every other available European that could sit on a horse +or handle a sabre, and had been quietly organized, in expectation of an +event like the present, by Major Collingwood. + +Repulsed at all points, the mutineers retreated as fast as possible. +Their infantry, in many cases, mounting in rear of the cavalry. The +artillery limbered up and followed them to the outskirts of the town, +where, as they crossed the deep Nulla leading to the Islempoora road, +the gallant Huntingdon again blazed away at them, reducing their numbers +to a considerable extent; but it was not considered advisable to follow +them any farther. The troop was then divided and the guns sent in +different directions through the station, while the lately improvised +cavalry scoured the Bazaars and other parts, in order to capture any +small parties who might be engaged in the work of plunder or other +destruction. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + +The hour of eleven was ringing from the gurries or gongs at the +different guard rooms, as Arthur Carlton left the quarters of the +Brigadier commanding the station, for unlike most A.D.C.'s he did not +reside with his chief, but occupied snug little quarters in the staff +lines near the Suddur Bazaar. He was both annoyed and excited as he +mounted his horse to return home; but he soon became calm and +thoughtful, and his noble charger, as if knowing the mood of his master, +slackened its speed to a walk. "General D---- is an obstinate and +self-willed man, and his policy anything but what it should be at so +critical a time," muttered Arthur half aloud; "but was I wise to cross +him, and in the heat of the moment to throw up my appointment on his +staff; I who have nothing but my pay to depend on and no interest at the +Horse Guards to push me on in the service?" and his thoughts flew back +to Vellenaux, Sir Jasper Coleman and Edith Effingham. As her image +crossed his mind his countenance brightened, and his spirits rose. "Yes, +I will rejoin my regiment. She must return to Rutlaum in a day or two. I +will see her to-morrow and beg her to allow me to be her escort, that I +think she will not refuse; and when I get my troop I will seek her hand, +for her heart I know is mine already." He was aroused from his reverie +by the sudden stopping of his horse, and on looking up found that he had +arrived at the gate of the Compound which surrounded his dwelling. +Immediately on entering he summoned his butler, and gave him +instructions to pack up everything without delay, and to start with his +baggage and the other servants at an early hour on the following +morning, _en route_ for Rutlaum; to halt at the first Dawk Bungalow he +came to, and that he would follow on horseback in the evening. Then +calling Pedro, a Portuguese, who had entered his service on his first +arrival in India as a Kitmagar or Valet, he dispatched him to the Bazaar +to procure from the Kotwell the necessary hackarries, or baggage carts +and cattle; then, after enjoying several puffs from his hookah, he flung +himself on a lounge to snatch what sleep he could before the grey dawn +of day appeared. He was aroused at an early hour by the hurried entrance +of his Portuguese servant who, after carefully closing the door, +communicated the following startling intelligence: It appears that +Pedro, after executing the commission entrusted to him, called on a +friend in the Bazaar, who, like himself, was a Christian, to bid him +farewell, and remained for two or three hours; that on his way home he +heard voices in the angle of a small compound, which excited his +curiosity. Approaching the spot noiselessly, through a hole in the +prickly pear hedge he, by the light of the moon, saw four persons +conversing together, two of whom he recognized; one was a Jemidar of +Cavalry, the other, Soobadah, Major of one of the native regiments, the +remaining two were strangers, evidently belonging to some irregular +corps. The substance of their conversation was to the effect that, about +six hundred irregular horse, and a company of Goolandowz, (but without +guns or ammunition) were halted a short distance beyond the limits of +the cantonments ready to enter at a given signal; that all the native +corps in garrison were to rise, simultaneously, about eight a.m.; an +attempt was to be made to carry off the artillery guns while the +European gunners were at their breakfasts; the Fort was to be carried by +a sudden rush, and the town plundered; they were then to make off to the +next smallest station, where they were unlikely to meet with any +European force. + +For some moments Arthur was undecided as to what course he ought to +pursue. "If," thought he, "I carry this information to the Brigadier, he +will pooh, pooh it as mere moonshine, besides I no longer belong to his +staff, and he would not listen to anything I might suggest; it would +only be time thrown away; but Huntingdon must be warned. Forewarned is +forearmed, and he is not the man to disregard a circumstance of this +kind." He at once wrote a note relating what had been told him, and sent +it by the Portuguese. + +"You will deliver this into the hand of Major Huntingdon, and likewise +give him a full account of all you saw and heard, and return as quickly +as possible." The servant was soon on his way to the artillery lines. +The next thing was to start his servants' baggage and personal effects +by a road, directly opposite the one where the irregulars were said to +be halted. While dressing and arming, he resolved as to what step he +should now take. He would ride over to Edith, and, after placing her in +safety within the walls of the Fort, join the other officers of the +garrison under the direction of Major Collingwood and act as he deemed +best in the coming struggle. He was well mounted and thoroughly armed, +and likewise carried a double-barreled tiger-rifle, slung +carbine-fashion to his saddle, and was as formidable a cavalier as one +could meet with in the country. Giving his last instructions to Pedro, +who, by this time, had returned, he rode out of the compound and took +his way to the Bungalow, where all that he held most dear in life was, +perhaps, sleeping, all unconscious of the impending danger. When he was +near the house, a few shots were fired, and a hubbub was heard within +the Sepoy lines. + +"I am almost too late," thought Arthur, as he dashed up to the door. +Edith, who had seen his approach met him in the verandah. A few words +sufficed to explain how matters stood, and she hurried away to put on +her riding habit, and gather together what valuables belonged to her. +Arthur lost no time in causing to be saddled one of the best horses in +the stable, and had it led round to the front of the Bungalow, where, in +a very short time, he was joined by Edith, fully equipped for any +emergency. + +Placing her quickly and firmly on her saddle, and carefully examining +every strap and buckle, and finding everything secure, he sprang lightly +on his own steed. One glance at the space in front of the Bungalow, was +quite sufficient to realize, to a practical mind like Arthur's, the +imminent dangers that would beset them, should they attempt to cross the +open plain in the direction of the Fort. The only chance was in a rapid +flight. There was no time to arrange any definite plan of action, for a +very few minutes would elapse before the mutineers would surround the +Bungalow, and cut off all means of escape; so passing directly to the +rear of the compound, they sought the cover of the jungle that skirted +it. Advancing as rapidly as the narrow path and thickly interwoven +underbrush would admit of, they soon left the station far behind them. +At the foot of an eminence they emerged from the cover of the woods, and +struck into the highroad that wound round the hill in front of them. +This they ascended at a gentle canter, for Arthur was too good a rider +to push his horses at the commencement of a journey, in which both speed +and endurance might be required before its termination. His intention +was, if possible, to reach Rutlaum; should he fail in this he must reach +some station on the sea coast before night-fall, and place Edith under +the protection of the officer commanding such post, until he could +arrange for a passage for her to Bombay. On arriving at the crest of the +hill, they turned to take a parting look at the pretty little station, +where, for so many weeks, they had been supremely happy in the enjoyment +of each others society, and framing projects for their union, at some +future period, when the young Lieutenant should have advanced +sufficiently in his profession to warrant that consummation so devoutly +to be wished for. + +Lurid flames and thick dark smoke shot up from many a burning Bungalow, +while the roar of Artillery and discharge of musketry, convinced the +fugitives that the conflict was still going on between the defenders of +the Fort and the miscreants who vainly endeavoured to effect an entrance +in order to put to death any Europeans who had taken shelter within its +walls. Parties of Sepoys were looting the Bazaars and residences of the +European officers of whatever they could lay their hands upon, while the +cavalry, both regular and irregular, were riding hither and thither in +search of Christian men, women, or children, who might have been +unfortunate enough not to have gained admission to the Fort, or make +good their escape from the fated place ere it was too late. + +"Look, dearest Arthur," exclaimed Edith, pointing with her riding whip +to a bend in the road some distance below them, "what are those +horsemen? are they friends or foes? Oh! I see you change colour, and we +are lost. But is there no hope for us?" + +For a few moments Carlton remained silent, measuring with a practised +eye the distance between those advancing and the spot on which they +stood. For himself he had not a single thought, but for her in whom his +whole soul was bound, the thought of what would be her fate, should she +fall into the hands of those who he well knew were bent on their +capture, it was this agonizing thought that caused a convulsive shudder +to run through his whole frame, and rendered him for the moment +speechless. But it was only for a moment; his deep love for the +beautiful being at his side, and her imminent peril, roused him to +immediate action. + +"It would be wrong for me to attempt to conceal the fact of the great +danger in which we stand. Our pursuers are irregular troops; men who +have been taught to hate everything Christian, being the followers of +petty Rajahs, who for some act of their own, or some of their families' +treachery or disloyalty to our Government, lost their landed +possessions, and consequently their revenue and power; but, dearest, +they shall only reach you over my dead body. They would, in the long +run, overtake us; but could we reach a wooden bridge that crosses a +small river, a few miles up the road, I believe we could yet elude +them. For there is an old road leading from the ford and running +parallel with the one we are on. It has not been used for the past two +years, and they, being strangers in this part of the country, will, in +all probability, know nothing of it, and by this way we may escape. +Courage, dearest Edith, all may yet go well with us." + +"Your love and devotion, dear Arthur, I have never for one moment +doubted, and confidently trust myself to your protecting arm and loving +heart. But what can one single arm do against numbers; but should those +wretches overtake us, the spirit of the Effinghams will teach me how to +act, and, if necessary, how to die." As she said this, she drew from the +folds of her riding habit, a handsome five-chambered revolver. "I will +never become their prey, nor shall you perish unavenged while I have +strength to draw a trigger," exclaimed the beautiful girl, now excited +beyond measure at the critical position in which she found herself +placed. "Brave and noble girl," responded Arthur, as he bent over and +imprinted a kiss on the lovely brow. And in another moment they were +bounding along the high road at a hand gallop. + +"We are gaining on them," shouted one of the pursuers, as he caught +sight of the two lovers flying along a straight piece of road at no very +great distance in front of them. "But we shall have some tough work +before we capture the young fellow or I am much mistaken." + +"Curse him," growled out a tall athletic fellow in the uniform of a +Russeldah. "I may thank him for my court martial and loss of commission +in the regulars; but my turn is coming now. He and his dainty lady shall +curse the hour of their birth before I have done with them. 'Remember,' +said he, turning to the party, of whom he was evidently the leader, +'they must, if possible, be taken alive. Their money and valuables--and, +doubtless, they have a good store about them--you can divide among +yourselves; I will not touch one rupee of it; but their lives are mine." +A shout of approval followed this last speech, and the whole party +pushed forward with increased speed. + +The little wooden bridge, referred to by Carlton, was at length gained. +During the ride he had communicated to Edith the steps he intended to +take on gaining the cover of the old road. Turning sharply to the right +they entered the jungle, and made their way into the stream that crossed +the road, then passing up the centre and under the bridge, they landed +about one hundred and fifty paces higher up on the opposite bank, and, +having dismounted, Arthur sought for, and soon found, the entrance to +the road they were in search of, now overhung with brambles and creeping +plants. Pushing them carefully aside, they entered, and found themselves +in a narrow track, overgrown with soft grass. Assisting Edith to +remount, Carlton threw the bridle of his own horse over the stump of a +tree, then said to her, in a voice hoarse with emotion, and pointing to +a small opening between the bushes, "From this point you can watch the +results of my endeavours for our mutual safety. Should I fall, turn and +fly. This road will lead you to Rutlaum." Then snatching a hasty kiss, he +retraced his steps to the edge of the main road, taking up his position +under the cover of the thick bushes. + +The road leading to the bridge was, for about one hundred yards, +perfectly straight, and much narrower than at other points, and the +jungle at both sides was both thick and dense. Rather an awkward place +for cavalry, should there be any infantry lurking in ambush, watching to +give them a hot reception. I have said that Arthur was thoroughly armed; +besides his two revolvers and sabre, he had his double-barreled +tiger-rifle, a breech-loader of the newest pattern, which had only +lately been introduced into India. Arthur had not long to wait for his +foes, for the clattering of the armed hoofs of their troop horses were +soon heard coming along at a rapid pace. There were nine of them, riding +three abreast. As soon as they were within range, Carlton coolly +levelled his rifle and discharged both barrels in rapid succession, +shooting the centre file through the chest, who fell dead instantly, and +lodging his other bullet in the shoulders of the horse of the file on +his right, bringing both steed and rider to the ground, the latter +underneath, his leg being crushed by the fall. So sudden and unexpected +was the attack, that the two men who were riding immediately in rear, +unable to check their speed in time, their horses stumbled and both +their riders were thrown. They were, however, not much hurt by their +fall and were soon in their saddles again. The dead and wounded men were +removed to some soft grass on the side of the road. But this delay, +short as it was, enabled Arthur to reload and shift his position, which +he did by rapidly passing under the bridge to the opposite side of the +road, being too good a soldier to neglect this opportunity. + +"Forward!" shouted the Russeldah. "Follow me! I will soon unkennel the +foe. May the grave of his fathers be accursed, and his bones be burned," +and, after uttering this anathema, he drove the rowels of his spurs into +his horse's flanks, springing him, at least, two lengths in advance of +his followers, and making a dash for the bush from whence the smoke of +the rifle was seen to issue. But ere the scoundrel reached it, a bullet +from Arthur's rifle went crashing through his brain. A second brought +another to the earth with a broken thigh bone. The others reined up in +time to avoid the accident they had before experienced. On finding their +leader to be quite dead, and only five of their number fit to carry on +the contest, they consulted together as to the expediency of any further +pursuit; besides, they could not understand being attacked from both +sides of the road. They had seen no one cross, and never dreamed of the +passage under the bridge, and imagined there must be others concealed in +the jungle. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Arthur returned the +way he came as quickly as possible, and, mounting his horse, regained +his beloved Edith, who had witnessed the whole affair. She was about to +thank, with ardent words of gratitude, her gallant lover, when he +silenced her with a motion of his hand, and whispered to her to follow +him. They proceeded slowly for a time, carefully avoiding the +overhanging branches, lest they should attract the attention of either +of the troopers, who were still halted on the high road at no great +distance, and as Carlton afterwards affirmed, a chance shot from one of +their carbines might have proved fatal to one or perhaps both of them. +After riding some distance they had the satisfaction, on looking back, +of seeing that their cowardly pursuers were returning the way they came, +carrying their dead and wounded with them. But still they had a very +long ride before them, under a scorching sun, before they could consider +themselves safe from further pursuit; and the deep shadows of the dark +jungle had closed around them as they pushed their way along the dusty +road. And it was not until the moon had risen in all her splendour, high +above their heads, that Edith, worn out with the excitement and fatigue +of the day's journey, attended by a gallant cavalier, reached Rutlaum. + +Fortunately, they experienced no difficulty in tracing the whereabouts +of the Bartons, who had not, as yet, left the place. The news of the +disaster at Goolampore had not reached Rutlaum, the mutineers having +cut the telegraph lines, and the intelligence would not, in all +probability, be received for a couple of days; and it was agreed that it +should be suppressed as long as possible. It was arranged that the +family should leave on the following evening by the Palkee Dawk for the +coast. Carlton, of course, called on the officer commanding the post, +and explained to him all he knew concerning the outbreak, and exactly +how things stood when he left the station. + +The Bartons were delighted to have Edith with them again, for nothing +had gone right during her absence. Mrs. Barton had not been accustomed +to take any part in the household arrangements or keeping the servants +in order, consequently everything had gone wrong. + +Edith grew eloquent when describing the dauntless courage of Carlton in +rescuing her from a fate too horrible to be thought of. On hearing this, +Arthur rose at least fifty per cent. in the estimation of Mrs. Barton, +with whom he had always been a great favourite, and she warmly thanked +him for the exertion he had made in behalf of her young friend. Taking +advantage of the opportunity thus afforded him, Arthur, on the spur of +the moment, disclosed to her everything concerning his engagement to +Edith, and solicited their approval to the union on his attaining the +rank of Captain. He was warmly supported by Edith, who did not hesitate +to declare her affection for one whom she had known so long, and who had +risked so much for her. And when Mrs. Barton found that the wedding was +not to take place for some time, and that Edith was to return with them +to England, she professed herself to be satisfied on the subject, +whereupon it was arranged that the party should proceed to the sea +coast. On reaching Doollia, the lovers parted in hopes of meeting again +at no distant day in England, for the ratification of those vows that +were exchanged during their ride for life through the Goozeratte. + +Independent of the inward satisfaction felt by Edith, that her +engagement to Arthur had met the approval of the kind friends to whom +she owed so much, she experienced a great deal of pleasure during the +overland journey to Europe. Both Horace and Pauline had twice traversed +the route, and therefore were enabled to point out the various objects +of interest that were met with in the different places they passed +through. The Egyptian Pyramids, Cleopatra's Needle, and the far-famed +Catacombs at Alexandria, with many a new and strange sight, encountered +during their short sojourn at Malta and Gibraltar, which had been +unheeded on her passage out, so depressed and sad at heart had she felt +at the death of her uncle. But, time having healed that mental wound, +and a bright future opening before her, she could now fully enjoy those +scenes and the associations they usually call up. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + +Arthur Carlton lost no time in making his way to the Capital and +reporting himself to the Commander-in-Chief. His Excellency was pleased +to accept graciously his reasons for throwing up his appointment on the +staff of General D----, at Goolampore. Our hero had expected to get a +good rap over the knuckles for acting as he had done without first +applying to headquarters, and this, doubtless, would have been the case +at any other time, but the blind folly and general mismanagement of the +late Brigadier had already been commented upon and censured by the +authorities, and no doubt if death had not interfered to prevent it, a +court martial and dismissal from the service would have been the result. +As it was, another officer was sent up and appointed to the command at +Goolampore, and Lieutenant Carlton ordered to join his regiment at the +earliest opportunity, which, of course, meant that he should proceed +with any corps, detachment, or party that might be moving in that +direction. But Arthur was too anxious for active employment to brook any +such delay; so, after a few days' sojourn at the Capital, attended only +by his servants, took the road to Runjetpoora, where his regiment was +reported to be stationed. Nothing, of interest occurred on the route, +until within a few miles of his destination where he expected to join +his corps. + +It being his last day's march, he had sent his servants and baggage on +several hours in advance, and being well armed and well mounted, he +started from his halting place about daylight, alone, and pursued his +course along the high road, in the best possible spirits, feeling well +contented with the position of things in general, and his own in +particular. + +About noon, being somewhat heated and thirsty, he turned his horse's +head to the right, and rode quietly some distance into the jungle, and +finding a cool shady spot by a small running stream, dismounted, and +taking off the saddle from his charger, gave him a feed of gram or corn, +and allowed a sufficient length of tether to enable him to crop the soft +grass which grew in the immediate vicinity of the running stream just +alluded to, while he rested and regaled himself with some biscuits, +brandy punnee, and his favourite German pipe. He had taken up his +position at the foot of a small tree, with his back against the trunk, +his famous tiger-rifle lying by his side and the hilt of his sabre +within convenient handling distance, for the time and place was such +that these precautions could not, with safety, be neglected. While thus +resting, he sank into a deep reverie; his thoughts wandering back to his +school boy days, in merry old England, ere he had sighed for a sword and +feather or longed to seek the bubble reputation at the cannon's mouth, +or dreamed of scenes by flood and field, beneath the scorching suns, +over the arid plains, or amid the wild trackless jungles of Industan. + +Then Vellenaux, the home of his happy youth with its architectural +grandeurs, its magnificent parks and rich woodland scenery, passed in +review like a panorama before his mental vision, but fair as these +visions were, another far brighter rose before which all others paled +or faded by comparison. Edith, in all her glorious beauty, now riveted +his every thought, engrossed the whole stretch of his imagination, and +for the time rendered all else opaque and obscure; for had she not +promised to become his wife, to share with him the varied fortunes of a +soldiers' life, to be the joy and solace of his riper years, and heart +in heart and hand in hand, to glide together, as it were, almost +imperceptibly into the yellow leaf of ripe old age. Again, like the ever +varying pictures of light and shade, his thoughts turned on the +present,--this campaign over, the mutiny crushed out, and the command of +a troop conferred upon him, he would be in a position to return to +England, claim his bride, and thus would the dearest wishes of his heart +be fully realized. From this delightful train of thought, he was aroused +by the cracking and breaking of the dry leaves and brush wood at some +little distance, yet immediately in front of him, and ere he had time to +rise, an enormous tiger, a regular Bengalle, sprang over the intervening +bushes on the open space, within a few yards of where Carlton was +quietly smoking. This sudden appearance was as unlooked for by our hero +as was Carlton's figure by the royal beast himself, and, for a few +seconds, they gazed on each other. But Arthur's presence of mind on such +occasions never deserted him. Instantly bringing to his shoulder the +rifle that lay handy by his side, and without moving his position, he +covered and took deliberate aim at his--to say the least of it--just +then unwelcome visitor. Until the cocking of the rifle, the enormous +brute seemed undecided as to what course to pursue. But no sooner did +this sound reach the tiger, than his long tail began to sway slowly +backwards and forwards two or three times; and, with a low growl, fierce +and deep, settled himself gradually back on his haunches, preparatory to +making that spring which this class of animals are so famous for, and +which in many instances prove so fatal to those who pursue or oppose +them. But Arthur was a cool and energetic hunter, and had scoured the +jungles for weeks together, and had brought in more trophies of his +skill, as a Shirkarree, than any other man in the regiment, and ere the +spring could be completed, for the animal had risen in the air, Arthur +had planted a brace of bullets in the chest of the monster, literally +cracking, in their progress, the heart of the tiger, who fell forward +stone dead within six feet of where our hero was seated. His practical +eye in an instant convinced him that no danger was to be apprehended +from his late foe, and without changing his attitude, resumed the pipe, +he had let fall from his lips prior to firing, and, as unconcerned as +though nothing of moment had taken place, commenced carefully to reload +his rifle. While thus engaged, the crushing among the branches of the +jungle trees, and the cracking of the withered stocks and leaves again +attracted his attention; and presently some half dozen horsemen cleared +the adjacent bushes and reined up suddenly on the brink of the little +brook before alluded to, with surprise and astonishment depicted on +their glowing and excited features, as they gazed on the scene, thus +unexpectedly presented to their view. + +"By Jove! did I not know that Arthur Carlton was hundreds of miles away +up in the North-West, I could swear that was he," pointing to the figure +of Carlton seated at the foot of the tree, exclaimed the foremost +rider, as he with difficulty curbed in his impatient steed. + +"And who else but the Burra Shirkarree, the Carlton Sahib, would you +expect to find within a couple of yards of the carcass of a lord of the +jungle, just slaughtered by him, and cooly re-loading as if he had only +been shooting at a pidgeon match," said Travas Templeton in reply, +dismounting as he spoke, and advancing quickly, seized and shook warmly +the hand of our hero, who had by this time sprang to his feet. + +"You guessed right this time, Travas, old fellow," said Carlton, giving +his friend another hearty shake of the hand. Then, turning to the first +speaker, whom he addressed as Dorville, said, "So you thought me miles +away, did you? I was sure you had seen the General's order for me to +rejoin. Pray, introduce me to your friends, and we can have a mutual +explanation of how we came to meet thus unexpectedly." This being done, +the whole party dismounted and threw themselves at full length within +such shade as the jungle afforded, and listened to Arthur's account of +the outbreak at Goolampore, and his reasons for throwing up his +appointment on the staff; the unexpected appearance of the tiger and the +death of the same. + +"A ticklish thing to do, by Jove, to take the matter in your own hands in +that fashion. But all's well that ends well, and devilish glad will our +fellows be to learn that you will be so soon among us again, especially +as your troop and mine have been ordered out on some special service, +and that accounts for our presence in this neighborhood, and so far from +headquarters; but Travas will give you the particulars;" and lighting a +cheroot, Francis Dorville puffed out numberless circles of pale, blue +smoke, which he appeared to enjoy with infinite satisfaction. + +"Then you must know, most redoubtable of tiger-slayers," began Travas +Templeton, who was a cornet in Arthur's troop, and an enthusiastic +sportsman, "that the Brigadier commanding, having secretly got wind that +a party of mutineers had ensconced themselves in a small fortress, among +yonder hills," pointing with his cigar in the direction as he spoke, +"has ordered a flying column, of which two troops of ours form a part, +to attack, and, if possible, to carry the place by assault or _coup de +main_; that we are encamped about eight miles to the South-West of this +spot. Last night some villagers came in and reported that a large tiger, +doubtless the identical one yonder, was causing great havoc among the +cattle; so some half dozen of us started this morning in pursuit. We +caught sight of the brute about a mile from here, and Dorville, being +green at this kind of sport, took a shot at him at too great a range, +and, of course, missed, sending the creature in your direction, and so +gave you the opportunity of bagging him, which you have most +successfully accomplished." + +"I am sorry, gentlemen, to have deprived you of your day's sport, but +under the circumstances, I really could not have done anything less, for +the tiger came so suddenly upon me, that there was nothing else for it; +but this really will be capital fun, the expedition to the hill fort you +speak of," replied Arthur as he tossed off the remaining portion of his +brandy punnee, exclaiming at same time, "Here's all success to our new +undertaking." + +"You will give up all idea, of course, of going on to Runjetpoora, and +return with us to our camp and join our troop, for we are to attack +these gentry to-morrow evening, I believe. Colonel Atherly, of the +engineers, commands the column. He has heard of your exploits at Mooltan +and Chillianwalla, and would be sorry to lose the services of so good a +Sabre on this occasion. You can report in writing to headquarters, +through his Deputy-Adjutant-General, that you have joined your troop. +Your tent and servants can be sent over to you during to-morrow; in the +meantime, you can share mine,"--"or mine,"--"or mine,"--shouted a chorus +of voices. + +"Upon my word, Dorville, you are highly complimentary. It's very +flattering to a fellow's feelings to be so thoroughly appreciated, +especially, after so long an absence from the regiment. Devilish kind of +you, gentlemen, to offer me quarters among you; but, as I cannot divide +myself into half a dozen pieces, I shall only be too happy to accept our +friend Dorville's offer, he being first in the field. By George, it will +be rejoining with _eclat_ if that little fort up yonder, on the hill +side, could be carried by one bold dash, and the affair terminated in a +day or so," cried Carlton, his handsome face lighting up, and pleasure +beaming from his flashing eye at the bare idea of the coming contest. + +"If I can only get my twenty-four pound howitzer in a good position I +will make the place so hot in a dozen hours that the blackguards will +curse their unlucky stars that caused them to unlimber for action in +such an owl's nest as that," put in another of the party, an artillery +officer, attached to the flying column. + +"But what say you to a move, gentlemen. We have some miles to ride, and +that, too, before the trumpet sounds the mess call," said Travas, +raising himself from his sitting position and moving towards his horse. +This suited the views of the whole party. The greater number were +already in the saddle. While Arthur and the two others had their feet in +the stirrup, preparing to mount, the whole party were startled and +amazed by the very novel and unlooked for apparition of a female figure, +flying towards them, evidently in great terror and alarm. On reaching +Carlton, who was the nearest to her, she bent forward with supplicating +looks and clasped hands, passionately exclaiming, "Oh! for pity sake, +hasten to the rescue, ere it be too late. Fly! gentlemen, and stay the +bloody work of those miscreants, those fiends in human form. Oh! waste +not a moment, or your aid may come too late." The supplicant was a +handsome three-quarter cast. Her luxuriant hair, dark as a raven's wing, +hung in wild confusion about her neck and shoulders. Her well-fitting +dress, of fine Madras muslin, hung in shreds around her finely moulded +form, and blood was issuing from rents in her light kid slippers, +caused, doubtless, by the thorns and other prickly obstacles she had met +with on her passage through the tangled brushwood of the jungle. + +"Pray, calm yourself, I beg, and endeavour to collect your thoughts. To +whom do you allude, and in what direction; do you wish us to go?" said +Dorville, as he handed her some sherry and water from his flask; this +she drank eagerly, then hurriedly continued--the whole group pressing +nearer and nearer to the excited woman, to learn by what mischance or +accident she had been thrown amongst them at such a time and place, so +suddenly--"The Collector of Runjetpoora, his wife, daughter, and +sister, with his four clerks, their wives and children, have been +attacked and captured by a band of twenty mounted mutineers, who have +sworn to massacre them, and some of the children have already been +cruelly butchered by these remorseless villains; I, alone, escaped, and +sought shelter in the jungle, where, from an opening down the ravine, +caught a glimpse of your party, and have struggled through brake and +briar to implore your assistance. Oh! do not lose a moment, if you would +be in time. Even now it may be too late to save them;" and, weeping +wildly, sank on her knees, convulsive sobs choking her further +utterance. + +There was now no need to urge them on, for they at once realized the +horrors of the position in which the Collector and his party were now +placed. Exclamations of anger, and vows of bitter vengeance burst from +the lips of all, as they, with paling cheek, and flashing eye, their +teeth clenched fiercely together, listened to the appaling tale of the +half frantic girl before them. + +"They are but three to one, the pack of mutinous scoundrels, and cannot +resist our charge five minutes, and must go down before well-tried +sabres," cried Carlton, springing into his saddle, and taking the lead, +saying, as he did so, "Point out the way we should take, my good girl, +and what courage, brave hearts, and trusty swords can effect, shall be +done to rescue your friends from the terrible fate which, doubtless, +awaits them." + +"When you reach that single tree on the crest of yonder hill," +indicating with her right hand the direction to be taken, "you will come +in sight of the place, where this villainous outrage has been +committed; your own judgment will then tell you what is best to be +done," she replied, evidently strengthened and refreshed by the wine she +had taken, and the comforting assurance held out to her by Arthur and +his companions. These words had scarcely passed her lips when, applying +the spur vigorously, the whole party, with one exception, dashed off in +the direction indicated. Captain Crosby of the artillery, who had not +started with the rest, feeling somewhat anxious for the poor girl's +safety--alone as she would be shortly in that dense jungle, for every +Sabre would be needed in the coming onslaught--approaching her, said +kindly and gently, "and you; what is to become of you? what will you do, +or where can you go?" "Oh, do not think of me," she replied, "I can +retrace my steps the way I came, alone and unassisted," moving a few +steps in that direction. "But stay one moment," said Crosby; "take this +it may assist you in clearing a pathway through the thicket and +underbrush," handing her, as he spoke, his long hunting knife. Raising +her beautiful eyes to his, with a look of thankfulness, she accepted the +weapon. In another instant, the ringing of horses' hoofs, now growing +fainter in the distance, told her that help was hastening on to where +help was most required. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + +The spot where the Collector and his party had been surprised and +captured, was on the high road, midway between the Khandish Ghaut and +the large and populous town of Runjetpoora, the inhabitants of which, +with the exception of their Begum, or Princess, and a few of her +immediate followers, had thus far remained faithful to British rule, and +to which place he was now returning, after making a tour of inspection +through the districts, which inspection consisted in surveying and +valuing the crops while growing, the cattle and other properties of +those residing within his jurisdiction, so that taxes might be levied on +each individual according to their wealth and substance, during the +current year. + +The baggage escort and principal servants had been sent on in advance. +This the mutineers were, doubtless, aware of, or counted on as being +likely to be the case, therefore little opposition was to be expected, +and so suddenly did they sweep down upon them that the little party were +surrounded and overpowered ere they could seize their weapons to defend +themselves. All were made prisoners save one, Mrs. de Mello, a handsome +three-quarter caste, the youthful bride of the Collector's clerk or +first assistant, who had alighted from her palkee to gather some wild +flowers that grew on the road side, a short time prior to the appearance +of the mutineers, and from where she stood witnessed the attack. +Terrified beyond measure at her dangerous proximity to the ruffians, +she fled for safety into the depths of the jungle, and so escaped. + +The carriage and bullock games were drawn to an open space some little +distance into the jungle, the intervening bushes screening it to a +considerable extent from the road. The Collector and his clerks were +then brutally stripped of their clothing, and, having taken possession +of their money and other valuables, the wretches bound them, spread +eagle fashion, to the wheels of the vehicles. The terrified women were +next dragged forth, with more indignity and even greater brutality, and +secured in a similar manner, and in such a position that their tortures +might be witnessed by their helpless husbands. The children, with the +exception of the Collector's daughter, a bright, golden haired girl of +some ten summers, who had clung convulsively to her mother, were thrown +together into a small hollow in the ground about the centre of the +place, they being too young to make any opposition, the black devils +forming a complete semi-circle round their intended victims. + +The first scene of the bloody drama they proposed to enact, to satisfy +their devilish thirst for the blood of the unfortunates, who had thus +fallen into their hands, was opened by a tall, burly ruffian bending +over, seizing one of the children, hurling it into the air, and yelling +with an awful imprecation while so doing, that he would wager a gold +mohur to five rupees, that he could, with his tulwa, strike off the +child's right arm at the elbow without touching any other part of the +body. This was accepted at once by half-a-dozen voices; the wretch +immediately raised his tulwa and, as the infant descended, made a sharp, +quick, upper cut, and ere it reached the ground its little arm was +disjointed, as though by the knife of an experienced surgeon. A groan of +horror burst from the lips of the agonized parents, and a convulsive +shudder ran through the remainder of the unhappy party; but this past +unheeded by their captors, being drowned by the yells of fiendish +delight and approval that broke forth from the throats of these hell +hounds, as the mutilated body of the child lay wreathing in agony at +their feet, absorbing for the moment all other feeling. "I will double +the stakes," cried another, "that I take off the head of a second of +these young imps close to the shoulder without making wound or scar on +any other part." "Done, and done again!" shouted several voices, +throwing up their weapons in the air, and re-catching them again, so +delighted were they at the idea of another spectacle so much in unison +with their blood-thirsty and relentless passions. A powerful ruffian now +dismounted, and catching up a second babe, a pretty little thing +scarcely two years old, hurled it with his utmost strength high into the +air. On gaining its greatest altitude, it turned completely, and was +descending, head downwards. When within six feet of the ground, the +brutal villain, with one lightning stroke of his tulwa, severed the head +from its shoulders, amid the shouts and gesticulations of the assembled +miscreants. By some, the wretch was pronounced a winner, but on +examining the body, the skin of one shoulder was found to be grazed or +cut. Many maintained it was done by the sword; others asserted that it +was caused by falling on a stone or some such substance. The dispute ran +high, and possible might have come to blows, but for the interference of +another of the party, who appeared to be a sort of leader among them, +shouting out "Come! No more of this fooling; too much time has been +already wasted on this Tumahsha. Give the cursed feringees a volley from +your carbines, loot the garries, and then make off with all speed, or +the cursed Kaffirs may get wind of the affair and follow in our track." + +"Shumsodeen is right," called out another. "There is both truth and +reason in what he says. But there must be no firing, it might attract +the notice of any straggler from the camps of those dogs of Kaffirs, and +bring their infernal Dragoons down upon us. No! cut the throats of the +men, and as there are but twenty of us, and only five of these women, +tell off one of them to each four of us, and let us begone, for we must +put the broad plain, at the foot of the Khandish Ghaut, between us and +this place ere night fall, and on our camping for the night, each four +can decide what is to be done with their prize." This suggestion was +received with applause, and they immediately prepared to act upon it. +Already two or three had dismounted and drawn their creeses to slit the +throats of their male prisoners, when a youth, about eighteen, son of +the fellow called Shumsodeen, cried out, "Do as you please with the +women among yourselves, but I will have yonder curly headed cutcha +butchee for my prize, come what may," and he took a few steps in the +direction of the Collector's daughter, who was still clinging to her +parent for protection; but ere he reached her, a loud, clear voice at no +great distance rang out, "Fire! gentlemen, and charge!" Then came from +between the leaves and bushes a withering volley of bullets from rifle +and revolver, striking down the youth, and emptying three saddles, the +riders falling lifeless to the ground. In another instant the branches +parted, and Arthur Carlton, with his six companions, cleared the low +brushwood, and sword in hand dashed into the centre of the ruffianly +group. + +Although taken completely by surprise--for they had not calculated upon +being interfered with, especially at so early a period of their +proceedings or by so formidable a foe--the mutineers instantly prepared +to give their unexpected assailants a fierce and bloody reception. They +fought frantically with a courage born of desperation, well knowing that +to cut through their foes and escape by flight was their only chance; +for should they not perish by the sword in the present contest, a +halter, or to be blown to fragments from the cannon's mouth, would be +their doom if made prisoners, consequently they rained down their blows +frantically, and made several desperate attempts to break through or +divide the small party that opposed them. But the cool and determined +courage and thorough discipline of the Dragoons, and their friends was +too much for them, fighting as they did, for a time, on the defensive; +warding off the cuts of the dusky villains, and giving only a few +thrusts here and there, when it could be done with fatal effect. Many of +their number had already bit the dust, and, as yet, no impression had +been made on the gallant little band, the Soaws being still two to one. +Thus Carlton and his party were still fighting under a disadvantage as +far as numbers were concerned. Had the combatants been less pre-occupied +with their deadly strife, they might have observed, at a short distance, +a female figure cautiously emerging from between the bushes and +stealthily creep beneath the vehicle, to the wheels of which the +Collector had been bound. This was the wife of the head clerk, the +pretty three-quarter caste, whose presence of mind, courage and +forethought had so largely contributed to their deliverance. Rapidly but +surely, with the hunting knife given her by Captain Crosby, she cut the +cords that bound her husband and his companions, who, when they found +they were released, rushed forward and possessed themselves of the +weapons of the fallen mutineers, and immediately commenced an attack on +their flank and rear, in hopes of rendering some assistance to their +brave defenders. + +Moving quickly, but in such a way as not to attract notice, Mrs. de +Mello, released the Collector's wife and the other ladies from their +unpleasant and exposed position, and one by one removed them for safety +within the cover of the jungle in case of any chance shot or blow +injuring them. A brief time served to restore the ladies to something +like tranquility, and enable them to arrange their attire to the best +advantage under the circumstances, and evincing in the highest manner +their thanks and gratitude to her who had, with such peril to herself, +relieved them from a fate, to them, worse than death itself. + +The unexpected release of the prisoners, and the attack made on their +flank and rear by them, totally confounded the mutineers, and rendered +all escape on their part impossible or nearly so, while Arthur and his +friends, seeing the addition to their number, and being about equally +matched--numerically speaking--changed their tactics from the defensive +to the offensive, and attacked their opponents in right good earnest, +and with such skill and determination did they use their weapons that +they very shortly brought the contest to a close. Eleven of the +mutinous rascals lay stone dead upon the blood-stained sod, and five +others so fatally wounded that it would be impossible for them to +survive another hour, three more were slightly injured, but sufficiently +so to render them for the present _hors de combat_, while the one +remaining wretch who had escaped scathless had sullenly thrown down his +arms and stood looking on in moody silence. Every one of the brave +little party that had come thus opportunely to the rescue, had been more +or less injured by the Tulwas and pistol shots of the black Sowas, but +in no case did their wounds render them unfit for active service; rest +for a few days, together with some sticking plaster, was all that they +needed to enable them to take the field again. Of the mutineers, the +five mortally wounded were left to keep guard over the eleven dead, the +remaining four were bound and lashed to one of the garries belonging to +the Collector. The oaths and imprecations of these wretched beings at +the failure of their project and the position they now found themselves +in, were something fearful to listen to. + +After a brief time, for congratulations, rest and refreshments, which +refreshment consisted chiefly in brandy punnee, sherry and biscuit, from +the flasks and wallets of the party, (no bad thing by the way, under the +circumstance.) Matters then having been got _en train_, the whole party +proceeded leisurely to the camp near Laurieghur, and arrived just as the +sun was casting her golden rays on the slopes of the adjacent hills, +previous to its sinking for the night into the purple depths of +obscurity. Early the following morning, the Collector, with a suitable +escort, proceeded on their way to Runjetpoora, the place to which they +were returning when they were so ruthlessly set upon by the atrocious +mutineers. + +The day proceeding the one on which Arthur had joined his troop, the +officer in command of the little force ordered a court martial to +assemble for the trial of the prisoners concerned in the late murderous +attack on the Collector and party. The finding of the court was, that +the prisoners were guilty of all the charges brought against them, and +the sentence pronounced was that of death, by being blown to fragments +from the cannon's mouth, the sentence to be carried into effect the day +succeeding the promulgation of the order for the execution. Preparations +were then to be pushed forward vigorously for carrying by assault +Laurieghur, the fortress among the hills. Already a heavy breaching +battery had been sent for to Runjetpoora, for on a party of Engineers +advancing more closely and with the aid of their field glasses, it was +found to be a more formidable place, and more strongly guarded than had +been anticipated by those in command at Runjetpoora; thus the delay in +commencing the attack. + +On the evening prior to the execution of the wretched criminals, as +Arthur Carlton was quietly smoking a cigar and meditating on Edith, the +approaching siege, and things in general, an orderly came to his tent +and announced to him, that one of the prisoners desired to speak with +him on a subject that admitted of no delay. Surprised at so unlooked for +an event, Arthur at first felt inclined to refuse the man's request, but +presently, curiosity getting the better of the dislike he felt at having +any communication with the wretch, and wondering what he could possibly +have to communicate, sent word that he would visit him soon after sun +set. + +"What is it you have to say to me?" enquired Arthur Carlton, an hour +later, as with stern composure and folded arms, he looked down upon the +wretched culprit who lay manacled on the floor of the guard tent, and +who proved to be the youth before alluded to, as the son of the man +called Shumsodeen. + +The captive, with much difficulty raising himself to a sitting posture, +said, "You are a brave man, and the brave among the whites are always +truthful they tell me. I am told that I am to be blown from the cannon's +mouth to-morrow. Is this the truth? Is there no hope of pardon or +reprieve?" + +"The sentence of the court has been read to you, and there is no hope of +remission. You will die at sunrise to-morrow morning, and have but a few +hours to live. This you might have ascertained from the sergeant of the +guard without sending for me," said Arthur, turning to leave the tent. + +"Stay!" resumed the prisoner, observing Carlton's intention, "I have +that to say which nearly concerns yourself and companions. I have +learned that it is the intention of your commander to carry the Fort of +Laurieghur by assault; this cannot be done without great loss of life +among you, for the place is much stronger and better provisioned and +garrisoned than he has any idea of. Listen to my story, you will then +see that I have it in my power to render your General a very great +service if permitted to do so." + +"Speak on," responded Arthur, getting somewhat interested, and seating +himself on a bag of tent pegs, the the only apology for a seat the tent +afforded. + +The youth then proceeded with his story, from which it appeared that, +about five weeks previous, a party of cavalry Sowas, regular and +irregular, who had deserted their regiments, had arrived at the village +in which the speaker and his father, who was a mounted police patell, +resided. While there, the emissaries of the Begum of Runjetpoora, who +had established herself at Laurieghur, and was organizing a force and +getting together supplies of ammunition, provisions, etc., with the +intention of making a raid on Runjetpoora and looting it, had made +overtures to this party, and promised them high pay and a share of the +plunder if they would join her. This they had accepted, and some of the +men of the village, the father and son included, had cast in their lots +with the mutineers and entered the fort; but, dissatisfied with being so +long cooped up within its walk, and seeing no prospect of immediate +plunder, had attempted to leave the place, but were prevented from so +doing by the Begum's order. In sullen silence they received this +injunction, but determined to escape when opportunity offered. That one +day while he, (the prisoner) was passing through the ruins of a deserted +palace, he had discovered the entrance to a subterraneous passage, +leading under the walls and coming out about a quarter of a mile from +the fort. This he had communicated to his comrades, and the following +morning ere it was light, the party, led by himself, made good their +retreat, and keeping within the jungle for some miles, came upon the +high road, and chanced to meet the Collector's party; that he had taken +no part in the slaughter of the children, and had intended leaving the +band as soon as they came in sight of his own village, and in +conclusion said, "If you will swear to obtain my pardon, and liberty to +go where I please, I will lead you and any number of your men through +this same passage, and in less than two hours from leaving this place, +you shall be in possession of the fort and all it contains." This offer +our hero did not consider himself at liberty to refuse or accept, but +promised at once to bring the matter to the notice of the officer +commanding the force, and let him (the prisoner) know the result as +speedily as might be, and immediately left the guard room for that +purpose. + + +The prisoner's proposition was at once accepted by the authorities, and +very shortly a party of five hundred infantry, and one hundred +dismounted dragoons, led by Carlton and accompanied by the prisoner as +guide, left the camp and soon made their way without difficulty, or +exciting the notice of the insurgents, through the subterraneous passage +before alluded to into the fort, and the whole party were soon ensconced +within the ruins of the old palace, without the garrison having the +least idea of their presence in that quarter. On gaining this position, +the signal agreed on, a blue light, was burned for one minute, then the +whole force in camp turned out, and a demonstration was made from every +available cannon and musket, as if the storming of the fort had +commenced in earnest. The consternation of the mutineers at finding +themselves so suddenly attacked was very great, and imagine their dismay +on rushing to the walls, to find the ramparts lined with our men. Unable +to account their appearance there, and believing treachery to be at work +among themselves, and that the gates had been opened to admit the foe, +threw down their arms and surrendered at discretion. + +Search was immediately made for the Begum, and while looking for this +mutiness Princess in one of her apartments, Carlton took up from a +teapoy or dressing table, a small but curiously carved steel casket. +Supposing it to contain cosmetics, or what was more probable, chinaum +and beetle nut, hurriedly slipped it into his sabretache; but not +succeeding in finding the Begum, who had evaded the pursuit, Arthur, +with his Dragoons, returned to camp. The same evening the three villains +already condemned were executed. + +But the youth who had acted as guide was permitted to escape, which he +lost no time in doing. The little force was then broken up, and the +troop composing it sent back to their respective corps, while our hero +and his Dragoons joined their regiment, and with it saw a great deal of +hard fighting and rough service, and on more than one occasion his +dashing conduct had been brought to the notice of the Indian Government. + +The return of the troop from Persia, and the efficient manner in which +the brigades under Sir Hugh Rose, Havelock, Mitchell, Whitlock and +others were handled, proved too much for the mutineers, and after an +obstinate contest which lasted over two years, during which time a heavy +loss of life had been sustained on both sides, the rebellious native +troops were beaten at all points, and law and order once more restored +throughout the country. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + +Horace, on reaching London, had taken a house on Berkly Square. Old Mr. +and Mrs. Barton having died some two years previous, as already stated, +and the Willows in Devonshire had been let. He found his sister, Mrs. +Ashburnham, still living on Cavendish Square, and Emily residing with +her aunt in Harley street. Tom and his bride were still travelling on +the Continent. Mr. and Mrs. Barton therefore determined to remain in +town until the lease, for which the country seat had been let, should +expire, which would take place about the month of August in the +following year; and thus it was that the people of Vellenaux knew +nothing of their return to England. Fond of gaiety and fashionable life, +Mrs. Barton determined to make up for time lost during their sojourn in +the Goozeratte, by being very gay, attending balls, parties and operas, +and not unfrequently giving stylish entertainments at her house at +Berkly Square, in all of which Edith participated, as her kind friend +would go no where and do nothing without her, and thus she passed her +first season in London. In the spring of the year she received the +welcome intelligence that Arthur had been promoted to a troop, and that +if he could manage to obtain leave of absence, he would be in England +early in summer to claim his bride. + +"Well, my dear," said Mrs. Barton, a few days subsequent to the receipt +of the letter, "Horace, dear old fellow, has arranged everything nicely +for you. He has still some interest with the authorities. He has been to +the India office. Arthur is to have eighteen months leave of absence, +and before the expiration of that time his regiment will be ordered +home; so you see, my dear, we shall be able to see a great deal of each +other. After you are married you will, of course, remain with us until +it is time for Arthur to rejoin his regiment." Edith felt very grateful +to her kind friends for all they had done to further her happiness, and +looked forward to the time when she should meet her affianced husband +with intense satisfaction and delight. She would not now be called upon +to return to India, to which country she had a strong aversion; and well +she might, for her residence there, with the exception of her episodes +of pleasure derived from the society of Arthur, had indeed been very +trying. + +It was summer, bright, glorious, balmy summer. The birds sang and +chirped among the green leaves, and wood pigeons cooed in the hollow +trunks of the trees, beneath whose outspreading branches, little +four-footed creatures gamboled and made merry among the soft feathery +grasses that grew in the fine old beech woods of Devon. It was pleasant +to listen to the cool, gurgling sound of the brawling brook, whose +bright waters skipped, danced and glittered, as they forced their way +over the pebbles and other impediments in their serpentine course along +the shady dell that skirted the Home Park, wherein, under the venerable +oaks, the red and fallow deer rested, dreamily sniffing the delicious +fragrance that pervaded the air, borne upon the light summer wind from +the rich parterre which stretched the entire length of the south wing at +Vellenaux. + +In a large octagon-shaped apartment that had been fitted up as a +library, the most pleasing feature of which was its Southern aspect, +were seated _tete a tete_ two personages, who figured somewhat +conspicuously in the early part of our story, these were Mrs. Fraudhurst +and Sir Ralph Coleman. They had met here at the request of the Baronet, +for Sir Ralph and the widow rarely met except by appointment or at the +dinner table. + +Time had dealt kindly with the lady, and what was deficient by nature +was supplied by art, for she was one of those who always paid the most +scrupulous attention to their toilette. If we were to describe her as +fat, fair, and forty, we should certainly wrong her. Fair and forty she +undoubtedly was, but fat she certainly was not. There was a slight +tendency to embonpoint, but this was relieved by her tall and not +ungraceful figure. She was what might be termed a decidedly handsome +woman. The corpulent lawyer had subsided into the sleek, +well-conditioned country gentleman. But there was at times a certain +restlessness of the eye, and a nervous twitching at the corners of the +mouth, which, to a keen observer, would indicate that he was not always +the quiet, self-possessed person that he would have his neighbors to +believe. The business on which they had met had been interrupted by the +entrance of a servant with a note to Sir Ralph, but, on his leaving the +room, the conversation was resumed by Mrs. Fraudhurst saying: + +"I would much rather, Sir Ralph, that this subject be now discontinued, +and never again reverted to. The papers to which you allude are +perfectly safe in my hands, and I do not see that any good could accrue +by my transferring them to you, certainly none to myself, and it might +militate against me; for the great anxiety you evince to get possession +of the documents leads me to believe that you have some particular +object in view, something which does not appear or, the surface, and +which you desire should not come to my knowledge." + +"But, my dear madam, you surely do not imagine that I have any other +motive in requesting you to hand over to my safe keeping the deed in +question than a natural desire to be quite certain that our mutual +interests should not be imperilled by any accidental circumstance that +might disclose the existence of any such document." + +The lady looked steadily at him for a few seconds, then in a clear +distinct, and deliberate tone, said, "For the last seven years the will +of the late Baronet has been in my possession, during which, time you, +Sir Ralph, have made frequent attempts to obtain it from me, sometimes +on one pretence, then on another. Were I to agree to your request, what +security have I that you, who have acted so vile a part against Miss +Effingham, would not act as treacherously towards me, were I once in +your power? While I possess that document, I hold my position here, and +can thus keep you at bay. And think you that I will thus surrender my +advantage to please the idle fancy of a man who would not hesitate to +stoop to perform any act however dastardly, so that he could effectually +escape the penalty of a crime he was ready to profit by, but cowardly +enough to shrink from the consequences it entailed? You say that our +interest in this affair is mutual,--it is not so, and you know it. You +gain nineteen thousand a year, I only one. Again, should the will by any +mischance be found in my possession, who would believe my statement +that you were a party concerned in the abstraction of the said deed, you +would deny all knowledge of the transaction and my unsupported evidence +could not commit you. Of course you would lose the estate; but what +would my condition be then. No! I have everything at stake--you, +comparatively nothing. I will not accede to so absurd a proposition." +There was a short pause, the widow resumed her embroidery with an air of +apparent indifference. The baronet sat abstractedly gazing out of the +window, evidently turning over something in his mind. As she had stated +he had tried to wheedle her out of the papers, but she had hitherto, by +great tact, adroitly managed to shift the conversation to some other +subject, in a quiet and playful manner. He was therefore not prepared +for this vehement outburst; she had not only refused to comply with his +demand, but taunted him with stinging words for his pusillanimous +conduct. He knew her great ambition, and that the sole object of her +life was to become mistress of Vellenaux, and to gain this she would +risk everything. It was her weak point, the only vulnerable part he +could attack with any hope of success. He had for months pondered over +this; it had this advantage, it is true, he thought a marriage would +secure him in the possession of both the will and her silence; but then +he hated her with a cordial hate. He had been for years in her power. +During her residence at Vellenaux she had every want supplied, and was +safe in her position. With the only evidence of the fraud that had been +practiced in her own keeping; she had outwitted him and had in reality +obtained the best of the bargain. The knowledge of this cut him to the +quick and he detested her in consequence. + +Yet his only chance of obtaining that which he so coveted was by an +offer of marriage, not that he intended to fulfil any such promise, +quite the reverse, it would be a lie, a villainous deception, but had he +not willingly defrauded Miss Effingham out of her property? and what was +one lie, more or less, it would be but diamond cut diamond, and turning +the tables on Mrs. Fraudhurst. All these thoughts flashed through his +mind as he sat gazing out upon the sunny landscape below him, if it must +be done, as well now as at any other time, perhaps better. He at length +arose, and after taking two or three turns up and down the apartment in +order to nerve himself for action, stopped beside the chair of the fair +widow. + +"Eleanor," said he, laying his hand on her arm. She looked up quickly, +for he had never before so addressed her. "Eleanor, you are unjust to me +and to yourself, ask yourself have I ever deceived or broken faith with +you since our compact after Sir Jasper's death, and the answer must be +in my favor. You may say that I have acted coldly and kept aloof from +you: this I grant is true, but it has been forced upon me; I felt that +the eyes of the world were upon us, watching our actions. Your constant +residence here has been talked of and cavelled at by some of the +neighboring families, who have not recovered from the surprise they felt +on hearing that Sir Jasper had died intestate and left his orphan niece +unprovided for. It was to prevent exposure that I have thus acted +towards you, and I believe that I have effectually succeeded, and now I +acknowledge that the charm of your society has become almost +indispensable to me, and I will no longer be held back by the world's +opinion. Listen to my proposal, accept it or reject it as you will, I +make it with all sincerity. Place the will of the late baronet in my +hands, and before this day month you shall be my wife and mistress of +the the manor." + +"And should I survive you," she said, "Vellenaux and its broad lands--" + +"Reverts to Miss Effingham on condition that she allows you five +thousand per annum and a suite of apartments in the west wing, during +the remainder of your life, which you can have fitted up to suit your +taste and convenience without delay, in case the contingency you mention +should arise sooner than I anticipate." + +"And this you swear to fulfil to the letter," she replied, advancing +nearer and fixing her eyes upon him as if to read his inmost thoughts. + +"On the day after our marriage I will cause a will to be drawn to that +effect, this I swear to do by the honor of knighthood." + +Her countenance lit up and there was a sparkling brilliancy in her large +black eyes as she said, "I believe you--wait a few seconds and I will +prove that I do." She then quitted the room, but did not keep him long +in suspense; on re-entering she placed the parchment in his hands, +saying as she did so, "Remember I now trust you, but beware how you +betray that trust." + +He opened the document and glanced over it, to satisfy himself of its +authenticity; his legal experience enabled him to decide at once that it +was genuine. "Eleanor." he then said, taking her hand, "our interests +are now identical, we cannot now but act in concert," and raising her +hand to his lips, he bowed courteously to her and left the room by one +door, while she passed out at another. + +"I have carried my point, thought Sir Ralph as he entered his study, and +before this day month I shall have sank both name and title, and be an +alien from my native land." + +"I have carried my point at last," exclaimed Mrs. Fraudhurst, as the +door of her dressing room closed behind her; "before this day month I +shall be Lady Coleman and mistress of Vellenaux." + +It was late that night ere Sir Ralph retired to rest; before he did so +he had determined on his future career. For years he had striven to +wrest this document from the widow and now with it in his possession, he +lost no time in putting into execution the plans he had for so long a +time been maturing. This was to proceed without delay to London, raise +as large a sum as possible by mortgaging the Vellenaux property to its +fullest extent, then retire to the continent and spend the remainder of +his days in foreign travel, halting from time to time at the different +cities he had visited during the first years of his married life. For in +this mode of living he felt he would be more secure than he could ever +hope to be in England during the life of Mrs. Fraudhurst. It is true +that he could, by fulfiling his promise of marrying the widow, have +sheltered himself from the consequences that might arise should his +share of the concealment of the will ever appear, but he could escape +this alternative by pursuing the course he had marked out for himself. +He was aware that a desperate and revengeful woman like Mrs. Fraudhurst +would leave no stone unturned to bring about the ruin of the man who had +thus deceived and tricked her; but the old lawyer knew that she was +almost powerless to act against him with any chance of success, as the +only two persons interested in the matter were, to the best of his +belief, in India, and likely to remain there for some years at least, +and the only real proof that a will had been made by the late Sir Jasper +Coleman, was now in his possession, viz: the will itself, and her +unsupported testimony would not be taken as evidence in any court of +law; besides, in the transaction she was in the eyes of the law the more +culpable of the two, being the chief instigator of the plot, therefore +it was in a more complacent frame of mind that Sir Ralph, early the +following morning, ere the self-satisfied widow had awakened from those +slumbers that had been during the night partially and pleasantly +disturbed by means of her coming greatness as the wife of a Baronet and +the Lady of Vellenaux, had driven over to Switchem and taken his seat in +the up train for Southampton, in order to consult with the lawyer who +had the management of his estate. After effecting this he started for +London. + +He was not naturally a bad man at heart, and had he not been legal heir +to the baronetcy he would never have entered into the conspiracy to +deprive the rightful owner of the property. He had always been of the +opinion that the late Baronet would make a will leaving the principal +portion of his property to his niece, but fancied that he would come in +for a couple of thousand a year, to enable him to support the title; but +finding that his name did not appear in the will, he felt both +disappointed and annoyed beyond measure, and quite ready to acquiesce in +the proposal made him by the intriguing ex-governess. + +It was not his wish or intention from the first that the will should be +destroyed, and he had certain scruples of conscience which now +prevented his so doing. During his journey by train he argued the +subject mentally. "They are both young," he thought, his mind reverting +to Miss Effingham and Arthur Carlton, "and will, in all probability, +survive me many years; let them buffet the waves of fortune in their +youth, as I have done, they will then better appreciate their accession +to fortune than they probably would have done, had they come into it at +an earlier stage of their life; besides, who has a better right, during +his lifetime, to enjoy the estate, than the heir to the title. The will +must, of necessity, be found among my papers after my decease, so all +will come right in the end," and with this consoling plea he settled +himself snugly among the cushions of the first-class carriage of the +train that was now leaving Southampton far behind, on its upward course +to London, and soon fell into a doze. + +In another carriage were seated two gentlemen conversing in a very +lively and animated strain, and were apparently much interested with +scenery, farm houses, and well trimmed hedges, as the train whirled +past. They were not foreigners by any means, decidedly English in every +look and action; about eight and twenty and thirty, respectively, and +very good looking; the tallest was decidedly handsome; he was dressed in +grey tweed of fine texture. They had entered the carriage at +Southampton. A man of the world would have pat them down, from their +general appearance and the well-bronzed hue of their features, as either +belonging to, or having served in, the military or naval service of +their country; and he would not have been wrong, for they were none +other than Captain Carlton and Assistant-Surgeon Draycott, of H.M. Light +Dragoons, just arrived from India on furlough. + +"We are going along at racing speed," said Draycott to his companion, +"but it will hardly keep pace with your impatience to reach London. Gad, +I envy you the possession of so fair a bride. I remember the first time +I met her at Calcutta. I thought her the most loveable girl I had ever +seen; but what chance had a poor devil of an Assistant-Surgeon, only +just arrived in the country, surrounded, as she was, by a set of fellows +old enough to be her father, it is true, but with rupees enough to +freight a Pattima? I suppose that ride through the Goozeratte did the +business for you? She is just the girl to admire that sort of thing." + +A suitable reply rose to Arthur's lips, but very different words escaped +him. + +"What the devil is that? A collision, by thunder!" exclaimed he, as he +picked himself up from the opposite seat on which he had been thrown by +the violence of the shock. The door, fortunately, had been forced open +by the concussion. Our two travellers jumped out on to the track. Here a +scene of confusion met their view. They had run into a freight train +which was coming from an opposite direction. Women and children were +shrieking for help, mingled with the cries of those injured, with the +loud shouts and vociferations of the employees, and those engaged in +clearing the wreck and getting things into trim again; although a number +were hurt, some slightly, others more seriously, there were none +reported actually killed; and a great number of the passengers were more +frightened than hurt. + +"This way," said an official to some four or five men, who were carrying +a gentleman that appeared to be more seriously injured than any of the +rest. "Lay him down softly on that grassy bank;" then raising his voice +called out, "Is there any medhal man at hand?" + +"Here, Draycott, although on leave you must come to the rescue. Horrid +bore to be thus detained, is it not," said Arthur, as they hastened to +the spot. + +"Fall back there, men, fall back; give the gentleman more air, and let +the doctor pass." At the decided and authoritative tone of Carlton's +voice the crowd, who by this time had gathered around the sufferer, gave +way. The surgeon went to work immediately and examined the unfortunate +man thoroughly. "Bad case," he said in a whisper to Carlton. "Broken +thigh bone, ribs crushed, and something worse internally, I am afraid." +At this moment Carlton got a good look at the features of the injured +man. "Can it be possible! Yes, it is Sir Ralph Coleman!" At the mention +of his name the Baronet opened his eyes and, for a second or two, looked +fully at the speaker, then said with a great effort, for pain had +hitherto kept him silent: + +"Yes, Arthur Carlton, it is I. How came you here? Do not leave me." And +here Sir Ralph fainted from loss of blood. + +"Is there a public house or farm near?" enquired Carlton. + +"Yes," replied one of the bystanders, "there is farmer Wheatley's just +down there in the hollow; they will do what they can for the poor +gentleman." + +"I will pay the men well that will carry him there," said Carlton, +addressing a number of farmers' men, who had by this time come up. The +rank of the injured man, and the offer of payment, had a wonderful +effect. A dozen volunteered, at once. A gate was taken off its hinges, +and some of the cushions of the injured carriage placed upon this litter +and, under the direction of Doctor Draycott, Sir Ralph was conveyed to +the farm house in the hollow. + +"You seemed to be well acquainted with my patient," said Draycott. + +"Oh, yes. He is Sir Ralph Coleman, of Vellenaux. He succeeded to the +title and estate on the death of Sir Jasper, Miss Effingham's uncle, by +which she was left almost penniless. You have heard her history, I +suppose, in India. These things always leak out somehow or other in the +service." + +"In that case, my dear fellow, I must go no further than the door with +you. To the best of my belief he will not live more than eight hours, +and I must have other opinion and advice in his case. I think it would +be as well to have the clergyman and a lawyer without loss of time. He +may have something of importance to communicate to you or Miss Effingham +ere he dies, for I have some indistinct notion that I have heard +something very unfavorable spoken about the said Baronet, now I hear the +name again. Let him be got to bed as soon as possible. What is the name +of your nearest town, and the distance to it?" enquired Draycott of the +farmer. + +"Fallowfield is about two miles from here, sir. There is a good road and +no one could miss it," was the reply. + +"Let me have a horse and I will go myself and get what I require; +Captain Carlton will remain until I return," and the young surgeon was +soon on his way at a hand gallop. In the meantime the good people of the +farm were doing all in their power to render the sufferings of their +wounded guest as little painful as possible; and every attention was +shown him. He spoke but little; but several times asked for Carlton, and +on seeing him only repeated, "Do not leave me yet, Arthur, I may have +something to say concerning you and Miss Effingham." + +In less time than could have been expected, Draycott returned, +accompanied by the best surgeon in Fallowfield, the rector, and a lawyer +of good standing in that town. Again the patient was examined, after +which a consultation was held in the farmer's parlour, which lasted +about a quarter of an hour; the medical men then returned to the +bed-chamber. + +The Baronet scrutinized their features narrowly as they re-entered the +room. "Oh!" said he, breathing with intense difficulty, "I see there is +no hope for me; but tell me frankly, how long is it your opinion that I +can live?" + +"Doctor Draycott and myself," replied the surgeon from Fallowfield--who +being much the senior took the lead--"deem it expedient that you should +send for your man of business as soon as possible," thus evading the +direct question. + +Ralph passed his hand across his brow and remained silent a few moments. +"You may do so, but it is too late I am afraid. Get the nearest lawyer +you can, but be quick for my strength is failing fast, and send Captain +Carlton to me at once." + +"Arthur," he continued, as the young man advanced, "I have deeply +wronged Edith and yourself: in the breast pocket of that coat yonder is +a paper packet, bring it to me." Arthur obeyed and placed it on the +counterpane. Ralph laid his hand upon it and said, "There is yet time +to make restitution. This is the will of the late Sir Jasper Coleman, +stolen from his desk on the morning of his death. Has the lawyer sent +for yet arrived? If so, I will give my deposition on oath, ere it is too +late: I am not a principal, but an accessory. After the fact--" Here Sir +Ralph fell back on the pillow, and remained motionless several minutes, +during which time the rector and lawyer had been summoned from the +parlor below. The rector being a magistrate undertook to put a few +questions to the dying man before he gave, his testimony. When +sufficiently recovered to speak, the baronet, in a husky voice, related +the whole of his interview with Mrs. Fraudhurst, her production of the +will and the compact entered into between them. The document was sworn +to, signed and duly witnessed by those present. + +"Arthur give this will into the hands of Miss Effingham, or her legal +adviser, and obtain her forgiveness for me." This the gallant soldier +faithfully promised to do. The room was then cleared of all except the +rector and the dying baronet. He lingered until sometime after midnight, +and ere the light of another day dawned, his spirit had passed away, and +the baronetcy became extinct. + +During the following day Mr. Russell, the agent, arrived, and Arthur, in +the name of Miss Effingham, authorized him to settle all claims, and +have the body of the late Sir Ralph conveyed to Vellenaux for interment. +Having thus arranged matters, Captain Carlton and his friend Draycott +started by the next train for London. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + +It was by no means an uncommon occurrence for Sir Ralph to absent +himself from home for a day or two without communicating to any one his +intentions or the direction in which he was going, therefore his absence +at the dinner table in the evening did not excite any misgivings in the +mind of Mrs. Fraudhurst, but his non-appearance at the breakfast table +the following morning caused considerable disquietude to that amiable +person. Hurried on by her ambition she had aimed at too high a prize, +and in so doing had let slip the reins of power. The possession of the +will was the only hold she had ever had on the baronet and now when too +late she perceived, to her dismay, the awkward position in which she +stood. Ever suspicious of the motives of others; she now tormented +herself with apprehensions concerning his absence, and the business that +could have taken him away at that particular time. From the servants she +could gain no information regarding his movements; but it occurred to +her that old Bridoon, the gate-keeper, could throw some light on the +subject, and therefore determined to lose no time in questioning him as +to the direction taken by his master. + +The person who had been despatched to Southampton to summon Mr. Russell, +the agent, found the gentleman in question had gone to Vellenaux, and +thinking from what he had overheard that it was a matter of considerable +importance, made no longer delay in that good town than was actually +necessary, but took the first train to Switchem, and from thence on foot +to the lodge gates, and walked quickly up the avenue; when near the lawn +he encountered Mrs. Fraudhurst, who, noticing him to be a stranger and +in haste, accosted him and enquired his business. + +"I am looking for Mr. Russell, my lady," was his reply. + +"He resides in Southampton; but where have you come from, and who is it +that wishes to see him?" + +"Sir Ralph Coleman, my lady, has met with an accident about two miles +from Fallowfield, and is not expected to live long. He has sent for his +agent, and I have been to Southampton, but was told that I should find +him here." + +The widow started and turned deadly pale. "He has the will with him," +she thought. + +"I beg pardon, my lady, for being so abrupt,--perhaps you are Lady +Coleman," for he noticed her start and change color. + +"Pray go on, my good fellow, and tell me all about that accident, where +the baronet is, and who is with him, and all you know concerning this +sad affair." + +The man related all he knew, and something that he had heard. "The +gentleman that sent me for Mr. Russell they called Captain Carlton." At +this name she again started, and, in spite of herself, trembled +perceptibly, but the man went on-- + +"There was something said about a stolen will, which Sir Ralph wanted to +enquire about, or something of that sort, and I am in great haste." + +"Stay one moment. Did you say Sir Ralph was not expected to live?" + +"The doctors said he could not last more than a few hours." + +By this time she had recovered her presence of mind. "Mr. Russell," she +said, "was here this morning, but has returned to Southampton; you must +have passed him on your way here; return my good fellow as quickly as +you can, and let him know all that you have told me." She gave him a +sovereign and said, "I will be there almost as soon as yourself." + +The man took the coin with a bow, and started for the railway station, +and Mrs. Fraudhurst returned to the house, where she well knew Mr. +Russell then was settling home matters with the steward. She went +directly to her own apartment to form plans of immediate action. "Arthur +is in England, Sir Ralph dying, the will found in his possession; he has +made a confession of the whole, implicating me; he must have done so, or +how could that messenger have heard of the stolen will. Idiot that I +was, to trust it out of my own keeping. My only safety is in instant +flight. I must place the wide waste of waters between me and the +consequences that must inevitably await me should I remain here after +the disclosure becomes known throughout the country." She then +commenced to pack up her wardrobe and valuables. Her plan was soon +arranged. She then descended to the drawing room and rang for old +Reynolds, who answered the summons. "Has Mr. Russell left the house?" +she enquired, and on receiving an answer in the negative, desired that +he might be informed that she wished to speak to him, "and return +yourself, Reynolds, for I have something of importance to communicate to +both of you." + +In a few minutes the agent entered, she requested him to be seated. +"Reynolds, you too will remain;" then addressing Mr. Russell said, "I +have just received the intelligence that Sir Ralph has met with an +accident, by rail, resulting, I am told, in a broken limb, which may +detain him for some days at the farm house where he now lies; he has +requested me to attend him, and bring such things as I may deem +necessary, and further directs that you will call over and see him +sometime to-morrow." She then gave orders to the butler to pack up +several changes of his master's linen, and underclothing in a large +trunk and have it sent to her room, as she had bandages, flannel, and +other things that it might be necessary to place therein. This was +accordingly done, but as soon as alone she emptied the trunk of its +contents, and filled it with her own apparel. The carriage was then +ordered round, the trunks put in, and Mrs. Fraudhurst, who had found a +home there for upwards of twenty years, left Vellenaux never again to +return to it. + +"She has baggage enough for the Seik men of a whole troop," remarked +Bridoon as she passed through the Park gates. + +On arriving at the station her first act was to dismiss the carriage, +the next to take a ticket for Exeter, and in a snug hostlery in that +city made an addition to her toilette, then ordered a cab and proceeded +to the principal bank. + +"I wish to see the manager," she said, with a condescending smile. The +obsequious cashier led the way to the sanctum, and ushered her in, for +he knew the visitor well, and also knew that opposite her name in the +books of the establishment there was an array of figures, representing +a goodly amount of the current coin of the realm. + +In about ten minutes the lady, accompanied by the manager, returned, and +presented a cheque for the full amount of her deposit, which was paid in +gold and notes. This circumstance did not much surprise the banker, for +she had done the same on three or four occasions during the last seven +years, re-depositing the same amount a few hours after. She was then +politely bowed into her cab and was driven off. Having settled her bill +at the hotel, she drove down to the railway station and procured a +ticket for Queenstown, Ireland, and by the time Mr. Russell arrived at +the farm house to attend Sir Ralph, Mrs. Fraudhurst was airing herself +at the Cove of Cork. Her object in misleading the man who had been sent +to acquaint the agent with what had occurred to Sir Ralph, had thus been +effected: that of gaining time to enable her to quit the country before +steps could be taken to arrest her. + +"There is not a finer craft swims the ocean than the beauty that lays +out yonder," said a weather-beaten old seaman to a group of sailors, +watermen, and others, who were lounging about the dockhead and +commenting on the merits of a first-class, clipper-built, full rigged +vessel that was lying in the Cove, her sails loosed and the blue Peter +or signal for sailing, flying at the fore. + +"You may well say that with your own purty mouth, for it's yourself that +knows that same, Cornelius O'Donovan, for wasn't it yourself that made +the first trip in her, and isn't Captain Costigan a blood relation of +your own, and sure a smarter boy than him that has the handling of her +isn't to be found between this and Bantry Bay." + +"It is her fourth trip to the Cape of Good Hope," resumed the first +speaker, knocking the ashes out of his pipe, and preparing to refill it. +Just then a lady, dressed in the height of the prevailing fashion, +advanced, and of one of the party enquired the name of the ship, and the +port to which she was bound. + +"The 'Kaffir Chief,' outward bound for the Cape of Good Hope," was the +reply of the waterman who had been addressed. "Shall I put you on board, +my lady?" + +"Not at this moment,--but when does she sail?" + +"She will up anchor and top her boom at sunset," answered another of the +bystanders. + +"They are lowering a boat," said the old tar, who had first spoken, who +was now taking a squint at her through a small pocket telescope; "it is +the skipper coming ashore for his papers, mails, and perhaps to jack up +some stray passengers." + +"You would oblige me by telling the Captain that a lady wishes to speak +to him as soon as he lands, and then see if you can manage to drink my +health at yonder little public house," and Mrs. Fraudhurst here held out +a crown piece to the old seaman, who gladly accepted the offered coin. +"What did you say the Captain's name was?" It was immediately given. +"Then be good enough to tell Captain Costigan that he will find me +waiting for him beneath those trees yonder," she said, as she turned and +walked in the direction indicated. + +"Pretty spoken woman that; devilish good looting, too; what can she want +with old Castigan?" remarked one of the party. + +"Missed her passage in the last ship, perhaps, and wants to know if +there be any room in the 'Kaffir Chief,'" replied another of the +bystanders, "Go over at once to the 'Jolly Sailor'; I will be with you +as soon as I deliver the lady's message, and then we will drink her +health," said the old salt who had received the lady's bounty. + +"Captain Costigan, of the 'Kaffir Chief,' I believe," said Mrs. +Fraudhurst as she advanced from under the trees, from whence she had +been watching his approach. + +"The same at your service madam," was the reply of the polite seaman, as +he lifted his glazed hat and bowed to the person who addressed him. + +"I have, unfortunately, lost my passage in the 'Eastern Monarch,' which +sailed some days since from London, and am anxious to return to the Cape +with as little delay as possible. I noticed in the newspaper that your +vessel was bound to that port,--am I too late, or have you room for +another?" The Captain eyed her for a moment, and apparently satisfied +with his scrutiny, replied: + +"I have but few passengers, and there is a first-class berth vacant, +with excellent accommodation. You will I trust take a sailor's word for +that, as the time is short, and I sail at sunset." + +"The truth and honesty of our sailors are proverbial," said the lady +with one of her blandest smiles. He then accompanied her to the hotel; +here matters were quickly arranged, the passage money paid down, and +Captain Costigan promised to call for her, and convey her and her +effects on board on his return call. This had been so quietly +managed--no agent or go between employed--that no person, not even the +landlord of the hotel, was aware of her intentions. He was under the +impression that the lady, who occupied two of the best rooms in his +house, would in all probability remain there for the rest of the +summer. This he judged from what she had let fall during a conversation +he had had with her an hour after her arrival, and the worthy man was +quite taken aback when she paid her bill, and leaning on the arm of +Captain Costigan, left his establishment, to take up her quarters on +board the good ship, now lying with her anchor apeak in the offing. + +From the quarter deck of the "Kaffir Chief," towards the close of that +beautiful summer day, could be seen a magnificent panoramic view of one +of the finest harbors in Europe, with the purple-tinted hills of Munster +in the distance, and the iron-bound coast standing boldly out on either +side, and beaten with the surges which impetuously dashed against the +rugged steeps. In stormy weather the billows rolled in from the dark +ocean in long arching waves, bursting with a deafening noise on the +beething cliffs, and scattering the salt spray hundreds of feet in the +air. Then again met the eye the fortifications on Spike Island, Convict +Depot, Carlisle Fort, Light House, Camden Fort, Black Point, and the +handsome City of Cork, with its bustling streets and its quays and +docks, crowded with vessels of all nations, presenting a picture well +worth travelling miles to behold. But what a bright change has come over +the spirit of the age, since the days of Elizabeth and religious +persecution, when Cork was made a howling wilderness, because its +inhabitants refused to attend the Protestant places of worship as +ordered by law. Verily, in every country, and in every age, mad +fanaticism has played such pranks before high heaven as to make even the +angels weep for poor humanity. But we live in happier times now, and +enjoy that great blessing, liberty of conscience, to its fullest +extent. + +The wind was fair, and, with every sail set, the gallant bark, on the +top of the white crested foam of the rippling waves, floated proudly out +to sea, and was soon hull down in the distance, her tall tapering spars +fading from view, for the bright orb of day had already sank beneath its +ocean bed, and the golden tints of the horizon were fast deepening to +the purple shades of night. There were but three other passengers, an +old Major of Artillery, a merchant of Cape Town, and a juvenile Ensign +of Infantry, going out to join his regiment. There were no other ladies +on board; this was a source of infinite satisfaction to the flying +widow, who, from prudential motives, had engaged her passage under the +name of Mrs. Harcourt Grenville, and fears for her personal safety were +completely set at rest on finding that the news of the accident by rail, +which had cost Sir Ralph Coleman his life, had not reached the ear of +any person on board, and she, herself, was not quite certain but that +her accomplice in fraud might yet survive; if so, her condition was +still very precarious, but she argued that he would scarcely recover, or +he would not have committed himself by making known to the world his +share in the transaction concerning the stolen will, and under the +assumed name, and in a distant land, she would be secure from detection. +She had no intention of remaining at the Cape; her object was to try her +fortune in India, and had only come on board the "Kaffir Chief," as it +afforded her the earliest opportunity for evading pursuit. She was well +aware that she could easily proceed to India from the Cape in one of the +Indiamen that so frequently touched at that port, and so, on the whole, +she felt tolerably easy in her new position, and set to work, with her +usual tact, to make herself agreeable to the Captain and her fellow +travellers. Ensign Winterton she took under her especial protection, +which very much flattered his boyish pride; made considerable headway +with Major Dowlas, who, by the way, was a bachelor; and never failed to +accept the proffered arm of the attentive Captain, when on deck; for +although married and on the wrong side of fifty, being an Irishman and a +Corkonian, he was not insensible to the charms of a handsome woman some +years his junior. + +Her account of herself was, that she was the wife of a surgeon at +Graham's Town, had been some time in England, and had spent the spring +and part of the summer in London, and intended to remain at Cape Town +until her husband came for her. She had several thousand pounds, the +savings of some twenty years, dressed with excellent taste, and had +taken such good care of her constitution, that she looked at least ten +years younger than she really was, and felt convinced from all she had +heard and read, that she would experience but little difficulty in +procuring a suitable husband and establishment in one of the Indian +Presidencies, she cared not which, and having no acquaintances in the +army, was not at all likely to be recognized as the ex-governess of +Vellenaux. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + +There was another change that had taken place in the little village of +Vellenaux which has not been brought to the notice of the reader, and +may as well be introduced here as elsewhere, since it must be known +sooner or later. The venerable rector who had performed the last sad +rites over Sir Jasper, did not long survive his old and esteemed friend. +He had been ailing for several months prior to his decease, and had been +assisted in his clerical duties by a Curate, a gentleman of +pre-possessing appearance; about twenty-eight years of age. He appeared +to be eminently qualified for the profession he had chosen, and entered +with spirit and energy upon the various duties that now devolved upon +him; his quiet and unassuming manner gained him the respect of the whole +neighborhood. He read with a clear, distinct tone, and his sermons were +such as had not been heard in Vellenaux for many years. He was always +welcome whenever he visited his parishioners or attended the sick. He +took a very great interest in the Sunday school that had been +inaugurated by Edith who had, on leaving the Willows, transferred that +responsibility to Julia and Emily Barton, and on her sister's marriage +Emily presided over the classes. This just suited one of her tastes and +habits, who was ever ready to perform some errand of mercy to the poor +and the invalid, and was untiring in her efforts to teach the young +children. She had often been thanked by the clergyman for her valuable +assistance, without which, he was wont to observe, he scarcely knew what +he should do. + +When the rector was removed from this sublunary sphere, the Rev. Charles +Denham, through the interest of Lord Patronage, whose fag he had been +while at Eton, obtained the vacant rectorship. This was considered by +the good folks of the district to be a fortunate circumstance, and +things went smoothly on as in the good old time. But on the death of her +parents Emily Barton, as the reader already knows, left Vellenaux to +reside in London. The Rev. gentleman did not know which way to turn; he +was sorely puzzled; he had depended so much on Emily that he began to +think seriously of the possibility of being able to induce Miss Barton +to exchange that name for the one of Denham. This matter had been +revolving in his mind for some time past, though he had given no +utterance to his feelings, and now she was about to leave that part of +the country, perhaps for a lengthened period. "If," thought he, "the +Sunday school had Emily at its head, it would materially assist me," and +he felt convinced that the rectory, without a wife to superintend it, +would be, after all, a very lonely place to pass his days in, would she +not consent to undertake the double duties. "I have never spoken to +her," he said musingly, as he paced up and down his study, "but I shall, +when grief for the loss of her parents will allow her to listen to such +a proposal." + +On parting with him on the morning of her departure, she was somewhat +embarassed at his altered manner towards her. She could not but notice +his warm pressure of her hand, and his earnestness of manner, when +asking permission to visit her in London. + +"My aunt and sister will, I am sure, be always happy to receive you when +in London," she quietly replied, and after a moment's pause, continued: +"I shall likewise still take an interest in the school, and shall be +glad to learn how my little scholars are getting on." + +The young rector found it necessary to visit London on several occasions +during the next twelvemonth. + +In one of the broad gravelled avenues of Kensington Gardens, slowly +walking beneath the magnificent trees, the soft mossy grass, yellow and +white daisy, bending beneath their footsteps, were two figures,--the one +a gentleman dressed in black, with a white clerical neck-tie, the other +a lady about the medium height, with pretty features, and decidedly +elegant figure, which was set off to advantage by the cut and fit of the +pale lavender silk dress she wore. They were progressing slowly towards +the gate leading into Hyde Park; their conversation was somewhat +interrupted by a knot of passing Guardsmen and other fashionable +loungers, to be again resumed when they were beyond ear shot. They +continued their walk along the bank of the Serpentine, and could the +passer by have peered through the lady's veil, he would have found her +face suffused with blushes at different turns in the conversation, but +they were those of pleasure, for certainly the crimson flush of anger +found no place there. They crossed the Park and passed out at Stanhope +gate and turned in the direction of Berkly square. + +"You have made me so happy, dear Emily, since you grant me permission to +speak to your aunt and brother on the subject nearest my heart," and the +Rev. Charles Denham pressed the little hand within his own, made his +bow, and walked in the direction of Harley Street, while Emily Barton +entered the house of her brother Horace. + +There is an old saying, familiar to most of us as household words, which +tends to show that the course of true love never does run smooth. Now +with all due deference to the talented authority who promulgated this +startling announcement, we beg to differ with him on the subject. It may +be as he says, as a rule, but our belief is that there are exceptions to +this rule, as well as to others; for we say without fear of +contradiction, that the loves of the pretty Emily Barton and her very +devoted lover, the Rev. Charles Denham, glided smoothly and sweetly +along its unruffled course, until it eventuated in that fountain of +human happiness or misery, marriage. On the lady's side there was no +stern, selfish parent who would burden the young shoulders, and drive +from her path those inmost pleasures so natural to the young and +light-hearted, and cause her to lose her freshness and bloom, by +attending solely to his whims and wishes, or crush her young heart with +hope deferred. There was no ambitious match making mother, ready to +sacrifice the hearts best affections, in order that she might become the +unloved wife of some shallow pated young dandy, with more aristocratic +blood than brains, and a coronet in perspective. + +Nor was the reverend lover subjected to any trials of a similar nature; +he was an orphan, with but one near relative, a bachelor Uncle, who was +fond of his nephew, and proud of his talent and the position he had +attained as Rector of Vellenaux. The old gentleman had intended to leave +him his property, amounting to some five thousand pounds, in the five +per cents., at his death; but the kind-hearted relative on learning that +his brother's son had secured so estimable a lady for his wife; +belonging to a family who for so many years had resided in the +neighborhood of Vellenaux, the scene of the young Rector's labours; he +altered his will, placing half of the original sum to Charles Denham's +credit, at Drummond's Bank in London, subject to his cheque or order, so +that the rectory could be furnished and fitted up with all the +requisites befitting the position of the young couple. + +It was a right joyous group that gathered around the wedding breakfast +table at 54 Harley Street, on that bright summer morn, that saw Emily +Barton made the happy bride of the equally happy Rector of Vellenaux. A +friendly Bishop tied the connubial knot in one of the most aristocratic +churches in London, and a few hours afterwards Emily and Charles +departed, not by rail, to some uncomfortable foreign hotel, but by +travelling, carriage and post horses to their home at Vellenaux. For the +guests who had assembled to witness the wedding ceremony, there was +another treat in store, they were invited to a ball given in honor of +the occasion by the brother of the bride, at his mansion in Berkly +Square, concerning which more anon. + +The term for which the Willows had been rented, now expired, and Horace +determined to no longer delay his departure for Devonshire. This had +been ever in his mind while serving in India. He loved the old place and +there were now fresh inducements for him to give up the house in London, +and repair to the Willows. His brother Tom was married and settled at +Vellenaux, and Emily had just become the wife of the rector, and lived +within a stone's throw of her old home. Thus, with the visits of his +aunt and the Ashburnham's, Pauline would not be without society; besides +he would take her and Edith, whom he now looked upon as a sister, to +London during the height of the gay season, and this he thought would +not fail to please all parties. + +Mrs. Barton was to give a farewell entertainment prior to her departure, +which should exceed anything that she had hitherto attempted, and the +evening of the day of Emily's marriage was fixed for the occasion. + +It was somewhat late in the afternoon when Captain Carlton and Doctor +Draycott reached London, where the two friends and travelling companions +parted--Draycott for his father's house in Finsbury Pavement, and +Carlton for his hotel in Bond Street. His first idea was to go direct to +Berkly Square and inform Edith and the Bartons of the death of Sir +Ralph, and the declaration he had made concerning the will of the late +Sir Jasper; but while waiting in the coffee room of the hotel, looking +over the morning paper, he chanced to hear the following conversation +between two gentlemen standing at the bow window that looked out on the +street. + +"And so the Bartons give their farewell spread this evening? Are you +going?" + +"Well, I rather think so," was the other's reply. "It is a thousand +pities, however, to bury that lovely woman, Miss Effingham, in the +country. There is not her equal in town. If she only had a decent +allowance of cash or other property, she would have been sought for by a +Coronet, you may depend on that." + +"But I heard," continued his friend, "that she was engaged to an Indian +Officer, who is expected in England shortly," and with these words they +passed out into the street. + +On hearing this, Arthur determined to defer his visit a few hours +longer. There was a great rush of vehicles that night on the South side +of Berkly Square. The heavy family carriage, with its sleek horses, +driven at a sober pace by old John, the dashing curricle and smart +barouche, with the elegant private cab with its busy little Tiger in top +boots, whose single arm stops the thorough bred animal when his master +drops the reins. + +"Is them 'ere hangels," enquired the butcher boy of his crony, Tom +Drops, the pot boy at the Crown and Sceptre, just round the corner, as +the two young ladies, who had acted in the character of bridesmaids in +the morning, stepped from their carriage on to the Indian matting which +had been stretched across the pavement to the hall steps, all tarletan +and rose buds, and ascended the grand staircase leading to the ball +room. + +"Well, if they ain't they ought to be," was the response of Tom Drops. +At this moment a very stout and elaborately turbaned Dowager passed +slowly from her brougham along the matting and entered the hall. + +"Is she a hangel too, do you think? Don't look much like one now," +enquired the young butcher. + +"In course not," said Tom, "they loses all the hangel when they marries, +leastways so I have heard. But who it this swell? he is bang up to the +mark; he's a horse sojer I knows, and a ossifer," as the embroidered +sabretache of Captain Carlton met his view while ascending the hall +steps. "Well, I am off," said one to the other and the two lads went +their way. + +"Show me into the library, and hand this card to Miss Effingham," said +Arthur to a servant at the foot of the staircase. The footman first +looked at him, then at the name on the card, then said, with a low bow, +"Certainly, sir, certainly," and ushered the Captain to rather a snug +little apartment which was used as a library. Edith was dancing when the +footman entered. On the conclusion of the waltz he approached and +quietly handed her the card. A flush of pleasure lit up her beautiful +features, and joy sparkled in her brilliant eyes, as she read the name, +and without a word to any one, followed the servant and passed straight +to the room where her lover waited for her. We will pass over the +transports of their first meeting,--it can be easily imagined, as the +reader, is already aware of their engagement, and that he had returned +to England for the sole purpose of their union. After the emotion of the +first few moments had subsided Arthur related to her the accident by +which Sir Ralph had been killed, and of the existence of her uncle's +will, and the way it had been stolen by Mrs. Fraudhurst, and Sir Ralph's +complicity in the plot. + +A feeling of regret at the untimely end of the unhappy man, as he had +been hurried into eternity without preparation, came over her for a few +moments, this was chased away by indignation at the fraudulent and base +part that had been played by her late governess and companion. "What has +become of her?" she inquired. + +"Decamped, and no doubt fled the country ere this; all that is known of +her is that she left Vellenaux on the plea of rendering all the +assistance in her power to Sir Ralph, but she did not make her +appearance in that neighbourhood," was Arthur's answer. The reader knows +more of her movements than any of her acquaintances at Vellenaux or +London. + +"And we shall have dear old Vellenaux to live in. Oh! Arthur dear, I am +so happy, with all the friends I hold most dear on earth residing around +us. You will of course leave the service now? How kind of my poor, dear +uncle to think of us both in his will. But Mrs. Barton may notice my +absence, and become uneasy, so let us return;" and in another moment or +two, leaning on the arm of her handsome affianced husband, Edith +re-entered the ball room, much to the relief and surprise of Pauline +Barton. Arthur Carlton took an opportunity during the evening of +relating to Mr. Barton the change that had taken place in Edith's +circumstances by the death of, and disclosures made by, the late +Baronet. + +"Meet me at breakfast in the morning, and we will consult as to what +immediate steps should be taken on this extraordinary occasion; but of +course you will sleep here," said Horace. Arthur assented, and was soon +again at Edith's side, who had told confidentially to Mrs. Barton all +that he had told her: and that little lady could not restrain her +delight, and before eleven o'clock that evening, every one in the room +became aware that the beautiful Miss Effingham was worth twenty thousand +pounds a year as heiress of Vellenaux. + +Mr. and Mrs. Denham, previous to the ball, took their departure for +Devonshire, and were comfortably settled in the Rectory before Horace +returned to the Willows. He had postponed their journey in order that +Arthur and Edith might have the benefit of his advice and assistance in +such matters as might arise during the establishment of their claims, +set forth in the will of the late Sir Jasper, now produced. + +Mr. Septimus Jones was a lawyer of good repute, carrying on his practice +now, and had been doing so for upwards of fifteen years in the main +street of Hammersmith leading to the Suspension Bridge. + +"Nicholas," said that gentleman one morning, as he laid on his desk a +copy of the _Times_ newspaper, which he had been carefully perusing for +upwards of an hour, "Nicholas, do you remember a youth named Edward +Crowquill, that I had in my office some ten years since?" + +The old and confidential clerk ceased writing, and thrusting his pen +behind his ear, rubbed his hands softly together, and said, "Most +certainly I do. He was not fit for the business, and gave it up through +ill health; studied medicine for a time, and is now a chemist and +druggist, residing some hundred yards down the street." + +"Exactly so," replied his employer, "you will be good enough to put on +your hat and go and request him to do me the favor to step up here for a +few moments." Nicholas did his master's bidding, and returned shortly, +accompanied by Mr. Crowquill. Mr. Jones, after requesting him to be +seated, and directing his clerk to pay attention, took up the newspaper, +and read, in a clear voice the following advertisement: "To Lawyers and +otters.--If the party who drew the will of the late Sir Jasper Coleman +of Vellenaux, Devonshire, and those who witnessed the same document some +ten years ago, will call at the office of Messrs. Deeds, Chancery, and +Deeds, Solicitors, Gray's Inn Lane, they will be handsomely rewarded for +their trouble." "Now, gentlemen," continued he, "I drew this will, and +you both witnessed it. Do you both remember the circumstance." After a +little reflection they both recollected the circumstance. + +"Oh! since you have not forgotten the occurrence, I will show you a +rough draft of the will which I made at the time, and by reading this it +will refresh your memories, and you will be better able to swear to the +real will if it should be produced." + +"When do you purpose calling upon the Solicitors?" enquired Crowquill. + +"To-morrow morning we will call for you on our road to town," replied +Mr. Jones, politely bowing his visitor out of the office. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + +Of the early history of Sir Lexicon Chutny very little was known. He was +of Dutch extraction that was obvious, had served for a time in the +Madras Civil Service, but on acquiring a large property by the death of +a distant relative, he retired from that service and settled on one of +his plantations in Pallamcotta. How he obtained his title no one knew or +enquired, his relative, now deceased, was so called, and in his will he +directed that his heir should assume his name and rank. He was +thoroughly Indian in his tastes and habits, sensual and self indulgent; +saw very little European society, and report said that he had several +native mistresses, and was reputed very wealthy. He had never married, +for European ladies at that period were rarely to be met with in +Pallamcotta. It must have been business of no ordinary importance to +induce him to leave the land wherein he had been born, to visit Hamburg, +where he made his stay as short as possible. He was not favorably +impressed with the Frauleins and fair-haired daughters of Holland, and +was now returning home in the "Great Mogul," a Dutch Indiaman bound to +Madras. + +"Wreck on the lee bow!" shouted a look out from the mast-head. This +excited quite a commotion on deck, from whence the object was soon +discernable through the telescope, and soon after by the naked eye. The +ship's course was altered and she bore down upon the unfortunate craft +to render such assistance as might be necessary. She proved to be the +ship "Kaffir Chief," from Cork, bound to the Cape; she had been +dismasted in one of those terrific storms which so frequently occur in +these latitudes, and was now lying completely water-logged on the bosom +of the treacherous ocean. The day previous to the wreck had been +remarkably fine, but as night closed in the wind rose and continued to +increase until it blew a perfect hurricane. In spite of the utmost +exertions of the crew the sails were blown clear of the bolt ropes, +yards and spars were carried away, when the foremast went by the board +and the main topmast fell with a crash into the sea, seventeen of the +crew were hurled into the wild waste of waters. A little before daylight +a tremendous sea struck her stern, unshipping the rudder, carrying away +the wheel, round-house and lockers, rendering her unmanageable, and she +was tossed helplessly like a log upon the mighty billows. As the day +broke the storm somewhat subsided, a scene of wild desolation was +realized by those on board the unfortunate vessel, as the flashes of +broad sheet lightning, with which the heavy clouds were surcharged, +occasionally shot forth. The scene was startling and terrific, the wild +waves were breaking over her and three more of the crew were swept +overboard. As the light increased the sea began gradually to go down, +and spars and pieces of wreck were seen floating all around, lifted upon +the surging waves, to which some of the unfortunate seamen had clung +with the grasp of despair, only to be again thrown into the dark trough +of the sea to rise no more. + +Although the hurricane had subsided, so much water had been shipped that +the pumps had to be kept continually going to prevent the hull from +going down: to this laborious task all had to exert themselves to the +utmost, and only by this means could the ship be kept afloat. The +self-styled Mrs. Grenville rendered good service in this hour of peril, +she voluntarily took the place of the steward, now called to the pumps, +and served out rations of biscuits and spirits to all hands, nor did she +forget herself on the occasion. The danger of her position appeared in +no way to appal her, and having to undergo no bodily fatigue beyond her +strength, she was very little affected by the disasters and hardships of +the past few days. Such of the officers and crew as had not been +swallowed up by the boiling surf were in a very weak and exhausted +condition, owing to their great labor at the pumps, when rescued from +their perilous position by the boats of the "Great Mogul." These +particulars were gathered from time to time from some of the crew, but +from Mrs. Grenville a more detailed account of the wreck was obtained. +That lady thought it necessary to keep to her cabin for the first week, +during which time she had to sketch out a fresh plan of action for the +future. + +This she soon effected, having received all the required information +from the little fat Dutch stewardess concerning the ship, its +destination, and the names and positions of the passengers. + +"My dear madam," said the polite Captain, addressing Mrs. Grenville, +"you really must allow me to recommend you to try an airing on the +quarter deck this beautiful morning; after the long seclusion of your +cabin you will, I am sure, find it both agreeable and refreshing." In a +graceful manner, and with a pleasing smile, she replied, + +"I shall be happy to adopt your suggestion Captain Hanstein, and if it +is not interfering with your professional duties, may I request the +favour of your arm for a promenade, as I feel scarcely equal to the +effort unattended." + +The Captain bowed and assisted the lady to the quarterdeck. + +The Indigo planter, who had sat opposite Mrs. Grenville at breakfast, +felt somewhat annoyed that he had not solicited the pleasure of +accompanying the lady in her walk on deck; he had been struck with her +appearance at first sight, for the widow knowing the effect of first +impressions, had been exceedingly careful with her toilette that +morning, and certainly did look her best. + +Sir Lexicon had never yet seen any one who came up to his idea of a +handsome woman, until he encountered Mrs. Grenville that morning; her +curling dark hair, superb neck and shoulders, stately figure and +sparkling black eyes, and well modulated voice fascinated him, as no +woman as yet ever had done. She was not young, it is true; but this he +regarded as fortunate. She was still some years younger than Sir +Lexicon; but as to who or what she was he was a stranger; but this he +was determined to ascertain if possible, and betook himself on deck for +the purpose. As the professional duties of the Captain called him for a +time away, he took his place beside the lady and endeavoured to interest +her in his conversation. He found her charmingly condescending, and +apparently frank and friendly in her remarks, and after about an hour's +chit chat allowed him to conduct her to her state room. + +Poor Captain Costigan had been killed by a falling spar and knocked +overboard. The remainder of the crew and passengers that had been +rescued from their precarious situation on the wreck had been on board +the "Great Mogul" about a couple of weeks, when she let go her anchor in +Table Bay. These, with the exception of Mrs. Grenville, went on shore in +the first boat that came off to the ship. She, that morning, had an +interview with Captain Hanstein, and some hours after the others had +left, the obliging Captain took her ashore in his own boat, in which +also sat Sir Lexicon Chutny. He put up at the same hotel as Mrs. +Grenville, and was seen escorting her about Cape Town. + +The "Mogul" remained only two days at the Cape, then resumed her voyage, +and Mrs. Grenville, the Captain, and Sir Lexicon Chutny, could be seen +pacing her quarterdeck as she sailed out of the bay, unquestionably +enjoying, with much pleasure, the clear, balmy, and exhilarating breeze +of the early day, which, with the assistance of the sun's rays, was +lifting from the table land on the summit of the great mountain, called +occasionally Table Rock. A large, heavy, white cloud that frequently +spread itself over the whole surface, resembling very much in appearance +an enormous table cloth, hence the origin of the name. This remarkable +mountain is steep, rugged and precipitous, and towers up hundreds of +feet towards the clear, blue vault of heaven. Very little brushwood or +vegetation is to be found thereon. At its base, snugly ensconced under +its protecting shade, is situated Cape Town, looking quite pretty and +picturesque as the day dawns and the rising sun appears. There are two +other smaller elevations in close proximity to the Table Rock, not +without interest, and called respectively the Lion's Head and Lion's +Rump, possibly because they are connected together by a ridge of rock, +which, to the imaginative mind, gives it the appearance of an enormous +lion, sleeping. The other objects of interest and the shipping in the +harbor were soon left far astern. + +As they were sweeping out to sea, the Captain could, by the aid of his +glass, clearly distinguish the signal that was flying from the +flagstaff, situated on the lofty eminence mentioned before, as the +Lion's Rump signalling station, announcing the approach of an English +vessel from London. On hearing this the lady's face changed to an ashen +hue, and she trembled slightly. It was for an instant only; her strong +will conquered the emotion, and with her feelings now under perfect +control, she was again conversing and smiling in the most charming +manner until luncheon was announced, to which she was conducted by Sir +Lexicon, and while thus engaged she felt that she had good cause to +rejoice that a fine swelling breeze was carrying her rapidly away from +the Cape of Good Hope; for, doubtless, the newspapers brought out by the +new arrival, contained a full account of Sir Ralph's death, and her own +flight from the country, and it was quite possible that some suspicion +might have fallen upon her, had she remained a day longer at Cape Town. + +The wealthy planter of Pallamcotta was not the only person on board who +had become infatuated with the lively widow; for in fact Captain +Hanstein, the honest-hearted seaman had been caught in her toils. He had +believed every word that had been confidentially told him by Mrs. +Grenville, her position in life, and her reason for visiting the Cape +and Madras. Of course there was scarcely a grain of truth in the whole +statement. She was not long in discovering the Captain's weak point, and +rather encouraged him than otherwise, but had no notion of engaging +herself to the fat honest Dutch skipper. Far from it, but she thought it +necessary to her project to mislead him on that point. This unscrupulous +and ambitious woman cared not how she wounded the feelings of others, if +she thought by so doing it would further her own interest. She was +determined to secure Sir Lexicon as a husband, and thus become Lady +Chutny; and so skillfully did she angle, and played her cards with such +great tact, that there was very little doubt of her succeeding. + +The Dutch are naturally slow of action, and the planter's wooing was of +a rather passive character, and his attention to the lady did not excite +the suspicion of her other admirer, who did not think it would be +necessary to pop the momentous question until she was about to leave the +ship on reaching Madras. That Sir Lexicon was somewhat piqued at the +marked attention paid to her by that good-natured sailor was quite +evident, and was exactly what the widow had anticipated and desired. She +played both lovers off, one against the other, and the result proved +that her theory and practice were correct; for Sir Lexicon took +advantage of an opportunity that was afforded him one afternoon while +playing chess with Mrs. Grenville in the after cabin. They were quite +alone, and during a pause in the game, he formally made her an offer of +marriage, which, after a little skillful beating about the bush, she +accepted, but on the condition that nothing should be said about the +subject to any one on board. This was agreed to, and the game continued. +There were other passengers on board, but, as they are in no way +connected with our story, it would be needless to particularize them. + +On the vessel reaching her destination, the gallant Captain mastered up +courage, and boldly and in a straightforward manner, asked Mrs. +Grenville to become his wife. The lady listened to him with polite +attention, and said in reply: + +"Captain Hanstein, I should be very sorry if any act of mine has led you +to believe that I looked upon you in any other light than that of a +friend, from whom I have received many acts of kindness. I regret to +pain you by a refusal, but it must be so, for I now tell you in strict +confidence that I am engaged to Sir Lexicon Chutny." Then with a smile +and a graceful bend of the head, she left the bewildered Captain to his +own reflections; and shortly after, attended by Sir Lexicon, quitted the +ship. + +After a sufficient time for procuring all the necessary paraphernalia +considered indispensable on such occasions had elapsed, the marriage was +celebrated in the Cathedral at Madras, and the ambitious views of the +mercenary woman were at length realized. "She could" she thought "play +the great lady in Pallamcotta, and somewhat astonish the good folks at +the Capital by the brilliancy of her entertainments periodically, for +Sir Lexicon, although self-indulgent, was by no means of a miserly turn, +and would, for a time at least, feel a certain pleasure at the +admiration that would be excited by the splendour of her ladyship's +assemblies." + +Their stay at the Capital, on this occasion, was but of short duration, +as Sir Lexicon was anxious to return to Pallamcotta to finally arrange +the business that had taken him to Hamburg. To this arrangement her +ladyship made no objection, it suited her views exactly; her idea was, +that her advent in India should become known to the gay and fashionable +butterflies of the Presidency as quietly and gradually as might be. It +was necessary that they should be aware there was such a person as Lady +Chutny in existence; but for the present she would be heard of only and +not seen, so that when she appeared among them and threw open her +splendid rooms for balls and other entertainments it would be considered +a matter of course, a thing to be expected from the wife of so wealthy a +man as Sir Lexicon was reputed to be. Her ladyship's theory was the +correct one, for by acting in this manner she would be relieved from the +hubbub and cry of "Who is she?" and "Where does she come from?" that +would consequently follow, should she at once rush into the vortex of +fashionable life. She had no intention of burying herself at +Pallamcotta, now that she had attained the position for which she had +risked so much. She had played her cards boldly and unscrupulously, and, +during the shuffle had twice nearly come to ruin; but she had now, she +believed, won the odd trick that would secure her the game, and she +resolutely determined to hold on to the stakes thus acquired. From the +retrospect of her past life she turned herself steadfastly away, and +looked only into the brilliant future, which she fancied was opening +before her. What was there to fear? There was no one in India who could +recognize her, or knew anything of her antecedents. Edith and Arthur had +returned to England; restitution had been made and justice done them by +the unlooked for death of Sir Ralph Coleman. He was the chief culprit; +she merely an accessory, acting under his direction and guidance; and, +now that she had placed oceans between her and the scene of their crime, +nothing, she argued, could transpire to mar her triumph, and, laying +this flattering unction to her soul, her ladyship prepared for her +journey with a buoyancy of spirit that astonished even herself. + +Lady Chutny found the establishment at Pallamcotta very different from +what she had anticipated. So unlike the Bungalows of rich civilians at +the Capital, where all was order and quiet, and the gardens well kept. +Here everything was slovenly and in confusion, only a small quantity of +the furniture that had lately arrived from Madras had been unpacked, and +this was strewn about the drawing-room and sleeping apartments without +the least attempt at arrangement. The Bungalow had been originally a +very handsome one, but from indolence and carelessness had been allowed +to fall into a partially dilapidated state. The only covering to the +floors of the large, handsome apartments was the common matting of the +country. The same was the case in the broad and spacious verandahs, up +to which the rank vegetation of the compound--for garden there was +none--spread their creeping fibres in wild luxuriance. But her ladyship +offered no ungracious remark on the state of things, but simply +requested her husband to summon the whole of the servants and, in her +presence, inform them that she was their mistress, and to be obeyed in +everything, without remark or hesitation. This was done, and in +forty-eight hours she had completely revolutionized the whole +establishment. + +Fifty of the plantation hands were employed in clearing up the compound, +forming a garden and a lawn, while the edges of the verandah were lined +with pots of the most magnificent plants and fragrant flowers that could +be obtained, and before she had been in her new home one week, +everything was in complete order. + +She had heard it reported previous to her leaving the capital that Sir +Lexicon had several native mistresses at his different plantations, and +by her ayah or lady's maid, a Madrasse who could speak English, these +stories were confirmed, and she determined to govern herself +accordingly, fully believing that her husband would have the good sense +to remove any such persons as might be at the Bungalow in Pallamcotta +before her arrival. Caring nothing personally for Sir Lexicon, it gave +her little or no concern whether he chose to keep native ladies at the +other plantations or not, but she certainly did not intend that any of +them should reside under the same roof with herself, therefore she was +much annoyed and disgusted to find that her husband had not thought it +necessary to give any orders concerning their removal, and she had only +been a few days at Pallamcotta, when she learned that there were three +Circassian beauties sumptuously cared for and absolutely residing in +apartments fitted up for them; though not actually in the Bungalow, they +communicated with it by means of a short covered way leading from the +back drawing-room. + +Taking advantage of Sir Lexicon's absence shortly after, she sent for +the head servant, who dared not disobey her orders, and desired him to +have the ladies turned out of their quarters and expelled from the +premises, and their rooms put to another use. + +This was accordingly done and they were afforded shelter and protection +at the house of the overseer of the plantation, but at some distance +from the Bungalow. + +The history of these Circassian girls was anything but an uncommon one +in many parts of the country thirty or forty years ago. + +Their father, a horse-dealer, had been lured by the glowing accounts of +the fortunes that were to be made at the different Presidencies of +India, by a traffic in horses, and he determined to test the truth of +the reports, and, if possible, to enrich himself by means of his +beautiful steeds, of which he had several; but this proved a ruinous +speculation, for ere he reached Bombay he lost two of the most valuable, +and being totally unacquainted with the tricks and chicanaries so +frequently resorted to by Europeans and others in the racing stables and +on the turf, he fell an easy prey to some of the sharpers that usually +infest the race course, so that by the end of the season he had not only +lost every horse that he brought with him, but likewise every rupee he +possessed. There were few of his countrymen on the Island, and they +either could not or would not assist him to return to Circassia. He had +brought with him, to see the wonders of the chief cities of the three +Presidencies, his wife and three daughters, the eldest only seventeen, +the youngest about fourteen. In his extremity he turned to the old +Eastern custom, still prevalent, that of selling his children; he had +applied to several European and native gentlemen, with whom he had +become acquainted on the turf, but without success. At length he fell in +with Sir Lexicon Chutny, to whom he had lost large sums of money during +that gentleman's visit to the Island. Here he found no difficulty, Sir +Lexicon having seen the beauty of the girls, and being assured by them +that, under the circumstances, they did not object to the transaction. +He used this precaution, well knowing, although they did not, that he +could not hold them to their bargain one moment after the purchase money +was paid, should they claim the protection of the police authorities; +besides, the poor girls had heard of similar cases to their own, in +their far distant home, and thought it must be so elsewhere. So the +arrangement was quickly completed, the horse dealer and his wife having +accepted the twenty-four hundred rupees, the price agreed upon for their +children, departed homeward. Nor did Sir Lexicon delay an hour longer +than was actually necessary in the Presidency of Bombay, but hastened +with all speed towards his estate at Pallamcotta, in Madras, taking his +fair bargains with him. + +Here they dwelt in perfect harmony, their lives embittered by no petty +jealousies, and wonderfully attentive to their lord and master, over +whom they possessed considerable influence when they chose to exert it. +There was not a servant on the plantation but would have been discharged +had they dared to disobey any orders given by either, whether their +master was at home or abroad. For nearly four years this state of things +had existed, when lady Chutny's arrival totally altered the aspect of +everything, and created quite a hurricane of passion in the hitherto +quiet household, by driving the favorites forth with flashing eyes, +hatred in their hearts, and thirsting for vengeance on their hated +rival. + +Lady Chutny had resided at Pallamcotta some six or seven weeks, and +began to think that the term of her probation had lasted quite long +enough for the purpose for which she had immured herself in the country, +and at length determined to visit the Capital. Her husband had +successfully, though unwittingly, paved the way for her reception among +the _cream de la cream_ of society; being a man of wealth, and likewise +a sporting character, he had the privilege of the entree to many of the +best houses in the city, and was always hand and glove with most of the +staff and other officers, both military and naval, who were glad to +welcome him at their mess-room or club-houses. Like a child with a new +doll, he was proud of his handsome wife, and could not refrain from +dropping a word here and there concerning her. The old Bungalow had, +under her direction, been restored to its ancient splendour. It was her +ladyship's intention to come up to town shortly, and give a series of +balls and receptions, when she would be much pleased to receive his +friends; and by this means Lady Chutny's advent among the big bugs at +Madras, was quietly heralded without the slightest effort or ostentation +on her part. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + +The firm of Deeds, Chancery and Deeds, of Gray's Inn Lane, the +Solicitors employed by Horace Barton, on behalf of Miss Effingham, and +who had caused to be inserted in the _Times_ newspaper the advertisement +alluded to in a previous chapter, had not long to wait for the +information sought after. For on the following morning Mr. Septimus +Jones, Mr. Crowquill and the firm clerk, presented themselves at the +office in Gray's Inn Lane. The rough draft was produced, and the will of +the late Sir Jasper Coleman, brought to London by Arthur Carlton, and +now in the hands of the Gray's Inn lawyers, compared with it, and after +careful scrutiny it was declared to be the identical will drawn by the +Hammersmith lawyer, and witnessed by his two clerks several years ago; +this was duly sworn to, and certain other documentary evidence taken +down, and the three gentlemen returned to their homes in Hammersmith, +each twenty guineas richer than when he had left it in the morning. + +Now, although there was no one to contest the will, yet there were +certain legal technicalities and forms to be gone through before Edith +could take formal possession of Vellenaux, besides these same lawyers +had been empowered to draw up the marriage contract, settlements, etc., +between her and Arthur, the doing of which would take a considerable +time, much longer perhaps than the ardent lover might think necessary. +Edith would not hear of her dear Arthur remaining in the service after +their marriage; so arrangements were made for the selling of his +commission; this sum, together with the amount bequeathed to him by the +late Sir Jasper, would put him in possession of seven thousand pounds. + +It was planned that the wedding should take place at the old fashioned +church at Vellenaux. There was to be no wedding tour, but the bridal +party and a large number of friends were to proceed to Castle Audly, the +seat of Lord De Belton, who had served in Arthur's regiment, and had +been intimately acquainted with him for a few years in India. Castle +Audly was a very ancient and romantic pile, and quite the show place of +the country, here there was to be a magnificent _Fete Champetre, +Dejeuner a la fourchette_, with archery and other amusements provided by +the noble owner; the whole party were to return and dine at Vellenaux, +and wind up the entertainment by a grand ball at night. + +"Of course, my dear Carlton," said Horace Barton to that young gentleman +one afternoon while lounging in the drawing room in Berkly Square +waiting to attend the fair Edith in a canter through Hyde Park, "of +course you will stand for the county at the next general election? Sir +Sampson French, who is too old to again take office, will, I am certain, +retire in your favour, if you will only come forward as a candidate; you +have plenty of friends and admirers in and around Vellenaux to ensure +your return if properly canvassed. A man of your ability and standing in +society cannot afford to remain idle at such a time, though he may have +a rich wife to back him." + +"I should like to get into Parliament above all things, and certainly +shall endeavour so to do, providing Edith gives her consent, and the +good folks of the county will give me their support," was Arthur's reply +as the lady of his love made her appearance equipped for the ride. + +It had been the intention of the Bartons, to return to Devonshire +immediately after, the ball in Berkly Square, but the sudden appearance +of Captain Carlton with the startling announcement of the accidental +death of Sir Ralph Coleman and the disclosures made by the unhappy man +ere he breathed his last, caused them to put off their intended +departure for some weeks, until matters were _en train_ for establishing +the validity of Edith's claim to the estate of her late uncle. + +Aunt Cotterell and her good humored husband had, without the knowledge of +any of their friends, built a handsome house on the bank of the brook +which ran between Tom Bartons and the rectory; besides this, Mrs. +Ashburnham had confidently whispered to Cousin Kate that her dear +William was about to give up his practice which, for the last fifteen +years, he had labored at so assiduously and successfully, and that he +was now actually arranging for the purchase of that very pretty villa +and grounds just beyond the Willows, as its owner, Sir Edmund Wildacres +had, by racing and other gambling proclivities, managed to run through +and overdraw his cash account at his bankers, so that his landed +property had to come to the hammer, and, the young spendthrift was about +to retire to some cheap Continental watering place until some of his +antiquated relatives should be condescending enough to shuffle off this +mortal coil and resign their purses and property to his careful +control. And with Edith and Arthur settled at Vellenaux, there would be +formed at once a happy circle, bound together by ties of family +affection and disinterested friendship, and with such supporters as +these to canvass his cause, Arthur's return, as County member, might be +looked upon as amounting almost to a certainty. + +The lovers did not fail to take advantage of the extension of time to be +spent in the great metropolis, and balls parties, operas, and galleries +of the arts and sciences, exhibitions of pictures and such other +amusements as best suited the tastes and inclinations of these two, for +the time being, devoted votaries of pleasures, were visited. There was +another most important matter that had to be attended to, and this was +one that entailed numberless visits to and from Madam Carsand's in Bond +street, Store & Martimer's, Waterloo Place, and other fashionable +emporiums, where the numerous articles, indispensable to the trousseau +and toilette of a young and beautiful heiress. + +It will be remembered that in the search for the Begum of Runjetpoora, +Carlton had brought away with him in his sabretache a small steel casket +as a trophy; after his return from the fort, and while dressing for +mess, he remembered this circumstance, and was about to open and examine +the casket and had already taken it in his hand for that purpose, when +footsteps were heard approaching the tent, and not wishing others, to +see his little prize he carelessly tossed it into an open trunk, among +his wearing apparel, where it remained undisturbed until after his +arrival in England, when, in looking over his wardrobe he came across +the identical casket which had lain there so long and by him quite +forgotten. Unable without the key to open it himself, he sent for a +locksmith, who, in a very short time caused the lid to spring open, +when, to Arthur's surprise and delight it was found to contain a number +of precious stones of great value, in fact it was the Begum's jewel +case, containing diamonds of the first water, rubies of unusual size, +and pearls of great price, which, on being taken to a jeweler, proved to +be worth, somewhere about ten thousand pounds. Arthur, although by no +means a man of business habits, knew enough to convince him that this +sum, together with the five thousand pounds left him by Sir Jasper +Coleman, with what might be realized by the sale of his commission, if +properly invested, would secure to him an income of not less than twelve +hundred a year, a very pretty sum for a man to have of his own for +pocket money, although his wife should happen to possess twenty thousand +a year. He determined to carry out this arrangement as soon as any +suitable opportunity for so doing came to his knowledge, but with the +exception of Draycott he told no one of the Begum's jewels, or his +intentions concerning their disposal. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + + +The happy, light Dragoon, in order to be near the lady of his love, had +taken up his quarters at Harold's Hotel, in Albermarle Street, a very +quiet, but aristocratic place, leading into Picadilly. Beyond the +Bartons and their family circle, he had few intimate friends, in fact, +except Draycott, the surgeon of his regiment, with whom he had been on +the most intimate terms for years in India, and to whom he revealed all +his joys and sorrows, there was not one male friend he cared a jot for +in London; of course the men of his club, and those he had met abroad, +who, like himself, were now home on leave, dropped in upon him +occasionally at his rooms; but his constant visitor and companion in his +peregrinations through the labyrinths of the great Babylon during the +height of a London season, was Draycott: he was young, clever, high +principled, thoroughly good natured, and of an old county family. He had +but once only paid a flying visit to the metropolis previous to joining +his regiment in India, and now having a few pounds to spare, was +determined to enjoy himself in the gay Capital to his heart's content, +and whenever practicable, induced Arthur to give him his society. + +They had been breakfasting together, one morning in the latter's +apartment, and were discussing numerous scenes and things at home and +abroad in which they had both participated; nor was Arthur's +approaching marriage with Edith Effingham, and his idea of leaving the +service, left uncommented upon by his old friend. + +"Well," remarked Draycott, with a gay, good natured laugh, "after your +adventures and hair-breadth escapes, together with your great good luck +in winning the beautiful heiress, it would not surprise me in the least +if some old fairy godmother dropped from the clouds and transformed you +into a gallant young Prince of some beautiful isle of the sea, yielding +untold wealth, like the isle of the famous Count de Monte Cristo." Here +the conversation was interrupted by the entrance of the waiter, who +handed Arthur a card, which announced that a Mr. A.G. Capias, of the +firm of Docket & Capias, Solicitors, Bedford Row, desired to speak with +him on business of a private character. + +"More parchment and red tape work cut out for you to-day," remarked the +surgeon, "so I am off, but will drop in later in the day." + +"Now, my good fellow, oblige me by remaining where you are until this +matter--be it what it may--is disposed of, and I will then stroll out +with you," said Carlton. Then, turning to the waiter, said, "Show the +gentleman up at once." The obsequious attendant bowed and withdrew. + +In a few moments the door was thrown open, and a spruce, dapper looking +gentleman, clothed in sombre colored garments, irreproachable linen, and +carrying a small merino bag in his hand, was ushered in. + +"I believe I have the pleasure of speaking to Captain Arthur Carlton of +H.M. Light Dragoons," said that individual, as he advanced towards the +table, at which the two friends were seated. + +"Late of the Light Dragoons," replied Carlton, "for I have sold out--or, +what amounts to the same thing, I have directed the Army Agent to do +so"--pointing as he spoke to a vacant chair. + +The man of law availing himself of this piece of politeness took the +chair, placing his bag on the carpet at his feet. + +"And what may be your pleasure or business with me? You may speak out," +said Carlton, noticing the glance that his visitor threw at the surgeon, +"that gentleman is my most intimate friend and brother officer." + +"I have a few questions to ask concerning your father and grandfather, +the answering of which may lead to something, I have no doubt, will, at +no distant date, prove of much importance to you and yours," was the +reply. + +"Proceed then," said Arthur, "with your interrogations, and I will reply +to the best of my ability, though I must candidly confess that I know +very little of the early history of my father, and still less of my +grandfather, for they both spent so many years abroad, in India and on +the European Continent." + +Mr. Capias hereupon drew from his bag a small bundle of letters and +papers and arranged them on the table in front of him, then commenced +his enquiries as follows: + +"Will you be so good as to state the name and position of your father, +his place of birth, the school or college where he was educated, and the +place of residence at his decease." + +"Arthur Howard Carlton, Colonel of Cavalry in the service of Her +Majesty, born at Montazuena, in Mexico, educated at Rugby, and died at +Exeter, Devonshire, England, in the fifty-sixth year of his age, leaving +but one son, your obedient servant," here Arthur bowed in a somewhat +stately manner to his, interrogater. + +"Exactly so," said the lawyer, glancing at a paper he held in his hand, +which he then placed on the table, and taking up another, said: + +"Will you now tell me all that you know concerning, your grandfather?" + +"He was called Eustace Vere Carleton, I believe, from the fact of his +signing himself so in his letters to my father, wherein he desired that +he should enter the British service, and said that he should provide his +commission and make him a small yearly allowance as long as he remained +in the service,--these two letters are now in my possession and at your +service, should you require them," so saying, Carlton took from his desk +the papers in question, which he handed to the Lawyer. "But, pray, sir, +in what way and to what extent am I to be benefitted by the early +proceedings of my paternal relatives?" enquired the Dragoon, darting at +the same time a knowing wink at the surgeon, who at that moment happened +to look up, for until then he had appeared to be deeply absorbed with a +late number of _Punch_, though in truth he was very much interested in, +and had not lost a word of the conversation that had been going on +between the lawyer and his friend Carlton, but he only shook his head in +acknowledgment of the friendly wink, and continued to turn over the +pages of that comical but highly interesting periodical which he had +taken up at the commencement of the interview. + +"Every lost link in the chain of evidence is, I believe, now complete," +replied Mr. Capias, "and I am at liberty to communicate to you the +following circumstance which, doubtless, up to the present time you have +been a stranger to." He hereupon cleared his throat, and in a well +modulated voice said: + +"Maud Chumly, your great grandmother, the daughter of a Church of +England Clergyman, at the age of eighteen married Arthur Eustace +Carlton, ninth Earl of Castlemere. The result of their union was a son, +a wild, harum scarum sort of a youth who, at the age of nineteen, was +provided with an appointment and sent out to the British Embassy at the +Court of Spain. While here he managed to get entangled and elope with +the wife of a Castillian Hidalgo; they were pursued and overtaken by the +enraged Grandee and his followers; the lady was recovered, but the +husband lost his life in a duel with the gay Lothario who, subsequently, +to avoid the vengeance of the family and the strong arm of the law, fled +to Mexico, where, a few years after, he married the daughter of a French +officer of high rank, by whom he also had an only son, but never +returned to England, nor did he, on the death of his father, assume the +title or take possession of the estate, but resided continually on the +Continent; nor did he by word or deed reveal to his beautiful wife or +child his real position in the Peerage of Great Britain. His son at an +early age was sent to England, and was educated principally at Rugby, +but he also graduated at Cambridge; he afterwards entered the English +army, and during his stay in India married the daughter of a Judge of +one of the native courts, and like his father and grandfather before +him, had but one son, his wife having died during her passage to +England. The bereaved officer served, subsequently, with great +distinction, through the Peninsular Campaign, became Colonel of his +regiment, and at the close of the war was placed on half pay, and at the +age of fifty-six, died at Exeter, in Devonshire; this only son, Arthur +Carlton, likewise entered the army and became a Captain of Light +Dragoons, and is now beyond the possibility of a doubt, the rightful and +lawful heir to the late Earl of Castlemere." Here Mr. Capias bowed most +deferentially, gathered his papers together, said that he trusted in a +few days to have the honour of another interview with his lordship, and +then vanished from the room. + +"The fairy Godmother, in the garb of a limb of the law, by all that's +wonderful," burst forth Draycott, who was the first to speak after the +visitor had departed. + +"The next lady presented to her Majesty, by her Grace the Duchess of +Opals, was the lovely and accomplished Edith, Countess of Castlemere, on +her marriage with the noble Earl of that name." "By jove! it sounds +well," exclaimed Arthur, starting out of a reverie into which he had +fallen, and springing to his feet. "Draycott" continued he, "am I awake? +Can it be all true what the little man in black has been telling us?" +and Carlton paced excitedly up and down the apartment. + +"Not a doubt of it, my lord," resumed Draycott "these musty old lawyers +never commit themselves by letting out so much as this one has done, +unless they are quite sure that everything is all safe, cut and dried +and ready for use, as the saying is, and I think your lordship cannot +refuse to join me in drinking the health of the future Countess of +Castlemere;" and, suiting the action to the word, filled out two bumpers +of sherry, which he and Carlton, nothing loath, quaffed off. + +"And now for the stroll. I must call at the Bartons and mention this +piece of news to Edith; but, my dear fellow, not a word of it at the +clubs. Of course, they will hear of it from the newspapers before the +world is many hours older." + +Arthur was right, for the _Pall Mall Gazette_, of the following day, +announced the retirement from the service of Captain Carlton, Light +Dragoons, by the sale of his commission, and the _Court Circular_ of the +same date created quite an excitement in fashionable circles by the +following: "_On dit_.--Captain A. Carlton, late of the Light Dragoons, +has just succeeded to the title and estates of his great grandfather, +the late Earl of Castlemere, which title had lain dormant for several +years, in consequence of the only son of the late nobleman never having +assumed the title, and died in obscurity abroad, and we, learn that the +new Earl is about to lead to the hymenial altar the beautiful Miss +Effingham, heiress of the splendid estate of Vellenaux in Devonshire." + +The news of the alteration in Carlton's social position was received +with the utmost satisfaction in Berkly Square. Edith was too firmly +convinced of the unalterable attachment of her lover to fear that a +change of fortune would, in any way, alienate or weaken the love he bore +her, believing, as she did, that Arthur loved her with all the devotion +of a long tried affection. Certain alterations in the programme had to +be made, consequent on the elevation to the Peerage of the Bridegroom +elect. The wedding, which, was to have taken place in Devonshire, was +now to be celebrated in London; this entailed a delay of some few weeks +in order that the family mansion of the Castlemeres, in Saint James' +Square, might be re-decorated and furnished in a style befitting the +occasion. + +As the rent role of the Carlton Abbey property produced an income equal +to a clear ten thousand a year, Arthur now considered himself in a +position to carry out the great desire of his heart, that of presenting +to his beloved Edith the costly gems he had brought with him from India. +He therefore took them to one of the leading jewelers in London for +arrangement and re-setting, and among the beautiful and costly wedding +presents from the aristocratic connections of the Earl, from the Bartons +and others who had known Edith from her infancy, there were none that +could compare in any way with the magnificent diamond tiara ear rings +and bracelets, the cross rings and brooches of rubies, pearls and +diamonds, from the jewel case of that mutinous Indian Princess, the +Begum of Runjetpoora. + +With such zeal and good will did the lawyers on both sides work, that in +less than three months from the death of Sir Ralph Coleman, Edith was in +possession of Vellenaux, and Arthur had been recognized and installed as +Earl of Castlemere, and master of Carlton Abbey, that being the name of +the estate in Nottinghamshire, where the old Earl died. + +Having thus succeeded to the title and estates of his forefathers, +Arthur quitted his rooms in Albermarle Street, and located himself at +his mansion in St. James' Square, which, although undergoing extensive +alterations and decorations, had still a sufficient number of apartments +in thorough repair and handsomely enough furnished, to satisfy the +taste of a more fastidious person than our ex-Light Dragoon. It was +really astonishing the number of visitors he had to receive, and cards +and notes of invitation were showered upon him from people whose very +existence he had previously never heard of, connections by marriage of +the past generation crowded upon him, mothers with marriageable +daughters invited him to their assemblies, young men of his own order +sought to engage him in the various pursuits considered indispensable +among those by whom he now found himself surrounded. When it became +generally known that the new Earl was, beyond the possibility of a +doubt, engaged to be married, the connections just mentioned thought it +right and proper to recognize in Edith Effingham the future Countess of +Castlemere; and, on learning that she was the niece of a baronet, and +heiress, in her own right, to twenty thousand a year, she was sought +after and made much of by the aristocratic relatives of her affianced +husband, for the privilege of entering, as honoured guests, such places +as Vellenaux and Carlton Abbey was not to be lost for the want of a +little tact and polite attention to the bride elect, and so Edith's +circle of female friends enlarged rapidly, and it was from among these +that she selected the eight young beauties who were to act as +bridesmaids on her marriage day, now fast approaching. + +The Bishop of Exeter, who had been well acquainted with Arthur's father, +offered his services on the interesting occasion, which were gladly +accepted. Exactly at 11 a.m., the family carriage of the Bartons, +containing Edith, Pauline Barton, and three of the bridesmaids, left +Berkly Square. In a second were seated the other five ladies acting in +that capacity. Then came the large, roomy vehicle of the good natured +stock broker, occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Cotterell, Horace Barton and Mr. +and Mrs. Denham, who had come up from Devonshire expressly to be present +at the ceremony. Tom Barton and Cousin Kate accepted seats in the +handsome barouche of the Ashburnhams. + +The cavalcade reached Westminister Abbey just as the Bishop of Exeter, +attended by two other clergymen, drove up. Quite a number of +aristocratic equipages, with their occupants, had already arrived, and +just as the bride was descending from her carriage, a handsome +cabriolete, driven by the Earl of Castlemere; attended by his groomsman, +Draycott, dashed up at full speed. Quite a large assemblage had gathered +about the cloisters and aisles of the venerable structure, where it had +pleased Miss Effingham to have the marriage solemnized, all anxious to +get a glimpse of the wedding party, as they moved up to the chancel and +took the positions assigned them in front and to the right and left of +the altar, and a fairer scene than the one now presented to their view, +had, by many been rarely, if ever, witnessed. The warm, ruddy light of a +summer's sun, subdued by the gorgeously colored panes of the magnificent +oriel windows above the altar, fell softly, yet brightly, on the richly +dressed groups that composed the bridal party. + +Attended by a bevy of young maidens, Edith, in the pride of her womanly +beauty, now fully matured and developed, advanced with a firm step and +knelt before the altar, her symmetrical and perfectly faultless figure +appearing to advantage in a rich white corded silk, with its superb +train of the same material, the whole trimmed with fine old point lace +of the most costly description; nor did the exquisitely worked veil she +wore conceal the tresses of golden brown hair that fell in luxuriant +ringlets on her alabaster shoulders. The magnificent diamonds of the +Begum encircled her fail brow, neck and arms, while pendants of the same +precious stones hung from her small, shell-like ears, their brilliant +prismatic hues shooting forth and glittering with lustrous and dazzling +brilliancy at each movement of the wearer; but far brighter than all was +the glorious rays of the light of love and joy that danced and +scintilated in the deep blue eyes of the bride as she stood forth and +plighted her troth to him she so fondly and devotedly loved, and the +face of the handsome Earl beamed with unclouded happiness as he placed +the small golden circle on the finger of his future Countess. + +The ceremony was not a long, but an impressive one. The bridal anthem +was beautifully rendered by the choristers, accompanied by the clear, +full, deep tones of the grand old organ. As the clock in the square +tower was striking twelve the whole party left the Abbey, and were +driven to the Earl's mansion in Saint James' Square, where a luxurious +repast was prepared for them, to which ample justice was done. At two, +the Earl and Countess stepped into their traveling carriage and were +whirled off to Brighton, from which point they were to start on their +bridal tour through Continental Europe. + +The Bartons and Cotterells left town a few days later for their homes in +Devonshire, where they hoped to be comfortably settled ere the honeymoon +of the happy couple should have terminated, as it was the desire of all +concerned to give them an enthusiastic welcome on their return, and +arrangements and preparations were at once entered upon to make the +occasion one of general rejoicing and festivity, and a general holiday +to all in and around Vellenaux. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + + +The city of Madras, the seat of Government and Capital of the Presidency +of that name, although not possessing all the facilities for an +agreeable sojourn to the lover of pleasure and amusement that may be +found at the capitals of the sister Presidencies--Bengal and Bombay--it +having neither the healthy climate of the one, or the wealth of the +other. Yet there are times and seasons when Madras is very enjoyable: +just after the south-west monsoons, when all nature is clothed in +verdant beauty, and a delightful coolness pervades the air, the +Neilgerie Hills cannot be surpassed by those of Mahableshwa or any other +sanitary station in India, even the Capital itself, whose shores are +washed by the boiling surf from over the triple reefs of rocks during +the rainy season; but that time being past, a more tranquil state of +things pervades the ocean, and cool sea breezes waft over the city. At +the time of which I am writing, Madras was more than usually gay, +several vessels of war were in port and a number of crack corps had +arrived from Europe and elsewhere, officered by a set of men whose +fathers and great-grandfathers before them had served their country +either in the army or navy; they served not for pay but for honor, and +to uphold the high and honourable name bequeathed them by their +ancestors. Many of these came into the regiment not to save but to spend +money, and it was surprising to the calculating natives the enormous +sums they managed to get through during their short stay at any of the +large towns or stations where Europeans do most congregate. + +The stream of fashionable life was now at its height, now in full force +when Lady Chutny's magnificent bungalow was thrown open for receptions; +and it was not long before the fame of her ladyship's fetes and +assemblies spread far and wide. Sir Lexicon was known to be exceedingly +wealthy, and it will be remembered that Mrs. Fraudhurst, on quitting +England, had drawn out of the bank her capital of ten thousand rounds. +This sum, together with a large amount given her by the planter for the +express purpose of giving entertainments in town, had been paid into the +bank of Madras, in Lady Chutny's name. The sum was actually only one lae +and a half of rupees, but dame rumour, with her hundred tongues, had +quadrupled it. + +The season was now at its height, and her ladyship had issued cards for +an entertainment that was to exceed anything before attempted in Madras +The spacious verandahs to the right, left and rear of the bungalow were +converted into lounging halls, half drawing-room, half conservatory, +while the compound and gardens were brilliantly illuminated with +countless colored lamps and lanterns. Hundreds presented themselves for +admission to the fairy-like scene, and it was allowed by all to be a +perfect success, a gem of the first water of entertainments, and such, +as many of the guests had seldom witnessed. Her ladyship, elegantly +attired, and flushed with pride and pleasure at the triumph she was +achieving moved gracefully about from one room to another attending to +the comfort and convenience of her visitors. In passing along one of the +improvised conservatories, the figure of a cavalry officer attracted +her attention. His features were screened from her view by the leaves of +a magnificent orange tree, but there was something in his general +outline, as he stood leaning indolently against the trellis work +chatting with a drawl, real or affected, to a little lady seated, or +rather reclining on a low ottoman close by, something that caused her to +start as if the gallant officer was not altogether unknown to her, but +her memory would not at the moment serve her, yet a feeling of mistrust, +a sort of almost indescribable sensation of disquietude came over her as +she listened to the polite nothings that issued from his lips; but +fearing to attract observation she quietly withdrew, and entering the +upper end of the ball room summoned her chobdah and pointing out the +figures said, "When that gentleman leaves his present position, tell him +that Lady Chutny desires to speak with him." The native made his sallam +and withdrew. In a few moments the object of her enquiry advanced +towards her, and without preface or introduction, commenced, "I am +informed that your ladyship has done me the honor to request my +presence, and, like an obedient slave, I am at your ladyship's command," +and he bowed with the most deferential politeness as he delivered +himself of this harangue; then recollecting for the first time that he +had no card of invitation from, or introduction to, her ladyship, began +to stammer forth his excuses, that he had dropped in on the strength of +having met Sir Lexicon for a few minutes at the mess of the Fusiliers, +and had accepted his general invitation as a _carte blanche_. He was +quickly relieved from his embarassment by his handsome hostess declaring +herself fortunate in numbering among her friends so gallant a +chevalier. "I was not aware that your regiment was in town, nor do I +believe that I have ever met your distinguished corps, and it was to +explain away the seeming slight in neglecting to forward cards that I +have requested a few minutes' conversation with you." + +"Your ladyship is kindness itself, and our fellows will duly appreciate +your affability on reaching Madras; for, unfortunately for them, we are +still quartered at Secunderabad. I alone am here on court martial duty +and have, I fear, intruded upon your hospitality. But I believe I have +had the pleasure of meeting your ladyship before, though I must confess +that when and where has escaped my memory; unpardonable in me, +certainly, to forget the occasion that introduced me to so charming a +lady." They were standing opposite one of the large mirrors, and by a +skillful manipulation of her fan, the hostess contrived to obtain a +perfect view of the features of the gentleman who was now addressing +her, at the same time revealing but little of her own. For a few moments +she too was mystified as to who he was, or under what circumstances they +had met, or whether it was a case of simple mistaken identity; but +another searching glance at the mirror, and the truth flashed upon her +in an instant. Her thoughts travelled back to Vellenaux. Yes, it was he, +the same Snaffle of the Lancers, who had figured as young Lochinvar at +the fancy dress ball, and had subsequently lunched there on one or two +occasions during the shooting season, prior to Arthur's joining his +regiment. She felt certain that he had not as yet recognized her, but +that he must do so at length she felt convinced. To be recognized by him +after so many years was an event which she had not calculated on. It +was one to be dreaded, for, doubtless, the disclosures that he could +make, would bring her to disgrace and ultimate ruin; but she was equal +to the trying ordeal. + +"If we have met, my dear sir," she said, in a low, soft voice, "it must +have been at the Cape, or in London. Although I do not think that your +regiment was in either of those places during my residence there, but +that circumstance need not prevent us from becoming better acquainted." +He bowed and retired, and the smiling hostess moved among her guests as +though nothing had occurred to disturb her. On the following morning the +card of Captain Snaffle was handed to her, but she excused herself from +appearing on the plea of indisposition. The sight of the Lancer's card +both startled and alarmed her. He had discovered her identity with the +ex-governess of Vellenaux, or he would never have presented himself at +so early an hour after the bail. What was to be done? She must return at +once to Pallamcotta, and an hour after the gallant Captain had left, she +quitted her bungalow. She need not have been so much alarmed, for, +although Snaffle, who, during the evening, had obtained a good look at +her unobserved, it was not until late in the morning that he remembered +her as the companion of Edith at Vellenaux. Nor had he heard anything of +Sir Ralph's death, or the crime which had caused her to fly from +England, but this she did not know, and as "conscience makes cowards of +us all," she sought the refuge of her bungalow at Pallamcotta. + +With agitated feelings, and distracted with doubts and fears, it was in +no enviable state of mind that Lady Chutny re-entered her home on the +plantation. Judge then of her indignation to find that during her +absence the favourite mistresses had been re-established in their old +comfortable quarters, for, while she had been amusing herself at the +Capital with balls and parties, they had regained their ascendency over +Sir Lexicon, who, not expecting her ladyship's return for several weeks, +had consented to their returning to the bungalow until suitable +arrangements could be made for them. He ladyship's sudden and unexpected +return, together with her order for their immediate expulsion, aroused +their passions--which during her absence had remained dormant--to +intense hatred, and they were determined to sacrifice her at the altar +of jealousy and revenge, and resolved to execute their wicked project +without further delay. Sir lexicon's absence, they well knew, would +afford them an excellent opportunity for carrying out their design. The +servants, they were sure, would act in concert with them, by affording +them the facilities they required. + +"Gopall," said one of the three, "bring the Madam Sahib's food into my +room before you place it on the table this evening." "And," responded +another, "I wish to act as her ayah, and carry the sherbet to her +chamber tonight. You understand, eh? You shall have a gold mohur from +us." The butler grinned with intense satisfaction, for he had no doubt +of their intentions, and his little black eyes twinkled with delight at +the idea of receiving the gold coin promised; and at once gave the +assurance that they might count upon his assistance, and likewise the +co-operation of the other servants. + +During dinner Lady Chutny enquired whether her orders regarding the +three women had been attended to, and if they had left the house. The +crafty butler pretended not to understand the meaning of her words. She +could not speak the language, and her ayah, who had always acted as +interpreter, whenever she wished to issue her commands personally, had +been, owing to her hasty retreat, left behind at the Capital. Boiling +with rage at being, as it were, set at defiance in her own house and by +her own domestics, fatigued with her journey, and alarmed at the +prospect of being in the power of Captain Snaffle, also dreading the +disclosures he might make, it was no wonder that she sought the quiet of +her own chamber much earlier than was her usual custom. For several +hours she turned uneasily on her couch, her mind disturbed by +conflicting doubts and fears, when a strange attendant entered, bearing +a large goblet of sherbet, which had been rendered deliciously cool by +being placed for several hours in a mixture of saltpetre and glauber +salts. This was her favourite evening beverage, which, in her now heated +and excited state was very acceptable. Motioning the woman to place it +on the teapoy, near her pillow, she was about to give her further +instructions, when she noticed that she was a stranger, not from her +features, for they were concealed beneath the folds of her sarree, which +had been thrown completely over her head, revealing only a small portion +of the lower part of her face, but from her general appearance. Finding +that she was not understood, she stretched forth her hand for the goblet +and took a long draught, unconscious of the piercing dark eyes that +gleamed down upon her with jealous hatred and fiendish pleasure from +behind the silken sarree of her new attendant, as she took from her hand +the half-emptied goblet, which, after placing on the teapoy, she +quickly left the room. There was something suspicious about the action +of the woman, but Lady Chutny was too much occupied with her own +thoughts to notice it at the time, and soon after sank into a doze from +which she started in affright, as if from some dreadful dream, only to +fall into another. This occurred several times. At length, after +finishing the remainder of the sherbet, she dropped into a deep sleep. + +The sun was high in the heavens when she again awoke. A burning fever +consumed her, and delirium had fastened on her with fearful spasmodic +and excruciating pains internally. She endeavored to rise, but fainted +in so doing. She shrieked wildly for assistance, but none heeded her +cries. For hours she was thus, left alone, the pains increasing, and her +brain in a constant whirl. Again she slept, how long she knew not. When, +on awaking, she found the same attendant who had waited on her the +previous evening, standing at her bedside. She had brought food, of +which her ladyship partook slightly but eagerly, and called for tea, +which was handed her. + +"Has Sir Lexicon returned," she enquired. The attendant shook her head. +"Send for him immediately, and likewise a doctor. I am in great agony." +The woman muttered something, and left her. Through the long, lonely +hours of that dark night, the wretched woman, wracked by intense pain, +with insanity steadily gaining the ascendency, tossed to and fro on her +weary bed, and when overtaxed nature did succumb to slumber, wild +dreams, and wilder fancies haunted her between sleeping and waking. She +fancied she saw at her bedside the forms of Edith, Arthur, and Ralph +Coleman. The latter she denounced as a coward and traitor, from Carlton +she hid her face, but to Edith she stretched forth her hand and implored +her to save her from the torments she was now enduring, but only meeting +with a scornful laugh, fell back upon her pillow exhausted. + +This had not been quite all fancy, for the three mistresses of the +planter had stolen into her chamber to feast their cruel eyes upon the +dying agonies of their helpless victim. Towards the middle of the fourth +day, reason had somewhat resumed its sway, and the violence of the pains +she had experienced were subdued, the ayah had arrived from the Capital +and now resumed her attendance upon her mistress. She had sought out the +native doctor who attended the sick of the plantation. He, although in +the pay of the three women, thought it best to visit Lady Chutny when +summoned. + +"Is there no European doctor?" enquired the patient, as the native +practitioner felt her pulse and otherwise examined her. + +"No, madam, but I will ride to the next station and endeavour to procure +one," replied the crafty little man. Then turning to the ayah, said, "I +should have been called in sooner. The Sahib must be sent for without +delay," and after leaving a few instructions, left the room. He knew +that death must soon ensue, and was determined to be absent on Sir +Lexicon's arrival under the pretence of doing all in his power to +procure European medical assistance. As he passed through the women's +apartment he said to them, "I am going for a European doctor. Of course, +I shall not find one. You understand? You have done your work +completely. She will die at sunset. You had better send for a +missionary or priest, and have her buried as soon as possible. Let the +grave be dug under the palm trees, on the south side of the plantation, +and have all done decently and in order, and the master will attach no +blame to any one or have any suspicion that foul play has been used, +then you can easily persuade him to allow the body to remain there." + +The native doctor was right. The unhappy woman never saw the rising of +another sun, and in the white sands, beneath the waving palms, where the +hyena prowled and the wild jackall barked hoarsely through the night, +lies the mortal remains of this ambitious woman, who thus fell a victim +to the jealous and revengeful passions of those by whom she had been +surrounded by her unscrupulous husband. + +The third day after the ball, Captain Snaffle again presented himself at +Lady Chutny's bungalow, and was informed that her ladyship had left +town, and would, in all probability be absent some weeks. The +fashionable world was in a great commotion at this unexpected event. +They could not understand it. To leave town at the height of the season, +and just as she had achieved so great a triumph as her last ball was +allowed to be, it was quite inexplicable. It was talked of, canvassed +over, and commented upon, at the band stand, race course, +conversaziones, and mess room, for several days, and, in fact, until the +mystery was cleared up by a startling _denouement_. + +"I say, Snaffle, old fellow, who the deuce is she? You know, or I am +much mistaken. I saw you making great play, and coming it rather heavy +with her on the night of the ball. I watched you both for some time. You +two have met before under different circumstances. I wager my chestnut +mare against your bay colt that I am right. Will you say done?" and +Harry Racer, of the Fusiliers, here produced his book in hopes of +entering a bet. + +"Not quite so fast Racer, my boy. There is no mystery in the matter, no +subject for a wager. We have met before, I knew it while talking to her, +but could not remember where. I recollect all now. Whether she +recognized me or not, I cannot tell. She is a very clever woman. If you +will say nothing about it, I will tell you all I know." + +"Not I! not I," replied Racer, half despondingly at the prospect of +being able to enter a wager in his betting book disappearing. + +"Well then," continued Snaffle, "she was a Mrs. Fraudhurst, a widow +governess and companion to a rich heiress, niece of Sir Jasper Coleman +of Vellenaux in Devonshire. How she got out here, and in what way she +managed to hook Sir Lexicon, I cannot imagine, but I will find it all +out at our next interview, depend upon it." + +"Stop! By Jupiter! Did you say governess, Baronet, name Coleman, place, +Vellenaux, Devonshire? Here's a go! Not a word. Here, Ramsammy, bring +the fyle of English newspapers from the library, quick." The papers were +handed to him, and, selecting _Bell's Life_, Harry Racer commenced +reading the following paragraph:-- + +"Frightful railway accident. Death of Sir Ralph Coleman of Vellenaux, +Devonshire. Startling disclosures. Stolen Will. Heiress defrauded. +Flight from the country of accomplice, the family governess. Full +particulars in our next issue." + +"That's her, the planter's lady. Large as life and twice as natural. The +thing is as clear as mud in a wine glass. All plain and smooth as a +three mile course. The mystery is solved. She recognized you at the +ball, saw that you were mystified, but would, doubtless, remember her if +you met again. You call the next morning. She refuses to see you on the +plea of indisposition. Takes the alarm, bolts off the course, and makes +for the open country, where she, doubtless, intends to remain until she +hears that you are safe on your road to Secunderabad; and now, old +fellow, what are you going to do? There is money to be made out of this +matter if you are not too squeamish," and here Racer tipped a knowing +wink to his friend of the Lancers. + +But Captain Snaffle was a gentleman, and had no idea of trading upon the +necessities of others, be they who they might. He merely replied by +saying: + +"Racer, you will not mention a word of this to any one at present. I +will go down to Pallamcotta and find out to what extent Lady Chutny has +compromised herself. After that we can decide what is to be done about +letting fashionable world into the secret." The two friends left the +Fusiliers' mess room, Harry Racer trotting off to inspect some new +horses that he had got scent of, and Snaffle to his own quarters. + +The following morning saw him on his way to Sir Lexicon's plantation. On +the road he overtook the baronet, and they rode the remainder of the +distance together. Imagine their consternation on finding that lady +Chutny was both dead and buried. + +The planter, with his usual indolence and procrastination, was for +allowing things to remain as they were. "There is no use," he said, +"now, that the matter is all over, of disturbing the body. I will have +a handsome monument erected over her remains, and the place shall be +nicely laid out with shrubs and flowers, and kept in good order while I +live;" But Captain Snaffle thought otherwise. He felt certain that the +woman had not been accessory to her own death, but that foul play had +been used by some one and he was determined to ferret it out. +Immediately on his return to Madras he communicated his suspicions to +the police authorities, and enquiries were instituted, a reward offered, +and the whole affair came to light. + +But it was not until several months after this event transpired that our +friends at Vellenaux became aware of the ultimate fate of the +ex-governess. Captain Snaffle, in a letter to Arthur, gave an account of +the whole transaction, from which it transpired, that, on enquiries +being set on foot respecting Lady Chutny's sudden death, Gopall, the +butler, turned Queen's evidence, and confessed the whole of the +diabolical plot. Datura, a powerful narcotic poison, had been mixed with +the sherbet, this produced delirium, and a quantity of pulverized glass +had been introduced into the food given to the unsuspecting victim, +which produced inflammation of the bowels, and the combined effects of +these caused death. However, the perpetrators of the foul deed +unfortunately managed to escape, by what means the writer did not state. + + + + +CHAPTER THE LAST. + + +Carlton Abbey, the estate of the Earls of Castlemere for centuries back, +was situated near Ollarten, on the borders of Sherwood Forest, in +Nottinghamshire. It was formerly a religious house of the highest order, +largely and richly endowed, whose broad acres ran some distance into +"Merrie Sherwood" itself. It is reported that the renowned Robin Hood, +with a score of his followers, once sought and obtained shelter and +protection there, when pursued by the Sheriff of Nottinghamshire for +slaying the king's deer and other misdemeanors within the limits of the +forest; and later here also took place the celebrated meeting between +Cardinal Woolsey and the Duke of Buckingham, previous to that haughty +prelate's dismissal from royal favor and ultimate disgrace, and on the +death of the Marchioness of Cosingby who, for forty years reigned as the +Lady Abbess, the sisters of this order moved elsewhere, as the property +fell into the hands of Eustace, first Earl of Castlemere, heir-at-law, +by whom and his successors, alterations and additions were made becoming +the home of an English noble; but although the last Earl lived a retired +and secluded life, Carlton Abbey was not allowed to fall into decay, and +the manor, preserves, and grounds generally were kept in excellent +order, and so the Earl of Castlemere, as we must now designate our hero, +found it; for on being assured that he was, beyond the possibility of a +doubt, heir to the estate, had paid a flying visit to Nottinghamshire, +and while there had given orders to the housekeeper and steward to have +a handsome suit of apartments prepared for the reception of the Countess +and himself; he likewise gave directions to his agent to raise a troop +of volunteer cavalry, the cost of which was to be defrayed out of the +revenues of the estate, the men to be selected from among the tenantry +and well-to-do farmers residing on the Abbey lands. + +On their return from the continent, the Earl and his bride took formal +possession of Carlton Abbey, received the visits of the neighboring +families, inspected the newly improvised cavalry, mustered and feasted +the tenantry, and made known to all concerned that they intended to +reside, for at least four months in each year, at the Abbey, then took +their departure, leaving a very favorable impression behind them. + +On the return to London of Edith and Arthur from their wedding tour, +they were presented at Court. The Queen seemed to take considerable +interest in the handsome Earl and his beautiful Countess, for His +Excellency the Commander-in-chief had mentioned to Her Majesty some of +Arthur's gallant exploits while in India, and the romantic train of +events that had happened to both Earl and Countess prior to their +marriage. As a mark of royal favor they were invited to Windsor Castle. +This, in itself, was sufficient to give them _eclat_ in the highest +circles. They gave a series of brilliant entertainments in Saint James' +Square, which hundreds of the highest in the land made a point of +attending. Fortunately the London season was at its close; this allowed +Edith to carry out her long-cherished wish to return to Vellenaux as +its honoured mistress. There were associations connected with it that +could not be effaced by all the gaieties of the most magnificent courts +of Europe. Arthur too was somewhat tired of the exciting life they had +led for some months past, and was anxious to re-visit the quiet spot +where the happiest years of his early life had been spent; accordingly +they left London for their old home among the beech woods of Devon. + +The day of high jubilee, the day of feasting and merriment, such as had +never been witnessed in Vellenaux by its oldest inhabitant, at length +arrived. High and low, rich and poor of the village and for miles +around, turned out in holiday costume to witness the return of Edith and +Arthur to their childhood's happy home. Triumphal arches of eve greens +and flags had been erected at different places between Switchem station +and the Park gates. The two troops of volunteer cavalry that had been +raised from among the tenantry of Carlton Abbey and Vellenaux, armed and +equipped at the expense of the Earl and Countess, already licked into +something like order and discipline by the non-commissioned officers of +the regular service, procured through Arthur's interest at the Horse +Guards, lined both sides of the road between the arches. Several bands +of music, sent down from London, were stationed in different parts of +the grounds, and enlivened the scene by playing many of the most popular +airs of the day. A deputation of about one hundred gentlemen and +well-to-do farmers, all mounted, and headed by the Lord Lieutenant of +the County, met the happy couple as they stepped from the platform into +their open barouche, with its four prancing and gaily decorated horses, +which was in waiting at the Switchem station. After several addresses +had been read and replied to, the cortege passed slowly on towards +Vellenaux, the cavalry filing in rear and the gay holiday seekers +following as best they could. On arriving at the principal entrance the +party alighted, the host and hostess, and their invited guests proceeded +to the grand hall, where a magnificent collation awaited them. The +remainder spread themselves over the grounds and Park, where, beneath +the outspreading branches of the fine old trees, were placed benches, +beside tables groaning under the weight of enormous sirloins, rounds of +beef, and pies of mighty dimensions, with sweet home-made broad, and +other edibles of various descriptions. Tents were pitched here and +there, where also could be obtained, all free, gratis and for nothing, +fine old October ale, rich sparkling cider, clotted cream, curds and +whey, tea and coffee, and confectionery in great abundance. Feasting and +merriment being the order of the day. + +Games of various kinds were entered into with such alacrity and good +will, proving how thoroughly they were enjoyed by both participants and +lookers on. Cricket, pitching the quoit, and foot ball was going on in +one part of the grounds, single stick; and quarter staff playing, and +wrestling matches between the men of "Merrie Sherwood," Nottingham, and +the yeomen of Devon in another. + +There were also foot races and a variety of other amusements taking +place in the home park, while the votaries of Terpsichore tripped it +gaily on the green, velvety award beneath the grand old oaks; and not a +few of the lads and lasses betook themselves down the green, shady +alleys to the woods in search of blackberries, or to gather bunches of +clustering hazel-nuts. The intimate friends of the lady of Vellenaux +amused themselves with archery and croquet on the lawn, and strolled +about the grounds watching the tenantry and others in their pursuit of +pleasure. All the servants and retainers, for none had been discharged, +hailed with delight the return of their young mistress and her handsome +husband, for both were alike looked up to and respected for their many +amiable qualities, by those among whom they had been brought up since +childhood. The two old veterans, Bridoon and Tom the game keeper, had, +in honor of the occasion, donned their uniforms and were the big guns of +the evening, presiding, as they did, at the upper ends of the tables +where the volunteer cavalry were regaling themselves to their heart's +content on the good things provided for them. + +The day's festivities were closed with a grand display of fire works, +and bonfires were lit in many places, which crackled and sent upwards +millions of bright sparks, to the intense delight of the juvenile +portion of the community. The long rooms in the two public houses, in +the village, were thrown open for dancing. The servants' hall, and the +two great barns at Vellenaux were also decorated and arranged for the +same purpose, and a right joyous time was there kept up, almost until +the dawn of day. + +Within the time-honoured walls, in one of the superb and luxuriously +furnished apartments of Vellenaux, did Edith and Arthur, on this, the +first night of their return, entertain the Bartons, Cotterells, +Ashburnhams, Denhams, and a large circle of acquaintances. It was not a +ball, not exactly a conversazione, but a sort of happy re-union, an +assemblage of old friends and familiar faces, many of whom, had, to a +certain extent, participated in the joys and sorrows that had attended +their host and hostess from their youth upwards, and, as this pleasing +picture fades from view, let us take a perspective glance through a +pleasant vista of progressive years, at another equally interesting +tableaux, whose back ground and surroundings are the same as the +previous one. Vellenaux, that magnificent pile of buildings, with its +beautiful and varied styles of architecture, embosomed, as it were, in +the rare old woods of Devon, its parks and wondrous parterres, its +fountains, marble terraces and statuary, all brought out in bold relief +by the glorious golden light of a summer's setting sun. + +On a spacious terrace of the western wing, whose broad steps of fine +Italian marble led down to the clear, open, finely gravelled walk that +surrounded a beautiful and well kept lawn, were grouped, in various +positions, a number of ladies, gentlemen, and children, with all of +whom, the juveniles excepted, the reader is already acquainted. + +The Earl of Castlemere, with his beautiful Countess leaning lovingly on +his arm, are pacing leisurely up and down among the assembled guests, +exchanging here and there words of courteous pleasantry. Lounging over +the back of a handsome fautiel, Colonel Snaffle, of the Lancers, is +conversing with Pauline Barton, in his usual gay and lively manner, +relating to some reminiscence which occurred to them while dwelling on +the sunny plains of Hindostan. Horace Barton, Aunt Cotterell and the +Rev. Charles Denham were discussing some knotty point concerning high +and low church, etc., while some political question was evidently +exciting the minds of the worthy old Stockbroker, Dr. Ashburnham, and +Tom Barton. The good natured Draycott was exhausting his powers of +pleasing by relating to Mrs. Ashburnham, her sister Emily and pretty +Cousin Kate, the last _on dit_ going the rounds of the fashionable +circles at the metropolis. + +Light-hearted, happy children gamboled on the broad marble steps, or +seated on soft cushions at their parents' feet, listened to the +sparkling wit, repartee and agreeable rattle that broke forth among the +gay loungers on the terrace. Occasionally the eyes of the whole party +would rest with admiration and pride on the scene enacting before them, +and well they might, for on the smooth, soft, velvet-like sward of the +croquet lawn, eight youthful figures, the eldest scarcely sixteen, were +engaged in that most exhilarating, delightful and exciting of all out +door amusements, the game of croquet. + +The Lady Eglentine Carlton, eldest daughter of the Countess of +Castlemere, a tall, graceful girl, inheriting all her mother's soft +beauty of form and features, stood with her small, exquisitely shaped +foot resting on a bright, blue ball, evidently listening to some +suggestion of her partner, Clarence Ashburnham, preparatory to giving +the final stroke that would croquet her adversary's ball to a +considerable distance. Not far off stood, in an easy position, the +Earl's handsome son and heir, Lord Adolphus Carlton, mallet in hand, +explaining to pretty Alice Denham, the rector's daughter, what effect on +the game his sister's stroke would have if correctly given. Kate Barton, +the little golden-haired fairy, as she was called generally, is +chatting merrily with the Honourable Eustace Carlton, a noble, +aristocratic looking youth, with chestnut curls and the bright, flashing +eyes of the Earl, his father, declaring with great animation that their +side must win, while Maud Ashburnham, the physician's dark-haired +daughter, a sparkling brunette, full of life and vivacity, announces to +her partner, Alfred Arthur Denham, that her next stroke shall carry her +through the last hoop, this will make her a rover, and she will then +come to his assistance; and thus the game progressed, first in favor of +one side and then the other, till at length a splendid stroke from the +youthful Lady Eglentine's mallet, put her own and her partner's ball +through the last wire arch, placing them in a triumphant position, +amidst shouts of applause from their own side. + +The game was now nearly over, for the bright orb of day had already sank +behind the distant hills, and the silvery crescent of the summer's young +moon had risen above the tops of the tall chestnuts and was shooting +forth her rays of soft, pale light, rendering all objects shadowy and +indistinct, while the gently deepening purple shades of eve, and the +gray mists of twilight were fast closing in and around the happy group, +hiding from further view, as it were, with a veil of soft, fleecy +clouds, the family and fortunes of Arthur, Earl of Castlemere, and his +beautiful Countess, Edith, the Lady of Vellenaux. + + +THE END. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Vellenaux, by Edmund William Forrest + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK VELLENAUX *** + +***** This file should be named 15956-8.txt or 15956-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/5/9/5/15956/ + +Produced by Early Canadiana Online, Robert Cicconetti, +Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Vellenaux + A Novel + +Author: Edmund William Forrest + +Release Date: May 31, 2005 [EBook #15956] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK VELLENAUX *** + + + + +Produced by Early Canadiana Online, Robert Cicconetti, +Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + + + VELLENAUX + + A NOVEL BY E.W. FORREST + +AUTHOR OF THE "BLUE JACKET," "CRONOTONTOLLIENS," "NED FORTESQUE," ETC. + + 1874. + + + + +PREFACE + + +The consideration and favor accorded to the writer's former works by a +generous reading public, has induced him to try his hand as a novelist, +and the present effort "Vellenaux" is the result. + +The Book, although essentially one of fiction, contains many episodes of +an historical character. In fact, truth and imagination are so blended +together, that the reader will scarcely discover where the one begins or +the other ends. Scenes and occurrences are portrayed which took place +during the Sheik Wars, the siege of Mooltan, the battle of +Chillianwalla, and the never to be forgotten Sepoy Mutiny, with the +simple alteration of names, dates and localities. On the shoulders of +the hero has been grafted many of the adventures, exploits and escapes +which in reality occurred either to the Author himself or some of his +many military acquaintances, in doing which the reader may rest assured +that no character or incident has been in any way overdrawn. + +THE AUTHOR. + + + + +VELLENAUX. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + +The bright rays of an Autumn sun fell upon the richly stained glass, +sending a flood of soft, mellow rainbow tinted light through the +quaintly curved and deeply mullioned windows which adorned a portion of +the eastern wing of that grand old Baronial residence, Vellenaux, on a +fine September morning, at the period during which our story opens. This +handsome pile, now the property of Sir Jasper Coleman, had been erected +by one of his ancestors, Reginald De Coleman, during the reign of the +fifth Henry. + +This gallant Knight had rendered that Monarch great service during his +wars in France, especially at Agincourt, where his skill and bravery was +so conspicuous, and used to so great advantage, that King Henry, on his +return to England, rewarded his faithful follower with a grant of land +in Devonshire, on which he was enabled, with the spoils he had acquired +and the ransoms received from his French prisoners of note, to erect a +magnificent chateaux, which he called Vellenaux, after Francois, Count +De Vellenaux, a French noble, whose ransom contributed largely to its +construction. Here he continued to reside until his death, which +occurred several years after. + +It was now an irregular edifice, having been partially destroyed and +otherwise defaced during the contests which ensued between the cavaliers +and roundheads at the time of the Commonwealth. Since then alterations +and additions had been made by his successors, and, although of +different styles of architecture, was now one of the handsomest and most +picturesque structures that could be met with throughout the length and +breadth of the shire. + +A broad avenue of noble elms led from the lodge at the entrance of the +domain and opened upon a beautiful carriage drive that wound round the +velvet lawn, which formed a magnificent and spacious oval in front of +the grand entrance. + +Beneath the outspreading branches of the venerable oaks, with which the +home park was studded, browsed the red and fallow deer, who, on the +approach of any equestrian parties, or at the advance of some +aristocratic vehicle bearing its freight of gay, laughing guests towards +the hospitable mansion, would toss their antlered heads, or, startled, +seek the cover of those green shady alleys leading to the beech woods +which adjoined the park and stretched away towards the coast of Devon. + +Sir Jasper, who was still a bachelor, and on the shady side of sixty, +retained much of the fire and energy of his earlier years, although at +times subject to an infirmity which the medical faculty describe as +emanating from disease of the heart. He had served with great +distinction during the Peninsular war, under the iron Duke, but, on +succeeding to the Baronetcy, left the service and retired to his present +estate, where he spent most of his time at this his favorite residence, +as hunting, shooting and field sports generally had for him a charm +that no allurements of city life could tempt him to forego; besides he +had, in the earlier part of his military career, visited many of the gay +capitals of Europe and engaged in the exciting pleasures always to be +met with in such places, until he had become satiated and lost all taste +for such scenes. His kind heartedness and benevolence won for him the +esteem of the neighboring gentry. + +On the morning in question the Baronet, who had but the evening previous +returned from London, entered his study, and seating himself in an easy +chair, drew towards him a small but elaborately carved antique +escritoire, and for several moments was deeply engaged in the perusal of +certain papers and memoranda; finally he drew from his pocket a sealed +packet which, having opened carefully, he read over; then as if not +quite satisfied with the contents, allowed the paper to slip from his +hand to the table before him and was soon lost in thought. An English +gentleman, unquestionably in the highest sense of the word, was Sir +Jasper Coleman; a true type of that class who, from the time of the +Norman conquest to the present day, whether beneath the Torrid or Frigid +Zone's; on the bloody battlefield, or launching their thunders on the +billows of the white-crested main, nobly upheld the honor of their +country's flag, whose heroic deeds and honorable names have been handed +down unsullied and untarnished for many generations. Since leaving the +service the worthy Baronet had taken no part in the political events of +the nation, but devoted himself entirely to the welfare of his numerous +tenantry, and those residing in the neighborhood of his large estate, to +whom assistance and advice was at all times needed, nor was it ever +withheld or given grudgingly when any case of real distress came under +his notice. + +A fine subject fog poet's pen or artist's pencil was that aristocratic +old warrior, as he sat there gazing upon the rich woodlands warmed by +the glorious autumn sun, thinking over by-gone days--days when he had +loitered by some fair one's side in many a brilliant assembly, or when +his nerves were steady and his voice all powerful, leading the charge on +many a well-fought field. How long he might have remained ruminating on +things of the past it is impossible to say; the retrospect might have +continued much longer had not his attention been arrested by a slight +noise, when suddenly raising his head a smile of pleasure lit up his +finely cut features as the door opened and a lovely girl, just merging +into womanhood, stepped softly into the room. She was, indeed, very +beautiful; hair of the darkest shade of brown hung in long and glossy +curls from her perfectly shaped head, and rested on the exquisite white +neck and shoulders, the contrast of which showed to a great degree the +almost alabaster whiteness of her skin; grecian nose, and eyes of the +deepest blue, whose long lashes, when veiled, rested lovingly on her +damask cheek, and when raised, revealed a depth and brilliancy which +does not often fall to the lot of mortals; a mouth not too small, whose +beautifully shaped lips, when parted, disclosed to the beholder teeth of +ivory whiteness, small and most evenly set, dazzling indeed was the +effect of those pearly treasures; tall, slight, and elegantly formed, +with a bearing aristocratic and queenly in the extreme; what wonder that +she was the sunshine of old Sir Jasper's declining days and his much and +dearly loved niece. + +Gliding up to her uncle she threw heir arms about his neck and +imprinted a kiss on his noble brow, then sinking on a stool at his feet +began to take him to task after the following fashion: "You truant, you +naughty uncle, to let me breakfast alone in my own room thinking you +hundreds of miles away, and not to let me know that you returned last +night; and Mrs. Fraudhurst is just as bad, and I will not forgive her or +you, unless you tell me where you have been and all you have seen and +done. Now, Sir Wanderer, commence and give an account of yourself; you +see I am prepared to listen," apparently waiting with much attention for +her uncle to enlighten her as to the why and wherefore he had journeyed +to London. It was evident that the Baronet had been in the habit of +making a confidant of his pretty niece, but on this occasion, for one +reason or another he had failed to do so; she had taken out of one of +her little embroidered pockets in her apron, some crochet work, and +applied herself diligently thereunto. + +Edith was the orphan child of Sir Jasper's much loved and only sister, +who did not long survive the death of her husband, and on her decease +the Baronet had adopted the child, and as she grew up, her affectionate +disposition and natural simplicity wound themselves round the old man's +heart, and thus she soon became the apple of his eye, and he loved her +with all the tender solicitude of a father. + +She was gentle and friendly to those beneath her, but dignified and firm +with those of her own station of life, with a fund of good practical +common sense, and was not easily dissuaded from doing any thing when she +had once made up her mind that it was her duty so to do. She loved her +uncle well and was ever ready to minister to his slightest wishes. She +used to delight him with the rich tone of her voice by singing +selections from his favorite operas, being an accomplished musician both +vocal and instrumental. They would frequently wander for hours through +the park or woods, but of late he had restricted his walks to the lawn, +or down the avenue to the lodge at the park gate, to hold converse with +the keeper, an old soldier who had served under him in his Peninsular +Campaigns, and often when relieved from the attendance on him would +Edith and Arthur Carlton, hand in hand, stroll down the said avenue to +listen to the wonderful stories related by the old lodge keeper. But +this was some time ago, for this youth (of which more will be heard +anon) was now, and had been for some time, at College at Oxford. + +"Edith my darling," said the kind old man, bending over as he did so and +tapping her soft rosy cheek, "my visit to London was purely a business +one, and I delayed no longer than was necessary to complete it, but what +I saw and heard during my journey to and fro, I will relate to, you in +the evening." + +The lively girl was about to make some reply to her good natured uncle +when a light rapping was heard; the door gently opened and a lady about +five and thirty entered; she was attired in a dress of black silk of +most undeniable Paris cut, which fitted her to a miracle; to Edith she +made a slight inclination of the head so as not to disarrange her +coiffure which was most elaborately got up doubtless with a view to +produce an effect. + +"I trust, Sir Jasper, you slept well after your tedious journey." + +"Very well, I thank you. Oh! I see you have the post bag, I am somewhat +anxious about some letters I expect to receive." + +Moving around the back of the Baronet's chair she came between him and +Edith, who took the bag from her and held out her hand to her uncle for +the key to open it with, as was her usual custom of a morning; the key +was handed to her, and while they were thus engaged the eagle eye of the +lady in black fell upon the will which was still lying partially exposed +on the escritoire just as it had fallen from Sir Jasper's hand ere he +had sank into that reverie which had been disturbed by the entrance of +Edith; she obtained but a hurried glance, yet it was sufficient for her +to decipher its full meaning. As she realized this a dark cloud passed +across her features, she moved silently to the window and looked out; +when she again turned the cloud had vanished and her face was calm and +serene. So occupied with the mail bag had been both uncle and niece that +the action of the lady in question, in first glancing over the paper on +the desk and her subsequent movement towards the window, had remained +unnoticed by either. + +"There is a letter for you, my dear," said the Baronet handing one to +Edith. "Oh!" said she joyously, "it is from Arthur. He is the dearest +old fellow, and one of the best correspondents alive; he tells the +funniest stories of the college scrapes he gets into, and how cleverly +he gets out of them, and makes all manner of fun in his caricatures of +the musty old professors." + +"There, there now, away to your own room," said her uncle, "and let me +know what new scrape your dear old fellow has been getting in and out +of, during our walk after dinner." Edith blushed slightly and hurried +out of the apartment. + +"There are no letters for you this morning, Mrs. Fraudhurst, but here +are the London papers, I have no time at present to look over them, and +would feel obliged if you would lay them on the library table." She took +them, and with a graceful courtesy, smilingly left the room, and went +direct to the library, sat down at the table and drew the writing +materials towards her as if about to write; but ere she commenced her +head sank on her hand and she appeared to be, for some moments, lost in +thought. As she will be brought prominently forward as our story +progresses, we had better inform the reader at once, all we know of her +antecedents. + +Mr. Fraudhurst had been a lawyer of some standing in the village of +Vellenaux; he was reported wealthy, and when on the shady side of fifty +married the niece of his housekeeper, much to the disgust of the said +housekeeper, and several maiden ladies of doubtful ages who resided in +the neighbourhood, who had each in her own mind marked him as her +especial property, to be gobbled up at the first opportunity he or +chance might afford them for so doing, and they waxed wrath and were +very bitter against her who had secured the prize and carried it off +when as they thought it just within their grasp. The lawyer and the +Baronet had been upon terms of intimacy for several years prior to the +marriage, and Sir Jasper being a bachelor saw no objection to his +friend's wife visiting Vellenaux, although she had, as he would +facetiously observe, risen from the ranks. + +The lady in question was, at eighteen, tall, pretty and ambitious. She +had at an early age determined to rise above the station in which she +was born, and for that object she had studied most assiduously at the +village school, where she attained the reputation of being the most apt +scholar of her class. A few years residence with a relative London +served to develop her natural abilities, and she lost no opportunity of +pursuing her studies or of affecting the tone and fashion of persons +moving in a far higher circle than her own. + +Education and application she knew would doubtless do much to elevate +her in the social scale, but the position she so earnestly sought for +was to become the wife of some man of good standing in society, whose +means would be sufficient to support her in that style to which her +ambition led her to hope for, and for this she strove hard and was +rewarded for her perseverance by becoming the wife of a reputed wealthy +barrister some thirty years her senior, and for a few years enjoying the +position she had attained, visiting and visited by the uppercrusts of +the place and not unfrequently dining at Vellenaux and otherwise +enjoying the hospitality of its owner. + +When little Edith was about seven years old, Mr. Fraudhurst was gathered +to his fathers, and the sorrowing widow was left in a very different +position than was anticipated either by herself or others who took any +interest in such matters; the house and grounds which she fully believed +to be her own property, passed into the hands of a distant relative of +the deceased barrister, and with the exception of the furniture and some +three hundred pounds in cash, she was no better off than she had been +prior to her marriage; but, being a woman of great tact, she contrived +to keep this circumstance from the knowledge of the enquiring +neighbours, and having applied to the new owner of the premises she +obtained permission to occupy them for a period of six months. + +On the Baronet calling to pay his visit of condolence the lady, who had +previously arranged what she should say and do on the occasion, unfolded +to Sir Jasper her real position and out of friendship for her late +husband claimed his advice and assistance. The worthy old bachelor +declared his willingness to assist her if she could only point out the +way; as to advice he could realty give none on so difficult a matter. + +"Oh! Sir Jasper," exclaimed the widow, in a voice so excellently +modulated to suit the occasion, that the old bachelor was beginning to +feel a real interest in her affairs, "so like yourself, so good of you +to allow me to suggest the way in which you can best serve me in my +peculiar and, I may say, awkward position." + +"There is a way, my dear Sir Jasper, (and here the widow bent over and +placed her soft white hand on his arm) in which I believe you can +materially serve me, and at the same time advance the interest of one +who is, without doubt, more dear to you than any living being; I allude +to dear little Edith." At the mention of his niece's name he looked up +enquiringly as if not quite catching the meaning of her words. + +"You must understand, Sir Jasper," she continued, "that the little +darling is now of an age that will require some person to guide and +direct the development of her young mind and superintend her studies. Of +course, old nurse Simms is an excellent and worthy woman, but not such +an one as the future heiress of Vellenaux should be entrusted to, as she +advances from childhood to maturity. It is an important and responsible +position, and should only be undertaken by those who have already passed +through the struggles and trials of the world, and drank of the cup of +affliction." Here a pearly tear fell upon the hand of the good-natured +Baronet, and here she applied her white laced cambric to her eyes. + +This was the _coup de main_ that carried the day. The soft-hearted +bachelor was not proof against this, besides there was truth and reason +in her suggestions for his darling little niece, and he did not see how +he could, for the present, do better than to offer to Mrs. Fraudhurst +the charge of Edith, and before he took leave it was arranged that the +widow should call at Vellenaux daily and endeavor to gain the confidence +of the child, and at the end of the six months she should give up +housekeeping and be installed as governess and companion for Edith; and +so well did she play her cards that she had scarcely been there twelve +months when she ruled the household as though she were its legitimate +mistress; always heading the table when Sir Jasper entertained his +bachelor friends, and thus, we may say, for several years lived in +clover. Her chief duties consisted in educating Edith and Arthur, which, +for several years, was a task which did not require much mental +endowment or physical exertion. It was, in fact, more of a pastime than +otherwise, and as she always accompanied Edith when visiting the +neighboring families, there was but little monotony to complain of. + +She had a double object in becoming an inmate of Vellenaux. First, that +of securing a comfortable home for several years. But her grand scheme +was that of making herself so necessary to the Baronet, that she could, +in time, undermine the defences, carry the Citadel by stratagem, and +finally become the envied mistress of Vellenaux. But a few months +residence under the same roof served to convince her of the fallacy of +the project; for there were two grand difficulties that she could not +overcome; his strong objection to matrimony, and his affection for his +niece. Therefore, the shrewd and cautious widow had to relinquish her +attack in that direction; and as Edith advanced towards womanhood, her +position became more precarious. There were two events to be dreaded, +and in either case she believed her occupation gone, and these were the +death of Sir Jasper or Edith's marriage. Her income during the years of +her residence with Sir Jasper had been a handsome one, and being at +little or no expense, she managed to accumulate a goodly sum at her +bankers; but the idea of losing her present abode was to her +disagreeable in the extreme, and her busy mind was continually at work +to devise how this could be averted, and this was the way matters stood +with her on the morning alluded to. + +"He is coming home from College next month not again to return, and she +loves him, though she may not at present realize the fact, but that +knowledge will come, and I fear much too soon. Sir Jasper will not +object, and the youth will hardly refuse to accept Vellenaux and twenty +thousand a year, although there be an incumbrance in the shape of a wife +attached to the bargain. Yes, I see it all, they will marry and I shall +be thrown out in the cold unless I have wit enough to prevent it without +appearing to interest myself in any way with what ought not to concern +me. But Arthur Carlton must not remain here. He must be sent abroad, to +America, India, anywhere, it matters not where, so that they be +separated, and that ere long." These were the thoughts that chased each +other through the active brain of Mrs. Fraudhurst, as she sat alone in +the Library. Half an hour had elapsed ere she had quite made up her mind +as to what course she should pursue to avoid the impending evil. Then, +at length, seeming to grasp the difficulty, she took up her pen and +wrote what she thought was likely to transpire at Vellenaux should there +be no one sufficiently interested in the matter to prevent the estate +(which had been in the Coleman family for several generations) from +passing into other hands. This she sent to one whom she had every reason +to believe (for she had observed him well) would not scruple to use any +means to gain possession of the broad lands of Vellenaux. This letter +the cautious widow posted with her own hands, to prevent the possibility +of the address being noticed by either Sir Jasper or Edith. The matter +being thus satisfactorily arranged, she patiently awaited the +developments of the first fruits of the plot against young Carlton. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +It may be remarked, and with a great deal of truth, that the chapters of +a novel bear a certain resemblance to those pleasing illusions known as +dissolving views, where one scene glides almost imperceptibly into +another. The reader has been gazing mentally on woods, landscapes and +water in the South of England, when lo! in the twinkling of an eye, the +busy haunts of men in the world's great capitol, London, stands unveiled +before him. It must, however, be admitted that, so far as scenic effect +is concerned, the change is at times less pleasing than the one just +fading from view. Yet if we wish to realize the plot of the story, the +dark and uncertain shades of the picture should be looked on, from time +to time, as they present themselves. + +On a door, which stood partially open, in the last of a row of gloomy +looking houses situated in one of those dark and narrow paved courts +leading from Chancery Lane to Lincoln Inn Field's, was painted in black +letters on a white ground--"Ralph Coleman, Attorney-at-Law." + +In the ill lit passage to the right was a door that opened into the +front office, where, seated at an old-fashioned desk, was a youth, tall, +thin and pale, busily engaged engrossing some legal documents. A short, +quick step was heard coming up the Court, the handle turned, the door +opened, and a man about the middle height with a slight tendency to be +corpulent, and about thirty-five years of age, entered. "Are those +papers ready," enquired Mr. Coleman of the young clerk, who had ceased +writing on the entrance of his employer. + +"I am finishing the last one now," was the ready reply. + +"Good; and my letters?" + +"They are in the usual place, on your desk," answered the youth, +re-commencing his work. The Attorney moved away and entered his private +office, and seating himself in his old leathern chair, commenced in a +methodical way to open and peruse his letters. + +Ralph Coleman commenced life with very fair prospects. He came of a good +old family and had received a University education, and studied for the +Bar very assiduously for three or four years, but on the death of his +father he came in for five thousand pounds. He then neglected his +profession, and, for a time, led a very fast life in London. When he had +run through about half of his money he went abroad, and while there +married a lady who had a tolerable fortune. They travelled together over +the European Continent, and for several years enjoyed what is termed +life. + +An accident happened to Mrs. Coleman in Switzerland which resulted in +her death. Ralph being again alone in the world, as it were, entered +into all the wild dissipations of Vienna and Paris, which ended in his +ruin; and he returned to England with only a five pound note between him +and beggary. As the cousin and only male relative of Sir Jasper Coleman, +he was heir to the Baronetcy but not to the property. This was +unentailed, and at the will of the Baronet; but should he die intestate +the whole would fall to Ralph. + +But the hope of succeeding to the estate banished, or was at least, to +a considerable extent, quashed, when he learned that Miss Effingham had +been adopted by her uncle, and that likewise he had made a protege of +the son of his old friend Eustace Carlton, and would no doubt eventually +make a will in their favor; but so far as he could learn, up to the +present time no will had been made. There was a degree of consolation in +this; but in the meantime he must live; he therefore resumed his +profession, and by energy, and the aid of his aristocratic friends, +succeeded in obtaining a tolerable practice. + +He was on pretty good terms with his cousin, and usually went down to +Devonshire for a few days during the shooting season, and on more than +one occasion had Sir Jasper spoken to him of the future career of young +Arthur; but the lawyer generally managed to evade the subject by saying +there was plenty of time to think about that when the youngster should +leave College, and appeared to interest himself very little in the +matter, because he did not see in what way the youth's future career +could affect him; that Sir Jasper might assist Arthur with his interest, +at the outset, and perhaps give him a couple of hundred pounds to help +him on in his profession or calling, he did not at all doubt; but beyond +this Ralph did not believe the Baronet would assist him. + +"Ah!" said the Attorney, as he took up the fourth letter and glanced at +the postmark, "from Devonshire, and the handwriting is that of Mrs. +Fraudhurst; what can that maneuvering woman have to communicate? but we +shall see, we shall see," and at once opened the letter. The contents +were evidently not of an agreeable character, for his brow darken and +his lips were firmly compressed as he read the long and closely written +epistle. At its conclusion he moved for a few seconds uneasily in his +chair, then re-folded the letter and placed it carefully in his +pocketbook. With his head resting on his hand he remained sometime in +deep thought; presently his brow became clear and, turning to his desk, +wrote rapidly for the space of an hour. + +"Scrubbins," said he, addressing his confidential (and only) clerk, "I +am going to Devonshire, but will return the day after to-morrow; you +will find your instructions on my desk, and now give me the deeds; and +remember, should any one enquire for me tell them I am gone to the +country on business, and shall be back the day after to-morrow," and +without farther comment, Ralph Coleman passed out of the office. + +It was a still, calm night in early autumn, the silvery moon looked down +from her deep violet throne amidst the starry heavens; the dull, heavy +sound made by the mighty ocean, as its huge waves were dashed upon the +sea-beat shore, fell audibly on the ear in the silent night. A light sea +breeze swept through the furze bushes that were scattered over the +Downs, across which lay the high road leading past the Park. + +Bridoon, the old gate keeper, was seated on his wooden settle within the +porch of the lodge, smoking a long clay pipe, and occasionally quaffing +long draughts of rare old cider. He was just thinking of turning in for +the night, when a vehicle stopped, and a voice demanded admittance. As +the gates swung open a gig and its occupant passed through and proceeded +at a smart pace along the broad avenue towards the mansion. + +The clock of the village church was striking ten as Ralph Coleman +pulled up at the principal entrance of Vellenaux, and was met in the +hall by Reynolds the old butler, and conducted to the room he usually +occupied when visiting there during the shooting season. + +"Sir Jasper," said the old servant, "has retired for the night, and Miss +Effingham is on a visit to the Willows, but Mrs. Fraudhurst is, I +believe, still in the drawing room; will you please to step in there +until supper is prepared for you." This suited the lawyer exactly, as he +wished to have a few minutes conversation with that lady previous to +meeting the Baronet, for the letter he had received from Mrs. Fraudhurst +was so cautiously worded, that although sufficiently explicit on most +points, there were some portions of it which he could not exactly +understand, or see in what way he ought to act, but doubtless she would +put him right on all matters that were to be brought quietly to the +notice of Sir Jasper. While making some addition to his toilet, it +occurred to him that she might be only making a cat's paw of him to +feather her own nest, but as he could not see clearly how this could be, +dismissed the idea from his mind, and shortly after made his bow to the +widow. + +She rose and received him courteously; apologised for the absence of the +host and his niece, supposed he would feel inclined to retire early, as +doubtless he would wish to rise at the dawn of day, to avail himself of +the excellent shooting which was to be had in the turnip fields, and was +altogether very chatty and agreeable; but she in no way alluded to the +letter she had written, to him, he was therefore compelled to broach the +subject, and before the supper bell rang, a mutual understanding as to +what was to be said and done was arrived at between them. + +The Baronet and Mr. Coleman breakfasted alone on the following morning. +Edith had not returned, and Mrs. Fraudhurst excused herself on the plea +of indisposition, but doubtless she had some other motive for absenting +herself. + +"And you found the birds plentiful, and in good condition," enquired Sir +Jasper, as he pushed away his plate, and turned his chair towards the +bright, cheerful fire which was blazing in the polished grate, and +stooping down to pat a couple of pointers that were crouching +comfortably on the hearth rug at his feet. + +"Yes, indeed, quite so, I do not remember a season when the partridges +have been so plump or in such numbers, but had hoped to have had your +company this morning, but perhaps to-morrow." + +"So I have heard, but you must really excuse me, it used to be my chief +delight to shoot over the grounds and preserves on a fine autumn morning +like the present one, but it is too much for me now, and I have given it +up, but I like my friends to enjoy it. How long can you stay this time?" + +"Only three days; I cannot be absent from town more than that, but it is +well worth the journey to shoot over a friends property, even if only +for three days." + +"Then you must make the most of your time; old Tom the game-keeper will +show you the best covers and general shooting ground. I wish you could +have remained for a week or two, the young fellows belonging to the +neighboring families will be home from school and college, and there +will be plenty of popping then, I promise you. Ah! that reminds me that +Arthur Carlton has finished his education, and is coming home, and it is +not my intention that he should again return to Oxford; and now we are +alone and not likely to be disturbed, I wish you would give me your +opinion as to what profession or occupation it would be best for him to +embark in. I should like to give the youngster a fair start in life. I +have given him the education of a gentleman, and I should like him to +retain that position." + +This was the turn in the conversation the lawyer had been anxiously +waiting for, but he seemed in no hurry to take advantage of it; he +shifted his position so that the light might not fall on his features, +took a pinch of snuff and crossed one knee over the other before he +ventured an opinion on the subject. + +"I know so very little of the young gentleman," he began, "as scarcely +to be able to advise you on a matter of such moment, and have hitherto +declined from so doing on that account, but as you so desire it, I will +give my opinion on the matter according to the best of my judgment." + +"Thank you, thank you, that is all I ask. Then," resumed the lawyer, +"the road by which a young man of education can, by perseverance, hope +to earn for himself a competency and a good position in the social +scale, is that of the church, the navy or in the military service of his +country. As for the pulpit, unless the aspirant has a special tendency +for it, or some good friend who has a living to bestow, he will hardly +realize a sufficient income to support himself as a gentleman; and to +send him up to London to study law, or medicine for two or three years +would but expose him to the temptations and dissipations of that great +city, and it would take years of drudgery before he would be able to +obtain a competency. In my opinion the safest and most expeditious way +of proceeding is to put him into the army; his commission and outfit is +the only outlay, and can be done at once; his position is established, +and it only remains with himself to rise in his profession, and you will +be relieved from all care and responsibility on his account; but +understand me, I do not mean that he should enter one of the regiments, +now in England, to loiter his time away at some country quarters or +fashionable watering place, to fall into debt, difficulty, love, or some +other absurd scrape, but put him into some corps that is now and will be +for some years stationed somewhere abroad, India, for instance, for I +have been, by competent authorities, informed that there an officer can +live comfortably on the pay of his rank. + +"If he is abstemious, and takes care of his health, his promotion must +ensue without purchase, and that, too, in a few years. It is a prospect +that thousands of youngsters would jump at, and one I think that is in +every way suitable for him; this Sir Jasper, is all I have to offer on +this subject." + +This advice of Ralph Coleman's, although given to effect a preconcerted +scheme, was so in unison with the Baronet's views, that he could but +assent to what had been uttered by Ralph, and the lawyer had the +satisfaction of knowing, ere he left the breakfast room, that his +suggestions would be carried out to the letter; and prior to his return +to London he had another interview with the wily widow, at which he +informed her of the arrangement that had been decided upon by the +Baronet in regard to Arthur Carlton's future career. "He will," Ralph +went on to say, "be thus removed out of harm's way for several years, +and perchance may never again cross your path, and I have no doubt while +Sir Jasper lives your position will be secure. I have served your turn +without benefitting myself in any way." + +"Not so," was the lady's reply, "you have but been paving the way for +your own advancement. Why not marry Edith, she is aware that the title +falls to you, but is ignorant of the fact that her uncle has made her +sole heiress, and girls brought up as she has been, will frequently +overlook much to gain a title, and become the envied lady of Vellenaux." + +"With young Carlton out of the way, and separated, as they will be, for +years, any rising passion she may now feel for him will soon die out, +and if you make your advances with caution, and be not too precipitate, +I have no doubt that you will eventually secure both the lady and the +estate, so of the two, I fancy that you have rather the best of the +bargain." And after a little more conversation on the subject, this +worthy pair parted. + +And now let us introduce the youth whose future welfare had been the +difficulty about which the widow and Ralph had given themselves so much +concern. + +A tall, slight, but decidedly handsome youth, between eighteen and +nineteen years of age, wearing the Collegiate cap and gown, was pacing +somewhat impatiently up and down the quadrangle of St. John's College, +evidently expecting the approach of some person whom he was most +desirous of seeing. This was Arthur Carlton, the protege of Sir Jasper +Coleman. He was an orphan, having lost both parents 'ere he knew them. +His father had been a Peninsular officer and companion-in-arms of the +Baronet, who, on the death of his friend, undertook to see to the +education and future welfare of the little Arthur. On losing his mother +he had been removed under the care of his nurse to Vellenaux, where he +had been only a few months, when the little Edith made her appearance on +the scene of action, and being nearly of an age they soon became good +friends and fond of the society of each other, because of mutual +assistance while pursuing their studies together, which they continued +to do until young Carlton was by his kind patron sent to school, prior +to his going to college at Oxford. Fond of study, he readily acquired +knowledge which he stored up to be used hereafter as circumstances might +demand; he was aware of his real position, and that his future success +in life must chiefly depend upon his own exertions. + +His patron in caring for him during his early years, and giving him the +benefit of a university education, had, in the young man's opinion, +fully carried out the promise made to his father, on his death bed, +whether on the completion of his education his benefactor would continue +to assist him by using his interest to procure him some suitable +position in which he could carve out for himself, a road to name and +fame, he knew not, but nevertheless he felt a deep sense of gratitude +for what had already been done for him, by his father's old friend. He +was becoming restless when the friend expected advanced at a smart pace +to meet him, and proved to be Tom Barton, the youngest son of the +Bartons of the Willows, a worthy old couple who resided on their own +property, the so called Willows which joined the estate of Sir Jasper +Coleman. In this family besides daughters there were two sons, the +eldest Horace Barton had graduated at St. John's, and subsequently had +obtained an appointment in the civil service of the East India Company, +and had gone out to Calcutta, where he had now been for several years. +Tom, like his brother, had been educated at Oxford, and was now about +leaving college to return to his home for a few weeks, prior to his +leaving for London, to pursue the profession he had chosen, that of the +law. + +"Carlton, my dear fellow, you must really excuse me for thus keeping you +waiting; I assure you I could not get away a moment sooner. You can +easily imagine the sort of thing, leaving the companionship of those +whom for years you have been associated with in many a frolic or +academical scrape; but to the point; in what way can I serve you?" + +Carlton drew forth a sealed packet from the pocket of his gown, which he +handed to him, saying as he did so, "you will confer on me a great favor +by calling at Vellenaux and giving this packet into the hand of Miss +Effingham. I would rather she should receive it when alone, you will +manage this for me, will you not?" + +"Certainly, most certainly. I perfectly understand, ah you sly dog; +after the pretty heiress are you? I admire your choice, and would I +think take the field against you, but for my darling cousin Kate, she +will not allow me to flirt with any but herself, so I will do my best +for you." + +Arthur thanked him heartily, and after a few more words the friends +parted, one for his home at the Willows, the other for his small room in +the college. + +Tom Barton kept his promise, and the packet was duly handed to Edith by +him, he having met her walking in the home park the very day of his +arrival. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +The time for Arthur's leaving College had now arrived. A few brief lines +from Sir Jasper, informing him that he was to leave College at the end +of this term for good, but in no way hinting what his future position +through life might be, with a small note enclosed from Edith, was all +that he had heard from Devonshire since his friend, Tom Barton, had left +Oxford; but it was evident from the tone of the Baronet's epistle that +he expected him to make Vellenaux his home, at least for the present or +until some arrangements could be made for his future. + +He was now nineteen, nearly six feet in height and possessed an amount +of strength and muscular power seldom met with at his age. These had +been developed and matured by boat-racing, cricket and athletic +exercises, in which he took great delight. He was likewise an ardent +lover of field sports. From the old Lodge keeper, who had been a rough +rider in Sir Jasper's troop in the light Dragoons through the greater +part of the Peninsular Campaign, he acquired the knowledge of how to sit +the saddle and ride like a dragoon, likewise the complete management of +his horse; nor was the sabre (the favorite weapon of the old soldier) +forgotten, and many a clout and bruise did the youth receive before he +could satisfy his instructor as to his efficiency. Being of an obliging +disposition, the game keepers took a great deal of trouble to make him a +first rate shot, and their exertions were not thrown away, and very +proud they were at the way in which he brought down his birds. + +Surrounded by some half dozen of his most intimate acquaintances, young +Carlton was eating his last collegiate breakfast, as he had to leave for +Vellenaux that morning by the 8.20 train, the usual toasts and +congratulations had been exchanged, and farewell bumpers of champagne +drank, when the porter put his head in at the door and announced in a +sharp short tone, "times up, cab at the door." A general rush was made +in the direction indicated, Arthur jumped into the vehicle, and amid the +shouts and cheers of his friends, was quickly rolled over the stones to +the railway terminus. Ding, dong, ding, dong, waugh, waugh, puff, puff, +and the train moved slowly out of the station, increasing its velocity +until it was whirling along at something very like fifty miles an hour. +On reaching Switchem, the station nearest to Vellenaux, Arthur found his +horse waiting for him, and from the groom he learned that Sir Jasper was +anxiously expecting him, for he had that day accompanied by Edith, gone +as far as the lodge gate, a distance much greater than he had walked for +some time past. This was very satisfactory for Carlton to know, and with +a light heart he sprang into the saddle and cantered merrily along the +high road, leading to the park gates, within which the happiest years of +his youth had been spent; and the welcome he received from all was of +such a character as at once to set at rest any misgivings or +apprehensions he might have felt on this score. + +Sir Jasper was kind, courteous and almost paternal. Edith could +scarcely restrain her delight at the idea of again having in that social +circle the playfellow of her childhood and one who had ever been to her +as a dear brother, a companion and confidant, one from whom she could +always obtain sympathy and advice when annoyed with the petty vexations +of childhoods fleeting day. Even Mrs. Fraudhurst, always courteous and +polite since his exodus from her scholastic charge, was now more affable +and condescending than ever to the Baronet's _protege_; but she could +afford to be so, for she well knew that he was about to be swept from +her path, for years, perhaps forever. + +The conversation during dinner that evening was animated and general; +all parties appeared in the best possible spirits, and anxious to render +Arthur's return from college an event to be remembered hereafter with +feelings of infinite satisfaction. Soon after the removal of the cloth, +the ladies retired, leaving our hero and Sir Jasper alone; the latter +having finished a glass of fine old crusted port, settled himself +comfortably in his easy chair, and thrusting his thumbs in the armholes +of his waistcoat, thus addressed his _protege_. + +"Arthur, my boy, you are now, I think, of an age that would warrant you +in judging for yourself as to what particular profession or calling you +are best suited to pursue, in order to make a successful career through +life. Have you ever given this subject a thought? If so, now we are +alone, I should like to hear what your views or ideas may be concerning +that matter; it is one of great importance, and requires serious +consideration." + +Now, although Arthur had anticipated that some such enquiry would be +made by the Baronet, he was not quite prepared as to the precise answer +it would be best for him to make; in fact he was taken a little aback at +the suddenness of the question. He had expected that some days would +elapse before Sir Jasper would broach the subject, but being of a +straightforward and truthful nature, he frankly stated what he thought +respecting his future. "Of course," he said, "Sir Jasper, I shall be +guided entirely by any suggestions you may kindly offer, for to you I +owe everything. The only path that I believe is open to me is that of +Law or Medicine; (and since you allow me) I must candidly acknowledge to +either of those professions I have an antipathy; but if it is your wish +that I should follow either of these, I can assure you that energy and +perseverance shall not be wanting on my part to attain a respectable +standing in whatever undertaking I embark in." + +"Right, Arthur, right; there is nothing like energy and perseverance in +whatever situation, we may be placed in, and now listen to me." The +Baronet here took another glass of port, and motioned to Arthur to do +the same; then continued he, "Law and Physic are both distasteful to me, +nor do I think they are at all suitable for you. The Church is almost +out of the question, as I have no interest in that quarter, and could be +in no way of use to you. You are beyond the age that lads generally +enter the navy; but what say you to the army?" Arthur gave a start at +this proposal, and a beam of delight--which he could not conceal--lit up +his handsome, though somewhat thoughtful face. + +"Oh, Sir Jasper," he exclaimed, "it is the very position I most prize, +but one that I had not ventured to hope could be realized; it has been +the day dream of my youth." + +The kind-hearted old Baronet was evidently much pleased at his young +friend's reply and enthusiasm. He took another glass of wine, then said: +"I promised your father to give you a fair start in life, and I will +keep my word. I have already applied to the Horse Guards on your behalf, +and have the refusal of a cornetcy in the Light Dragoons. There, there, +say nothing; I see you accept it, so that part of the business is +settled so far; but the regiment is now in India, and likely to remain +there for some years. Have you any objections to leaving England? If so, +you are at liberty to withdraw your consent." + +"There is no part of the world that I have so great a desire to visit as +British India. I have both heard and read a great deal of that +extraordinary country. Besides, is it not the land of my birth?" was +Arthur's immediate reply. + +"Then consider the matter settled. You will not be required to join your +regiment until six months after your name appears in the Gazette. I will +write to headquarters and likewise see to your outfit. Of course, you +will remain here until after New Year's, and help us to keep up +Christmas in the good old English style, for probably it may be the last +of the sort you will see for some years; but whatever trials and +difficulties you may have to contend with out there, you may rest +assured that when the time arrives for you to have your troop, the +purchase money shall not be wanting. And now," continued he, as Arthur +was about to reply, "send Reynolds to me, I wish to see him on some +matters before I retire, and you seek Edith and let her know that you +have accepted a commission in the army, as I have not mentioned a word +to her concerning it. Please make my excuses to the dear girl for not +joining her in the drawing room," then shaking him cordially by the +hand, wished him good night. + +On entering the drawing room, Arthur found Mrs. Fraudhurst poring over +her novel and Edith standing by the French window, looking out upon the +Terrace which was now bathed in a flood of pale moonlight. She was +wondering what her uncle could have to say to Arthur to detain him so +long: she had so much to ask about her ponies and her grayhounds and +improvements in her flower gardens, &c. He delivered Sir Jasper's +message, then asked her to step out on the Terrace with him. Hastily +throwing a mantle around her, she was ready to accompany him. Gently +drawing her arm within his own, they passed out of the room, and stepped +on to the Balcony that ran along the entire length of the South of the +building and joined the broad Terrace below by means of a flight of +marble steps. At the extreme end this Terrace overlooked the rich +_partierre_ which, although late in the season, still sent forth its +delicious perfume, borne upwards on the soft breeze of the evening. + +"He has caught at the Indian bait. We have hooked our fish; our next +care is to have him safely landed. The poison of love has not, as yet, +developed itself. The Scarlet Fever will quench all other maladies, at +least until the seas will divide them," and with a self-satisfied smile +upon her still pretty features, Mrs. Fraudhurst betook her self to her +own apartments to concoct an epistle for the information of Ralph +Coleman. + +For nearly an hour did the fair young creature and the youth, who had +ever been to her as a brother, pace up and down the moonlit Terrace. +Arthur related all that passed between him and her uncle. She was as +much delighted as himself at the prospect which had thus suddenly opened +before him; the only drawback was that he would be absent so long from +Vellenaux. + +"But you will write frequently, and come home whenever you can procure +leave of absence. And to think that you will not leave us for three +months. We will have a merry time this Christmas, Arthur, will we not? +and wind up with a fancy ball on the eve of your departure. Oh, it will +be delightful," said the excited girl, carried away by the idea of such +an event. + +Verily, Mrs. Fraudhurst had divined truly. Love's insidious poison had +not yet developed itself in the bosom of either. They returned to the +drawing room, and, after singing together some of their favourite +pieces, they retired for the night. + +It was near morning before Carlton fell asleep; even then his brain +continued to be disturbed by exciting dreams. Now leading a charge of +horses or storming some Indian fortress. Finally he dreamed that he had +rescued some Princess or Rajah's daughter from becoming the prey of an +enormous Bengal tiger, the head of which, strange to say, bore a +striking resemblance to Mrs. Fraudhurst; that the Rajah, in return for +his services, gave his daughter to him for a bride; that the marriage +took place at the little church at Vellenaux. He thought that as the +bride approached the altar in gorgeous attire, and was about to place +her hand within his, a seraph-like form glided between them and his hand +was lovingly grasped by Edith Effingham, when all suddenly vanished in a +thunder storm. He awoke with a start and leaped from the bed, for there +was a loud knocking at the door and the voice of the old Butler +exclaiming, "Master Arthur, master Arthur, Miss Edith desires me to say +that she is going to ride over to the Willows this bright morning and +wishes to know if you would like to accompany her; she is now on the +lawn." + +"Thank you, thank you, Reynolds. My compliments to Miss Effingham, and +say I shall be most happy to be her escort on the occasion," and +hurriedly dressing, was soon by her side, laughing and chatting merrily +as they cantered over the green turf on their way to the Bartons. Yet +Arthur could not altogether dispel the feelings that arose within him, +produced, doubtless, by the strange dreams that haunted his pillow +during the night, or early that morning. + +"Is not that Tom Barton?" said Edith, pointing to the figure of a man, +dressed in sporting costume, seated on the step of a stile, engaged in +lighting a small German pipe, his gun leaning against one of the +uprights and some half dozen partridges lying on the grass at his feet. +As they rode up, Tom advanced to meet them, raised his hat politely to +Edith, and shouted out, "Hallo Arthur, old fellow, how are you. Glad to +have you back amongst us; not much fun in tramping through the turnip +fields alone, although the birds are by no means scarce this season." + +"Thank you, I intend to be amongst them, and together, I think we can +do some execution. How are the ladies at the Willows? And is pretty +little Cousin Kate as capricious as ever?" And here Carlton gave his +friend a poke in the ribs with his riding whip. + +Edith laughed heartily at the sallie; for his attachment to the lady in +question was no secret to her. Tom parried his friend's enquiries as +best as he could, and the trio proceeded at a walk in the best possible +good humour. + +On reaching the Willows they found Tom's sisters and Kate Cotterell on +the gallery. Their approach had been observed by old Mrs. Barton, from +the window of the breakfast room. They were received with a shower of +welcomes, for both Edith and Arthur were general favourites with all the +neighbouring families, and especially so at the Bartons. + +Of course, Arthur's appointment and approaching departure for India was +communicated; all were pleased to hear of his good fortune, though sorry +to lose his society. + +"You will, of course, call upon Horace and Pauline when you reach +Calcutta," suggested old Mrs. Barton, "I dare say you may not recollect +him, but he will remember you, although you were but a curly-headed boy +when he was last in England. You must take out some letters from us to +them." + +Edith had a hurried conversation with Kate Cotterell, Julia and Emily +Barton, on some little project of her own. This being finished, she +beckoned to Arthur, who was smoking and arranging some matters with Tom +Barton at the other end of the gallery; then mounting their horses they +rode slowly back to Vellenaux, in time to breakfast with Sir Jasper, who +was, by no means, an early riser. + +With shooting, (with Tom Barton and some half dozen other College +chums,) visiting his acquaintances, and taking long rides through the +beech woods and over the downs with Edith, who was an excellent +equestrian, for his companion, the first six weeks of Arthur's return +passed pleasantly and rapidly away. He then had to post up to London to +get measured for his uniform, and general outfit, to say nothing of the +numberless commissions which he had been entrusted to execute by his +lady acquaintances, in view of the approaching fancy ball. Being his +first visit to the Metropolis, Arthur determined to see and hear all +that could be and seen heard during his short stay in that wonderful +city. + +Jack Frost, with his usual attendant and companion, snow, heralded the +approach of old Father Christmas, who filed an appearance at Vellenaux +on the morning of the twenty-fifth of December, and right heartily was +the old fellow welcomed. His advent had been announced at daybreak, by +discharges from an old-fashioned field piece which Bridoon (with the +permission of his old commander) had mounted on a wooden carriage to +commemorate his Peninsular victories, while the Bell Ringers rang out a +merry peal from the belfry of the quaint old church in the little +village hard by. Then came troops of merry, laughing children, singing +and chanting old Christmas Carols, and were rewarded by the old +housekeeper with a piping hot breakfast of mince pies, etc., etc. + +After morning service in the church, which was numerously attended, the +laborers and many of the poorer tenants of the estate were regaled with +roast beef and plum pudding, good old October ale and mighty flagons of +that cider for which Devonshire is so justly celebrated. During the +evening there was a dance and supper in the servants' hall, to which +many of the small farmers with their wives, sons and daughters, had been +invited, and a right jovial time they had of it. Dancing, songs, scenes +from the magic lantern, hunt the slipper, blind man's buff, kissing +under the mistletoe, and many other Christmas gambols were the order of +the evening,--and, if one might judge from the bursts of mirth and +laughter that prevailed, this was very much to the satisfaction of all +present. + +The worthy Baronet, attended by Edith and Arthur, visited his work +people during the dinner in the great barn, addressing words of welcome +and kindness to all, nor did he absent himself from the merry-makings in +the servants' hall. + +"Attention, form a line there!" shouted old Bridoon, the lodge keeper, +who was the Sir Oracle of the hour, and had seated himself in a large +arm chair beside the enormous fireplace, wherein the Yule logs burnt +brightly, darting out forked flames of blue, yellow, and crimson, and +sending forth great showers of sparks up the huge old-fashioned chimney +like fire-works on a gala night. + +"Make way there for the Brigadier and his handsome aides-de-camp." The +sharp eye of the old campaigner had caught sight of the party from the +drawing room, which had halted in the door way and was looking on highly +amused at the merry groups that were footing it bravely, and with +untiring energy through the mazes of Irish jigs, Scotch reels and +English country dances. On entering, the mirth ceased for a moment out +of respect to Sir Jasper. "Go on, my good friends, we came to witness, +not to put a stop to your amusement," said the Baronet, as he took a +seat in the chimney corner, supported by Edith and Arthur. The dancing +was again resumed in about half an hour, and the party rose to retire. +Here Reynolds, the old butler, presented his master with a magnum of his +favorite port, which the old gentleman tossed off, wishing them all a +merry Christmas. This was the moment for which Bridoon had been waiting; +he rose and proposed the health of Sir Jasper, Miss Edith, and Master +Arthur, and said, "When lying wounded on the bloody field of Salamanca +little did I think that I should live to enjoy so many years of peace +and comfort in such snug quarters as is now provided for me by my old +commander and benefactor, God bless him," Then addressing Arthur he +said, "Master Arthur, it does my old heart good to know that you have +entered her Majesty's service. You are a good swordsman, a bold rider +('and the best shot in the country,' put in the head game-keeper), no +mean qualifications," continued he, "for a Light Dragoon; and I feel +certain you will turn out as fine a soldier as the Colonel, your +father,--I drink to his memory and your success." Whereupon the veteran +raised a massive tankard of sparkling cider to his lips and took a +mighty draught, which laudable example was immediately followed by all +the men present. The Baronet and his _proteges_ then left the hall. + +There was open house to all comers until after the New Year, and in this +way Christmas had been kept up in that part of Devonshire from time +immemorial. + +But the great event of the season to the upper tandem of Vellenaux, and +its vicinity was the approaching twelfth-night Ball. Sir Jasper had +given _carte blanche_ to his niece to do as she pleased on the occasion +and she did so accordingly. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +Great was the excitement and preparation going on among those invited to +participate in the coming festivities. Of all the places in the county, +Vellenaux was considered the most suitable for the purpose of a Fancy +Dress Ball. There had not been anything of the kind within a circuit of +fifty miles, for at least as many years. The grand old hall, with its +banners and knightly armour of different periods, the magnificent +apartments filled with curiously carved antique furniture, ancient +mirrors and embroidered tapestries, all of which would harmonize with +the costumes of those who would figure about for the _nonce_. Of course +the characters to be assumed were to be kept a secret until they +appeared in the ball room. Edith entered with enthusiasm into all the +arrangements necessary on the occasion, and was materially assisted by +the good taste and judgment of Arthur, to whom she turned for counsel +when at fault as to the grouping of statuary or position of pictures, +and the _toute ensemble_ of the _salle-a-manger_. + +The spacious old picture gallery with its Gothic windows of stained +glass was fitted up as the dancing hall. The statuary armour, banners, +and ancient weapons of past generations had been brought from the Hall +and placed in different positions along the oak pannelled walls, while +large bunches of dark green holly with the bright scarlet berries, +peeping out here and there was hung between the antique pictures of +brave Knights and fair Dames, ancestors of the Coleman family, that +seemed to look down from their massive frames upon the fantastic scenes +below. The oaken floor was covered with a cloth, figured to represent a +tesselated pavement. At the upper end a dais had been erected, +surmounted by an antique chair of state, with several others of the same +description, but smaller on each side. The orchestra was in a small +gallery that crossed the hall at the lower end, the whole brilliantly +illuminated by three massive chandeliers, the adjoining apartments were +arranged as refreshment and supper rooms. + +The Ball was opened with a triple set of quadrilles. The top set, +nearest to the dais or place of honour, was composed as follows: Sir +Jasper as the fine old English gentleman in doublet and trunk hose, with +Edith, looking very lovely, as the Lady Rowena; their _vis a vis_ being +Julia Barton, in the character of Mary Stuart, attended by Arthur, +dressed as a Light Dragoon of the period. The side couples were, Kate +Cotterell, bewitchingly pretty, in the costume of Rebecca the Jewess, +assisted by Tom Barton as the famous Robin Hood. Emily Barton +represented, with very good effect, Maid Marion, under the escort of +young Snaffle of the Lancers, who rode over from the nearest Garrison +Town to captivate some stray heart by personating Young Lochinvar. The +other two sets, figuring in costumes as handsome as they were varied, +were made up of the youth and beauty of the neighbourhood, with the +exception of the bottom couple of the last set; here, Mrs. Fraudhurst +appeared, gorgeously attired, as Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough, with no +other for her partner than Ralph Coleman in the garb of Mephistopheles. +At the conclusion of the first Quadrille, the Baronet seated himself in +the state chair, with his old friends on either side, for their dancing +days like his own was now as a thing of the past, but looking on with +inward satisfaction at the gay assembly, until the memories of their own +youthful days rose pleasantly before them, the rare old wines of the +choicest vintage, from the well-stored cellars of Vellenaux aiding to +keep up these associations, as Waltzes, Polkas, Mazourkas, followed in +rapid succession. Nor was the supper the least agreeable feature of the +entertainment, for country life, and country exercise, equestrian and +pedestrian, over the frozen earth, were wonderful auxiliaries to the +appetite, and both old and young did ample justice to the good things +that were provided for them. + +The Duchess and Mephistopheles kept watchful eye on Edith and Arthur, +but their joyous light-heartedness, and that, too, on the eve of his +departure, convinced the two conspirators that all was going on as +satisfactorily as they could desire. After supper, Sir Roger de Coverly, +the Triumph, and other old-fashioned country dances were introduced, +followed by questions, answers and forfeits, and other Twelfth-night +games, which were entered into with such spirit and animation, that +showed how thoroughly they were enjoyed by those who participated +therein, and it was universally allowed by all present to be the most +charming thing of the kind they had ever attended, and the grey dawn of +day appeared on the eastern horizon ere the last vehicle drove away from +the hospitable mansion of Sir Jasper Coleman. + +On the afternoon of the following day, Arthur was to leave Vellenaux +for Southampton en route for the East. He had put off his leave takings +until the last moment, and he now entered his patron's private library +to say farewell. The parting was more like what might have been expected +between a kind father and a favourite son. "Remember, Arthur," said the +kind old Baronet, in conclusion, "that, should your regiment be suddenly +ordered home, it will always afford me the greatest pleasure to receive +you here whenever the duties of your position will admit of your +visiting us." Here he shook him cordially by the hand, placing as he did +so, a draft on a Calcutta house for three thousand rupees. + +Hastily ascending the grand staircase, Carlton made his way to the +drawing room. His adieu to Mrs. Fraudhurst was courteous and polite, but +there was no exhibition of kindly feeling or sympathy evinced by either. + +Now, although Arthur and Edith in their long rides together had +canvassed over the subject of his departure repeatedly, and the great +benefit he was likely to derive therefrom till they had quite accustomed +themselves to the idea, yet, when the moment arrived, a deep feeling of +regret visibly agitated them both, a feeling which they had never before +experienced, and which there was now no time to analyze. The unbidden +tear rose to Edith's eye as he clasped her hand within his own, and +unable to control himself any longer, he gently drew her towards him and +imprinted a loving kiss on her rosy lips. The next instant he was gone. +No word of love had ever been spoken between them, and this was the +first time that their lips had ever met. At that moment Mrs. Fraudhurst +had looked up from her embroidery, but not in their direction; she was +too discreet for that, her glance rested on one of the large mirrors at +the opposite end of the room, wherein was reflected the full length +figures of the two young friends. The salute did not escape her notice, +nor did she fail to mark that the deep crimson blush that diffused +itself over Edith's beautiful features certainly was not one of +displeasure. + +"Gone, but not a moment too soon," she muttered half aloud. Then turning +to address a few words to Edith found that she also had left the +apartment; gone, doubtless, to seek the privacy of her own chamber. + +On reaching Calcutta, the young Cornet presented himself at the +hospitable Bungalow of the Bartons, and was by them cordially received. +The pretty little Mrs. Barton and Arthur had not previously met, he +being at College when she had paid her wedding visit to Devonshire, but +nevertheless, she was much pleased to have so handsome a cavalier, to +occupy a seat in her barouche while driving along the Chowringee road or +cantering by her side across the Esplanade or round and round the stand +while listening to the delightful music of the band, as was their usual +custom of an evening. + +Good, easy Horace Barton had got over that sort of thing, for after +returning from the Suddur Aydowlett, he would seek the quiet of his +sanctum sanctorum, and with his Hooka and iced Sherbet, would regale +himself until the dressing bell rang for dinner, after which he would +entertain Arthur with stories of the Pindaree War, the suppression of +Thuygee, and relate wonderful feats of looting, perpetrated by the most +expert robbers in the world, the Bheel tribes. + +"But, my friend," said Horace, on one of these occasions, "the greatest +drawback to a young soldier's advancement in this country, is the great +facility that is afforded him for getting into debt; and should you +unfortunately fall into the difficulty, I strongly advise you to draw on +your paymaster, go under stoppages or apply to a friend, but not under +any circumstances have recourse to those scourges of the country, the +native Sheroffs or money-lenders, and in order to fix your attention to +this matter, I will relate a circumstance that occurred to a friend of +mine some years ago, which will, I think, prove to you the danger of +having anything to do with those gentry, as you might not escape their +clutches as my friend ingeniously did. + +"There was no denying that Harry Esdale was the handsomest, gayest and +most popular man in the station, and was generally to be found taking +the lead in any thing that promised fun and frolic. In fact, no ball, +party, picnic, cricket-match, race or private theatricals were +considered complete without him. Having little else to depend upon +besides his pay, no wander that his pecuniary affairs became embarrassed +and were to him a source of great annoyance and trouble. To extricate +himself for the time being from this unpleasant dilemma, he had recourse +to the native Sheroffs, from whom he had borrowed from time to time +certain sums of different amounts at an enormous rate of interest, until +at last he found that he was totally unable to free himself from his +difficulties, or evade his creditors, who haunted him night and day, +dogged his steps, and presented themselves most inopportunely when they +were least expected or desired. + +"He had procured a furlough to Europe, which alone would relieve him +from his tormentors, but alas, he was too well watched to admit of his +leaving the Presidency. Affairs were in this unpleasant state when a +circumstance occurred, which he very adroitly took advantage of, in +order to elude the vigilance of his native persecutors. + +"It so happened that in his troop there was a man that bore a striking +resemblance to him in height and figure, as well as in feature. Just at +this particular juncture, and when his creditors were most clamorous for +settlement, this man died in the Regimental Hospital. On this +circumstance coming to his knowledge, it struck him that he might turn +it to his own advantage, could he but obtain the co-operation of the +Surgeon and one or two of his brother officers. This he soon effected, +so great a favourite as he was could not be refused, besides, was it not +a glorious thing to outwit those native dealers in extortion? + +"The body of the late Trooper was secretly removed from the Hospital to +Esdale's Bungalow, dressed in his full uniform and laid on the bed; a +pistol was then discharged into the mouth of the corpse, and the head +and pillow besmeared with blood, disfiguring the face considerably; the +pistol was then placed on the bed, close to the right hand, and there +was all the appearance that death had been caused by suicide. + +"Fortunately there was a Ball at Government House that evening; this +accounted for his being in full dress. His absence was noticed by many, +and later in the evening the startling intelligence was announced that +Captain Esdale, had destroyed himself by blowing out his brains while +laboring under a fit of temporary insanity. This report spread like +wildfire throughout the native town and soon reached the ears of his +creditors, who flocked to the Bungalow like so many vultures, fighting +and scrabbling with each other for admission, in order that they might +secure for themselves whatever effects might be in the Bungalow, but +were informed by the guard which had been placed there that nothing +could be touched until after the funeral, which took place in a few days +with all the pomp and ceremony necessary on such occasions. + +"All this time Esdale was snugly stowed away in a little room in the +Bungalow of one of his brother officers, and in about a fortnight, when +the hubbub caused by this event had subsided, and the vigilance of the +money lenders withdrawn, they being completely outwitted, he quietly +stepped on board the English Mail. + +"A few months after reaching England, he obtained some cash from his +governor, and through the agency of a friend who offered his creditors +an amount equal to what Esdale had received with an interest of seven +per cent added. This they had at first rejected, but seeing no hope of +any other settlement, at last concluded to accept and delivered up the +I.O.U.'s they had against Esdale. Imagine the surprise and vexation of +these people some two years after on seeing the identical Harry Esdale, +who many believed they had seen buried, coolly smoking his cheroot in +the mess verandah, or basking in smiles of the fair ones as they +cantered gaily across the midan after the heat of the day had passed." +Horace would, doubtless, have added other words of warning and advice, +but Arthur was summoned to attend the Madame Sahib, either in her +drawing room or in the spacious verandah, where she entertained her +friends. And for nearly a month did he enjoy this kind of life, until he +began to believe that India was not the infernal hole that it had been +represented to him by Snaffle of the Lancers (who, by the way, had never +been there); and in his letters to Edith he gave a glowing account of +the city of Palaces and the fascinating Mrs. Barton. + +But it must not be supposed that these matters dwelt long in Arthur's +mind, for a more engrossing subject was ever before him, and that was +the profession he was now entering upon, and the probabilities of his +attaining a position in the service equal to that held by his father, +and he started to join his regiment with a determination to accomplish +this desirable end, or perish in the attempt. + +The district through which he had to pass in order to reach head +quarters was a wild one. There were also several Bheel villages along +the route, nor was there any scarcity of wild beasts in that region, but +to Arthur this was not at all alarming. He had read of adventures and +difficulties that had been met with by officers of the India army while +travelling from one station to another, besides he had a strong desire +to engage in the exciting sport of tiger hunting, boar spearing, etc., +within the Indian jungles. + +On quitting Calcutta, his good friends gave him a _carte blanche_ to +visit them whenever duty or pleasure should bring him into their +neighborhood. + +Fortunately for him a small party of Sepoys escorting treasure to a +station not far distant from the one in which his regiment was +quartered, were to start from Calcutta the same morning. This party he +was directed to take charge of as far on the road as he was going. Nor +was his journey without an adventure as the following incident will +show: + +Within the deep shadow of a grove of stately tamarind trees that grew +on the roadside, and distant about half a mile from a large and populous +Bheel village the tent of our young traveller had been pitched. + +It was a lovely night, Corinnua in her glory diffused her soft silvery +light far and near rendering the shades of the jungle still more deep by +contrast. All was hushed in silence; the busy hum in the village had +ceased and no sound broke on the silent night, except the occasional +bark of the Parrier dog, or the cry of the lurking jackall and the +measured tread of the native sentinel, as he paced to and fro in front +of the door of the tent. The remainder of the small guard were soundly +sleeping in a little routie tent on the opposite side of the road. + +Arthur had been out shooting the latter part of the afternoon and +evening, and had, as usual, taken from the village several natives as +guides and beaters. On his return he had called them to the door of his +tent, opened one of his trunks, and out of a bag, containing two or +three hundred rupees, paid them liberally for their trouble; one of the +party he noticed appeared to eye the bag with a greedy, covetous eye, +but he said nothing, and the party left, seeming well satisfied with +what they had received. After indulging in a bath he was ready for the +evening meal, which consisted of chicken, curry or broiled partridge +with several etceteras, which he washed down with a bottle of Allsopps' +pale ale, and betook himself to his easy chair and cheeroot under the +majestic Tamarinds, which were undulating gently in the soft breeze of +the evening. + +There was a small shade lamp burning on the camp table by the side of +the iron cot, on which Arthur had thrown himself, being somewhat tired +of his ramble in the jungle. He had taken up a volume of the Pindaree +war, but had not perused more than a dozen pages when he felt drowsy and +sleepy. He had accustomed himself to sleep with his revolver under his +pillow, his right hand grasping the handle. Somewhere about eleven +o'clock he was lying on his back with his left arm thrown across his +chest, and his hand over his face, half asleep and half awake, he +fancied he heard a sound similar to that made by sand rats or rabbits +while burrowing. The sinister look of the Bheel he had paid in the +evening instantly flashed across his mind. Separating his fingers, +sufficiently to admit of his seeing through them, he glanced in the +direction from which the sound proceeded, and waited patiently, keeping +a firm grasp of his pistol. Presently the sand beneath the wall of the +tent near the foot of his cot gave way gradually, and a small aperture +presented itself, which increased by degrees. By and by the head and +shoulders of the identical Bheel showed themselves inside the tent; his +hawk eye darted a rapid glance all around, but most especially at the +prostrate and apparently sleeping form of Carlton he then drew the +remainder of his body, which was perfectly naked, through the aperture +and stood erect and for a few seconds remained at the foot of Arthur's +bed, and listened to the heavy breathing which he effected; then, with a +gliding motion, moved towards the trunk containing the rupees, but still +keeping his face half turned in the direction of the bed so that he +could observe the slightest alteration, should any be made in the +position of its occupant, he then endeavored to force open the lid with +his creese, but finding he could not succeed in this, he took from +behind his ear a small piece of wire, with which he attempted to pick +the lock, but in order to effect this he had to rest his eye on the key +hole for a second or two. This was the moment for which Arthur had been +anxiously waiting. Instantly the eyes of the Bheel were withdrawn from +him. He brought his revolver from under his pillow, and passing it +beneath the light coverlet, placed the barrel across his left leg, which +he gently raised, at the same time removing the cloth clear of the +muzzle, brought it in line with the ribs of the robber and fired. The +bullet went straight to the heart, and the ruffian Bheel fell dead +without uttering a groan or sound. + +"What is the matter," enquired the sentry, stopping at the door of the +tent, which had been closed to keep out the night dews. + +"Nothing," Arthur had promptly replied, "I have discharged my pistol by +accident, and am going to reload it, that is all. But when the Nique +comes with the relief tell him to send the Havildar to me, I wish to +speak to him." The sentinel then resumed his walk up and down his post. +Arthur then with his hands quietly enlarged the hole by which the robber +had entered, into which he pushed the body and covered it with the sand +which had been thrown up, and the tent resumed its original appearance; +then, after washing his hands and refilling the empty chamber of his +revolver, he dressed himself for the march. + +At twelve o'clock the Havildar made his sallam at the tent door. "Come +in, Havildar," said Carlton, "I have changed my mind; instead of +marching at four a.m., the usual hour, I wish to start with as little +delay as possible. Go round, wake up the cart men and have the cattle +put to with as little noise as practicable, fall in the guard, and, +when we have moved off some distance, I will tell you the reason of this +change in the hour of marching. Let everything be done as quietly as may +be; also tell the Syce to bring my horse round directly." The Havildar +received his orders (native like) without remark, saluted and went to +see them carried out. When the escort had got about a mile from where +they had encamped, Arthur related what had taken place in his tent the +night previous. This was a sufficient inducement for them to accelerate +their speed to the utmost in order to get beyond the precincts of the +Bheel, as they well knew that in the event of the discovery of the body +the whole village would turn out _en masse_ to revenge his death, but +having some four hours start Arthur and his party arrived at the +station--where he was to part from them--without molestation or pursuit, +as far as he was aware of. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +This adventure fully developed his coolness and courage when aroused to +immediate action by any unexpected danger. This gained for Arthur the +favorable opinion of his brother officers. Although he, on joining, made +no mention of the circumstance, until in course of casual conversation +the affair leaked out. Soon after joining he wrote to Sir Jasper +informing him of his safe arrival, and to Edith a long and interesting +account of his journey from Calcutta to Karricabad, in which he +portrayed with faithful accuracy his encounter with a Bheel, and many +other incidents which he thought likely would interest or amuse her. In +describing the scenery and general features of the wild districts he had +to pass through, he said: + +"After traversing for miles the hot and dusty plains of Hindostan, quite +unexpectedly you will come upon a tope or grove of fruit trees, planted +in regular rows, with a well or tank of spring water, and a place to +bathe in built in the centre, where the weary and way-worn traveller +could bathe and wash away the heat and dust of the road, and cool his +parched throat with a draught of the pure element, gather as much of the +rich fruit as he may wish, to appease his appetite if hungry; then, in +the soft mossy grass, beneath the overhanging branches which effectually +protect him from the heat and glare of the sun, enjoy a sound sleep, +awake refreshed and proceed on his way rejoicing. In European countries +where hotels and places of accomodation are to be met with at every +turn, this may appear of little moment, but in the East where there are +no such places to obtain food or shelter from the powerful rays of the +sun, this is an inestimable boon. On enquiring how these Topes or groves +came to grow in places so far distant from any other cultivation, I was +informed that they were planted by rich high caste natives, as a penance +that was imposed upon them by the Brahmin priests for sins of omission +or commission against their creed. By the way, I heard the other day a +good story concerning these said Topes. It appears that a certain ensign +of the Company's service, who had been furnished with his commission and +outfit by an elderly maiden aunt of a serious and pious turn of mind, +whose positive injunctions to him on leaving England were that he was +not to attempt to impose upon her with any account of dangers, +difficulties, or surprising adventures that were not strictly true, for +she hated liars, and would cut him out of her will if she detected him +indulging in anything of the sort; but requested that he would write to +her a full, true and particular account of his first battle, should he +be engaged in one. + +"At the commencement of his first campaign he wrote to the old lady a +long descriptive letter, but unfortunately he did not pay sufficient +attention to his orthography, and so came to grief, for one paragraph of +the letter ran thus: + +"'Our entire brigade, ten thousand strong, halted about six in the +morning, and by seven the whole of the tents were snugly pitched, and we +were taking our breakfast comfortably in the tops of trees which grew on +both sides of the road.' + +"He spelt the word Topes without the capital or letter e. Tents for ten +thousand men pitched in the tops of trees. Oh, was there ever such a +monstrous falsehood, and the poor old lady fairly shook from head to +foot with pious indignation. The letter was returned to the writer +without remark or comment, and she was never again heard to mention the +name of her nephew, and on her death, which occurred soon after, it was +found that she had bequeathed the whole of her property to establish a +mission for diffusing the Gospel truth among the natives of the Fiji +Islands, and the unfortunate victim to bad spelling was left lamenting." + +In another of his epistles to the fair young girl in merry England, he +winds up with the following: "Much has been said and written concerning +the sagacity of some animals, especially the elephant, horse and dog, +but the other day I was an eye witness to a fact which developed the +cunning, reason, instinct, or call it what you will, of the Indian +Jackall. Having sauntered from my tent in the cool of the evening +through some wild cotton plants, down to a clump of shady trees that +grew at no great distance from the river, I sat down to enjoy a cigar, +and while so doing I observed the following incident: A jackall, one of +the largest I believe I had ever seen, came quietly out from the cover +of the jungle and made for the river, having in his mouth a large bunch +of cotton; curious to know to what purpose he intended applying his +mouthful, I watched him. Having reached the water's edge he turned +deliberately round and faced in the direction where I was seated, but +not in view, then depressing his bushy tail he gradually backed into the +water; very slow, indeed, was his backward movement, but on gaining the +centre of the somewhat shallow stream his whole body became submerged, +leaving nothing visible above the water but the tip of his nose; +suddenly he dived, and reappeared on the opposite bank. After giving +himself a good shake, he scampered off, apparently in high glee, leaving +the cotton floating on the surface of the water. Determined to find out +if possible the meaning of this strange proceeding, I walked to the +river's bank, and wading some paces in contrived, with my long riding +whip, to get hold of the piece of cotton. You may judge of my surprise +on finding it to be actually alive with enormous flees. The cunning +jackall had taken this effectual means of ridding himself of his +troublesome companions." + +But ere long scenes of a much more stirring character engaged the +attention of our young soldier, and letter-writing had to a considerable +extent to give way to the flashing of the sabre and the blurr of the +trumpet. The Punjaub was again swarming with a discontented population, +whose warlike natures rendered them a most formidable foe for everywhere +it was acknowledged that the Seik soldiery as a body were very +effective, and their cavalry the finest horsemen in the country. These +had yet to be conquered and the bloody fields of Mooltan and +Chillianwalla had to be fought and won, and the campaign on the Sutlej +brought to a successful termination, ere the troops about to be engaged +could return to peaceful quarters. + +These brave, but now lawless people, rendered desperate by the internal +commotion of petty factions under different leaders, each seeking his +own personal aggrandizement, endeavored to throw the onus of the coming +struggle on the shoulders of the British Government, though it was +patent to all nations, European and Asiatic, that it had been brought +about by the Punjaubees themselves. + +The bloody fields of Allewal and Sabranon, where they had been severely +beaten, was not sufficient to deter these dusky warriors or prevent them +from again trying their strength with the paramount power in India, +formidable as they knew it to be from past experience, but it is +doubtful whether the Seik soldiery ever seriously thought, although they +often hauntingly boasted of fighting with the greatest power in +Hindostan, until within two or three months of the first battle, and +even then the rude and illiterate yeoman considered that they were about +to enter upon a war purely defensive, although one in every way +congenial to their feelings of pride and national jealousy. To the +general impression of the Seiks, in common with other Indian nations, +that the English were and are ever ready to extend their power, is to be +added the particular bearing of the British Government toward the +Punjaub itself. + +Throughout this campaign it was by the fortune of war determined that +Arthur's Regiment should serve, and among the brave men who rode in its +ranks no heart beat higher or bosom burned with greater military ardor +at the prospect of glory now opening before them, than that of Arthur +Carlton, for with him promotion was the oyster to be eagerly sought for, +but which could only be opened by the sword, and no service, however +dangerous, must be shirked, in order to attain this desired end. + +"Gentlemen, it affords me much pleasure to be able to announce to you +that I have just received the order for the Light Dragoons to proceed +forthwith and join the field force now advancing towards the river +Sutlej, for the purpose of reducing the strong fortress of Mooltan, and +capturing its Dewan, the notorious Moolraj, who for some time past has +been sowing the seeds of disaffection amongst his subjects, and has at +last succeeded in inducing the Seiks and others to take up arms and act +offensively against our Government. This, of course, can lead to but one +result--their overthrow and ultimate defeat; but it will also give our +regiment an opportunity of gaining fresh laurels and again proving to +these fellows how dangerous it is to measure weapons with British +cavalry. We march the day after to-morrow." + +Thus spoke Colonel Leoline, commanding the regiment in which young +Carlton was serving as a cornet. + +This news, so pleasing to the ear of the soldiers, was received with the +utmost enthusiasm by every officer present. They gave three cheers for +their gallant leader, and another rouser for the service they belonged +to, which made the walls of their mess room ring again, so delighted +were they at the prospect of leaving their quiet, humdrum quarters for +the dash and excitement of the battle field. + +The panorama which opened to the view on the mornings of the--was +glorious in the extreme, and one well calculated to awaken feelings of +emotion in the most obdurate breast. The dark waters of the Sutlej +glittering in the sun's rays as they flowed onward, all unconscious of +the bloody strife about to be enacted on its banks: the frowning +fortress, with its embattled walls bristling with cannon and swarming +with men, whose dusky figures beamed with hate and defiance; around the +outskirts of the town were the battalions of Seik soldiery, drawn up +under the Dewan Moolraj, watching with savage anxiety the approach of +the British force, whose regiments of cavalry that headed the advance +opened their glittering ranks to the right and left and made apparent +the serried battalions of infantry and the frowning batteries of cannon. + +The scene was grandly magnificent. The eye included the whole field and +glanced approvingly from the steady order of one foe to the even array +of the other. All this spoke gladness of mind and strength of heart; but +beneath the elate looks of the advancing warriors there lurked that +fierce desire for the death of their fellow-men which must ever impel +the valiant soldier. + +With the general details during the progress of the siege our story has +little to do,--suffice it to say that it was a bloody and protracted +affair. The Mooltanees fought with their usual desperate valor, but they +had to cope with men who never turned their backs upon a foe when the +fiat of battle had gone forth, who scorned to yield even when greatly +outnumbered, and regarded defeat, if not actually a crime, an +imperishable disgrace; and so the strife waged fast and furious up to +the closing hours of the conflict. + +The siege and train heavy ordinance of the besieging force hurled their +ponderous shot and shell against the masonry and buildings that defended +the town and citadel, destroying, crushing, and burning with terrible +effect, while the field artillery poured forth continuous discharges of +lighter projectiles of every description then in use, sweeping with +dreadful result every opposing force that appeared on the walls or other +parts of the fortification. Amid the dire confusion and heavy clouds of +smoke caused by the incessant cannonading the Infantry effected an +entrance among the advanced mounds and trenches of petty outworks, and +animated by their partial success, formed themselves simultaneously into +wedges and masses, and headed by their brave leaders rushed forward in +gallant style. With a shout they leaped the ditch and up swarming +mounted the ramparts and stood victorious amid the captured cannon. + +The cavalry were effectually employed around and about the outworks of +the town, and many a dashing charge and smart encounter took place +wherever the enemy's horse made a sortie or sally, which was of frequent +occurrence. + +Wherever the blows from the tulwa's of the Seik horse rained heaviest +there was to be seen the flashing sabre of our young Cornet, cutting and +slashing with right good will. The early training of old Bridoon stood +him in good stead, and although scarcely twenty-one he had strength and +nerve far beyond his age, and on several occasions his conspicuous +bravery drew forth the hearty plaudits of his own men and others who +witnessed his dashing courage. + +In one of the outworks captured from the enemy during the early part of +they siege had been erected a field hospital for the wounded, under +charge of Assistant Surgeon Dracott of the Light Dragoons. Now it so +happened that on the day of the grand attack a party of Seik horse in +attempting to effect a retreat from the town were met by the Dragoons, +and after a severe contest driven back and pursued as far as it was +thought advisable. A number of these fellows turned down a narrow +passage in hopes of escaping into the country at another point less +guarded, and in so doing came suddenly upon the hospital alluded to, in +which there was a considerable number of poor fellows who had been more +or less hurt during the attack. Filled with rage and discomfiture at the +failure of their first attempt, and seeing the place was guarded only by +a small party of Sepoys, for whom they had a supreme contempt--for the +independent yeomanry warriors of Afghanistan and the Punjaub held in +light estimation the hired native soldiery of Southern India. There were +numerous instances on record during the Afghan and Seik wars where the +men of the North were seen, sword in hand, to attack the Company's +Sepoys, beat down or turn aside their bayonets, and with the other hand +drag them from the ranks by their cross belts and slay them. Even when +run through the body they have been known to seize a firm grip of the +musket until they had dealt a fatal blow to their antagonist and both +fall together mortally wounded, so hostile and revengeful were they one +to another when engaged in conflict, creed against creed, for the Sepoys +of the South were, as a rule, Hindoos, while the Seiks and Afghans were +Mahomedans--they conceived the brutal design of destroying the Hospital +and ruthlessly putting to death all they could lay their hands on, in +revenge for the morning's defeat, then escape to the plains beyond the +town. After a few moments' consultation they commenced the onslaught; +the Sepoy guard made but a feeble resistance to these powerful horsemen, +they threw down their arms and fled in haste leaving the poor invalids +to their mercy. + +Draycott the moment he guessed their design sprang on to his horse, +which fortunately stood ready saddled at the door of the Surgery, and +rode straight at the leader of the party, a huge, burly Seik, and +engaged him; but he with his light sabre, and less powerful arm, was no +match for the Mahomedan soldier, who with one blow smashed the +regulation toasting fork, and with his left hand seized the Surgeon by +the shoulder, and was forcing him backwards preparatory to giving him +the final thrust through the throat; the other scoundrels being engaged +in beating down the bayonets of the guard. At this critical moment, and +before a man of the wounded had been touched, about a score of troopers, +headed by Carlton, appeared on the scene of action, and entirely changed +the programme. With a single stroke of his flashing sabre, Arthur dealt +their leader such a blow that he was fain to release his hold on +Draycott and turn to defend himself; by this time the conflict had +become general fierce and bloody. + +"Death to the cowardly ruffians; save our wounded comrades," shouted +Carlton, as, with a vigorous thrust he sent his weapon deep into the +chest of his dusky opponent, placing him at once and forever _hors de +combat_. Imitating the dashing conduct of their youthful leader the +Dragoons fought as British Soldiers can fight when their mettle is up, +and roused by the gallant bravery of their pet officers, in less than +twenty minutes from the striking of the first blow every one of the Seik +horse were either cut to pieces or taken prisoners. The report of the +encounter was spread far and wide, and not a man in the regiment, from +the colonel to the trumpeter stood so high in the estimation of both +officers and men throughout the Brigade as did our hero. Conspicuous +bravery on the battle field seldom fails to elicit rapturous applause +from every branch of the service. + +The fall of Mooltan and the capture of its Dewan Moolraj did not, as +had been anticipated by many, put an end to the campaign. Disaffection +and disloyalty had spread throughout the country, and the Seiks were +everywhere arming to resist what they were pleased to assert was the +intention of the East India Company, namely: the subjugation of the +entire country of the five rivers; and large masses of soldiery, under +experienced leaders, had congregated on the plains eager for the fray. +Not many days elapsed after the reduction of Mooltan before the army +received orders and pressed on with all expedition to that part of the +country where the battle of Chillianwalla was to decide the question at +issue between the contending forces. + +The result of the first day's struggle was undoubtedly very much in +favor of the Seiks, and can only be accounted for in this way: The +followers of the Prophet had for a considerable time been massing +themselves under experienced leaders and had established their position +in a manner best suited to resist the advancing foe, this they were +enabled to do by their thorough knowledge of the the country, without +any great exertion or hardship, being undisturbed, and certain that the +enemy could not approach but in a certain direction, and that point +alone had to be watched. But not so with the British. Long forced +marches, outlying pickets, advance guards, and all the harrassing +fatigues incident to moving through an enemy's country had to be borne. +This to a considerable extent wearied the European soldiery, though it +could not dispirit or discourage them, and again they were suddenly +attacked ere they were well prepared to do battled. Yet they pressed on +to a scene which was to terminate in so bloody a conflict. But the +second day told a very different tale; whatever advantage had been +gained, during the early stage of the fight, was not only nullified, but +their successes became a sort of _Ignis Futuris_ that lured them on to +their destruction, for during the night the British were reinforced by a +column of fresh troops from Bombay and the action opened with twofold +vigor, and so the mighty tide of battle rolled on. Towards evening the +decisive blow was struck; the Seiks were beaten at all points and fled +in wild confusion and dismay, leaving their unconquerable antagonists +masters of the field. + +"Colonel," said an aide-de-camp, dashing up at full gallop, "your +regiment will move one hundred and fifty paces to the right," and then, +touching his horse with his spur, darted off in another direction. +"Threes right forward," and the Dragoons moved to the position assigned +them. A brigade of guns that had been brought up under cover of the +cavalry now opened upon the advancing Seik horse with terrible effect, +throwing them into such confusion as to prevent them from rapidly +reforming. At this moment the order was received for the Dragoons to +wheel into line and charge, and ere the Seiks had recovered, were among +them, and the flower of the enemy's cavalry had to give way before the +impetuous charge of our light Dragoons. There were more hand to hand +encounters in this affair than has been recorded in any other engagement +of the campaign. During the melee, one of the commanding General's +A.D.C.'s had a narrow escape. A powerful looking Seik rode at him, but +on coming within arm's length the staff officer's horse stumbled over +some dead or wounded men; the sword of the dusky warrior was raised to +give the blow, which must have proved fatal, and in another moment there +would have been a vacancy on the General's staff, but Arthur, who had +been hewing with might and main within a few yards of the spot, seeing +the imminent peril of his countryman, dashed up, shortening his sabre as +he did so, and, with a powerful thrust, sent it clean through the body +of the Seik; the blow intended for the head fell harmless on the plated +scales of the epaulet of the aide as he recovered himself in the saddle. + +"Thanks, Carlton, my dear fellow, for this good service; I will not +forget it, should it ever come to my turn to assist you in any way," was +all that could be said in the hurry and excitement of the conflict, for +the tide of battle still rolled on. A two gun sheet battery which had +been committing great havoc on a column of infantry, was still throwing +grape and canister with murderous effect. These discharges had again and +again swept through the little party. The Seik gunners stood manfully to +their guns until the Infantry came within fifty yards of them. "Charge, +men, charge," shouted a very handsome officer of the Bombay Fusiliers, +"they cannot stand the bayonets of the old Toughs. Forward." The men +sprang to the charge, and about one hundred of the Fusiliers to the very +teeth of destruction, facing inevitable death with a coolness and +fearlessness so characteristic of the British soldier. But a body of the +enemy's horse suddenly appeared on the flank of the column of Infantry +compelling them to form square to resist cavalry, and thus the brave +little party were placed in a precarious position, being cut off from +their supports. A withering volley from the right and rear face of the +square, followed by a rapid file-firing from the standing ranks, emptied +quite a number of saddles and drove the troopers off. + +An officer of Dragoons at the head of a party of his men rode at the +Seik artillerest, who, with the exception of two, abandoned their guns +and were endeavouring to escape by retreat, but they were all either cut +down or captured. The two who yet remained at their post waited for the +Infantry to advance sufficiently close to make their fire tell with +murderous effect, they then raided their lintstocks to fire, which must +have proved horribly fatal to the Fusiliers, when Arthur Carlton, for it +was he who led, appeared out of a cloud of dust and smoke close to the +Battery. Leveling his pistol, he shot down one of the Seik gunners, the +lintstock of the other was within a few inches of the vent. A second +more and a frightful gap would have been made in the ranks of the +advancing Fusiliers. + +A shout that can only be given by a British throat, broke on the ear of +the unfortunate artillerest, who hesitated for a moment. It was his +last, for a down stroke from Arthur's flashing sabre fell upon his neck, +separating the head from the body. The Fusiliers dashed up, and the +battery that dealt so much destruction among the Infantry was captured +at last. + +"Splendidly done, by Jupiter. Those men are the Fusiliers of the Bombay +column, are they not? and who is that cavalry officer?" + +"Cornet Carlton, Light Dragoons, your Excellency; the same officer who +saved your Excellency's despatch and my life, that I mentioned to you +some half hour since," was the earnest reply, of one of the aides. +"Gallant fellow, bravely done, only a Cornet, must have his +Lieutenancy, Hargraves, see that I do not forget this in my despatches +to the Government to-morrow." Then, turning to his Chief of Staff, said, +"Give orders for the Dragoons and Light Artillery to pursue for half an +hour. The enemy is beaten at all points, and get the Infantry under +canvass with as little delay as possible." "The action is over," said +the Commander-in-chief, closing his field glass, and with his staff left +the ground. And thus, after two days hard fighting, the name of +Chillianwalla was added to the list of victories that has been +emblazoned on the page of history, showing the prowess and valour of +British troops in India, and the name of Arthur Carlton was added to the +list of Lieutenants borne on the muster roll of the Light Dragoons. + +It is not our intention to take the reader over the battle fields of +Peshawa, suffice it to say that our Dragoon, with his regiment, scoured +the plains of the Punjaub up to the very mouth of the Iron Kybre itself, +which had proved fatal to so many of our gallant countrymen. + +A group of officers had assembled around the withered and charred stump +of a large tree, chatting and smoking, the ruddy glare of the +neighboring camp fire throwing its fitful light upon the uniform and +accoutrements of the little party, showing them to be no other than our +old friends of H.M. Light Dragoons, waiting for the order to commence +their morning's march. + +"Why are we not on the move?" enquired Major Hackett, as he joined them. + +"Something gone wrong with the baggage, I suppose," responded one of the +party, "but here comes old Rations, (for it was by this name that the +Quartermaster was usually styled by the men of his Regiment) he, +perhaps, can tell us something about it." + +"Well, Quartermaster, can you explain the cause of the delay. Have you +seen the Colonel, or are we to be kept here all day?" and the Major +flung away the end of his cigar with an air of annoyance. The +good-humored Quartermaster explained, in somewhat of a round-about way, +that everything would be all right in a few minutes. + +"Out with it, Davison, tell us what is the row. You don't laugh all over +your face and half way down your back for nothing, I know," said Arthur, +reining up his horse alongside that of the Quartermaster, who, by the +way, was a special friend of our young Lieutenant. "Just illuminate and +turn on the gas a little, as it were." + +"Well, then, gentlemen," resumed that worthy functionary, "it appears +that this morning, on the elephants being brought up to carry the mess +and Hospital Tents, one of the number was found to be missing, and the +Muccadem declared that it was useless to attempt to put anything extra +on the others, for that they would not stir a peg if so overloaded. I +did not know what to do in this dilemma; the tents could not be left +behind, so I sent for Fortescue, who was in charge of the Government +cattle, to ask his advice. In a few minutes he came cantering up. I +explained matters. The elephant cannot be far off." At this moment a +Muccadem came running up to say that the animal was in the jungle, about +a quarter of a mile off, but was refractory and would not budge an inch +in the direction of the camp. + +"Divide his load among the other four," said Fortescue. + +"But they will not carry it, sir," replied the native Inspector. + +"I know that as well as you can tell me, but do as I order you." + +The Inspector salammed and obeyed, but the animals would not move. "Now +take off the load from two and give them a couple of tether chains." +This was done, the loads removed, and a long chain, used for camp +purposes given to each, who caught them up with their trunks and seemed +to know exactly what they were expected to do with them. They were then +led into the jungle where the other one was said to be. + +"You will see some fun presently," said Fortescue, and he was right, for +in a very short time the refractory animal was seen coming into camp at +the top of his speed, shrieking and crying, closely followed by the +other two, who were thrashing him soundly with the chains that had been +given to them for that purpose. There is no doubt they gave him to +understand that they did not intend to carry his load for him. + +I have heard elephant stories before, but it was most ridiculously +absurd to see that great mountain of flesh crying like a whipped child, +go down on his knees and quietly receive his burden without any attempt +to hurt or molest his keeper. + +All the baggage was by this time off the ground; the regiment got the +order to advance, which they did with right good will, for both officers +and men of the Light Dragoons were equally satisfied to find themselves +once more approaching their comfortable quarters in Karricabad. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +Smiling Spring, with her ever-changing episode of sunshine and tears, +had twice come and gone. The gorgeous fields of golden grain had for a +second time bent their heads beneath the harvest side, and the autumnal +tints of every hue and shade had again fallen on the rich foliage of the +magnificent old woods of Devon, while the whirr of the pheasant in the +preserves, and the popping at the partridges among the turnips, +indicated that the shooting season had once more commenced over the +broad lands around Vellenaux. + +Things wore much the same aspect as they had done on Arthur's return +from College and prior to his departure for the sunny plains of +Hindostan some eighteen months since. Sir Jasper was apparently hale and +hearty. Edith had finished her education, on which her uncle had spared +no expense, for masters and professors had been procured from London to +superintend her studies. She was perfectly happy, occasionally receiving +letters from Arthur, which always afforded her much pleasure to peruse +and think over, and frequently would she detect herself gazing upon his +photograph in the pretty little locket he had sent her from Oxford by +Tom Barton, and which, since his departure, she constantly wore. + +Ralph Coleman's visits had become more frequent of late; this at first +did not attract Edith's notice. She had never been prepossessed in his +favour, but as her uncle's kinsman, and being heir to the Baronetcy, her +deportment to him had ever been polite and affable, but subsequently his +attentions became so marked that they aroused her to a sense of his real +meaning. Yet she could scarcely bring herself to believe that such was +really the case, and but for the delicate hints and inuendos that +occasionally fell from the double dealing widow, she would, there is no +doubt, have remained for a much longer time unconvinced of his +intentions towards her. However, time was passing on and Ralph made up +his mind to bring matters to the point. One lovely afternoon, as he was +entering the conservatory, he espied the fluttering of a woman's dress +among the shrubs and flowers, and on coming nearer, though still at some +little distance, perceived a lady walking slowly and as if in deep +thought. Feeling quite certain that it was no other than the one he was +in quest of, and thanking the fates for giving him the long wished for +opportunity, he advanced more quickly and was soon beside Edith (for she +it proved to be) before she was aware that any one was near. Turning, +with something of a surprised look on her lovely face, she exclaimed, +"Oh, how you startled me. I thought you were on the way to London. I am +quite amazed to find you here." + +"I hope my presence is not distasteful to you," he said, gently, at the +same time lifting his hat and bowing low before her. He really cared +nothing for the beautiful girl at his side, for he was thoroughly +selfish; nor did he care by what means or how low he had to stoop to +gain possession of the object wished for. + +Edith, knowing her own feelings, and not wishing to say aught to hurt +or offend him more than was actually necessary, scarcely knew how to +answer him, disliking him as she did. Still she had nothing to complain +of, for he had ever paid her the most marked respect. Before she could +frame her answer he spoke again, "Edith, I have for some time been +wishing to speak to you on a subject very near my heart. I love you +dearly and have long done so, will you be my wife, or, at least, give me +some hope that my suit may be acceptable at some future time? only give +me one encouraging smile, one ray of hope, and I will drudge on +patiently until you bid me come to you." + +"Oh no," Edith replied, "you must not wait, you must not hope, I can +never be yours. Go, leave me." Before she had well finished, Ralph +Coleman had seized her little white hands in his strong grasp, and said +in a deep, hoarse voice, "Edith, I ask you again will you be mine?" + +Surprise, astonishment, and a feeling very like indignation took +possession of Edith. + +"Mr. Ralph Coleman," she said, "before I answer any more questions, +release my hands." As he did so she raised her head proudly, and turning +towards him with a heightened color, said, "I have already told you that +I cannot love you, and am surprised that it is not sufficient. I thank +you for the honor you intended, but beg that you will never mention this +subject to me again." + +As these words fell upon his ear, Ralph Coleman's face changed and +darkened visibly, an evil light came into his eyes, and an ugly frown +contracted his brow, then, with a smile, whose meaning could not be +mistaken, he said: + +"Take care, proud girl, I have sworn that you shall be mine, and by the +Heavens above us, I intend to keep my vow, and neither man nor devil +shall turn me from my purpose!" + +Edith's eyes flashed, her beautiful lips curled in scorn, and her whole +face beamed with intense disgust, and with a voice low and deep she +said, + +"Have a care, sir, beware how you threaten the niece of Sir Jasper +Coleman. Before to-morrow my uncle shall be made acquainted with what +has just passed, and the character of the man who has partaken so often +of his hospitality, and been ever treated with kind attention, he has +yet to learn how these courtesies have been returned," and sweeping past +him with a look of supreme contempt, Edith was about to pass on. + +It was evident that he had gone too far and that she was not a girl to +be intimidated by anything that he might say, and at once changed his +tactics--for he was an excellent actor--"Pardon me, Miss Effingham, I +know not what I am saying, I am mad. Yes, lady, mad! for your beauty +like the moon, makes all men mad, who comes within the sphere of its +attraction. Forgive me for thus offending you." Edith turned towards +him, and with calm dignity replied, "Promise me never again to revert to +this subject, and in no way further molest me, and what has just passed +shall be forgiven." He gave the required promise. Edith then pursued her +way to the end of the conservatory, passed through the doorway, and on +to the terrace where she was met by her Uncle. He observed her +heightened color, but as she made no complaint he allowed it to pass +without comment. + +Ralph Coleman stood for a few moments irresolute. She must, he thought, +either be aware that her uncle has left her sole heiress, or else is in +love with another, Carlton perhaps. Fool that I was to run so great a +risk, and that, at the instigation of that scheming woman. Should she +say aught to her uncle on this matter, it would ruin me with him. I will +at once seek an interview and endeavour to wheedle him out of a promise +to make a codicil in my favor. + +Failing in the attempt to secure the hand of the beautiful Miss +Effingham, and not daring to risk another trial, as it might spoil the +plans he had been contemplating since Edith's dismissal of him, he had +kept shy of that young lady during the remainder of his stay, and prior +to his departure for London, he had contrived to have a long interview +with the Baronet, during which he very ably showed the position that he +would hold should the Baronetcy eventually descend to him who was +totally unable to support the dignity of the rank that would thus be +thrust upon him. So well and ably did he argue this point, that ere he +left Vellenaux he extorted a sort of promise from Sir Jasper that he +would think the matter over and make a bequest in his favor. + +He returned to his office, in deed court, annoyed and disheartened to a +considerable extent by the failure of his designs as far as related to +Miss Effingham, but his wounded vanity he could afford to bear and hide +within his own breast, as he now confidently believed that Sir Jasper +would adopt the suggestions he had made to him, and settle, at least, +two or three thousand per annum on the successor to the Baronetcy during +the said successor's life; and in this frame of mind the Lawyer +determined to de vote himself entirely to his profession, and to avoid +the pretty Edith, Mrs. Fraudhurst, and Vellenaux, until the present +owner should have been gathered to his fathers. + +There is perhaps no season of the year in the South of England so +pleasing to the eye or more genial to the corporeal faculties than that +of early autumn, especially that part of Devonshire which we have +selected for the opening and closing scene of our story. Vellenaux, with +its varied and picturesque styles of architecture, embosomed, as it +were, in rich woodlands, with a perfect amphitheatre of hills on three +sides, and ever and anon the soft breezes of the ocean sweeping over the +downs, and through the beech woods on the other. It was, indeed, a +domain of which any one might have been proud. + +It was a lovely evening, the sun had just commenced to dip behind the +crest of the adjacent hills, and was sending its golden rays through the +bright foliage of the trees and down the long paths that led to the +woods hard by. Edith had strolled, book in hand, to her favourite knoll, +beneath a stately elm, and was engaged in reading. Her two favourite +dogs, fine specimens of the Italian greyhound, chased each other in +circles which gradually grew smaller until it brought them to the very +feet of their mistress. One placed his small smooth nose in the little +white hand that was thrown carelessly on the moss grown roots beside +her, while the other, to attract her attention, placed his paw on the +page she was reading and looked up in her face. Suddenly their ears +elongated and away they bounded, as the noise of horses hoofs were heard +approaching in her direction, aroused her from her recumbent position, +as Julia Barton, on her quiet little pony, trotted up. She was off in an +instant, and running up to her friend, greeted her in the animated, +lively way, as was her custom when she had anything to communicate that +she thought would please or interest her. "At your studies," she said, +taking up the volume that Edith had let fall on her appearance. "Long +engagements, a tale of the Affghan war. Oh, oh, thinking of our old +playfellow are we?" and the merry girl laughed heartily, "we shall soon +hear more of him, for my sister-in-law, Pauline, has just most +unexpectedly arrived, and I wish you to know her. She is very charming +and improves wonderfully on acquaintance, is very good-natured, and +tells such funny stories about the people she lived among, and has a +great deal to say about Arthur Carlton. You will come to the Willows +to-morrow, will you not, and call on her?" Edith gave the required +assent, and Julia, mounting her pony, cantered down the avenue to the +lodge gate, where she was joined by a tall, gentlemanly looking man, +mounted on a small bay mare, and the two walked their horses at an easy +pace down the green lane in the direction of the Willows, and Edith +returned to the house in time to dress for dinner, well pleased with the +prospect of hearing something of him who was scarcely absent from her +thoughts for any great length of time. She did not attempt to analyze +her feelings on the subject. It was pleasant to think of her absent +friend, and that was sufficient for the present. + +Mr. Barton, Sen., or old Mr. Barton as he was usually styled, for he was +upwards of eighty years of age, and had been born in the house he now +occupied, a good comfortable and substantial, but old fashioned +dwelling, which had passed from father to son for several generations. +His father had been what is termed a gentleman farmer, and attended +personally to the superintending of his acres. His son, the present +occupant, had followed his example. He married early in life, but the +lady of his choice died young, leaving one son to remind the sorrowing +widower of his loss. This was Horace Barton, whom we have already +introduced; he chose a different field for his labors, and managed to +secure, while yet young, on appointment in India. Our friend Tom and his +two sisters, Julia and Emily, were the result of a second marriage, and +although there was every comfort to be had, and a good home for all +during the life of the old couple, yet it was absolutely necessary that +Tom should make his own road through life, and that the girls should, by +early marriage, secure for themselves suitable establishments, as the +Willows would fall to Horace on the death of his father, and it would +not be many years before his term of service in the East would expire, +and he would then, doubtless, return to England and occupy the old house +in Devonshire. + +The arrival of Mrs. Horace Barton from Calcutta had been quite +unexpected at the Willows, as no preparatory letter had announced her +intentions or arrival in England. Nevertheless she found all delighted +to receive her. She had spent the most of her visit to Europe in the gay +capitals of Paris and London, and a couple of months was all the time +she could spare to remain in Devonshire. + +On her first visit she had not been introduced to Miss Effingham, and +had only caught a casual glance at her while crossing the lawn, as Edith +was returning from a visit to Julia Barton; but on this occasion was +determined to become acquainted with her, and find out if she really +deserved the high encomiums that had been bestowed upon her by Arthur +Carlton. She had anticipated seeing a pretty lively English country +girl, but was totally unprepared for the brilliant beauty and perfectly +self-possessed manners of Edith, and she always found an attentive +listener in her to all she had to relate on the subject of India and +Arthur Carlton whenever they met, which was now frequent, for an +introduction had taken place between them very shortly after her +arrival, and they consequently became on the most intimate and friendly +footing. The magnificence of the ancestral dwelling of the Colemans, +with its Parks, Parterres and grounds, was quite a novelty to Pauline +Barton, and with Edith she traversed the long corridors, picture +galleries, and armories with wonderment, for they contrasted strangely +with the Pagodas, Temples, and Bungalows in the country where the +greater part of her life had been spent (for she had been born there), +and she thought that Edith's life must be one of never-ending delight, +and for a time it was so, but a sad change was about to come over the +bright spirit of her dream of happiness for a time, and perhaps for +ever, and dash the cup of joyous light-heartedness from her grasp. + +The event so much desired by the man of law took place at a much earlier +date than had been anticipated by that gentleman, or, indeed, by any one +of his acquaintances as the sequel will show. + +"Reynolds," said the Baronet, one evening after dinner, some few weeks +after his interview with his worthy cousin, the heir to the title, +"place candles in my study, and you need not wait up for me. It is +likely that I shall sit writing to a late hour." The old servant bowed, +and retired to do the bidding of his master. + +After affectionately wishing his niece good-night, and a passing remark +to Mrs. Fraudhurst, Sir Jasper entered his study, closing the door +quietly behind him. + +For a considerable time he paced the room, with his hands crossed behind +his back, as was his custom when in a meditative mood. Finally, seating +himself at his escritoire, he placed the massive silver candlesticks, +with their wax lights, in such a position that the glow would not effect +his sight, and arranged his materials for writing to suit him. For a few +moments he leaned back in his chair, then selecting a small key from a +bunch he always carried, unlocked the centre drawer which contained only +a few memorandums and drew it completely out. He next touched a small +spring at the side, when a panel of the back slid open, disclosing an +aperture from which he took the packet he had brought from London the +evening previous to the opening of our story. This was the will and +testament of Sir Jasper Coleman, in which he had left his niece, Edith +Effingham, sole heiress of all he possessed, with the exception of a +gratuity of five thousand pounds to be paid to his _protege_, Arthur +Carlton, within six months after his (the Baronet's) decease, and to be +free from all legacy or other duties. Having re-read the document, he +laid it on the table beside him and then commenced writing. + +Sir Jasper had thus acted without the knowledge of his lawyer, the man +with whom he had consulted on every other matter since his succession to +the Baronetcy, consequently that gentleman was in ignorance of any such +will being in existence. It had been drawn by a competent lawyer +residing in one of the suburbs of London, and had been properly +witnessed, and was, in every particular, a regular, complete document. +The parties present on the occasion knew nothing of Sir Jasper, had +never heard of Vellenaux or its owner, and in all probability would +never hear of him again, as there was no likelihood of the will being +contested. Why he had acted in this manner is hard to say. + +The Baronet had finished his letter, and was again musing, and muttering +to himself, "Ralph Coleman, you are an unprincipled man. Do you think +your attempt to coerce my darling niece to listen to your suit has +escaped me. You have failed in that quarter and now come to me to assist +you. Well, well as she is safe I can afford to forgive you, and let you +have a couple of thousand a year, to enable you to support yourself like +a gentleman when the title descends to you." Here the Baronet resumed +his pen and commenced the writing of a codicil in behalf of his cousin, +Ralph Coleman. + +Perfect tranquility reigned throughout the house, all, with the +exception of Sir Jasper, had retired to rest, and there was no sound, +save the ticking of the old-fashioned time-piece, with its monotonous +and never varying tick, tick, and the scratching noise made by the quill +as it traced its inky characters on the yet incomplete codicil the +Baronet was preparing. The candles had burned low in their sockets, and +the fire on the hearth had died out unheeded by him who sat writing line +after line. Suddenly a spasm seized him. He, with great difficulty, +raised himself from the stooping position over the escritoire, but as he +did so, another spasm, more violent than the first, attacked him. He +tried to call for assistance, but his tongue clove to his mouth. He was +suffocating. He stretched his arm towards the silver bell, which stood +on the table, but it was beyond his reach. His head sank on the cushion +of the chair. His eyes closed, another convulsive start, and all was +over. Sir Jasper Coleman was no more. + +For many months past it was customary whenever it was known that Sir +Jasper would sit up late, for Mrs. Fraudhurst, on passing the door of +his chamber before descending to the breakfast room, to tap and enquire +whether the Baronet would come down to his breakfast or have it sent up +to him. On the following morning the widow on stopping at the chamber +door discovered that it was ajar, and on pushing it gently open found +the room was vacant, the bed undisturbed and, it was quite evident from +its general appearance, that Sir Jasper could not have passed the +night--or any part of it--there. Though startled a little at first, Mrs. +Fraudhurst was not long in coming to a conclusion as to what really had +happened during the night. It had more than once occurred to her active +mind that such might be the manner in which the Baronet's life would +terminate. "And the hour I so feared may have come at last," thought +she, as the consequences that might accrue to herself, should such turn +out to be the case, rose up before her; but she was equal to the +emergency; quickly and noiselessly she descended to the private library +and, without rapping, entered, closing the door quietly after her. + +The morning sun streamed through the stained glass windows, casting +their brilliant hues full on the face of the corpse, rendering the pale +features more ghastly to look on than the convulsions had left them. +Mrs. Fraudhurst was a woman of strong mind, but no feeling, and the +presence of death had no terrors for her. She had entered, prepared in +her own mind for the spectacle that now presented itself. Her plans had +been already arranged, but she had hardly counted on their being so +easily executed. With a firm hand she took up the will and unfinished +codicil, folded them, and placed them carefully in the bosom of her +dress. She now took up the bunch of keys, and replacing the centre +drawer, locked it and dropped the bunch of keys into one of the pockets +of Sir Jasper's dressing gown, and finding that the open letter related +to general business connected with the estate and some charitable +institution, left them as she found them, and without one look of pity +or regret on her now flushed face towards him to whose liberality she +had for years been indebted for a home, with all the comforts and +conveniences of life, left the apartment and regained her own chamber +without meeting or being seen by any one. Her first act was to securely +lock up the papers so feloniously obtained, then, applying cold water to +her heated brow, to wait for the ringing of the second bell for +breakfast. She could hear the voice of Edith, as her laugh rang out upon +the lawn beneath her open window, at the gambols of the two greyhounds. + +"Reynolds, ascertain whether Sir Jasper will have his breakfast sent up +to him," said Mrs. Fraudhurst, as she and, Edith took their seats at the +table, some twenty minutes later. + +Edith did not speak, but waited patiently to know if her uncle would +come down. There had been a growing coolness between her and the lady +who headed the table. She could not but think that there was some +complicity between her and Ralph Coleman with respect to herself. She +could not tell why this should be, but could not divest herself of the +idea, nevertheless. + +"My master is not in his own room, and has not slept in his bed," +hurriedly exclaimed Reynolds, re-entering the breakfast room. Edith +started up, visibly agitated, but not so with the widow, she coolly +said, "you had better look in at the library, he was writing there late +last night and may probably have thrown himself on the lounge, and +fallen asleep there." + +"I will go with you," Edith said to the old servant, as she proceeded a +little in advance of him. + +Mrs. Fraudhurst sat staring blankly out of the window waiting for the +result, which she knew must ensue. A loud shriek from Edith rang through +the house, and breathless with excitement, Reynolds entered and +announced Sir Jasper's death and that Miss Effingham had fainted. + +The time for action had now arrived. "He may be only in a fit," said +Mrs. Fraudhurst. "I will myself drive over for Dr. Martin. Call Miss +Effingham's maid and let her be carried to her own room and properly +attended to. I will return with all speed; in the meantime, Reynolds, be +sure that no one enters the room. You had better lock the door and take +possession of the key as soon as Miss Edith has been removed." After +quickly dressing, she proceeded towards the stables to hurry forward the +harnessing of the pony phaeton, which was at all times at her disposal, +and drove rapidly to the house of Dr. Martin, though she well knew his +services would be of no avail, but it was a part of the plan she had +matured, and was now carrying out. + +Fortunately for her the Rector and Sir Jasper's lawyer and general +business agent were at the time with the Doctor in his surgery, +consulting on some Parish business and without a moment's delay they +proceeded to Vellenaux, the Rector riding with Mrs. Fraudhurst, whose +appearance and conduct were well suited to the occasion. + +Life was pronounced extinct, and the cause of death was supposed to be a +sudden attack of his old complaint, disease of the heart. The lawyer, in +the presence of all, placed seals on the escritoire and doors of the +study immediately after the body had been transferred to the bedchamber, +and wrote to Ralph Coleman, as the only male relation of the late +Baronet, acquainting him with what had occurred, and it was not long +before that gentleman presented himself at Vellenaux. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +The morning prior to the funeral it pleased Mrs. Fraudhurst, on meeting +Ralph Coleman in the long corridor, to request that worthy individual to +grant her a private interview in the general library at eleven o'clock, +precisely, the lawyer bowed in the affirmative and passed on. + +At the time appointed the widow, in very deep but fashionable mourning, +entered the library by one door, and a few minutes later the new baronet +presented himself at another. After closing it he advanced to the centre +table and waited for the lady to announce the nature of her business +with him. + +In a low, clear and cold, but perfectly steady voice she thus addressed +him, "Some two years since I informed you by letter of the existence of +a will in which the late baronet, after paying a gratuity of five +thousand pounds to Arthur Carlton, left Miss Effingham sole heiress. In +that will the name of Ralph Coleman does not appear. If this document be +read to-morrow," she continued after a slight pause, "Vellenaux is lost +to you forever." + +"But, my dear madam," he replied, "among the late baronet's papers will, +doubtless, be found a codicil in my behalf, in fact my cousin distinctly +promised me that he would make a suitable provision for the successor to +the title." + +"And so he would have done had he lived long enough to complete it," was +the lady's quiet reply. + +"You do not mean to say that you are certain Sir Jasper made no such +provision," enquired the lawyer in a quick and excited tone. + +"No document of that kind had been executed prior to the baronet's +death," she boldly asserted, advancing towards him. "Now listen to me: +providing the will in question be not forthcoming after the funeral, the +law will declare you heir to the estate. Now, if you swear to me by all +that you hold most sacred, that you will allow me one thousand per annum +and a suite of apartments at Vellenaux so long as I shall live, no will +shall appear, and within one hour after the body of the late Sir Jasper +has been consigned to the tomb, you shall become Sir Ralph Coleman and +master of Vellenaux and its broad lands." + +"But," was the cautious reply of the wily lawyer, "how know I that any +will has been made or that the Baronet has not kept faith with me. Your +word is all that I have to depend on for the truth or falsity of the +statement." He knew her to be an unscrupulous woman, but shrewd withal, +and could not bring himself to believe that she would compromise herself +so far as to have fraudulently possessed herself of, Sir Jasper's +papers, yet her language indicated very strongly that something of the +kind was the case. + +"If she really has them," he thought, "one thousand per annum would not +be too large a sum to purchase her silence concerning them; and as the +bargain would be a verbal one, and unknown to any but ourselves, she +could not hereafter, by any disclosures that she might make, convict me +as an accomplice to the transaction." These thoughts flashed through his +mind ere she again spoke. + +"Your words, sir, though not complimentary to me, I can excuse, on +account of the peculiarity of your present position and frame of mind, +and you shall be satisfied of the truth of that which you pretend to +doubt," and drawing from her pocket two papers, Mrs. Fraudhurst held +them with a firm grasp before him, but in such a position that it +enabled him to read every line. "There," she continued, in a low tone, +"is the will in question, and the codicil which you so much depend on; +are you satisfied?" Then, refolding the papers somewhat hastily, +replaced them in her dress and turned to leave the room, remarking as +she did so, "I shall return in a few moments, and you must make up your +mind as to how you intend to act before I do so." + +Ralph had read every line and word, and saw how hopeless was his case +unless he closed with the widow's offer, but he would make one more +trial to obtain the best position, and as she re-entered said, "Place +those documents in my possession and I will swear to fulfil the terms +you propose." + +"Not so," she replied with a contemptuous curl on her lip, "they remain +with me, and I remain here; there will be no difficulty in that. Of +course Miss Effingham must find shelter beneath your roof for some time +at least, and as you are a single man, you will require some one to +superintend your establishment until the future Lady Coleman shall +appear on the scene, and ere that event takes place, other arrangements +can be made. Accept my conditions and you become one of the wealthiest +men in the county. Reject them, and I immediately place both documents +in the hands of the late Baronet's lawyer, who is now in the house. I +have merely to say that I gathered them from the floor of the study, on +the morning of Sir Jasper's death, and that, in the hurry and excitement +of the moment, carried them to my own room, unconscious of their +importance, until this morning. This statement, true or otherwise, will +suffice to account for their being in my possession" + +Ralph Coleman would have still hesitated, but her's being the stronger +will of the two, he succumbed, took the required oath, and the compact +between them was complete. No sooner was this effected than both parties +left the place of meeting in the same order as they entered. + +Having carried her point and thus secured for herself a comfortable +income, together with a handsome suite of apartments within the walls of +Vellenaux, which she very naturally concluded would be a permanent home, +at least during the life of Sir Ralph, he being completely in her power, +as she could at any time, by the production of the late Baronet's will, +drive him ignominiously from his present luxurious abode. It is true, in +effecting this she would have to seek refuge in a foreign land, yet a +vindictive spirit will often, as the old adage runs, cut off the nose to +be revenged on the face. + +Having gained the mastery of the position, she turned her thoughts in +the direction of the new Baronet with a view of inducing him to submit +to the matrimonial yoke and by that means establish herself as +Vellenaux's envied mistress with the prefix of Lady before her name. +However, she could afford to bide her time, feeling certain that in the +long run Sir Ralph would yield, her stronger will working on his fears. + + +The funeral was over. The family vault of the Coleman's in the quaint +old church, a little beyond the Park limits, had received the mortal +remains of the worthy man, who for forty years had attended divine +service within that sacred edifice where the last sad rite for the +departed had just been performed. It had been a solemn and imposing +ceremony. The cortege passed slowly and silently down the broad avenue +of venerable elms, through the Park gate and up the road leading to the +old church yard. The superbly mounted coffin, borne on its funeral +hearse, whose black plumes, undulated in the soft winds that sighed +through the trees, was drawn by six velvet palled horses, and +accompanied by mutes, pall bearers and others in all the solemn +paraphernalia of woe, followed by the mourning coaches, and the long +line of private carriages, some occupied and others empty, for by one of +the conventionalities of English well-bred society, one can be present +on such occasions by proxy. Your carriage will suffice, should you not +feel equal to the task of attending in person. The full, deep, rich +tones of the organ poured forth the funeral dirge, as the coffin was +carried up the centre aisle and placed on trussels in front of the +altar. The pews, gallery and aisles were filled by rich and poor; so +much had the late Baronet been respected by friend and tenant. The +venerable Rector who performed the service, although accustomed to such +scenes, was deeply affected. He had been on the most intimate terms with +Sir Jasper, and had never solicited his kind offices on behalf of the +poor in vain. Besides, he was more advanced in years than the friend +whom he had now consigned to the cold embraces of the grave, for were +not his own days numbered and must soon draw to a close? + +As the different parties separated on the conclusion of the ceremony, +various were the comments and conjectures as to the manner in which Sir +Jasper had divided his property, and it was almost universally believed +that Miss Edith would come in for a greater part of his wealth and the +estate of Vellenaux would undoubtedly become hers. + +Sir Ralph, as he must now be called, and others interested in such +proceedings, returned, to Vellenaux to examine and hear read the will +and such other documents relating to the distribution of the property +real and personal of the late Baronet, and great was the surprise of all +present except one, when it was announced that, after the strictest +search, no will or other document of the kind had been found among the +papers of the late Baronet. Mr. Russell, a man of integrity, and well +known for the uprightness of his dealings, and who had for upwards of +thirty years transacted all the legal business and had the management of +the estate of the late Sir Jasper, declared that, to the best of his +knowledge no will had been made. This was followed by a statement from +Sir Ralph to the effect that it was but a few weeks since, that his +cousin, the late Sir Jasper Coleman, had declared to him his intention +of making a will in his (Sir Ralph's) favor. Miss Effingham, on being +asked, had sent word that she had never heard her uncle say anything on +the subject, and Mrs. Fraudhurst, on being interrogated, announced that +she had always been of the opinion that Miss Effingham was to be sole +heiress of her uncle's wealth, but had never heard Sir Jasper speak of +having actually made any will at all. Consequently the law gave to Sir +Ralph Coleman the entire property of the late Baronet, whose much-loved +niece was thus left a penniless orphan. + +Old Reynolds, who had been in the library when it was announced the +Baronet had left no will, and that the entire property fell to his +cousin, Sir Ralph, immediately summoned the domestics in the servants' +hall and related to his astonished hearers what he had heard. +Consternation was depicted on the countenance of all, and a wordy +colloquy ensued as to what would become of their dear young mistress, +and whether they would be discharged to make room for others whom the +new Baronet might choose to appoint. The grey-headed old Butler had been +at Vellenaux since he was a lad of fourteen, and had known Colonel +Effingham, who had frequently, prior to leaving the service, visited his +old companion-in-arms, Sir Jasper Coleman, at his favorite residence, +felt much concerned that the niece of his old master should have been +left unprovided for. "Of course," Said Annette, Edith's own maid "I +shall have to return home, for I do not suppose Miss Effingham will +remain here very long, as Sir Ralph is a bachelor, and I know for +certain that she dislikes him exceedingly." + +"But what will madam, the widow, do," enquired the footman. + +"Set her cap at him as she did at our poor, dear old master," responded +the housekeeper, "No fear, she will take care not to be a loser by the +change." "She will, no doubt," suggested another, "keep house for Sir +Ralph until he brings home a Lady Coleman, or is persuaded into marrying +the widow herself." + +It was quite evident, that sympathy ran high in Edith's favour, and that +they cared not a jot for the ex-governess or the new master. But they +were too well trained to betray what they thought concerning the two +last named persons. + +The matter was duly talked over throughout the neighbourhood. Some shook +their heads but said nothing, and others said a great deal that meant +nothing. The Bartons sent a very kind and sympathizing letter to Edith +in which they offered her an asylum at the Willows, should she think a +little change of scene would in any way reconcile her to the loss she +had sustained, they having heard that Miss Effingham had in her grief +declined for the present to receive her most intimate friends and +acquaintances. + +For many days after the funeral Edith kept within the seclusion of her +own chamber, alas, hers now no longer, but the property of another and +of one whose presence was repugnant to her. With returning consciousness +also came the realization of the sad spectacle that had met her view in +the private library. She had loved and respected her uncle, and had ever +looked up to him as a father, which he had indeed been since the death +of her parents, whom she did not recollect, and grief for his loss had +outweighed all other thoughts and considerations for the future, and for +the first week she gave herself up to inconsolable sorrow. But at length +that practical good sense with which nature had endowed her, came to her +relief. She stifled the rising sobs in her young bosom and prepared to +face the stern realities of life, which must ere long, she knew, force +themselves upon her. + +To remain in the house of the man she so despised and whose proffered +vows of love she had so indignantly rejected, was impossible. + +Of the malady which was the cause of her uncle's sudden death, she knew +nothing. He had never hinted of its existence, therefore she was totally +unprepared and inexpressibly shocked at the suddenness with which he had +been struck down, and it was some time before she could sufficiently +subdue her agitated feelings to enable her to give any instructions to +the household, who, like herself, had been almost stupefied by the +calamity. + +But not so with Mrs. Fraudhurst; that cold, unfeeling woman cared only +for the safety of her own position, and had already arranged what she +should do. At her suggestion, no changes were made in the establishment. +Every servant was retained, and the business of the estate still left in +the hands of Mr. Russell, the former agent, and matters soon resumed +their usual routine, as though the late proprietor was merely absent on +a visit. + +Notwithstanding the precautions taken in order to prevent suspicion from +gaining ground that there had been any complicity between Sir Ralph and +the widow, which might account for the absence of any legal document +making a suitable provision for that niece to whom Sir Jasper was so +sincerely attached, there were many who could not divest themselves of +the idea that there had been foul play practiced in some way, but as +there was nothing tangible to go upon they were compelled to confine +their suspicions within their own breasts, and show their sympathy for +Miss Effingham by letters of condolence and offers of friendship and +protection should she need them; for of course, it was understood by all +that her position was materially altered by the apparent fact that Sir +Jasper had died intestate. + +Both Mrs. Fraudhurst and Sir Ralph were struck with the visible inroad +that grief had made in the pale but still beautiful features of Edith, +as she entered the drawing room for the first time since her uncle's +funeral. + +The new Baronet rose as if to conduct her to a seat, but there was +something in her eye and manner that checked him, and he contented +himself with bowing to her somewhat stiffly, and resumed his chair. She +advanced toward the table at which he was seated, with a coolness and +self-possession so natural to her, whenever placed in any awkward and +trying position; her elegant figure fully developed by the tight fitting +habit she wore, and the ringlets of her rich brown hair falling upon her +magnificent shoulders from beneath her black riding hat, and in a voice +calm, clear and distinct, but without the least bitterness or anger, +thus addressed him: "Sir Ralph Coleman, the law, I am told, pronounces +you master of Vellenaux and its broad acres. The death of my uncle has +left me without a home, but, I trust, not without friends. Do not +interrupt me, sir," said she, seeing that he was about to speak, "Your +importunities and ungenerous conduct previous to the death of my late +lamented uncle and more than father, would, in itself, be a sufficient +inducement for me to take the step I am now about to do. It is my +intention to leave Vellenaux this morning for the Willows, and request +that my personal effects and such property as may have been presented to +me by my late uncle may be sent to me there." Then, with a slight +inclination of the head towards him, and without a word or glance in the +direction of Mrs. Fraudhurst, who was seated at the open window, +examining the contents of the post bag, turned and left the apartment. +Her intended departure had been made known to the whole of the household +by Annette, and, much to her surprise, she found all the servants +assembled in the hall to pay their respects to her as she quitted the +only home she had ever known. Edith felt deeply their respectful +sympathy and parted from them with unfeigned regret. Poor old Bridoon at +the Lodge felt keenly for his young mistress, and could not refrain from +expressing to her, as she wished him farewell, that there was something +wrong about the absence of any will or other document. He would not +believe that his dear old master would put off making a provision for +his niece until it was too late, and he sincerely hoped that he might +live to see the day of her return to Vellenaux as its mistress. This +feeling was shared alike by tenantry and servants, for they all had, in +some way, been indebted to her for acts of kindness. + +"You have been too precipitate, and frightened the bird away," remarked +Mrs. Fraudhurst. "But," continued she, after a moment's pause, "perhaps +it is as well she has taken this step. Her presence here is now no +longer necessary. You have the property without the encumbrance." + +Whatever Sir Ralph's opinions on the subject might have been he did not +express them; but in his inmost heart he wished that she had remained +under his roof, for time, he thought, would cause her to change her +mind, and think more favorably of his suit, and once his wife, she could +not give evidence against him should the affair of the stolen will ever +come to her knowledge. He distrusted his partner in crime, and avoided +as much as possible being left alone with her. + +In the Bartons Edith found true friends, Julia and Emily doing +everything in their power to render her stay with them as agreeable as +possible. The pretty Mrs. Horace, who, from the first, had taken a great +interest in her, now felt a real desire to serve one who, by the force +of circumstances over which she had no control, had been left, as it +were, alone in the world, and that, too, at an age and with such +personal attractions as usually require the most careful watching of +parent or guardian, and it entered her pretty head that she could serve +her friend most effectually and at the same time secure for herself that +which was so much needed in her Indian home in the far East, a personal +friend and companion. Good, easy Horace, she knew, would not object, and +scarcely had Edith been one week at the Willows before she had unfolded +to her the scheme she had worked out for their mutual benefit; and +meeting the approval of the whole family, Edith was only too happy to +accompany Mrs. Barton on her return to Calcutta, for, thought she, I +have no relative in England to miss me, or mourn for me, but in India I +perhaps have, and her thoughts wandered to Arthur Carlton and the +probability of their meeting in the land beyond the seas. After a few +weeks' longer residence in Devonshire, the pretty little wife of the +Judge, accompanied by Edith, left by the overland route to return to her +home in the City of Palaces. And such was the effect on Edith of change +of scene and a life so entirely new to her, among a people whose habits, +manners and customs were strangely at variance with anything she had +hitherto experienced, and she now remembered, with feelings of emotion +softened by time, that uncle, whose death she had so deeply lamented, +that her health and spirits gradually returned, and with them that +beauty, which had adorned her before her sad bereavement, and for a few +years her residence in India was in no way distasteful to her. During +this time she had frequently heard of Arthur Carlton, but they had only +met twice, his regiment being employed at so great a distance from +Calcutta in settling some disturbances among the Rohillas of Rohilcund, +that it was very difficult for a subaltern to obtain leave of absence. + +A few weeks after her return, Mrs. Barton had written to Arthur, +acquainting him with the fact of Edith's being in the country, and +certain circumstances connected with the death of Sir Jasper Coleman, +and wound up by giving him a special invitation to Chowringee for a few +weeks. This she had done out of kindness to Edith, for she had some +suspicion of how that young lady might be influenced by the presence of +the playmate of her childhood. + +Carlton received this intelligence with the utmost astonishment. He had +been in complete ignorance of the Baronet's death and the changes that +had taken place at Vellenaux. His last two letters to Edith had remained +unanswered, or at least he had not received them. But he little knew +that Mrs. Fraudhurst had taken possession of the post bag and abstracted +therefrom Edith's letters to him as well as those he had sent to her. +She had some apprehensions that he might contrive to make his appearance +at Vellenaux at a time it was least expected or desired by either +herself or Sir Ralph Coleman. His next feeling was that of joy at the +thought of again meeting her, and at the idea that she was to remain in +the same country perhaps for several years. As has been mentioned +before, no direct words of love had passed between them, and it was not +until the mighty ocean had divided them that he had realized how dear +she was to him, or the strength or depth of his love for her. In his +heart he secretly rejoiced that Sir Jasper's estate had passed into +other hands, for what chance had he, a poor Lieutenant of Dragoons, in +aspiring to the hand of the beautiful Edith, heiress of Vellenaux. + +He lost no time in procuring the required furlough, and at their first +meeting, the four missing letters were commented upon, and their +non-delivery ascribed to the right party, namely, Mrs. Fraudhurst, as +they wandered together down the pomegranate and orange groves in the +cool of the evening, or pacing the broad, open verandah beneath the star +lit sky. + +"I think, Carlton, you must be in high feather with the Colonel, or your +lucky star is in the ascendant," said Captain Hastings to our young +hero, a few days after his return from Calcutta, as they rode home from +stables together. + +"How so? What is in the mind now?" enquired Arthur, as he reined his +horse nearer to that of his companion. + +"Why, there is another row among those fellows in Bundlecund, and a +squadron of our regiment has been ordered out. My troop and yours have +been selected for the business, and as your Captain is in Europe and the +other two troop commanders absent from headquarters, you are to have +charge on, this occasion. I command the squadron, so they may look out +for hard knocks if we get a chance at them. I will teach the blackguards +a lesson they will not forget for some time. They will find no +philanthropy or mistaken clemency about me, and to tell you the truth, I +would rather have you for my second in command than either Dalzell or +Harcly." + +"Many thanks for your good opinion; and depend upon it I shall not be +backward in proving its correctness, should an opportunity offer," +responded Arthur, as they entered the mess room. + +The affair in Bundlecund proved a more obstinate contest than had been +at first expected, and lasted for a considerable time. But the coolness +and determination of the light Dragoons were too much for them, +consequently the disturbance was quelled, but not before a large number +of the rascals had been made to bite the dust. Here, as in +Chillianwalla, Carlton's bravery and skill, as a troop leader, were +conspicuous, and he well merited the encomiums that were poured upon him +by his brother officers on the return of the squadron from the disturbed +districts, now in a tranquil state. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +Such of our readers as may have been acquainted with the West end of +London some thirty-five years since, must recollect old Cavendish +Square. Prior to that date it had been very exclusive, but on Belgravia +and Tybernia springing into existence, the nobility and aristocratic +families moved from there to the new suburban localities, and their old +quarters were occupied by quite a different class, which had migrated +principally from that region east of Temple Bar, such as merchants, +bankers, eminent barristers, and physicians of first standing. One of +the main avenues leading from this square westward, and known as Harley +Street, was inhabited by another set, usually styled very respectable +people, chiefly consisting of maiden ladies of doubtful ages, who kept +their carriages and lived in good style, whist playing dowagers, who +kept their carriages but hired job horses, when it was necessary to +visit their friends whose circumstances were more flourishing than their +own, and the families of country members who usually remained in town +daring the session of Parliament, and often for a much longer period. It +was in this street and in this circle that the Cotterells lived and +moved. Mr. Cotterell, the father of Kate--the prettiest Kate in all that +locality, at least, so Tom Barton said, and he ought to know for he had +seen her often, and never failed to get his face as close to hers as +possible whenever a chance presented itself for his so doing--was a +retired stock broker who, having made a considerable hit in a great +speculation by which he realized a handsome sum, prudently took the +advice of his spouse and let well enough alone, retired from business, +left their dusky residence in the city, and moved to their present +abode, No. 54 Upper Harley Street. Mrs. Cotterell was the youngest +sister of Mrs. Barton of the Willows, in Devonshire, hence the +relationship between our friend, Tom Barton, and pretty cousin Kate, the +charm of whose gay and lively manners had made quite an impression on +the susceptible heart of cousin Tom, which increased and strengthened +during the frequent visits of that young lady to her aunt's in +Devonshire. Nor was it a one sided affair, for she had been captivated +by the handsome person and agreeable address of her cousin, but being +petit in stature, she was like most little beauties, very arbitrary and +capricious towards her lover, yet, with all this, she was a girl of +good, sound sense, and knowing that her portion on the death of her +parents would be but small, would not consent to entangle herself in the +meshes of matrimony until Tom had established himself in his profession, +and there was a fair prospect of their succeeding in life. + +It will be remembered that Tom Barton left for London about the same +time that Arthur Carlton started for India. He had been more fortunate +than could have been expected in the profession he had chosen, for he +had scarcely been three years turning over musty deeds, copying legal +documents and other drudgeries appertaining to a lawyer's office, when +his employer died, leaving him the business and recommending him to the +notice of his clients generally. Now, although Tom's chambers were +situated in Lincoln's Inn Fields which everybody knows (who knows +anything of London) is a large, airy space, surrounded with iron +railings, wherein there are plenty of trees, flowers, grasses, and +gravel walks to stroll about in, all of which could be seen from his +chamber window. But this was not sufficient for him. He wanted something +more suburban and evidently considered the atmosphere north of Oxford +street more conducive to his health, or he would never have imposed upon +himself the task of walking from Lincoln's Inn so far westward up Harley +Street. Yet, although the air must have been more pure some half a mile +further on, he never by any chance, succeeded in getting beyond No. 54. + +There was also another gentleman who found it convenient and agreeable +to walk in the same direction and stop at the same house. This for some +time perplexed our friend, Tom, and gave him considerable uneasiness in +the region of the heart. His first business was to discover who he was; +this did not take long to accomplish, but he was more puzzled than ever; +there was no one ill at No. 54, and the gentleman turned out to be a +physician of good standing, residing in Cavendish Square. He dared not +speak to Kate on the subject, for fear of committing himself and +becoming exposed to that little lady's raillery, for he well knew that +she would torment him unmercifully if he betrayed the least sign of +jealousy. Wishing to be satisfied on a point that so troubled him, he +determined to sound his aunt on the matter. He was a great favourite +with her, and she was not likely to betray him to his lady love. + +"Very quiet, gentlemanly sort of person, Doctor Ashburnham; don't you +think so," he enquired of his aunt one evening, as they were seated +alone in the drawing room on Harley Street? + +"It is well that you are that way of thinking, for he has the same +opinion of you," remarked Mrs. Cotterell with a quiet smile. "Do you +remember to have met him anywhere but in London?" she asked, after a few +moments' pause. + +Tom shook his head and replied, "I think not, but perhaps I may have +seen him somewhere. I meet all sorts of people." + +"Well, well, your sister Julia is coming up to town some evening next +week, and she is such a clever girl, perhaps she can enlighten you on +the subject." + +Tom stared at his aunt for a moment, then the mist began to clear away. +It now struck him that he had never met the Doctor in Harley Street +except during the time that his sister was on a visit there, and it also +occurred to him now, that on his last flying visit to Devonshire he had +met a gentleman much resembling Doctor Ashburnham, riding with Julia in +one of the green lanes in Vellenaux. It was all dear enough now, it was +Julia's lover who had given him so much concern of late, and this fact +removed a great load from Tom's heart. On this discovery his face +brightened up. "But, my dear aunt, is there really anything in it." + +"Anything in what?" enquired the good lady, looking up from her +knitting, somewhat amused at the manner in which her nephew had put the +question. + +"Why, I mean, is there any love affair, engagement or that sort of thing +between Julia and the Doctor?" + +"Well, Tom, all I can say is, that Doctor Ashburnham seldom calls here +except during the time your sister is in London, or occasionally pays +us a visit to enquire when she is likely to be in town again. They have +met, I believe, in Devonshire, and he has visited her at the Willows. He +is certainly very attentive to her when she is with us, and she appears +to be anything but indifferent to his addresses; you can draw your own +conclusions from that, but, as I before stated, she will be here next +week and then, perhaps, she may take you into her confidence. I can say +no more on the matter." + +"By George! I hope it is as you say. It would be a capital match for +her. He has a first rate practice, keeps quite a stylish turn out, and +occupies a handsome house in Cavendish Square. I must become more +intimate with him, and see if I cannot worm out exactly what he is +driving at." Here Tom took his hat, and started down stairs three steps +at a time, nearly upsetting the Doctor in the hall in his great hurry. +"Beg pardon, my dear sir, quite accidental I assure you; in haste to +speak to Mr. Cotterell in the library," said Tom apologetically. + +"Don't mention it, pray, Mr. Barton," was the reply, as that gentleman +quickly ascended the staircase leading to the drawing room. + +Now, Tom really had no business with Mr. Cotterell that evening, nor +would he have intruded on that worthy person, but for his encounter with +the Doctor. He would, he thought, not remain long with his aunt, and it +would be a good opportunity to push his enquiries, could he but manage +to go out with him. His anticipations proved correct. The Doctor did not +remain long up stairs, and our friend Tom managed to meet him again as +he was passing through the hall. + +"Fine evening, sir; which way are you walking?" said Tom, seeing no +vehicle in attendance. + +"I am returning to Cavendish Square, sir," was the ready reply. + +"I also am going in that direction, and if you have no objection will +walk with you," returned Tom Barton. The two gentlemen walked together, +chatting in a very friendly way on the different topics of the day until +they had reached the door of the Doctor's residence, when that gentleman +surprised Tom by saying, "Mr. Barton, will you do me the favor to step +in for a few moments? I wish to speak to you on a subject that cannot +very well be discussed in the public street." Nothing loath, Tom agreed +and was ushered into a very snug apartment, half library, half smoking +divan. + +"You smoke, of course," said the Doctor, pointing at the same time to an +array of pipes and tobacco of different kinds on a small side table. +Fill, then, drop into that easy chair, and I will tell you why I have +requested you to enter my snuggery. Tom acted upon his suggestion, and +was soon sending great puffs of smoke half way across the room. His host +followed this very laudable example, and after a few whiffs, at once +opened the business by candidly, and in a straightforward, manner, +telling Tom the great love and admiration he felt for Miss Barton, whom +he had frequently met in Devonshire as well as in London, and that he +had vanity enough to believe that his love was reciprocated, and +declared his intention on Julia's arrival to decide the affair by making +her an offer of his hand and heart, and finished by requesting Tom to +forward his views to the best of his ability. + +To this Tom readily assented. "The sly little puss," he continued, "not +to mention a word of it even to me. But I suppose it is not considered +by the fair sex quite the thing to speak to any one on so delicate a +subject until after the gentleman has popped the question." Shortly +after, he took his departure for his chambers at Lincoln's Inn, and it +was noticed that Doctor Ashburnham and Mr. Tom Barton were seen more +frequently together than had hitherto been the case. + +Miss Barton arrived, as had been expected by her relatives in Harley +Street, and the physician from Cavendish Square called there every day, +although there was no illness or epidemic in the house, save that known +as the heart disease, and so earnestly did the Doctor press his suit +that Julia must have been hard-hearted indeed to have refused to add to +his happiness by encumbering him with a wife, and ere she returned to +Devonshire, it was finally settled that the wedding was to take place at +the end of the following month, and a very dashing affair it proved. The +lawn sleeves at Saint George's, Hanover Square, were called into +requisition on the occasion. There was a great display of white corded +silk, lace orange blossoms, muslins and wreaths of white roses. Gunter, +of Berkly square, was called upon to supply a wedding breakfast, which +was partaken of at the Cotterells', and after some champagne had been +drank, and the speeches usual on the occasion made, the happy pair +started on their wedding tour through the South of England, calling, of +course, at the Willows on their way. After visiting Scotland they +returned to London, and settled comfortably down to the humdrum of +every day life in the Doctor's handsome establishment in Cavendish +Square, which had been re-decorated and furnished for them during their +absence. + +Not many months elapsed before the happiness of our young friends was +somewhat over-shadowed by the death of the worthy old couple at the +Willows, who expired within two months of each other. Mr. Barton died of +old age, and his wife from influenza, caught while attending church to +hear the funeral sermon. + +Horace Barton not being expected in England for some time, the Willows +was let on a short lease, and Emily came up to London to reside with her +aunt in Harley Street, occasionally spending several weeks with her +sister, Mrs. Ashburnham. + +Our young lawyer was slowly but surely increasing his practice. He had +used all his powers of persuasion to induce Kate to allow him to lead +her to the altar on the same day that his sister was married, but in +vain, for that young lady declared that she would rather take a second +class character in the interesting tableau this time, with the view of +being better able to sustain the role of the principal actress in a +similar pageant at some future time. With this decision Tom had to +remain satisfied for the present and attend to business. But in the +course of time circumstances transpired which prevented him from +attaining any eminence as a lawyer. A distant relative of Mr. +Cotterell's and Godmother to Kate, departed this life, leaving her +Godchild the very comfortable sum of six hundred per annum, secured in +the four per cents., and after wearing mourning for a suitable period, +Kate took the initiative by announcing to Tom, very much to his surprise +and delight, that she was both ready and willing to become his wife on +the following conditions, which were, that he should give up practising +law, take a snug cottage in Devonshire, and turn his attention to +haymaking, shooting, &c, and retire from London life altogether, for she +said that in the country they could live very comfortably on six hundred +a year and be thought somebodies, but they could scarcely exist in +London on that sum and then be thought nobodies. + +If our young lawyer had any scruples on the score of giving up his +profession and thereby losing all chance of ever attaining to the +dignity of Lord Chancellor, he certainly kept them to himself, for he +had no wish to run counter to the inclination of Kate, or he might find +himself in the position of the dog in the fable, who had thrown away the +substance to endeavour to grasp the shadow. Tom, in reality, had never +liked a London life, and had a constant hankering after field sports, +shooting and fishing; and now he believed he could indulge in these to +the top of his bent. They could live very comfortably on their joint +income, for he had received a certain sum on the death of his parents, +and likewise made something during the past few years by his profession, +which he had increased by placing it out at interest. Moreover, he knew +exactly where to find a house and grounds that would suit them; the very +one that Kate had so admired during their strolls around Vellenaux. It +was picturesquely situated in a shady dell, through which ran a flowing +brook which deepened and widened as it flowed on towards the sea, and +was the favourite resort of the angler and amateur fisherman--about an +equal distance from the Willows and the Rectory, and but a short walk +from the woods and park of Vellenaux. There were Horace's grounds to +shoot over, and although Sir Ralph Coleman was not a neighbour best +suited to his taste, yet he felt certain that he would not object to his +occasionally using his preserves, or bagging a few brace of birds on his +turnip fields. All this, together with a pretty little loving wife for a +companion, was, to Tom's notion, something worth living for, and a +position he would not exchange for all the gaieties of London life with +a seat on the woolsack into the bargain. + +Again No. 54 Harley Street was thrown into a state of bustle and +confusion. Millinery girls, with innumerable band boxes, and oddly +shaped parcels were continually arriving. In the drawing room there was +assembled daily a sort of joint high commission, consisting of a bevy of +pretty maidens with one or two handsome matrons, who were engaged in +deciding on the colour, material, and cut of certain wearables +appertaining to the wedding trousseau of Miss Cotterell. There were +continual visits made to the fashionable emporiums of silk, lace &c., in +Oxford and Regent streets, and other parts of the metropolis. The +wedding day at length arrived. A considerable distance up Harley Street +was lined with carriages of various descriptions, the coachmen and +footmen of which appeared in holiday costume and wearing white satin +favors, and there was quite an excitement in the immediate vicinity to +witness the arrival and departure of the wedding party to and from +church. Kate Cotterell, attended by her six bridesmaids all looking very +lovely in toilettes befitting the occasion, created quite a sensation +among the spectators as they stepped from No. 54 into the carriages that +were to convey them to Hanover Square. + +After a very _recherche_ breakfast, served in Gunter's best style, in +the handsome drawing room of the Cotterells', in Harley Street, Tom and +his fair bride took their departure _en route_ for the Continent. They +were to make a tour of several months through France, Germany and +Switzerland, likewise enjoy several weeks on the banks of the beautiful +Rhine. + +Mr. Cotterell undertook to arrange matters concerning the purchase of +the cottage so much admired, which he intended to present to his +daughter as a marriage gift, and aunt Sarah, Emily, and Mrs. Ashburnham +took upon themselves the responsibility of furnishing the said cottage, +and otherwise rendering it in every way suitable for the reception of +the happy couple, and thus enable them to commence housekeeping +immediately on their return to England. + +The various events and proceedings were duly recorded and forwarded from +time to time for the information of Horace and Pauline Barton, in their +Eastern home on the banks of the Hoogly; and Edith, who still kept up a +correspondence with Kate and Julia, received a full account, descriptive +of the wedding trousseaus and paraphernalia incident to both ceremonies, +and followed up by a delicate enquiry as to when she intended to return +the compliment by favouring them with the details of an Indian wedding, +which they supposed must soon take place, and would, no doubt, prove a +gorgeous and magnificent affair in true oriental style. So wrote the +happy girls to their old friend and companion in Calcutta, for, +according to Pauline's account, she had no end of suitors among the +wealthiest in the land. + +To all those enquiries Edith's usual reply was that the time was +somewhat distant when she could indulge in dreams of happiness. Her +position was somewhat changed, thus, probably, the event they so often +alluded to might never take place, and the reader must remember, that +although Edith and Arthur were, beyond doubt, devotedly attached to each +other, the word that would have made them both happy had not yet been +spoken; there was no engagement, or in fact, any advance towards one, +yet both, in their heart of hearts, realized the great love they felt +for each other. But prudential motives had kept Arthur silent. Edith +knew this and was content to wait for the developments of the future. In +the meantime she did not hesitate to participate in the amusements and +enjoyments which offered, and which were continually pressed upon her by +her kind friends, the Bartons. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +The capital of Bengal was a very gay city. What with balls and public +breakfasts at the Governor General's, brilliant assemblages given by the +Civil Service Granders, with no end of picnics, theatricals, cricket +matches and races improvised by the military and naval officers, for the +especial benefit (at least so they said) of the beautiful, gay +butterflies that condescended to grace, with their presence, such +assemblages; and Pauline Barton never allowed these occurrences to +transpire without inducing the beautiful Miss Effingham, as she was +usually styled, to accompany her, for Pauline was, indeed, very popular +in Chowringee and around its vicinity, and her Bungalow was a constant +lounge for the gallants of all services. Horace was no niggard in his +hospitality, but preferred the ease and comfort of his own sanctum to +the gay rattle that was continually going on in his pretty little wife's +drawing room or verandahs. And Arthur was again, for a fourth time since +his arrival in the country, in Calcutta. He had contrived to get +appointed one of a committee for the purchasing of troop horses for his +regiment and this would detain him at the Presidency for a couple of +months. This was a source of much pleasure to Edith, for sometimes +accompanied by Mrs. Barton, but more frequently alone, would Arthur and +Edith, either driving or on horseback, wend their way through the shaded +avenues that crossed the Midan, along the strand by the river side to +Garden, reach and loiter in the Botanical Gardens; this being +considered by the Grandees the most fashionable resort for a canter in +the early morn or a pleasant drive about sunset. + +It never entered the head of pretty Mrs. Barton that there could be any +serious love making between her friend and the handsome Lieutenant. She +knew that they had been brought up together from childhood and were more +like brother and sister than lovers, and had such an idea been suggested +to her by any of her friends, she would have pooh poohed it as mere +moonshine. She knew that it was out of the question for a Subaltern to +enter the matrimonial arena; besides the brilliant beauty of Miss +Effingham must command a suitable alliance and an enviable position +whenever she cared to enter upon the responsibility of married life, and +it appeared evident that Edith was in no hurry to take the initiative or +allow herself to be led away by the flattering speeches she daily heard +from those, by whom she was surrounded. Nor was Mrs. Barton at all +desirous that she should enter into any such engagement, for she was +well aware that it was the charm of her fair friend's manner that drew +to her house the most agreeable and handsomest men of the capital. She +knew likewise that it was Horace's intention to settle in England as +soon as his term of service should expire, and it would then be time for +Edith to select from her numerous admirers the one she most preferred, +but until that time she should be exceedingly sorry to part with her. + +"Do you intend spending the day at Mrs. Deborah's?" enquired Mrs. Barton +of Edith as they rose from the breakfast table. Edith replied in the +affirmative. "Well, then, I will send the palkee for you; but do not be +late, my dear, for dinner." She had no intention of being too late, as +she knew that in all probability Arthur would make his appearance during +the evening. The distance from the Bartons to her friend's Bungalow was +not more than half a mile. The road lay through a very picturesque but +somewhat lonely part of the suburbs. The Date and stately Palms, +intermingled with the blossom of the gold Mohur trees, looked so very +lovely by the light of the setting sun. For some cause or other Edith's +palkee did not arrive at the time appointed, and not wishing to trouble +her friend--who usually sent her children at sunset in their palkee for +an airing--and attracted by the beauty of the scene, she started to walk +home, thinking of the pleasure of meeting Arthur. Her mind was engaged +on this subject when she reached a Date grove, a short distance from the +road side, and so busy was she with her thoughts, she had not noticed +that for the past few minutes she had been followed by a tall, burly +mussulman, and he came upon her before she was aware of his presence. +Without a word of warning, he threw his long arms around her waist, and +endeavored to drag or carry her to the Date grove. There could be no +mistaking his intentions, and he would no doubt have succeeded in +carrying out his villainous design--for the terrified girl was in a half +fainting condition, and unable from the suddenness of the attack, to +offer much resistance--when Arthur Carlton, who had been attracted to +the spot by her shrieks and cries for help, came to the rescue. He had +called at the Bungalow, and learning where she might be found, had set +out in search of her, and arrived just in time. The ruffian managed to +make good his escape, not, however, before he had received several +marks of Arthur's favor from the horsewhip he carried. He then supported +the still, trembling girl home, and she soon forgot, in his society, the +danger which had menaced her. + +Exasperated beyond measure at so rare an occurrence as the attack made +on his beloved Edith, he at once sought the aid of the police, and from +the description given they soon succeeded in tracing the offender, who +proved to be a Subaltern of the native cavalry. The affair was reported +to head quarters, and a court of enquiry was summoned which resulted in +the court martial and dismissal from service of the blackguard, who +immediately left the station, vowing to have his revenge on Carlton, +should ever an opportunity occur for so doing, and this, with a +Mahammedan means mischief, for they never rest in their endeavors to +effect a purpose. + +The duties which brought Carlton to Calcutta were now at an end, and the +Lieutenant had to return to head quarters. Edith, being of an enquiring +turn of mind, acquired a great deal of information respecting the +natives' character, their castes, customs and ceremonies, and by the aid +of a Moonshee soon learned to speak with ease and fluency the Hindostan +language. This she turned to account in the management of the household +servants. + +Calcutta is the largest city in British India, and is situated on the +bank of the Hoogley, one of the branches of the river Ganges, held as +sacred by the natives. There are quite a number of Europeans and +professing Christians, numbering in the aggregate about fourteen +thousand, the principal portions of which are half castes, three +quarter castes, Euroasians, Portuguese and Hindoo Britons. The half +castes are the progeny of the European men and native women. The +three-quarter-castes, that of European fathers and half-caste mothers. +The Euroasians spring from European and three-quarter-caste parents, +while the Hindoo Britons are the children of European parents, born in +India. The Portuguese likewise intermarry with these classes. These +people make up the principal number of those professing Christianity +throughout the Presidency. The churches of England, Rome, and Scotland +were well attended by the officers of the civil service, army and navy, +with their families, among which there is very little sectarianism. But +the Roman Catholic faith is largely diffused among the other classes. +The native population of all castes number about six hundred thousand, +and although they have no regular Sunday or day of rest, they have quite +a number of religious festivals or holidays which they scrupulously +observe. + +The principal festival, and the one most religiously kept of all the +holidays among the true believers--as the followers of Mahomet style +themselves--is that of the Moharum, which lasts ten days, commencing +from the appearance of the new moon, in the month of November, during +which time handsome temples and mosques are constructed of bamboo and +paper, and embellished with glass, paint and gilding. On the last day +they are carried in grand procession through the public thoroughfares, +proceeded by a band of music and accompanied by an immense concourse of +spectators. Many of the faithful prostrate themselves before these +Taboots, and in many instances rolling over and over in the muddy +streets for a considerable distance, being generally well primed with +bang or opium. There are occasional disturbances between the fanatics of +the different castes, for many of these work themselves up to a pitch of +frenzy by the use of narcotics and other stimulants, but the Government +always take steps to prevent any serious outbreak, by having the troops +posted in different parts of the town, ready to turn out at a moment's +notice, and a strong body of police mounted and on foot accompany the +procession to enforce order. At sunset they reach the river, and the +day's proceedings terminate by the Taboots being thrown into the water, +amid the shouts, gesticulation and vociferations of the now thoroughly +excited populace. + +The Dewally Festival is equally recognized by natives of all castes and +denominations as a sort of New Year's Day. Accounts for the past year +are closed, and new books are opened. The dirt and rubbish of the past +twelvemonth is removed, the houses thoroughly cleansed and at night the +city or town is illuminated with lamps, Chinese lanterns, and other +descriptions of lights, and the houses thrown open for general +hospitality. + +The Hooley, the most revolting of all Hindoo Festivals, draws together +an immense concourse of people. Large fires are made on the sides of the +public streets and liquid dye stuffs, with every description of filth is +thrown by the Hindoos on each other, and should any unfortunate Hindoo +woman show herself in the street on these occasions, she is assaulted +with language of the most obscene and disgusting nature. These festivals +have of late years been curtailed by the Government, and now seldom last +more than two days--that is, in large cities containing European +communities--but in native towns it is still of many days duration. + +Accounts of these and other native ceremonies, together with the horrors +of the black hole, experienced by Europeans, nearly one hundred years +since at the suggestion of the native princes, had been related to Edith +by her Moonshee Ayah, but their dominion, or power for good or evil, has +now passed away, and Calcutta of the present day is one of the +pleasantest and finest cities to the European to be found throughout our +Indian possessions. + +And were it not for the great change in her position, from absolute +affluence to becoming the recipient of another's bounty, Edith would +have been, if not quite happy, at least contented. Yet it must not be +imagined that she was ungrateful or the less thankful to her kind +protectors, the Bartons, for she could now well realize what might have +been her situation had she been compelled to act upon the plan that had +first suggested itself to her on leaving Vellenaux--that of becoming a +governess or companion to some antiquated Dowager in Europe. + +The repeated assurances from Mrs. Barton that she would, at no distant +period, secure a brilliant alliance, fell coldly on her ear, but she +made no ostentative demonstration of her own ideas on the subject, but +with a gentle and quiet dignity, repelled the advances of certain +aspirants for her hand, who were continually to be found in her train +whenever she appeared abroad. She had a smile for all and a fascinating +and bewitching manner which was equally bestowed among her would-be +admirers. But beyond this all was calm and cold. Her heart had +imperceptibly slipped from her, and was now in the care of another, nor +would she wish it were otherwise. The future was before her and she was +willing to wait. + +Let it not be imagined that Arthur Carlton was a lukewarm lover, coldly +prudential, or thinking it would be time enough to marry when he should +have obtained his Captaincy, and careless as to what trying position +Edith might be placed in, surrounded, as he knew her to be, by those who +would willingly wed her at any moment. Far from it. He loved her too +well to ask her to share at present the inconveniences incident to a +camp life, as experienced by the wives of subalterns, not that he +doubted she would yield up without a single regret the gay society and +splendid establishment of Mrs. Barton, and contentedly share with him +his home, be it ever so humble. But the thought of her having to make +any such sacrifice was to him one that could not be entertained for a +moment. He believed he knew her sufficiently well to trust implicitly in +her constancy, and await the happy time when he could in all honour +formally propose for her hand. + +About a twelvemonth prior to the outbreak of the great Sepoy mutiny, it +pleased the authorities to change the scene of Mr. Barton's labors from +Chowringee, that Belgravia of Calcutta, to Goolampore, a military +station of some importance in the northwest provinces, or more properly +speaking in the Goozeratte country. This act of the Government, although +particularly objectionable to Mrs. Barton, was exactly what her lord and +master desired. His term of service would shortly come to a close, and +therefore, in his opinion, it became expedient, not only to retrench his +expenses, which he could not do at the gay Capitol, but likewise gather +in a few more of the loaves and fishes of office, which were said to be +found in greater abundance at a distance from the seat of Government, +besides Mr. Barton was in the decline of life, and felt that the harness +of office life did not fit so easily upon him while under the immediate +supervision of the Suddur Aydowlett, as it would do when removed from +its immediate influence. However, be this as it may, he was quite +content with the change, nor was he the only one to whom this change was +a sort of relief. The City of Palaces and its surroundings had become +distasteful to Edith; not that she disliked the Capitol or the pleasures +to be found there; but she felt wearied and annoyed by the attentions +that were showered upon her by the numerous suitors who thronged around +her, using all the powers of persuasion they had at command, to induce +her to listen to their respective suits. The parchment visaged Nabob, +with his sacks of rupees, the wealthy planter, whose fortune had been +wrung from either opium or indigo, perhaps both, the rich civil servant +and field officer, with numerous others, all jostling and hedging each +other in the race for the hand of the beautiful Miss Effingham; but the +prize was not for them. She cared not a jot for either their persons or +their purses and would not consent to be caught, and like a bird in a +golden cage, flutter without the means of escape. + +But there was one for whom she did care, one whose image was indelibly +stamped on her heart, and whom she loved as woman only can love, and +this favored one was Arthur Carlton, Lieut. H.M. Light Dragoons--the +playmate of her childhood, and companion of her riper years in the +golden days at Vellenaux, in dear old England. + +"It is absurd in the directors, or whoever has to do with it, to send +Horace off to the Northwest, just at the commencement of the season too; +besides, we shall scarcely be settled before we shall have to return to +England. I declare we are being treated shamefully," said Mrs. Barton, +as she stepped from the Chuppaul Ghat to the Budgerow that was to convey +them to the steamer, in which a passage had been provided by the +Government for them, to the nearest port on the coast of Goozeratte, _en +route_ for Goolampore, "and to think," again resumed the little lady to +Edith, as they sat together in the handsomely furnished cabin, "that +your brilliant prospects will be destroyed; for who is there in the +interior that will compensate for the loss of those eligible suitors for +your hand?" Edith disclaimed against brilliant alliances or the admirers +referred to. + +"It is all very fine, my dear, for you to say so; but depend upon it, +for a young lady in your position and circumstances, there is nothing +equal to a wealthy husband, and an establishment of your own. But what I +shall do without you I really do not know; but I expect it must come to +that some day or other." Here the good lady sank back among her +cushions, and resigned herself to her fate, her Ayah, and her last new +novel. + +For several months all went pleasantly enough with the Bartons, much +more so, indeed than had been anticipated by her little ladyship; for +she found that as wife of the judge, the highest civil functionary in +the station, she was leader of fashion, and took precedence of all other +ladies in Goolampore; and Edith, for a time, found herself relieved from +the importunities that beset her at Calcutta. Not that she lacked +admirers, but certainly at present their attentions were not +sufficiently marked to give her any annoyance. + +The worthy judge was retrenching. His expenses were scarcely one fourth +of what they had been at the Presidency. He had attained his object, and +all things for the time being _couleur de rose_. + +"Come here pretty one," said he as he noticed Edith dismounting, after +her usual ride around the race course and band stand, one beautiful +evening. "Listen! here is something in the papers that will greatly +interest you, or I am much mistaken." Edith was soon at his side, all +attention, when the gentleman proceeded to read as follows:--"Extract +from general orders. His Excellency the Commander in Chief has been +pleased to appoint Lieutenant Arthur Carlton, H.M. Light Dragoons, to +act as A.D.C. on the staff of General D----, at Goolampore. That officer +will proceed and assume his duties at that station forthwith." Edith +could not conceal her joy at this unexpected event, and retired to her +chamber in a flutter of agitation, but happier in heart than she had +been for many months past. + +It was the anniversary of Her Majesty's birthday, and, as was customary +at all military stations, it was celebrated by a military display in the +morning, theatricals, and a supper and ball at night. The Assembly +rooms, as they were called at Goolampore, were built by Government. It +was a building of considerable length, divided into three rooms, eighty +feet long, by forty feet wide. The end one was fitted up in very +handsome style as a theatre, the other two communicating with it by +means of enormous folding doors, and were used on ordinary occasions by +the military department for holding courts martial, courts of enquiry, +committees, &c. The other was at the disposal of the political agents or +chief magistrate to transact such business as they might deem necessary. +But on such occasions as the present, or others of a similar character, +the whole three were brilliantly illuminated and thrown open for the +amusement of the _elite_ of the station. + +"I say Hopkins, as you know everything and everybody, tell me, who is +that young fellow in staff uniform, dancing with Miss Effingham?" +enquired a Colonel of the N.I. + +"That is young Carlton of the Dragoons, the new A.D.C. He only arrived +this morning. Capital fellow I am told; a tip top sportsman; goes in +strong for tiger shooting and all that kind of game," was the reply. + +"He appears to go in--as you call it--pretty strong for another +description of game. Why, this is the third time he has danced with that +young lady. Rather strong, that, I should say for a first introduction," +responded the Colonel, about to move off, when his friend continued: + +"Oh, they are old acquaintances. I met him at the Bartons this +afternoon, where he appeared quite at home, turning over the music and +accompanying _la belle_, Edith, in one of her favourite songs, +apparently very much to each others satisfaction. But the next waltz is +about to commence," said Captain Hopkins, "and I must claim my partner," +and the man who knew everything and everybody was soon waltzing with +great assiduity. + +"You will allow me the pleasure of attending you in your morning and +evening rides, whenever my duties will admit of it, dear Edith," +whispered Arthur as he handed her to the carriage at the close of the +festivities. With a sweet smile the promise was given, and the carriage +whirled off. + +The new A.D.C. soon became a general favourite. Courteous and +gentlemanly in the drawing room, and ever ready to attend the ladies _en +cavalier_, he could not fail to win the esteem of the fair sex. He was a +first-class swordsman, a bold rider, and a keen sportsman; therefore +held in great repute by his companions in arms. He had scoured the +jungles for thirty miles around Goolampore, and knew the haunts of the +tiger and cheetah better than any man in the station. This was proved by +the numerous trophies in the shape of skins and heads that he brought +in. So our young friend, basking in the smiles of beauty, and especially +of hers whom he loved so well, was consequently envied by others less +fortunate in this respect than himself; and in this delightful manner +weeks passed away. But dark clouds were rising in the distance which +were gradually closing around them to destroy the tranquility of the +station. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + +Reports began to arise of the disloyalty and insubordination of some of +the native regiments; but at first little notice was taken of the +circumstance, it being believed that the rumours were greatly +exaggerated, and that, if there was anything really in it, the matter +would soon be put to rights by the Government, either by proclamation or +by force of arms. But report followed report and the mutiny continued, +when the massacre at Cawnpore took place, and the affair at Lucknow, and +the horrors enacted at the Star Fort of Jansee, where the officer +commanding, after doing everything that could be done to protect the +unfortunate inmates, just as the mutineers were in the act of bursting +open the gates, well knowing what would be the result should they fall +into the hands of the remorseless natives, with his own hand shot his +wife and child, and then deliberately blew out his own brains. Those who +were captured met a death so horrible and revolting at the hands of and +under the immediate supervision of that incarnate fiend and she devil, +the Rannee of Jansee, the details of which are totally unfit for +publication. Then, and not till then, the magnitude of the danger was +realized. + +Mr. Barton, whose health had been on the decline some weeks past, and +whose term of service in India nearly expired, declared that he would no +longer remain in the country, and obtained leave of absence to proceed +to Bombay, in anticipation of finally leaving for Europe. Mrs. Barton, +always nervous, became alarmed for her personal safety, and urged their +immediate departure with much vehemence, and it was arranged that they +should start at once for Rutlaum _en route_ for the sea coast, and that +Miss Effingham should remain and see everything packed up and the +servants sent on, then follow herself and overtake them at Rutlaum, +where they were to make a halt for a few days. Several other families +also left about the same time, for the tide of mutiny and rebellion was +now sweeping like the red pestilence through the whole of the North West +provinces. Mohow, Indore, Meidpoore, Mundasore, Neemuch and other places +of greater or lesser note, had already become the scene of many a bloody +drama and fiendish outrage. In fact, whenever native troops had been +located, ruin and desolation reigned triumphant. Public edifices were +thrown down, Bungalows burned and the Bazaars plundered, while helpless +and unprotected Europeans, irrespective of sex or age, were seized, and +after suffering the most brutal indignities, ruthlessly slaughtered by +the fanatical and blood-thirsty native soldiery. + +Goolampore and its immediate vicinity, up to the present period, had +remained in perfect tranquility. The native mind was apparently +undisturbed by the great convulsions that were now shaking, to its very +centre, the supremacy of British power in India; but it was only the +lull before the storm, which was so soon to burst and fall like a +thunderbolt on the hitherto peaceful station. + +The Brigade here consisted of the following troops: One troop of +European horse artillery, one regiment of native cavalry, and two +battalions of Sepoys. This force was commanded by a Brigadier of the +Bengal army; but, having been on the staff for many years, was unequal +to an emergency like the present, and such was his belief in the loyalty +of the men under his command, that he refused to listen to the reports +made to him from time to time by his staff, and others well qualified to +give an opinion on the matter, until it was too late and many valuable +lives had been sacrificed. + +The evening was clear and calm, countless stars studded the dark purple +vault of heaven. The young moon shed her silvery light o'er lake and +mountain, the atmosphere was no longer influenced by the stifling heat +of the scorching sun; a deliciously cool breeze wafted from the ocean +that rolled into the Gulf of Cambay, and washed the shores of the +Goozeratte, played and rustled among the leaves of the trees and +flowers, imparting to the senses a delicious feeling of relief and +delight. + +In a broad and spacious verandah of the cavalry mess house were +assembled a group of officers of different corps. Some stretched at full +length on ottomans, enjoying the music of an excellent band; others +smoking, laughing or chatting on the various events that were passing +around them. + +"Listen to me, gentlemen," said a tall, handsome man, about thirty, and +the very _beau ideal_ of a cavalry officer, who had for some time been +leaning over the balustrade of the verandah, quietly puffing circles of +white smoke from his cheroot, and gazing thoughtfully on the moonlit +scene before him, and who had hitherto taken no part in the conversation +that was going on. "This deceitful calm," said he, drawing himself up to +his full height, and advancing to the centre of the group, "will not, +cannot last much longer, and it is high time that something should be +done for the protection of the families of the European Warrant Officers +and staff, Non-Commissioned Officers and others who are residing at +different parts of the station, and who would be the first to fall +victims to the licentious passion and murderous designs of the troops, +should an outbreak ensue before we are re-enforced by more Europeans." + +"Right! Major Collingwood is right," exclaimed a Colonel of one of the +Sepoy battalions; "too much valuable time has already been lost. What +the deuce has come to the Brigadier? Huntingdon, of the Artillery, +proposed to him to give an order for the families of the Europeans of +his troop to move at once into the Fort, but he would not listen to him, +stating that there was no necessity for such a course, and that he would +answer for the loyalty and good behavior of the troops under his +command." + +"This comes of trusting the lives and property of Europeans in the care +of General D---- and others of his stamp, who from a long association in +a civil capacity with the natives, have become so wrapped up in them, +and so hoodwinked, that they will see nothing, only through the +spectacles provided for them by the native functionaries, who always +toady and flatter their European masters," was the contemptuous remark +of one of the party. The last speaker was here interrupted by the +Brigade Major, who came bounding up the steps of the verandah, three at +a time. "What is the matter, Grey?" enquired several voices at one time. +"Oh! there has been the devil to pay at Headquarters, and no pitch hot," +was the hasty reply of the staff officer. "Explain yourself, if you +please," said Major Collingwood. "What has taken place?" + +"Why Huntingdon, in spite of the Brigadier's refusal to grant +permission, has sent the married people of his troop within the Fort, +and detailed several troopers to man the guns, and put the place in a +state of defence, in case of any sudden rising among the natives. +General D---- became furious when Huntingdon told him what he had done, +and threatened to arrest him. On young Carlton, the new A.D.C., taking +sides with the commander of the artillery, and applauding the act, old +D---- turned upon him like a lion. A violent squabble ensued, which +resulted in Arthur Carlton resigning his appointment on the Staff, and +expressed his determination to rejoin his regiment without delay." + +"Well done, Huntingdon. That is a step in the right direction. It is a +pity that the non-commissioned staff of the station could not have been +included," responded several voices; and all praised the plucky way in +which young Carlton had acted, though sorry to lose the services of so +valuable a sabre as Arthur was known to be, especially at a time when +stout hearts and bold riders were necessary to the salvation of the +station. + +"Pinkerton, Jones, and others acted wisely in sending their families +away last week; but I do not think it was quite the thing for the +Bartons to leave the pretty Miss Effingham behind to arrange their +household affairs, and then make her way to Rutlaum as she best could. +Who will see her there in safety?" exclaimed the staff Surgeon. + +"Oh, as far as that matters, that young lady would, doubtless, have a +score of volunteers to act as her escort, should she require one," said +the first speaker; "but I do not think she would accept such an offer, +nor do I imagine Arthur Carlton would feel obliged to any one in +Goolampore for acting as her guide and protector, while he was at hand +to perform so delightful a service," responded Captain Hopkins, with a +light laugh, "for you must know that he has been a constant visitor at +the Bartons since his arrival, and are they not always to be seen riding +together at the race course and band stand? Why, he is her very shadow." + +"Miss Effingham is too fine a girl, and has too much good sense to throw +herself away on a penniless Lieutenant of Dragoons, when she knows that +there are others of high standing in the service who are both able and +willing to offer her an establishment and position in society that he +will be unable to do for years to come," said a grey haired Colonel of +Infantry. + +"Phew!" ejaculated a young Cornet. "Sets the wind in that quarter? I +wonder if the pretty Edith will be proof against three lacs of rupees? I +am afraid the A.D.C.'s chances for the lady will soon sink below par; +but there is no accounting for the doings of pretty women, for 'Love +levels rank--lords down to cellar-bears, etc.'" + +The parties now began to disperse to their various quarters. No doubt +many were ruminating as to what might be the result of the fracas at the +Brigadiers quarters, just related to them by the Major of Brigade. + +The following morning as the Brigadier was preparing to mount his horse +and take his usual ride through the cantonments, the Adjutant of one of +the Sepoy battalions came up at full gallop to where he was standing, +with the, (to him) astounding intelligence that, during the night, a +large body of irregular horse had entered the limits of the station, +visiting the cavalry and Sepoy lines, and had arranged with them to +unite in plundering the Bazaar, seize the guns of the artillery, put to +death all the Europeans that might oppose them, and that the men of his +own corps and those of the other battalion were then in the act of +breaking open the bells-of-arms and taking therefrom the muskets and +ammunition. + +"Phew! There must be some mistake, your fears must have misled you. The +men may be somewhat excited. I will go down and reason with them--they +will listen to me, for they know I am their friend"--and the General +turned his horse's head in the direction of the Sepoy lines, requesting +him to follow. The Adjutant replied: + +"My instructions from the Colonel were to report the circumstance to +you, then ride to the horse artillery and acquaint Major Huntingdon and +others with it," then, saluting his superior officer, he galloped off. +Bursting with indignation at the conduct of those around him, who, until +the last few hours, were ready to obey without scruple any order, he +might give, the General called his Brigade Major, and ordered him to +ride with him. That officer shrugged his shoulders, but obeyed the +command, and they rode off together. They were soon recognized by the +mutineers. A hurried consultation among the native commissioned and +non-commissioned officers took place. Some Were for arresting the +Brigadier and his Major of Brigade, and holding them prisoners until the +guns and Fort were surrendered to them; others were of a different +opinion, and insisted that the two officers should be put to death. They +argued that delay was dangerous; reinforcements of Europeans might +arrive at any hour, and that nothing would be left for them but to make +a rapid retrograde movement, and advised the immediate looting of the +town. This party, being the strongest and most clamorous, carried their +point; and three Sepoys thereupon leveled their muskets and fired, but +without having any effect, as the bullets flew wide of their mark. But +this was the signal that the irregular cavalry were so anxiously +watching for, and immediately encircled the two unfortunate gentlemen +who, drawing their weapons, prepared to defend their lives to the last. +But what could two men do against a score of fanatical ruffians, +thirsting for the blood of Christians. Some of the troopers fell from +the effect of the bullets from the Brigadier's revolver, and some were +severely wounded by the sabre of poor Captain Grey, but all to no +purpose; they were soon overpowered and literally hewn to pieces by the +sowars of the cavalry who, by this time, had been joined by the +regulars. The party then started off at a canter to the artillery lines, +to secure the guns and open the magazine, if they could but obtain the +key from the ordinance warrant officer, while the infantry made an +attempt to carry the Fort by storm; but having neither guns nor scaling +ladders, they signally failed in their attempt, and suffered +considerable loss from the spherical case and round shot that was hurled +at them from the guns of the fort. The party, to whom fell the work of +plundering the Bazaar, were, for a time, very successful, and numerous +large Bungalows were soon in a blaze. + +The party of cavalry, regular and irregular, who were to attempt to +carry off from the magazine such ammunition as they might find, went in +the direction of the place, and on their way intercepted the European +ordnance conductor, who had charge of the keys, which they at once +demanded, but were promptly refused by that officer, who declared he had +them not, and immediately stood on the defensive; but a shot from the +carbine of one of the troopers, brought him bleeding to the earth. A +couple of them dismounted, and with oaths and imprecations, both loud +and bitter, stripped off his uniform in search of the magazine keys, but +they were not to be found. Drawing his creese, one of the villains cut +the throat of the wounded man, nearly severing the head from the body. +The others satisfied themselves by merely spitting upon the naked body. + +"It is useless to go on without the keys," said a Havildar of the +regulars. "Let us move off at once to his Bungalow, they must be there. +I know the road, follow me!" and the whole party galloped off and soon +reached the murdered man's quarters, where they halted and dismounted. + +The terrified woman, wife of the poor fellow who had just been so +savagely slaughtered, saw them approaching, and judging their +intentions, bolted and barred all the doors and windows, and with her +two young children, mere babes, the eldest being scarcely four years of +age, retreated to a small closet in an inner room, and locked the door. +For some time the troopers, who had now worked themselves up to a pitch +of frenzy, could not effect an entrance: but at length, tearing down one +of the wooden uprights of the verandah, used it as a sort of ram, and +soon battered down the door. Then, with a yell of triumph, rushed into +the house, searched every nook and corner far what they so much wished +to find, smashing and destroying everything that came in their way, but +they were doomed to disappointment. A bullet from one of their holster +pistols blew the lock from the door of the closet, and the poor mother +and her helpless babes were seized and dragged forth by these monsters +in human form. The mother was brutally outraged, and her clothing torn +and stripped from her person. A large empty chest, which usually +contained clothing, caught the attention of one of the number, and a +fiendish thought flashed through his mind, which he communicated to some +of the others, and they proceeded to carry it out. Collecting the broken +furniture, bed linen, etc., they made a large fire and placed the box in +question thereon; then tossed the helpless children into it and +literally roasted them alive in the presence of the agonized mother, who +made frantic attempts to break from her captors, and rescue her +offspring, but it was in vain; they held her firmly until the chest and +its contents were reduced to embers; then two of them plunged their +creeses into her naked bosom, and flung her bleeding body into the fire +to be consumed like those of her children. Other enormities were being +enacted in various parts of Goolampore during the short time the +mutineers remained there. But an act of unparalleled atrocity was +perpetuated on the Postmaster and his wife, who, it appears, had, on the +morning in question, gone to look at their new Bungalow which was in +course of erection in the suburbs, when they were pounced upon by a body +of Sepoys, who were making good their exodus from the station, having no +desire to come in contact with the horse artillery, the booming of whose +guns sounded not at all pleasantly in their ears. These inhuman wretches +dashed at their victims and, after tormenting them almost to madness by +their devilish cruelties, dragged them to a sawpit, where pieces of +square timber, which had been partially cut into planks for building +purposes, lay. The unhappy pair were then bound on two separate planks, +then another plank was placed on the top of each, and tightly bound +together with strips of fine bamboo; the monsters laughing and +gesticulating at what they termed the living sandwiches, dainty morsels +to be offered up as a sacrifice to their Deities. The crowning act of +this fearful drama was at last enacted by the remorseless villains: With +two large cross-cut saws, sawing into two feet lengths the planks which +encased their victims, commencing at the feet of each, and then throwing +the pieces into the unfinished Bungalow, set fire to it, and made off at +the top of their speed along the high road towards Islempoora, a small +village at no great distance, which had been appointed as a rendezvous +for the whole to assemble at, when their bloody work at Goolampore had +terminated. + +Major Huntingdon had, early that morning, received private information +of the intended outbreak, and the general plan of the mutineers. He was +therefore prepared for the emergency, and acted accordingly; so that +when the party of horse, accompanied by the Goolandowz (native +artillery) arrived at the artillery lines, they found that the birds had +flown; the gun sheds were empty, and those whom they thought to have +found quietly taking their breakfasts, were, doubtless, then hovering +around, ready to fire upon them at the first convenient opportunity; nor +was there any one on whom they could wreak their vengeance, for the +whole of the families of the Europeans had, by the prudence and +determined conduct of their commanding officer, been removed to a place +of safety within the walls of the Fort, where, but for the obstinacy and +infatuation of General D----, the whole of the Europeans, unable to bear +arms, might have found a refuge ere it was too late. Foiled in their +attempt to capture the guns, without which they knew they could not hold +possession of the town, they turned in the direction of the Bazaar, +which they determined to plunder, then make their way to Islempoora. +They shortly fell in with the Sepoy battalions, which had made the +ineffectual attempt to carry the Fort by assault. Chafing with rage at +their disappointment, they accompanied the cavalry, vowing vengeance on +all the whites or other Christians that should fall into their hands. +But their villainous designs were frustrated, for on the head of the +column of cavalry, wheeling into the narrow road leading to the +principal Bazaar, they beheld, much to their consternation, four of the +guns of the horse artillery, which immediately opened upon them with +grape and canister, which told fearfully among them, as the number of +riderless and wounded horses plainly showed, and the irregular horse, +not being trained to act in concert with the regular troops, the whole +were thrown into confusion, and were unable to reform or advance upon +the guns. By a rapid movement, Major Huntingdon had brought his two +twelve pound Howitzers to play on the Sepoy battalion, with shrapnel, +shell and spherical case, with considerable effect. The native officer +who commanded them deployed his right wing into line, and sent the left +to endeavour to take the artillery in flank or rear. But in order to +accomplish this they had to make a _detour_ to the right, and in so +doing came to grief. The road they had taken led them across the open +plain and in front of the station gun, a long thirty-two pounder. This +movement had been anticipated by the artillery officer, consequently it +was loaded with as much canister as was considered safe, and a Sergeant, +who volunteered, was appointed to take charge, and act as circumstances +might require. A small pit had been dug, in which the Sergeant was +snugly ensconced, and there was nothing to indicate to those passing +within a short distance, that there was anything to be feared from that +quarter; but in this they were terribly mistaken, for at the right +moment the gun belched forth its storm of bullets into the very centre +of the little column of infantry with fearful effect. So unexpected was +the charge that the utmost confusion prevailed, which was considerably +increased by the sudden appearance of about one hundred well mounted +horsemen, acting as cavalry, sweeping down upon them, sabreing right and +left. This party of horsemen consisted of officers of all corps in +garrison, and every other available European that could sit on a horse +or handle a sabre, and had been quietly organized, in expectation of an +event like the present, by Major Collingwood. + +Repulsed at all points, the mutineers retreated as fast as possible. +Their infantry, in many cases, mounting in rear of the cavalry. The +artillery limbered up and followed them to the outskirts of the town, +where, as they crossed the deep Nulla leading to the Islempoora road, +the gallant Huntingdon again blazed away at them, reducing their numbers +to a considerable extent; but it was not considered advisable to follow +them any farther. The troop was then divided and the guns sent in +different directions through the station, while the lately improvised +cavalry scoured the Bazaars and other parts, in order to capture any +small parties who might be engaged in the work of plunder or other +destruction. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + +The hour of eleven was ringing from the gurries or gongs at the +different guard rooms, as Arthur Carlton left the quarters of the +Brigadier commanding the station, for unlike most A.D.C.'s he did not +reside with his chief, but occupied snug little quarters in the staff +lines near the Suddur Bazaar. He was both annoyed and excited as he +mounted his horse to return home; but he soon became calm and +thoughtful, and his noble charger, as if knowing the mood of his master, +slackened its speed to a walk. "General D---- is an obstinate and +self-willed man, and his policy anything but what it should be at so +critical a time," muttered Arthur half aloud; "but was I wise to cross +him, and in the heat of the moment to throw up my appointment on his +staff; I who have nothing but my pay to depend on and no interest at the +Horse Guards to push me on in the service?" and his thoughts flew back +to Vellenaux, Sir Jasper Coleman and Edith Effingham. As her image +crossed his mind his countenance brightened, and his spirits rose. "Yes, +I will rejoin my regiment. She must return to Rutlaum in a day or two. I +will see her to-morrow and beg her to allow me to be her escort, that I +think she will not refuse; and when I get my troop I will seek her hand, +for her heart I know is mine already." He was aroused from his reverie +by the sudden stopping of his horse, and on looking up found that he had +arrived at the gate of the Compound which surrounded his dwelling. +Immediately on entering he summoned his butler, and gave him +instructions to pack up everything without delay, and to start with his +baggage and the other servants at an early hour on the following +morning, _en route_ for Rutlaum; to halt at the first Dawk Bungalow he +came to, and that he would follow on horseback in the evening. Then +calling Pedro, a Portuguese, who had entered his service on his first +arrival in India as a Kitmagar or Valet, he dispatched him to the Bazaar +to procure from the Kotwell the necessary hackarries, or baggage carts +and cattle; then, after enjoying several puffs from his hookah, he flung +himself on a lounge to snatch what sleep he could before the grey dawn +of day appeared. He was aroused at an early hour by the hurried entrance +of his Portuguese servant who, after carefully closing the door, +communicated the following startling intelligence: It appears that +Pedro, after executing the commission entrusted to him, called on a +friend in the Bazaar, who, like himself, was a Christian, to bid him +farewell, and remained for two or three hours; that on his way home he +heard voices in the angle of a small compound, which excited his +curiosity. Approaching the spot noiselessly, through a hole in the +prickly pear hedge he, by the light of the moon, saw four persons +conversing together, two of whom he recognized; one was a Jemidar of +Cavalry, the other, Soobadah, Major of one of the native regiments, the +remaining two were strangers, evidently belonging to some irregular +corps. The substance of their conversation was to the effect that, about +six hundred irregular horse, and a company of Goolandowz, (but without +guns or ammunition) were halted a short distance beyond the limits of +the cantonments ready to enter at a given signal; that all the native +corps in garrison were to rise, simultaneously, about eight a.m.; an +attempt was to be made to carry off the artillery guns while the +European gunners were at their breakfasts; the Fort was to be carried by +a sudden rush, and the town plundered; they were then to make off to the +next smallest station, where they were unlikely to meet with any +European force. + +For some moments Arthur was undecided as to what course he ought to +pursue. "If," thought he, "I carry this information to the Brigadier, he +will pooh, pooh it as mere moonshine, besides I no longer belong to his +staff, and he would not listen to anything I might suggest; it would +only be time thrown away; but Huntingdon must be warned. Forewarned is +forearmed, and he is not the man to disregard a circumstance of this +kind." He at once wrote a note relating what had been told him, and sent +it by the Portuguese. + +"You will deliver this into the hand of Major Huntingdon, and likewise +give him a full account of all you saw and heard, and return as quickly +as possible." The servant was soon on his way to the artillery lines. +The next thing was to start his servants' baggage and personal effects +by a road, directly opposite the one where the irregulars were said to +be halted. While dressing and arming, he resolved as to what step he +should now take. He would ride over to Edith, and, after placing her in +safety within the walls of the Fort, join the other officers of the +garrison under the direction of Major Collingwood and act as he deemed +best in the coming struggle. He was well mounted and thoroughly armed, +and likewise carried a double-barreled tiger-rifle, slung +carbine-fashion to his saddle, and was as formidable a cavalier as one +could meet with in the country. Giving his last instructions to Pedro, +who, by this time, had returned, he rode out of the compound and took +his way to the Bungalow, where all that he held most dear in life was, +perhaps, sleeping, all unconscious of the impending danger. When he was +near the house, a few shots were fired, and a hubbub was heard within +the Sepoy lines. + +"I am almost too late," thought Arthur, as he dashed up to the door. +Edith, who had seen his approach met him in the verandah. A few words +sufficed to explain how matters stood, and she hurried away to put on +her riding habit, and gather together what valuables belonged to her. +Arthur lost no time in causing to be saddled one of the best horses in +the stable, and had it led round to the front of the Bungalow, where, in +a very short time, he was joined by Edith, fully equipped for any +emergency. + +Placing her quickly and firmly on her saddle, and carefully examining +every strap and buckle, and finding everything secure, he sprang lightly +on his own steed. One glance at the space in front of the Bungalow, was +quite sufficient to realize, to a practical mind like Arthur's, the +imminent dangers that would beset them, should they attempt to cross the +open plain in the direction of the Fort. The only chance was in a rapid +flight. There was no time to arrange any definite plan of action, for a +very few minutes would elapse before the mutineers would surround the +Bungalow, and cut off all means of escape; so passing directly to the +rear of the compound, they sought the cover of the jungle that skirted +it. Advancing as rapidly as the narrow path and thickly interwoven +underbrush would admit of, they soon left the station far behind them. +At the foot of an eminence they emerged from the cover of the woods, and +struck into the highroad that wound round the hill in front of them. +This they ascended at a gentle canter, for Arthur was too good a rider +to push his horses at the commencement of a journey, in which both speed +and endurance might be required before its termination. His intention +was, if possible, to reach Rutlaum; should he fail in this he must reach +some station on the sea coast before night-fall, and place Edith under +the protection of the officer commanding such post, until he could +arrange for a passage for her to Bombay. On arriving at the crest of the +hill, they turned to take a parting look at the pretty little station, +where, for so many weeks, they had been supremely happy in the enjoyment +of each others society, and framing projects for their union, at some +future period, when the young Lieutenant should have advanced +sufficiently in his profession to warrant that consummation so devoutly +to be wished for. + +Lurid flames and thick dark smoke shot up from many a burning Bungalow, +while the roar of Artillery and discharge of musketry, convinced the +fugitives that the conflict was still going on between the defenders of +the Fort and the miscreants who vainly endeavoured to effect an entrance +in order to put to death any Europeans who had taken shelter within its +walls. Parties of Sepoys were looting the Bazaars and residences of the +European officers of whatever they could lay their hands upon, while the +cavalry, both regular and irregular, were riding hither and thither in +search of Christian men, women, or children, who might have been +unfortunate enough not to have gained admission to the Fort, or make +good their escape from the fated place ere it was too late. + +"Look, dearest Arthur," exclaimed Edith, pointing with her riding whip +to a bend in the road some distance below them, "what are those +horsemen? are they friends or foes? Oh! I see you change colour, and we +are lost. But is there no hope for us?" + +For a few moments Carlton remained silent, measuring with a practised +eye the distance between those advancing and the spot on which they +stood. For himself he had not a single thought, but for her in whom his +whole soul was bound, the thought of what would be her fate, should she +fall into the hands of those who he well knew were bent on their +capture, it was this agonizing thought that caused a convulsive shudder +to run through his whole frame, and rendered him for the moment +speechless. But it was only for a moment; his deep love for the +beautiful being at his side, and her imminent peril, roused him to +immediate action. + +"It would be wrong for me to attempt to conceal the fact of the great +danger in which we stand. Our pursuers are irregular troops; men who +have been taught to hate everything Christian, being the followers of +petty Rajahs, who for some act of their own, or some of their families' +treachery or disloyalty to our Government, lost their landed +possessions, and consequently their revenue and power; but, dearest, +they shall only reach you over my dead body. They would, in the long +run, overtake us; but could we reach a wooden bridge that crosses a +small river, a few miles up the road, I believe we could yet elude +them. For there is an old road leading from the ford and running +parallel with the one we are on. It has not been used for the past two +years, and they, being strangers in this part of the country, will, in +all probability, know nothing of it, and by this way we may escape. +Courage, dearest Edith, all may yet go well with us." + +"Your love and devotion, dear Arthur, I have never for one moment +doubted, and confidently trust myself to your protecting arm and loving +heart. But what can one single arm do against numbers; but should those +wretches overtake us, the spirit of the Effinghams will teach me how to +act, and, if necessary, how to die." As she said this, she drew from the +folds of her riding habit, a handsome five-chambered revolver. "I will +never become their prey, nor shall you perish unavenged while I have +strength to draw a trigger," exclaimed the beautiful girl, now excited +beyond measure at the critical position in which she found herself +placed. "Brave and noble girl," responded Arthur, as he bent over and +imprinted a kiss on the lovely brow. And in another moment they were +bounding along the high road at a hand gallop. + +"We are gaining on them," shouted one of the pursuers, as he caught +sight of the two lovers flying along a straight piece of road at no very +great distance in front of them. "But we shall have some tough work +before we capture the young fellow or I am much mistaken." + +"Curse him," growled out a tall athletic fellow in the uniform of a +Russeldah. "I may thank him for my court martial and loss of commission +in the regulars; but my turn is coming now. He and his dainty lady shall +curse the hour of their birth before I have done with them. 'Remember,' +said he, turning to the party, of whom he was evidently the leader, +'they must, if possible, be taken alive. Their money and valuables--and, +doubtless, they have a good store about them--you can divide among +yourselves; I will not touch one rupee of it; but their lives are mine." +A shout of approval followed this last speech, and the whole party +pushed forward with increased speed. + +The little wooden bridge, referred to by Carlton, was at length gained. +During the ride he had communicated to Edith the steps he intended to +take on gaining the cover of the old road. Turning sharply to the right +they entered the jungle, and made their way into the stream that crossed +the road, then passing up the centre and under the bridge, they landed +about one hundred and fifty paces higher up on the opposite bank, and, +having dismounted, Arthur sought for, and soon found, the entrance to +the road they were in search of, now overhung with brambles and creeping +plants. Pushing them carefully aside, they entered, and found themselves +in a narrow track, overgrown with soft grass. Assisting Edith to +remount, Carlton threw the bridle of his own horse over the stump of a +tree, then said to her, in a voice hoarse with emotion, and pointing to +a small opening between the bushes, "From this point you can watch the +results of my endeavours for our mutual safety. Should I fall, turn and +fly. This road will lead you to Rutlaum." Then snatching a hasty kiss, he +retraced his steps to the edge of the main road, taking up his position +under the cover of the thick bushes. + +The road leading to the bridge was, for about one hundred yards, +perfectly straight, and much narrower than at other points, and the +jungle at both sides was both thick and dense. Rather an awkward place +for cavalry, should there be any infantry lurking in ambush, watching to +give them a hot reception. I have said that Arthur was thoroughly armed; +besides his two revolvers and sabre, he had his double-barreled +tiger-rifle, a breech-loader of the newest pattern, which had only +lately been introduced into India. Arthur had not long to wait for his +foes, for the clattering of the armed hoofs of their troop horses were +soon heard coming along at a rapid pace. There were nine of them, riding +three abreast. As soon as they were within range, Carlton coolly +levelled his rifle and discharged both barrels in rapid succession, +shooting the centre file through the chest, who fell dead instantly, and +lodging his other bullet in the shoulders of the horse of the file on +his right, bringing both steed and rider to the ground, the latter +underneath, his leg being crushed by the fall. So sudden and unexpected +was the attack, that the two men who were riding immediately in rear, +unable to check their speed in time, their horses stumbled and both +their riders were thrown. They were, however, not much hurt by their +fall and were soon in their saddles again. The dead and wounded men were +removed to some soft grass on the side of the road. But this delay, +short as it was, enabled Arthur to reload and shift his position, which +he did by rapidly passing under the bridge to the opposite side of the +road, being too good a soldier to neglect this opportunity. + +"Forward!" shouted the Russeldah. "Follow me! I will soon unkennel the +foe. May the grave of his fathers be accursed, and his bones be burned," +and, after uttering this anathema, he drove the rowels of his spurs into +his horse's flanks, springing him, at least, two lengths in advance of +his followers, and making a dash for the bush from whence the smoke of +the rifle was seen to issue. But ere the scoundrel reached it, a bullet +from Arthur's rifle went crashing through his brain. A second brought +another to the earth with a broken thigh bone. The others reined up in +time to avoid the accident they had before experienced. On finding their +leader to be quite dead, and only five of their number fit to carry on +the contest, they consulted together as to the expediency of any further +pursuit; besides, they could not understand being attacked from both +sides of the road. They had seen no one cross, and never dreamed of the +passage under the bridge, and imagined there must be others concealed in +the jungle. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Arthur returned the +way he came as quickly as possible, and, mounting his horse, regained +his beloved Edith, who had witnessed the whole affair. She was about to +thank, with ardent words of gratitude, her gallant lover, when he +silenced her with a motion of his hand, and whispered to her to follow +him. They proceeded slowly for a time, carefully avoiding the +overhanging branches, lest they should attract the attention of either +of the troopers, who were still halted on the high road at no great +distance, and as Carlton afterwards affirmed, a chance shot from one of +their carbines might have proved fatal to one or perhaps both of them. +After riding some distance they had the satisfaction, on looking back, +of seeing that their cowardly pursuers were returning the way they came, +carrying their dead and wounded with them. But still they had a very +long ride before them, under a scorching sun, before they could consider +themselves safe from further pursuit; and the deep shadows of the dark +jungle had closed around them as they pushed their way along the dusty +road. And it was not until the moon had risen in all her splendour, high +above their heads, that Edith, worn out with the excitement and fatigue +of the day's journey, attended by a gallant cavalier, reached Rutlaum. + +Fortunately, they experienced no difficulty in tracing the whereabouts +of the Bartons, who had not, as yet, left the place. The news of the +disaster at Goolampore had not reached Rutlaum, the mutineers having +cut the telegraph lines, and the intelligence would not, in all +probability, be received for a couple of days; and it was agreed that it +should be suppressed as long as possible. It was arranged that the +family should leave on the following evening by the Palkee Dawk for the +coast. Carlton, of course, called on the officer commanding the post, +and explained to him all he knew concerning the outbreak, and exactly +how things stood when he left the station. + +The Bartons were delighted to have Edith with them again, for nothing +had gone right during her absence. Mrs. Barton had not been accustomed +to take any part in the household arrangements or keeping the servants +in order, consequently everything had gone wrong. + +Edith grew eloquent when describing the dauntless courage of Carlton in +rescuing her from a fate too horrible to be thought of. On hearing this, +Arthur rose at least fifty per cent. in the estimation of Mrs. Barton, +with whom he had always been a great favourite, and she warmly thanked +him for the exertion he had made in behalf of her young friend. Taking +advantage of the opportunity thus afforded him, Arthur, on the spur of +the moment, disclosed to her everything concerning his engagement to +Edith, and solicited their approval to the union on his attaining the +rank of Captain. He was warmly supported by Edith, who did not hesitate +to declare her affection for one whom she had known so long, and who had +risked so much for her. And when Mrs. Barton found that the wedding was +not to take place for some time, and that Edith was to return with them +to England, she professed herself to be satisfied on the subject, +whereupon it was arranged that the party should proceed to the sea +coast. On reaching Doollia, the lovers parted in hopes of meeting again +at no distant day in England, for the ratification of those vows that +were exchanged during their ride for life through the Goozeratte. + +Independent of the inward satisfaction felt by Edith, that her +engagement to Arthur had met the approval of the kind friends to whom +she owed so much, she experienced a great deal of pleasure during the +overland journey to Europe. Both Horace and Pauline had twice traversed +the route, and therefore were enabled to point out the various objects +of interest that were met with in the different places they passed +through. The Egyptian Pyramids, Cleopatra's Needle, and the far-famed +Catacombs at Alexandria, with many a new and strange sight, encountered +during their short sojourn at Malta and Gibraltar, which had been +unheeded on her passage out, so depressed and sad at heart had she felt +at the death of her uncle. But, time having healed that mental wound, +and a bright future opening before her, she could now fully enjoy those +scenes and the associations they usually call up. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + +Arthur Carlton lost no time in making his way to the Capital and +reporting himself to the Commander-in-Chief. His Excellency was pleased +to accept graciously his reasons for throwing up his appointment on the +staff of General D----, at Goolampore. Our hero had expected to get a +good rap over the knuckles for acting as he had done without first +applying to headquarters, and this, doubtless, would have been the case +at any other time, but the blind folly and general mismanagement of the +late Brigadier had already been commented upon and censured by the +authorities, and no doubt if death had not interfered to prevent it, a +court martial and dismissal from the service would have been the result. +As it was, another officer was sent up and appointed to the command at +Goolampore, and Lieutenant Carlton ordered to join his regiment at the +earliest opportunity, which, of course, meant that he should proceed +with any corps, detachment, or party that might be moving in that +direction. But Arthur was too anxious for active employment to brook any +such delay; so, after a few days' sojourn at the Capital, attended only +by his servants, took the road to Runjetpoora, where his regiment was +reported to be stationed. Nothing, of interest occurred on the route, +until within a few miles of his destination where he expected to join +his corps. + +It being his last day's march, he had sent his servants and baggage on +several hours in advance, and being well armed and well mounted, he +started from his halting place about daylight, alone, and pursued his +course along the high road, in the best possible spirits, feeling well +contented with the position of things in general, and his own in +particular. + +About noon, being somewhat heated and thirsty, he turned his horse's +head to the right, and rode quietly some distance into the jungle, and +finding a cool shady spot by a small running stream, dismounted, and +taking off the saddle from his charger, gave him a feed of gram or corn, +and allowed a sufficient length of tether to enable him to crop the soft +grass which grew in the immediate vicinity of the running stream just +alluded to, while he rested and regaled himself with some biscuits, +brandy punnee, and his favourite German pipe. He had taken up his +position at the foot of a small tree, with his back against the trunk, +his famous tiger-rifle lying by his side and the hilt of his sabre +within convenient handling distance, for the time and place was such +that these precautions could not, with safety, be neglected. While thus +resting, he sank into a deep reverie; his thoughts wandering back to his +school boy days, in merry old England, ere he had sighed for a sword and +feather or longed to seek the bubble reputation at the cannon's mouth, +or dreamed of scenes by flood and field, beneath the scorching suns, +over the arid plains, or amid the wild trackless jungles of Industan. + +Then Vellenaux, the home of his happy youth with its architectural +grandeurs, its magnificent parks and rich woodland scenery, passed in +review like a panorama before his mental vision, but fair as these +visions were, another far brighter rose before which all others paled +or faded by comparison. Edith, in all her glorious beauty, now riveted +his every thought, engrossed the whole stretch of his imagination, and +for the time rendered all else opaque and obscure; for had she not +promised to become his wife, to share with him the varied fortunes of a +soldiers' life, to be the joy and solace of his riper years, and heart +in heart and hand in hand, to glide together, as it were, almost +imperceptibly into the yellow leaf of ripe old age. Again, like the ever +varying pictures of light and shade, his thoughts turned on the +present,--this campaign over, the mutiny crushed out, and the command of +a troop conferred upon him, he would be in a position to return to +England, claim his bride, and thus would the dearest wishes of his heart +be fully realized. From this delightful train of thought, he was aroused +by the cracking and breaking of the dry leaves and brush wood at some +little distance, yet immediately in front of him, and ere he had time to +rise, an enormous tiger, a regular Bengalle, sprang over the intervening +bushes on the open space, within a few yards of where Carlton was +quietly smoking. This sudden appearance was as unlooked for by our hero +as was Carlton's figure by the royal beast himself, and, for a few +seconds, they gazed on each other. But Arthur's presence of mind on such +occasions never deserted him. Instantly bringing to his shoulder the +rifle that lay handy by his side, and without moving his position, he +covered and took deliberate aim at his--to say the least of it--just +then unwelcome visitor. Until the cocking of the rifle, the enormous +brute seemed undecided as to what course to pursue. But no sooner did +this sound reach the tiger, than his long tail began to sway slowly +backwards and forwards two or three times; and, with a low growl, fierce +and deep, settled himself gradually back on his haunches, preparatory to +making that spring which this class of animals are so famous for, and +which in many instances prove so fatal to those who pursue or oppose +them. But Arthur was a cool and energetic hunter, and had scoured the +jungles for weeks together, and had brought in more trophies of his +skill, as a Shirkarree, than any other man in the regiment, and ere the +spring could be completed, for the animal had risen in the air, Arthur +had planted a brace of bullets in the chest of the monster, literally +cracking, in their progress, the heart of the tiger, who fell forward +stone dead within six feet of where our hero was seated. His practical +eye in an instant convinced him that no danger was to be apprehended +from his late foe, and without changing his attitude, resumed the pipe, +he had let fall from his lips prior to firing, and, as unconcerned as +though nothing of moment had taken place, commenced carefully to reload +his rifle. While thus engaged, the crushing among the branches of the +jungle trees, and the cracking of the withered stocks and leaves again +attracted his attention; and presently some half dozen horsemen cleared +the adjacent bushes and reined up suddenly on the brink of the little +brook before alluded to, with surprise and astonishment depicted on +their glowing and excited features, as they gazed on the scene, thus +unexpectedly presented to their view. + +"By Jove! did I not know that Arthur Carlton was hundreds of miles away +up in the North-West, I could swear that was he," pointing to the figure +of Carlton seated at the foot of the tree, exclaimed the foremost +rider, as he with difficulty curbed in his impatient steed. + +"And who else but the Burra Shirkarree, the Carlton Sahib, would you +expect to find within a couple of yards of the carcass of a lord of the +jungle, just slaughtered by him, and cooly re-loading as if he had only +been shooting at a pidgeon match," said Travas Templeton in reply, +dismounting as he spoke, and advancing quickly, seized and shook warmly +the hand of our hero, who had by this time sprang to his feet. + +"You guessed right this time, Travas, old fellow," said Carlton, giving +his friend another hearty shake of the hand. Then, turning to the first +speaker, whom he addressed as Dorville, said, "So you thought me miles +away, did you? I was sure you had seen the General's order for me to +rejoin. Pray, introduce me to your friends, and we can have a mutual +explanation of how we came to meet thus unexpectedly." This being done, +the whole party dismounted and threw themselves at full length within +such shade as the jungle afforded, and listened to Arthur's account of +the outbreak at Goolampore, and his reasons for throwing up his +appointment on the staff; the unexpected appearance of the tiger and the +death of the same. + +"A ticklish thing to do, by Jove, to take the matter in your own hands in +that fashion. But all's well that ends well, and devilish glad will our +fellows be to learn that you will be so soon among us again, especially +as your troop and mine have been ordered out on some special service, +and that accounts for our presence in this neighborhood, and so far from +headquarters; but Travas will give you the particulars;" and lighting a +cheroot, Francis Dorville puffed out numberless circles of pale, blue +smoke, which he appeared to enjoy with infinite satisfaction. + +"Then you must know, most redoubtable of tiger-slayers," began Travas +Templeton, who was a cornet in Arthur's troop, and an enthusiastic +sportsman, "that the Brigadier commanding, having secretly got wind that +a party of mutineers had ensconced themselves in a small fortress, among +yonder hills," pointing with his cigar in the direction as he spoke, +"has ordered a flying column, of which two troops of ours form a part, +to attack, and, if possible, to carry the place by assault or _coup de +main_; that we are encamped about eight miles to the South-West of this +spot. Last night some villagers came in and reported that a large tiger, +doubtless the identical one yonder, was causing great havoc among the +cattle; so some half dozen of us started this morning in pursuit. We +caught sight of the brute about a mile from here, and Dorville, being +green at this kind of sport, took a shot at him at too great a range, +and, of course, missed, sending the creature in your direction, and so +gave you the opportunity of bagging him, which you have most +successfully accomplished." + +"I am sorry, gentlemen, to have deprived you of your day's sport, but +under the circumstances, I really could not have done anything less, for +the tiger came so suddenly upon me, that there was nothing else for it; +but this really will be capital fun, the expedition to the hill fort you +speak of," replied Arthur as he tossed off the remaining portion of his +brandy punnee, exclaiming at same time, "Here's all success to our new +undertaking." + +"You will give up all idea, of course, of going on to Runjetpoora, and +return with us to our camp and join our troop, for we are to attack +these gentry to-morrow evening, I believe. Colonel Atherly, of the +engineers, commands the column. He has heard of your exploits at Mooltan +and Chillianwalla, and would be sorry to lose the services of so good a +Sabre on this occasion. You can report in writing to headquarters, +through his Deputy-Adjutant-General, that you have joined your troop. +Your tent and servants can be sent over to you during to-morrow; in the +meantime, you can share mine,"--"or mine,"--"or mine,"--shouted a chorus +of voices. + +"Upon my word, Dorville, you are highly complimentary. It's very +flattering to a fellow's feelings to be so thoroughly appreciated, +especially, after so long an absence from the regiment. Devilish kind of +you, gentlemen, to offer me quarters among you; but, as I cannot divide +myself into half a dozen pieces, I shall only be too happy to accept our +friend Dorville's offer, he being first in the field. By George, it will +be rejoining with _eclat_ if that little fort up yonder, on the hill +side, could be carried by one bold dash, and the affair terminated in a +day or so," cried Carlton, his handsome face lighting up, and pleasure +beaming from his flashing eye at the bare idea of the coming contest. + +"If I can only get my twenty-four pound howitzer in a good position I +will make the place so hot in a dozen hours that the blackguards will +curse their unlucky stars that caused them to unlimber for action in +such an owl's nest as that," put in another of the party, an artillery +officer, attached to the flying column. + +"But what say you to a move, gentlemen. We have some miles to ride, and +that, too, before the trumpet sounds the mess call," said Travas, +raising himself from his sitting position and moving towards his horse. +This suited the views of the whole party. The greater number were +already in the saddle. While Arthur and the two others had their feet in +the stirrup, preparing to mount, the whole party were startled and +amazed by the very novel and unlooked for apparition of a female figure, +flying towards them, evidently in great terror and alarm. On reaching +Carlton, who was the nearest to her, she bent forward with supplicating +looks and clasped hands, passionately exclaiming, "Oh! for pity sake, +hasten to the rescue, ere it be too late. Fly! gentlemen, and stay the +bloody work of those miscreants, those fiends in human form. Oh! waste +not a moment, or your aid may come too late." The supplicant was a +handsome three-quarter cast. Her luxuriant hair, dark as a raven's wing, +hung in wild confusion about her neck and shoulders. Her well-fitting +dress, of fine Madras muslin, hung in shreds around her finely moulded +form, and blood was issuing from rents in her light kid slippers, +caused, doubtless, by the thorns and other prickly obstacles she had met +with on her passage through the tangled brushwood of the jungle. + +"Pray, calm yourself, I beg, and endeavour to collect your thoughts. To +whom do you allude, and in what direction; do you wish us to go?" said +Dorville, as he handed her some sherry and water from his flask; this +she drank eagerly, then hurriedly continued--the whole group pressing +nearer and nearer to the excited woman, to learn by what mischance or +accident she had been thrown amongst them at such a time and place, so +suddenly--"The Collector of Runjetpoora, his wife, daughter, and +sister, with his four clerks, their wives and children, have been +attacked and captured by a band of twenty mounted mutineers, who have +sworn to massacre them, and some of the children have already been +cruelly butchered by these remorseless villains; I, alone, escaped, and +sought shelter in the jungle, where, from an opening down the ravine, +caught a glimpse of your party, and have struggled through brake and +briar to implore your assistance. Oh! do not lose a moment, if you would +be in time. Even now it may be too late to save them;" and, weeping +wildly, sank on her knees, convulsive sobs choking her further +utterance. + +There was now no need to urge them on, for they at once realized the +horrors of the position in which the Collector and his party were now +placed. Exclamations of anger, and vows of bitter vengeance burst from +the lips of all, as they, with paling cheek, and flashing eye, their +teeth clenched fiercely together, listened to the appaling tale of the +half frantic girl before them. + +"They are but three to one, the pack of mutinous scoundrels, and cannot +resist our charge five minutes, and must go down before well-tried +sabres," cried Carlton, springing into his saddle, and taking the lead, +saying, as he did so, "Point out the way we should take, my good girl, +and what courage, brave hearts, and trusty swords can effect, shall be +done to rescue your friends from the terrible fate which, doubtless, +awaits them." + +"When you reach that single tree on the crest of yonder hill," +indicating with her right hand the direction to be taken, "you will come +in sight of the place, where this villainous outrage has been +committed; your own judgment will then tell you what is best to be +done," she replied, evidently strengthened and refreshed by the wine she +had taken, and the comforting assurance held out to her by Arthur and +his companions. These words had scarcely passed her lips when, applying +the spur vigorously, the whole party, with one exception, dashed off in +the direction indicated. Captain Crosby of the artillery, who had not +started with the rest, feeling somewhat anxious for the poor girl's +safety--alone as she would be shortly in that dense jungle, for every +Sabre would be needed in the coming onslaught--approaching her, said +kindly and gently, "and you; what is to become of you? what will you do, +or where can you go?" "Oh, do not think of me," she replied, "I can +retrace my steps the way I came, alone and unassisted," moving a few +steps in that direction. "But stay one moment," said Crosby; "take this +it may assist you in clearing a pathway through the thicket and +underbrush," handing her, as he spoke, his long hunting knife. Raising +her beautiful eyes to his, with a look of thankfulness, she accepted the +weapon. In another instant, the ringing of horses' hoofs, now growing +fainter in the distance, told her that help was hastening on to where +help was most required. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + +The spot where the Collector and his party had been surprised and +captured, was on the high road, midway between the Khandish Ghaut and +the large and populous town of Runjetpoora, the inhabitants of which, +with the exception of their Begum, or Princess, and a few of her +immediate followers, had thus far remained faithful to British rule, and +to which place he was now returning, after making a tour of inspection +through the districts, which inspection consisted in surveying and +valuing the crops while growing, the cattle and other properties of +those residing within his jurisdiction, so that taxes might be levied on +each individual according to their wealth and substance, during the +current year. + +The baggage escort and principal servants had been sent on in advance. +This the mutineers were, doubtless, aware of, or counted on as being +likely to be the case, therefore little opposition was to be expected, +and so suddenly did they sweep down upon them that the little party were +surrounded and overpowered ere they could seize their weapons to defend +themselves. All were made prisoners save one, Mrs. de Mello, a handsome +three-quarter caste, the youthful bride of the Collector's clerk or +first assistant, who had alighted from her palkee to gather some wild +flowers that grew on the road side, a short time prior to the appearance +of the mutineers, and from where she stood witnessed the attack. +Terrified beyond measure at her dangerous proximity to the ruffians, +she fled for safety into the depths of the jungle, and so escaped. + +The carriage and bullock games were drawn to an open space some little +distance into the jungle, the intervening bushes screening it to a +considerable extent from the road. The Collector and his clerks were +then brutally stripped of their clothing, and, having taken possession +of their money and other valuables, the wretches bound them, spread +eagle fashion, to the wheels of the vehicles. The terrified women were +next dragged forth, with more indignity and even greater brutality, and +secured in a similar manner, and in such a position that their tortures +might be witnessed by their helpless husbands. The children, with the +exception of the Collector's daughter, a bright, golden haired girl of +some ten summers, who had clung convulsively to her mother, were thrown +together into a small hollow in the ground about the centre of the +place, they being too young to make any opposition, the black devils +forming a complete semi-circle round their intended victims. + +The first scene of the bloody drama they proposed to enact, to satisfy +their devilish thirst for the blood of the unfortunates, who had thus +fallen into their hands, was opened by a tall, burly ruffian bending +over, seizing one of the children, hurling it into the air, and yelling +with an awful imprecation while so doing, that he would wager a gold +mohur to five rupees, that he could, with his tulwa, strike off the +child's right arm at the elbow without touching any other part of the +body. This was accepted at once by half-a-dozen voices; the wretch +immediately raised his tulwa and, as the infant descended, made a sharp, +quick, upper cut, and ere it reached the ground its little arm was +disjointed, as though by the knife of an experienced surgeon. A groan of +horror burst from the lips of the agonized parents, and a convulsive +shudder ran through the remainder of the unhappy party; but this past +unheeded by their captors, being drowned by the yells of fiendish +delight and approval that broke forth from the throats of these hell +hounds, as the mutilated body of the child lay wreathing in agony at +their feet, absorbing for the moment all other feeling. "I will double +the stakes," cried another, "that I take off the head of a second of +these young imps close to the shoulder without making wound or scar on +any other part." "Done, and done again!" shouted several voices, +throwing up their weapons in the air, and re-catching them again, so +delighted were they at the idea of another spectacle so much in unison +with their blood-thirsty and relentless passions. A powerful ruffian now +dismounted, and catching up a second babe, a pretty little thing +scarcely two years old, hurled it with his utmost strength high into the +air. On gaining its greatest altitude, it turned completely, and was +descending, head downwards. When within six feet of the ground, the +brutal villain, with one lightning stroke of his tulwa, severed the head +from its shoulders, amid the shouts and gesticulations of the assembled +miscreants. By some, the wretch was pronounced a winner, but on +examining the body, the skin of one shoulder was found to be grazed or +cut. Many maintained it was done by the sword; others asserted that it +was caused by falling on a stone or some such substance. The dispute ran +high, and possible might have come to blows, but for the interference of +another of the party, who appeared to be a sort of leader among them, +shouting out "Come! No more of this fooling; too much time has been +already wasted on this Tumahsha. Give the cursed feringees a volley from +your carbines, loot the garries, and then make off with all speed, or +the cursed Kaffirs may get wind of the affair and follow in our track." + +"Shumsodeen is right," called out another. "There is both truth and +reason in what he says. But there must be no firing, it might attract +the notice of any straggler from the camps of those dogs of Kaffirs, and +bring their infernal Dragoons down upon us. No! cut the throats of the +men, and as there are but twenty of us, and only five of these women, +tell off one of them to each four of us, and let us begone, for we must +put the broad plain, at the foot of the Khandish Ghaut, between us and +this place ere night fall, and on our camping for the night, each four +can decide what is to be done with their prize." This suggestion was +received with applause, and they immediately prepared to act upon it. +Already two or three had dismounted and drawn their creeses to slit the +throats of their male prisoners, when a youth, about eighteen, son of +the fellow called Shumsodeen, cried out, "Do as you please with the +women among yourselves, but I will have yonder curly headed cutcha +butchee for my prize, come what may," and he took a few steps in the +direction of the Collector's daughter, who was still clinging to her +parent for protection; but ere he reached her, a loud, clear voice at no +great distance rang out, "Fire! gentlemen, and charge!" Then came from +between the leaves and bushes a withering volley of bullets from rifle +and revolver, striking down the youth, and emptying three saddles, the +riders falling lifeless to the ground. In another instant the branches +parted, and Arthur Carlton, with his six companions, cleared the low +brushwood, and sword in hand dashed into the centre of the ruffianly +group. + +Although taken completely by surprise--for they had not calculated upon +being interfered with, especially at so early a period of their +proceedings or by so formidable a foe--the mutineers instantly prepared +to give their unexpected assailants a fierce and bloody reception. They +fought frantically with a courage born of desperation, well knowing that +to cut through their foes and escape by flight was their only chance; +for should they not perish by the sword in the present contest, a +halter, or to be blown to fragments from the cannon's mouth, would be +their doom if made prisoners, consequently they rained down their blows +frantically, and made several desperate attempts to break through or +divide the small party that opposed them. But the cool and determined +courage and thorough discipline of the Dragoons, and their friends was +too much for them, fighting as they did, for a time, on the defensive; +warding off the cuts of the dusky villains, and giving only a few +thrusts here and there, when it could be done with fatal effect. Many of +their number had already bit the dust, and, as yet, no impression had +been made on the gallant little band, the Soaws being still two to one. +Thus Carlton and his party were still fighting under a disadvantage as +far as numbers were concerned. Had the combatants been less pre-occupied +with their deadly strife, they might have observed, at a short distance, +a female figure cautiously emerging from between the bushes and +stealthily creep beneath the vehicle, to the wheels of which the +Collector had been bound. This was the wife of the head clerk, the +pretty three-quarter caste, whose presence of mind, courage and +forethought had so largely contributed to their deliverance. Rapidly but +surely, with the hunting knife given her by Captain Crosby, she cut the +cords that bound her husband and his companions, who, when they found +they were released, rushed forward and possessed themselves of the +weapons of the fallen mutineers, and immediately commenced an attack on +their flank and rear, in hopes of rendering some assistance to their +brave defenders. + +Moving quickly, but in such a way as not to attract notice, Mrs. de +Mello, released the Collector's wife and the other ladies from their +unpleasant and exposed position, and one by one removed them for safety +within the cover of the jungle in case of any chance shot or blow +injuring them. A brief time served to restore the ladies to something +like tranquility, and enable them to arrange their attire to the best +advantage under the circumstances, and evincing in the highest manner +their thanks and gratitude to her who had, with such peril to herself, +relieved them from a fate, to them, worse than death itself. + +The unexpected release of the prisoners, and the attack made on their +flank and rear by them, totally confounded the mutineers, and rendered +all escape on their part impossible or nearly so, while Arthur and his +friends, seeing the addition to their number, and being about equally +matched--numerically speaking--changed their tactics from the defensive +to the offensive, and attacked their opponents in right good earnest, +and with such skill and determination did they use their weapons that +they very shortly brought the contest to a close. Eleven of the +mutinous rascals lay stone dead upon the blood-stained sod, and five +others so fatally wounded that it would be impossible for them to +survive another hour, three more were slightly injured, but sufficiently +so to render them for the present _hors de combat_, while the one +remaining wretch who had escaped scathless had sullenly thrown down his +arms and stood looking on in moody silence. Every one of the brave +little party that had come thus opportunely to the rescue, had been more +or less injured by the Tulwas and pistol shots of the black Sowas, but +in no case did their wounds render them unfit for active service; rest +for a few days, together with some sticking plaster, was all that they +needed to enable them to take the field again. Of the mutineers, the +five mortally wounded were left to keep guard over the eleven dead, the +remaining four were bound and lashed to one of the garries belonging to +the Collector. The oaths and imprecations of these wretched beings at +the failure of their project and the position they now found themselves +in, were something fearful to listen to. + +After a brief time, for congratulations, rest and refreshments, which +refreshment consisted chiefly in brandy punnee, sherry and biscuit, from +the flasks and wallets of the party, (no bad thing by the way, under the +circumstance.) Matters then having been got _en train_, the whole party +proceeded leisurely to the camp near Laurieghur, and arrived just as the +sun was casting her golden rays on the slopes of the adjacent hills, +previous to its sinking for the night into the purple depths of +obscurity. Early the following morning, the Collector, with a suitable +escort, proceeded on their way to Runjetpoora, the place to which they +were returning when they were so ruthlessly set upon by the atrocious +mutineers. + +The day proceeding the one on which Arthur had joined his troop, the +officer in command of the little force ordered a court martial to +assemble for the trial of the prisoners concerned in the late murderous +attack on the Collector and party. The finding of the court was, that +the prisoners were guilty of all the charges brought against them, and +the sentence pronounced was that of death, by being blown to fragments +from the cannon's mouth, the sentence to be carried into effect the day +succeeding the promulgation of the order for the execution. Preparations +were then to be pushed forward vigorously for carrying by assault +Laurieghur, the fortress among the hills. Already a heavy breaching +battery had been sent for to Runjetpoora, for on a party of Engineers +advancing more closely and with the aid of their field glasses, it was +found to be a more formidable place, and more strongly guarded than had +been anticipated by those in command at Runjetpoora; thus the delay in +commencing the attack. + +On the evening prior to the execution of the wretched criminals, as +Arthur Carlton was quietly smoking a cigar and meditating on Edith, the +approaching siege, and things in general, an orderly came to his tent +and announced to him, that one of the prisoners desired to speak with +him on a subject that admitted of no delay. Surprised at so unlooked for +an event, Arthur at first felt inclined to refuse the man's request, but +presently, curiosity getting the better of the dislike he felt at having +any communication with the wretch, and wondering what he could possibly +have to communicate, sent word that he would visit him soon after sun +set. + +"What is it you have to say to me?" enquired Arthur Carlton, an hour +later, as with stern composure and folded arms, he looked down upon the +wretched culprit who lay manacled on the floor of the guard tent, and +who proved to be the youth before alluded to, as the son of the man +called Shumsodeen. + +The captive, with much difficulty raising himself to a sitting posture, +said, "You are a brave man, and the brave among the whites are always +truthful they tell me. I am told that I am to be blown from the cannon's +mouth to-morrow. Is this the truth? Is there no hope of pardon or +reprieve?" + +"The sentence of the court has been read to you, and there is no hope of +remission. You will die at sunrise to-morrow morning, and have but a few +hours to live. This you might have ascertained from the sergeant of the +guard without sending for me," said Arthur, turning to leave the tent. + +"Stay!" resumed the prisoner, observing Carlton's intention, "I have +that to say which nearly concerns yourself and companions. I have +learned that it is the intention of your commander to carry the Fort of +Laurieghur by assault; this cannot be done without great loss of life +among you, for the place is much stronger and better provisioned and +garrisoned than he has any idea of. Listen to my story, you will then +see that I have it in my power to render your General a very great +service if permitted to do so." + +"Speak on," responded Arthur, getting somewhat interested, and seating +himself on a bag of tent pegs, the the only apology for a seat the tent +afforded. + +The youth then proceeded with his story, from which it appeared that, +about five weeks previous, a party of cavalry Sowas, regular and +irregular, who had deserted their regiments, had arrived at the village +in which the speaker and his father, who was a mounted police patell, +resided. While there, the emissaries of the Begum of Runjetpoora, who +had established herself at Laurieghur, and was organizing a force and +getting together supplies of ammunition, provisions, etc., with the +intention of making a raid on Runjetpoora and looting it, had made +overtures to this party, and promised them high pay and a share of the +plunder if they would join her. This they had accepted, and some of the +men of the village, the father and son included, had cast in their lots +with the mutineers and entered the fort; but, dissatisfied with being so +long cooped up within its walk, and seeing no prospect of immediate +plunder, had attempted to leave the place, but were prevented from so +doing by the Begum's order. In sullen silence they received this +injunction, but determined to escape when opportunity offered. That one +day while he, (the prisoner) was passing through the ruins of a deserted +palace, he had discovered the entrance to a subterraneous passage, +leading under the walls and coming out about a quarter of a mile from +the fort. This he had communicated to his comrades, and the following +morning ere it was light, the party, led by himself, made good their +retreat, and keeping within the jungle for some miles, came upon the +high road, and chanced to meet the Collector's party; that he had taken +no part in the slaughter of the children, and had intended leaving the +band as soon as they came in sight of his own village, and in +conclusion said, "If you will swear to obtain my pardon, and liberty to +go where I please, I will lead you and any number of your men through +this same passage, and in less than two hours from leaving this place, +you shall be in possession of the fort and all it contains." This offer +our hero did not consider himself at liberty to refuse or accept, but +promised at once to bring the matter to the notice of the officer +commanding the force, and let him (the prisoner) know the result as +speedily as might be, and immediately left the guard room for that +purpose. + + +The prisoner's proposition was at once accepted by the authorities, and +very shortly a party of five hundred infantry, and one hundred +dismounted dragoons, led by Carlton and accompanied by the prisoner as +guide, left the camp and soon made their way without difficulty, or +exciting the notice of the insurgents, through the subterraneous passage +before alluded to into the fort, and the whole party were soon ensconced +within the ruins of the old palace, without the garrison having the +least idea of their presence in that quarter. On gaining this position, +the signal agreed on, a blue light, was burned for one minute, then the +whole force in camp turned out, and a demonstration was made from every +available cannon and musket, as if the storming of the fort had +commenced in earnest. The consternation of the mutineers at finding +themselves so suddenly attacked was very great, and imagine their dismay +on rushing to the walls, to find the ramparts lined with our men. Unable +to account their appearance there, and believing treachery to be at work +among themselves, and that the gates had been opened to admit the foe, +threw down their arms and surrendered at discretion. + +Search was immediately made for the Begum, and while looking for this +mutiness Princess in one of her apartments, Carlton took up from a +teapoy or dressing table, a small but curiously carved steel casket. +Supposing it to contain cosmetics, or what was more probable, chinaum +and beetle nut, hurriedly slipped it into his sabretache; but not +succeeding in finding the Begum, who had evaded the pursuit, Arthur, +with his Dragoons, returned to camp. The same evening the three villains +already condemned were executed. + +But the youth who had acted as guide was permitted to escape, which he +lost no time in doing. The little force was then broken up, and the +troop composing it sent back to their respective corps, while our hero +and his Dragoons joined their regiment, and with it saw a great deal of +hard fighting and rough service, and on more than one occasion his +dashing conduct had been brought to the notice of the Indian Government. + +The return of the troop from Persia, and the efficient manner in which +the brigades under Sir Hugh Rose, Havelock, Mitchell, Whitlock and +others were handled, proved too much for the mutineers, and after an +obstinate contest which lasted over two years, during which time a heavy +loss of life had been sustained on both sides, the rebellious native +troops were beaten at all points, and law and order once more restored +throughout the country. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + +Horace, on reaching London, had taken a house on Berkly Square. Old Mr. +and Mrs. Barton having died some two years previous, as already stated, +and the Willows in Devonshire had been let. He found his sister, Mrs. +Ashburnham, still living on Cavendish Square, and Emily residing with +her aunt in Harley street. Tom and his bride were still travelling on +the Continent. Mr. and Mrs. Barton therefore determined to remain in +town until the lease, for which the country seat had been let, should +expire, which would take place about the month of August in the +following year; and thus it was that the people of Vellenaux knew +nothing of their return to England. Fond of gaiety and fashionable life, +Mrs. Barton determined to make up for time lost during their sojourn in +the Goozeratte, by being very gay, attending balls, parties and operas, +and not unfrequently giving stylish entertainments at her house at +Berkly Square, in all of which Edith participated, as her kind friend +would go no where and do nothing without her, and thus she passed her +first season in London. In the spring of the year she received the +welcome intelligence that Arthur had been promoted to a troop, and that +if he could manage to obtain leave of absence, he would be in England +early in summer to claim his bride. + +"Well, my dear," said Mrs. Barton, a few days subsequent to the receipt +of the letter, "Horace, dear old fellow, has arranged everything nicely +for you. He has still some interest with the authorities. He has been to +the India office. Arthur is to have eighteen months leave of absence, +and before the expiration of that time his regiment will be ordered +home; so you see, my dear, we shall be able to see a great deal of each +other. After you are married you will, of course, remain with us until +it is time for Arthur to rejoin his regiment." Edith felt very grateful +to her kind friends for all they had done to further her happiness, and +looked forward to the time when she should meet her affianced husband +with intense satisfaction and delight. She would not now be called upon +to return to India, to which country she had a strong aversion; and well +she might, for her residence there, with the exception of her episodes +of pleasure derived from the society of Arthur, had indeed been very +trying. + +It was summer, bright, glorious, balmy summer. The birds sang and +chirped among the green leaves, and wood pigeons cooed in the hollow +trunks of the trees, beneath whose outspreading branches, little +four-footed creatures gamboled and made merry among the soft feathery +grasses that grew in the fine old beech woods of Devon. It was pleasant +to listen to the cool, gurgling sound of the brawling brook, whose +bright waters skipped, danced and glittered, as they forced their way +over the pebbles and other impediments in their serpentine course along +the shady dell that skirted the Home Park, wherein, under the venerable +oaks, the red and fallow deer rested, dreamily sniffing the delicious +fragrance that pervaded the air, borne upon the light summer wind from +the rich parterre which stretched the entire length of the south wing at +Vellenaux. + +In a large octagon-shaped apartment that had been fitted up as a +library, the most pleasing feature of which was its Southern aspect, +were seated _tete a tete_ two personages, who figured somewhat +conspicuously in the early part of our story, these were Mrs. Fraudhurst +and Sir Ralph Coleman. They had met here at the request of the Baronet, +for Sir Ralph and the widow rarely met except by appointment or at the +dinner table. + +Time had dealt kindly with the lady, and what was deficient by nature +was supplied by art, for she was one of those who always paid the most +scrupulous attention to their toilette. If we were to describe her as +fat, fair, and forty, we should certainly wrong her. Fair and forty she +undoubtedly was, but fat she certainly was not. There was a slight +tendency to embonpoint, but this was relieved by her tall and not +ungraceful figure. She was what might be termed a decidedly handsome +woman. The corpulent lawyer had subsided into the sleek, +well-conditioned country gentleman. But there was at times a certain +restlessness of the eye, and a nervous twitching at the corners of the +mouth, which, to a keen observer, would indicate that he was not always +the quiet, self-possessed person that he would have his neighbors to +believe. The business on which they had met had been interrupted by the +entrance of a servant with a note to Sir Ralph, but, on his leaving the +room, the conversation was resumed by Mrs. Fraudhurst saying: + +"I would much rather, Sir Ralph, that this subject be now discontinued, +and never again reverted to. The papers to which you allude are +perfectly safe in my hands, and I do not see that any good could accrue +by my transferring them to you, certainly none to myself, and it might +militate against me; for the great anxiety you evince to get possession +of the documents leads me to believe that you have some particular +object in view, something which does not appear or, the surface, and +which you desire should not come to my knowledge." + +"But, my dear madam, you surely do not imagine that I have any other +motive in requesting you to hand over to my safe keeping the deed in +question than a natural desire to be quite certain that our mutual +interests should not be imperilled by any accidental circumstance that +might disclose the existence of any such document." + +The lady looked steadily at him for a few seconds, then in a clear +distinct, and deliberate tone, said, "For the last seven years the will +of the late Baronet has been in my possession, during which, time you, +Sir Ralph, have made frequent attempts to obtain it from me, sometimes +on one pretence, then on another. Were I to agree to your request, what +security have I that you, who have acted so vile a part against Miss +Effingham, would not act as treacherously towards me, were I once in +your power? While I possess that document, I hold my position here, and +can thus keep you at bay. And think you that I will thus surrender my +advantage to please the idle fancy of a man who would not hesitate to +stoop to perform any act however dastardly, so that he could effectually +escape the penalty of a crime he was ready to profit by, but cowardly +enough to shrink from the consequences it entailed? You say that our +interest in this affair is mutual,--it is not so, and you know it. You +gain nineteen thousand a year, I only one. Again, should the will by any +mischance be found in my possession, who would believe my statement +that you were a party concerned in the abstraction of the said deed, you +would deny all knowledge of the transaction and my unsupported evidence +could not commit you. Of course you would lose the estate; but what +would my condition be then. No! I have everything at stake--you, +comparatively nothing. I will not accede to so absurd a proposition." +There was a short pause, the widow resumed her embroidery with an air of +apparent indifference. The baronet sat abstractedly gazing out of the +window, evidently turning over something in his mind. As she had stated +he had tried to wheedle her out of the papers, but she had hitherto, by +great tact, adroitly managed to shift the conversation to some other +subject, in a quiet and playful manner. He was therefore not prepared +for this vehement outburst; she had not only refused to comply with his +demand, but taunted him with stinging words for his pusillanimous +conduct. He knew her great ambition, and that the sole object of her +life was to become mistress of Vellenaux, and to gain this she would +risk everything. It was her weak point, the only vulnerable part he +could attack with any hope of success. He had for months pondered over +this; it had this advantage, it is true, he thought a marriage would +secure him in the possession of both the will and her silence; but then +he hated her with a cordial hate. He had been for years in her power. +During her residence at Vellenaux she had every want supplied, and was +safe in her position. With the only evidence of the fraud that had been +practiced in her own keeping; she had outwitted him and had in reality +obtained the best of the bargain. The knowledge of this cut him to the +quick and he detested her in consequence. + +Yet his only chance of obtaining that which he so coveted was by an +offer of marriage, not that he intended to fulfil any such promise, +quite the reverse, it would be a lie, a villainous deception, but had he +not willingly defrauded Miss Effingham out of her property? and what was +one lie, more or less, it would be but diamond cut diamond, and turning +the tables on Mrs. Fraudhurst. All these thoughts flashed through his +mind as he sat gazing out upon the sunny landscape below him, if it must +be done, as well now as at any other time, perhaps better. He at length +arose, and after taking two or three turns up and down the apartment in +order to nerve himself for action, stopped beside the chair of the fair +widow. + +"Eleanor," said he, laying his hand on her arm. She looked up quickly, +for he had never before so addressed her. "Eleanor, you are unjust to me +and to yourself, ask yourself have I ever deceived or broken faith with +you since our compact after Sir Jasper's death, and the answer must be +in my favor. You may say that I have acted coldly and kept aloof from +you: this I grant is true, but it has been forced upon me; I felt that +the eyes of the world were upon us, watching our actions. Your constant +residence here has been talked of and cavelled at by some of the +neighboring families, who have not recovered from the surprise they felt +on hearing that Sir Jasper had died intestate and left his orphan niece +unprovided for. It was to prevent exposure that I have thus acted +towards you, and I believe that I have effectually succeeded, and now I +acknowledge that the charm of your society has become almost +indispensable to me, and I will no longer be held back by the world's +opinion. Listen to my proposal, accept it or reject it as you will, I +make it with all sincerity. Place the will of the late baronet in my +hands, and before this day month you shall be my wife and mistress of +the the manor." + +"And should I survive you," she said, "Vellenaux and its broad lands--" + +"Reverts to Miss Effingham on condition that she allows you five +thousand per annum and a suite of apartments in the west wing, during +the remainder of your life, which you can have fitted up to suit your +taste and convenience without delay, in case the contingency you mention +should arise sooner than I anticipate." + +"And this you swear to fulfil to the letter," she replied, advancing +nearer and fixing her eyes upon him as if to read his inmost thoughts. + +"On the day after our marriage I will cause a will to be drawn to that +effect, this I swear to do by the honor of knighthood." + +Her countenance lit up and there was a sparkling brilliancy in her large +black eyes as she said, "I believe you--wait a few seconds and I will +prove that I do." She then quitted the room, but did not keep him long +in suspense; on re-entering she placed the parchment in his hands, +saying as she did so, "Remember I now trust you, but beware how you +betray that trust." + +He opened the document and glanced over it, to satisfy himself of its +authenticity; his legal experience enabled him to decide at once that it +was genuine. "Eleanor." he then said, taking her hand, "our interests +are now identical, we cannot now but act in concert," and raising her +hand to his lips, he bowed courteously to her and left the room by one +door, while she passed out at another. + +"I have carried my point, thought Sir Ralph as he entered his study, and +before this day month I shall have sank both name and title, and be an +alien from my native land." + +"I have carried my point at last," exclaimed Mrs. Fraudhurst, as the +door of her dressing room closed behind her; "before this day month I +shall be Lady Coleman and mistress of Vellenaux." + +It was late that night ere Sir Ralph retired to rest; before he did so +he had determined on his future career. For years he had striven to +wrest this document from the widow and now with it in his possession, he +lost no time in putting into execution the plans he had for so long a +time been maturing. This was to proceed without delay to London, raise +as large a sum as possible by mortgaging the Vellenaux property to its +fullest extent, then retire to the continent and spend the remainder of +his days in foreign travel, halting from time to time at the different +cities he had visited during the first years of his married life. For in +this mode of living he felt he would be more secure than he could ever +hope to be in England during the life of Mrs. Fraudhurst. It is true +that he could, by fulfiling his promise of marrying the widow, have +sheltered himself from the consequences that might arise should his +share of the concealment of the will ever appear, but he could escape +this alternative by pursuing the course he had marked out for himself. +He was aware that a desperate and revengeful woman like Mrs. Fraudhurst +would leave no stone unturned to bring about the ruin of the man who had +thus deceived and tricked her; but the old lawyer knew that she was +almost powerless to act against him with any chance of success, as the +only two persons interested in the matter were, to the best of his +belief, in India, and likely to remain there for some years at least, +and the only real proof that a will had been made by the late Sir Jasper +Coleman, was now in his possession, viz: the will itself, and her +unsupported testimony would not be taken as evidence in any court of +law; besides, in the transaction she was in the eyes of the law the more +culpable of the two, being the chief instigator of the plot, therefore +it was in a more complacent frame of mind that Sir Ralph, early the +following morning, ere the self-satisfied widow had awakened from those +slumbers that had been during the night partially and pleasantly +disturbed by means of her coming greatness as the wife of a Baronet and +the Lady of Vellenaux, had driven over to Switchem and taken his seat in +the up train for Southampton, in order to consult with the lawyer who +had the management of his estate. After effecting this he started for +London. + +He was not naturally a bad man at heart, and had he not been legal heir +to the baronetcy he would never have entered into the conspiracy to +deprive the rightful owner of the property. He had always been of the +opinion that the late Baronet would make a will leaving the principal +portion of his property to his niece, but fancied that he would come in +for a couple of thousand a year, to enable him to support the title; but +finding that his name did not appear in the will, he felt both +disappointed and annoyed beyond measure, and quite ready to acquiesce in +the proposal made him by the intriguing ex-governess. + +It was not his wish or intention from the first that the will should be +destroyed, and he had certain scruples of conscience which now +prevented his so doing. During his journey by train he argued the +subject mentally. "They are both young," he thought, his mind reverting +to Miss Effingham and Arthur Carlton, "and will, in all probability, +survive me many years; let them buffet the waves of fortune in their +youth, as I have done, they will then better appreciate their accession +to fortune than they probably would have done, had they come into it at +an earlier stage of their life; besides, who has a better right, during +his lifetime, to enjoy the estate, than the heir to the title. The will +must, of necessity, be found among my papers after my decease, so all +will come right in the end," and with this consoling plea he settled +himself snugly among the cushions of the first-class carriage of the +train that was now leaving Southampton far behind, on its upward course +to London, and soon fell into a doze. + +In another carriage were seated two gentlemen conversing in a very +lively and animated strain, and were apparently much interested with +scenery, farm houses, and well trimmed hedges, as the train whirled +past. They were not foreigners by any means, decidedly English in every +look and action; about eight and twenty and thirty, respectively, and +very good looking; the tallest was decidedly handsome; he was dressed in +grey tweed of fine texture. They had entered the carriage at +Southampton. A man of the world would have pat them down, from their +general appearance and the well-bronzed hue of their features, as either +belonging to, or having served in, the military or naval service of +their country; and he would not have been wrong, for they were none +other than Captain Carlton and Assistant-Surgeon Draycott, of H.M. Light +Dragoons, just arrived from India on furlough. + +"We are going along at racing speed," said Draycott to his companion, +"but it will hardly keep pace with your impatience to reach London. Gad, +I envy you the possession of so fair a bride. I remember the first time +I met her at Calcutta. I thought her the most loveable girl I had ever +seen; but what chance had a poor devil of an Assistant-Surgeon, only +just arrived in the country, surrounded, as she was, by a set of fellows +old enough to be her father, it is true, but with rupees enough to +freight a Pattima? I suppose that ride through the Goozeratte did the +business for you? She is just the girl to admire that sort of thing." + +A suitable reply rose to Arthur's lips, but very different words escaped +him. + +"What the devil is that? A collision, by thunder!" exclaimed he, as he +picked himself up from the opposite seat on which he had been thrown by +the violence of the shock. The door, fortunately, had been forced open +by the concussion. Our two travellers jumped out on to the track. Here a +scene of confusion met their view. They had run into a freight train +which was coming from an opposite direction. Women and children were +shrieking for help, mingled with the cries of those injured, with the +loud shouts and vociferations of the employees, and those engaged in +clearing the wreck and getting things into trim again; although a number +were hurt, some slightly, others more seriously, there were none +reported actually killed; and a great number of the passengers were more +frightened than hurt. + +"This way," said an official to some four or five men, who were carrying +a gentleman that appeared to be more seriously injured than any of the +rest. "Lay him down softly on that grassy bank;" then raising his voice +called out, "Is there any medhal man at hand?" + +"Here, Draycott, although on leave you must come to the rescue. Horrid +bore to be thus detained, is it not," said Arthur, as they hastened to +the spot. + +"Fall back there, men, fall back; give the gentleman more air, and let +the doctor pass." At the decided and authoritative tone of Carlton's +voice the crowd, who by this time had gathered around the sufferer, gave +way. The surgeon went to work immediately and examined the unfortunate +man thoroughly. "Bad case," he said in a whisper to Carlton. "Broken +thigh bone, ribs crushed, and something worse internally, I am afraid." +At this moment Carlton got a good look at the features of the injured +man. "Can it be possible! Yes, it is Sir Ralph Coleman!" At the mention +of his name the Baronet opened his eyes and, for a second or two, looked +fully at the speaker, then said with a great effort, for pain had +hitherto kept him silent: + +"Yes, Arthur Carlton, it is I. How came you here? Do not leave me." And +here Sir Ralph fainted from loss of blood. + +"Is there a public house or farm near?" enquired Carlton. + +"Yes," replied one of the bystanders, "there is farmer Wheatley's just +down there in the hollow; they will do what they can for the poor +gentleman." + +"I will pay the men well that will carry him there," said Carlton, +addressing a number of farmers' men, who had by this time come up. The +rank of the injured man, and the offer of payment, had a wonderful +effect. A dozen volunteered, at once. A gate was taken off its hinges, +and some of the cushions of the injured carriage placed upon this litter +and, under the direction of Doctor Draycott, Sir Ralph was conveyed to +the farm house in the hollow. + +"You seemed to be well acquainted with my patient," said Draycott. + +"Oh, yes. He is Sir Ralph Coleman, of Vellenaux. He succeeded to the +title and estate on the death of Sir Jasper, Miss Effingham's uncle, by +which she was left almost penniless. You have heard her history, I +suppose, in India. These things always leak out somehow or other in the +service." + +"In that case, my dear fellow, I must go no further than the door with +you. To the best of my belief he will not live more than eight hours, +and I must have other opinion and advice in his case. I think it would +be as well to have the clergyman and a lawyer without loss of time. He +may have something of importance to communicate to you or Miss Effingham +ere he dies, for I have some indistinct notion that I have heard +something very unfavorable spoken about the said Baronet, now I hear the +name again. Let him be got to bed as soon as possible. What is the name +of your nearest town, and the distance to it?" enquired Draycott of the +farmer. + +"Fallowfield is about two miles from here, sir. There is a good road and +no one could miss it," was the reply. + +"Let me have a horse and I will go myself and get what I require; +Captain Carlton will remain until I return," and the young surgeon was +soon on his way at a hand gallop. In the meantime the good people of the +farm were doing all in their power to render the sufferings of their +wounded guest as little painful as possible; and every attention was +shown him. He spoke but little; but several times asked for Carlton, and +on seeing him only repeated, "Do not leave me yet, Arthur, I may have +something to say concerning you and Miss Effingham." + +In less time than could have been expected, Draycott returned, +accompanied by the best surgeon in Fallowfield, the rector, and a lawyer +of good standing in that town. Again the patient was examined, after +which a consultation was held in the farmer's parlour, which lasted +about a quarter of an hour; the medical men then returned to the +bed-chamber. + +The Baronet scrutinized their features narrowly as they re-entered the +room. "Oh!" said he, breathing with intense difficulty, "I see there is +no hope for me; but tell me frankly, how long is it your opinion that I +can live?" + +"Doctor Draycott and myself," replied the surgeon from Fallowfield--who +being much the senior took the lead--"deem it expedient that you should +send for your man of business as soon as possible," thus evading the +direct question. + +Ralph passed his hand across his brow and remained silent a few moments. +"You may do so, but it is too late I am afraid. Get the nearest lawyer +you can, but be quick for my strength is failing fast, and send Captain +Carlton to me at once." + +"Arthur," he continued, as the young man advanced, "I have deeply +wronged Edith and yourself: in the breast pocket of that coat yonder is +a paper packet, bring it to me." Arthur obeyed and placed it on the +counterpane. Ralph laid his hand upon it and said, "There is yet time +to make restitution. This is the will of the late Sir Jasper Coleman, +stolen from his desk on the morning of his death. Has the lawyer sent +for yet arrived? If so, I will give my deposition on oath, ere it is too +late: I am not a principal, but an accessory. After the fact--" Here Sir +Ralph fell back on the pillow, and remained motionless several minutes, +during which time the rector and lawyer had been summoned from the +parlor below. The rector being a magistrate undertook to put a few +questions to the dying man before he gave, his testimony. When +sufficiently recovered to speak, the baronet, in a husky voice, related +the whole of his interview with Mrs. Fraudhurst, her production of the +will and the compact entered into between them. The document was sworn +to, signed and duly witnessed by those present. + +"Arthur give this will into the hands of Miss Effingham, or her legal +adviser, and obtain her forgiveness for me." This the gallant soldier +faithfully promised to do. The room was then cleared of all except the +rector and the dying baronet. He lingered until sometime after midnight, +and ere the light of another day dawned, his spirit had passed away, and +the baronetcy became extinct. + +During the following day Mr. Russell, the agent, arrived, and Arthur, in +the name of Miss Effingham, authorized him to settle all claims, and +have the body of the late Sir Ralph conveyed to Vellenaux for interment. +Having thus arranged matters, Captain Carlton and his friend Draycott +started by the next train for London. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + +It was by no means an uncommon occurrence for Sir Ralph to absent +himself from home for a day or two without communicating to any one his +intentions or the direction in which he was going, therefore his absence +at the dinner table in the evening did not excite any misgivings in the +mind of Mrs. Fraudhurst, but his non-appearance at the breakfast table +the following morning caused considerable disquietude to that amiable +person. Hurried on by her ambition she had aimed at too high a prize, +and in so doing had let slip the reins of power. The possession of the +will was the only hold she had ever had on the baronet and now when too +late she perceived, to her dismay, the awkward position in which she +stood. Ever suspicious of the motives of others; she now tormented +herself with apprehensions concerning his absence, and the business that +could have taken him away at that particular time. From the servants she +could gain no information regarding his movements; but it occurred to +her that old Bridoon, the gate-keeper, could throw some light on the +subject, and therefore determined to lose no time in questioning him as +to the direction taken by his master. + +The person who had been despatched to Southampton to summon Mr. Russell, +the agent, found the gentleman in question had gone to Vellenaux, and +thinking from what he had overheard that it was a matter of considerable +importance, made no longer delay in that good town than was actually +necessary, but took the first train to Switchem, and from thence on foot +to the lodge gates, and walked quickly up the avenue; when near the lawn +he encountered Mrs. Fraudhurst, who, noticing him to be a stranger and +in haste, accosted him and enquired his business. + +"I am looking for Mr. Russell, my lady," was his reply. + +"He resides in Southampton; but where have you come from, and who is it +that wishes to see him?" + +"Sir Ralph Coleman, my lady, has met with an accident about two miles +from Fallowfield, and is not expected to live long. He has sent for his +agent, and I have been to Southampton, but was told that I should find +him here." + +The widow started and turned deadly pale. "He has the will with him," +she thought. + +"I beg pardon, my lady, for being so abrupt,--perhaps you are Lady +Coleman," for he noticed her start and change color. + +"Pray go on, my good fellow, and tell me all about that accident, where +the baronet is, and who is with him, and all you know concerning this +sad affair." + +The man related all he knew, and something that he had heard. "The +gentleman that sent me for Mr. Russell they called Captain Carlton." At +this name she again started, and, in spite of herself, trembled +perceptibly, but the man went on-- + +"There was something said about a stolen will, which Sir Ralph wanted to +enquire about, or something of that sort, and I am in great haste." + +"Stay one moment. Did you say Sir Ralph was not expected to live?" + +"The doctors said he could not last more than a few hours." + +By this time she had recovered her presence of mind. "Mr. Russell," she +said, "was here this morning, but has returned to Southampton; you must +have passed him on your way here; return my good fellow as quickly as +you can, and let him know all that you have told me." She gave him a +sovereign and said, "I will be there almost as soon as yourself." + +The man took the coin with a bow, and started for the railway station, +and Mrs. Fraudhurst returned to the house, where she well knew Mr. +Russell then was settling home matters with the steward. She went +directly to her own apartment to form plans of immediate action. "Arthur +is in England, Sir Ralph dying, the will found in his possession; he has +made a confession of the whole, implicating me; he must have done so, or +how could that messenger have heard of the stolen will. Idiot that I +was, to trust it out of my own keeping. My only safety is in instant +flight. I must place the wide waste of waters between me and the +consequences that must inevitably await me should I remain here after +the disclosure becomes known throughout the country." She then +commenced to pack up her wardrobe and valuables. Her plan was soon +arranged. She then descended to the drawing room and rang for old +Reynolds, who answered the summons. "Has Mr. Russell left the house?" +she enquired, and on receiving an answer in the negative, desired that +he might be informed that she wished to speak to him, "and return +yourself, Reynolds, for I have something of importance to communicate to +both of you." + +In a few minutes the agent entered, she requested him to be seated. +"Reynolds, you too will remain;" then addressing Mr. Russell said, "I +have just received the intelligence that Sir Ralph has met with an +accident, by rail, resulting, I am told, in a broken limb, which may +detain him for some days at the farm house where he now lies; he has +requested me to attend him, and bring such things as I may deem +necessary, and further directs that you will call over and see him +sometime to-morrow." She then gave orders to the butler to pack up +several changes of his master's linen, and underclothing in a large +trunk and have it sent to her room, as she had bandages, flannel, and +other things that it might be necessary to place therein. This was +accordingly done, but as soon as alone she emptied the trunk of its +contents, and filled it with her own apparel. The carriage was then +ordered round, the trunks put in, and Mrs. Fraudhurst, who had found a +home there for upwards of twenty years, left Vellenaux never again to +return to it. + +"She has baggage enough for the Seik men of a whole troop," remarked +Bridoon as she passed through the Park gates. + +On arriving at the station her first act was to dismiss the carriage, +the next to take a ticket for Exeter, and in a snug hostlery in that +city made an addition to her toilette, then ordered a cab and proceeded +to the principal bank. + +"I wish to see the manager," she said, with a condescending smile. The +obsequious cashier led the way to the sanctum, and ushered her in, for +he knew the visitor well, and also knew that opposite her name in the +books of the establishment there was an array of figures, representing +a goodly amount of the current coin of the realm. + +In about ten minutes the lady, accompanied by the manager, returned, and +presented a cheque for the full amount of her deposit, which was paid in +gold and notes. This circumstance did not much surprise the banker, for +she had done the same on three or four occasions during the last seven +years, re-depositing the same amount a few hours after. She was then +politely bowed into her cab and was driven off. Having settled her bill +at the hotel, she drove down to the railway station and procured a +ticket for Queenstown, Ireland, and by the time Mr. Russell arrived at +the farm house to attend Sir Ralph, Mrs. Fraudhurst was airing herself +at the Cove of Cork. Her object in misleading the man who had been sent +to acquaint the agent with what had occurred to Sir Ralph, had thus been +effected: that of gaining time to enable her to quit the country before +steps could be taken to arrest her. + +"There is not a finer craft swims the ocean than the beauty that lays +out yonder," said a weather-beaten old seaman to a group of sailors, +watermen, and others, who were lounging about the dockhead and +commenting on the merits of a first-class, clipper-built, full rigged +vessel that was lying in the Cove, her sails loosed and the blue Peter +or signal for sailing, flying at the fore. + +"You may well say that with your own purty mouth, for it's yourself that +knows that same, Cornelius O'Donovan, for wasn't it yourself that made +the first trip in her, and isn't Captain Costigan a blood relation of +your own, and sure a smarter boy than him that has the handling of her +isn't to be found between this and Bantry Bay." + +"It is her fourth trip to the Cape of Good Hope," resumed the first +speaker, knocking the ashes out of his pipe, and preparing to refill it. +Just then a lady, dressed in the height of the prevailing fashion, +advanced, and of one of the party enquired the name of the ship, and the +port to which she was bound. + +"The 'Kaffir Chief,' outward bound for the Cape of Good Hope," was the +reply of the waterman who had been addressed. "Shall I put you on board, +my lady?" + +"Not at this moment,--but when does she sail?" + +"She will up anchor and top her boom at sunset," answered another of the +bystanders. + +"They are lowering a boat," said the old tar, who had first spoken, who +was now taking a squint at her through a small pocket telescope; "it is +the skipper coming ashore for his papers, mails, and perhaps to jack up +some stray passengers." + +"You would oblige me by telling the Captain that a lady wishes to speak +to him as soon as he lands, and then see if you can manage to drink my +health at yonder little public house," and Mrs. Fraudhurst here held out +a crown piece to the old seaman, who gladly accepted the offered coin. +"What did you say the Captain's name was?" It was immediately given. +"Then be good enough to tell Captain Costigan that he will find me +waiting for him beneath those trees yonder," she said, as she turned and +walked in the direction indicated. + +"Pretty spoken woman that; devilish good looting, too; what can she want +with old Castigan?" remarked one of the party. + +"Missed her passage in the last ship, perhaps, and wants to know if +there be any room in the 'Kaffir Chief,'" replied another of the +bystanders, "Go over at once to the 'Jolly Sailor'; I will be with you +as soon as I deliver the lady's message, and then we will drink her +health," said the old salt who had received the lady's bounty. + +"Captain Costigan, of the 'Kaffir Chief,' I believe," said Mrs. +Fraudhurst as she advanced from under the trees, from whence she had +been watching his approach. + +"The same at your service madam," was the reply of the polite seaman, as +he lifted his glazed hat and bowed to the person who addressed him. + +"I have, unfortunately, lost my passage in the 'Eastern Monarch,' which +sailed some days since from London, and am anxious to return to the Cape +with as little delay as possible. I noticed in the newspaper that your +vessel was bound to that port,--am I too late, or have you room for +another?" The Captain eyed her for a moment, and apparently satisfied +with his scrutiny, replied: + +"I have but few passengers, and there is a first-class berth vacant, +with excellent accommodation. You will I trust take a sailor's word for +that, as the time is short, and I sail at sunset." + +"The truth and honesty of our sailors are proverbial," said the lady +with one of her blandest smiles. He then accompanied her to the hotel; +here matters were quickly arranged, the passage money paid down, and +Captain Costigan promised to call for her, and convey her and her +effects on board on his return call. This had been so quietly +managed--no agent or go between employed--that no person, not even the +landlord of the hotel, was aware of her intentions. He was under the +impression that the lady, who occupied two of the best rooms in his +house, would in all probability remain there for the rest of the +summer. This he judged from what she had let fall during a conversation +he had had with her an hour after her arrival, and the worthy man was +quite taken aback when she paid her bill, and leaning on the arm of +Captain Costigan, left his establishment, to take up her quarters on +board the good ship, now lying with her anchor apeak in the offing. + +From the quarter deck of the "Kaffir Chief," towards the close of that +beautiful summer day, could be seen a magnificent panoramic view of one +of the finest harbors in Europe, with the purple-tinted hills of Munster +in the distance, and the iron-bound coast standing boldly out on either +side, and beaten with the surges which impetuously dashed against the +rugged steeps. In stormy weather the billows rolled in from the dark +ocean in long arching waves, bursting with a deafening noise on the +beething cliffs, and scattering the salt spray hundreds of feet in the +air. Then again met the eye the fortifications on Spike Island, Convict +Depot, Carlisle Fort, Light House, Camden Fort, Black Point, and the +handsome City of Cork, with its bustling streets and its quays and +docks, crowded with vessels of all nations, presenting a picture well +worth travelling miles to behold. But what a bright change has come over +the spirit of the age, since the days of Elizabeth and religious +persecution, when Cork was made a howling wilderness, because its +inhabitants refused to attend the Protestant places of worship as +ordered by law. Verily, in every country, and in every age, mad +fanaticism has played such pranks before high heaven as to make even the +angels weep for poor humanity. But we live in happier times now, and +enjoy that great blessing, liberty of conscience, to its fullest +extent. + +The wind was fair, and, with every sail set, the gallant bark, on the +top of the white crested foam of the rippling waves, floated proudly out +to sea, and was soon hull down in the distance, her tall tapering spars +fading from view, for the bright orb of day had already sank beneath its +ocean bed, and the golden tints of the horizon were fast deepening to +the purple shades of night. There were but three other passengers, an +old Major of Artillery, a merchant of Cape Town, and a juvenile Ensign +of Infantry, going out to join his regiment. There were no other ladies +on board; this was a source of infinite satisfaction to the flying +widow, who, from prudential motives, had engaged her passage under the +name of Mrs. Harcourt Grenville, and fears for her personal safety were +completely set at rest on finding that the news of the accident by rail, +which had cost Sir Ralph Coleman his life, had not reached the ear of +any person on board, and she, herself, was not quite certain but that +her accomplice in fraud might yet survive; if so, her condition was +still very precarious, but she argued that he would scarcely recover, or +he would not have committed himself by making known to the world his +share in the transaction concerning the stolen will, and under the +assumed name, and in a distant land, she would be secure from detection. +She had no intention of remaining at the Cape; her object was to try her +fortune in India, and had only come on board the "Kaffir Chief," as it +afforded her the earliest opportunity for evading pursuit. She was well +aware that she could easily proceed to India from the Cape in one of the +Indiamen that so frequently touched at that port, and so, on the whole, +she felt tolerably easy in her new position, and set to work, with her +usual tact, to make herself agreeable to the Captain and her fellow +travellers. Ensign Winterton she took under her especial protection, +which very much flattered his boyish pride; made considerable headway +with Major Dowlas, who, by the way, was a bachelor; and never failed to +accept the proffered arm of the attentive Captain, when on deck; for +although married and on the wrong side of fifty, being an Irishman and a +Corkonian, he was not insensible to the charms of a handsome woman some +years his junior. + +Her account of herself was, that she was the wife of a surgeon at +Graham's Town, had been some time in England, and had spent the spring +and part of the summer in London, and intended to remain at Cape Town +until her husband came for her. She had several thousand pounds, the +savings of some twenty years, dressed with excellent taste, and had +taken such good care of her constitution, that she looked at least ten +years younger than she really was, and felt convinced from all she had +heard and read, that she would experience but little difficulty in +procuring a suitable husband and establishment in one of the Indian +Presidencies, she cared not which, and having no acquaintances in the +army, was not at all likely to be recognized as the ex-governess of +Vellenaux. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + +There was another change that had taken place in the little village of +Vellenaux which has not been brought to the notice of the reader, and +may as well be introduced here as elsewhere, since it must be known +sooner or later. The venerable rector who had performed the last sad +rites over Sir Jasper, did not long survive his old and esteemed friend. +He had been ailing for several months prior to his decease, and had been +assisted in his clerical duties by a Curate, a gentleman of +pre-possessing appearance; about twenty-eight years of age. He appeared +to be eminently qualified for the profession he had chosen, and entered +with spirit and energy upon the various duties that now devolved upon +him; his quiet and unassuming manner gained him the respect of the whole +neighborhood. He read with a clear, distinct tone, and his sermons were +such as had not been heard in Vellenaux for many years. He was always +welcome whenever he visited his parishioners or attended the sick. He +took a very great interest in the Sunday school that had been +inaugurated by Edith who had, on leaving the Willows, transferred that +responsibility to Julia and Emily Barton, and on her sister's marriage +Emily presided over the classes. This just suited one of her tastes and +habits, who was ever ready to perform some errand of mercy to the poor +and the invalid, and was untiring in her efforts to teach the young +children. She had often been thanked by the clergyman for her valuable +assistance, without which, he was wont to observe, he scarcely knew what +he should do. + +When the rector was removed from this sublunary sphere, the Rev. Charles +Denham, through the interest of Lord Patronage, whose fag he had been +while at Eton, obtained the vacant rectorship. This was considered by +the good folks of the district to be a fortunate circumstance, and +things went smoothly on as in the good old time. But on the death of her +parents Emily Barton, as the reader already knows, left Vellenaux to +reside in London. The Rev. gentleman did not know which way to turn; he +was sorely puzzled; he had depended so much on Emily that he began to +think seriously of the possibility of being able to induce Miss Barton +to exchange that name for the one of Denham. This matter had been +revolving in his mind for some time past, though he had given no +utterance to his feelings, and now she was about to leave that part of +the country, perhaps for a lengthened period. "If," thought he, "the +Sunday school had Emily at its head, it would materially assist me," and +he felt convinced that the rectory, without a wife to superintend it, +would be, after all, a very lonely place to pass his days in, would she +not consent to undertake the double duties. "I have never spoken to +her," he said musingly, as he paced up and down his study, "but I shall, +when grief for the loss of her parents will allow her to listen to such +a proposal." + +On parting with him on the morning of her departure, she was somewhat +embarassed at his altered manner towards her. She could not but notice +his warm pressure of her hand, and his earnestness of manner, when +asking permission to visit her in London. + +"My aunt and sister will, I am sure, be always happy to receive you when +in London," she quietly replied, and after a moment's pause, continued: +"I shall likewise still take an interest in the school, and shall be +glad to learn how my little scholars are getting on." + +The young rector found it necessary to visit London on several occasions +during the next twelvemonth. + +In one of the broad gravelled avenues of Kensington Gardens, slowly +walking beneath the magnificent trees, the soft mossy grass, yellow and +white daisy, bending beneath their footsteps, were two figures,--the one +a gentleman dressed in black, with a white clerical neck-tie, the other +a lady about the medium height, with pretty features, and decidedly +elegant figure, which was set off to advantage by the cut and fit of the +pale lavender silk dress she wore. They were progressing slowly towards +the gate leading into Hyde Park; their conversation was somewhat +interrupted by a knot of passing Guardsmen and other fashionable +loungers, to be again resumed when they were beyond ear shot. They +continued their walk along the bank of the Serpentine, and could the +passer by have peered through the lady's veil, he would have found her +face suffused with blushes at different turns in the conversation, but +they were those of pleasure, for certainly the crimson flush of anger +found no place there. They crossed the Park and passed out at Stanhope +gate and turned in the direction of Berkly square. + +"You have made me so happy, dear Emily, since you grant me permission to +speak to your aunt and brother on the subject nearest my heart," and the +Rev. Charles Denham pressed the little hand within his own, made his +bow, and walked in the direction of Harley Street, while Emily Barton +entered the house of her brother Horace. + +There is an old saying, familiar to most of us as household words, which +tends to show that the course of true love never does run smooth. Now +with all due deference to the talented authority who promulgated this +startling announcement, we beg to differ with him on the subject. It may +be as he says, as a rule, but our belief is that there are exceptions to +this rule, as well as to others; for we say without fear of +contradiction, that the loves of the pretty Emily Barton and her very +devoted lover, the Rev. Charles Denham, glided smoothly and sweetly +along its unruffled course, until it eventuated in that fountain of +human happiness or misery, marriage. On the lady's side there was no +stern, selfish parent who would burden the young shoulders, and drive +from her path those inmost pleasures so natural to the young and +light-hearted, and cause her to lose her freshness and bloom, by +attending solely to his whims and wishes, or crush her young heart with +hope deferred. There was no ambitious match making mother, ready to +sacrifice the hearts best affections, in order that she might become the +unloved wife of some shallow pated young dandy, with more aristocratic +blood than brains, and a coronet in perspective. + +Nor was the reverend lover subjected to any trials of a similar nature; +he was an orphan, with but one near relative, a bachelor Uncle, who was +fond of his nephew, and proud of his talent and the position he had +attained as Rector of Vellenaux. The old gentleman had intended to leave +him his property, amounting to some five thousand pounds, in the five +per cents., at his death; but the kind-hearted relative on learning that +his brother's son had secured so estimable a lady for his wife; +belonging to a family who for so many years had resided in the +neighborhood of Vellenaux, the scene of the young Rector's labours; he +altered his will, placing half of the original sum to Charles Denham's +credit, at Drummond's Bank in London, subject to his cheque or order, so +that the rectory could be furnished and fitted up with all the +requisites befitting the position of the young couple. + +It was a right joyous group that gathered around the wedding breakfast +table at 54 Harley Street, on that bright summer morn, that saw Emily +Barton made the happy bride of the equally happy Rector of Vellenaux. A +friendly Bishop tied the connubial knot in one of the most aristocratic +churches in London, and a few hours afterwards Emily and Charles +departed, not by rail, to some uncomfortable foreign hotel, but by +travelling, carriage and post horses to their home at Vellenaux. For the +guests who had assembled to witness the wedding ceremony, there was +another treat in store, they were invited to a ball given in honor of +the occasion by the brother of the bride, at his mansion in Berkly +Square, concerning which more anon. + +The term for which the Willows had been rented, now expired, and Horace +determined to no longer delay his departure for Devonshire. This had +been ever in his mind while serving in India. He loved the old place and +there were now fresh inducements for him to give up the house in London, +and repair to the Willows. His brother Tom was married and settled at +Vellenaux, and Emily had just become the wife of the rector, and lived +within a stone's throw of her old home. Thus, with the visits of his +aunt and the Ashburnham's, Pauline would not be without society; besides +he would take her and Edith, whom he now looked upon as a sister, to +London during the height of the gay season, and this he thought would +not fail to please all parties. + +Mrs. Barton was to give a farewell entertainment prior to her departure, +which should exceed anything that she had hitherto attempted, and the +evening of the day of Emily's marriage was fixed for the occasion. + +It was somewhat late in the afternoon when Captain Carlton and Doctor +Draycott reached London, where the two friends and travelling companions +parted--Draycott for his father's house in Finsbury Pavement, and +Carlton for his hotel in Bond Street. His first idea was to go direct to +Berkly Square and inform Edith and the Bartons of the death of Sir +Ralph, and the declaration he had made concerning the will of the late +Sir Jasper; but while waiting in the coffee room of the hotel, looking +over the morning paper, he chanced to hear the following conversation +between two gentlemen standing at the bow window that looked out on the +street. + +"And so the Bartons give their farewell spread this evening? Are you +going?" + +"Well, I rather think so," was the other's reply. "It is a thousand +pities, however, to bury that lovely woman, Miss Effingham, in the +country. There is not her equal in town. If she only had a decent +allowance of cash or other property, she would have been sought for by a +Coronet, you may depend on that." + +"But I heard," continued his friend, "that she was engaged to an Indian +Officer, who is expected in England shortly," and with these words they +passed out into the street. + +On hearing this, Arthur determined to defer his visit a few hours +longer. There was a great rush of vehicles that night on the South side +of Berkly Square. The heavy family carriage, with its sleek horses, +driven at a sober pace by old John, the dashing curricle and smart +barouche, with the elegant private cab with its busy little Tiger in top +boots, whose single arm stops the thorough bred animal when his master +drops the reins. + +"Is them 'ere hangels," enquired the butcher boy of his crony, Tom +Drops, the pot boy at the Crown and Sceptre, just round the corner, as +the two young ladies, who had acted in the character of bridesmaids in +the morning, stepped from their carriage on to the Indian matting which +had been stretched across the pavement to the hall steps, all tarletan +and rose buds, and ascended the grand staircase leading to the ball +room. + +"Well, if they ain't they ought to be," was the response of Tom Drops. +At this moment a very stout and elaborately turbaned Dowager passed +slowly from her brougham along the matting and entered the hall. + +"Is she a hangel too, do you think? Don't look much like one now," +enquired the young butcher. + +"In course not," said Tom, "they loses all the hangel when they marries, +leastways so I have heard. But who it this swell? he is bang up to the +mark; he's a horse sojer I knows, and a ossifer," as the embroidered +sabretache of Captain Carlton met his view while ascending the hall +steps. "Well, I am off," said one to the other and the two lads went +their way. + +"Show me into the library, and hand this card to Miss Effingham," said +Arthur to a servant at the foot of the staircase. The footman first +looked at him, then at the name on the card, then said, with a low bow, +"Certainly, sir, certainly," and ushered the Captain to rather a snug +little apartment which was used as a library. Edith was dancing when the +footman entered. On the conclusion of the waltz he approached and +quietly handed her the card. A flush of pleasure lit up her beautiful +features, and joy sparkled in her brilliant eyes, as she read the name, +and without a word to any one, followed the servant and passed straight +to the room where her lover waited for her. We will pass over the +transports of their first meeting,--it can be easily imagined, as the +reader, is already aware of their engagement, and that he had returned +to England for the sole purpose of their union. After the emotion of the +first few moments had subsided Arthur related to her the accident by +which Sir Ralph had been killed, and of the existence of her uncle's +will, and the way it had been stolen by Mrs. Fraudhurst, and Sir Ralph's +complicity in the plot. + +A feeling of regret at the untimely end of the unhappy man, as he had +been hurried into eternity without preparation, came over her for a few +moments, this was chased away by indignation at the fraudulent and base +part that had been played by her late governess and companion. "What has +become of her?" she inquired. + +"Decamped, and no doubt fled the country ere this; all that is known of +her is that she left Vellenaux on the plea of rendering all the +assistance in her power to Sir Ralph, but she did not make her +appearance in that neighbourhood," was Arthur's answer. The reader knows +more of her movements than any of her acquaintances at Vellenaux or +London. + +"And we shall have dear old Vellenaux to live in. Oh! Arthur dear, I am +so happy, with all the friends I hold most dear on earth residing around +us. You will of course leave the service now? How kind of my poor, dear +uncle to think of us both in his will. But Mrs. Barton may notice my +absence, and become uneasy, so let us return;" and in another moment or +two, leaning on the arm of her handsome affianced husband, Edith +re-entered the ball room, much to the relief and surprise of Pauline +Barton. Arthur Carlton took an opportunity during the evening of +relating to Mr. Barton the change that had taken place in Edith's +circumstances by the death of, and disclosures made by, the late +Baronet. + +"Meet me at breakfast in the morning, and we will consult as to what +immediate steps should be taken on this extraordinary occasion; but of +course you will sleep here," said Horace. Arthur assented, and was soon +again at Edith's side, who had told confidentially to Mrs. Barton all +that he had told her: and that little lady could not restrain her +delight, and before eleven o'clock that evening, every one in the room +became aware that the beautiful Miss Effingham was worth twenty thousand +pounds a year as heiress of Vellenaux. + +Mr. and Mrs. Denham, previous to the ball, took their departure for +Devonshire, and were comfortably settled in the Rectory before Horace +returned to the Willows. He had postponed their journey in order that +Arthur and Edith might have the benefit of his advice and assistance in +such matters as might arise during the establishment of their claims, +set forth in the will of the late Sir Jasper, now produced. + +Mr. Septimus Jones was a lawyer of good repute, carrying on his practice +now, and had been doing so for upwards of fifteen years in the main +street of Hammersmith leading to the Suspension Bridge. + +"Nicholas," said that gentleman one morning, as he laid on his desk a +copy of the _Times_ newspaper, which he had been carefully perusing for +upwards of an hour, "Nicholas, do you remember a youth named Edward +Crowquill, that I had in my office some ten years since?" + +The old and confidential clerk ceased writing, and thrusting his pen +behind his ear, rubbed his hands softly together, and said, "Most +certainly I do. He was not fit for the business, and gave it up through +ill health; studied medicine for a time, and is now a chemist and +druggist, residing some hundred yards down the street." + +"Exactly so," replied his employer, "you will be good enough to put on +your hat and go and request him to do me the favor to step up here for a +few moments." Nicholas did his master's bidding, and returned shortly, +accompanied by Mr. Crowquill. Mr. Jones, after requesting him to be +seated, and directing his clerk to pay attention, took up the newspaper, +and read, in a clear voice the following advertisement: "To Lawyers and +otters.--If the party who drew the will of the late Sir Jasper Coleman +of Vellenaux, Devonshire, and those who witnessed the same document some +ten years ago, will call at the office of Messrs. Deeds, Chancery, and +Deeds, Solicitors, Gray's Inn Lane, they will be handsomely rewarded for +their trouble." "Now, gentlemen," continued he, "I drew this will, and +you both witnessed it. Do you both remember the circumstance." After a +little reflection they both recollected the circumstance. + +"Oh! since you have not forgotten the occurrence, I will show you a +rough draft of the will which I made at the time, and by reading this it +will refresh your memories, and you will be better able to swear to the +real will if it should be produced." + +"When do you purpose calling upon the Solicitors?" enquired Crowquill. + +"To-morrow morning we will call for you on our road to town," replied +Mr. Jones, politely bowing his visitor out of the office. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + +Of the early history of Sir Lexicon Chutny very little was known. He was +of Dutch extraction that was obvious, had served for a time in the +Madras Civil Service, but on acquiring a large property by the death of +a distant relative, he retired from that service and settled on one of +his plantations in Pallamcotta. How he obtained his title no one knew or +enquired, his relative, now deceased, was so called, and in his will he +directed that his heir should assume his name and rank. He was +thoroughly Indian in his tastes and habits, sensual and self indulgent; +saw very little European society, and report said that he had several +native mistresses, and was reputed very wealthy. He had never married, +for European ladies at that period were rarely to be met with in +Pallamcotta. It must have been business of no ordinary importance to +induce him to leave the land wherein he had been born, to visit Hamburg, +where he made his stay as short as possible. He was not favorably +impressed with the Frauleins and fair-haired daughters of Holland, and +was now returning home in the "Great Mogul," a Dutch Indiaman bound to +Madras. + +"Wreck on the lee bow!" shouted a look out from the mast-head. This +excited quite a commotion on deck, from whence the object was soon +discernable through the telescope, and soon after by the naked eye. The +ship's course was altered and she bore down upon the unfortunate craft +to render such assistance as might be necessary. She proved to be the +ship "Kaffir Chief," from Cork, bound to the Cape; she had been +dismasted in one of those terrific storms which so frequently occur in +these latitudes, and was now lying completely water-logged on the bosom +of the treacherous ocean. The day previous to the wreck had been +remarkably fine, but as night closed in the wind rose and continued to +increase until it blew a perfect hurricane. In spite of the utmost +exertions of the crew the sails were blown clear of the bolt ropes, +yards and spars were carried away, when the foremast went by the board +and the main topmast fell with a crash into the sea, seventeen of the +crew were hurled into the wild waste of waters. A little before daylight +a tremendous sea struck her stern, unshipping the rudder, carrying away +the wheel, round-house and lockers, rendering her unmanageable, and she +was tossed helplessly like a log upon the mighty billows. As the day +broke the storm somewhat subsided, a scene of wild desolation was +realized by those on board the unfortunate vessel, as the flashes of +broad sheet lightning, with which the heavy clouds were surcharged, +occasionally shot forth. The scene was startling and terrific, the wild +waves were breaking over her and three more of the crew were swept +overboard. As the light increased the sea began gradually to go down, +and spars and pieces of wreck were seen floating all around, lifted upon +the surging waves, to which some of the unfortunate seamen had clung +with the grasp of despair, only to be again thrown into the dark trough +of the sea to rise no more. + +Although the hurricane had subsided, so much water had been shipped that +the pumps had to be kept continually going to prevent the hull from +going down: to this laborious task all had to exert themselves to the +utmost, and only by this means could the ship be kept afloat. The +self-styled Mrs. Grenville rendered good service in this hour of peril, +she voluntarily took the place of the steward, now called to the pumps, +and served out rations of biscuits and spirits to all hands, nor did she +forget herself on the occasion. The danger of her position appeared in +no way to appal her, and having to undergo no bodily fatigue beyond her +strength, she was very little affected by the disasters and hardships of +the past few days. Such of the officers and crew as had not been +swallowed up by the boiling surf were in a very weak and exhausted +condition, owing to their great labor at the pumps, when rescued from +their perilous position by the boats of the "Great Mogul." These +particulars were gathered from time to time from some of the crew, but +from Mrs. Grenville a more detailed account of the wreck was obtained. +That lady thought it necessary to keep to her cabin for the first week, +during which time she had to sketch out a fresh plan of action for the +future. + +This she soon effected, having received all the required information +from the little fat Dutch stewardess concerning the ship, its +destination, and the names and positions of the passengers. + +"My dear madam," said the polite Captain, addressing Mrs. Grenville, +"you really must allow me to recommend you to try an airing on the +quarter deck this beautiful morning; after the long seclusion of your +cabin you will, I am sure, find it both agreeable and refreshing." In a +graceful manner, and with a pleasing smile, she replied, + +"I shall be happy to adopt your suggestion Captain Hanstein, and if it +is not interfering with your professional duties, may I request the +favour of your arm for a promenade, as I feel scarcely equal to the +effort unattended." + +The Captain bowed and assisted the lady to the quarterdeck. + +The Indigo planter, who had sat opposite Mrs. Grenville at breakfast, +felt somewhat annoyed that he had not solicited the pleasure of +accompanying the lady in her walk on deck; he had been struck with her +appearance at first sight, for the widow knowing the effect of first +impressions, had been exceedingly careful with her toilette that +morning, and certainly did look her best. + +Sir Lexicon had never yet seen any one who came up to his idea of a +handsome woman, until he encountered Mrs. Grenville that morning; her +curling dark hair, superb neck and shoulders, stately figure and +sparkling black eyes, and well modulated voice fascinated him, as no +woman as yet ever had done. She was not young, it is true; but this he +regarded as fortunate. She was still some years younger than Sir +Lexicon; but as to who or what she was he was a stranger; but this he +was determined to ascertain if possible, and betook himself on deck for +the purpose. As the professional duties of the Captain called him for a +time away, he took his place beside the lady and endeavoured to interest +her in his conversation. He found her charmingly condescending, and +apparently frank and friendly in her remarks, and after about an hour's +chit chat allowed him to conduct her to her state room. + +Poor Captain Costigan had been killed by a falling spar and knocked +overboard. The remainder of the crew and passengers that had been +rescued from their precarious situation on the wreck had been on board +the "Great Mogul" about a couple of weeks, when she let go her anchor in +Table Bay. These, with the exception of Mrs. Grenville, went on shore in +the first boat that came off to the ship. She, that morning, had an +interview with Captain Hanstein, and some hours after the others had +left, the obliging Captain took her ashore in his own boat, in which +also sat Sir Lexicon Chutny. He put up at the same hotel as Mrs. +Grenville, and was seen escorting her about Cape Town. + +The "Mogul" remained only two days at the Cape, then resumed her voyage, +and Mrs. Grenville, the Captain, and Sir Lexicon Chutny, could be seen +pacing her quarterdeck as she sailed out of the bay, unquestionably +enjoying, with much pleasure, the clear, balmy, and exhilarating breeze +of the early day, which, with the assistance of the sun's rays, was +lifting from the table land on the summit of the great mountain, called +occasionally Table Rock. A large, heavy, white cloud that frequently +spread itself over the whole surface, resembling very much in appearance +an enormous table cloth, hence the origin of the name. This remarkable +mountain is steep, rugged and precipitous, and towers up hundreds of +feet towards the clear, blue vault of heaven. Very little brushwood or +vegetation is to be found thereon. At its base, snugly ensconced under +its protecting shade, is situated Cape Town, looking quite pretty and +picturesque as the day dawns and the rising sun appears. There are two +other smaller elevations in close proximity to the Table Rock, not +without interest, and called respectively the Lion's Head and Lion's +Rump, possibly because they are connected together by a ridge of rock, +which, to the imaginative mind, gives it the appearance of an enormous +lion, sleeping. The other objects of interest and the shipping in the +harbor were soon left far astern. + +As they were sweeping out to sea, the Captain could, by the aid of his +glass, clearly distinguish the signal that was flying from the +flagstaff, situated on the lofty eminence mentioned before, as the +Lion's Rump signalling station, announcing the approach of an English +vessel from London. On hearing this the lady's face changed to an ashen +hue, and she trembled slightly. It was for an instant only; her strong +will conquered the emotion, and with her feelings now under perfect +control, she was again conversing and smiling in the most charming +manner until luncheon was announced, to which she was conducted by Sir +Lexicon, and while thus engaged she felt that she had good cause to +rejoice that a fine swelling breeze was carrying her rapidly away from +the Cape of Good Hope; for, doubtless, the newspapers brought out by the +new arrival, contained a full account of Sir Ralph's death, and her own +flight from the country, and it was quite possible that some suspicion +might have fallen upon her, had she remained a day longer at Cape Town. + +The wealthy planter of Pallamcotta was not the only person on board who +had become infatuated with the lively widow; for in fact Captain +Hanstein, the honest-hearted seaman had been caught in her toils. He had +believed every word that had been confidentially told him by Mrs. +Grenville, her position in life, and her reason for visiting the Cape +and Madras. Of course there was scarcely a grain of truth in the whole +statement. She was not long in discovering the Captain's weak point, and +rather encouraged him than otherwise, but had no notion of engaging +herself to the fat honest Dutch skipper. Far from it, but she thought it +necessary to her project to mislead him on that point. This unscrupulous +and ambitious woman cared not how she wounded the feelings of others, if +she thought by so doing it would further her own interest. She was +determined to secure Sir Lexicon as a husband, and thus become Lady +Chutny; and so skillfully did she angle, and played her cards with such +great tact, that there was very little doubt of her succeeding. + +The Dutch are naturally slow of action, and the planter's wooing was of +a rather passive character, and his attention to the lady did not excite +the suspicion of her other admirer, who did not think it would be +necessary to pop the momentous question until she was about to leave the +ship on reaching Madras. That Sir Lexicon was somewhat piqued at the +marked attention paid to her by that good-natured sailor was quite +evident, and was exactly what the widow had anticipated and desired. She +played both lovers off, one against the other, and the result proved +that her theory and practice were correct; for Sir Lexicon took +advantage of an opportunity that was afforded him one afternoon while +playing chess with Mrs. Grenville in the after cabin. They were quite +alone, and during a pause in the game, he formally made her an offer of +marriage, which, after a little skillful beating about the bush, she +accepted, but on the condition that nothing should be said about the +subject to any one on board. This was agreed to, and the game continued. +There were other passengers on board, but, as they are in no way +connected with our story, it would be needless to particularize them. + +On the vessel reaching her destination, the gallant Captain mastered up +courage, and boldly and in a straightforward manner, asked Mrs. +Grenville to become his wife. The lady listened to him with polite +attention, and said in reply: + +"Captain Hanstein, I should be very sorry if any act of mine has led you +to believe that I looked upon you in any other light than that of a +friend, from whom I have received many acts of kindness. I regret to +pain you by a refusal, but it must be so, for I now tell you in strict +confidence that I am engaged to Sir Lexicon Chutny." Then with a smile +and a graceful bend of the head, she left the bewildered Captain to his +own reflections; and shortly after, attended by Sir Lexicon, quitted the +ship. + +After a sufficient time for procuring all the necessary paraphernalia +considered indispensable on such occasions had elapsed, the marriage was +celebrated in the Cathedral at Madras, and the ambitious views of the +mercenary woman were at length realized. "She could" she thought "play +the great lady in Pallamcotta, and somewhat astonish the good folks at +the Capital by the brilliancy of her entertainments periodically, for +Sir Lexicon, although self-indulgent, was by no means of a miserly turn, +and would, for a time at least, feel a certain pleasure at the +admiration that would be excited by the splendour of her ladyship's +assemblies." + +Their stay at the Capital, on this occasion, was but of short duration, +as Sir Lexicon was anxious to return to Pallamcotta to finally arrange +the business that had taken him to Hamburg. To this arrangement her +ladyship made no objection, it suited her views exactly; her idea was, +that her advent in India should become known to the gay and fashionable +butterflies of the Presidency as quietly and gradually as might be. It +was necessary that they should be aware there was such a person as Lady +Chutny in existence; but for the present she would be heard of only and +not seen, so that when she appeared among them and threw open her +splendid rooms for balls and other entertainments it would be considered +a matter of course, a thing to be expected from the wife of so wealthy a +man as Sir Lexicon was reputed to be. Her ladyship's theory was the +correct one, for by acting in this manner she would be relieved from the +hubbub and cry of "Who is she?" and "Where does she come from?" that +would consequently follow, should she at once rush into the vortex of +fashionable life. She had no intention of burying herself at +Pallamcotta, now that she had attained the position for which she had +risked so much. She had played her cards boldly and unscrupulously, and, +during the shuffle had twice nearly come to ruin; but she had now, she +believed, won the odd trick that would secure her the game, and she +resolutely determined to hold on to the stakes thus acquired. From the +retrospect of her past life she turned herself steadfastly away, and +looked only into the brilliant future, which she fancied was opening +before her. What was there to fear? There was no one in India who could +recognize her, or knew anything of her antecedents. Edith and Arthur had +returned to England; restitution had been made and justice done them by +the unlooked for death of Sir Ralph Coleman. He was the chief culprit; +she merely an accessory, acting under his direction and guidance; and, +now that she had placed oceans between her and the scene of their crime, +nothing, she argued, could transpire to mar her triumph, and, laying +this flattering unction to her soul, her ladyship prepared for her +journey with a buoyancy of spirit that astonished even herself. + +Lady Chutny found the establishment at Pallamcotta very different from +what she had anticipated. So unlike the Bungalows of rich civilians at +the Capital, where all was order and quiet, and the gardens well kept. +Here everything was slovenly and in confusion, only a small quantity of +the furniture that had lately arrived from Madras had been unpacked, and +this was strewn about the drawing-room and sleeping apartments without +the least attempt at arrangement. The Bungalow had been originally a +very handsome one, but from indolence and carelessness had been allowed +to fall into a partially dilapidated state. The only covering to the +floors of the large, handsome apartments was the common matting of the +country. The same was the case in the broad and spacious verandahs, up +to which the rank vegetation of the compound--for garden there was +none--spread their creeping fibres in wild luxuriance. But her ladyship +offered no ungracious remark on the state of things, but simply +requested her husband to summon the whole of the servants and, in her +presence, inform them that she was their mistress, and to be obeyed in +everything, without remark or hesitation. This was done, and in +forty-eight hours she had completely revolutionized the whole +establishment. + +Fifty of the plantation hands were employed in clearing up the compound, +forming a garden and a lawn, while the edges of the verandah were lined +with pots of the most magnificent plants and fragrant flowers that could +be obtained, and before she had been in her new home one week, +everything was in complete order. + +She had heard it reported previous to her leaving the capital that Sir +Lexicon had several native mistresses at his different plantations, and +by her ayah or lady's maid, a Madrasse who could speak English, these +stories were confirmed, and she determined to govern herself +accordingly, fully believing that her husband would have the good sense +to remove any such persons as might be at the Bungalow in Pallamcotta +before her arrival. Caring nothing personally for Sir Lexicon, it gave +her little or no concern whether he chose to keep native ladies at the +other plantations or not, but she certainly did not intend that any of +them should reside under the same roof with herself, therefore she was +much annoyed and disgusted to find that her husband had not thought it +necessary to give any orders concerning their removal, and she had only +been a few days at Pallamcotta, when she learned that there were three +Circassian beauties sumptuously cared for and absolutely residing in +apartments fitted up for them; though not actually in the Bungalow, they +communicated with it by means of a short covered way leading from the +back drawing-room. + +Taking advantage of Sir Lexicon's absence shortly after, she sent for +the head servant, who dared not disobey her orders, and desired him to +have the ladies turned out of their quarters and expelled from the +premises, and their rooms put to another use. + +This was accordingly done and they were afforded shelter and protection +at the house of the overseer of the plantation, but at some distance +from the Bungalow. + +The history of these Circassian girls was anything but an uncommon one +in many parts of the country thirty or forty years ago. + +Their father, a horse-dealer, had been lured by the glowing accounts of +the fortunes that were to be made at the different Presidencies of +India, by a traffic in horses, and he determined to test the truth of +the reports, and, if possible, to enrich himself by means of his +beautiful steeds, of which he had several; but this proved a ruinous +speculation, for ere he reached Bombay he lost two of the most valuable, +and being totally unacquainted with the tricks and chicanaries so +frequently resorted to by Europeans and others in the racing stables and +on the turf, he fell an easy prey to some of the sharpers that usually +infest the race course, so that by the end of the season he had not only +lost every horse that he brought with him, but likewise every rupee he +possessed. There were few of his countrymen on the Island, and they +either could not or would not assist him to return to Circassia. He had +brought with him, to see the wonders of the chief cities of the three +Presidencies, his wife and three daughters, the eldest only seventeen, +the youngest about fourteen. In his extremity he turned to the old +Eastern custom, still prevalent, that of selling his children; he had +applied to several European and native gentlemen, with whom he had +become acquainted on the turf, but without success. At length he fell in +with Sir Lexicon Chutny, to whom he had lost large sums of money during +that gentleman's visit to the Island. Here he found no difficulty, Sir +Lexicon having seen the beauty of the girls, and being assured by them +that, under the circumstances, they did not object to the transaction. +He used this precaution, well knowing, although they did not, that he +could not hold them to their bargain one moment after the purchase money +was paid, should they claim the protection of the police authorities; +besides, the poor girls had heard of similar cases to their own, in +their far distant home, and thought it must be so elsewhere. So the +arrangement was quickly completed, the horse dealer and his wife having +accepted the twenty-four hundred rupees, the price agreed upon for their +children, departed homeward. Nor did Sir Lexicon delay an hour longer +than was actually necessary in the Presidency of Bombay, but hastened +with all speed towards his estate at Pallamcotta, in Madras, taking his +fair bargains with him. + +Here they dwelt in perfect harmony, their lives embittered by no petty +jealousies, and wonderfully attentive to their lord and master, over +whom they possessed considerable influence when they chose to exert it. +There was not a servant on the plantation but would have been discharged +had they dared to disobey any orders given by either, whether their +master was at home or abroad. For nearly four years this state of things +had existed, when lady Chutny's arrival totally altered the aspect of +everything, and created quite a hurricane of passion in the hitherto +quiet household, by driving the favorites forth with flashing eyes, +hatred in their hearts, and thirsting for vengeance on their hated +rival. + +Lady Chutny had resided at Pallamcotta some six or seven weeks, and +began to think that the term of her probation had lasted quite long +enough for the purpose for which she had immured herself in the country, +and at length determined to visit the Capital. Her husband had +successfully, though unwittingly, paved the way for her reception among +the _cream de la cream_ of society; being a man of wealth, and likewise +a sporting character, he had the privilege of the entree to many of the +best houses in the city, and was always hand and glove with most of the +staff and other officers, both military and naval, who were glad to +welcome him at their mess-room or club-houses. Like a child with a new +doll, he was proud of his handsome wife, and could not refrain from +dropping a word here and there concerning her. The old Bungalow had, +under her direction, been restored to its ancient splendour. It was her +ladyship's intention to come up to town shortly, and give a series of +balls and receptions, when she would be much pleased to receive his +friends; and by this means Lady Chutny's advent among the big bugs at +Madras, was quietly heralded without the slightest effort or ostentation +on her part. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + +The firm of Deeds, Chancery and Deeds, of Gray's Inn Lane, the +Solicitors employed by Horace Barton, on behalf of Miss Effingham, and +who had caused to be inserted in the _Times_ newspaper the advertisement +alluded to in a previous chapter, had not long to wait for the +information sought after. For on the following morning Mr. Septimus +Jones, Mr. Crowquill and the firm clerk, presented themselves at the +office in Gray's Inn Lane. The rough draft was produced, and the will of +the late Sir Jasper Coleman, brought to London by Arthur Carlton, and +now in the hands of the Gray's Inn lawyers, compared with it, and after +careful scrutiny it was declared to be the identical will drawn by the +Hammersmith lawyer, and witnessed by his two clerks several years ago; +this was duly sworn to, and certain other documentary evidence taken +down, and the three gentlemen returned to their homes in Hammersmith, +each twenty guineas richer than when he had left it in the morning. + +Now, although there was no one to contest the will, yet there were +certain legal technicalities and forms to be gone through before Edith +could take formal possession of Vellenaux, besides these same lawyers +had been empowered to draw up the marriage contract, settlements, etc., +between her and Arthur, the doing of which would take a considerable +time, much longer perhaps than the ardent lover might think necessary. +Edith would not hear of her dear Arthur remaining in the service after +their marriage; so arrangements were made for the selling of his +commission; this sum, together with the amount bequeathed to him by the +late Sir Jasper, would put him in possession of seven thousand pounds. + +It was planned that the wedding should take place at the old fashioned +church at Vellenaux. There was to be no wedding tour, but the bridal +party and a large number of friends were to proceed to Castle Audly, the +seat of Lord De Belton, who had served in Arthur's regiment, and had +been intimately acquainted with him for a few years in India. Castle +Audly was a very ancient and romantic pile, and quite the show place of +the country, here there was to be a magnificent _Fete Champetre, +Dejeuner a la fourchette_, with archery and other amusements provided by +the noble owner; the whole party were to return and dine at Vellenaux, +and wind up the entertainment by a grand ball at night. + +"Of course, my dear Carlton," said Horace Barton to that young gentleman +one afternoon while lounging in the drawing room in Berkly Square +waiting to attend the fair Edith in a canter through Hyde Park, "of +course you will stand for the county at the next general election? Sir +Sampson French, who is too old to again take office, will, I am certain, +retire in your favour, if you will only come forward as a candidate; you +have plenty of friends and admirers in and around Vellenaux to ensure +your return if properly canvassed. A man of your ability and standing in +society cannot afford to remain idle at such a time, though he may have +a rich wife to back him." + +"I should like to get into Parliament above all things, and certainly +shall endeavour so to do, providing Edith gives her consent, and the +good folks of the county will give me their support," was Arthur's reply +as the lady of his love made her appearance equipped for the ride. + +It had been the intention of the Bartons, to return to Devonshire +immediately after, the ball in Berkly Square, but the sudden appearance +of Captain Carlton with the startling announcement of the accidental +death of Sir Ralph Coleman and the disclosures made by the unhappy man +ere he breathed his last, caused them to put off their intended +departure for some weeks, until matters were _en train_ for establishing +the validity of Edith's claim to the estate of her late uncle. + +Aunt Cotterell and her good humored husband had, without the knowledge of +any of their friends, built a handsome house on the bank of the brook +which ran between Tom Bartons and the rectory; besides this, Mrs. +Ashburnham had confidently whispered to Cousin Kate that her dear +William was about to give up his practice which, for the last fifteen +years, he had labored at so assiduously and successfully, and that he +was now actually arranging for the purchase of that very pretty villa +and grounds just beyond the Willows, as its owner, Sir Edmund Wildacres +had, by racing and other gambling proclivities, managed to run through +and overdraw his cash account at his bankers, so that his landed +property had to come to the hammer, and, the young spendthrift was about +to retire to some cheap Continental watering place until some of his +antiquated relatives should be condescending enough to shuffle off this +mortal coil and resign their purses and property to his careful +control. And with Edith and Arthur settled at Vellenaux, there would be +formed at once a happy circle, bound together by ties of family +affection and disinterested friendship, and with such supporters as +these to canvass his cause, Arthur's return, as County member, might be +looked upon as amounting almost to a certainty. + +The lovers did not fail to take advantage of the extension of time to be +spent in the great metropolis, and balls parties, operas, and galleries +of the arts and sciences, exhibitions of pictures and such other +amusements as best suited the tastes and inclinations of these two, for +the time being, devoted votaries of pleasures, were visited. There was +another most important matter that had to be attended to, and this was +one that entailed numberless visits to and from Madam Carsand's in Bond +street, Store & Martimer's, Waterloo Place, and other fashionable +emporiums, where the numerous articles, indispensable to the trousseau +and toilette of a young and beautiful heiress. + +It will be remembered that in the search for the Begum of Runjetpoora, +Carlton had brought away with him in his sabretache a small steel casket +as a trophy; after his return from the fort, and while dressing for +mess, he remembered this circumstance, and was about to open and examine +the casket and had already taken it in his hand for that purpose, when +footsteps were heard approaching the tent, and not wishing others, to +see his little prize he carelessly tossed it into an open trunk, among +his wearing apparel, where it remained undisturbed until after his +arrival in England, when, in looking over his wardrobe he came across +the identical casket which had lain there so long and by him quite +forgotten. Unable without the key to open it himself, he sent for a +locksmith, who, in a very short time caused the lid to spring open, +when, to Arthur's surprise and delight it was found to contain a number +of precious stones of great value, in fact it was the Begum's jewel +case, containing diamonds of the first water, rubies of unusual size, +and pearls of great price, which, on being taken to a jeweler, proved to +be worth, somewhere about ten thousand pounds. Arthur, although by no +means a man of business habits, knew enough to convince him that this +sum, together with the five thousand pounds left him by Sir Jasper +Coleman, with what might be realized by the sale of his commission, if +properly invested, would secure to him an income of not less than twelve +hundred a year, a very pretty sum for a man to have of his own for +pocket money, although his wife should happen to possess twenty thousand +a year. He determined to carry out this arrangement as soon as any +suitable opportunity for so doing came to his knowledge, but with the +exception of Draycott he told no one of the Begum's jewels, or his +intentions concerning their disposal. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + + +The happy, light Dragoon, in order to be near the lady of his love, had +taken up his quarters at Harold's Hotel, in Albermarle Street, a very +quiet, but aristocratic place, leading into Picadilly. Beyond the +Bartons and their family circle, he had few intimate friends, in fact, +except Draycott, the surgeon of his regiment, with whom he had been on +the most intimate terms for years in India, and to whom he revealed all +his joys and sorrows, there was not one male friend he cared a jot for +in London; of course the men of his club, and those he had met abroad, +who, like himself, were now home on leave, dropped in upon him +occasionally at his rooms; but his constant visitor and companion in his +peregrinations through the labyrinths of the great Babylon during the +height of a London season, was Draycott: he was young, clever, high +principled, thoroughly good natured, and of an old county family. He had +but once only paid a flying visit to the metropolis previous to joining +his regiment in India, and now having a few pounds to spare, was +determined to enjoy himself in the gay Capital to his heart's content, +and whenever practicable, induced Arthur to give him his society. + +They had been breakfasting together, one morning in the latter's +apartment, and were discussing numerous scenes and things at home and +abroad in which they had both participated; nor was Arthur's +approaching marriage with Edith Effingham, and his idea of leaving the +service, left uncommented upon by his old friend. + +"Well," remarked Draycott, with a gay, good natured laugh, "after your +adventures and hair-breadth escapes, together with your great good luck +in winning the beautiful heiress, it would not surprise me in the least +if some old fairy godmother dropped from the clouds and transformed you +into a gallant young Prince of some beautiful isle of the sea, yielding +untold wealth, like the isle of the famous Count de Monte Cristo." Here +the conversation was interrupted by the entrance of the waiter, who +handed Arthur a card, which announced that a Mr. A.G. Capias, of the +firm of Docket & Capias, Solicitors, Bedford Row, desired to speak with +him on business of a private character. + +"More parchment and red tape work cut out for you to-day," remarked the +surgeon, "so I am off, but will drop in later in the day." + +"Now, my good fellow, oblige me by remaining where you are until this +matter--be it what it may--is disposed of, and I will then stroll out +with you," said Carlton. Then, turning to the waiter, said, "Show the +gentleman up at once." The obsequious attendant bowed and withdrew. + +In a few moments the door was thrown open, and a spruce, dapper looking +gentleman, clothed in sombre colored garments, irreproachable linen, and +carrying a small merino bag in his hand, was ushered in. + +"I believe I have the pleasure of speaking to Captain Arthur Carlton of +H.M. Light Dragoons," said that individual, as he advanced towards the +table, at which the two friends were seated. + +"Late of the Light Dragoons," replied Carlton, "for I have sold out--or, +what amounts to the same thing, I have directed the Army Agent to do +so"--pointing as he spoke to a vacant chair. + +The man of law availing himself of this piece of politeness took the +chair, placing his bag on the carpet at his feet. + +"And what may be your pleasure or business with me? You may speak out," +said Carlton, noticing the glance that his visitor threw at the surgeon, +"that gentleman is my most intimate friend and brother officer." + +"I have a few questions to ask concerning your father and grandfather, +the answering of which may lead to something, I have no doubt, will, at +no distant date, prove of much importance to you and yours," was the +reply. + +"Proceed then," said Arthur, "with your interrogations, and I will reply +to the best of my ability, though I must candidly confess that I know +very little of the early history of my father, and still less of my +grandfather, for they both spent so many years abroad, in India and on +the European Continent." + +Mr. Capias hereupon drew from his bag a small bundle of letters and +papers and arranged them on the table in front of him, then commenced +his enquiries as follows: + +"Will you be so good as to state the name and position of your father, +his place of birth, the school or college where he was educated, and the +place of residence at his decease." + +"Arthur Howard Carlton, Colonel of Cavalry in the service of Her +Majesty, born at Montazuena, in Mexico, educated at Rugby, and died at +Exeter, Devonshire, England, in the fifty-sixth year of his age, leaving +but one son, your obedient servant," here Arthur bowed in a somewhat +stately manner to his, interrogater. + +"Exactly so," said the lawyer, glancing at a paper he held in his hand, +which he then placed on the table, and taking up another, said: + +"Will you now tell me all that you know concerning, your grandfather?" + +"He was called Eustace Vere Carleton, I believe, from the fact of his +signing himself so in his letters to my father, wherein he desired that +he should enter the British service, and said that he should provide his +commission and make him a small yearly allowance as long as he remained +in the service,--these two letters are now in my possession and at your +service, should you require them," so saying, Carlton took from his desk +the papers in question, which he handed to the Lawyer. "But, pray, sir, +in what way and to what extent am I to be benefitted by the early +proceedings of my paternal relatives?" enquired the Dragoon, darting at +the same time a knowing wink at the surgeon, who at that moment happened +to look up, for until then he had appeared to be deeply absorbed with a +late number of _Punch_, though in truth he was very much interested in, +and had not lost a word of the conversation that had been going on +between the lawyer and his friend Carlton, but he only shook his head in +acknowledgment of the friendly wink, and continued to turn over the +pages of that comical but highly interesting periodical which he had +taken up at the commencement of the interview. + +"Every lost link in the chain of evidence is, I believe, now complete," +replied Mr. Capias, "and I am at liberty to communicate to you the +following circumstance which, doubtless, up to the present time you have +been a stranger to." He hereupon cleared his throat, and in a well +modulated voice said: + +"Maud Chumly, your great grandmother, the daughter of a Church of +England Clergyman, at the age of eighteen married Arthur Eustace +Carlton, ninth Earl of Castlemere. The result of their union was a son, +a wild, harum scarum sort of a youth who, at the age of nineteen, was +provided with an appointment and sent out to the British Embassy at the +Court of Spain. While here he managed to get entangled and elope with +the wife of a Castillian Hidalgo; they were pursued and overtaken by the +enraged Grandee and his followers; the lady was recovered, but the +husband lost his life in a duel with the gay Lothario who, subsequently, +to avoid the vengeance of the family and the strong arm of the law, fled +to Mexico, where, a few years after, he married the daughter of a French +officer of high rank, by whom he also had an only son, but never +returned to England, nor did he, on the death of his father, assume the +title or take possession of the estate, but resided continually on the +Continent; nor did he by word or deed reveal to his beautiful wife or +child his real position in the Peerage of Great Britain. His son at an +early age was sent to England, and was educated principally at Rugby, +but he also graduated at Cambridge; he afterwards entered the English +army, and during his stay in India married the daughter of a Judge of +one of the native courts, and like his father and grandfather before +him, had but one son, his wife having died during her passage to +England. The bereaved officer served, subsequently, with great +distinction, through the Peninsular Campaign, became Colonel of his +regiment, and at the close of the war was placed on half pay, and at the +age of fifty-six, died at Exeter, in Devonshire; this only son, Arthur +Carlton, likewise entered the army and became a Captain of Light +Dragoons, and is now beyond the possibility of a doubt, the rightful and +lawful heir to the late Earl of Castlemere." Here Mr. Capias bowed most +deferentially, gathered his papers together, said that he trusted in a +few days to have the honour of another interview with his lordship, and +then vanished from the room. + +"The fairy Godmother, in the garb of a limb of the law, by all that's +wonderful," burst forth Draycott, who was the first to speak after the +visitor had departed. + +"The next lady presented to her Majesty, by her Grace the Duchess of +Opals, was the lovely and accomplished Edith, Countess of Castlemere, on +her marriage with the noble Earl of that name." "By jove! it sounds +well," exclaimed Arthur, starting out of a reverie into which he had +fallen, and springing to his feet. "Draycott" continued he, "am I awake? +Can it be all true what the little man in black has been telling us?" +and Carlton paced excitedly up and down the apartment. + +"Not a doubt of it, my lord," resumed Draycott "these musty old lawyers +never commit themselves by letting out so much as this one has done, +unless they are quite sure that everything is all safe, cut and dried +and ready for use, as the saying is, and I think your lordship cannot +refuse to join me in drinking the health of the future Countess of +Castlemere;" and, suiting the action to the word, filled out two bumpers +of sherry, which he and Carlton, nothing loath, quaffed off. + +"And now for the stroll. I must call at the Bartons and mention this +piece of news to Edith; but, my dear fellow, not a word of it at the +clubs. Of course, they will hear of it from the newspapers before the +world is many hours older." + +Arthur was right, for the _Pall Mall Gazette_, of the following day, +announced the retirement from the service of Captain Carlton, Light +Dragoons, by the sale of his commission, and the _Court Circular_ of the +same date created quite an excitement in fashionable circles by the +following: "_On dit_.--Captain A. Carlton, late of the Light Dragoons, +has just succeeded to the title and estates of his great grandfather, +the late Earl of Castlemere, which title had lain dormant for several +years, in consequence of the only son of the late nobleman never having +assumed the title, and died in obscurity abroad, and we, learn that the +new Earl is about to lead to the hymenial altar the beautiful Miss +Effingham, heiress of the splendid estate of Vellenaux in Devonshire." + +The news of the alteration in Carlton's social position was received +with the utmost satisfaction in Berkly Square. Edith was too firmly +convinced of the unalterable attachment of her lover to fear that a +change of fortune would, in any way, alienate or weaken the love he bore +her, believing, as she did, that Arthur loved her with all the devotion +of a long tried affection. Certain alterations in the programme had to +be made, consequent on the elevation to the Peerage of the Bridegroom +elect. The wedding, which, was to have taken place in Devonshire, was +now to be celebrated in London; this entailed a delay of some few weeks +in order that the family mansion of the Castlemeres, in Saint James' +Square, might be re-decorated and furnished in a style befitting the +occasion. + +As the rent role of the Carlton Abbey property produced an income equal +to a clear ten thousand a year, Arthur now considered himself in a +position to carry out the great desire of his heart, that of presenting +to his beloved Edith the costly gems he had brought with him from India. +He therefore took them to one of the leading jewelers in London for +arrangement and re-setting, and among the beautiful and costly wedding +presents from the aristocratic connections of the Earl, from the Bartons +and others who had known Edith from her infancy, there were none that +could compare in any way with the magnificent diamond tiara ear rings +and bracelets, the cross rings and brooches of rubies, pearls and +diamonds, from the jewel case of that mutinous Indian Princess, the +Begum of Runjetpoora. + +With such zeal and good will did the lawyers on both sides work, that in +less than three months from the death of Sir Ralph Coleman, Edith was in +possession of Vellenaux, and Arthur had been recognized and installed as +Earl of Castlemere, and master of Carlton Abbey, that being the name of +the estate in Nottinghamshire, where the old Earl died. + +Having thus succeeded to the title and estates of his forefathers, +Arthur quitted his rooms in Albermarle Street, and located himself at +his mansion in St. James' Square, which, although undergoing extensive +alterations and decorations, had still a sufficient number of apartments +in thorough repair and handsomely enough furnished, to satisfy the +taste of a more fastidious person than our ex-Light Dragoon. It was +really astonishing the number of visitors he had to receive, and cards +and notes of invitation were showered upon him from people whose very +existence he had previously never heard of, connections by marriage of +the past generation crowded upon him, mothers with marriageable +daughters invited him to their assemblies, young men of his own order +sought to engage him in the various pursuits considered indispensable +among those by whom he now found himself surrounded. When it became +generally known that the new Earl was, beyond the possibility of a +doubt, engaged to be married, the connections just mentioned thought it +right and proper to recognize in Edith Effingham the future Countess of +Castlemere; and, on learning that she was the niece of a baronet, and +heiress, in her own right, to twenty thousand a year, she was sought +after and made much of by the aristocratic relatives of her affianced +husband, for the privilege of entering, as honoured guests, such places +as Vellenaux and Carlton Abbey was not to be lost for the want of a +little tact and polite attention to the bride elect, and so Edith's +circle of female friends enlarged rapidly, and it was from among these +that she selected the eight young beauties who were to act as +bridesmaids on her marriage day, now fast approaching. + +The Bishop of Exeter, who had been well acquainted with Arthur's father, +offered his services on the interesting occasion, which were gladly +accepted. Exactly at 11 a.m., the family carriage of the Bartons, +containing Edith, Pauline Barton, and three of the bridesmaids, left +Berkly Square. In a second were seated the other five ladies acting in +that capacity. Then came the large, roomy vehicle of the good natured +stock broker, occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Cotterell, Horace Barton and Mr. +and Mrs. Denham, who had come up from Devonshire expressly to be present +at the ceremony. Tom Barton and Cousin Kate accepted seats in the +handsome barouche of the Ashburnhams. + +The cavalcade reached Westminister Abbey just as the Bishop of Exeter, +attended by two other clergymen, drove up. Quite a number of +aristocratic equipages, with their occupants, had already arrived, and +just as the bride was descending from her carriage, a handsome +cabriolete, driven by the Earl of Castlemere; attended by his groomsman, +Draycott, dashed up at full speed. Quite a large assemblage had gathered +about the cloisters and aisles of the venerable structure, where it had +pleased Miss Effingham to have the marriage solemnized, all anxious to +get a glimpse of the wedding party, as they moved up to the chancel and +took the positions assigned them in front and to the right and left of +the altar, and a fairer scene than the one now presented to their view, +had, by many been rarely, if ever, witnessed. The warm, ruddy light of a +summer's sun, subdued by the gorgeously colored panes of the magnificent +oriel windows above the altar, fell softly, yet brightly, on the richly +dressed groups that composed the bridal party. + +Attended by a bevy of young maidens, Edith, in the pride of her womanly +beauty, now fully matured and developed, advanced with a firm step and +knelt before the altar, her symmetrical and perfectly faultless figure +appearing to advantage in a rich white corded silk, with its superb +train of the same material, the whole trimmed with fine old point lace +of the most costly description; nor did the exquisitely worked veil she +wore conceal the tresses of golden brown hair that fell in luxuriant +ringlets on her alabaster shoulders. The magnificent diamonds of the +Begum encircled her fail brow, neck and arms, while pendants of the same +precious stones hung from her small, shell-like ears, their brilliant +prismatic hues shooting forth and glittering with lustrous and dazzling +brilliancy at each movement of the wearer; but far brighter than all was +the glorious rays of the light of love and joy that danced and +scintilated in the deep blue eyes of the bride as she stood forth and +plighted her troth to him she so fondly and devotedly loved, and the +face of the handsome Earl beamed with unclouded happiness as he placed +the small golden circle on the finger of his future Countess. + +The ceremony was not a long, but an impressive one. The bridal anthem +was beautifully rendered by the choristers, accompanied by the clear, +full, deep tones of the grand old organ. As the clock in the square +tower was striking twelve the whole party left the Abbey, and were +driven to the Earl's mansion in Saint James' Square, where a luxurious +repast was prepared for them, to which ample justice was done. At two, +the Earl and Countess stepped into their traveling carriage and were +whirled off to Brighton, from which point they were to start on their +bridal tour through Continental Europe. + +The Bartons and Cotterells left town a few days later for their homes in +Devonshire, where they hoped to be comfortably settled ere the honeymoon +of the happy couple should have terminated, as it was the desire of all +concerned to give them an enthusiastic welcome on their return, and +arrangements and preparations were at once entered upon to make the +occasion one of general rejoicing and festivity, and a general holiday +to all in and around Vellenaux. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + + +The city of Madras, the seat of Government and Capital of the Presidency +of that name, although not possessing all the facilities for an +agreeable sojourn to the lover of pleasure and amusement that may be +found at the capitals of the sister Presidencies--Bengal and Bombay--it +having neither the healthy climate of the one, or the wealth of the +other. Yet there are times and seasons when Madras is very enjoyable: +just after the south-west monsoons, when all nature is clothed in +verdant beauty, and a delightful coolness pervades the air, the +Neilgerie Hills cannot be surpassed by those of Mahableshwa or any other +sanitary station in India, even the Capital itself, whose shores are +washed by the boiling surf from over the triple reefs of rocks during +the rainy season; but that time being past, a more tranquil state of +things pervades the ocean, and cool sea breezes waft over the city. At +the time of which I am writing, Madras was more than usually gay, +several vessels of war were in port and a number of crack corps had +arrived from Europe and elsewhere, officered by a set of men whose +fathers and great-grandfathers before them had served their country +either in the army or navy; they served not for pay but for honor, and +to uphold the high and honourable name bequeathed them by their +ancestors. Many of these came into the regiment not to save but to spend +money, and it was surprising to the calculating natives the enormous +sums they managed to get through during their short stay at any of the +large towns or stations where Europeans do most congregate. + +The stream of fashionable life was now at its height, now in full force +when Lady Chutny's magnificent bungalow was thrown open for receptions; +and it was not long before the fame of her ladyship's fetes and +assemblies spread far and wide. Sir Lexicon was known to be exceedingly +wealthy, and it will be remembered that Mrs. Fraudhurst, on quitting +England, had drawn out of the bank her capital of ten thousand rounds. +This sum, together with a large amount given her by the planter for the +express purpose of giving entertainments in town, had been paid into the +bank of Madras, in Lady Chutny's name. The sum was actually only one lae +and a half of rupees, but dame rumour, with her hundred tongues, had +quadrupled it. + +The season was now at its height, and her ladyship had issued cards for +an entertainment that was to exceed anything before attempted in Madras +The spacious verandahs to the right, left and rear of the bungalow were +converted into lounging halls, half drawing-room, half conservatory, +while the compound and gardens were brilliantly illuminated with +countless colored lamps and lanterns. Hundreds presented themselves for +admission to the fairy-like scene, and it was allowed by all to be a +perfect success, a gem of the first water of entertainments, and such, +as many of the guests had seldom witnessed. Her ladyship, elegantly +attired, and flushed with pride and pleasure at the triumph she was +achieving moved gracefully about from one room to another attending to +the comfort and convenience of her visitors. In passing along one of the +improvised conservatories, the figure of a cavalry officer attracted +her attention. His features were screened from her view by the leaves of +a magnificent orange tree, but there was something in his general +outline, as he stood leaning indolently against the trellis work +chatting with a drawl, real or affected, to a little lady seated, or +rather reclining on a low ottoman close by, something that caused her to +start as if the gallant officer was not altogether unknown to her, but +her memory would not at the moment serve her, yet a feeling of mistrust, +a sort of almost indescribable sensation of disquietude came over her as +she listened to the polite nothings that issued from his lips; but +fearing to attract observation she quietly withdrew, and entering the +upper end of the ball room summoned her chobdah and pointing out the +figures said, "When that gentleman leaves his present position, tell him +that Lady Chutny desires to speak with him." The native made his sallam +and withdrew. In a few moments the object of her enquiry advanced +towards her, and without preface or introduction, commenced, "I am +informed that your ladyship has done me the honor to request my +presence, and, like an obedient slave, I am at your ladyship's command," +and he bowed with the most deferential politeness as he delivered +himself of this harangue; then recollecting for the first time that he +had no card of invitation from, or introduction to, her ladyship, began +to stammer forth his excuses, that he had dropped in on the strength of +having met Sir Lexicon for a few minutes at the mess of the Fusiliers, +and had accepted his general invitation as a _carte blanche_. He was +quickly relieved from his embarassment by his handsome hostess declaring +herself fortunate in numbering among her friends so gallant a +chevalier. "I was not aware that your regiment was in town, nor do I +believe that I have ever met your distinguished corps, and it was to +explain away the seeming slight in neglecting to forward cards that I +have requested a few minutes' conversation with you." + +"Your ladyship is kindness itself, and our fellows will duly appreciate +your affability on reaching Madras; for, unfortunately for them, we are +still quartered at Secunderabad. I alone am here on court martial duty +and have, I fear, intruded upon your hospitality. But I believe I have +had the pleasure of meeting your ladyship before, though I must confess +that when and where has escaped my memory; unpardonable in me, +certainly, to forget the occasion that introduced me to so charming a +lady." They were standing opposite one of the large mirrors, and by a +skillful manipulation of her fan, the hostess contrived to obtain a +perfect view of the features of the gentleman who was now addressing +her, at the same time revealing but little of her own. For a few moments +she too was mystified as to who he was, or under what circumstances they +had met, or whether it was a case of simple mistaken identity; but +another searching glance at the mirror, and the truth flashed upon her +in an instant. Her thoughts travelled back to Vellenaux. Yes, it was he, +the same Snaffle of the Lancers, who had figured as young Lochinvar at +the fancy dress ball, and had subsequently lunched there on one or two +occasions during the shooting season, prior to Arthur's joining his +regiment. She felt certain that he had not as yet recognized her, but +that he must do so at length she felt convinced. To be recognized by him +after so many years was an event which she had not calculated on. It +was one to be dreaded, for, doubtless, the disclosures that he could +make, would bring her to disgrace and ultimate ruin; but she was equal +to the trying ordeal. + +"If we have met, my dear sir," she said, in a low, soft voice, "it must +have been at the Cape, or in London. Although I do not think that your +regiment was in either of those places during my residence there, but +that circumstance need not prevent us from becoming better acquainted." +He bowed and retired, and the smiling hostess moved among her guests as +though nothing had occurred to disturb her. On the following morning the +card of Captain Snaffle was handed to her, but she excused herself from +appearing on the plea of indisposition. The sight of the Lancer's card +both startled and alarmed her. He had discovered her identity with the +ex-governess of Vellenaux, or he would never have presented himself at +so early an hour after the bail. What was to be done? She must return at +once to Pallamcotta, and an hour after the gallant Captain had left, she +quitted her bungalow. She need not have been so much alarmed, for, +although Snaffle, who, during the evening, had obtained a good look at +her unobserved, it was not until late in the morning that he remembered +her as the companion of Edith at Vellenaux. Nor had he heard anything of +Sir Ralph's death, or the crime which had caused her to fly from +England, but this she did not know, and as "conscience makes cowards of +us all," she sought the refuge of her bungalow at Pallamcotta. + +With agitated feelings, and distracted with doubts and fears, it was in +no enviable state of mind that Lady Chutny re-entered her home on the +plantation. Judge then of her indignation to find that during her +absence the favourite mistresses had been re-established in their old +comfortable quarters, for, while she had been amusing herself at the +Capital with balls and parties, they had regained their ascendency over +Sir Lexicon, who, not expecting her ladyship's return for several weeks, +had consented to their returning to the bungalow until suitable +arrangements could be made for them. He ladyship's sudden and unexpected +return, together with her order for their immediate expulsion, aroused +their passions--which during her absence had remained dormant--to +intense hatred, and they were determined to sacrifice her at the altar +of jealousy and revenge, and resolved to execute their wicked project +without further delay. Sir lexicon's absence, they well knew, would +afford them an excellent opportunity for carrying out their design. The +servants, they were sure, would act in concert with them, by affording +them the facilities they required. + +"Gopall," said one of the three, "bring the Madam Sahib's food into my +room before you place it on the table this evening." "And," responded +another, "I wish to act as her ayah, and carry the sherbet to her +chamber tonight. You understand, eh? You shall have a gold mohur from +us." The butler grinned with intense satisfaction, for he had no doubt +of their intentions, and his little black eyes twinkled with delight at +the idea of receiving the gold coin promised; and at once gave the +assurance that they might count upon his assistance, and likewise the +co-operation of the other servants. + +During dinner Lady Chutny enquired whether her orders regarding the +three women had been attended to, and if they had left the house. The +crafty butler pretended not to understand the meaning of her words. She +could not speak the language, and her ayah, who had always acted as +interpreter, whenever she wished to issue her commands personally, had +been, owing to her hasty retreat, left behind at the Capital. Boiling +with rage at being, as it were, set at defiance in her own house and by +her own domestics, fatigued with her journey, and alarmed at the +prospect of being in the power of Captain Snaffle, also dreading the +disclosures he might make, it was no wonder that she sought the quiet of +her own chamber much earlier than was her usual custom. For several +hours she turned uneasily on her couch, her mind disturbed by +conflicting doubts and fears, when a strange attendant entered, bearing +a large goblet of sherbet, which had been rendered deliciously cool by +being placed for several hours in a mixture of saltpetre and glauber +salts. This was her favourite evening beverage, which, in her now heated +and excited state was very acceptable. Motioning the woman to place it +on the teapoy, near her pillow, she was about to give her further +instructions, when she noticed that she was a stranger, not from her +features, for they were concealed beneath the folds of her sarree, which +had been thrown completely over her head, revealing only a small portion +of the lower part of her face, but from her general appearance. Finding +that she was not understood, she stretched forth her hand for the goblet +and took a long draught, unconscious of the piercing dark eyes that +gleamed down upon her with jealous hatred and fiendish pleasure from +behind the silken sarree of her new attendant, as she took from her hand +the half-emptied goblet, which, after placing on the teapoy, she +quickly left the room. There was something suspicious about the action +of the woman, but Lady Chutny was too much occupied with her own +thoughts to notice it at the time, and soon after sank into a doze from +which she started in affright, as if from some dreadful dream, only to +fall into another. This occurred several times. At length, after +finishing the remainder of the sherbet, she dropped into a deep sleep. + +The sun was high in the heavens when she again awoke. A burning fever +consumed her, and delirium had fastened on her with fearful spasmodic +and excruciating pains internally. She endeavored to rise, but fainted +in so doing. She shrieked wildly for assistance, but none heeded her +cries. For hours she was thus, left alone, the pains increasing, and her +brain in a constant whirl. Again she slept, how long she knew not. When, +on awaking, she found the same attendant who had waited on her the +previous evening, standing at her bedside. She had brought food, of +which her ladyship partook slightly but eagerly, and called for tea, +which was handed her. + +"Has Sir Lexicon returned," she enquired. The attendant shook her head. +"Send for him immediately, and likewise a doctor. I am in great agony." +The woman muttered something, and left her. Through the long, lonely +hours of that dark night, the wretched woman, wracked by intense pain, +with insanity steadily gaining the ascendency, tossed to and fro on her +weary bed, and when overtaxed nature did succumb to slumber, wild +dreams, and wilder fancies haunted her between sleeping and waking. She +fancied she saw at her bedside the forms of Edith, Arthur, and Ralph +Coleman. The latter she denounced as a coward and traitor, from Carlton +she hid her face, but to Edith she stretched forth her hand and implored +her to save her from the torments she was now enduring, but only meeting +with a scornful laugh, fell back upon her pillow exhausted. + +This had not been quite all fancy, for the three mistresses of the +planter had stolen into her chamber to feast their cruel eyes upon the +dying agonies of their helpless victim. Towards the middle of the fourth +day, reason had somewhat resumed its sway, and the violence of the pains +she had experienced were subdued, the ayah had arrived from the Capital +and now resumed her attendance upon her mistress. She had sought out the +native doctor who attended the sick of the plantation. He, although in +the pay of the three women, thought it best to visit Lady Chutny when +summoned. + +"Is there no European doctor?" enquired the patient, as the native +practitioner felt her pulse and otherwise examined her. + +"No, madam, but I will ride to the next station and endeavour to procure +one," replied the crafty little man. Then turning to the ayah, said, "I +should have been called in sooner. The Sahib must be sent for without +delay," and after leaving a few instructions, left the room. He knew +that death must soon ensue, and was determined to be absent on Sir +Lexicon's arrival under the pretence of doing all in his power to +procure European medical assistance. As he passed through the women's +apartment he said to them, "I am going for a European doctor. Of course, +I shall not find one. You understand? You have done your work +completely. She will die at sunset. You had better send for a +missionary or priest, and have her buried as soon as possible. Let the +grave be dug under the palm trees, on the south side of the plantation, +and have all done decently and in order, and the master will attach no +blame to any one or have any suspicion that foul play has been used, +then you can easily persuade him to allow the body to remain there." + +The native doctor was right. The unhappy woman never saw the rising of +another sun, and in the white sands, beneath the waving palms, where the +hyena prowled and the wild jackall barked hoarsely through the night, +lies the mortal remains of this ambitious woman, who thus fell a victim +to the jealous and revengeful passions of those by whom she had been +surrounded by her unscrupulous husband. + +The third day after the ball, Captain Snaffle again presented himself at +Lady Chutny's bungalow, and was informed that her ladyship had left +town, and would, in all probability be absent some weeks. The +fashionable world was in a great commotion at this unexpected event. +They could not understand it. To leave town at the height of the season, +and just as she had achieved so great a triumph as her last ball was +allowed to be, it was quite inexplicable. It was talked of, canvassed +over, and commented upon, at the band stand, race course, +conversaziones, and mess room, for several days, and, in fact, until the +mystery was cleared up by a startling _denouement_. + +"I say, Snaffle, old fellow, who the deuce is she? You know, or I am +much mistaken. I saw you making great play, and coming it rather heavy +with her on the night of the ball. I watched you both for some time. You +two have met before under different circumstances. I wager my chestnut +mare against your bay colt that I am right. Will you say done?" and +Harry Racer, of the Fusiliers, here produced his book in hopes of +entering a bet. + +"Not quite so fast Racer, my boy. There is no mystery in the matter, no +subject for a wager. We have met before, I knew it while talking to her, +but could not remember where. I recollect all now. Whether she +recognized me or not, I cannot tell. She is a very clever woman. If you +will say nothing about it, I will tell you all I know." + +"Not I! not I," replied Racer, half despondingly at the prospect of +being able to enter a wager in his betting book disappearing. + +"Well then," continued Snaffle, "she was a Mrs. Fraudhurst, a widow +governess and companion to a rich heiress, niece of Sir Jasper Coleman +of Vellenaux in Devonshire. How she got out here, and in what way she +managed to hook Sir Lexicon, I cannot imagine, but I will find it all +out at our next interview, depend upon it." + +"Stop! By Jupiter! Did you say governess, Baronet, name Coleman, place, +Vellenaux, Devonshire? Here's a go! Not a word. Here, Ramsammy, bring +the fyle of English newspapers from the library, quick." The papers were +handed to him, and, selecting _Bell's Life_, Harry Racer commenced +reading the following paragraph:-- + +"Frightful railway accident. Death of Sir Ralph Coleman of Vellenaux, +Devonshire. Startling disclosures. Stolen Will. Heiress defrauded. +Flight from the country of accomplice, the family governess. Full +particulars in our next issue." + +"That's her, the planter's lady. Large as life and twice as natural. The +thing is as clear as mud in a wine glass. All plain and smooth as a +three mile course. The mystery is solved. She recognized you at the +ball, saw that you were mystified, but would, doubtless, remember her if +you met again. You call the next morning. She refuses to see you on the +plea of indisposition. Takes the alarm, bolts off the course, and makes +for the open country, where she, doubtless, intends to remain until she +hears that you are safe on your road to Secunderabad; and now, old +fellow, what are you going to do? There is money to be made out of this +matter if you are not too squeamish," and here Racer tipped a knowing +wink to his friend of the Lancers. + +But Captain Snaffle was a gentleman, and had no idea of trading upon the +necessities of others, be they who they might. He merely replied by +saying: + +"Racer, you will not mention a word of this to any one at present. I +will go down to Pallamcotta and find out to what extent Lady Chutny has +compromised herself. After that we can decide what is to be done about +letting fashionable world into the secret." The two friends left the +Fusiliers' mess room, Harry Racer trotting off to inspect some new +horses that he had got scent of, and Snaffle to his own quarters. + +The following morning saw him on his way to Sir Lexicon's plantation. On +the road he overtook the baronet, and they rode the remainder of the +distance together. Imagine their consternation on finding that lady +Chutny was both dead and buried. + +The planter, with his usual indolence and procrastination, was for +allowing things to remain as they were. "There is no use," he said, +"now, that the matter is all over, of disturbing the body. I will have +a handsome monument erected over her remains, and the place shall be +nicely laid out with shrubs and flowers, and kept in good order while I +live;" But Captain Snaffle thought otherwise. He felt certain that the +woman had not been accessory to her own death, but that foul play had +been used by some one and he was determined to ferret it out. +Immediately on his return to Madras he communicated his suspicions to +the police authorities, and enquiries were instituted, a reward offered, +and the whole affair came to light. + +But it was not until several months after this event transpired that our +friends at Vellenaux became aware of the ultimate fate of the +ex-governess. Captain Snaffle, in a letter to Arthur, gave an account of +the whole transaction, from which it transpired, that, on enquiries +being set on foot respecting Lady Chutny's sudden death, Gopall, the +butler, turned Queen's evidence, and confessed the whole of the +diabolical plot. Datura, a powerful narcotic poison, had been mixed with +the sherbet, this produced delirium, and a quantity of pulverized glass +had been introduced into the food given to the unsuspecting victim, +which produced inflammation of the bowels, and the combined effects of +these caused death. However, the perpetrators of the foul deed +unfortunately managed to escape, by what means the writer did not state. + + + + +CHAPTER THE LAST. + + +Carlton Abbey, the estate of the Earls of Castlemere for centuries back, +was situated near Ollarten, on the borders of Sherwood Forest, in +Nottinghamshire. It was formerly a religious house of the highest order, +largely and richly endowed, whose broad acres ran some distance into +"Merrie Sherwood" itself. It is reported that the renowned Robin Hood, +with a score of his followers, once sought and obtained shelter and +protection there, when pursued by the Sheriff of Nottinghamshire for +slaying the king's deer and other misdemeanors within the limits of the +forest; and later here also took place the celebrated meeting between +Cardinal Woolsey and the Duke of Buckingham, previous to that haughty +prelate's dismissal from royal favor and ultimate disgrace, and on the +death of the Marchioness of Cosingby who, for forty years reigned as the +Lady Abbess, the sisters of this order moved elsewhere, as the property +fell into the hands of Eustace, first Earl of Castlemere, heir-at-law, +by whom and his successors, alterations and additions were made becoming +the home of an English noble; but although the last Earl lived a retired +and secluded life, Carlton Abbey was not allowed to fall into decay, and +the manor, preserves, and grounds generally were kept in excellent +order, and so the Earl of Castlemere, as we must now designate our hero, +found it; for on being assured that he was, beyond the possibility of a +doubt, heir to the estate, had paid a flying visit to Nottinghamshire, +and while there had given orders to the housekeeper and steward to have +a handsome suit of apartments prepared for the reception of the Countess +and himself; he likewise gave directions to his agent to raise a troop +of volunteer cavalry, the cost of which was to be defrayed out of the +revenues of the estate, the men to be selected from among the tenantry +and well-to-do farmers residing on the Abbey lands. + +On their return from the continent, the Earl and his bride took formal +possession of Carlton Abbey, received the visits of the neighboring +families, inspected the newly improvised cavalry, mustered and feasted +the tenantry, and made known to all concerned that they intended to +reside, for at least four months in each year, at the Abbey, then took +their departure, leaving a very favorable impression behind them. + +On the return to London of Edith and Arthur from their wedding tour, +they were presented at Court. The Queen seemed to take considerable +interest in the handsome Earl and his beautiful Countess, for His +Excellency the Commander-in-chief had mentioned to Her Majesty some of +Arthur's gallant exploits while in India, and the romantic train of +events that had happened to both Earl and Countess prior to their +marriage. As a mark of royal favor they were invited to Windsor Castle. +This, in itself, was sufficient to give them _eclat_ in the highest +circles. They gave a series of brilliant entertainments in Saint James' +Square, which hundreds of the highest in the land made a point of +attending. Fortunately the London season was at its close; this allowed +Edith to carry out her long-cherished wish to return to Vellenaux as +its honoured mistress. There were associations connected with it that +could not be effaced by all the gaieties of the most magnificent courts +of Europe. Arthur too was somewhat tired of the exciting life they had +led for some months past, and was anxious to re-visit the quiet spot +where the happiest years of his early life had been spent; accordingly +they left London for their old home among the beech woods of Devon. + +The day of high jubilee, the day of feasting and merriment, such as had +never been witnessed in Vellenaux by its oldest inhabitant, at length +arrived. High and low, rich and poor of the village and for miles +around, turned out in holiday costume to witness the return of Edith and +Arthur to their childhood's happy home. Triumphal arches of eve greens +and flags had been erected at different places between Switchem station +and the Park gates. The two troops of volunteer cavalry that had been +raised from among the tenantry of Carlton Abbey and Vellenaux, armed and +equipped at the expense of the Earl and Countess, already licked into +something like order and discipline by the non-commissioned officers of +the regular service, procured through Arthur's interest at the Horse +Guards, lined both sides of the road between the arches. Several bands +of music, sent down from London, were stationed in different parts of +the grounds, and enlivened the scene by playing many of the most popular +airs of the day. A deputation of about one hundred gentlemen and +well-to-do farmers, all mounted, and headed by the Lord Lieutenant of +the County, met the happy couple as they stepped from the platform into +their open barouche, with its four prancing and gaily decorated horses, +which was in waiting at the Switchem station. After several addresses +had been read and replied to, the cortege passed slowly on towards +Vellenaux, the cavalry filing in rear and the gay holiday seekers +following as best they could. On arriving at the principal entrance the +party alighted, the host and hostess, and their invited guests proceeded +to the grand hall, where a magnificent collation awaited them. The +remainder spread themselves over the grounds and Park, where, beneath +the outspreading branches of the fine old trees, were placed benches, +beside tables groaning under the weight of enormous sirloins, rounds of +beef, and pies of mighty dimensions, with sweet home-made broad, and +other edibles of various descriptions. Tents were pitched here and +there, where also could be obtained, all free, gratis and for nothing, +fine old October ale, rich sparkling cider, clotted cream, curds and +whey, tea and coffee, and confectionery in great abundance. Feasting and +merriment being the order of the day. + +Games of various kinds were entered into with such alacrity and good +will, proving how thoroughly they were enjoyed by both participants and +lookers on. Cricket, pitching the quoit, and foot ball was going on in +one part of the grounds, single stick; and quarter staff playing, and +wrestling matches between the men of "Merrie Sherwood," Nottingham, and +the yeomen of Devon in another. + +There were also foot races and a variety of other amusements taking +place in the home park, while the votaries of Terpsichore tripped it +gaily on the green, velvety award beneath the grand old oaks; and not a +few of the lads and lasses betook themselves down the green, shady +alleys to the woods in search of blackberries, or to gather bunches of +clustering hazel-nuts. The intimate friends of the lady of Vellenaux +amused themselves with archery and croquet on the lawn, and strolled +about the grounds watching the tenantry and others in their pursuit of +pleasure. All the servants and retainers, for none had been discharged, +hailed with delight the return of their young mistress and her handsome +husband, for both were alike looked up to and respected for their many +amiable qualities, by those among whom they had been brought up since +childhood. The two old veterans, Bridoon and Tom the game keeper, had, +in honor of the occasion, donned their uniforms and were the big guns of +the evening, presiding, as they did, at the upper ends of the tables +where the volunteer cavalry were regaling themselves to their heart's +content on the good things provided for them. + +The day's festivities were closed with a grand display of fire works, +and bonfires were lit in many places, which crackled and sent upwards +millions of bright sparks, to the intense delight of the juvenile +portion of the community. The long rooms in the two public houses, in +the village, were thrown open for dancing. The servants' hall, and the +two great barns at Vellenaux were also decorated and arranged for the +same purpose, and a right joyous time was there kept up, almost until +the dawn of day. + +Within the time-honoured walls, in one of the superb and luxuriously +furnished apartments of Vellenaux, did Edith and Arthur, on this, the +first night of their return, entertain the Bartons, Cotterells, +Ashburnhams, Denhams, and a large circle of acquaintances. It was not a +ball, not exactly a conversazione, but a sort of happy re-union, an +assemblage of old friends and familiar faces, many of whom, had, to a +certain extent, participated in the joys and sorrows that had attended +their host and hostess from their youth upwards, and, as this pleasing +picture fades from view, let us take a perspective glance through a +pleasant vista of progressive years, at another equally interesting +tableaux, whose back ground and surroundings are the same as the +previous one. Vellenaux, that magnificent pile of buildings, with its +beautiful and varied styles of architecture, embosomed, as it were, in +the rare old woods of Devon, its parks and wondrous parterres, its +fountains, marble terraces and statuary, all brought out in bold relief +by the glorious golden light of a summer's setting sun. + +On a spacious terrace of the western wing, whose broad steps of fine +Italian marble led down to the clear, open, finely gravelled walk that +surrounded a beautiful and well kept lawn, were grouped, in various +positions, a number of ladies, gentlemen, and children, with all of +whom, the juveniles excepted, the reader is already acquainted. + +The Earl of Castlemere, with his beautiful Countess leaning lovingly on +his arm, are pacing leisurely up and down among the assembled guests, +exchanging here and there words of courteous pleasantry. Lounging over +the back of a handsome fautiel, Colonel Snaffle, of the Lancers, is +conversing with Pauline Barton, in his usual gay and lively manner, +relating to some reminiscence which occurred to them while dwelling on +the sunny plains of Hindostan. Horace Barton, Aunt Cotterell and the +Rev. Charles Denham were discussing some knotty point concerning high +and low church, etc., while some political question was evidently +exciting the minds of the worthy old Stockbroker, Dr. Ashburnham, and +Tom Barton. The good natured Draycott was exhausting his powers of +pleasing by relating to Mrs. Ashburnham, her sister Emily and pretty +Cousin Kate, the last _on dit_ going the rounds of the fashionable +circles at the metropolis. + +Light-hearted, happy children gamboled on the broad marble steps, or +seated on soft cushions at their parents' feet, listened to the +sparkling wit, repartee and agreeable rattle that broke forth among the +gay loungers on the terrace. Occasionally the eyes of the whole party +would rest with admiration and pride on the scene enacting before them, +and well they might, for on the smooth, soft, velvet-like sward of the +croquet lawn, eight youthful figures, the eldest scarcely sixteen, were +engaged in that most exhilarating, delightful and exciting of all out +door amusements, the game of croquet. + +The Lady Eglentine Carlton, eldest daughter of the Countess of +Castlemere, a tall, graceful girl, inheriting all her mother's soft +beauty of form and features, stood with her small, exquisitely shaped +foot resting on a bright, blue ball, evidently listening to some +suggestion of her partner, Clarence Ashburnham, preparatory to giving +the final stroke that would croquet her adversary's ball to a +considerable distance. Not far off stood, in an easy position, the +Earl's handsome son and heir, Lord Adolphus Carlton, mallet in hand, +explaining to pretty Alice Denham, the rector's daughter, what effect on +the game his sister's stroke would have if correctly given. Kate Barton, +the little golden-haired fairy, as she was called generally, is +chatting merrily with the Honourable Eustace Carlton, a noble, +aristocratic looking youth, with chestnut curls and the bright, flashing +eyes of the Earl, his father, declaring with great animation that their +side must win, while Maud Ashburnham, the physician's dark-haired +daughter, a sparkling brunette, full of life and vivacity, announces to +her partner, Alfred Arthur Denham, that her next stroke shall carry her +through the last hoop, this will make her a rover, and she will then +come to his assistance; and thus the game progressed, first in favor of +one side and then the other, till at length a splendid stroke from the +youthful Lady Eglentine's mallet, put her own and her partner's ball +through the last wire arch, placing them in a triumphant position, +amidst shouts of applause from their own side. + +The game was now nearly over, for the bright orb of day had already sank +behind the distant hills, and the silvery crescent of the summer's young +moon had risen above the tops of the tall chestnuts and was shooting +forth her rays of soft, pale light, rendering all objects shadowy and +indistinct, while the gently deepening purple shades of eve, and the +gray mists of twilight were fast closing in and around the happy group, +hiding from further view, as it were, with a veil of soft, fleecy +clouds, the family and fortunes of Arthur, Earl of Castlemere, and his +beautiful Countess, Edith, the Lady of Vellenaux. + + +THE END. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Vellenaux, by Edmund William Forrest + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK VELLENAUX *** + +***** This file should be named 15956.txt or 15956.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/5/9/5/15956/ + +Produced by Early Canadiana Online, Robert Cicconetti, +Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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