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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/1667-0.txt b/1667-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..fb8aeb7 --- /dev/null +++ b/1667-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1788 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of My Aunt Margaret’s Mirror, by Sir Walter Scott + +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: My Aunt Margaret’s Mirror + From Short Stories Published in “The Keepsake Annual” of 1828 + +Author: Sir Walter Scott + +Posting Date: October 23, 2008 [EBook #1667] +Release Date: March, 1999 +Last Updated: August 31, 2016 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MY AUNT MARGARET’S MIRROR *** + + + + +Produced by An Anonymous Volunteer + + + + + +MY AUNT MARGARET’S MIRROR + +by Sir Walter Scott + + +From Short Stories Published in “The Keepsake Annual” of 1828 + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + +The species of publication which has come to be generally known by the +title of ANNUAL, being a miscellany of prose and verse, equipped with +numerous engravings, and put forth every year about Christmas, had +flourished for a long while in Germany before it was imitated in this +country by an enterprising bookseller, a German by birth, Mr. Ackermann. +The rapid success of his work, as is the custom of the time, gave +birth to a host of rivals, and, among others, to an Annual styled The +Keepsake, the first volume of which appeared in 1828, and attracted much +notice, chiefly in consequence of the very uncommon splendour of +its illustrative accompaniments. The expenditure which the spirited +proprietors lavished on this magnificent volume is understood to have +been not less than from ten to twelve thousand pounds sterling! + +Various gentlemen of such literary reputation that any one might +think it an honour to be associated with them had been announced as +contributors to this Annual, before application was made to me to assist +in it; and I accordingly placed with much pleasure at the Editor’s +disposal a few fragments, originally designed to have been worked +into the Chronicles of the Canongate, besides a manuscript drama, the +long-neglected performance of my youthful days--“The House of Aspen.” + +The Keepsake for 1828 included, however, only three of these little +prose tales, of which the first in order was that entitled “My Aunt +Margaret’s Mirror.” By way of INTRODUCTION to this, when now included in +a general collection of my lucubrations, I have only to say that it is a +mere transcript, or at least with very little embellishment, of a story +that I remembered being struck with in my childhood, when told at the +fireside by a lady of eminent virtues and no inconsiderable share of +talent, one of the ancient and honourable house of Swinton. She was +a kind of relation of my own, and met her death in a manner so +shocking--being killed, in a fit of insanity, by a female attendant who +had been attached to her person for half a lifetime--that I cannot now +recall her memory, child as I was when the catastrophe occurred, without +a painful reawakening of perhaps the first images of horror that the +scenes of real life stamped on my mind. + +This good spinster had in her composition a strong vein of the +superstitious, and was pleased, among other fancies, to read alone in +her chamber by a taper fixed in a candlestick which she had had formed +out of a human skull. One night this strange piece of furniture acquired +suddenly the power of locomotion, and, after performing some odd circles +on her chimney-piece, fairly leaped on the floor, and continued to roll +about the apartment. Mrs. Swinton calmly proceeded to the adjoining room +for another light, and had the satisfaction to penetrate the mystery on +the spot. Rats abounded in the ancient building she inhabited, and one +of these had managed to ensconce itself within her favourite MEMENTO +MORI. Though thus endowed with a more than feminine share of nerve, she +entertained largely that belief in supernaturals which in those times +was not considered as sitting ungracefully on the grave and aged of +her condition; and the story of the Magic Mirror was one for which she +vouched with particular confidence, alleging indeed that one of her own +family had been an eye-witness of the incidents recorded in it. + + “I tell the tale as it was told to me.” + +Stories enow of much the same cast will present themselves to the +recollection of such of my readers as have ever dabbled in a species +of lore to which I certainly gave more hours, at one period of my life, +than I should gain any credit by confessing. + +AUGUST 1831. + + + + +AUNT MARGARET’S MIRROR. + + “There are times + When Fancy plays her gambols, in despite + Even of our watchful senses--when in sooth + Substance seems shadow, shadow substance seems-- + When the broad, palpable, and mark’d partition + ‘Twixt that which is and is not seems dissolved, + As if the mental eye gain’d power to gaze + Beyond the limits of the existing world. + Such hours of shadowy dreams I better love + Than all the gross realities of life.” ANONYMOUS. + +My Aunt Margaret was one of that respected sisterhood upon whom devolve +all the trouble and solicitude incidental to the possession of children, +excepting only that which attends their entrance into the world. We were +a large family, of very different dispositions and constitutions. Some +were dull and peevish--they were sent to Aunt Margaret to be amused; +some were rude, romping, and boisterous--they were sent to Aunt Margaret +to be kept quiet, or rather that their noise might be removed out of +hearing; those who were indisposed were sent with the prospect of being +nursed; those who were stubborn, with the hope of their being subdued by +the kindness of Aunt Margaret’s discipline;--in short, she had all +the various duties of a mother, without the credit and dignity of the +maternal character. The busy scene of her various cares is now over. +Of the invalids and the robust, the kind and the rough, the peevish and +pleased children, who thronged her little parlour from morning to night, +not one now remains alive but myself, who, afflicted by early infirmity, +was one of the most delicate of her nurslings, yet, nevertheless, have +outlived them all. + +It is still my custom, and shall be so while I have the use of my limbs, +to visit my respected relation at least three times a week. Her abode is +about half a mile from the suburbs of the town in which I reside, and +is accessible, not only by the highroad, from which it stands at some +distance, but by means of a greensward footpath leading through some +pretty meadows. I have so little left to torment me in life, that it is +one of my greatest vexations to know that several of these sequestered +fields have been devoted as sites for building. In that which is nearest +the town, wheelbarrows have been at work for several weeks in such +numbers, that, I verily believe, its whole surface, to the depth of +at least eighteen inches, was mounted in these monotrochs at the same +moment, and in the act of being transported from one place to another. +Huge triangular piles of planks are also reared in different parts of +the devoted messuage; and a little group of trees that still grace the +eastern end, which rises in a gentle ascent, have just received warning +to quit, expressed by a daub of white paint, and are to give place to a +curious grove of chimneys. + +It would, perhaps, hurt others in my situation to reflect that this +little range of pasturage once belonged to my father (whose family was +of some consideration in the world), and was sold by patches to remedy +distresses in which he involved himself in an attempt by commercial +adventure to redeem his diminished fortune. While the building scheme +was in full operation, this circumstance was often pointed out to me by +the class of friends who are anxious that no part of your misfortunes +should escape your observation. “Such pasture-ground!--lying at the very +town’s end--in turnips and potatoes, the parks would bring L20 per acre; +and if leased for building--oh, it was a gold mine! And all sold for +an old song out of the ancient possessor’s hands!” My comforters cannot +bring me to repine much on this subject. If I could be allowed to look +back on the past without interruption, I could willingly give up the +enjoyment of present income and the hope of future profit to those +who have purchased what my father sold. I regret the alteration of the +ground only because it destroys associations, and I would more willingly +(I think) see the Earl’s Closes in the hands of strangers, retaining +their silvan appearance, than know them for my own, if torn up by +agriculture, or covered with buildings. Mine are the sensations of poor +Logan:-- + + “The horrid plough has rased the green + Where yet a child I strayed; + The axe has fell’d the hawthorn screen, + The schoolboy’s summer shade.” + +I hope, however, the threatened devastation will not be consummated +in my day. Although the adventurous spirit of times short while since +passed gave rise to the undertaking, I have been encouraged to think +that the subsequent changes have so far damped the spirit of speculation +that the rest of the woodland footpath leading to Aunt Margaret’s +retreat will be left undisturbed for her time and mine. I am interested +in this, for every step of the way, after I have passed through +the green already mentioned, has for me something of early +remembrance:--There is the stile at which I can recollect a cross +child’s-maid upbraiding me with my infirmity as she lifted me coarsely +and carelessly over the flinty steps, which my brothers traversed with +shout and bound. I remember the suppressed bitterness of the moment, +and, conscious of my own inferiority, the feeling of envy with which I +regarded the easy movements and elastic steps of my more happily formed +brethren. Alas! these goodly barks have all perished on life’s wide +ocean, and only that which seemed so little seaworthy, as the naval +phrase goes, has reached the port when the tempest is over. Then there +is the pool, where, manoeuvring our little navy, constructed out of the +broad water-flags, my elder brother fell in, and was scarce saved from +the watery element to die under Nelson’s banner. There is the hazel +copse also, in which my brother Henry used to gather nuts, thinking +little that he was to die in an Indian jungle in quest of rupees. + +There is so much more of remembrance about the little walk, that--as I +stop, rest on my crutch-headed cane, and look round with that species +of comparison between the thing I was and that which I now am--it almost +induces me to doubt my own identity; until I find myself in face of the +honeysuckle porch of Aunt Margaret’s dwelling, with its irregularity of +front, and its odd, projecting latticed windows, where the workmen seem +to have made it a study that no one of them should resemble another in +form, size, or in the old-fashioned stone entablature and labels which +adorn them. This tenement, once the manor house of the Earl’s Closes, +we still retain a slight hold upon; for, in some family arrangements, +it had been settled upon Aunt Margaret during the term of her life. Upon +this frail tenure depends, in a great measure, the last shadow of the +family of Bothwell of Earl’s Closes, and their last slight connection +with their paternal inheritance. The only representative will then be an +infirm old man, moving not unwillingly to the grave, which has devoured +all that were dear to his affections. + +When I have indulged such thoughts for a minute or two, I enter the +mansion, which is said to have been the gate-house only of the original +building, and find one being on whom time seems to have made little +impression; for the Aunt Margaret of to-day bears the same proportional +age to the Aunt Margaret of my early youth that the boy of ten years +old does to the man of (by’r Lady!) some fifty-six years. The old lady’s +invariable costume has doubtless some share in confirming one in the +opinion that time has stood still with Aunt Margaret. + +The brown or chocolate-coloured silk gown, with ruffles of the same +stuff at the elbow, within which are others of Mechlin lace; the black +silk gloves, or mitts; the white hair combed back upon a roll; and +the cap of spotless cambric, which closes around the venerable +countenance--as they were not the costume of 1780, so neither were they +that of 1826; they are altogether a style peculiar to the individual +Aunt Margaret. There she still sits, as she sat thirty years since, with +her wheel or the stocking, which she works by the fire in winter and by +the window in summer; or, perhaps, venturing as far as the porch in an +unusually fine summer evening. Her frame, like some well-constructed +piece of mechanics, still performs the operations for which it had +seemed destined--going its round with an activity which is gradually +diminished, yet indicating no probability that it will soon come to a +period. + +The solicitude and affection which had made Aunt Margaret the willing +slave to the inflictions of a whole nursery, have now for their object +the health and comfort of one old and infirm man--the last remaining +relative of her family, and the only one who can still find interest in +the traditional stores which she hoards, as some miser hides the gold +which he desires that no one should enjoy after his death. + +My conversation with Aunt Margaret generally relates little either to +the present or to the future. For the passing day we possess as much as +we require, and we neither of us wish for more; and for that which is +to follow, we have, on this side of the grave, neither hopes, nor fears, +nor anxiety. We therefore naturally look back to the past, and forget +the present fallen fortunes and declined importance of our family in +recalling the hours when it was wealthy and prosperous. + +With this slight introduction, the reader will know as much of Aunt +Margaret and her nephew as is necessary to comprehend the following +conversation and narrative. + +Last week, when, late in a summer evening, I went to call on the old +lady to whom my reader is now introduced, I was received by her with all +her usual affection and benignity, while, at the same time, she seemed +abstracted and disposed to silence. I asked her the reason. “They have +been clearing out the old chapel,” she said; “John Clayhudgeons having, +it seems, discovered that the stuff within--being, I suppose, the +remains of our ancestors--was excellent for top-dressing the meadows.” + +Here I started up with more alacrity than I have displayed for some +years; but sat down while my aunt added, laying her hand upon my sleeve, +“The chapel has been long considered as common ground, my dear, and used +for a pinfold, and what objection can we have to the man for employing +what is his own to his own profit? Besides, I did speak to him, and he +very readily and civilly promised that if he found bones or monuments, +they should be carefully respected and reinstated; and what more could I +ask? So, the first stone they found bore the name of Margaret Bothwell, +1585, and I have caused it to be laid carefully aside, as I think it +betokens death, and having served my namesake two hundred years, it has +just been cast up in time to do me the same good turn. My house has been +long put in order, as far as the small earthly concerns require it; but +who shall say that their account with, Heaven is sufficiently revised?” + +“After what you have said, aunt,” I replied, “perhaps I ought to take my +hat and go away; and so I should, but that there is on this occasion a +little alloy mingled with your devotion. To think of death at all times +is a duty--to suppose it nearer from the finding an old gravestone is +superstition; and you, with your strong, useful common sense, which was +so long the prop of a fallen family, are the last person whom I should +have suspected of such weakness.” + +“Neither would I deserve your suspicions, kinsman,” answered Aunt +Margaret, “if we were speaking of any incident occurring in the actual +business of human life. But for all this, I have a sense of superstition +about me, which I do not wish to part with. It is a feeling which +separates me from this age, and links me with that to which I am +hastening; and even when it seems, as now, to lead me to the brink +of the grave, and bid me gaze on it, I do not love that it should be +dispelled. It soothes my imagination, without influencing my reason or +conduct.” + +“I profess, my good lady,” replied I, “that had any one but you made +such a declaration, I should have thought it as capricious as that of +the clergyman, who, without vindicating his false reading, preferred, +from habit’s sake, his old Mumpsimus to the modern Sumpsimus.” + +“Well,” answered my aunt, “I must explain my inconsistency in this +particular by comparing it to another. I am, as you know, a piece of +that old-fashioned thing called a Jacobite; but I am so in sentiment and +feeling only, for a more loyal subject never joined in prayers for the +health and wealth of George the Fourth, whom God long preserve! But I +dare say that kind-hearted sovereign would not deem that an old woman +did him much injury if she leaned back in her arm-chair, just in such +a twilight as this, and thought of the high-mettled men whose sense of +duty called them to arms against his grandfather; and how, in a cause +which they deemed that of their rightful prince and country, + + ‘They fought till their hand to the broadsword was glued, + They fought against fortune with hearts unsubdued.’ + +Do not come at such a moment, when my head is full of plaids, pibrochs, +and claymores, and ask my reason to admit what, I am afraid, it cannot +deny--I mean, that the public advantage peremptorily demanded that these +things should cease to exist. I cannot, indeed, refuse to allow the +justice of your reasoning; but yet, being convinced against my will, you +will gain little by your motion. You might as well read to an infatuated +lover the catalogue of his mistress’s imperfections; for when he has +been compelled to listen to the summary, you will only get for answer +that ‘he lo’es her a’ the better.’” + +I was not sorry to have changed the gloomy train of Aunt Margaret’s +thoughts, and replied in the same tone, “Well, I can’t help being +persuaded that our good King is the more sure of Mrs. Bothwell’s loyal +affection, that he has the Stewart right of birth as well as the Act of +Succession in his favour.” + +“Perhaps my attachment, were its source of consequence, might be found +warmer for the union of the rights you mention,” said Aunt Margaret; +“but, upon my word, it would be as sincere if the King’s right were +founded only on the will of the nation, as declared at the Revolution. I +am none of your JURE DIVINO folks.” + +“And a Jacobite notwithstanding.” + +“And a Jacobite notwithstanding--or rather, I will give you leave to +call me one of the party which, in Queen Anne’s time, were called, +WHIMSICALS, because they were sometimes operated upon by feelings, +sometimes by principle. After all, it is very hard that you will not +allow an old woman to be as inconsistent in her political sentiments as +mankind in general show themselves in all the various courses of +life; since you cannot point out one of them in which the passions and +prejudices of those who pursue it are not perpetually carrying us away +from the path which our reason points out.” + +“True, aunt; but you are a wilful wanderer, who should be forced back +into the right path.” + +“Spare me, I entreat you,” replied Aunt Margaret. “You remember the +Gaelic song, though I dare say I mispronounce the words-- + + ‘Hatil mohatil, na dowski mi.’ + (I am asleep, do not waken me.) + +I tell you, kinsman, that the sort of waking dreams which my imagination +spins out, in what your favourite Wordsworth calls ‘moods of my own +mind,’ are worth all the rest of my more active days. Then, instead +of looking forwards, as I did in youth, and forming for myself fairy +palaces, upon the verge of the grave I turn my eyes backward upon +the days and manners of my better time; and the sad, yet soothing +recollections come so close and interesting, that I almost think it +sacrilege to be wiser or more rational or less prejudiced than those to +whom I looked up in my younger years.” + +“I think I now understand what you mean,” I answered, “and can +comprehend why you should occasionally prefer the twilight of illusion +to the steady light of reason.” + +“Where there is no task,” she rejoined, “to be performed, we may sit in +the dark if we like it; if we go to work, we must ring for candles.” + +“And amidst such shadowy and doubtful light,” continued I, “imagination +frames her enchanted and enchanting visions, and sometimes passes them +upon the senses for reality.” + +“Yes,” said Aunt Margaret, who is a well-read woman, “to those who +resemble the translator of Tasso,-- + + ‘Prevailing poet, whose undoubting mind + Believed the magic wonders which he sung. + +It is not required for this purpose that you should be sensible of the +painful horrors which an actual belief in such prodigies inflicts. +Such a belief nowadays belongs only to fools and children. It is not +necessary that your ears should tingle and your complexion change, like +that of Theodore at the approach of the spectral huntsman. All that is +indispensable for the enjoyment of the milder feeling of supernatural +awe is, that you should be susceptible of the slight shuddering which +creeps over you when you hear a tale of terror--that well-vouched tale +which the narrator, having first expressed his general disbelief of all +such legendary lore, selects and produces, as having something in it +which he has been always obliged to give up as inexplicable. Another +symptom is a momentary hesitation to look round you, when the interest +of the narrative is at the highest; and the third, a desire to avoid +looking into a mirror when you are alone in your chamber for the +evening. I mean such are signs which indicate the crisis, when a female +imagination is in due temperature to enjoy a ghost story. I do not +pretend to describe those which express the same disposition in a +gentleman.” + +“That last symptom, dear aunt, of shunning the mirror seems likely to be +a rare occurrence amongst the fair sex.” + +“You are a novice in toilet fashions, my dear cousin. All women consult +the looking-glass with anxiety before they go into company; but when +they return home, the mirror has not the same charm. The die has been +cast--the party has been successful or unsuccessful in the impression +which she desired to make. But, without going deeper into the mysteries +of the dressing-table, I will tell you that I myself, like many other +honest folks, do not like to see the blank, black front of a large +mirror in a room dimly lighted, and where the reflection of the candle +seems rather to lose itself in the deep obscurity of the glass than to +be reflected back again into the apartment, That space of inky darkness +seems to be a field for Fancy to play her revels in. She may call up +other features to meet us, instead of the reflection of our own; or, as +in the spells of Hallowe’en, which we learned in childhood, some unknown +form may be seen peeping over our shoulder. In short, when I am in a +ghost-seeing humour, I make my handmaiden draw the green curtains over +the mirror before I go into the room, so that she may have the first +shock of the apparition, if there be any to be seen, But, to tell you +the truth, this dislike to look into a mirror in particular times and +places has, I believe, its original foundation in a story which came to +me by tradition from my grandmother, who was a party concerned in the +scene of which I will now tell you.” + + + + +THE MIRROR. + + + +CHAPTER I. + +You are fond (said my aunt) of sketches of the society which has passed +away. I wish I could describe to you Sir Philip Forester, the “chartered +libertine” of Scottish good company, about the end of the last century. +I never saw him indeed; but my mother’s traditions were full of his wit, +gallantry, and dissipation. This gay knight flourished about the end of +the seventeenth and beginning of the eighteenth century. He was the Sir +Charles Easy and the Lovelace of his day and country--renowned for the +number of duels he had fought, and the successful intrigues which he had +carried on. The supremacy which he had attained in the fashionable world +was absolute; and when we combine it with one or two anecdotes, for +which, “if laws were made for every degree,” he ought certainly to have +been hanged, the popularity of such a person really serves to show, +either that the present times are much more decent, if not more +virtuous, than they formerly were, or that high-breeding then was +of more difficult attainment than that which is now so called, and +consequently entitled the successful professor to a proportional degree +of plenary indulgences and privileges. No beau of this day could have +borne out so ugly a story as that of Pretty Peggy Grindstone, the +miller’s daughter at Sillermills--it had well-nigh made work for the +Lord Advocate. But it hurt Sir Philip Forester no more than the hail +hurts the hearthstone. He was as well received in society as ever, and +dined with the Duke of A---- the day the poor girl was buried. She died +of heartbreak. But that has nothing to do with my story. + +Now, you must listen to a single word upon kith, kin, and ally; +I promise you I will not be prolix. But it is necessary to the +authenticity of my legend that you should know that Sir Philip Forester, +with his handsome person, elegant accomplishments, and fashionable +manners, married the younger Miss Falconer of King’s Copland. The elder +sister of this lady had previously become the wife of my grandfather, +Sir Geoffrey Bothwell, and brought into our family a good fortune. Miss +Jemima, or Miss Jemmie Falconer, as she was usually called, had also +about ten thousand pounds sterling--then thought a very handsome portion +indeed. + +The two sisters were extremely different, though each had their admirers +while they remained single. Lady Bothwell had some touch of the old +King’s Copland blood about her. She was bold, though not to the degree +of audacity, ambitious, and desirous to raise her house and family; and +was, as has been said, a considerable spur to my grandfather, who was +otherwise an indolent man, but whom, unless he has been slandered, his +lady’s influence involved in some political matters which had been +more wisely let alone. She was a woman of high principle, however, and +masculine good sense, as some of her letters testify, which are still in +my wainscot cabinet. + +Jemmie Falconer was the reverse of her sister in every respect. Her +understanding did not reach above the ordinary pitch, if, indeed, +she could be said to have attained it. Her beauty, while it lasted, +consisted, in a great measure, of delicacy of complexion and regularity +of features, without any peculiar force of expression. Even these charms +faded under the sufferings attendant on an ill-assorted match. She was +passionately attached to her husband, by whom she was treated with a +callous yet polite indifference, which, to one whose heart was as +tender as her judgment was weak, was more painful perhaps than absolute +ill-usage. Sir Philip was a voluptuary--that is, a completely selfish +egotist--whose disposition and character resembled the rapier he wore, +polished, keen, and brilliant, but inflexible and unpitying. As he +observed carefully all the usual forms towards his lady, he had the +art to deprive her even of the compassion of the world; and useless and +unavailing as that may be while actually possessed by the sufferer, it +is, to a mind like Lady Forester’s, most painful to know she has it not. + +The tattle of society did its best to place the peccant husband above +the suffering wife. Some called her a poor, spiritless thing, and +declared that, with a little of her sister’s spirit, she might have +brought to reason any Sir Philip whatsoever, were it the termagant +Falconbridge himself. But the greater part of their acquaintance +affected candour, and saw faults on both sides--though, in fact, there +only existed the oppressor and the oppressed. The tone of such critics +was, “To be sure, no one will justify Sir Philip Forester, but then we +all know Sir Philip, and Jemmie Falconer might have known what she had +to expect from the beginning. What made her set her cap at Sir Philip? +He would never have looked at her if she had not thrown herself at his +head, with her poor ten thousand pounds. I am sure, if it is money he +wanted, she spoiled his market. I know where Sir Philip could have done +much better. And then, if she WOULD have the man, could not she try to +make him more comfortable at home, and have his friends oftener, and not +plague him with the squalling children, and take care all was handsome +and in good style about the house? I declare I think Sir Philip would +have made a very domestic man, with a woman who knew how to manage him.” + +Now these fair critics, in raising their profound edifice of domestic +felicity, did not recollect that the corner-stone was wanting, and that +to receive good company with good cheer, the means of the banquet ought +to have been furnished by Sir Philip, whose income (dilapidated as it +was) was not equal to the display of the hospitality required, and at +the same time to the supply of the good knight’s MENUS PLAISIRS. So, in +spite of all that was so sagely suggested by female friends, Sir Philip +carried his good-humour everywhere abroad, and left at home a solitary +mansion and a pining spouse. + +At length, inconvenienced in his money affairs, and tired even of the +short time which he spent in his own dull house, Sir Philip Forester +determined to take a trip to the Continent, in the capacity of a +volunteer. It was then common for men of fashion to do so; and our +knight perhaps was of opinion that a touch of the military character, +just enough to exalt, but not render pedantic, his qualities as a BEAU +GARCON, was necessary to maintain possession of the elevated situation +which he held in the ranks of fashion. + +Sir Philip’s resolution threw his wife into agonies of terror; by which +the worthy baronet was so much annoyed, that, contrary to his wont, he +took some trouble to soothe her apprehensions, and once more brought +her to shed tears, in which sorrow was not altogether unmingled with +pleasure. Lady Bothwell asked, as a favour, Sir Philip’s permission to +receive her sister and her family into her own house during his absence +on the Continent. Sir Philip readily assented to a proposition which +saved expense, silenced the foolish people who might have talked of a +deserted wife and family, and gratified Lady Bothwell, for whom he felt +some respect, as for one who often spoke to him, always with freedom and +sometimes with severity, without being deterred either by his raillery +or the PRESTIGE of his reputation. + +A day or two before Sir Philip’s departure, Lady Bothwell took the +liberty of asking him, in her sister’s presence, the direct question, +which his timid wife had often desired, but never ventured, to put to +him:-- + +“Pray, Sir Philip, what route do you take when you reach the Continent?” + +“I go from Leith to Helvoet by a packet with advices.” + +“That I comprehend perfectly,” said Lady Bothwell dryly; “but you do +not mean to remain long at Helvoet, I presume, and I should like to know +what is your next object.” + +“You ask me, my dear lady,” answered Sir Philip, “a question which I +have not dared to ask myself. The answer depends on the fate of war. I +shall, of course, go to headquarters, wherever they may happen to be for +the time; deliver my letters of introduction; learn as much of the noble +art of war as may suffice a poor interloping amateur; and then take a +glance at the sort of thing of which we read so much in the Gazette.” + +“And I trust, Sir Philip,” said Lady Bothwell, “that you will remember +that you are a husband and a father; and that, though you think fit to +indulge this military fancy, you will not let it hurry you into dangers +which it is certainly unnecessary for any save professional persons to +encounter.” + +“Lady Bothwell does me too much honour,” replied the adventurous knight, +“in regarding such a circumstance with the slightest interest. But to +soothe your flattering anxiety, I trust your ladyship will recollect +that I cannot expose to hazard the venerable and paternal character +which you so obligingly recommend to my protection, without putting in +some peril an honest fellow, called Philip Forester, with whom I have +kept company for thirty years, and with whom, though some folks consider +him a coxcomb, I have not the least desire to part.” + +“Well, Sir Philip, you are the best judge of your own affairs. I have +little right to interfere--you are not my husband.” + +“God forbid!” said Sir Philip hastily; instantly adding, however, “God +forbid that I should deprive my friend Sir Geoffrey of so inestimable a +treasure.” + +“But you are my sister’s husband,” replied the lady; “and I suppose you +are aware of her present distress of mind--” + +“If hearing of nothing else from morning to night can make me aware of +it,” said Sir Philip, “I should know something of the matter.” + +“I do not pretend to reply to your wit, Sir Philip,” answered Lady +Bothwell; “but you must be sensible that all this distress is on account +of apprehensions for your personal safety.” + +“In that case, I am surprised that Lady Bothwell, at least, should give +herself so much trouble upon so insignificant a subject.” + +“My sister’s interest may account for my being anxious to learn +something of Sir Philip Forester’s motions; about which, otherwise, I +know he would not wish me to concern myself. I have a brother’s safety +too to be anxious for.” + +“You mean Major Falconer, your brother by the mother’s side? What can he +possibly have to do with our present agreeable conversation?” + +“You have had words together, Sir Philip,” said Lady Bothwell. + +“Naturally; we are connections,” replied Sir Philip, “and as such have +always had the usual intercourse.” + +“That is an evasion of the subject,” answered the lady. “By words, I +mean angry words, on the subject of your usage of your wife.” + +“If,” replied Sir Philip Forester, “you suppose Major Falconer simple +enough to intrude his advice upon me, Lady Bothwell, in my domestic +matters, you are indeed warranted in believing that I might possibly be +so far displeased with the interference as to request him to reserve his +advice till it was asked.” + +“And being on these terms, you are going to join the very army in which +my brother Falconer is now serving?” + +“No man knows the path of honour better than Major Falconer,” said Sir +Philip. “An aspirant after fame, like me, cannot choose a better guide +than his footsteps.” + +Lady Bothwell rose and went to the window, the tears gushing from her +eyes. + +“And this heartless raillery,” she said, “is all the consideration that +is to be given to our apprehensions of a quarrel which may bring on the +most terrible consequences? Good God! of what can men’s hearts be made, +who can thus dally with the agony of others?” + +Sir Philip Forester was moved; he laid aside the mocking tone in which +he had hitherto spoken. + +“Dear Lady Bothwell,” he said, taking her reluctant hand, “we are +both wrong. You are too deeply serious; I, perhaps, too little so. The +dispute I had with Major Falconer was of no earthly consequence. Had +anything occurred betwixt us that ought to have been settled PAR VOIE DU +FAIT, as we say in France, neither of us are persons that are likely to +postpone such a meeting. Permit me to say, that were it generally known +that you or my Lady Forester are apprehensive of such a catastrophe, it +might be the very means of bringing about what would not otherwise be +likely to happen. I know your good sense, Lady Bothwell, and that you +will understand me when I say that really my affairs require my absence +for some months. This Jemima cannot understand. It is a perpetual +recurrence of questions, why can you not do this, or that, or the third +thing? and, when you have proved to her that her expedients are totally +ineffectual, you have just to begin the whole round again. Now, do you +tell her, dear Lady Bothwell, that YOU are satisfied. She is, you must +confess, one of those persons with whom authority goes farther than +reasoning. Do but repose a little confidence in me, and you shall see +how amply I will repay it.” + +Lady Bothwell shook her head, as one but half satisfied. “How difficult +it is to extend confidence, when the basis on which it ought to rest +has been so much shaken! But I will do my best to make Jemima easy; and +further, I can only say that for keeping your present purpose I hold you +responsible both to God and man.” + +“Do not fear that I will deceive you,” said Sir Philip. “The safest +conveyance to me will be through the general post-office, Helvoetsluys, +where I will take care to leave orders for forwarding my letters. As for +Falconer, our only encounter will be over a bottle of Burgundy; so make +yourself perfectly easy on his score.” + +Lady Bothwell could NOT make herself easy; yet she was sensible that her +sister hurt her own cause by TAKING ON, as the maidservants call it, +too vehemently, and by showing before every stranger, by manner, and +sometimes by words also, a dissatisfaction with her husband’s journey +that was sure to come to his ears, and equally certain to displease him. +But there was no help for this domestic dissension, which ended only +with the day of separation. + +I am sorry I cannot tell, with precision, the year in which Sir Philip +Forester went over to Flanders; but it was one of those in which +the campaign opened with extraordinary fury, and many bloody, though +indecisive, skirmishes were fought between the French on the one side +and the Allies on the other. In all our modern improvements, there +are none, perhaps, greater than in the accuracy and speed with which +intelligence is transmitted from any scene of action to those in +this country whom it may concern. During Marlborough’s campaigns, the +sufferings of the many who had relations in, or along with, the army +were greatly augmented by the suspense in which they were detained +for weeks after they had heard of bloody battles, in which, in all +probability, those for whom their bosoms throbbed with anxiety had been +personally engaged. Amongst those who were most agonized by this state +of uncertainty was the--I had almost said deserted--wife of the gay Sir +Philip Forester. A single letter had informed her of his arrival on +the Continent; no others were received. One notice occurred in the +newspapers, in which Volunteer Sir Philip Forester was mentioned as +having been entrusted with a dangerous reconnaissance, which he had +executed with the greatest courage, dexterity, and intelligence, and +received the thanks of the commanding officer. The sense of his having +acquired distinction brought a momentary glow into the lady’s pale +cheek; but it was instantly lost in ashen whiteness at the recollection +of his danger. After this, they had no news whatever, neither from Sir +Philip, nor even from their brother Falconer. The case of Lady Forester +was not indeed different from that of hundreds in the same situation; +but a feeble mind is necessarily an irritable one, and the suspense +which some bear with constitutional indifference or philosophical +resignation, and some with a disposition to believe and hope the best, +was intolerable to Lady Forester, at once solitary and sensitive, +low-spirited, and devoid of strength of mind, whether natural or +acquired. + + + +CHAPTER II. + +As she received no further news of Sir Philip, whether directly or +indirectly, his unfortunate lady began now to feel a sort of consolation +even in those careless habits which had so often given her pain. “He is +so thoughtless,” she repeated a hundred times a day to her sister, +“he never writes when things are going on smoothly. It is his way. Had +anything happened, he would have informed us.” + +Lady Bothwell listened to her sister without attempting to console her. +Probably she might be of opinion that even the worst intelligence which +could be received from Flanders might not be without some touch of +consolation; and that the Dowager Lady Forester, if so she was doomed to +be called, might have a source of happiness unknown to the wife of the +gayest and finest gentleman in Scotland. This conviction became stronger +as they learned from inquiries made at headquarters that Sir Philip was +no longer with the army--though whether he had been taken or slain in +some of those skirmishes which were perpetually occurring, and in which +he loved to distinguish himself, or whether he had, for some unknown +reason or capricious change of mind, voluntarily left the service, +none of his countrymen in the camp of the Allies could form even a +conjecture. Meantime his creditors at home became clamorous, entered +into possession of his property, and threatened his person, should he +be rash enough to return to Scotland. These additional disadvantages +aggravated Lady Bothwell’s displeasure against the fugitive husband; +while her sister saw nothing in any of them, save what tended to +increase her grief for the absence of him whom her imagination now +represented--as it had before marriage--gallant, gay, and affectionate. + +About this period there appeared in Edinburgh a man of singular +appearance and pretensions. He was commonly called the Paduan Doctor, +from having received his education at that famous university. He was +supposed to possess some rare receipts in medicine, with which, it was +affirmed, he had wrought remarkable cures. But though, on the one hand, +the physicians of Edinburgh termed him an empiric, there were many +persons, and among them some of the clergy, who, while they admitted the +truth of the cures and the force of his remedies, alleged that Doctor +Baptista Damiotti made use of charms and unlawful arts in order to +obtain success in his practice. The resorting to him was even solemnly +preached against, as a seeking of health from idols, and a trusting +to the help which was to come from Egypt. But the protection which the +Paduan Doctor received from some friends of interest and consequence +enabled him to set these imputations at defiance, and to assume, even +in the city of Edinburgh, famed as it was for abhorrence of witches and +necromancers, the dangerous character of an expounder of futurity. +It was at length rumoured that, for a certain gratification, which of +course was not an inconsiderable one, Doctor Baptista Damiotti could +tell the fate of the absent, and even show his visitors the personal +form of their absent friends, and the action in which they were engaged +at the moment. This rumour came to the ears of Lady Forester, who +had reached that pitch of mental agony in which the sufferer will +do anything, or endure anything, that suspense may be converted into +certainty. + +Gentle and timid in most cases, her state of mind made her equally +obstinate and reckless, and it was with no small surprise and alarm that +her sister, Lady Bothwell, heard her express a resolution to visit this +man of art, and learn from him the fate of her husband. Lady Bothwell +remonstrated on the improbability that such pretensions as those of this +foreigner could be founded in anything but imposture. + +“I care not,” said the deserted wife, “what degree of ridicule I may +incur; if there be any one chance out of a hundred that I may obtain +some certainty of my husband’s fate, I would not miss that chance for +whatever else the world can offer me.” + +Lady Bothwell next urged the unlawfulness of resorting to such sources +of forbidden knowledge. + +“Sister,” replied the sufferer, “he who is dying of thirst cannot +refrain from drinking even poisoned water. She who suffers under +suspense must seek information, even were the powers which offer it +unhallowed and infernal. I go to learn my fate alone, and this very +evening will I know it; the sun that rises to-morrow shall find me, if +not more happy, at least more resigned.” + +“Sister,” said Lady Bothwell, “if you are determined upon this wild +step, you shall not go alone. If this man be an impostor, you may be +too much agitated by your feelings to detect his villainy. If, which I +cannot believe, there be any truth in what he pretends, you shall not be +exposed alone to a communication of so extraordinary a nature. I will +go with you, if indeed you determine to go. But yet reconsider your +project, and renounce inquiries which cannot be prosecuted without +guilt, and perhaps without danger.” + +Lady Forester threw herself into her sister’s arms, and, clasping her +to her bosom, thanked her a hundred times for the offer of her company, +while she declined with a melancholy gesture the friendly advice with +which it was accompanied. + +When the hour of twilight arrived--which was the period when the Paduan +Doctor was understood to receive the visits of those who came to consult +with him--the two ladies left their apartments in the Canongate of +Edinburgh, having their dress arranged like that of women of an inferior +description, and their plaids disposed around their faces as they were +worn by the same class; for in those days of aristocracy the quality of +the wearer was generally indicated by the manner in which her plaid +was disposed, as well as by the fineness of its texture. It was Lady +Bothwell who had suggested this species of disguise, partly to avoid +observation as they should go to the conjurer’s house, and partly in +order to make trial of his penetration, by appearing before him in a +feigned character. Lady Forester’s servant, of tried fidelity, had been +employed by her to propitiate the Doctor by a suitable fee, and a +story intimating that a soldier’s wife desired to know the fate of her +husband--a subject upon which, in all probability, the sage was very +frequently consulted. + +To the last moment, when the palace clock struck eight, Lady Bothwell +earnestly watched her sister, in hopes that she might retreat from her +rash undertaking; but as mildness, and even timidity, is capable at +times of vehement and fixed purposes, she found Lady Forester resolutely +unmoved and determined when the moment of departure arrived. Ill +satisfied with the expedition, but determined not to leave her sister at +such a crisis, Lady Bothwell accompanied Lady Forester through more than +one obscure street and lane, the servant walking before, and acting +as their guide. At length he suddenly turned into a narrow court, and +knocked at an arched door which seemed to belong to a building of some +antiquity. It opened, though no one appeared to act as porter; and the +servant, stepping aside from the entrance, motioned the ladies to enter. +They had no sooner done so than it shut, and excluded their guide. The +two ladies found themselves in a small vestibule, illuminated by a dim +lamp, and having, when the door was closed, no communication with the +external light or air. The door of an inner apartment, partly open, was +at the farther side of the vestibule. + +“We must not hesitate now, Jemima,” said Lady Bothwell, and walked +forwards into the inner room, where, surrounded by books, maps, +philosophical utensils, and other implements of peculiar shape and +appearance, they found the man of art. + +There was nothing very peculiar in the Italian’s appearance. He had the +dark complexion and marked features of his country, seemed about fifty +years old, and was handsomely but plainly dressed in a full suit of +black clothes, which was then the universal costume of the medical +profession. Large wax-lights, in silver sconces, illuminated the +apartment, which was reasonably furnished. He rose as the ladies +entered, and, notwithstanding the inferiority of their dress, received +them with the marked respect due to their quality, and which foreigners +are usually punctilious in rendering to those to whom such honours are +due. + +Lady Bothwell endeavoured to maintain her proposed incognito, and, as +the Doctor ushered them to the upper end of the room, made a motion +declining his courtesy, as unfitted for their condition. “We are poor +people, sir,” she said; “only my sister’s distress has brought us to +consult your worship whether--” + +He smiled as he interrupted her--“I am aware, madam, of your sister’s +distress, and its cause; I am aware, also, that I am honoured with a +visit from two ladies of the highest consideration--Lady Bothwell and +Lady Forester. If I could not distinguish them from the class of +society which their present dress would indicate, there would be small +possibility of my being able to gratify them by giving the information +which they come to seek.” + +“I can easily understand--” said Lady Bothwell. + +“Pardon my boldness to interrupt you, milady,” cried the Italian; “your +ladyship was about to say that you could easily understand that I had +got possession of your names by means of your domestic. But in thinking +so, you do injustice to the fidelity of your servant, and, I may add, +to the skill of one who is also not less your humble servant--Baptista +Damiotti.” + +“I have no intention to do either, sir,” said Lady Bothwell, maintaining +a tone of composure, though somewhat surprised; “but the situation is +something new to me. If you know who we are, you also know, sir, what +brought us here.” + +“Curiosity to know the fate of a Scottish gentleman of rank, now, +or lately, upon the Continent,” answered the seer. “His name is Il +Cavaliero Philippo Forester, a gentleman who has the honour to be +husband to this lady, and, with your ladyship’s permission for using +plain language, the misfortune not to value as it deserves that +inestimable advantage.” + +Lady Forester sighed deeply, and Lady Bothwell replied,-- + +“Since you know our object without our telling it, the only question +that remains is, whether you have the power to relieve my sister’s +anxiety?” + +“I have, madam,” answered the Paduan scholar; “but there is still a +previous inquiry. Have you the courage to behold with your own eyes what +the Cavaliero Philippo Forester is now doing? or will you take it on my +report?” + +“That question my sister must answer for herself,” said Lady Bothwell. + +“With my own eyes will I endure to see whatever you have power to show +me,” said Lady Forester, with the same determined spirit which had +stimulated her since her resolution was taken upon this subject. + +“There may be danger in it.” + +“If gold can compensate the risk,” said Lady Forester, taking out her +purse. + +“I do not such things for the purpose of gain,” answered the foreigner; +“I dare not turn my art to such a purpose. If I take the gold of the +wealthy, it is but to bestow it on the poor; nor do I ever accept more +than the sum I have already received from your servant. Put up your +purse, madam; an adept needs not your gold.” + +Lady Bothwell, considering this rejection of her sister’s offer as a +mere trick of an empiric, to induce her to press a larger sum upon him, +and willing that the scene should be commenced and ended, offered some +gold in turn, observing that it was only to enlarge the sphere of his +charity. + +“Let Lady Bothwell enlarge the sphere of her own charity,” said the +Paduan, “not merely in giving of alms, in which I know she is not +deficient, but in judging the character of others; and let her oblige +Baptista Damiotti by believing him honest, till she shall discover him +to be a knave. Do not be surprised, madam, if I speak in answer to your +thoughts rather than your expressions; and tell me once more whether you +have courage to look on what I am prepared to show?” + +“I own, sir,” said Lady Bothwell, “that your words strike me with some +sense of fear; but whatever my sister desires to witness, I will not +shrink from witnessing along with her.” + +“Nay, the danger only consists in the risk of your resolution failing +you. The sight can only last for the space of seven minutes; and should +you interrupt the vision by speaking a single word, not only would the +charm be broken, but some danger might result to the spectators. But +if you can remain steadily silent for the seven minutes, your curiosity +will be gratified without the slightest risk; and for this I will engage +my honour.” + +Internally Lady Bothwell thought the security was but an indifferent +one; but she suppressed the suspicion, as if she had believed that the +adept, whose dark features wore a half-formed smile, could in reality +read even her most secret reflections. A solemn pause then ensued, until +Lady Forester gathered courage enough to reply to the physician, as he +termed himself, that she would abide with firmness and silence the sight +which he had promised to exhibit to them. Upon this, he made them a low +obeisance, and saying he went to prepare matters to meet their wish, +left the apartment. The two sisters, hand in hand, as if seeking by that +close union to divert any danger which might threaten them, sat down on +two seats in immediate contact with each other--Jemima seeking support +in the manly and habitual courage of Lady Bothwell; and she, on the +other hand, more agitated than she had expected, endeavouring to fortify +herself by the desperate resolution which circumstances had forced her +sister to assume. The one perhaps said to herself that her sister never +feared anything; and the other might reflect that what so feeble-minded +a woman as Jemima did not fear, could not properly be a subject of +apprehension to a person of firmness and resolution like her own. + +In a few moments the thoughts of both were diverted from their own +situation by a strain of music so singularly sweet and solemn that, +while it seemed calculated to avert or dispel any feeling unconnected +with its harmony, increased, at the same time, the solemn excitation +which the preceding interview was calculated to produce. The music +was that of some instrument with which they were unacquainted; but +circumstances afterwards led my ancestress to believe that it was that +of the harmonica, which she heard at a much later period in life. + +When these heaven-born sounds had ceased, a door opened in the upper end +of the apartment, and they saw Damiotti, standing at the head of two or +three steps, sign to them to advance. His dress was so different from +that which he had worn a few minutes before, that they could hardly +recognize him; and the deadly paleness of his countenance, and a certain +stern rigidity of muscles, like that of one whose mind is made up +to some strange and daring action, had totally changed the somewhat +sarcastic expression with which he had previously regarded them both, +and particularly Lady Bothwell. He was barefooted, excepting a species +of sandals in the antique fashion; his legs were naked beneath the +knees; above them he wore hose, and a doublet of dark crimson silk close +to his body; and over that a flowing loose robe, something resembling a +surplice, of snow-white linen. His throat and neck were uncovered, and +his long, straight, black hair was carefully combed down at full length. + +As the ladies approached at his bidding, he showed no gesture of that +ceremonious courtesy of which he had been formerly lavish. On the +contrary, he made the signal of advance with an air of command; and +when, arm in arm, and with insecure steps, the sisters approached the +spot where he stood, it was with a warning frown that he pressed his +finger to his lips, as if reiterating his condition of absolute silence, +while, stalking before them, he led the way into the next apartment. + +This was a large room, hung with black, as if for a funeral. At the +upper end was a table, or rather a species of altar, covered with the +same lugubrious colour, on which lay divers objects resembling the usual +implements of sorcery. These objects were not indeed visible as they +advanced into the apartment; for the light which displayed them, being +only that of two expiring lamps, was extremely faint. The master--to use +the Italian phrase for persons of this description--approached the upper +end of the room, with a genuflection like that of a Catholic to the +crucifix, and at the same time crossed himself. The ladies followed in +silence, and arm in arm. Two or three low broad steps led to a platform +in front of the altar, or what resembled such. Here the sage took his +stand, and placed the ladies beside him, once more earnestly repeating +by signs his injunctions of silence. The Italian then, extending his +bare arm from under his linen vestment, pointed with his forefinger to +five large flambeaux, or torches, placed on each side of the altar. They +took fire successively at the approach of his hand, or rather of his +finger, and spread a strong light through the room. By this the visitors +could discern that, on the seeming altar, were disposed two naked swords +laid crosswise; a large open book, which they conceived to be a copy of +the Holy Scriptures, but in a language to them unknown; and beside this +mysterious volume was placed a human skull. But what struck the sisters +most was a very tall and broad mirror, which occupied all the space +behind the altar, and, illumined by the lighted torches, reflected the +mysterious articles which were laid upon it. + +The master then placed himself between the two ladies, and, pointing to +the mirror, took each by the hand, but without speaking a syllable. They +gazed intently on the polished and sable space to which he had directed +their attention. Suddenly the surface assumed a new and singular +appearance. It no longer simply reflected the objects placed before it, +but, as if it had self-contained scenery of its own, objects began +to appear within it, at first in a disorderly, indistinct, and +miscellaneous manner, like form arranging itself out of chaos; at +length, in distinct and defined shape and symmetry. It was thus that, +after some shifting of light and darkness over the face of the wonderful +glass, a long perspective of arches and columns began to arrange itself +on its sides, and a vaulted roof on the upper part of it, till, after +many oscillations, the whole vision gained a fixed and stationary +appearance, representing the interior of a foreign church. The pillars +were stately, and hung with scutcheons; the arches were lofty and +magnificent; the floor was lettered with funeral inscriptions. But there +were no separate shrines, no images, no display of chalice or crucifix +on the altar. It was, therefore, a Protestant church upon the Continent. +A clergyman dressed in the Geneva gown and band stood by the communion +table, and, with the Bible opened before him, and his clerk awaiting in +the background, seemed prepared to perform some service of the church to +which he belonged. + +At length, there entered the middle aisle of the building a numerous +party, which appeared to be a bridal one, as a lady and gentleman walked +first, hand in hand, followed by a large concourse of persons of both +sexes, gaily, nay richly, attired. The bride, whose features they could +distinctly see, seemed not more than sixteen years old, and extremely +beautiful. The bridegroom, for some seconds, moved rather with his +shoulder towards them, and his face averted; but his elegance of form +and step struck the sisters at once with the same apprehension. As he +turned his face suddenly, it was frightfully realized, and they saw, in +the gay bridegroom before them, Sir Philip Forester. His wife uttered an +imperfect exclamation, at the sound of which the whole scene stirred and +seemed to separate. + +“I could compare it to nothing,” said Lady Bothwell, while recounting +the wonderful tale, “but to the dispersion of the reflection offered +by a deep and calm pool, when a stone is suddenly cast into it, and +the shadows become dissipated and broken.” The master pressed both the +ladies’ hands severely, as if to remind them of their promise, and +of the danger which they incurred. The exclamation died away on Lady +Forester’s tongue, without attaining perfect utterance, and the scene in +the glass, after the fluctuation of a minute, again resumed to the eye +its former appearance of a real scene, existing within the mirror, as if +represented in a picture, save that the figures were movable instead of +being stationary. + +The representation of Sir Philip Forester, now distinctly visible +in form and feature, was seen to lead on towards the clergyman that +beautiful girl, who advanced at once with diffidence and with a species +of affectionate pride. In the meantime, and just as the clergyman had +arranged the bridal company before him, and seemed about to commence the +service, another group of persons, of whom two or three were officers, +entered the church. They moved, at first, forward, as though they came +to witness the bridal ceremony; but suddenly one of the officers, whose +back was towards the spectators, detached himself from his companions, +and rushed hastily towards the marriage party, when the whole of them +turned towards him, as if attracted by some exclamation which had +accompanied his advance. Suddenly the intruder drew his sword; the +bridegroom unsheathed his own, and made towards him; swords were also +drawn by other individuals, both of the marriage party and of those who +had last entered. They fell into a sort of confusion, the clergyman, and +some elder and graver persons, labouring apparently to keep the peace, +while the hotter spirits on both sides brandished their weapons. But +now, the period of the brief space during which the soothsayer, as he +pretended, was permitted to exhibit his art, was arrived. The fumes +again mixed together, and dissolved gradually from observation; the +vaults and columns of the church rolled asunder, and disappeared; and +the front of the mirror reflected nothing save the blazing torches and +the melancholy apparatus placed on the altar or table before it. + +The doctor led the ladies, who greatly required his support, into the +apartment from whence they came, where wine, essences, and other means +of restoring suspended animation, had been provided during his absence. +He motioned them to chairs, which they occupied in silence--Lady +Forester, in particular, wringing her hands, and casting her eyes up +to heaven, but without speaking a word, as if the spell had been still +before her eyes. + +“And what we have seen is even now acting?” said Lady Bothwell, +collecting herself with difficulty. + +“That,” answered Baptista Damiotti, “I cannot justly, or with certainty, +say. But it is either now acting, or has been acted during a short space +before this. It is the last remarkable transaction in which the Cavalier +Forester has been engaged.” + +Lady Bothwell then expressed anxiety concerning her sister, whose +altered countenance and apparent unconsciousness of what passed around +her excited her apprehensions how it might be possible to convey her +home. + +“I have prepared for that,” answered the adept. “I have directed the +servant to bring your equipage as near to this place as the narrowness +of the street will permit. Fear not for your sister, but give her, +when you return home, this composing draught, and she will be better +to-morrow morning. Few,” he added in a melancholy tone, “leave this +house as well in health as they entered it. Such being the consequence +of seeking knowledge by mysterious means, I leave you to judge the +condition of those who have the power of gratifying such irregular +curiosity. Farewell, and forget not the potion.” + +“I will give her nothing that comes from you,” said Lady Bothwell; “I +have seen enough of your art already. Perhaps you would poison us both +to conceal your own necromancy. But we are persons who want neither the +means of making our wrongs known, nor the assistance of friends to right +them.” + +“You have had no wrongs from me, madam,” said the adept. “You sought one +who is little grateful for such honour. He seeks no one, and only gives +responses to those who invite and call upon him. After all, you have +but learned a little sooner the evil which you must still be doomed to +endure. I hear your servant’s step at the door, and will detain your +ladyship and Lady Forester no longer. The next packet from the Continent +will explain what you have already partly witnessed. Let it not, if I +may advise, pass too suddenly into your sister’s hands.” + +So saying, he bid Lady Bothwell good-night. She went, lighted by the +adept, to the vestibule, where he hastily threw a black cloak over his +singular dress, and opening the door, entrusted his visitors to the care +of the servant. It was with difficulty that Lady Bothwell sustained her +sister to the carriage, though it was only twenty steps distant. When +they arrived at home, Lady Forester required medical assistance. The +physician of the family attended, and shook his head on feeling her +pulse. + +“Here has been,” he said, “a violent and sudden shock on the nerves. I +must know how it has happened.” + +Lady Bothwell admitted they had visited the conjurer, and that Lady +Forester had received some bad news respecting her husband, Sir Philip. + +“That rascally quack would make my fortune, were he to stay in +Edinburgh,” said the graduate; “this is the seventh nervous case I +have heard of his making for me, and all by effect of terror.” He next +examined the composing draught which Lady Bothwell had unconsciously +brought in her hand, tasted it, and pronounced it very germain to the +matter, and what would save an application to the apothecary. He then +paused, and looking at Lady Bothwell very significantly, at length +added, “I suppose I must not ask your ladyship anything about this +Italian warlock’s proceedings?” + +“Indeed, doctor,” answered Lady Bothwell, “I consider what passed as +confidential; and though the man may be a rogue, yet, as we were fools +enough to consult him, we should, I think, be honest enough to keep his +counsel.” + +“MAY be a knave! Come,” said the doctor, “I am glad to hear your +ladyship allows such a possibility in anything that comes from Italy.” + +“What comes from Italy may be as good as what comes from Hanover, +doctor. But you and I will remain good friends; and that it may be so, +we will say nothing of Whig and Tory.” + +“Not I,” said the doctor, receiving his fee, and taking his hat; “a +Carolus serves my purpose as well as a Willielmus. But I should like to +know why old Lady Saint Ringan, and all that set, go about wasting their +decayed lungs in puffing this foreign fellow.” + +“Ay--you had best set him down a Jesuit, as Scrub says.” On these terms +they parted. + +The poor patient--whose nerves, from an extraordinary state of tension, +had at length become relaxed in as extraordinary a degree--continued to +struggle with a sort of imbecility, the growth of superstitious terror, +when the shocking tidings were brought from Holland which fulfilled even +her worst expectations. + +They were sent by the celebrated Earl of Stair, and contained the +melancholy event of a duel betwixt Sir Philip Forester and his wife’s +half-brother, Captain Falconer, of the Scotch-Dutch, as they were +then called, in which the latter had been killed. The cause of quarrel +rendered the incident still more shocking. It seemed that Sir Philip +had left the army suddenly, in consequence of being unable to pay a very +considerable sum which he had lost to another volunteer at play. He had +changed his name, and taken up his residence at Rotterdam, where he +had insinuated himself into the good graces of an ancient and rich +burgomaster, and, by his handsome person and graceful manners, +captivated the affections of his only child, a very young person, +of great beauty, and the heiress of much wealth. Delighted with +the specious attractions of his proposed son-in-law, the wealthy +merchant--whose idea of the British character was too high to admit +of his taking any precaution to acquire evidence of his condition and +circumstances--gave his consent to the marriage. It was about to be +celebrated in the principal church of the city, when it was interrupted +by a singular occurrence. + +Captain Falconer having been detached to Rotterdam to bring up a part +of the brigade of Scottish auxiliaries, who were in quarters there, a +person of consideration in the town, to whom he had been formerly +known, proposed to him for amusement to go to the high church to see a +countryman of his own married to the daughter of a wealthy burgomaster. +Captain Falconer went accordingly, accompanied by his Dutch +acquaintance, with a party of his friends, and two or three officers of +the Scotch brigade. His astonishment may be conceived when he saw his +own brother-in-law, a married man, on the point of leading to the altar +the innocent and beautiful creature upon whom he was about to practise a +base and unmanly deceit. He proclaimed his villainy on the spot, and +the marriage was interrupted, of course. But against the opinion of +more thinking men, who considered Sir Philip Forester as having thrown +himself out of the rank of men of honour, Captain Falconer admitted +him to the privilege of such, accepted a challenge from him, and in +the rencounter received a mortal wound. Such are the ways of Heaven, +mysterious in our eyes. Lady Forester never recovered the shock of this +dismal intelligence. + + +“And did this tragedy,” said I, “take place exactly at the time when the +scene in the mirror was exhibited?” + +“It is hard to be obliged to maim one’s story,” answered my aunt, “but +to speak the truth, it happened some days sooner than the apparition was +exhibited.” + +“And so there remained a possibility,” said I, “that by some secret and +speedy communication the artist might have received early intelligence +of that incident.” + +“The incredulous pretended so,” replied my aunt. + +“What became of the adept?” demanded I. + +“Why, a warrant came down shortly afterwards to arrest him for high +treason, as an agent of the Chevalier St. George; and Lady Bothwell, +recollecting the hints which had escaped the doctor, an ardent friend +of the Protestant succession, did then call to remembrance that this +man was chiefly PRONE among the ancient matrons of her own political +persuasion. It certainly seemed probable that intelligence from the +Continent, which could easily have been transmitted by an active and +powerful agent, might have enabled him to prepare such a scene of +phantasmagoria as she had herself witnessed. Yet there were so many +difficulties in assigning a natural explanation, that, to the day of her +death, she remained in great doubt on the subject, and much disposed to +cut the Gordian knot by admitting the existence of supernatural agency.” + +“But, my dear aunt,” said I, “what became of the man of skill?” + +“Oh, he was too good a fortune-teller not to be able to foresee that his +own destiny would be tragical if he waited the arrival of the man with +the silver greyhound upon his sleeve. He made, as we say, a moonlight +flitting, and was nowhere to be seen or heard of. Some noise there was +about papers or letters found in the house; but it died away, and Doctor +Baptista Damiotti was soon as little talked of as Galen or Hippocrates.” + +“And Sir Philip Forester,” said I, “did he too vanish for ever from the +public scene?” + +“No,” replied my kind informer. “He was heard of once more, and it was +upon a remarkable occasion. It is said that we Scots, when there was +such a nation in existence, have, among our full peck of virtues, one +or two little barley-corns of vice. In particular, it is alleged that we +rarely forgive, and never forget, any injuries received--that we make an +idol of our resentment, as poor Lady Constance did of her grief, and are +addicted, as Burns says, to ‘nursing our wrath to keep it warm.’ Lady +Bothwell was not without this feeling; and, I believe, nothing whatever, +scarce the restoration of the Stewart line, could have happened so +delicious to her feelings as an opportunity of being revenged on Sir +Philip Forester for the deep and double injury which had deprived her +of a sister and of a brother. But nothing of him was heard or known till +many a year had passed away. + +“At length--it was on a Fastern’s E’en (Shrovetide) assembly, at which +the whole fashion of Edinburgh attended, full and frequent, and when +Lady Bothwell had a seat amongst the lady patronesses, that one of the +attendants on the company whispered into her ear that a gentleman wished +to speak with her in private. + +“‘In private? and in an assembly room?--he must be mad. Tell him to call +upon me to-morrow morning.’ + +“‘I said so, my lady,’ answered the man, ‘but he desired me to give you +this paper.’ + +“She undid the billet, which was curiously folded and sealed. It only +bore the words, ‘ON BUSINESS OF LIFE AND DEATH,’ written in a hand which +she had never seen before. Suddenly it occurred to her that it might +concern the safety of some of her political friends. She therefore +followed the messenger to a small apartment where the refreshments were +prepared, and from which the general company was excluded. She found +an old man, who, at her approach, rose up and bowed profoundly. His +appearance indicated a broken constitution, and his dress, though +sedulously rendered conforming to the etiquette of a ballroom, was +worn and tarnished, and hung in folds about his emaciated person. Lady +Bothwell was about to feel for her purse, expecting to get rid of the +supplicant at the expense of a little money, but some fear of a mistake +arrested her purpose. She therefore gave the man leisure to explain +himself. + +“‘I have the honour to speak with the Lady Bothwell?’ + +“‘I am Lady Bothwell; allow me to say that this is no time or place for +long explanations. What are your commands with me?’ + +“‘Your ladyship,’ said the old man, ‘had once a sister.’ + +“‘True; whom I loved as my own soul.’ + +“‘And a brother.’ + +“‘The bravest, the kindest, the most affectionate!’ said Lady Bothwell. + +“‘Both these beloved relatives you lost by the fault of an unfortunate +man,’ continued the stranger. + +“‘By the crime of an unnatural, bloody-minded murderer,’ said the lady. + +“‘I am answered,’ replied the old man, bowing, as if to withdraw. + +“‘Stop, sir, I command you,’ said Lady Bothwell. ‘Who are you that, at +such a place and time, come to recall these horrible recollections? I +insist upon knowing.’ + +“‘I am one who intends Lady Bothwell no injury, but, on the contrary, +to offer her the means of doing a deed of Christian charity, which the +world would wonder at, and which Heaven would reward; but I find her in +no temper for such a sacrifice as I was prepared to ask.’ + +“‘Speak out, sir; what is your meaning?’ said Lady Bothwell. + +“‘The wretch that has wronged you so deeply,’ rejoined the stranger, ‘is +now on his death-bed. His days have been days of misery, his nights +have been sleepless hours of anguish--yet he cannot die without your +forgiveness. His life has been an unremitting penance--yet he dares not +part from his burden while your curses load his soul.’ + +“‘Tell him,’ said Lady Bothwell sternly, ‘to ask pardon of that Being +whom he has so greatly offended, not of an erring mortal like himself. +What could my forgiveness avail him?’ + +“‘Much,’ answered the old man. ‘It will be an earnest of that which +he may then venture to ask from his Creator, lady, and from yours. +Remember, Lady Bothwell, you too have a death-bed to look forward +to; Your soul may--all human souls must--feel the awe of facing the +judgment-seat, with the wounds of an untented conscience, raw, and +rankling--what thought would it be then that should whisper, “I have +given no mercy, how then shall I ask it?”’ + +“‘Man, whosoever thou mayest be,’ replied Lady Bothwell, ‘urge me not so +cruelly. It would be but blasphemous hypocrisy to utter with my lips the +words which every throb of my heart protests against. They would open +the earth and give to light the wasted form of my sister, the bloody +form of my murdered brother. Forgive him?--never, never!’ + +“‘Great God!’ cried the old man, holding up his hands, ‘is it thus the +worms which Thou hast called out of dust obey the commands of their +Maker? Farewell, proud and unforgiving woman. Exult that thou hast added +to a death in want and pain the agonies of religious despair; but never +again mock Heaven by petitioning for the pardon which thou hast refused +to grant.’ + +“He was turning from her. + +“‘Stop,’ she exclaimed; ‘I will try--yes, I will try to pardon him.’ + +“‘Gracious lady,’ said the old man, ‘you will relieve the over-burdened +soul which dare not sever itself from its sinful companion of earth +without being at peace with you. What do I know--your forgiveness may +perhaps preserve for penitence the dregs of a wretched life.’ + +“‘Ha!’ said the lady, as a sudden light broke on her, ‘it is the villain +himself!’ And grasping Sir Philip Forester--for it was he, and no +other--by the collar, she raised a cry of ‘Murder, murder! seize the +murderer!’ + +“At an exclamation so singular, in such a place, the company thronged +into the apartment; but Sir Philip Forester was no longer there. He had +forcibly extricated himself from Lady Bothwell’s hold, and had run out +of the apartment, which opened on the landing-place of the stair. There +seemed no escape in that direction, for there were several persons +coming up the steps, and others descending. But the unfortunate man was +desperate. He threw himself over the balustrade, and alighted safely in +the lobby, though a leap of fifteen feet at least, then dashed into +the street, and was lost in darkness. Some of the Bothwell family made +pursuit, and had they come up with the fugitive they might perhaps have +slain him; for in those days men’s blood ran warm in their veins. But +the police did not interfere, the matter most criminal having happened +long since, and in a foreign land. Indeed it was always thought that +this extraordinary scene originated in a hypocritical experiment, by +which Sir Philip desired to ascertain whether he might return to his +native country in safety from the resentment of a family which he had +injured so deeply. As the result fell out so contrary to his wishes, he +is believed to have returned to the Continent, and there died in exile.” + +So closed the tale of the MYSTERIOUS MIRROR. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg’s My Aunt Margaret’s Mirror, by Sir Walter Scott + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MY AUNT MARGARET’S MIRROR *** + +***** This file should be named 1667-0.txt or 1667-0.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1667/ + +Produced by An Anonymous Volunteer + +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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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/1667-0.zip b/1667-0.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..120a93f --- /dev/null +++ b/1667-0.zip diff --git a/1667-h.zip b/1667-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..389ee0f --- /dev/null +++ b/1667-h.zip diff --git a/1667-h/1667-h.htm b/1667-h/1667-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d9e9c5a --- /dev/null +++ b/1667-h/1667-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,2052 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en"> + <head> + <title> + My Aunt Margaret's Mirror, by Sir Walter Scott + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd7; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of My Aunt Margaret's Mirror, by Sir Walter Scott + +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: My Aunt Margaret's Mirror + From Short Stories Published in "The Keepsake Annual" of 1828 + +Author: Sir Walter Scott + +Release Date: October 23, 2008 [EBook #1667] +Last Updated: August 31, 2016 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MY AUNT MARGARET'S MIRROR *** + + + + +Produced by An Anonymous Volunteer, and David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h1> + MY AUNT MARGARET’S MIRROR + </h1> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + by Sir Walter Scott + </h2> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h4> + From Short Stories <br /> Published in “The Keepsake Annual” of 1828 + </h4> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h3> + Contents + </h3> + <table summary=""> + <tr> + <td> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_INTR"> INTRODUCTION. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0002"> AUNT MARGARET’S MIRROR. </a> + </p> + <br /> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0003"> <b>THE MIRROR.</b> </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0001"> CHAPTER I. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0002"> CHAPTER II. </a> + </p> + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2H_INTR" id="link2H_INTR"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <h2> + INTRODUCTION. + </h2> + <p> + The species of publication which has come to be generally known by the + title of ANNUAL, being a miscellany of prose and verse, equipped with + numerous engravings, and put forth every year about Christmas, had + flourished for a long while in Germany before it was imitated in this + country by an enterprising bookseller, a German by birth, Mr. Ackermann. + The rapid success of his work, as is the custom of the time, gave birth to + a host of rivals, and, among others, to an Annual styled The Keepsake, the + first volume of which appeared in 1828, and attracted much notice, chiefly + in consequence of the very uncommon splendour of its illustrative + accompaniments. The expenditure which the spirited proprietors lavished on + this magnificent volume is understood to have been not less than from ten + to twelve thousand pounds sterling! + </p> + <p> + Various gentlemen of such literary reputation that any one might think it + an honour to be associated with them had been announced as contributors to + this Annual, before application was made to me to assist in it; and I + accordingly placed with much pleasure at the Editor’s disposal a few + fragments, originally designed to have been worked into the Chronicles of + the Canongate, besides a manuscript drama, the long-neglected performance + of my youthful days—“The House of Aspen.” + </p> + <p> + The Keepsake for 1828 included, however, only three of these little prose + tales, of which the first in order was that entitled “My Aunt Margaret’s + Mirror.” By way of INTRODUCTION to this, when now included in a general + collection of my lucubrations, I have only to say that it is a mere + transcript, or at least with very little embellishment, of a story that I + remembered being struck with in my childhood, when told at the fireside by + a lady of eminent virtues and no inconsiderable share of talent, one of + the ancient and honourable house of Swinton. She was a kind of relation of + my own, and met her death in a manner so shocking—being killed, in a + fit of insanity, by a female attendant who had been attached to her person + for half a lifetime—that I cannot now recall her memory, child as I + was when the catastrophe occurred, without a painful reawakening of + perhaps the first images of horror that the scenes of real life stamped on + my mind. + </p> + <p> + This good spinster had in her composition a strong vein of the + superstitious, and was pleased, among other fancies, to read alone in her + chamber by a taper fixed in a candlestick which she had had formed out of + a human skull. One night this strange piece of furniture acquired suddenly + the power of locomotion, and, after performing some odd circles on her + chimney-piece, fairly leaped on the floor, and continued to roll about the + apartment. Mrs. Swinton calmly proceeded to the adjoining room for another + light, and had the satisfaction to penetrate the mystery on the spot. Rats + abounded in the ancient building she inhabited, and one of these had + managed to ensconce itself within her favourite MEMENTO MORI. Though thus + endowed with a more than feminine share of nerve, she entertained largely + that belief in supernaturals which in those times was not considered as + sitting ungracefully on the grave and aged of her condition; and the story + of the Magic Mirror was one for which she vouched with particular + confidence, alleging indeed that one of her own family had been an + eye-witness of the incidents recorded in it. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “I tell the tale as it was told to me.” + </pre> + <p> + Stories enow of much the same cast will present themselves to the + recollection of such of my readers as have ever dabbled in a species of + lore to which I certainly gave more hours, at one period of my life, than + I should gain any credit by confessing. + </p> + <p> + AUGUST 1831. <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2H_4_0002" id="link2H_4_0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <h3> + AUNT MARGARET’S MIRROR. + </h3> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “There are times + When Fancy plays her gambols, in despite + Even of our watchful senses—when in sooth + Substance seems shadow, shadow substance seems— + When the broad, palpable, and mark’d partition + ‘Twixt that which is and is not seems dissolved, + As if the mental eye gain’d power to gaze + Beyond the limits of the existing world. + Such hours of shadowy dreams I better love + Than all the gross realities of life.” ANONYMOUS. + </pre> + <p> + My Aunt Margaret was one of that respected sisterhood upon whom devolve + all the trouble and solicitude incidental to the possession of children, + excepting only that which attends their entrance into the world. We were a + large family, of very different dispositions and constitutions. Some were + dull and peevish—they were sent to Aunt Margaret to be amused; some + were rude, romping, and boisterous—they were sent to Aunt Margaret + to be kept quiet, or rather that their noise might be removed out of + hearing; those who were indisposed were sent with the prospect of being + nursed; those who were stubborn, with the hope of their being subdued by + the kindness of Aunt Margaret’s discipline;—in short, she had all + the various duties of a mother, without the credit and dignity of the + maternal character. The busy scene of her various cares is now over. Of + the invalids and the robust, the kind and the rough, the peevish and + pleased children, who thronged her little parlour from morning to night, + not one now remains alive but myself, who, afflicted by early infirmity, + was one of the most delicate of her nurslings, yet, nevertheless, have + outlived them all. + </p> + <p> + It is still my custom, and shall be so while I have the use of my limbs, + to visit my respected relation at least three times a week. Her abode is + about half a mile from the suburbs of the town in which I reside, and is + accessible, not only by the highroad, from which it stands at some + distance, but by means of a greensward footpath leading through some + pretty meadows. I have so little left to torment me in life, that it is + one of my greatest vexations to know that several of these sequestered + fields have been devoted as sites for building. In that which is nearest + the town, wheelbarrows have been at work for several weeks in such + numbers, that, I verily believe, its whole surface, to the depth of at + least eighteen inches, was mounted in these monotrochs at the same moment, + and in the act of being transported from one place to another. Huge + triangular piles of planks are also reared in different parts of the + devoted messuage; and a little group of trees that still grace the eastern + end, which rises in a gentle ascent, have just received warning to quit, + expressed by a daub of white paint, and are to give place to a curious + grove of chimneys. + </p> + <p> + It would, perhaps, hurt others in my situation to reflect that this little + range of pasturage once belonged to my father (whose family was of some + consideration in the world), and was sold by patches to remedy distresses + in which he involved himself in an attempt by commercial adventure to + redeem his diminished fortune. While the building scheme was in full + operation, this circumstance was often pointed out to me by the class of + friends who are anxious that no part of your misfortunes should escape + your observation. “Such pasture-ground!—lying at the very town’s end—in + turnips and potatoes, the parks would bring L20 per acre; and if leased + for building—oh, it was a gold mine! And all sold for an old song + out of the ancient possessor’s hands!” My comforters cannot bring me to + repine much on this subject. If I could be allowed to look back on the + past without interruption, I could willingly give up the enjoyment of + present income and the hope of future profit to those who have purchased + what my father sold. I regret the alteration of the ground only because it + destroys associations, and I would more willingly (I think) see the Earl’s + Closes in the hands of strangers, retaining their silvan appearance, than + know them for my own, if torn up by agriculture, or covered with + buildings. Mine are the sensations of poor Logan:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “The horrid plough has rased the green + Where yet a child I strayed; + The axe has fell’d the hawthorn screen, + The schoolboy’s summer shade.” + </pre> + <p> + I hope, however, the threatened devastation will not be consummated in my + day. Although the adventurous spirit of times short while since passed + gave rise to the undertaking, I have been encouraged to think that the + subsequent changes have so far damped the spirit of speculation that the + rest of the woodland footpath leading to Aunt Margaret’s retreat will be + left undisturbed for her time and mine. I am interested in this, for every + step of the way, after I have passed through the green already mentioned, + has for me something of early remembrance:—There is the stile at + which I can recollect a cross child’s-maid upbraiding me with my infirmity + as she lifted me coarsely and carelessly over the flinty steps, which my + brothers traversed with shout and bound. I remember the suppressed + bitterness of the moment, and, conscious of my own inferiority, the + feeling of envy with which I regarded the easy movements and elastic steps + of my more happily formed brethren. Alas! these goodly barks have all + perished on life’s wide ocean, and only that which seemed so little + seaworthy, as the naval phrase goes, has reached the port when the tempest + is over. Then there is the pool, where, manoeuvring our little navy, + constructed out of the broad water-flags, my elder brother fell in, and + was scarce saved from the watery element to die under Nelson’s banner. + There is the hazel copse also, in which my brother Henry used to gather + nuts, thinking little that he was to die in an Indian jungle in quest of + rupees. + </p> + <p> + There is so much more of remembrance about the little walk, that—as + I stop, rest on my crutch-headed cane, and look round with that species of + comparison between the thing I was and that which I now am—it almost + induces me to doubt my own identity; until I find myself in face of the + honeysuckle porch of Aunt Margaret’s dwelling, with its irregularity of + front, and its odd, projecting latticed windows, where the workmen seem to + have made it a study that no one of them should resemble another in form, + size, or in the old-fashioned stone entablature and labels which adorn + them. This tenement, once the manor house of the Earl’s Closes, we still + retain a slight hold upon; for, in some family arrangements, it had been + settled upon Aunt Margaret during the term of her life. Upon this frail + tenure depends, in a great measure, the last shadow of the family of + Bothwell of Earl’s Closes, and their last slight connection with their + paternal inheritance. The only representative will then be an infirm old + man, moving not unwillingly to the grave, which has devoured all that were + dear to his affections. + </p> + <p> + When I have indulged such thoughts for a minute or two, I enter the + mansion, which is said to have been the gate-house only of the original + building, and find one being on whom time seems to have made little + impression; for the Aunt Margaret of to-day bears the same proportional + age to the Aunt Margaret of my early youth that the boy of ten years old + does to the man of (by’r Lady!) some fifty-six years. The old lady’s + invariable costume has doubtless some share in confirming one in the + opinion that time has stood still with Aunt Margaret. + </p> + <p> + The brown or chocolate-coloured silk gown, with ruffles of the same stuff + at the elbow, within which are others of Mechlin lace; the black silk + gloves, or mitts; the white hair combed back upon a roll; and the cap of + spotless cambric, which closes around the venerable countenance—as + they were not the costume of 1780, so neither were they that of 1826; they + are altogether a style peculiar to the individual Aunt Margaret. There she + still sits, as she sat thirty years since, with her wheel or the stocking, + which she works by the fire in winter and by the window in summer; or, + perhaps, venturing as far as the porch in an unusually fine summer + evening. Her frame, like some well-constructed piece of mechanics, still + performs the operations for which it had seemed destined—going its + round with an activity which is gradually diminished, yet indicating no + probability that it will soon come to a period. + </p> + <p> + The solicitude and affection which had made Aunt Margaret the willing + slave to the inflictions of a whole nursery, have now for their object the + health and comfort of one old and infirm man—the last remaining + relative of her family, and the only one who can still find interest in + the traditional stores which she hoards, as some miser hides the gold + which he desires that no one should enjoy after his death. + </p> + <p> + My conversation with Aunt Margaret generally relates little either to the + present or to the future. For the passing day we possess as much as we + require, and we neither of us wish for more; and for that which is to + follow, we have, on this side of the grave, neither hopes, nor fears, nor + anxiety. We therefore naturally look back to the past, and forget the + present fallen fortunes and declined importance of our family in recalling + the hours when it was wealthy and prosperous. + </p> + <p> + With this slight introduction, the reader will know as much of Aunt + Margaret and her nephew as is necessary to comprehend the following + conversation and narrative. + </p> + <p> + Last week, when, late in a summer evening, I went to call on the old lady + to whom my reader is now introduced, I was received by her with all her + usual affection and benignity, while, at the same time, she seemed + abstracted and disposed to silence. I asked her the reason. “They have + been clearing out the old chapel,” she said; “John Clayhudgeons having, it + seems, discovered that the stuff within—being, I suppose, the + remains of our ancestors—was excellent for top-dressing the + meadows.” + </p> + <p> + Here I started up with more alacrity than I have displayed for some years; + but sat down while my aunt added, laying her hand upon my sleeve, “The + chapel has been long considered as common ground, my dear, and used for a + pinfold, and what objection can we have to the man for employing what is + his own to his own profit? Besides, I did speak to him, and he very + readily and civilly promised that if he found bones or monuments, they + should be carefully respected and reinstated; and what more could I ask? + So, the first stone they found bore the name of Margaret Bothwell, 1585, + and I have caused it to be laid carefully aside, as I think it betokens + death, and having served my namesake two hundred years, it has just been + cast up in time to do me the same good turn. My house has been long put in + order, as far as the small earthly concerns require it; but who shall say + that their account with, Heaven is sufficiently revised?” + </p> + <p> + “After what you have said, aunt,” I replied, “perhaps I ought to take my + hat and go away; and so I should, but that there is on this occasion a + little alloy mingled with your devotion. To think of death at all times is + a duty—to suppose it nearer from the finding an old gravestone is + superstition; and you, with your strong, useful common sense, which was so + long the prop of a fallen family, are the last person whom I should have + suspected of such weakness.” + </p> + <p> + “Neither would I deserve your suspicions, kinsman,” answered Aunt + Margaret, “if we were speaking of any incident occurring in the actual + business of human life. But for all this, I have a sense of superstition + about me, which I do not wish to part with. It is a feeling which + separates me from this age, and links me with that to which I am + hastening; and even when it seems, as now, to lead me to the brink of the + grave, and bid me gaze on it, I do not love that it should be dispelled. + It soothes my imagination, without influencing my reason or conduct.” + </p> + <p> + “I profess, my good lady,” replied I, “that had any one but you made such + a declaration, I should have thought it as capricious as that of the + clergyman, who, without vindicating his false reading, preferred, from + habit’s sake, his old Mumpsimus to the modern Sumpsimus.” + </p> + <p> + “Well,” answered my aunt, “I must explain my inconsistency in this + particular by comparing it to another. I am, as you know, a piece of that + old-fashioned thing called a Jacobite; but I am so in sentiment and + feeling only, for a more loyal subject never joined in prayers for the + health and wealth of George the Fourth, whom God long preserve! But I dare + say that kind-hearted sovereign would not deem that an old woman did him + much injury if she leaned back in her arm-chair, just in such a twilight + as this, and thought of the high-mettled men whose sense of duty called + them to arms against his grandfather; and how, in a cause which they + deemed that of their rightful prince and country, + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + ‘They fought till their hand to the broadsword was glued, + They fought against fortune with hearts unsubdued.’ +</pre> + <p> + Do not come at such a moment, when my head is full of plaids, pibrochs, + and claymores, and ask my reason to admit what, I am afraid, it cannot + deny—I mean, that the public advantage peremptorily demanded that + these things should cease to exist. I cannot, indeed, refuse to allow the + justice of your reasoning; but yet, being convinced against my will, you + will gain little by your motion. You might as well read to an infatuated + lover the catalogue of his mistress’s imperfections; for when he has been + compelled to listen to the summary, you will only get for answer that ‘he + lo’es her a’ the better.’” + </p> + <p> + I was not sorry to have changed the gloomy train of Aunt Margaret’s + thoughts, and replied in the same tone, “Well, I can’t help being + persuaded that our good King is the more sure of Mrs. Bothwell’s loyal + affection, that he has the Stewart right of birth as well as the Act of + Succession in his favour.” + </p> + <p> + “Perhaps my attachment, were its source of consequence, might be found + warmer for the union of the rights you mention,” said Aunt Margaret; “but, + upon my word, it would be as sincere if the King’s right were founded only + on the will of the nation, as declared at the Revolution. I am none of + your JURE DIVINO folks.” + </p> + <p> + “And a Jacobite notwithstanding.” + </p> + <p> + “And a Jacobite notwithstanding—or rather, I will give you leave to + call me one of the party which, in Queen Anne’s time, were called, + WHIMSICALS, because they were sometimes operated upon by feelings, + sometimes by principle. After all, it is very hard that you will not allow + an old woman to be as inconsistent in her political sentiments as mankind + in general show themselves in all the various courses of life; since you + cannot point out one of them in which the passions and prejudices of those + who pursue it are not perpetually carrying us away from the path which our + reason points out.” + </p> + <p> + “True, aunt; but you are a wilful wanderer, who should be forced back into + the right path.” + </p> + <p> + “Spare me, I entreat you,” replied Aunt Margaret. “You remember the Gaelic + song, though I dare say I mispronounce the words— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + ‘Hatil mohatil, na dowski mi.’ + (I am asleep, do not waken me.) +</pre> + <p> + I tell you, kinsman, that the sort of waking dreams which my imagination + spins out, in what your favourite Wordsworth calls ‘moods of my own mind,’ + are worth all the rest of my more active days. Then, instead of looking + forwards, as I did in youth, and forming for myself fairy palaces, upon + the verge of the grave I turn my eyes backward upon the days and manners + of my better time; and the sad, yet soothing recollections come so close + and interesting, that I almost think it sacrilege to be wiser or more + rational or less prejudiced than those to whom I looked up in my younger + years.” + </p> + <p> + “I think I now understand what you mean,” I answered, “and can comprehend + why you should occasionally prefer the twilight of illusion to the steady + light of reason.” + </p> + <p> + “Where there is no task,” she rejoined, “to be performed, we may sit in + the dark if we like it; if we go to work, we must ring for candles.” + </p> + <p> + “And amidst such shadowy and doubtful light,” continued I, “imagination + frames her enchanted and enchanting visions, and sometimes passes them + upon the senses for reality.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said Aunt Margaret, who is a well-read woman, “to those who + resemble the translator of Tasso,— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + ‘Prevailing poet, whose undoubting mind + Believed the magic wonders which he sung. +</pre> + <p> + It is not required for this purpose that you should be sensible of the + painful horrors which an actual belief in such prodigies inflicts. Such a + belief nowadays belongs only to fools and children. It is not necessary + that your ears should tingle and your complexion change, like that of + Theodore at the approach of the spectral huntsman. All that is + indispensable for the enjoyment of the milder feeling of supernatural awe + is, that you should be susceptible of the slight shuddering which creeps + over you when you hear a tale of terror—that well-vouched tale which + the narrator, having first expressed his general disbelief of all such + legendary lore, selects and produces, as having something in it which he + has been always obliged to give up as inexplicable. Another symptom is a + momentary hesitation to look round you, when the interest of the narrative + is at the highest; and the third, a desire to avoid looking into a mirror + when you are alone in your chamber for the evening. I mean such are signs + which indicate the crisis, when a female imagination is in due temperature + to enjoy a ghost story. I do not pretend to describe those which express + the same disposition in a gentleman.” + </p> + <p> + “That last symptom, dear aunt, of shunning the mirror seems likely to be a + rare occurrence amongst the fair sex.” + </p> + <p> + “You are a novice in toilet fashions, my dear cousin. All women consult + the looking-glass with anxiety before they go into company; but when they + return home, the mirror has not the same charm. The die has been cast—the + party has been successful or unsuccessful in the impression which she + desired to make. But, without going deeper into the mysteries of the + dressing-table, I will tell you that I myself, like many other honest + folks, do not like to see the blank, black front of a large mirror in a + room dimly lighted, and where the reflection of the candle seems rather to + lose itself in the deep obscurity of the glass than to be reflected back + again into the apartment, That space of inky darkness seems to be a field + for Fancy to play her revels in. She may call up other features to meet + us, instead of the reflection of our own; or, as in the spells of + Hallowe’en, which we learned in childhood, some unknown form may be seen + peeping over our shoulder. In short, when I am in a ghost-seeing humour, I + make my handmaiden draw the green curtains over the mirror before I go + into the room, so that she may have the first shock of the apparition, if + there be any to be seen, But, to tell you the truth, this dislike to look + into a mirror in particular times and places has, I believe, its original + foundation in a story which came to me by tradition from my grandmother, + who was a party concerned in the scene of which I will now tell you.” + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2H_4_0003" id="link2H_4_0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <h1> + THE MIRROR. + </h1> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0001" id="link2HCH0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER I. + </h2> + <p> + You are fond (said my aunt) of sketches of the society which has passed + away. I wish I could describe to you Sir Philip Forester, the “chartered + libertine” of Scottish good company, about the end of the last century. I + never saw him indeed; but my mother’s traditions were full of his wit, + gallantry, and dissipation. This gay knight flourished about the end of + the seventeenth and beginning of the eighteenth century. He was the Sir + Charles Easy and the Lovelace of his day and country—renowned for + the number of duels he had fought, and the successful intrigues which he + had carried on. The supremacy which he had attained in the fashionable + world was absolute; and when we combine it with one or two anecdotes, for + which, “if laws were made for every degree,” he ought certainly to have + been hanged, the popularity of such a person really serves to show, either + that the present times are much more decent, if not more virtuous, than + they formerly were, or that high-breeding then was of more difficult + attainment than that which is now so called, and consequently entitled the + successful professor to a proportional degree of plenary indulgences and + privileges. No beau of this day could have borne out so ugly a story as + that of Pretty Peggy Grindstone, the miller’s daughter at Sillermills—it + had well-nigh made work for the Lord Advocate. But it hurt Sir Philip + Forester no more than the hail hurts the hearthstone. He was as well + received in society as ever, and dined with the Duke of A—— + the day the poor girl was buried. She died of heartbreak. But that has + nothing to do with my story. + </p> + <p> + Now, you must listen to a single word upon kith, kin, and ally; I promise + you I will not be prolix. But it is necessary to the authenticity of my + legend that you should know that Sir Philip Forester, with his handsome + person, elegant accomplishments, and fashionable manners, married the + younger Miss Falconer of King’s Copland. The elder sister of this lady had + previously become the wife of my grandfather, Sir Geoffrey Bothwell, and + brought into our family a good fortune. Miss Jemima, or Miss Jemmie + Falconer, as she was usually called, had also about ten thousand pounds + sterling—then thought a very handsome portion indeed. + </p> + <p> + The two sisters were extremely different, though each had their admirers + while they remained single. Lady Bothwell had some touch of the old King’s + Copland blood about her. She was bold, though not to the degree of + audacity, ambitious, and desirous to raise her house and family; and was, + as has been said, a considerable spur to my grandfather, who was otherwise + an indolent man, but whom, unless he has been slandered, his lady’s + influence involved in some political matters which had been more wisely + let alone. She was a woman of high principle, however, and masculine good + sense, as some of her letters testify, which are still in my wainscot + cabinet. + </p> + <p> + Jemmie Falconer was the reverse of her sister in every respect. Her + understanding did not reach above the ordinary pitch, if, indeed, she + could be said to have attained it. Her beauty, while it lasted, consisted, + in a great measure, of delicacy of complexion and regularity of features, + without any peculiar force of expression. Even these charms faded under + the sufferings attendant on an ill-assorted match. She was passionately + attached to her husband, by whom she was treated with a callous yet polite + indifference, which, to one whose heart was as tender as her judgment was + weak, was more painful perhaps than absolute ill-usage. Sir Philip was a + voluptuary—that is, a completely selfish egotist—whose + disposition and character resembled the rapier he wore, polished, keen, + and brilliant, but inflexible and unpitying. As he observed carefully all + the usual forms towards his lady, he had the art to deprive her even of + the compassion of the world; and useless and unavailing as that may be + while actually possessed by the sufferer, it is, to a mind like Lady + Forester’s, most painful to know she has it not. + </p> + <p> + The tattle of society did its best to place the peccant husband above the + suffering wife. Some called her a poor, spiritless thing, and declared + that, with a little of her sister’s spirit, she might have brought to + reason any Sir Philip whatsoever, were it the termagant Falconbridge + himself. But the greater part of their acquaintance affected candour, and + saw faults on both sides—though, in fact, there only existed the + oppressor and the oppressed. The tone of such critics was, “To be sure, no + one will justify Sir Philip Forester, but then we all know Sir Philip, and + Jemmie Falconer might have known what she had to expect from the + beginning. What made her set her cap at Sir Philip? He would never have + looked at her if she had not thrown herself at his head, with her poor ten + thousand pounds. I am sure, if it is money he wanted, she spoiled his + market. I know where Sir Philip could have done much better. And then, if + she WOULD have the man, could not she try to make him more comfortable at + home, and have his friends oftener, and not plague him with the squalling + children, and take care all was handsome and in good style about the + house? I declare I think Sir Philip would have made a very domestic man, + with a woman who knew how to manage him.” + </p> + <p> + Now these fair critics, in raising their profound edifice of domestic + felicity, did not recollect that the corner-stone was wanting, and that to + receive good company with good cheer, the means of the banquet ought to + have been furnished by Sir Philip, whose income (dilapidated as it was) + was not equal to the display of the hospitality required, and at the same + time to the supply of the good knight’s MENUS PLAISIRS. So, in spite of + all that was so sagely suggested by female friends, Sir Philip carried his + good-humour everywhere abroad, and left at home a solitary mansion and a + pining spouse. + </p> + <p> + At length, inconvenienced in his money affairs, and tired even of the + short time which he spent in his own dull house, Sir Philip Forester + determined to take a trip to the Continent, in the capacity of a + volunteer. It was then common for men of fashion to do so; and our knight + perhaps was of opinion that a touch of the military character, just enough + to exalt, but not render pedantic, his qualities as a BEAU GARCON, was + necessary to maintain possession of the elevated situation which he held + in the ranks of fashion. + </p> + <p> + Sir Philip’s resolution threw his wife into agonies of terror; by which + the worthy baronet was so much annoyed, that, contrary to his wont, he + took some trouble to soothe her apprehensions, and once more brought her + to shed tears, in which sorrow was not altogether unmingled with pleasure. + Lady Bothwell asked, as a favour, Sir Philip’s permission to receive her + sister and her family into her own house during his absence on the + Continent. Sir Philip readily assented to a proposition which saved + expense, silenced the foolish people who might have talked of a deserted + wife and family, and gratified Lady Bothwell, for whom he felt some + respect, as for one who often spoke to him, always with freedom and + sometimes with severity, without being deterred either by his raillery or + the PRESTIGE of his reputation. + </p> + <p> + A day or two before Sir Philip’s departure, Lady Bothwell took the liberty + of asking him, in her sister’s presence, the direct question, which his + timid wife had often desired, but never ventured, to put to him:— + </p> + <p> + “Pray, Sir Philip, what route do you take when you reach the Continent?” + </p> + <p> + “I go from Leith to Helvoet by a packet with advices.” + </p> + <p> + “That I comprehend perfectly,” said Lady Bothwell dryly; “but you do not + mean to remain long at Helvoet, I presume, and I should like to know what + is your next object.” + </p> + <p> + “You ask me, my dear lady,” answered Sir Philip, “a question which I have + not dared to ask myself. The answer depends on the fate of war. I shall, + of course, go to headquarters, wherever they may happen to be for the + time; deliver my letters of introduction; learn as much of the noble art + of war as may suffice a poor interloping amateur; and then take a glance + at the sort of thing of which we read so much in the Gazette.” + </p> + <p> + “And I trust, Sir Philip,” said Lady Bothwell, “that you will remember + that you are a husband and a father; and that, though you think fit to + indulge this military fancy, you will not let it hurry you into dangers + which it is certainly unnecessary for any save professional persons to + encounter.” + </p> + <p> + “Lady Bothwell does me too much honour,” replied the adventurous knight, + “in regarding such a circumstance with the slightest interest. But to + soothe your flattering anxiety, I trust your ladyship will recollect that + I cannot expose to hazard the venerable and paternal character which you + so obligingly recommend to my protection, without putting in some peril an + honest fellow, called Philip Forester, with whom I have kept company for + thirty years, and with whom, though some folks consider him a coxcomb, I + have not the least desire to part.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, Sir Philip, you are the best judge of your own affairs. I have + little right to interfere—you are not my husband.” + </p> + <p> + “God forbid!” said Sir Philip hastily; instantly adding, however, “God + forbid that I should deprive my friend Sir Geoffrey of so inestimable a + treasure.” + </p> + <p> + “But you are my sister’s husband,” replied the lady; “and I suppose you + are aware of her present distress of mind—” + </p> + <p> + “If hearing of nothing else from morning to night can make me aware of + it,” said Sir Philip, “I should know something of the matter.” + </p> + <p> + “I do not pretend to reply to your wit, Sir Philip,” answered Lady + Bothwell; “but you must be sensible that all this distress is on account + of apprehensions for your personal safety.” + </p> + <p> + “In that case, I am surprised that Lady Bothwell, at least, should give + herself so much trouble upon so insignificant a subject.” + </p> + <p> + “My sister’s interest may account for my being anxious to learn something + of Sir Philip Forester’s motions; about which, otherwise, I know he would + not wish me to concern myself. I have a brother’s safety too to be anxious + for.” + </p> + <p> + “You mean Major Falconer, your brother by the mother’s side? What can he + possibly have to do with our present agreeable conversation?” + </p> + <p> + “You have had words together, Sir Philip,” said Lady Bothwell. + </p> + <p> + “Naturally; we are connections,” replied Sir Philip, “and as such have + always had the usual intercourse.” + </p> + <p> + “That is an evasion of the subject,” answered the lady. “By words, I mean + angry words, on the subject of your usage of your wife.” + </p> + <p> + “If,” replied Sir Philip Forester, “you suppose Major Falconer simple + enough to intrude his advice upon me, Lady Bothwell, in my domestic + matters, you are indeed warranted in believing that I might possibly be so + far displeased with the interference as to request him to reserve his + advice till it was asked.” + </p> + <p> + “And being on these terms, you are going to join the very army in which my + brother Falconer is now serving?” + </p> + <p> + “No man knows the path of honour better than Major Falconer,” said Sir + Philip. “An aspirant after fame, like me, cannot choose a better guide + than his footsteps.” + </p> + <p> + Lady Bothwell rose and went to the window, the tears gushing from her + eyes. + </p> + <p> + “And this heartless raillery,” she said, “is all the consideration that is + to be given to our apprehensions of a quarrel which may bring on the most + terrible consequences? Good God! of what can men’s hearts be made, who can + thus dally with the agony of others?” + </p> + <p> + Sir Philip Forester was moved; he laid aside the mocking tone in which he + had hitherto spoken. + </p> + <p> + “Dear Lady Bothwell,” he said, taking her reluctant hand, “we are both + wrong. You are too deeply serious; I, perhaps, too little so. The dispute + I had with Major Falconer was of no earthly consequence. Had anything + occurred betwixt us that ought to have been settled PAR VOIE DU FAIT, as + we say in France, neither of us are persons that are likely to postpone + such a meeting. Permit me to say, that were it generally known that you or + my Lady Forester are apprehensive of such a catastrophe, it might be the + very means of bringing about what would not otherwise be likely to happen. + I know your good sense, Lady Bothwell, and that you will understand me + when I say that really my affairs require my absence for some months. This + Jemima cannot understand. It is a perpetual recurrence of questions, why + can you not do this, or that, or the third thing? and, when you have + proved to her that her expedients are totally ineffectual, you have just + to begin the whole round again. Now, do you tell her, dear Lady Bothwell, + that YOU are satisfied. She is, you must confess, one of those persons + with whom authority goes farther than reasoning. Do but repose a little + confidence in me, and you shall see how amply I will repay it.” + </p> + <p> + Lady Bothwell shook her head, as one but half satisfied. “How difficult it + is to extend confidence, when the basis on which it ought to rest has been + so much shaken! But I will do my best to make Jemima easy; and further, I + can only say that for keeping your present purpose I hold you responsible + both to God and man.” + </p> + <p> + “Do not fear that I will deceive you,” said Sir Philip. “The safest + conveyance to me will be through the general post-office, Helvoetsluys, + where I will take care to leave orders for forwarding my letters. As for + Falconer, our only encounter will be over a bottle of Burgundy; so make + yourself perfectly easy on his score.” + </p> + <p> + Lady Bothwell could NOT make herself easy; yet she was sensible that her + sister hurt her own cause by TAKING ON, as the maidservants call it, too + vehemently, and by showing before every stranger, by manner, and sometimes + by words also, a dissatisfaction with her husband’s journey that was sure + to come to his ears, and equally certain to displease him. But there was + no help for this domestic dissension, which ended only with the day of + separation. + </p> + <p> + I am sorry I cannot tell, with precision, the year in which Sir Philip + Forester went over to Flanders; but it was one of those in which the + campaign opened with extraordinary fury, and many bloody, though + indecisive, skirmishes were fought between the French on the one side and + the Allies on the other. In all our modern improvements, there are none, + perhaps, greater than in the accuracy and speed with which intelligence is + transmitted from any scene of action to those in this country whom it may + concern. During Marlborough’s campaigns, the sufferings of the many who + had relations in, or along with, the army were greatly augmented by the + suspense in which they were detained for weeks after they had heard of + bloody battles, in which, in all probability, those for whom their bosoms + throbbed with anxiety had been personally engaged. Amongst those who were + most agonized by this state of uncertainty was the—I had almost said + deserted—wife of the gay Sir Philip Forester. A single letter had + informed her of his arrival on the Continent; no others were received. One + notice occurred in the newspapers, in which Volunteer Sir Philip Forester + was mentioned as having been entrusted with a dangerous reconnaissance, + which he had executed with the greatest courage, dexterity, and + intelligence, and received the thanks of the commanding officer. The sense + of his having acquired distinction brought a momentary glow into the + lady’s pale cheek; but it was instantly lost in ashen whiteness at the + recollection of his danger. After this, they had no news whatever, neither + from Sir Philip, nor even from their brother Falconer. The case of Lady + Forester was not indeed different from that of hundreds in the same + situation; but a feeble mind is necessarily an irritable one, and the + suspense which some bear with constitutional indifference or philosophical + resignation, and some with a disposition to believe and hope the best, was + intolerable to Lady Forester, at once solitary and sensitive, + low-spirited, and devoid of strength of mind, whether natural or acquired. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0002" id="link2HCH0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER II. + </h2> + <p> + As she received no further news of Sir Philip, whether directly or + indirectly, his unfortunate lady began now to feel a sort of consolation + even in those careless habits which had so often given her pain. “He is so + thoughtless,” she repeated a hundred times a day to her sister, “he never + writes when things are going on smoothly. It is his way. Had anything + happened, he would have informed us.” + </p> + <p> + Lady Bothwell listened to her sister without attempting to console her. + Probably she might be of opinion that even the worst intelligence which + could be received from Flanders might not be without some touch of + consolation; and that the Dowager Lady Forester, if so she was doomed to + be called, might have a source of happiness unknown to the wife of the + gayest and finest gentleman in Scotland. This conviction became stronger + as they learned from inquiries made at headquarters that Sir Philip was no + longer with the army—though whether he had been taken or slain in + some of those skirmishes which were perpetually occurring, and in which he + loved to distinguish himself, or whether he had, for some unknown reason + or capricious change of mind, voluntarily left the service, none of his + countrymen in the camp of the Allies could form even a conjecture. + Meantime his creditors at home became clamorous, entered into possession + of his property, and threatened his person, should he be rash enough to + return to Scotland. These additional disadvantages aggravated Lady + Bothwell’s displeasure against the fugitive husband; while her sister saw + nothing in any of them, save what tended to increase her grief for the + absence of him whom her imagination now represented—as it had before + marriage—gallant, gay, and affectionate. + </p> + <p> + About this period there appeared in Edinburgh a man of singular appearance + and pretensions. He was commonly called the Paduan Doctor, from having + received his education at that famous university. He was supposed to + possess some rare receipts in medicine, with which, it was affirmed, he + had wrought remarkable cures. But though, on the one hand, the physicians + of Edinburgh termed him an empiric, there were many persons, and among + them some of the clergy, who, while they admitted the truth of the cures + and the force of his remedies, alleged that Doctor Baptista Damiotti made + use of charms and unlawful arts in order to obtain success in his + practice. The resorting to him was even solemnly preached against, as a + seeking of health from idols, and a trusting to the help which was to come + from Egypt. But the protection which the Paduan Doctor received from some + friends of interest and consequence enabled him to set these imputations + at defiance, and to assume, even in the city of Edinburgh, famed as it was + for abhorrence of witches and necromancers, the dangerous character of an + expounder of futurity. It was at length rumoured that, for a certain + gratification, which of course was not an inconsiderable one, Doctor + Baptista Damiotti could tell the fate of the absent, and even show his + visitors the personal form of their absent friends, and the action in + which they were engaged at the moment. This rumour came to the ears of + Lady Forester, who had reached that pitch of mental agony in which the + sufferer will do anything, or endure anything, that suspense may be + converted into certainty. + </p> + <p> + Gentle and timid in most cases, her state of mind made her equally + obstinate and reckless, and it was with no small surprise and alarm that + her sister, Lady Bothwell, heard her express a resolution to visit this + man of art, and learn from him the fate of her husband. Lady Bothwell + remonstrated on the improbability that such pretensions as those of this + foreigner could be founded in anything but imposture. + </p> + <p> + “I care not,” said the deserted wife, “what degree of ridicule I may + incur; if there be any one chance out of a hundred that I may obtain some + certainty of my husband’s fate, I would not miss that chance for whatever + else the world can offer me.” + </p> + <p> + Lady Bothwell next urged the unlawfulness of resorting to such sources of + forbidden knowledge. + </p> + <p> + “Sister,” replied the sufferer, “he who is dying of thirst cannot refrain + from drinking even poisoned water. She who suffers under suspense must + seek information, even were the powers which offer it unhallowed and + infernal. I go to learn my fate alone, and this very evening will I know + it; the sun that rises to-morrow shall find me, if not more happy, at + least more resigned.” + </p> + <p> + “Sister,” said Lady Bothwell, “if you are determined upon this wild step, + you shall not go alone. If this man be an impostor, you may be too much + agitated by your feelings to detect his villainy. If, which I cannot + believe, there be any truth in what he pretends, you shall not be exposed + alone to a communication of so extraordinary a nature. I will go with you, + if indeed you determine to go. But yet reconsider your project, and + renounce inquiries which cannot be prosecuted without guilt, and perhaps + without danger.” + </p> + <p> + Lady Forester threw herself into her sister’s arms, and, clasping her to + her bosom, thanked her a hundred times for the offer of her company, while + she declined with a melancholy gesture the friendly advice with which it + was accompanied. + </p> + <p> + When the hour of twilight arrived—which was the period when the + Paduan Doctor was understood to receive the visits of those who came to + consult with him—the two ladies left their apartments in the + Canongate of Edinburgh, having their dress arranged like that of women of + an inferior description, and their plaids disposed around their faces as + they were worn by the same class; for in those days of aristocracy the + quality of the wearer was generally indicated by the manner in which her + plaid was disposed, as well as by the fineness of its texture. It was Lady + Bothwell who had suggested this species of disguise, partly to avoid + observation as they should go to the conjurer’s house, and partly in order + to make trial of his penetration, by appearing before him in a feigned + character. Lady Forester’s servant, of tried fidelity, had been employed + by her to propitiate the Doctor by a suitable fee, and a story intimating + that a soldier’s wife desired to know the fate of her husband—a + subject upon which, in all probability, the sage was very frequently + consulted. + </p> + <p> + To the last moment, when the palace clock struck eight, Lady Bothwell + earnestly watched her sister, in hopes that she might retreat from her + rash undertaking; but as mildness, and even timidity, is capable at times + of vehement and fixed purposes, she found Lady Forester resolutely unmoved + and determined when the moment of departure arrived. Ill satisfied with + the expedition, but determined not to leave her sister at such a crisis, + Lady Bothwell accompanied Lady Forester through more than one obscure + street and lane, the servant walking before, and acting as their guide. At + length he suddenly turned into a narrow court, and knocked at an arched + door which seemed to belong to a building of some antiquity. It opened, + though no one appeared to act as porter; and the servant, stepping aside + from the entrance, motioned the ladies to enter. They had no sooner done + so than it shut, and excluded their guide. The two ladies found themselves + in a small vestibule, illuminated by a dim lamp, and having, when the door + was closed, no communication with the external light or air. The door of + an inner apartment, partly open, was at the farther side of the vestibule. + </p> + <p> + “We must not hesitate now, Jemima,” said Lady Bothwell, and walked + forwards into the inner room, where, surrounded by books, maps, + philosophical utensils, and other implements of peculiar shape and + appearance, they found the man of art. + </p> + <p> + There was nothing very peculiar in the Italian’s appearance. He had the + dark complexion and marked features of his country, seemed about fifty + years old, and was handsomely but plainly dressed in a full suit of black + clothes, which was then the universal costume of the medical profession. + Large wax-lights, in silver sconces, illuminated the apartment, which was + reasonably furnished. He rose as the ladies entered, and, notwithstanding + the inferiority of their dress, received them with the marked respect due + to their quality, and which foreigners are usually punctilious in + rendering to those to whom such honours are due. + </p> + <p> + Lady Bothwell endeavoured to maintain her proposed incognito, and, as the + Doctor ushered them to the upper end of the room, made a motion declining + his courtesy, as unfitted for their condition. “We are poor people, sir,” + she said; “only my sister’s distress has brought us to consult your + worship whether—” + </p> + <p> + He smiled as he interrupted her—“I am aware, madam, of your sister’s + distress, and its cause; I am aware, also, that I am honoured with a visit + from two ladies of the highest consideration—Lady Bothwell and Lady + Forester. If I could not distinguish them from the class of society which + their present dress would indicate, there would be small possibility of my + being able to gratify them by giving the information which they come to + seek.” + </p> + <p> + “I can easily understand—” said Lady Bothwell. + </p> + <p> + “Pardon my boldness to interrupt you, milady,” cried the Italian; “your + ladyship was about to say that you could easily understand that I had got + possession of your names by means of your domestic. But in thinking so, + you do injustice to the fidelity of your servant, and, I may add, to the + skill of one who is also not less your humble servant—Baptista + Damiotti.” + </p> + <p> + “I have no intention to do either, sir,” said Lady Bothwell, maintaining a + tone of composure, though somewhat surprised; “but the situation is + something new to me. If you know who we are, you also know, sir, what + brought us here.” + </p> + <p> + “Curiosity to know the fate of a Scottish gentleman of rank, now, or + lately, upon the Continent,” answered the seer. “His name is Il Cavaliero + Philippo Forester, a gentleman who has the honour to be husband to this + lady, and, with your ladyship’s permission for using plain language, the + misfortune not to value as it deserves that inestimable advantage.” + </p> + <p> + Lady Forester sighed deeply, and Lady Bothwell replied,— + </p> + <p> + “Since you know our object without our telling it, the only question that + remains is, whether you have the power to relieve my sister’s anxiety?” + </p> + <p> + “I have, madam,” answered the Paduan scholar; “but there is still a + previous inquiry. Have you the courage to behold with your own eyes what + the Cavaliero Philippo Forester is now doing? or will you take it on my + report?” + </p> + <p> + “That question my sister must answer for herself,” said Lady Bothwell. + </p> + <p> + “With my own eyes will I endure to see whatever you have power to show + me,” said Lady Forester, with the same determined spirit which had + stimulated her since her resolution was taken upon this subject. + </p> + <p> + “There may be danger in it.” + </p> + <p> + “If gold can compensate the risk,” said Lady Forester, taking out her + purse. + </p> + <p> + “I do not such things for the purpose of gain,” answered the foreigner; “I + dare not turn my art to such a purpose. If I take the gold of the wealthy, + it is but to bestow it on the poor; nor do I ever accept more than the sum + I have already received from your servant. Put up your purse, madam; an + adept needs not your gold.” + </p> + <p> + Lady Bothwell, considering this rejection of her sister’s offer as a mere + trick of an empiric, to induce her to press a larger sum upon him, and + willing that the scene should be commenced and ended, offered some gold in + turn, observing that it was only to enlarge the sphere of his charity. + </p> + <p> + “Let Lady Bothwell enlarge the sphere of her own charity,” said the + Paduan, “not merely in giving of alms, in which I know she is not + deficient, but in judging the character of others; and let her oblige + Baptista Damiotti by believing him honest, till she shall discover him to + be a knave. Do not be surprised, madam, if I speak in answer to your + thoughts rather than your expressions; and tell me once more whether you + have courage to look on what I am prepared to show?” + </p> + <p> + “I own, sir,” said Lady Bothwell, “that your words strike me with some + sense of fear; but whatever my sister desires to witness, I will not + shrink from witnessing along with her.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, the danger only consists in the risk of your resolution failing you. + The sight can only last for the space of seven minutes; and should you + interrupt the vision by speaking a single word, not only would the charm + be broken, but some danger might result to the spectators. But if you can + remain steadily silent for the seven minutes, your curiosity will be + gratified without the slightest risk; and for this I will engage my + honour.” + </p> + <p> + Internally Lady Bothwell thought the security was but an indifferent one; + but she suppressed the suspicion, as if she had believed that the adept, + whose dark features wore a half-formed smile, could in reality read even + her most secret reflections. A solemn pause then ensued, until Lady + Forester gathered courage enough to reply to the physician, as he termed + himself, that she would abide with firmness and silence the sight which he + had promised to exhibit to them. Upon this, he made them a low obeisance, + and saying he went to prepare matters to meet their wish, left the + apartment. The two sisters, hand in hand, as if seeking by that close + union to divert any danger which might threaten them, sat down on two + seats in immediate contact with each other—Jemima seeking support in + the manly and habitual courage of Lady Bothwell; and she, on the other + hand, more agitated than she had expected, endeavouring to fortify herself + by the desperate resolution which circumstances had forced her sister to + assume. The one perhaps said to herself that her sister never feared + anything; and the other might reflect that what so feeble-minded a woman + as Jemima did not fear, could not properly be a subject of apprehension to + a person of firmness and resolution like her own. + </p> + <p> + In a few moments the thoughts of both were diverted from their own + situation by a strain of music so singularly sweet and solemn that, while + it seemed calculated to avert or dispel any feeling unconnected with its + harmony, increased, at the same time, the solemn excitation which the + preceding interview was calculated to produce. The music was that of some + instrument with which they were unacquainted; but circumstances afterwards + led my ancestress to believe that it was that of the harmonica, which she + heard at a much later period in life. + </p> + <p> + When these heaven-born sounds had ceased, a door opened in the upper end + of the apartment, and they saw Damiotti, standing at the head of two or + three steps, sign to them to advance. His dress was so different from that + which he had worn a few minutes before, that they could hardly recognize + him; and the deadly paleness of his countenance, and a certain stern + rigidity of muscles, like that of one whose mind is made up to some + strange and daring action, had totally changed the somewhat sarcastic + expression with which he had previously regarded them both, and + particularly Lady Bothwell. He was barefooted, excepting a species of + sandals in the antique fashion; his legs were naked beneath the knees; + above them he wore hose, and a doublet of dark crimson silk close to his + body; and over that a flowing loose robe, something resembling a surplice, + of snow-white linen. His throat and neck were uncovered, and his long, + straight, black hair was carefully combed down at full length. + </p> + <p> + As the ladies approached at his bidding, he showed no gesture of that + ceremonious courtesy of which he had been formerly lavish. On the + contrary, he made the signal of advance with an air of command; and when, + arm in arm, and with insecure steps, the sisters approached the spot where + he stood, it was with a warning frown that he pressed his finger to his + lips, as if reiterating his condition of absolute silence, while, stalking + before them, he led the way into the next apartment. + </p> + <p> + This was a large room, hung with black, as if for a funeral. At the upper + end was a table, or rather a species of altar, covered with the same + lugubrious colour, on which lay divers objects resembling the usual + implements of sorcery. These objects were not indeed visible as they + advanced into the apartment; for the light which displayed them, being + only that of two expiring lamps, was extremely faint. The master—to + use the Italian phrase for persons of this description—approached + the upper end of the room, with a genuflection like that of a Catholic to + the crucifix, and at the same time crossed himself. The ladies followed in + silence, and arm in arm. Two or three low broad steps led to a platform in + front of the altar, or what resembled such. Here the sage took his stand, + and placed the ladies beside him, once more earnestly repeating by signs + his injunctions of silence. The Italian then, extending his bare arm from + under his linen vestment, pointed with his forefinger to five large + flambeaux, or torches, placed on each side of the altar. They took fire + successively at the approach of his hand, or rather of his finger, and + spread a strong light through the room. By this the visitors could discern + that, on the seeming altar, were disposed two naked swords laid crosswise; + a large open book, which they conceived to be a copy of the Holy + Scriptures, but in a language to them unknown; and beside this mysterious + volume was placed a human skull. But what struck the sisters most was a + very tall and broad mirror, which occupied all the space behind the altar, + and, illumined by the lighted torches, reflected the mysterious articles + which were laid upon it. + </p> + <p> + The master then placed himself between the two ladies, and, pointing to + the mirror, took each by the hand, but without speaking a syllable. They + gazed intently on the polished and sable space to which he had directed + their attention. Suddenly the surface assumed a new and singular + appearance. It no longer simply reflected the objects placed before it, + but, as if it had self-contained scenery of its own, objects began to + appear within it, at first in a disorderly, indistinct, and miscellaneous + manner, like form arranging itself out of chaos; at length, in distinct + and defined shape and symmetry. It was thus that, after some shifting of + light and darkness over the face of the wonderful glass, a long + perspective of arches and columns began to arrange itself on its sides, + and a vaulted roof on the upper part of it, till, after many oscillations, + the whole vision gained a fixed and stationary appearance, representing + the interior of a foreign church. The pillars were stately, and hung with + scutcheons; the arches were lofty and magnificent; the floor was lettered + with funeral inscriptions. But there were no separate shrines, no images, + no display of chalice or crucifix on the altar. It was, therefore, a + Protestant church upon the Continent. A clergyman dressed in the Geneva + gown and band stood by the communion table, and, with the Bible opened + before him, and his clerk awaiting in the background, seemed prepared to + perform some service of the church to which he belonged. + </p> + <p> + At length, there entered the middle aisle of the building a numerous + party, which appeared to be a bridal one, as a lady and gentleman walked + first, hand in hand, followed by a large concourse of persons of both + sexes, gaily, nay richly, attired. The bride, whose features they could + distinctly see, seemed not more than sixteen years old, and extremely + beautiful. The bridegroom, for some seconds, moved rather with his + shoulder towards them, and his face averted; but his elegance of form and + step struck the sisters at once with the same apprehension. As he turned + his face suddenly, it was frightfully realized, and they saw, in the gay + bridegroom before them, Sir Philip Forester. His wife uttered an imperfect + exclamation, at the sound of which the whole scene stirred and seemed to + separate. + </p> + <p> + “I could compare it to nothing,” said Lady Bothwell, while recounting the + wonderful tale, “but to the dispersion of the reflection offered by a deep + and calm pool, when a stone is suddenly cast into it, and the shadows + become dissipated and broken.” The master pressed both the ladies’ hands + severely, as if to remind them of their promise, and of the danger which + they incurred. The exclamation died away on Lady Forester’s tongue, + without attaining perfect utterance, and the scene in the glass, after the + fluctuation of a minute, again resumed to the eye its former appearance of + a real scene, existing within the mirror, as if represented in a picture, + save that the figures were movable instead of being stationary. + </p> + <p> + The representation of Sir Philip Forester, now distinctly visible in form + and feature, was seen to lead on towards the clergyman that beautiful + girl, who advanced at once with diffidence and with a species of + affectionate pride. In the meantime, and just as the clergyman had + arranged the bridal company before him, and seemed about to commence the + service, another group of persons, of whom two or three were officers, + entered the church. They moved, at first, forward, as though they came to + witness the bridal ceremony; but suddenly one of the officers, whose back + was towards the spectators, detached himself from his companions, and + rushed hastily towards the marriage party, when the whole of them turned + towards him, as if attracted by some exclamation which had accompanied his + advance. Suddenly the intruder drew his sword; the bridegroom unsheathed + his own, and made towards him; swords were also drawn by other + individuals, both of the marriage party and of those who had last entered. + They fell into a sort of confusion, the clergyman, and some elder and + graver persons, labouring apparently to keep the peace, while the hotter + spirits on both sides brandished their weapons. But now, the period of the + brief space during which the soothsayer, as he pretended, was permitted to + exhibit his art, was arrived. The fumes again mixed together, and + dissolved gradually from observation; the vaults and columns of the church + rolled asunder, and disappeared; and the front of the mirror reflected + nothing save the blazing torches and the melancholy apparatus placed on + the altar or table before it. + </p> + <p> + The doctor led the ladies, who greatly required his support, into the + apartment from whence they came, where wine, essences, and other means of + restoring suspended animation, had been provided during his absence. He + motioned them to chairs, which they occupied in silence—Lady + Forester, in particular, wringing her hands, and casting her eyes up to + heaven, but without speaking a word, as if the spell had been still before + her eyes. + </p> + <p> + “And what we have seen is even now acting?” said Lady Bothwell, collecting + herself with difficulty. + </p> + <p> + “That,” answered Baptista Damiotti, “I cannot justly, or with certainty, + say. But it is either now acting, or has been acted during a short space + before this. It is the last remarkable transaction in which the Cavalier + Forester has been engaged.” + </p> + <p> + Lady Bothwell then expressed anxiety concerning her sister, whose altered + countenance and apparent unconsciousness of what passed around her excited + her apprehensions how it might be possible to convey her home. + </p> + <p> + “I have prepared for that,” answered the adept. “I have directed the + servant to bring your equipage as near to this place as the narrowness of + the street will permit. Fear not for your sister, but give her, when you + return home, this composing draught, and she will be better to-morrow + morning. Few,” he added in a melancholy tone, “leave this house as well in + health as they entered it. Such being the consequence of seeking knowledge + by mysterious means, I leave you to judge the condition of those who have + the power of gratifying such irregular curiosity. Farewell, and forget not + the potion.” + </p> + <p> + “I will give her nothing that comes from you,” said Lady Bothwell; “I have + seen enough of your art already. Perhaps you would poison us both to + conceal your own necromancy. But we are persons who want neither the means + of making our wrongs known, nor the assistance of friends to right them.” + </p> + <p> + “You have had no wrongs from me, madam,” said the adept. “You sought one + who is little grateful for such honour. He seeks no one, and only gives + responses to those who invite and call upon him. After all, you have but + learned a little sooner the evil which you must still be doomed to endure. + I hear your servant’s step at the door, and will detain your ladyship and + Lady Forester no longer. The next packet from the Continent will explain + what you have already partly witnessed. Let it not, if I may advise, pass + too suddenly into your sister’s hands.” + </p> + <p> + So saying, he bid Lady Bothwell good-night. She went, lighted by the + adept, to the vestibule, where he hastily threw a black cloak over his + singular dress, and opening the door, entrusted his visitors to the care + of the servant. It was with difficulty that Lady Bothwell sustained her + sister to the carriage, though it was only twenty steps distant. When they + arrived at home, Lady Forester required medical assistance. The physician + of the family attended, and shook his head on feeling her pulse. + </p> + <p> + “Here has been,” he said, “a violent and sudden shock on the nerves. I + must know how it has happened.” + </p> + <p> + Lady Bothwell admitted they had visited the conjurer, and that Lady + Forester had received some bad news respecting her husband, Sir Philip. + </p> + <p> + “That rascally quack would make my fortune, were he to stay in Edinburgh,” + said the graduate; “this is the seventh nervous case I have heard of his + making for me, and all by effect of terror.” He next examined the + composing draught which Lady Bothwell had unconsciously brought in her + hand, tasted it, and pronounced it very germain to the matter, and what + would save an application to the apothecary. He then paused, and looking + at Lady Bothwell very significantly, at length added, “I suppose I must + not ask your ladyship anything about this Italian warlock’s proceedings?” + </p> + <p> + “Indeed, doctor,” answered Lady Bothwell, “I consider what passed as + confidential; and though the man may be a rogue, yet, as we were fools + enough to consult him, we should, I think, be honest enough to keep his + counsel.” + </p> + <p> + “MAY be a knave! Come,” said the doctor, “I am glad to hear your ladyship + allows such a possibility in anything that comes from Italy.” + </p> + <p> + “What comes from Italy may be as good as what comes from Hanover, doctor. + But you and I will remain good friends; and that it may be so, we will say + nothing of Whig and Tory.” + </p> + <p> + “Not I,” said the doctor, receiving his fee, and taking his hat; “a + Carolus serves my purpose as well as a Willielmus. But I should like to + know why old Lady Saint Ringan, and all that set, go about wasting their + decayed lungs in puffing this foreign fellow.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay—you had best set him down a Jesuit, as Scrub says.” On these + terms they parted. + </p> + <p> + The poor patient—whose nerves, from an extraordinary state of + tension, had at length become relaxed in as extraordinary a degree—continued + to struggle with a sort of imbecility, the growth of superstitious terror, + when the shocking tidings were brought from Holland which fulfilled even + her worst expectations. + </p> + <p> + They were sent by the celebrated Earl of Stair, and contained the + melancholy event of a duel betwixt Sir Philip Forester and his wife’s + half-brother, Captain Falconer, of the Scotch-Dutch, as they were then + called, in which the latter had been killed. The cause of quarrel rendered + the incident still more shocking. It seemed that Sir Philip had left the + army suddenly, in consequence of being unable to pay a very considerable + sum which he had lost to another volunteer at play. He had changed his + name, and taken up his residence at Rotterdam, where he had insinuated + himself into the good graces of an ancient and rich burgomaster, and, by + his handsome person and graceful manners, captivated the affections of his + only child, a very young person, of great beauty, and the heiress of much + wealth. Delighted with the specious attractions of his proposed + son-in-law, the wealthy merchant—whose idea of the British character + was too high to admit of his taking any precaution to acquire evidence of + his condition and circumstances—gave his consent to the marriage. It + was about to be celebrated in the principal church of the city, when it + was interrupted by a singular occurrence. + </p> + <p> + Captain Falconer having been detached to Rotterdam to bring up a part of + the brigade of Scottish auxiliaries, who were in quarters there, a person + of consideration in the town, to whom he had been formerly known, proposed + to him for amusement to go to the high church to see a countryman of his + own married to the daughter of a wealthy burgomaster. Captain Falconer + went accordingly, accompanied by his Dutch acquaintance, with a party of + his friends, and two or three officers of the Scotch brigade. His + astonishment may be conceived when he saw his own brother-in-law, a + married man, on the point of leading to the altar the innocent and + beautiful creature upon whom he was about to practise a base and unmanly + deceit. He proclaimed his villainy on the spot, and the marriage was + interrupted, of course. But against the opinion of more thinking men, who + considered Sir Philip Forester as having thrown himself out of the rank of + men of honour, Captain Falconer admitted him to the privilege of such, + accepted a challenge from him, and in the rencounter received a mortal + wound. Such are the ways of Heaven, mysterious in our eyes. Lady Forester + never recovered the shock of this dismal intelligence. + </p> + <p> + “And did this tragedy,” said I, “take place exactly at the time when the + scene in the mirror was exhibited?” + </p> + <p> + “It is hard to be obliged to maim one’s story,” answered my aunt, “but to + speak the truth, it happened some days sooner than the apparition was + exhibited.” + </p> + <p> + “And so there remained a possibility,” said I, “that by some secret and + speedy communication the artist might have received early intelligence of + that incident.” + </p> + <p> + “The incredulous pretended so,” replied my aunt. + </p> + <p> + “What became of the adept?” demanded I. + </p> + <p> + “Why, a warrant came down shortly afterwards to arrest him for high + treason, as an agent of the Chevalier St. George; and Lady Bothwell, + recollecting the hints which had escaped the doctor, an ardent friend of + the Protestant succession, did then call to remembrance that this man was + chiefly PRONE among the ancient matrons of her own political persuasion. + It certainly seemed probable that intelligence from the Continent, which + could easily have been transmitted by an active and powerful agent, might + have enabled him to prepare such a scene of phantasmagoria as she had + herself witnessed. Yet there were so many difficulties in assigning a + natural explanation, that, to the day of her death, she remained in great + doubt on the subject, and much disposed to cut the Gordian knot by + admitting the existence of supernatural agency.” + </p> + <p> + “But, my dear aunt,” said I, “what became of the man of skill?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, he was too good a fortune-teller not to be able to foresee that his + own destiny would be tragical if he waited the arrival of the man with the + silver greyhound upon his sleeve. He made, as we say, a moonlight + flitting, and was nowhere to be seen or heard of. Some noise there was + about papers or letters found in the house; but it died away, and Doctor + Baptista Damiotti was soon as little talked of as Galen or Hippocrates.” + </p> + <p> + “And Sir Philip Forester,” said I, “did he too vanish for ever from the + public scene?” + </p> + <p> + “No,” replied my kind informer. “He was heard of once more, and it was + upon a remarkable occasion. It is said that we Scots, when there was such + a nation in existence, have, among our full peck of virtues, one or two + little barley-corns of vice. In particular, it is alleged that we rarely + forgive, and never forget, any injuries received—that we make an + idol of our resentment, as poor Lady Constance did of her grief, and are + addicted, as Burns says, to ‘nursing our wrath to keep it warm.’ Lady + Bothwell was not without this feeling; and, I believe, nothing whatever, + scarce the restoration of the Stewart line, could have happened so + delicious to her feelings as an opportunity of being revenged on Sir + Philip Forester for the deep and double injury which had deprived her of a + sister and of a brother. But nothing of him was heard or known till many a + year had passed away. + </p> + <p> + “At length—it was on a Fastern’s E’en (Shrovetide) assembly, at + which the whole fashion of Edinburgh attended, full and frequent, and when + Lady Bothwell had a seat amongst the lady patronesses, that one of the + attendants on the company whispered into her ear that a gentleman wished + to speak with her in private. + </p> + <p> + “‘In private? and in an assembly room?—he must be mad. Tell him to + call upon me to-morrow morning.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘I said so, my lady,’ answered the man, ‘but he desired me to give you + this paper.’ + </p> + <p> + “She undid the billet, which was curiously folded and sealed. It only bore + the words, ‘ON BUSINESS OF LIFE AND DEATH,’ written in a hand which she + had never seen before. Suddenly it occurred to her that it might concern + the safety of some of her political friends. She therefore followed the + messenger to a small apartment where the refreshments were prepared, and + from which the general company was excluded. She found an old man, who, at + her approach, rose up and bowed profoundly. His appearance indicated a + broken constitution, and his dress, though sedulously rendered conforming + to the etiquette of a ballroom, was worn and tarnished, and hung in folds + about his emaciated person. Lady Bothwell was about to feel for her purse, + expecting to get rid of the supplicant at the expense of a little money, + but some fear of a mistake arrested her purpose. She therefore gave the + man leisure to explain himself. + </p> + <p> + “‘I have the honour to speak with the Lady Bothwell?’ + </p> + <p> + “‘I am Lady Bothwell; allow me to say that this is no time or place for + long explanations. What are your commands with me?’ + </p> + <p> + “‘Your ladyship,’ said the old man, ‘had once a sister.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘True; whom I loved as my own soul.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘And a brother.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘The bravest, the kindest, the most affectionate!’ said Lady Bothwell. + </p> + <p> + “‘Both these beloved relatives you lost by the fault of an unfortunate + man,’ continued the stranger. + </p> + <p> + “‘By the crime of an unnatural, bloody-minded murderer,’ said the lady. + </p> + <p> + “‘I am answered,’ replied the old man, bowing, as if to withdraw. + </p> + <p> + “‘Stop, sir, I command you,’ said Lady Bothwell. ‘Who are you that, at + such a place and time, come to recall these horrible recollections? I + insist upon knowing.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘I am one who intends Lady Bothwell no injury, but, on the contrary, to + offer her the means of doing a deed of Christian charity, which the world + would wonder at, and which Heaven would reward; but I find her in no + temper for such a sacrifice as I was prepared to ask.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘Speak out, sir; what is your meaning?’ said Lady Bothwell. + </p> + <p> + “‘The wretch that has wronged you so deeply,’ rejoined the stranger, ‘is + now on his death-bed. His days have been days of misery, his nights have + been sleepless hours of anguish—yet he cannot die without your + forgiveness. His life has been an unremitting penance—yet he dares + not part from his burden while your curses load his soul.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘Tell him,’ said Lady Bothwell sternly, ‘to ask pardon of that Being whom + he has so greatly offended, not of an erring mortal like himself. What + could my forgiveness avail him?’ + </p> + <p> + “‘Much,’ answered the old man. ‘It will be an earnest of that which he may + then venture to ask from his Creator, lady, and from yours. Remember, Lady + Bothwell, you too have a death-bed to look forward to; Your soul may—all + human souls must—feel the awe of facing the judgment-seat, with the + wounds of an untented conscience, raw, and rankling—what thought + would it be then that should whisper, “I have given no mercy, how then + shall I ask it?”’ + </p> + <p> + “‘Man, whosoever thou mayest be,’ replied Lady Bothwell, ‘urge me not so + cruelly. It would be but blasphemous hypocrisy to utter with my lips the + words which every throb of my heart protests against. They would open the + earth and give to light the wasted form of my sister, the bloody form of + my murdered brother. Forgive him?—never, never!’ + </p> + <p> + “‘Great God!’ cried the old man, holding up his hands, ‘is it thus the + worms which Thou hast called out of dust obey the commands of their Maker? + Farewell, proud and unforgiving woman. Exult that thou hast added to a + death in want and pain the agonies of religious despair; but never again + mock Heaven by petitioning for the pardon which thou hast refused to + grant.’ + </p> + <p> + “He was turning from her. + </p> + <p> + “‘Stop,’ she exclaimed; ‘I will try—yes, I will try to pardon him.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘Gracious lady,’ said the old man, ‘you will relieve the over-burdened + soul which dare not sever itself from its sinful companion of earth + without being at peace with you. What do I know—your forgiveness may + perhaps preserve for penitence the dregs of a wretched life.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘Ha!’ said the lady, as a sudden light broke on her, ‘it is the villain + himself!’ And grasping Sir Philip Forester—for it was he, and no + other—by the collar, she raised a cry of ‘Murder, murder! seize the + murderer!’ + </p> + <p> + “At an exclamation so singular, in such a place, the company thronged into + the apartment; but Sir Philip Forester was no longer there. He had + forcibly extricated himself from Lady Bothwell’s hold, and had run out of + the apartment, which opened on the landing-place of the stair. There + seemed no escape in that direction, for there were several persons coming + up the steps, and others descending. But the unfortunate man was + desperate. He threw himself over the balustrade, and alighted safely in + the lobby, though a leap of fifteen feet at least, then dashed into the + street, and was lost in darkness. Some of the Bothwell family made + pursuit, and had they come up with the fugitive they might perhaps have + slain him; for in those days men’s blood ran warm in their veins. But the + police did not interfere, the matter most criminal having happened long + since, and in a foreign land. Indeed it was always thought that this + extraordinary scene originated in a hypocritical experiment, by which Sir + Philip desired to ascertain whether he might return to his native country + in safety from the resentment of a family which he had injured so deeply. + As the result fell out so contrary to his wishes, he is believed to have + returned to the Continent, and there died in exile.” + </p> + <p> + So closed the tale of the MYSTERIOUS MIRROR. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg’s My Aunt Margaret’s Mirror, by Sir Walter Scott + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MY AUNT MARGARET’S MIRROR *** + +***** This file should be named 1667-h.htm or 1667-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1667/ + +Produced by An Anonymous Volunteer, and David Widger + +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: My Aunt Margaret's Mirror + From Short Stories Published in "The Keepsake Annual" of 1828 + +Author: Sir Walter Scott + +Posting Date: October 23, 2008 [EBook #1667] +Release Date: March, 1999 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MY AUNT MARGARET'S MIRROR *** + + + + +Produced by An Anonymous Volunteer + + + + + +MY AUNT MARGARET'S MIRROR + +by Sir Walter Scott + + +From Short Stories Published in "The Keepsake Annual" of 1828 + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + +The species of publication which has come to be generally known by the +title of ANNUAL, being a miscellany of prose and verse, equipped with +numerous engravings, and put forth every year about Christmas, had +flourished for a long while in Germany before it was imitated in this +country by an enterprising bookseller, a German by birth, Mr. Ackermann. +The rapid success of his work, as is the custom of the time, gave +birth to a host of rivals, and, among others, to an Annual styled The +Keepsake, the first volume of which appeared in 1828, and attracted much +notice, chiefly in consequence of the very uncommon splendour of +its illustrative accompaniments. The expenditure which the spirited +proprietors lavished on this magnificent volume is understood to have +been not less than from ten to twelve thousand pounds sterling! + +Various gentlemen of such literary reputation that any one might +think it an honour to be associated with them had been announced as +contributors to this Annual, before application was made to me to assist +in it; and I accordingly placed with much pleasure at the Editor's +disposal a few fragments, originally designed to have been worked +into the Chronicles of the Canongate, besides a manuscript drama, the +long-neglected performance of my youthful days--"The House of Aspen." + +The Keepsake for 1828 included, however, only three of these little +prose tales, of which the first in order was that entitled "My Aunt +Margaret's Mirror." By way of INTRODUCTION to this, when now included in +a general collection of my lucubrations, I have only to say that it is a +mere transcript, or at least with very little embellishment, of a story +that I remembered being struck with in my childhood, when told at the +fireside by a lady of eminent virtues and no inconsiderable share of +talent, one of the ancient and honourable house of Swinton. She was +a kind of relation of my own, and met her death in a manner so +shocking--being killed, in a fit of insanity, by a female attendant who +had been attached to her person for half a lifetime--that I cannot now +recall her memory, child as I was when the catastrophe occurred, without +a painful reawakening of perhaps the first images of horror that the +scenes of real life stamped on my mind. + +This good spinster had in her composition a strong vein of the +superstitious, and was pleased, among other fancies, to read alone in +her chamber by a taper fixed in a candlestick which she had had formed +out of a human skull. One night this strange piece of furniture acquired +suddenly the power of locomotion, and, after performing some odd circles +on her chimney-piece, fairly leaped on the floor, and continued to roll +about the apartment. Mrs. Swinton calmly proceeded to the adjoining room +for another light, and had the satisfaction to penetrate the mystery on +the spot. Rats abounded in the ancient building she inhabited, and one +of these had managed to ensconce itself within her favourite MEMENTO +MORI. Though thus endowed with a more than feminine share of nerve, she +entertained largely that belief in supernaturals which in those times +was not considered as sitting ungracefully on the grave and aged of +her condition; and the story of the Magic Mirror was one for which she +vouched with particular confidence, alleging indeed that one of her own +family had been an eye-witness of the incidents recorded in it. + + "I tell the tale as it was told to me." + +Stories enow of much the same cast will present themselves to the +recollection of such of my readers as have ever dabbled in a species +of lore to which I certainly gave more hours, at one period of my life, +than I should gain any credit by confessing. + +AUGUST 1831. + + + + +AUNT MARGARET'S MIRROR. + + "There are times + When Fancy plays her gambols, in despite + Even of our watchful senses--when in sooth + Substance seems shadow, shadow substance seems-- + When the broad, palpable, and mark'd partition + 'Twixt that which is and is not seems dissolved, + As if the mental eye gain'd power to gaze + Beyond the limits of the existing world. + Such hours of shadowy dreams I better love + Than all the gross realities of life." ANONYMOUS. + +My Aunt Margaret was one of that respected sisterhood upon whom devolve +all the trouble and solicitude incidental to the possession of children, +excepting only that which attends their entrance into the world. We were +a large family, of very different dispositions and constitutions. Some +were dull and peevish--they were sent to Aunt Margaret to be amused; +some were rude, romping, and boisterous--they were sent to Aunt Margaret +to be kept quiet, or rather that their noise might be removed out of +hearing; those who were indisposed were sent with the prospect of being +nursed; those who were stubborn, with the hope of their being subdued by +the kindness of Aunt Margaret's discipline;--in short, she had all +the various duties of a mother, without the credit and dignity of the +maternal character. The busy scene of her various cares is now over. +Of the invalids and the robust, the kind and the rough, the peevish and +pleased children, who thronged her little parlour from morning to night, +not one now remains alive but myself, who, afflicted by early infirmity, +was one of the most delicate of her nurslings, yet, nevertheless, have +outlived them all. + +It is still my custom, and shall be so while I have the use of my limbs, +to visit my respected relation at least three times a week. Her abode is +about half a mile from the suburbs of the town in which I reside, and +is accessible, not only by the highroad, from which it stands at some +distance, but by means of a greensward footpath leading through some +pretty meadows. I have so little left to torment me in life, that it is +one of my greatest vexations to know that several of these sequestered +fields have been devoted as sites for building. In that which is nearest +the town, wheelbarrows have been at work for several weeks in such +numbers, that, I verily believe, its whole surface, to the depth of +at least eighteen inches, was mounted in these monotrochs at the same +moment, and in the act of being transported from one place to another. +Huge triangular piles of planks are also reared in different parts of +the devoted messuage; and a little group of trees that still grace the +eastern end, which rises in a gentle ascent, have just received warning +to quit, expressed by a daub of white paint, and are to give place to a +curious grove of chimneys. + +It would, perhaps, hurt others in my situation to reflect that this +little range of pasturage once belonged to my father (whose family was +of some consideration in the world), and was sold by patches to remedy +distresses in which he involved himself in an attempt by commercial +adventure to redeem his diminished fortune. While the building scheme +was in full operation, this circumstance was often pointed out to me by +the class of friends who are anxious that no part of your misfortunes +should escape your observation. "Such pasture-ground!--lying at the very +town's end--in turnips and potatoes, the parks would bring L20 per acre; +and if leased for building--oh, it was a gold mine! And all sold for +an old song out of the ancient possessor's hands!" My comforters cannot +bring me to repine much on this subject. If I could be allowed to look +back on the past without interruption, I could willingly give up the +enjoyment of present income and the hope of future profit to those +who have purchased what my father sold. I regret the alteration of the +ground only because it destroys associations, and I would more willingly +(I think) see the Earl's Closes in the hands of strangers, retaining +their silvan appearance, than know them for my own, if torn up by +agriculture, or covered with buildings. Mine are the sensations of poor +Logan:-- + + "The horrid plough has rased the green + Where yet a child I strayed; + The axe has fell'd the hawthorn screen, + The schoolboy's summer shade." + +I hope, however, the threatened devastation will not be consummated +in my day. Although the adventurous spirit of times short while since +passed gave rise to the undertaking, I have been encouraged to think +that the subsequent changes have so far damped the spirit of speculation +that the rest of the woodland footpath leading to Aunt Margaret's +retreat will be left undisturbed for her time and mine. I am interested +in this, for every step of the way, after I have passed through +the green already mentioned, has for me something of early +remembrance:--There is the stile at which I can recollect a cross +child's-maid upbraiding me with my infirmity as she lifted me coarsely +and carelessly over the flinty steps, which my brothers traversed with +shout and bound. I remember the suppressed bitterness of the moment, +and, conscious of my own inferiority, the feeling of envy with which I +regarded the easy movements and elastic steps of my more happily formed +brethren. Alas! these goodly barks have all perished on life's wide +ocean, and only that which seemed so little seaworthy, as the naval +phrase goes, has reached the port when the tempest is over. Then there +is the pool, where, manoeuvring our little navy, constructed out of the +broad water-flags, my elder brother fell in, and was scarce saved from +the watery element to die under Nelson's banner. There is the hazel +copse also, in which my brother Henry used to gather nuts, thinking +little that he was to die in an Indian jungle in quest of rupees. + +There is so much more of remembrance about the little walk, that--as I +stop, rest on my crutch-headed cane, and look round with that species +of comparison between the thing I was and that which I now am--it almost +induces me to doubt my own identity; until I find myself in face of the +honeysuckle porch of Aunt Margaret's dwelling, with its irregularity of +front, and its odd, projecting latticed windows, where the workmen seem +to have made it a study that no one of them should resemble another in +form, size, or in the old-fashioned stone entablature and labels which +adorn them. This tenement, once the manor house of the Earl's Closes, +we still retain a slight hold upon; for, in some family arrangements, +it had been settled upon Aunt Margaret during the term of her life. Upon +this frail tenure depends, in a great measure, the last shadow of the +family of Bothwell of Earl's Closes, and their last slight connection +with their paternal inheritance. The only representative will then be an +infirm old man, moving not unwillingly to the grave, which has devoured +all that were dear to his affections. + +When I have indulged such thoughts for a minute or two, I enter the +mansion, which is said to have been the gate-house only of the original +building, and find one being on whom time seems to have made little +impression; for the Aunt Margaret of to-day bears the same proportional +age to the Aunt Margaret of my early youth that the boy of ten years +old does to the man of (by'r Lady!) some fifty-six years. The old lady's +invariable costume has doubtless some share in confirming one in the +opinion that time has stood still with Aunt Margaret. + +The brown or chocolate-coloured silk gown, with ruffles of the same +stuff at the elbow, within which are others of Mechlin lace; the black +silk gloves, or mitts; the white hair combed back upon a roll; and +the cap of spotless cambric, which closes around the venerable +countenance--as they were not the costume of 1780, so neither were they +that of 1826; they are altogether a style peculiar to the individual +Aunt Margaret. There she still sits, as she sat thirty years since, with +her wheel or the stocking, which she works by the fire in winter and by +the window in summer; or, perhaps, venturing as far as the porch in an +unusually fine summer evening. Her frame, like some well-constructed +piece of mechanics, still performs the operations for which it had +seemed destined--going its round with an activity which is gradually +diminished, yet indicating no probability that it will soon come to a +period. + +The solicitude and affection which had made Aunt Margaret the willing +slave to the inflictions of a whole nursery, have now for their object +the health and comfort of one old and infirm man--the last remaining +relative of her family, and the only one who can still find interest in +the traditional stores which she hoards, as some miser hides the gold +which he desires that no one should enjoy after his death. + +My conversation with Aunt Margaret generally relates little either to +the present or to the future. For the passing day we possess as much as +we require, and we neither of us wish for more; and for that which is +to follow, we have, on this side of the grave, neither hopes, nor fears, +nor anxiety. We therefore naturally look back to the past, and forget +the present fallen fortunes and declined importance of our family in +recalling the hours when it was wealthy and prosperous. + +With this slight introduction, the reader will know as much of Aunt +Margaret and her nephew as is necessary to comprehend the following +conversation and narrative. + +Last week, when, late in a summer evening, I went to call on the old +lady to whom my reader is now introduced, I was received by her with all +her usual affection and benignity, while, at the same time, she seemed +abstracted and disposed to silence. I asked her the reason. "They have +been clearing out the old chapel," she said; "John Clayhudgeons having, +it seems, discovered that the stuff within--being, I suppose, the +remains of our ancestors--was excellent for top-dressing the meadows." + +Here I started up with more alacrity than I have displayed for some +years; but sat down while my aunt added, laying her hand upon my sleeve, +"The chapel has been long considered as common ground, my dear, and used +for a pinfold, and what objection can we have to the man for employing +what is his own to his own profit? Besides, I did speak to him, and he +very readily and civilly promised that if he found bones or monuments, +they should be carefully respected and reinstated; and what more could I +ask? So, the first stone they found bore the name of Margaret Bothwell, +1585, and I have caused it to be laid carefully aside, as I think it +betokens death, and having served my namesake two hundred years, it has +just been cast up in time to do me the same good turn. My house has been +long put in order, as far as the small earthly concerns require it; but +who shall say that their account with, Heaven is sufficiently revised?" + +"After what you have said, aunt," I replied, "perhaps I ought to take my +hat and go away; and so I should, but that there is on this occasion a +little alloy mingled with your devotion. To think of death at all times +is a duty--to suppose it nearer from the finding an old gravestone is +superstition; and you, with your strong, useful common sense, which was +so long the prop of a fallen family, are the last person whom I should +have suspected of such weakness." + +"Neither would I deserve your suspicions, kinsman," answered Aunt +Margaret, "if we were speaking of any incident occurring in the actual +business of human life. But for all this, I have a sense of superstition +about me, which I do not wish to part with. It is a feeling which +separates me from this age, and links me with that to which I am +hastening; and even when it seems, as now, to lead me to the brink +of the grave, and bid me gaze on it, I do not love that it should be +dispelled. It soothes my imagination, without influencing my reason or +conduct." + +"I profess, my good lady," replied I, "that had any one but you made +such a declaration, I should have thought it as capricious as that of +the clergyman, who, without vindicating his false reading, preferred, +from habit's sake, his old Mumpsimus to the modern Sumpsimus." + +"Well," answered my aunt, "I must explain my inconsistency in this +particular by comparing it to another. I am, as you know, a piece of +that old-fashioned thing called a Jacobite; but I am so in sentiment and +feeling only, for a more loyal subject never joined in prayers for the +health and wealth of George the Fourth, whom God long preserve! But I +dare say that kind-hearted sovereign would not deem that an old woman +did him much injury if she leaned back in her arm-chair, just in such +a twilight as this, and thought of the high-mettled men whose sense of +duty called them to arms against his grandfather; and how, in a cause +which they deemed that of their rightful prince and country, + + 'They fought till their hand to the broadsword was glued, + They fought against fortune with hearts unsubdued.' + +Do not come at such a moment, when my head is full of plaids, pibrochs, +and claymores, and ask my reason to admit what, I am afraid, it cannot +deny--I mean, that the public advantage peremptorily demanded that these +things should cease to exist. I cannot, indeed, refuse to allow the +justice of your reasoning; but yet, being convinced against my will, you +will gain little by your motion. You might as well read to an infatuated +lover the catalogue of his mistress's imperfections; for when he has +been compelled to listen to the summary, you will only get for answer +that 'he lo'es her a' the better.'" + +I was not sorry to have changed the gloomy train of Aunt Margaret's +thoughts, and replied in the same tone, "Well, I can't help being +persuaded that our good King is the more sure of Mrs. Bothwell's loyal +affection, that he has the Stewart right of birth as well as the Act of +Succession in his favour." + +"Perhaps my attachment, were its source of consequence, might be found +warmer for the union of the rights you mention," said Aunt Margaret; +"but, upon my word, it would be as sincere if the King's right were +founded only on the will of the nation, as declared at the Revolution. I +am none of your JURE DIVINO folks." + +"And a Jacobite notwithstanding." + +"And a Jacobite notwithstanding--or rather, I will give you leave to +call me one of the party which, in Queen Anne's time, were called, +WHIMSICALS, because they were sometimes operated upon by feelings, +sometimes by principle. After all, it is very hard that you will not +allow an old woman to be as inconsistent in her political sentiments as +mankind in general show themselves in all the various courses of +life; since you cannot point out one of them in which the passions and +prejudices of those who pursue it are not perpetually carrying us away +from the path which our reason points out." + +"True, aunt; but you are a wilful wanderer, who should be forced back +into the right path." + +"Spare me, I entreat you," replied Aunt Margaret. "You remember the +Gaelic song, though I dare say I mispronounce the words-- + + 'Hatil mohatil, na dowski mi.' + (I am asleep, do not waken me.) + +I tell you, kinsman, that the sort of waking dreams which my imagination +spins out, in what your favourite Wordsworth calls 'moods of my own +mind,' are worth all the rest of my more active days. Then, instead +of looking forwards, as I did in youth, and forming for myself fairy +palaces, upon the verge of the grave I turn my eyes backward upon +the days and manners of my better time; and the sad, yet soothing +recollections come so close and interesting, that I almost think it +sacrilege to be wiser or more rational or less prejudiced than those to +whom I looked up in my younger years." + +"I think I now understand what you mean," I answered, "and can +comprehend why you should occasionally prefer the twilight of illusion +to the steady light of reason." + +"Where there is no task," she rejoined, "to be performed, we may sit in +the dark if we like it; if we go to work, we must ring for candles." + +"And amidst such shadowy and doubtful light," continued I, "imagination +frames her enchanted and enchanting visions, and sometimes passes them +upon the senses for reality." + +"Yes," said Aunt Margaret, who is a well-read woman, "to those who +resemble the translator of Tasso,-- + + 'Prevailing poet, whose undoubting mind + Believed the magic wonders which he sung. + +It is not required for this purpose that you should be sensible of the +painful horrors which an actual belief in such prodigies inflicts. +Such a belief nowadays belongs only to fools and children. It is not +necessary that your ears should tingle and your complexion change, like +that of Theodore at the approach of the spectral huntsman. All that is +indispensable for the enjoyment of the milder feeling of supernatural +awe is, that you should be susceptible of the slight shuddering which +creeps over you when you hear a tale of terror--that well-vouched tale +which the narrator, having first expressed his general disbelief of all +such legendary lore, selects and produces, as having something in it +which he has been always obliged to give up as inexplicable. Another +symptom is a momentary hesitation to look round you, when the interest +of the narrative is at the highest; and the third, a desire to avoid +looking into a mirror when you are alone in your chamber for the +evening. I mean such are signs which indicate the crisis, when a female +imagination is in due temperature to enjoy a ghost story. I do not +pretend to describe those which express the same disposition in a +gentleman." + +"That last symptom, dear aunt, of shunning the mirror seems likely to be +a rare occurrence amongst the fair sex." + +"You are a novice in toilet fashions, my dear cousin. All women consult +the looking-glass with anxiety before they go into company; but when +they return home, the mirror has not the same charm. The die has been +cast--the party has been successful or unsuccessful in the impression +which she desired to make. But, without going deeper into the mysteries +of the dressing-table, I will tell you that I myself, like many other +honest folks, do not like to see the blank, black front of a large +mirror in a room dimly lighted, and where the reflection of the candle +seems rather to lose itself in the deep obscurity of the glass than to +be reflected back again into the apartment, That space of inky darkness +seems to be a field for Fancy to play her revels in. She may call up +other features to meet us, instead of the reflection of our own; or, as +in the spells of Hallowe'en, which we learned in childhood, some unknown +form may be seen peeping over our shoulder. In short, when I am in a +ghost-seeing humour, I make my handmaiden draw the green curtains over +the mirror before I go into the room, so that she may have the first +shock of the apparition, if there be any to be seen, But, to tell you +the truth, this dislike to look into a mirror in particular times and +places has, I believe, its original foundation in a story which came to +me by tradition from my grandmother, who was a party concerned in the +scene of which I will now tell you." + + + + +THE MIRROR. + + + +CHAPTER I. + +You are fond (said my aunt) of sketches of the society which has passed +away. I wish I could describe to you Sir Philip Forester, the "chartered +libertine" of Scottish good company, about the end of the last century. +I never saw him indeed; but my mother's traditions were full of his wit, +gallantry, and dissipation. This gay knight flourished about the end of +the seventeenth and beginning of the eighteenth century. He was the Sir +Charles Easy and the Lovelace of his day and country--renowned for the +number of duels he had fought, and the successful intrigues which he had +carried on. The supremacy which he had attained in the fashionable world +was absolute; and when we combine it with one or two anecdotes, for +which, "if laws were made for every degree," he ought certainly to have +been hanged, the popularity of such a person really serves to show, +either that the present times are much more decent, if not more +virtuous, than they formerly were, or that high-breeding then was +of more difficult attainment than that which is now so called, and +consequently entitled the successful professor to a proportional degree +of plenary indulgences and privileges. No beau of this day could have +borne out so ugly a story as that of Pretty Peggy Grindstone, the +miller's daughter at Sillermills--it had well-nigh made work for the +Lord Advocate. But it hurt Sir Philip Forester no more than the hail +hurts the hearthstone. He was as well received in society as ever, and +dined with the Duke of A---- the day the poor girl was buried. She died +of heartbreak. But that has nothing to do with my story. + +Now, you must listen to a single word upon kith, kin, and ally; +I promise you I will not be prolix. But it is necessary to the +authenticity of my legend that you should know that Sir Philip Forester, +with his handsome person, elegant accomplishments, and fashionable +manners, married the younger Miss Falconer of King's Copland. The elder +sister of this lady had previously become the wife of my grandfather, +Sir Geoffrey Bothwell, and brought into our family a good fortune. Miss +Jemima, or Miss Jemmie Falconer, as she was usually called, had also +about ten thousand pounds sterling--then thought a very handsome portion +indeed. + +The two sisters were extremely different, though each had their admirers +while they remained single. Lady Bothwell had some touch of the old +King's Copland blood about her. She was bold, though not to the degree +of audacity, ambitious, and desirous to raise her house and family; and +was, as has been said, a considerable spur to my grandfather, who was +otherwise an indolent man, but whom, unless he has been slandered, his +lady's influence involved in some political matters which had been +more wisely let alone. She was a woman of high principle, however, and +masculine good sense, as some of her letters testify, which are still in +my wainscot cabinet. + +Jemmie Falconer was the reverse of her sister in every respect. Her +understanding did not reach above the ordinary pitch, if, indeed, +she could be said to have attained it. Her beauty, while it lasted, +consisted, in a great measure, of delicacy of complexion and regularity +of features, without any peculiar force of expression. Even these charms +faded under the sufferings attendant on an ill-assorted match. She was +passionately attached to her husband, by whom she was treated with a +callous yet polite indifference, which, to one whose heart was as +tender as her judgment was weak, was more painful perhaps than absolute +ill-usage. Sir Philip was a voluptuary--that is, a completely selfish +egotist--whose disposition and character resembled the rapier he wore, +polished, keen, and brilliant, but inflexible and unpitying. As he +observed carefully all the usual forms towards his lady, he had the +art to deprive her even of the compassion of the world; and useless and +unavailing as that may be while actually possessed by the sufferer, it +is, to a mind like Lady Forester's, most painful to know she has it not. + +The tattle of society did its best to place the peccant husband above +the suffering wife. Some called her a poor, spiritless thing, and +declared that, with a little of her sister's spirit, she might have +brought to reason any Sir Philip whatsoever, were it the termagant +Falconbridge himself. But the greater part of their acquaintance +affected candour, and saw faults on both sides--though, in fact, there +only existed the oppressor and the oppressed. The tone of such critics +was, "To be sure, no one will justify Sir Philip Forester, but then we +all know Sir Philip, and Jemmie Falconer might have known what she had +to expect from the beginning. What made her set her cap at Sir Philip? +He would never have looked at her if she had not thrown herself at his +head, with her poor ten thousand pounds. I am sure, if it is money he +wanted, she spoiled his market. I know where Sir Philip could have done +much better. And then, if she WOULD have the man, could not she try to +make him more comfortable at home, and have his friends oftener, and not +plague him with the squalling children, and take care all was handsome +and in good style about the house? I declare I think Sir Philip would +have made a very domestic man, with a woman who knew how to manage him." + +Now these fair critics, in raising their profound edifice of domestic +felicity, did not recollect that the corner-stone was wanting, and that +to receive good company with good cheer, the means of the banquet ought +to have been furnished by Sir Philip, whose income (dilapidated as it +was) was not equal to the display of the hospitality required, and at +the same time to the supply of the good knight's MENUS PLAISIRS. So, in +spite of all that was so sagely suggested by female friends, Sir Philip +carried his good-humour everywhere abroad, and left at home a solitary +mansion and a pining spouse. + +At length, inconvenienced in his money affairs, and tired even of the +short time which he spent in his own dull house, Sir Philip Forester +determined to take a trip to the Continent, in the capacity of a +volunteer. It was then common for men of fashion to do so; and our +knight perhaps was of opinion that a touch of the military character, +just enough to exalt, but not render pedantic, his qualities as a BEAU +GARCON, was necessary to maintain possession of the elevated situation +which he held in the ranks of fashion. + +Sir Philip's resolution threw his wife into agonies of terror; by which +the worthy baronet was so much annoyed, that, contrary to his wont, he +took some trouble to soothe her apprehensions, and once more brought +her to shed tears, in which sorrow was not altogether unmingled with +pleasure. Lady Bothwell asked, as a favour, Sir Philip's permission to +receive her sister and her family into her own house during his absence +on the Continent. Sir Philip readily assented to a proposition which +saved expense, silenced the foolish people who might have talked of a +deserted wife and family, and gratified Lady Bothwell, for whom he felt +some respect, as for one who often spoke to him, always with freedom and +sometimes with severity, without being deterred either by his raillery +or the PRESTIGE of his reputation. + +A day or two before Sir Philip's departure, Lady Bothwell took the +liberty of asking him, in her sister's presence, the direct question, +which his timid wife had often desired, but never ventured, to put to +him:-- + +"Pray, Sir Philip, what route do you take when you reach the Continent?" + +"I go from Leith to Helvoet by a packet with advices." + +"That I comprehend perfectly," said Lady Bothwell dryly; "but you do +not mean to remain long at Helvoet, I presume, and I should like to know +what is your next object." + +"You ask me, my dear lady," answered Sir Philip, "a question which I +have not dared to ask myself. The answer depends on the fate of war. I +shall, of course, go to headquarters, wherever they may happen to be for +the time; deliver my letters of introduction; learn as much of the noble +art of war as may suffice a poor interloping amateur; and then take a +glance at the sort of thing of which we read so much in the Gazette." + +"And I trust, Sir Philip," said Lady Bothwell, "that you will remember +that you are a husband and a father; and that, though you think fit to +indulge this military fancy, you will not let it hurry you into dangers +which it is certainly unnecessary for any save professional persons to +encounter." + +"Lady Bothwell does me too much honour," replied the adventurous knight, +"in regarding such a circumstance with the slightest interest. But to +soothe your flattering anxiety, I trust your ladyship will recollect +that I cannot expose to hazard the venerable and paternal character +which you so obligingly recommend to my protection, without putting in +some peril an honest fellow, called Philip Forester, with whom I have +kept company for thirty years, and with whom, though some folks consider +him a coxcomb, I have not the least desire to part." + +"Well, Sir Philip, you are the best judge of your own affairs. I have +little right to interfere--you are not my husband." + +"God forbid!" said Sir Philip hastily; instantly adding, however, "God +forbid that I should deprive my friend Sir Geoffrey of so inestimable a +treasure." + +"But you are my sister's husband," replied the lady; "and I suppose you +are aware of her present distress of mind--" + +"If hearing of nothing else from morning to night can make me aware of +it," said Sir Philip, "I should know something of the matter." + +"I do not pretend to reply to your wit, Sir Philip," answered Lady +Bothwell; "but you must be sensible that all this distress is on account +of apprehensions for your personal safety." + +"In that case, I am surprised that Lady Bothwell, at least, should give +herself so much trouble upon so insignificant a subject." + +"My sister's interest may account for my being anxious to learn +something of Sir Philip Forester's motions; about which, otherwise, I +know he would not wish me to concern myself. I have a brother's safety +too to be anxious for." + +"You mean Major Falconer, your brother by the mother's side? What can he +possibly have to do with our present agreeable conversation?" + +"You have had words together, Sir Philip," said Lady Bothwell. + +"Naturally; we are connections," replied Sir Philip, "and as such have +always had the usual intercourse." + +"That is an evasion of the subject," answered the lady. "By words, I +mean angry words, on the subject of your usage of your wife." + +"If," replied Sir Philip Forester, "you suppose Major Falconer simple +enough to intrude his advice upon me, Lady Bothwell, in my domestic +matters, you are indeed warranted in believing that I might possibly be +so far displeased with the interference as to request him to reserve his +advice till it was asked." + +"And being on these terms, you are going to join the very army in which +my brother Falconer is now serving?" + +"No man knows the path of honour better than Major Falconer," said Sir +Philip. "An aspirant after fame, like me, cannot choose a better guide +than his footsteps." + +Lady Bothwell rose and went to the window, the tears gushing from her +eyes. + +"And this heartless raillery," she said, "is all the consideration that +is to be given to our apprehensions of a quarrel which may bring on the +most terrible consequences? Good God! of what can men's hearts be made, +who can thus dally with the agony of others?" + +Sir Philip Forester was moved; he laid aside the mocking tone in which +he had hitherto spoken. + +"Dear Lady Bothwell," he said, taking her reluctant hand, "we are +both wrong. You are too deeply serious; I, perhaps, too little so. The +dispute I had with Major Falconer was of no earthly consequence. Had +anything occurred betwixt us that ought to have been settled PAR VOIE DU +FAIT, as we say in France, neither of us are persons that are likely to +postpone such a meeting. Permit me to say, that were it generally known +that you or my Lady Forester are apprehensive of such a catastrophe, it +might be the very means of bringing about what would not otherwise be +likely to happen. I know your good sense, Lady Bothwell, and that you +will understand me when I say that really my affairs require my absence +for some months. This Jemima cannot understand. It is a perpetual +recurrence of questions, why can you not do this, or that, or the third +thing? and, when you have proved to her that her expedients are totally +ineffectual, you have just to begin the whole round again. Now, do you +tell her, dear Lady Bothwell, that YOU are satisfied. She is, you must +confess, one of those persons with whom authority goes farther than +reasoning. Do but repose a little confidence in me, and you shall see +how amply I will repay it." + +Lady Bothwell shook her head, as one but half satisfied. "How difficult +it is to extend confidence, when the basis on which it ought to rest +has been so much shaken! But I will do my best to make Jemima easy; and +further, I can only say that for keeping your present purpose I hold you +responsible both to God and man." + +"Do not fear that I will deceive you," said Sir Philip. "The safest +conveyance to me will be through the general post-office, Helvoetsluys, +where I will take care to leave orders for forwarding my letters. As for +Falconer, our only encounter will be over a bottle of Burgundy; so make +yourself perfectly easy on his score." + +Lady Bothwell could NOT make herself easy; yet she was sensible that her +sister hurt her own cause by TAKING ON, as the maidservants call it, +too vehemently, and by showing before every stranger, by manner, and +sometimes by words also, a dissatisfaction with her husband's journey +that was sure to come to his ears, and equally certain to displease him. +But there was no help for this domestic dissension, which ended only +with the day of separation. + +I am sorry I cannot tell, with precision, the year in which Sir Philip +Forester went over to Flanders; but it was one of those in which +the campaign opened with extraordinary fury, and many bloody, though +indecisive, skirmishes were fought between the French on the one side +and the Allies on the other. In all our modern improvements, there +are none, perhaps, greater than in the accuracy and speed with which +intelligence is transmitted from any scene of action to those in +this country whom it may concern. During Marlborough's campaigns, the +sufferings of the many who had relations in, or along with, the army +were greatly augmented by the suspense in which they were detained +for weeks after they had heard of bloody battles, in which, in all +probability, those for whom their bosoms throbbed with anxiety had been +personally engaged. Amongst those who were most agonized by this state +of uncertainty was the--I had almost said deserted--wife of the gay Sir +Philip Forester. A single letter had informed her of his arrival on +the Continent; no others were received. One notice occurred in the +newspapers, in which Volunteer Sir Philip Forester was mentioned as +having been entrusted with a dangerous reconnaissance, which he had +executed with the greatest courage, dexterity, and intelligence, and +received the thanks of the commanding officer. The sense of his having +acquired distinction brought a momentary glow into the lady's pale +cheek; but it was instantly lost in ashen whiteness at the recollection +of his danger. After this, they had no news whatever, neither from Sir +Philip, nor even from their brother Falconer. The case of Lady Forester +was not indeed different from that of hundreds in the same situation; +but a feeble mind is necessarily an irritable one, and the suspense +which some bear with constitutional indifference or philosophical +resignation, and some with a disposition to believe and hope the best, +was intolerable to Lady Forester, at once solitary and sensitive, +low-spirited, and devoid of strength of mind, whether natural or +acquired. + + + +CHAPTER II. + +As she received no further news of Sir Philip, whether directly or +indirectly, his unfortunate lady began now to feel a sort of consolation +even in those careless habits which had so often given her pain. "He is +so thoughtless," she repeated a hundred times a day to her sister, +"he never writes when things are going on smoothly. It is his way. Had +anything happened, he would have informed us." + +Lady Bothwell listened to her sister without attempting to console her. +Probably she might be of opinion that even the worst intelligence which +could be received from Flanders might not be without some touch of +consolation; and that the Dowager Lady Forester, if so she was doomed to +be called, might have a source of happiness unknown to the wife of the +gayest and finest gentleman in Scotland. This conviction became stronger +as they learned from inquiries made at headquarters that Sir Philip was +no longer with the army--though whether he had been taken or slain in +some of those skirmishes which were perpetually occurring, and in which +he loved to distinguish himself, or whether he had, for some unknown +reason or capricious change of mind, voluntarily left the service, +none of his countrymen in the camp of the Allies could form even a +conjecture. Meantime his creditors at home became clamorous, entered +into possession of his property, and threatened his person, should he +be rash enough to return to Scotland. These additional disadvantages +aggravated Lady Bothwell's displeasure against the fugitive husband; +while her sister saw nothing in any of them, save what tended to +increase her grief for the absence of him whom her imagination now +represented--as it had before marriage--gallant, gay, and affectionate. + +About this period there appeared in Edinburgh a man of singular +appearance and pretensions. He was commonly called the Paduan Doctor, +from having received his education at that famous university. He was +supposed to possess some rare receipts in medicine, with which, it was +affirmed, he had wrought remarkable cures. But though, on the one hand, +the physicians of Edinburgh termed him an empiric, there were many +persons, and among them some of the clergy, who, while they admitted the +truth of the cures and the force of his remedies, alleged that Doctor +Baptista Damiotti made use of charms and unlawful arts in order to +obtain success in his practice. The resorting to him was even solemnly +preached against, as a seeking of health from idols, and a trusting +to the help which was to come from Egypt. But the protection which the +Paduan Doctor received from some friends of interest and consequence +enabled him to set these imputations at defiance, and to assume, even +in the city of Edinburgh, famed as it was for abhorrence of witches and +necromancers, the dangerous character of an expounder of futurity. +It was at length rumoured that, for a certain gratification, which of +course was not an inconsiderable one, Doctor Baptista Damiotti could +tell the fate of the absent, and even show his visitors the personal +form of their absent friends, and the action in which they were engaged +at the moment. This rumour came to the ears of Lady Forester, who +had reached that pitch of mental agony in which the sufferer will +do anything, or endure anything, that suspense may be converted into +certainty. + +Gentle and timid in most cases, her state of mind made her equally +obstinate and reckless, and it was with no small surprise and alarm that +her sister, Lady Bothwell, heard her express a resolution to visit this +man of art, and learn from him the fate of her husband. Lady Bothwell +remonstrated on the improbability that such pretensions as those of this +foreigner could be founded in anything but imposture. + +"I care not," said the deserted wife, "what degree of ridicule I may +incur; if there be any one chance out of a hundred that I may obtain +some certainty of my husband's fate, I would not miss that chance for +whatever else the world can offer me." + +Lady Bothwell next urged the unlawfulness of resorting to such sources +of forbidden knowledge. + +"Sister," replied the sufferer, "he who is dying of thirst cannot +refrain from drinking even poisoned water. She who suffers under +suspense must seek information, even were the powers which offer it +unhallowed and infernal. I go to learn my fate alone, and this very +evening will I know it; the sun that rises to-morrow shall find me, if +not more happy, at least more resigned." + +"Sister," said Lady Bothwell, "if you are determined upon this wild +step, you shall not go alone. If this man be an impostor, you may be +too much agitated by your feelings to detect his villainy. If, which I +cannot believe, there be any truth in what he pretends, you shall not be +exposed alone to a communication of so extraordinary a nature. I will +go with you, if indeed you determine to go. But yet reconsider your +project, and renounce inquiries which cannot be prosecuted without +guilt, and perhaps without danger." + +Lady Forester threw herself into her sister's arms, and, clasping her +to her bosom, thanked her a hundred times for the offer of her company, +while she declined with a melancholy gesture the friendly advice with +which it was accompanied. + +When the hour of twilight arrived--which was the period when the Paduan +Doctor was understood to receive the visits of those who came to consult +with him--the two ladies left their apartments in the Canongate of +Edinburgh, having their dress arranged like that of women of an inferior +description, and their plaids disposed around their faces as they were +worn by the same class; for in those days of aristocracy the quality of +the wearer was generally indicated by the manner in which her plaid +was disposed, as well as by the fineness of its texture. It was Lady +Bothwell who had suggested this species of disguise, partly to avoid +observation as they should go to the conjurer's house, and partly in +order to make trial of his penetration, by appearing before him in a +feigned character. Lady Forester's servant, of tried fidelity, had been +employed by her to propitiate the Doctor by a suitable fee, and a +story intimating that a soldier's wife desired to know the fate of her +husband--a subject upon which, in all probability, the sage was very +frequently consulted. + +To the last moment, when the palace clock struck eight, Lady Bothwell +earnestly watched her sister, in hopes that she might retreat from her +rash undertaking; but as mildness, and even timidity, is capable at +times of vehement and fixed purposes, she found Lady Forester resolutely +unmoved and determined when the moment of departure arrived. Ill +satisfied with the expedition, but determined not to leave her sister at +such a crisis, Lady Bothwell accompanied Lady Forester through more than +one obscure street and lane, the servant walking before, and acting +as their guide. At length he suddenly turned into a narrow court, and +knocked at an arched door which seemed to belong to a building of some +antiquity. It opened, though no one appeared to act as porter; and the +servant, stepping aside from the entrance, motioned the ladies to enter. +They had no sooner done so than it shut, and excluded their guide. The +two ladies found themselves in a small vestibule, illuminated by a dim +lamp, and having, when the door was closed, no communication with the +external light or air. The door of an inner apartment, partly open, was +at the farther side of the vestibule. + +"We must not hesitate now, Jemima," said Lady Bothwell, and walked +forwards into the inner room, where, surrounded by books, maps, +philosophical utensils, and other implements of peculiar shape and +appearance, they found the man of art. + +There was nothing very peculiar in the Italian's appearance. He had the +dark complexion and marked features of his country, seemed about fifty +years old, and was handsomely but plainly dressed in a full suit of +black clothes, which was then the universal costume of the medical +profession. Large wax-lights, in silver sconces, illuminated the +apartment, which was reasonably furnished. He rose as the ladies +entered, and, notwithstanding the inferiority of their dress, received +them with the marked respect due to their quality, and which foreigners +are usually punctilious in rendering to those to whom such honours are +due. + +Lady Bothwell endeavoured to maintain her proposed incognito, and, as +the Doctor ushered them to the upper end of the room, made a motion +declining his courtesy, as unfitted for their condition. "We are poor +people, sir," she said; "only my sister's distress has brought us to +consult your worship whether--" + +He smiled as he interrupted her--"I am aware, madam, of your sister's +distress, and its cause; I am aware, also, that I am honoured with a +visit from two ladies of the highest consideration--Lady Bothwell and +Lady Forester. If I could not distinguish them from the class of +society which their present dress would indicate, there would be small +possibility of my being able to gratify them by giving the information +which they come to seek." + +"I can easily understand--" said Lady Bothwell. + +"Pardon my boldness to interrupt you, milady," cried the Italian; "your +ladyship was about to say that you could easily understand that I had +got possession of your names by means of your domestic. But in thinking +so, you do injustice to the fidelity of your servant, and, I may add, +to the skill of one who is also not less your humble servant--Baptista +Damiotti." + +"I have no intention to do either, sir," said Lady Bothwell, maintaining +a tone of composure, though somewhat surprised; "but the situation is +something new to me. If you know who we are, you also know, sir, what +brought us here." + +"Curiosity to know the fate of a Scottish gentleman of rank, now, +or lately, upon the Continent," answered the seer. "His name is Il +Cavaliero Philippo Forester, a gentleman who has the honour to be +husband to this lady, and, with your ladyship's permission for using +plain language, the misfortune not to value as it deserves that +inestimable advantage." + +Lady Forester sighed deeply, and Lady Bothwell replied,-- + +"Since you know our object without our telling it, the only question +that remains is, whether you have the power to relieve my sister's +anxiety?" + +"I have, madam," answered the Paduan scholar; "but there is still a +previous inquiry. Have you the courage to behold with your own eyes what +the Cavaliero Philippo Forester is now doing? or will you take it on my +report?" + +"That question my sister must answer for herself," said Lady Bothwell. + +"With my own eyes will I endure to see whatever you have power to show +me," said Lady Forester, with the same determined spirit which had +stimulated her since her resolution was taken upon this subject. + +"There may be danger in it." + +"If gold can compensate the risk," said Lady Forester, taking out her +purse. + +"I do not such things for the purpose of gain," answered the foreigner; +"I dare not turn my art to such a purpose. If I take the gold of the +wealthy, it is but to bestow it on the poor; nor do I ever accept more +than the sum I have already received from your servant. Put up your +purse, madam; an adept needs not your gold." + +Lady Bothwell, considering this rejection of her sister's offer as a +mere trick of an empiric, to induce her to press a larger sum upon him, +and willing that the scene should be commenced and ended, offered some +gold in turn, observing that it was only to enlarge the sphere of his +charity. + +"Let Lady Bothwell enlarge the sphere of her own charity," said the +Paduan, "not merely in giving of alms, in which I know she is not +deficient, but in judging the character of others; and let her oblige +Baptista Damiotti by believing him honest, till she shall discover him +to be a knave. Do not be surprised, madam, if I speak in answer to your +thoughts rather than your expressions; and tell me once more whether you +have courage to look on what I am prepared to show?" + +"I own, sir," said Lady Bothwell, "that your words strike me with some +sense of fear; but whatever my sister desires to witness, I will not +shrink from witnessing along with her." + +"Nay, the danger only consists in the risk of your resolution failing +you. The sight can only last for the space of seven minutes; and should +you interrupt the vision by speaking a single word, not only would the +charm be broken, but some danger might result to the spectators. But +if you can remain steadily silent for the seven minutes, your curiosity +will be gratified without the slightest risk; and for this I will engage +my honour." + +Internally Lady Bothwell thought the security was but an indifferent +one; but she suppressed the suspicion, as if she had believed that the +adept, whose dark features wore a half-formed smile, could in reality +read even her most secret reflections. A solemn pause then ensued, until +Lady Forester gathered courage enough to reply to the physician, as he +termed himself, that she would abide with firmness and silence the sight +which he had promised to exhibit to them. Upon this, he made them a low +obeisance, and saying he went to prepare matters to meet their wish, +left the apartment. The two sisters, hand in hand, as if seeking by that +close union to divert any danger which might threaten them, sat down on +two seats in immediate contact with each other--Jemima seeking support +in the manly and habitual courage of Lady Bothwell; and she, on the +other hand, more agitated than she had expected, endeavouring to fortify +herself by the desperate resolution which circumstances had forced her +sister to assume. The one perhaps said to herself that her sister never +feared anything; and the other might reflect that what so feeble-minded +a woman as Jemima did not fear, could not properly be a subject of +apprehension to a person of firmness and resolution like her own. + +In a few moments the thoughts of both were diverted from their own +situation by a strain of music so singularly sweet and solemn that, +while it seemed calculated to avert or dispel any feeling unconnected +with its harmony, increased, at the same time, the solemn excitation +which the preceding interview was calculated to produce. The music +was that of some instrument with which they were unacquainted; but +circumstances afterwards led my ancestress to believe that it was that +of the harmonica, which she heard at a much later period in life. + +When these heaven-born sounds had ceased, a door opened in the upper end +of the apartment, and they saw Damiotti, standing at the head of two or +three steps, sign to them to advance. His dress was so different from +that which he had worn a few minutes before, that they could hardly +recognize him; and the deadly paleness of his countenance, and a certain +stern rigidity of muscles, like that of one whose mind is made up +to some strange and daring action, had totally changed the somewhat +sarcastic expression with which he had previously regarded them both, +and particularly Lady Bothwell. He was barefooted, excepting a species +of sandals in the antique fashion; his legs were naked beneath the +knees; above them he wore hose, and a doublet of dark crimson silk close +to his body; and over that a flowing loose robe, something resembling a +surplice, of snow-white linen. His throat and neck were uncovered, and +his long, straight, black hair was carefully combed down at full length. + +As the ladies approached at his bidding, he showed no gesture of that +ceremonious courtesy of which he had been formerly lavish. On the +contrary, he made the signal of advance with an air of command; and +when, arm in arm, and with insecure steps, the sisters approached the +spot where he stood, it was with a warning frown that he pressed his +finger to his lips, as if reiterating his condition of absolute silence, +while, stalking before them, he led the way into the next apartment. + +This was a large room, hung with black, as if for a funeral. At the +upper end was a table, or rather a species of altar, covered with the +same lugubrious colour, on which lay divers objects resembling the usual +implements of sorcery. These objects were not indeed visible as they +advanced into the apartment; for the light which displayed them, being +only that of two expiring lamps, was extremely faint. The master--to use +the Italian phrase for persons of this description--approached the upper +end of the room, with a genuflection like that of a Catholic to the +crucifix, and at the same time crossed himself. The ladies followed in +silence, and arm in arm. Two or three low broad steps led to a platform +in front of the altar, or what resembled such. Here the sage took his +stand, and placed the ladies beside him, once more earnestly repeating +by signs his injunctions of silence. The Italian then, extending his +bare arm from under his linen vestment, pointed with his forefinger to +five large flambeaux, or torches, placed on each side of the altar. They +took fire successively at the approach of his hand, or rather of his +finger, and spread a strong light through the room. By this the visitors +could discern that, on the seeming altar, were disposed two naked swords +laid crosswise; a large open book, which they conceived to be a copy of +the Holy Scriptures, but in a language to them unknown; and beside this +mysterious volume was placed a human skull. But what struck the sisters +most was a very tall and broad mirror, which occupied all the space +behind the altar, and, illumined by the lighted torches, reflected the +mysterious articles which were laid upon it. + +The master then placed himself between the two ladies, and, pointing to +the mirror, took each by the hand, but without speaking a syllable. They +gazed intently on the polished and sable space to which he had directed +their attention. Suddenly the surface assumed a new and singular +appearance. It no longer simply reflected the objects placed before it, +but, as if it had self-contained scenery of its own, objects began +to appear within it, at first in a disorderly, indistinct, and +miscellaneous manner, like form arranging itself out of chaos; at +length, in distinct and defined shape and symmetry. It was thus that, +after some shifting of light and darkness over the face of the wonderful +glass, a long perspective of arches and columns began to arrange itself +on its sides, and a vaulted roof on the upper part of it, till, after +many oscillations, the whole vision gained a fixed and stationary +appearance, representing the interior of a foreign church. The pillars +were stately, and hung with scutcheons; the arches were lofty and +magnificent; the floor was lettered with funeral inscriptions. But there +were no separate shrines, no images, no display of chalice or crucifix +on the altar. It was, therefore, a Protestant church upon the Continent. +A clergyman dressed in the Geneva gown and band stood by the communion +table, and, with the Bible opened before him, and his clerk awaiting in +the background, seemed prepared to perform some service of the church to +which he belonged. + +At length, there entered the middle aisle of the building a numerous +party, which appeared to be a bridal one, as a lady and gentleman walked +first, hand in hand, followed by a large concourse of persons of both +sexes, gaily, nay richly, attired. The bride, whose features they could +distinctly see, seemed not more than sixteen years old, and extremely +beautiful. The bridegroom, for some seconds, moved rather with his +shoulder towards them, and his face averted; but his elegance of form +and step struck the sisters at once with the same apprehension. As he +turned his face suddenly, it was frightfully realized, and they saw, in +the gay bridegroom before them, Sir Philip Forester. His wife uttered an +imperfect exclamation, at the sound of which the whole scene stirred and +seemed to separate. + +"I could compare it to nothing," said Lady Bothwell, while recounting +the wonderful tale, "but to the dispersion of the reflection offered +by a deep and calm pool, when a stone is suddenly cast into it, and +the shadows become dissipated and broken." The master pressed both the +ladies' hands severely, as if to remind them of their promise, and +of the danger which they incurred. The exclamation died away on Lady +Forester's tongue, without attaining perfect utterance, and the scene in +the glass, after the fluctuation of a minute, again resumed to the eye +its former appearance of a real scene, existing within the mirror, as if +represented in a picture, save that the figures were movable instead of +being stationary. + +The representation of Sir Philip Forester, now distinctly visible +in form and feature, was seen to lead on towards the clergyman that +beautiful girl, who advanced at once with diffidence and with a species +of affectionate pride. In the meantime, and just as the clergyman had +arranged the bridal company before him, and seemed about to commence the +service, another group of persons, of whom two or three were officers, +entered the church. They moved, at first, forward, as though they came +to witness the bridal ceremony; but suddenly one of the officers, whose +back was towards the spectators, detached himself from his companions, +and rushed hastily towards the marriage party, when the whole of them +turned towards him, as if attracted by some exclamation which had +accompanied his advance. Suddenly the intruder drew his sword; the +bridegroom unsheathed his own, and made towards him; swords were also +drawn by other individuals, both of the marriage party and of those who +had last entered. They fell into a sort of confusion, the clergyman, and +some elder and graver persons, labouring apparently to keep the peace, +while the hotter spirits on both sides brandished their weapons. But +now, the period of the brief space during which the soothsayer, as he +pretended, was permitted to exhibit his art, was arrived. The fumes +again mixed together, and dissolved gradually from observation; the +vaults and columns of the church rolled asunder, and disappeared; and +the front of the mirror reflected nothing save the blazing torches and +the melancholy apparatus placed on the altar or table before it. + +The doctor led the ladies, who greatly required his support, into the +apartment from whence they came, where wine, essences, and other means +of restoring suspended animation, had been provided during his absence. +He motioned them to chairs, which they occupied in silence--Lady +Forester, in particular, wringing her hands, and casting her eyes up +to heaven, but without speaking a word, as if the spell had been still +before her eyes. + +"And what we have seen is even now acting?" said Lady Bothwell, +collecting herself with difficulty. + +"That," answered Baptista Damiotti, "I cannot justly, or with certainty, +say. But it is either now acting, or has been acted during a short space +before this. It is the last remarkable transaction in which the Cavalier +Forester has been engaged." + +Lady Bothwell then expressed anxiety concerning her sister, whose +altered countenance and apparent unconsciousness of what passed around +her excited her apprehensions how it might be possible to convey her +home. + +"I have prepared for that," answered the adept. "I have directed the +servant to bring your equipage as near to this place as the narrowness +of the street will permit. Fear not for your sister, but give her, +when you return home, this composing draught, and she will be better +to-morrow morning. Few," he added in a melancholy tone, "leave this +house as well in health as they entered it. Such being the consequence +of seeking knowledge by mysterious means, I leave you to judge the +condition of those who have the power of gratifying such irregular +curiosity. Farewell, and forget not the potion." + +"I will give her nothing that comes from you," said Lady Bothwell; "I +have seen enough of your art already. Perhaps you would poison us both +to conceal your own necromancy. But we are persons who want neither the +means of making our wrongs known, nor the assistance of friends to right +them." + +"You have had no wrongs from me, madam," said the adept. "You sought one +who is little grateful for such honour. He seeks no one, and only gives +responses to those who invite and call upon him. After all, you have +but learned a little sooner the evil which you must still be doomed to +endure. I hear your servant's step at the door, and will detain your +ladyship and Lady Forester no longer. The next packet from the Continent +will explain what you have already partly witnessed. Let it not, if I +may advise, pass too suddenly into your sister's hands." + +So saying, he bid Lady Bothwell good-night. She went, lighted by the +adept, to the vestibule, where he hastily threw a black cloak over his +singular dress, and opening the door, entrusted his visitors to the care +of the servant. It was with difficulty that Lady Bothwell sustained her +sister to the carriage, though it was only twenty steps distant. When +they arrived at home, Lady Forester required medical assistance. The +physician of the family attended, and shook his head on feeling her +pulse. + +"Here has been," he said, "a violent and sudden shock on the nerves. I +must know how it has happened." + +Lady Bothwell admitted they had visited the conjurer, and that Lady +Forester had received some bad news respecting her husband, Sir Philip. + +"That rascally quack would make my fortune, were he to stay in +Edinburgh," said the graduate; "this is the seventh nervous case I +have heard of his making for me, and all by effect of terror." He next +examined the composing draught which Lady Bothwell had unconsciously +brought in her hand, tasted it, and pronounced it very germain to the +matter, and what would save an application to the apothecary. He then +paused, and looking at Lady Bothwell very significantly, at length +added, "I suppose I must not ask your ladyship anything about this +Italian warlock's proceedings?" + +"Indeed, doctor," answered Lady Bothwell, "I consider what passed as +confidential; and though the man may be a rogue, yet, as we were fools +enough to consult him, we should, I think, be honest enough to keep his +counsel." + +"MAY be a knave! Come," said the doctor, "I am glad to hear your +ladyship allows such a possibility in anything that comes from Italy." + +"What comes from Italy may be as good as what comes from Hanover, +doctor. But you and I will remain good friends; and that it may be so, +we will say nothing of Whig and Tory." + +"Not I," said the doctor, receiving his fee, and taking his hat; "a +Carolus serves my purpose as well as a Willielmus. But I should like to +know why old Lady Saint Ringan, and all that set, go about wasting their +decayed lungs in puffing this foreign fellow." + +"Ay--you had best set him down a Jesuit, as Scrub says." On these terms +they parted. + +The poor patient--whose nerves, from an extraordinary state of tension, +had at length become relaxed in as extraordinary a degree--continued to +struggle with a sort of imbecility, the growth of superstitious terror, +when the shocking tidings were brought from Holland which fulfilled even +her worst expectations. + +They were sent by the celebrated Earl of Stair, and contained the +melancholy event of a duel betwixt Sir Philip Forester and his wife's +half-brother, Captain Falconer, of the Scotch-Dutch, as they were +then called, in which the latter had been killed. The cause of quarrel +rendered the incident still more shocking. It seemed that Sir Philip +had left the army suddenly, in consequence of being unable to pay a very +considerable sum which he had lost to another volunteer at play. He had +changed his name, and taken up his residence at Rotterdam, where he +had insinuated himself into the good graces of an ancient and rich +burgomaster, and, by his handsome person and graceful manners, +captivated the affections of his only child, a very young person, +of great beauty, and the heiress of much wealth. Delighted with +the specious attractions of his proposed son-in-law, the wealthy +merchant--whose idea of the British character was too high to admit +of his taking any precaution to acquire evidence of his condition and +circumstances--gave his consent to the marriage. It was about to be +celebrated in the principal church of the city, when it was interrupted +by a singular occurrence. + +Captain Falconer having been detached to Rotterdam to bring up a part +of the brigade of Scottish auxiliaries, who were in quarters there, a +person of consideration in the town, to whom he had been formerly +known, proposed to him for amusement to go to the high church to see a +countryman of his own married to the daughter of a wealthy burgomaster. +Captain Falconer went accordingly, accompanied by his Dutch +acquaintance, with a party of his friends, and two or three officers of +the Scotch brigade. His astonishment may be conceived when he saw his +own brother-in-law, a married man, on the point of leading to the altar +the innocent and beautiful creature upon whom he was about to practise a +base and unmanly deceit. He proclaimed his villainy on the spot, and +the marriage was interrupted, of course. But against the opinion of +more thinking men, who considered Sir Philip Forester as having thrown +himself out of the rank of men of honour, Captain Falconer admitted +him to the privilege of such, accepted a challenge from him, and in +the rencounter received a mortal wound. Such are the ways of Heaven, +mysterious in our eyes. Lady Forester never recovered the shock of this +dismal intelligence. + + +"And did this tragedy," said I, "take place exactly at the time when the +scene in the mirror was exhibited?" + +"It is hard to be obliged to maim one's story," answered my aunt, "but +to speak the truth, it happened some days sooner than the apparition was +exhibited." + +"And so there remained a possibility," said I, "that by some secret and +speedy communication the artist might have received early intelligence +of that incident." + +"The incredulous pretended so," replied my aunt. + +"What became of the adept?" demanded I. + +"Why, a warrant came down shortly afterwards to arrest him for high +treason, as an agent of the Chevalier St. George; and Lady Bothwell, +recollecting the hints which had escaped the doctor, an ardent friend +of the Protestant succession, did then call to remembrance that this +man was chiefly PRONE among the ancient matrons of her own political +persuasion. It certainly seemed probable that intelligence from the +Continent, which could easily have been transmitted by an active and +powerful agent, might have enabled him to prepare such a scene of +phantasmagoria as she had herself witnessed. Yet there were so many +difficulties in assigning a natural explanation, that, to the day of her +death, she remained in great doubt on the subject, and much disposed to +cut the Gordian knot by admitting the existence of supernatural agency." + +"But, my dear aunt," said I, "what became of the man of skill?" + +"Oh, he was too good a fortune-teller not to be able to foresee that his +own destiny would be tragical if he waited the arrival of the man with +the silver greyhound upon his sleeve. He made, as we say, a moonlight +flitting, and was nowhere to be seen or heard of. Some noise there was +about papers or letters found in the house; but it died away, and Doctor +Baptista Damiotti was soon as little talked of as Galen or Hippocrates." + +"And Sir Philip Forester," said I, "did he too vanish for ever from the +public scene?" + +"No," replied my kind informer. "He was heard of once more, and it was +upon a remarkable occasion. It is said that we Scots, when there was +such a nation in existence, have, among our full peck of virtues, one +or two little barley-corns of vice. In particular, it is alleged that we +rarely forgive, and never forget, any injuries received--that we make an +idol of our resentment, as poor Lady Constance did of her grief, and are +addicted, as Burns says, to 'nursing our wrath to keep it warm.' Lady +Bothwell was not without this feeling; and, I believe, nothing whatever, +scarce the restoration of the Stewart line, could have happened so +delicious to her feelings as an opportunity of being revenged on Sir +Philip Forester for the deep and double injury which had deprived her +of a sister and of a brother. But nothing of him was heard or known till +many a year had passed away. + +"At length--it was on a Fastern's E'en (Shrovetide) assembly, at which +the whole fashion of Edinburgh attended, full and frequent, and when +Lady Bothwell had a seat amongst the lady patronesses, that one of the +attendants on the company whispered into her ear that a gentleman wished +to speak with her in private. + +"'In private? and in an assembly room?--he must be mad. Tell him to call +upon me to-morrow morning.' + +"'I said so, my lady,' answered the man, 'but he desired me to give you +this paper.' + +"She undid the billet, which was curiously folded and sealed. It only +bore the words, 'ON BUSINESS OF LIFE AND DEATH,' written in a hand which +she had never seen before. Suddenly it occurred to her that it might +concern the safety of some of her political friends. She therefore +followed the messenger to a small apartment where the refreshments were +prepared, and from which the general company was excluded. She found +an old man, who, at her approach, rose up and bowed profoundly. His +appearance indicated a broken constitution, and his dress, though +sedulously rendered conforming to the etiquette of a ballroom, was +worn and tarnished, and hung in folds about his emaciated person. Lady +Bothwell was about to feel for her purse, expecting to get rid of the +supplicant at the expense of a little money, but some fear of a mistake +arrested her purpose. She therefore gave the man leisure to explain +himself. + +"'I have the honour to speak with the Lady Bothwell?' + +"'I am Lady Bothwell; allow me to say that this is no time or place for +long explanations. What are your commands with me?' + +"'Your ladyship,' said the old man, 'had once a sister.' + +"'True; whom I loved as my own soul.' + +"'And a brother.' + +"'The bravest, the kindest, the most affectionate!' said Lady Bothwell. + +"'Both these beloved relatives you lost by the fault of an unfortunate +man,' continued the stranger. + +"'By the crime of an unnatural, bloody-minded murderer,' said the lady. + +"'I am answered,' replied the old man, bowing, as if to withdraw. + +"'Stop, sir, I command you,' said Lady Bothwell. 'Who are you that, at +such a place and time, come to recall these horrible recollections? I +insist upon knowing.' + +"'I am one who intends Lady Bothwell no injury, but, on the contrary, +to offer her the means of doing a deed of Christian charity, which the +world would wonder at, and which Heaven would reward; but I find her in +no temper for such a sacrifice as I was prepared to ask.' + +"'Speak out, sir; what is your meaning?' said Lady Bothwell. + +"'The wretch that has wronged you so deeply,' rejoined the stranger, 'is +now on his death-bed. His days have been days of misery, his nights +have been sleepless hours of anguish--yet he cannot die without your +forgiveness. His life has been an unremitting penance--yet he dares not +part from his burden while your curses load his soul.' + +"'Tell him,' said Lady Bothwell sternly, 'to ask pardon of that Being +whom he has so greatly offended, not of an erring mortal like himself. +What could my forgiveness avail him?' + +"'Much,' answered the old man. 'It will be an earnest of that which +he may then venture to ask from his Creator, lady, and from yours. +Remember, Lady Bothwell, you too have a death-bed to look forward +to; Your soul may--all human souls must--feel the awe of facing the +judgment-seat, with the wounds of an untented conscience, raw, and +rankling--what thought would it be then that should whisper, "I have +given no mercy, how then shall I ask it?"' + +"'Man, whosoever thou mayest be,' replied Lady Bothwell, 'urge me not so +cruelly. It would be but blasphemous hypocrisy to utter with my lips the +words which every throb of my heart protests against. They would open +the earth and give to light the wasted form of my sister, the bloody +form of my murdered brother. Forgive him?--never, never!' + +"'Great God!' cried the old man, holding up his hands, 'is it thus the +worms which Thou hast called out of dust obey the commands of their +Maker? Farewell, proud and unforgiving woman. Exult that thou hast added +to a death in want and pain the agonies of religious despair; but never +again mock Heaven by petitioning for the pardon which thou hast refused +to grant.' + +"He was turning from her. + +"'Stop,' she exclaimed; 'I will try--yes, I will try to pardon him.' + +"'Gracious lady,' said the old man, 'you will relieve the over-burdened +soul which dare not sever itself from its sinful companion of earth +without being at peace with you. What do I know--your forgiveness may +perhaps preserve for penitence the dregs of a wretched life.' + +"'Ha!' said the lady, as a sudden light broke on her, 'it is the villain +himself!' And grasping Sir Philip Forester--for it was he, and no +other--by the collar, she raised a cry of 'Murder, murder! seize the +murderer!' + +"At an exclamation so singular, in such a place, the company thronged +into the apartment; but Sir Philip Forester was no longer there. He had +forcibly extricated himself from Lady Bothwell's hold, and had run out +of the apartment, which opened on the landing-place of the stair. There +seemed no escape in that direction, for there were several persons +coming up the steps, and others descending. But the unfortunate man was +desperate. He threw himself over the balustrade, and alighted safely in +the lobby, though a leap of fifteen feet at least, then dashed into +the street, and was lost in darkness. Some of the Bothwell family made +pursuit, and had they come up with the fugitive they might perhaps have +slain him; for in those days men's blood ran warm in their veins. But +the police did not interfere, the matter most criminal having happened +long since, and in a foreign land. Indeed it was always thought that +this extraordinary scene originated in a hypocritical experiment, by +which Sir Philip desired to ascertain whether he might return to his +native country in safety from the resentment of a family which he had +injured so deeply. As the result fell out so contrary to his wishes, he +is believed to have returned to the Continent, and there died in exile." + +So closed the tale of the MYSTERIOUS MIRROR. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's My Aunt Margaret's Mirror, by Sir Walter Scott + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MY AUNT MARGARET'S MIRROR *** + +***** This file should be named 1667.txt or 1667.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1667/ + +Produced by An Anonymous Volunteer + +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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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + + + +From SHORT STORIES PUBLISHED IN "THE KEEPSAKE" ANNUAL of 1828 + + + + +My Aunt Margaret's Mirror + +by Sir Walter Scott + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + +The species of publication which has come to be generally known +by the title of ANNUAL, being a miscellany of prose and verse, +equipped with numerous engravings, and put forth every year about +Christmas, had flourished for a long while in Germany before it +was imitated in this country by an enterprising bookseller, a +German by birth, Mr. Ackermann. The rapid success of his work, +as is the custom of the time, gave birth to a host of rivals, +and, among others, to an Annual styled The Keepsake, the first +volume of which appeared in 1828, and attracted much notice, +chiefly in consequence of the very uncommon splendour of its +illustrative accompaniments. The expenditure which the spirited +proprietors lavished on this magnificent volume is understood to +have been not less than from ten to twelve thousand pounds +sterling! + +Various gentlemen of such literary reputation that any one might +think it an honour to be associated with them had been announced +as contributors to this Annual, before application was made to me +to assist in it; and I accordingly placed with much pleasure at +the Editor's disposal a few fragments, originally designed to +have been worked into the Chronicles of the Canongate, besides a +manuscript drama, the long-neglected performance of my youthful +days--"The House of Aspen." + +The Keepsake for 1828 included, however, only three of these +little prose tales, of which the first in order was that entitled +"My Aunt Margaret's Mirror." By way of INTRODUCTION to this, +when now included in a general collection of my lucubrations, I +have only to say that it is a mere transcript, or at least with +very little embellishment, of a story that I remembered being +struck with in my childhood, when told at the fireside by a lady +of eminent virtues and no inconsiderable share of talent, one of +the ancient and honourable house of Swinton. She was a kind of +relation of my own, and met her death in a manner so shocking-- +being killed, in a fit of insanity, by a female attendant who had +been attached to her person for half a lifetime--that I cannot +now recall her memory, child as I was when the catastrophe +occurred, without a painful reawakening of perhaps the first +images of horror that the scenes of real life stamped on my mind. + +This good spinster had in her composition a strong vein of the +superstitious, and was pleased, among other fancies, to read +alone in her chamber by a taper fixed in a candlestick which she +had had formed out of a human skull. One night this strange +piece of furniture acquired suddenly the power of locomotion, +and, after performing some odd circles on her chimney-piece, +fairly leaped on the floor, and continued to roll about the +apartment. Mrs. Swinton calmly proceeded to the adjoining room +for another light, and had the satisfaction to penetrate the +mystery on the spot. Rats abounded in the ancient building she +inhabited, and one of these had managed to ensconce itself within +her favourite MEMENTO MORI. Though thus endowed with a more than +feminine share of nerve, she entertained largely that belief in +supernaturals which in those times was not considered as sitting +ungracefully on the grave and aged of her condition; and the +story of the Magic Mirror was one for which she vouched with +particular confidence, alleging indeed that one of her own family +had been an eye-witness of the incidents recorded in it. + + "I tell the tale as it was told to me." + +Stories enow of much the same cast will present themselves to the +recollection of such of my readers as have ever dabbled in a +species of lore to which I certainly gave more hours, at one +period of my life, than I should gain any credit by confessing. + +AUGUST 1831. + +* + + +AUNT MARGARET'S MIRROR. + + "There are times + When Fancy plays her gambols, in despite + Even of our watchful senses--when in sooth + Substance seems shadow, shadow substance seems-- + When the broad, palpable, and mark'd partition + 'Twixt that which is and is not seems dissolved, + As if the mental eye gain'd power to gaze + Beyond the limits of the existing world. + Such hours of shadowy dreams I better love + Than all the gross realities of life." ANONYMOUS. + +My Aunt Margaret was one of that respected sisterhood upon whom +devolve all the trouble and solicitude incidental to the +possession of children, excepting only that which attends their +entrance into the world. We were a large family, of very +different dispositions and constitutions. Some were dull and +peevish--they were sent to Aunt Margaret to be amused; some were +rude, romping, and boisterous--they were sent to Aunt Margaret to +be kept quiet, or rather that their noise might be removed out of +hearing; those who were indisposed were sent with the prospect of +being nursed; those who were stubborn, with the hope of their +being subdued by the kindness of Aunt Margaret's discipline;--in +short, she had all the various duties of a mother, without the +credit and dignity of the maternal character. The busy scene of +her various cares is now over. Of the invalids and the robust, +the kind and the rough, the peevish and pleased children, who +thronged her little parlour from morning to night, not one now +remains alive but myself, who, afflicted by early infirmity, was +one of the most delicate of her nurslings, yet, nevertheless, +have outlived them all. + +It is still my custom, and shall be so while I have the use of my +limbs, to visit my respected relation at least three times a +week. Her abode is about half a mile from the suburbs of the +town in which I reside, and is accessible, not only by the +highroad, from which it stands at some distance, but by means of +a greensward footpath leading through some pretty meadows. I +have so little left to torment me in life, that it is one of my +greatest vexations to know that several of these sequestered +fields have been devoted as sites for building. In that which is +nearest the town, wheelbarrows have been at work for several +weeks in such numbers, that, I verily believe, its whole surface, +to the depth of at least eighteen inches, was mounted in these +monotrochs at the same moment, and in the act of being +transported from one place to another. Huge triangular piles of +planks are also reared in different parts of the devoted +messuage; and a little group of trees that still grace the +eastern end, which rises in a gentle ascent, have just received +warning to quit, expressed by a daub of white paint, and are to +give place to a curious grove of chimneys. + +It would, perhaps, hurt others in my situation to reflect that +this little range of pasturage once belonged to my father (whose +family was of some consideration in the world), and was sold by +patches to remedy distresses in which he involved himself in an +attempt by commercial adventure to redeem his diminished fortune. +While the building scheme was in full operation, this +circumstance was often pointed out to me by the class of friends +who are anxious that no part of your misfortunes should escape +your observation. "Such pasture-ground!--lying at the very +town's end--in turnips and potatoes, the parks would bring L20 +per acre; and if leased for building--oh, it was a gold mine! +And all sold for an old song out of the ancient possessor's +hands!" My comforters cannot bring me to repine much on this +subject. If I could be allowed to look back on the past without +interruption, I could willingly give up the enjoyment of present +income and the hope of future profit to those who have purchased +what my father sold. I regret the alteration of the ground only +because it destroys associations, and I would more willingly (I +think) see the Earl's Closes in the hands of strangers, retaining +their silvan appearance, than know them for my own, if torn up by +agriculture, or covered with buildings. Mine are the sensations +of poor Logan:-- + + "The horrid plough has rased the green + Where yet a child I strayed; + The axe has fell'd the hawthorn screen, + The schoolboy's summer shade." + +I hope, however, the threatened devastation will not be +consummated in my day. Although the adventurous spirit of times +short while since passed gave rise to the undertaking, I have +been encouraged to think that the subsequent changes have so far +damped the spirit of speculation that the rest of the woodland +footpath leading to Aunt Margaret's retreat will be left +undisturbed for her time and mine. I am interested in this, for +every step of the way, after I have passed through the green +already mentioned, has for me something of early remembrance:-- +There is the stile at which I can recollect a cross child's-maid +upbraiding me with my infirmity as she lifted me coarsely and +carelessly over the flinty steps, which my brothers traversed +with shout and bound. I remember the suppressed bitterness of +the moment, and, conscious of my own inferiority, the feeling of +envy with which I regarded the easy movements and elastic steps +of my more happily formed brethren. Alas! these goodly barks +have all perished on life's wide ocean, and only that which +seemed so little seaworthy, as the naval phrase goes, has reached +the port when the tempest is over. Then there is the pool, +where, manoeuvring our little navy, constructed out of the broad +water-flags, my elder brother fell in, and was scarce saved from +the watery element to die under Nelson's banner. There is the +hazel copse also, in which my brother Henry used to gather nuts, +thinking little that he was to die in an Indian jungle in quest +of rupees. + +There is so much more of remembrance about the little walk, that +--as I stop, rest on my crutch-headed cane, and look round with +that species of comparison between the thing I was and that which +I now am--it almost induces me to doubt my own identity; until I +find myself in face of the honeysuckle porch of Aunt Margaret's +dwelling, with its irregularity of front, and its odd, projecting +latticed windows, where the workmen seem to have made it a study +that no one of them should resemble another in form, size, or in +the old-fashioned stone entablature and labels which adorn them. +This tenement, once the manor house of the Earl's Closes, we +still retain a slight hold upon; for, in some family +arrangements, it had been settled upon Aunt Margaret during the +term of her life. Upon this frail tenure depends, in a great +measure, the last shadow of the family of Bothwell of Earl's +Closes, and their last slight connection with their paternal +inheritance. The only representative will then be an infirm old +man, moving not unwillingly to the grave, which has devoured all +that were dear to his affections. + +When I have indulged such thoughts for a minute or two, I enter +the mansion, which is said to have been the gate-house only of +the original building, and find one being on whom time seems to +have made little impression; for the Aunt Margaret of to-day +bears the same proportional age to the Aunt Margaret of my early +youth that the boy of ten years old does to the man of (by'r +Lady!) some fifty-six years. The old lady's invariable costume +has doubtless some share in confirming one in the opinion that +time has stood still with Aunt Margaret. + +The brown or chocolate-coloured silk gown, with ruffles of the +same stuff at the elbow, within which are others of Mechlin lace; +the black silk gloves, or mitts; the white hair combed back upon +a roll; and the cap of spotless cambric, which closes around the +venerable countenance--as they were not the costume of 1780, so +neither were they that of 1826; they are altogether a style +peculiar to the individual Aunt Margaret. There she still sits, +as she sat thirty years since, with her wheel or the stocking, +which she works by the fire in winter and by the window in +summer; or, perhaps, venturing as far as the porch in an +unusually fine summer evening. Her frame, like some well- +constructed piece of mechanics, still performs the operations for +which it had seemed destined--going its round with an activity +which is gradually diminished, yet indicating no probability that +it will soon come to a period. + +The solicitude and affection which had made Aunt Margaret the +willing slave to the inflictions of a whole nursery, have now for +their object the health and comfort of one old and infirm man-- +the last remaining relative of her family, and the only one who +can still find interest in the traditional stores which she +hoards, as some miser hides the gold which he desires that no one +should enjoy after his death. + +My conversation with Aunt Margaret generally relates little +either to the present or to the future. For the passing day we +possess as much as we require, and we neither of us wish for +more; and for that which is to follow, we have, on this side of +the grave, neither hopes, nor fears, nor anxiety. We therefore +naturally look back to the past, and forget the present fallen +fortunes and declined importance of our family in recalling the +hours when it was wealthy and prosperous. + +With this slight introduction, the reader will know as much of +Aunt Margaret and her nephew as is necessary to comprehend the +following conversation and narrative. + +Last week, when, late in a summer evening, I went to call on the +old lady to whom my reader is now introduced, I was received by +her with all her usual affection and benignity, while, at the +same time, she seemed abstracted and disposed to silence. I +asked her the reason. "They have been clearing out the old +chapel," she said; "John Clayhudgeons having, it seems, +discovered that the stuff within--being, I suppose, the remains +of our ancestors--was excellent for top-dressing the meadows." + +Here I started up with more alacrity than I have displayed for +some years; but sat down while my aunt added, laying her hand +upon my sleeve, "The chapel has been long considered as common +ground, my dear, and used for a pinfold, and what objection can +we have to the man for employing what is his own to his own +profit? Besides, I did speak to him, and he very readily and +civilly promised that if he found bones or monuments, they should +be carefully respected and reinstated; and what more could I ask? +So, the first stone they found bore the name of Margaret +Bothwell, 1585, and I have caused it to be laid carefully aside, +as I think it betokens death, and having served my namesake two +hundred years, it has just been cast up in time to do me the same +good turn. My house has been long put in order, as far as the +small earthly concerns require it; but who shall say that their +account with, Heaven is sufficiently revised?" + +"After what you have said, aunt," I replied, "perhaps I ought to +take my hat and go away; and so I should, but that there is on +this occasion a little alloy mingled with your devotion. To +think of death at all times is a duty--to suppose it nearer from +the finding an old gravestone is superstition; and you, with your +strong, useful common sense, which was so long the prop of a +fallen family, are the last person whom I should have suspected +of such weakness." + +"Neither would I deserve your suspicions, kinsman," answered Aunt +Margaret, "if we were speaking of any incident occurring in the +actual business of human life. But for all this, I have a sense +of superstition about me, which I do not wish to part with. It +is a feeling which separates me from this age, and links me with +that to which I am hastening; and even when it seems, as now, to +lead me to the brink of the grave, and bid me gaze on it, I do +not love that it should be dispelled. It soothes my imagination, +without influencing my reason or conduct." + +"I profess, my good lady," replied I, "that had any one but you +made such a declaration, I should have thought it as capricious +as that of the clergyman, who, without vindicating his false +reading, preferred, from habit's sake, his old Mumpsimus to the +modern Sumpsimus." + +"Well," answered my aunt, "I must explain my inconsistency in +this particular by comparing it to another. I am, as you know, a +piece of that old-fashioned thing called a Jacobite; but I am so +in sentiment and feeling only, for a more loyal subject never +joined in prayers for the health and wealth of George the Fourth, +whom God long preserve! But I dare say that kind-hearted +sovereign would not deem that an old woman did him much injury if +she leaned back in her arm-chair, just in such a twilight as +this, and thought of the high-mettled men whose sense of duty +called them to arms against his grandfather; and how, in a cause +which they deemed that of their rightful prince and country, + + 'They fought till their hand to the broadsword was glued, + They fought against fortune with hearts unsubdued.' + +Do not come at such a moment, when my head is full of plaids, +pibrochs, and claymores, and ask my reason to admit what, I am +afraid, it cannot deny--I mean, that the public advantage +peremptorily demanded that these things should cease to exist. I +cannot, indeed, refuse to allow the justice of your reasoning; +but yet, being convinced against my will, you will gain little by +your motion. You might as well read to an infatuated lover the +catalogue of his mistress's imperfections; for when he has been +compelled to listen to the summary, you will only get for answer +that 'he lo'es her a' the better.'" + +I was not sorry to have changed the gloomy train of Aunt +Margaret's thoughts, and replied in the same tone, "Well, I can't +help being persuaded that our good King is the more sure of Mrs. +Bothwell's loyal affection, that he has the Stewart right of +birth as well as the Act of Succession in his favour." + +"Perhaps my attachment, were its source of consequence, might be +found warmer for the union of the rights you mention," said Aunt +Margaret; "but, upon my word, it would be as sincere if the +King's right were founded only on the will of the nation, as +declared at the Revolution. I am none of your JURE DIVINO +folks." + +"And a Jacobite notwithstanding." + +"And a Jacobite notwithstanding--or rather, I will give you leave +to call me one of the party which, in Queen Anne's time, were +called, WHIMSICALS, because they were sometimes operated upon by +feelings, sometimes by principle. After all, it is very hard +that you will not allow an old woman to be as inconsistent in her +political sentiments as mankind in general show themselves in all +the various courses of life; since you cannot point out one of +them in which the passions and prejudices of those who pursue it +are not perpetually carrying us away from the path which our +reason points out." + +"True, aunt; but you are a wilful wanderer, who should be forced +back into the right path." + +"Spare me, I entreat you," replied Aunt Margaret. "You remember +the Gaelic song, though I dare say I mispronounce the words-- + + 'Hatil mohatil, na dowski mi.' + (I am asleep, do not waken me.) + +I tell you, kinsman, that the sort of waking dreams which my +imagination spins out, in what your favourite Wordsworth calls +'moods of my own mind,' are worth all the rest of my more active +days. Then, instead of looking forwards, as I did in youth, and +forming for myself fairy palaces, upon the verge of the grave I +turn my eyes backward upon the days and manners of my better +time; and the sad, yet soothing recollections come so close and +interesting, that I almost think it sacrilege to be wiser or more +rational or less prejudiced than those to whom I looked up in my +younger years." + +"I think I now understand what you mean," I answered, "and can +comprehend why you should occasionally prefer the twilight of +illusion to the steady light of reason." + +"Where there is no task," she rejoined, "to be performed, we may +sit in the dark if we like it; if we go to work, we must ring for +candles." + +"And amidst such shadowy and doubtful light," continued I, +"imagination frames her enchanted and enchanting visions, and +sometimes passes them upon the senses for reality." + +"Yes," said Aunt Margaret, who is a well-read woman, "to those +who resemble the translator of Tasso,-- + + 'Prevailing poet, whose undoubting mind + Believed the magic wonders which he sung. + +It is not required for this purpose that you should be sensible +of the painful horrors which an actual belief in such prodigies +inflicts. Such a belief nowadays belongs only to fools and +children. It is not necessary that your ears should tingle and +your complexion change, like that of Theodore at the approach of +the spectral huntsman. All that is indispensable for the +enjoyment of the milder feeling of supernatural awe is, that you +should be susceptible of the slight shuddering which creeps over +you when you hear a tale of terror--that well-vouched tale which +the narrator, having first expressed his general disbelief of all +such legendary lore, selects and produces, as having something in +it which he has been always obliged to give up as inexplicable. +Another symptom is a momentary hesitation to look round you, when +the interest of the narrative is at the highest; and the third, a +desire to avoid looking into a mirror when you are alone in your +chamber for the evening. I mean such are signs which indicate +the crisis, when a female imagination is in due temperature to +enjoy a ghost story. I do not pretend to describe those which +express the same disposition in a gentleman." + +"That last symptom, dear aunt, of shunning the mirror seems +likely to be a rare occurrence amongst the fair sex." + +"You are a novice in toilet fashions, my dear cousin. All women +consult the looking-glass with anxiety before they go into +company; but when they return home, the mirror has not the same +charm. The die has been cast--the party has been successful or +unsuccessful in the impression which she desired to make. But, +without going deeper into the mysteries of the dressing-table, I +will tell you that I myself, like many other honest folks, do not +like to see the blank, black front of a large mirror in a room +dimly lighted, and where the reflection of the candle seems +rather to lose itself in the deep obscurity of the glass than to +be reflected back again into the apartment, That space of inky +darkness seems to be a field for Fancy to play her revels in. +She may call up other features to meet us, instead of the +reflection of our own; or, as in the spells of Hallowe'en, which +we learned in childhood, some unknown form may be seen peeping +over our shoulder. In short, when I am in a ghost-seeing humour, +I make my handmaiden draw the green curtains over the mirror +before I go into the room, so that she may have the first shock +of the apparition, if there be any to be seen, But, to tell you +the truth, this dislike to look into a mirror in particular times +and places has, I believe, its original foundation in a story +which came to me by tradition from my grandmother, who was a +party concerned in the scene of which I will now tell you." + +* + +THE MIRROR. + +CHAPTER I. + +You are fond (said my aunt) of sketches of the society which has +passed away. I wish I could describe to you Sir Philip Forester, +the "chartered libertine" of Scottish good company, about the end +of the last century. I never saw him indeed; but my mother's +traditions were full of his wit, gallantry, and dissipation. +This gay knight flourished about the end of the seventeenth and +beginning of the eighteenth century. He was the Sir Charles Easy +and the Lovelace of his day and country--renowned for the number +of duels he had fought, and the successful intrigues which he had +carried on. The supremacy which he had attained in the +fashionable world was absolute; and when we combine it with one +or two anecdotes, for which, "if laws were made for every +degree," he ought certainly to have been hanged, the popularity +of such a person really serves to show, either that the present +times are much more decent, if not more virtuous, than they +formerly were, or that high-breeding then was of more difficult +attainment than that which is now so called, and consequently +entitled the successful professor to a proportional degree of +plenary indulgences and privileges. No beau of this day could +have borne out so ugly a story as that of Pretty Peggy +Grindstone, the miller's daughter at Sillermills--it had well- +nigh made work for the Lord Advocate. But it hurt Sir Philip +Forester no more than the hail hurts the hearthstone. He was as +well received in society as ever, and dined with the Duke of A--- +the day the poor girl was buried. She died of heartbreak. But +that has nothing to do with my story. + +Now, you must listen to a single word upon kith, kin, and ally; I +promise you I will not be prolix. But it is necessary to the +authenticity of my legend that you should know that Sir Philip +Forester, with his handsome person, elegant accomplishments, and +fashionable manners, married the younger Miss Falconer of King's +Copland. The elder sister of this lady had previously become the +wife of my grandfather, Sir Geoffrey Bothwell, and brought into +our family a good fortune. Miss Jemima, or Miss Jemmie Falconer, +as she was usually called, had also about ten thousand pounds +sterling--then thought a very handsome portion indeed. + +The two sisters were extremely different, though each had their +admirers while they remained single. Lady Bothwell had some +touch of the old King's Copland blood about her. She was bold, +though not to the degree of audacity, ambitious, and desirous to +raise her house and family; and was, as has been said, a +considerable spur to my grandfather, who was otherwise an +indolent man, but whom, unless he has been slandered, his lady's +influence involved in some political matters which had been more +wisely let alone. She was a woman of high principle, however, +and masculine good sense, as some of her letters testify, which +are still in my wainscot cabinet. + +Jemmie Falconer was the reverse of her sister in every respect. +Her understanding did not reach above the ordinary pitch, if, +indeed, she could be said to have attained it. Her beauty, while +it lasted, consisted, in a great measure, of delicacy of +complexion and regularity of features, without any peculiar force +of expression. Even these charms faded under the sufferings +attendant on an ill-assorted match. She was passionately +attached to her husband, by whom she was treated with a callous +yet polite indifference, which, to one whose heart was as tender +as her judgment was weak, was more painful perhaps than absolute +ill-usage. Sir Philip was a voluptuary--that is, a completely +selfish egotist--whose disposition and character resembled the +rapier he wore, polished, keen, and brilliant, but inflexible and +unpitying. As he observed carefully all the usual forms towards +his lady, he had the art to deprive her even of the compassion of +the world; and useless and unavailing as that may be while +actually possessed by the sufferer, it is, to a mind like Lady +Forester's, most painful to know she has it not. + +The tattle of society did its best to place the peccant husband +above the suffering wife. Some called her a poor, spiritless +thing, and declared that, with a little of her sister's spirit, +she might have brought to reason any Sir Philip whatsoever, were +it the termagant Falconbridge himself. But the greater part of +their acquaintance affected candour, and saw faults on both +sides--though, in fact, there only existed the oppressor and the +oppressed. The tone of such critics was, "To be sure, no one +will justify Sir Philip Forester, but then we all know Sir +Philip, and Jemmie Falconer might have known what she had to +expect from the beginning. What made her set her cap at Sir +Philip? He would never have looked at her if she had not thrown +herself at his head, with her poor ten thousand pounds. I am +sure, if it is money he wanted, she spoiled his market. I know +where Sir Philip could have done much better. And then, if she +WOULD have the man, could not she try to make him more +comfortable at home, and have his friends oftener, and not plague +him with the squalling children, and take care all was handsome +and in good style about the house? I declare I think Sir Philip +would have made a very domestic man, with a woman who knew how to +manage him." + +Now these fair critics, in raising their profound edifice of +domestic felicity, did not recollect that the corner-stone was +wanting, and that to receive good company with good cheer, the +means of the banquet ought to have been furnished by Sir Philip, +whose income (dilapidated as it was) was not equal to the display +of the hospitality required, and at the same time to the supply +of the good knight's MENUS PLAISIRS. So, in spite of all that +was so sagely suggested by female friends, Sir Philip carried his +good-humour everywhere abroad, and left at home a solitary +mansion and a pining spouse. + +At length, inconvenienced in his money affairs, and tired even of +the short time which he spent in his own dull house, Sir Philip +Forester determined to take a trip to the Continent, in the +capacity of a volunteer. It was then common for men of fashion +to do so; and our knight perhaps was of opinion that a touch of +the military character, just enough to exalt, but not render +pedantic, his qualities as a BEAU GARCON, was necessary to +maintain possession of the elevated situation which he held in +the ranks of fashion. + +Sir Philip's resolution threw his wife into agonies of terror; by +which the worthy baronet was so much annoyed, that, contrary to +his wont, he took some trouble to soothe her apprehensions, and +once more brought her to shed tears, in which sorrow was not +altogether unmingled with pleasure. Lady Bothwell asked, as a +favour, Sir Philip's permission to receive her sister and her +family into her own house during his absence on the Continent. +Sir Philip readily assented to a proposition which saved expense, +silenced the foolish people who might have talked of a deserted +wife and family, and gratified Lady Bothwell, for whom he felt +some respect, as for one who often spoke to him, always with +freedom and sometimes with severity, without being deterred +either by his raillery or the PRESTIGE of his reputation. + +A day or two before Sir Philip's departure, Lady Bothwell took +the liberty of asking him, in her sister's presence, the direct +question, which his timid wife had often desired, but never +ventured, to put to him:-- + +"Pray, Sir Philip, what route do you take when you reach the +Continent?" + +"I go from Leith to Helvoet by a packet with advices." + +"That I comprehend perfectly," said Lady Bothwell dryly; "but you +do not mean to remain long at Helvoet, I presume, and I should +like to know what is your next object." + +"You ask me, my dear lady," answered Sir Philip, "a question +which I have not dared to ask myself. The answer depends on the +fate of war. I shall, of course, go to headquarters, wherever +they may happen to be for the time; deliver my letters of +introduction; learn as much of the noble art of war as may +suffice a poor interloping amateur; and then take a glance at the +sort of thing of which we read so much in the Gazette." + +"And I trust, Sir Philip," said Lady Bothwell, "that you will +remember that you are a husband and a father; and that, though +you think fit to indulge this military fancy, you will not let it +hurry you into dangers which it is certainly unnecessary for any +save professional persons to encounter." + +"Lady Bothwell does me too much honour," replied the adventurous +knight, "in regarding such a circumstance with the slightest +interest. But to soothe your flattering anxiety, I trust your +ladyship will recollect that I cannot expose to hazard the +venerable and paternal character which you so obligingly +recommend to my protection, without putting in some peril an +honest fellow, called Philip Forester, with whom I have kept +company for thirty years, and with whom, though some folks +consider him a coxcomb, I have not the least desire to part." + +"Well, Sir Philip, you are the best judge of your own affairs. I +have little right to interfere--you are not my husband." + +"God forbid!" said Sir Philip hastily; instantly adding, +however, "God forbid that I should deprive my friend Sir Geoffrey +of so inestimable a treasure." + +"But you are my sister's husband," replied the lady; "and I +suppose you are aware of her present distress of mind--" + +"If hearing of nothing else from morning to night can make me +aware of it," said Sir Philip, "I should know something of the +matter." + +"I do not pretend to reply to your wit, Sir Philip," answered +Lady Bothwell; "but you must be sensible that all this distress +is on account of apprehensions for your personal safety. " + +"In that case, I am surprised that Lady Bothwell, at least, +should give herself so much trouble upon so insignificant a +subject." + +"My sister's interest may account for my being anxious to learn +something of Sir Philip Forester's motions; about which, +otherwise, I know he would not wish me to concern myself. I have +a brother's safety too to be anxious for." + +"You mean Major Falconer, your brother by the mother's side? +What can he possibly have to do with our present agreeable +conversation?" + +"You have had words together, Sir Philip," said Lady Bothwell. + +"Naturally; we are connections," replied Sir Philip, "and as such +have always had the usual intercourse." + +"That is an evasion of the subject," answered the lady. "By +words, I mean angry words, on the subject of your usage of your +wife." + +"If," replied Sir Philip Forester, "you suppose Major Falconer +simple enough to intrude his advice upon me, Lady Bothwell, in my +domestic matters, you are indeed warranted in believing that I +might possibly be so far displeased with the interference as to +request him to reserve his advice till it was asked." + +"And being on these terms, you are going to join the very army in +which my brother Falconer is now serving?" + +"No man knows the path of honour better than Major Falconer," +said Sir Philip. "An aspirant after fame, like me, cannot choose +a better guide than his footsteps." + +Lady Bothwell rose and went to the window, the tears gushing from +her eyes. + +"And this heartless raillery," she said, "is all the +consideration that is to be given to our apprehensions of a +quarrel which may bring on the most terrible consequences? Good +God! of what can men's hearts be made, who can thus dally with +the agony of others?" + +Sir Philip Forester was moved; he laid aside the mocking tone in +which he had hitherto spoken. + +"Dear Lady Bothwell," he said, taking her reluctant hand, "we are +both wrong. You are too deeply serious; I, perhaps, too little +so. The dispute I had with Major Falconer was of no earthly +consequence. Had anything occurred betwixt us that ought to have +been settled PAR VOIE DU FAIT, as we say in France, neither of us +are persons that are likely to postpone such a meeting. Permit +me to say, that were it generally known that you or my Lady +Forester are apprehensive of such a catastrophe, it might be the +very means of bringing about what would not otherwise be likely +to happen. I know your good sense, Lady Bothwell, and that you +will understand me when I say that really my affairs require my +absence for some months. This Jemima cannot understand. It is a +perpetual recurrence of questions, why can you not do this, or +that, or the third thing? and, when you have proved to her that +her expedients are totally ineffectual, you have just to begin +the whole round again. Now, do you tell her, dear Lady Bothwell, +that YOU are satisfied. She is, you must confess, one of those +persons with whom authority goes farther than reasoning. Do but +repose a little confidence in me, and you shall see how amply I +will repay it." + +Lady Bothwell shook her head, as one but half satisfied. "How +difficult it is to extend confidence, when the basis on which it +ought to rest has been so much shaken! But I will do my best to +make Jemima easy; and further, I can only say that for keeping +your present purpose I hold you responsible both to God and man," + +"Do not fear that I will deceive you," said Sir Philip. "The +safest conveyance to me will be through the general post-office, +Helvoetsluys, where I will take care to leave orders for +forwarding my letters. As for Falconer, our only encounter will +be over a bottle of Burgundy; so make yourself perfectly easy on +his score." + +Lady Bothwell could NOT make herself easy; yet she was sensible +that her sister hurt her own cause by TAKING ON, as the +maidservants call it, too vehemently, and by showing before every +stranger, by manner, and sometimes by words also, a +dissatisfaction with her husband's journey that was sure to come +to his ears, and equally certain to displease him. But there was +no help for this domestic dissension, which ended only with the +day of separation. + +I am sorry I cannot tell, with precision, the year in which Sir +Philip Forester went over to Flanders; but it was one of those in +which the campaign opened with extraordinary fury, and many +bloody, though indecisive, skirmishes were fought between the +French on the one side and the Allies on the other. In all our +modern improvements, there are none, perhaps, greater than in the +accuracy and speed with which intelligence is transmitted from +any scene of action to those in this country whom it may concern. +During Marlborough's campaigns, the sufferings of the many who +had relations in, or along with, the army were greatly augmented +by the suspense in which they were detained for weeks after they +had heard of bloody battles, in which, in all probability, those +for whom their bosoms throbbed with anxiety had been personally +engaged. Amongst those who were most agonized by this state of +uncertainty was the--I had almost said deserted--wife of the gay +Sir Philip Forester. A single letter had informed her of his +arrival on the Continent; no others were received. One notice +occurred in the newspapers, in which Volunteer Sir Philip +Forester was mentioned as having been entrusted with a dangerous +reconnaissance, which he had executed with the greatest courage, +dexterity, and intelligence, and received the thanks of the +commanding officer. The sense of his having acquired distinction +brought a momentary glow into the lady's pale cheek; but it was +instantly lost in ashen whiteness at the recollection of his +danger. After this, they had no news whatever, neither from Sir +Philip, nor even from their brother Falconer. The case of Lady +Forester was not indeed different from that of hundreds in the +same situation; but a feeble mind is necessarily an irritable +one, and the suspense which some bear with constitutional +indifference or philosophical resignation, and some with a +disposition to believe and hope the best, was intolerable to Lady +Forester, at once solitary and sensitive, low-spirited, and +devoid of strength of mind, whether natural or acquired. + + + +CHAPTER II. + +As she received no further news of Sir Philip, whether directly +or indirectly, his unfortunate lady began now to feel a sort of +consolation even in those careless habits which had so often +given her pain. "He is so thoughtless," she repeated a hundred +times a day to her sister, "he never writes when things are going +on smoothly. It is his way. Had anything happened, he would +have informed us." + +Lady Bothwell listened to her sister without attempting to +console her. Probably she might be of opinion that even the +worst intelligence which could be received from Flanders might +not be without some touch of consolation; and that the Dowager +Lady Forester, if so she was doomed to be called, might have a +source of happiness unknown to the wife of the gayest and finest +gentleman in Scotland. This conviction became stronger as they +learned from inquiries made at headquarters that Sir Philip was +no longer with the army--though whether he had been taken or +slain in some of those skirmishes which were perpetually +occurring, and in which he loved to distinguish himself, or +whether he had, for some unknown reason or capricious change of +mind, voluntarily left the service, none of his countrymen in the +camp of the Allies could form even a conjecture. Meantime his +creditors at home became clamorous, entered into possession of +his property, and threatened his person, should he be rash enough +to return to Scotland. These additional disadvantages aggravated +Lady Bothwell's displeasure against the fugitive husband; while +her sister saw nothing in any of them, save what tended to +increase her grief for the absence of him whom her imagination +now represented--as it had before marriage--gallant, gay, and +affectionate. + +About this period there appeared in Edinburgh a man of singular +appearance and pretensions. He was commonly called the Paduan +Doctor, from having received his education at that famous +university. He was supposed to possess some rare receipts in +medicine, with which, it was affirmed, he had wrought remarkable +cures. But though, on the one hand, the physicians of Edinburgh +termed him an empiric, there were many persons, and among them +some of the clergy, who, while they admitted the truth of the +cures and the force of his remedies, alleged that Doctor Baptista +Damiotti made use of charms and unlawful arts in order to obtain +success in his practice. The resorting to him was even solemnly +preached against, as a seeking of health from idols, and a +trusting to the help which was to come from Egypt. But the +protection which the Paduan Doctor received from some friends of +interest and consequence enabled him to set these imputations at +defiance, and to assume, even in the city of Edinburgh, famed as +it was for abhorrence of witches and necromancers, the dangerous +character of an expounder of futurity. It was at length rumoured +that, for a certain gratification, which of course was not an +inconsiderable one, Doctor Baptista Damiotti could tell the fate +of the absent, and even show his visitors the personal form of +their absent friends, and the action in which they were engaged +at the moment. This rumour came to the ears of Lady Forester, +who had reached that pitch of mental agony in which the sufferer +will do anything, or endure anything, that suspense may be +converted into certainty. + +Gentle and timid in most cases, her state of mind made her +equally obstinate and reckless, and it was with no small surprise +and alarm that her sister, Lady Bothwell, heard her express a +resolution to visit this man of art, and learn from him the fate +of her husband. Lady Bothwell remonstrated on the improbability +that such pretensions as those of this foreigner could be founded +in anything but imposture. + +"I care not," said the deserted wife, "what degree of ridicule I +may incur; if there be any one chance out of a hundred that I may +obtain some certainty of my husband's fate, I would not miss that +chance for whatever else the world can offer me." + +Lady Bothwell next urged the unlawfulness of resorting to such +sources of forbidden knowledge. + +"Sister," replied the sufferer, "he who is dying of thirst cannot +refrain from drinking even poisoned water. She who suffers under +suspense must seek information, even were the powers which offer +it unhallowed and infernal. I go to learn my fate alone, and +this very evening will I know it; the sun that rises to-morrow +shall find me, if not more happy, at least more resigned." + +"Sister," said Lady Bothwell, "if you are determined upon this +wild step, you shall not go alone. If this man be an impostor, +you may be too much agitated by your feelings to detect his +villainy. If, which I cannot believe, there be any truth in what +he pretends, you shall not be exposed alone to a communication of +so extraordinary a nature. I will go with you, if indeed you +determine to go. But yet reconsider your project, and renounce +inquiries which cannot be prosecuted without guilt, and perhaps +without danger." + +Lady Forester threw herself into her sister's arms, and, clasping +her to her bosom, thanked her a hundred times for the offer of +her company, while she declined with a melancholy gesture the +friendly advice with which it was accompanied. + +When the hour of twilight arrived--which was the period when the +Paduan Doctor was understood to receive the visits of those who +came to consult with him--the two ladies left their apartments in +the Canongate of Edinburgh, having their dress arranged like that +of women of an inferior description, and their plaids disposed +around their faces as they were worn by the same class; for in +those days of aristocracy the quality of the wearer was generally +indicated by the manner in which her plaid was disposed, as well +as by the fineness of its texture. It was Lady Bothwell who had +suggested this species of disguise, partly to avoid observation +as they should go to the conjurer's house, and partly in order to +make trial of his penetration, by appearing before him in a +feigned character. Lady Forester's servant, of tried fidelity, +had been employed by her to propitiate the Doctor by a suitable +fee, and a story intimating that a soldier's wife desired to know +the fate of her husband--a subject upon which, in all +probability, the sage was very frequently consulted, + +To the last moment, when the palace clock struck eight, Lady +Bothwell earnestly watched her sister, in hopes that she might +retreat from her rash undertaking; but as mildness, and even +timidity, is capable at times of vehement and fixed purposes, she +found Lady Forester resolutely unmoved and determined when the +moment of departure arrived. Ill satisfied with the expedition, +but determined not to leave her sister at such a crisis, Lady +Bothwell accompanied Lady Forester through more than one obscure +street and lane, the servant walking before, and acting as their +guide. At length he suddenly turned into a narrow court, and +knocked at an arched door which seemed to belong to a building of +some antiquity. It opened, though no one appeared to act as +porter; and the servant, stepping aside from the entrance, +motioned the ladies to enter. They had no sooner done so than it +shut, and excluded their guide. The two ladies found themselves +in a small vestibule, illuminated by a dim lamp, and having, when +the door was closed, no communication with the external light or +air. The door of an inner apartment, partly open, was at the +farther side of the vestibule. + +"We must not hesitate now, Jemima," said Lady Bothwell, and +walked forwards into the inner room, where, surrounded by books, +maps, philosophical utensils, and other implements of peculiar +shape and appearance, they found the man of art. + +There was nothing very peculiar in the Italian's appearance. He +had the dark complexion and marked features of his country, +seemed about fifty years old, and was handsomely but plainly +dressed in a full suit of black clothes, which was then the +universal costume of the medical profession. Large wax-lights, +in silver sconces, illuminated the apartment, which was +reasonably furnished. He rose as the ladies entered, and, +notwithstanding the inferiority of their dress, received them +with the marked respect due to their quality, and which +foreigners are usually punctilious in rendering to those to whom +such honours are due. + +Lady Bothwell endeavoured to maintain her proposed incognito, +and, as the Doctor ushered them to the upper end of the room, +made a motion declining his courtesy, as unfitted for their +condition. "We are poor people, sir," she said; "only my +sister's distress has brought us to consult your worship whether +--" + +He smiled as he interrupted her--"I am aware, madam, of your +sister's distress, and its cause; I am aware, also, that I am +honoured with a visit from two ladies of the highest +consideration--Lady Bothwell and Lady Forester. If I could not +distinguish them from the class of society which their present +dress would indicate, there would be small possibility of my +being able to gratify them by giving the information which they +come to seek." + +"I can easily understand--" said Lady Bothwell. + +"Pardon my boldness to interrupt you, milady," cried the Italian; +"your ladyship was about to say that you could easily understand +that I had got possession of your names by means of your +domestic. But in thinking so, you do injustice to the fidelity +of your servant, and, I may add, to the skill of one who is also +not less your humble servant--Baptista Damiotti." + +"I have no intention to do either, sir," said Lady Bothwell, +maintaining a tone of composure, though somewhat surprised; "but +the situation is something new to me. If you know who we are, +you also know, sir, what brought us here." + +"Curiosity to know the fate of a Scottish gentleman of rank, now, +or lately, upon the Continent," answered the seer. "His name is +Il Cavaliero Philippo Forester, a gentleman who has the honour to +be husband to this lady, and, with your ladyship's permission for +using plain language, the misfortune not to value as it deserves +that inestimable advantage." + +Lady Forester sighed deeply, and Lady Bothwell replied,-- + +"Since you know our object without our telling it, the only +question that remains is, whether you have the power to relieve +my sister's anxiety?" + +"I have, madam," answered the Paduan scholar; "but there is still +a previous inquiry. Have you the courage to behold with your own +eyes what the Cavaliero Philippo Forester is now doing? or will +you take it on my report?" + +"That question my sister must answer for herself," said Lady +Bothwell. + +"With my own eyes will I endure to see whatever you have power to +show me," said Lady Forester, with the same determined spirit +which had stimulated her since her resolution was taken upon this +subject. + +"There may be danger in it." + +"If gold can compensate the risk," said Lady Forester, taking out +her purse. + +"I do not such things for the purpose of gain," answered the +foreigner; "I dare not turn my art to such a purpose. If I take +the gold of the wealthy, it is but to bestow it on the poor; nor +do I ever accept more than the sum I have already received from +your servant. Put up your purse, madam; an adept needs not your +gold," + +Lady Bothwell, considering this rejection of her sister's offer +as a mere trick of an empiric, to induce her to press a larger +sum upon him, and willing that the scene should be commenced and +ended, offered some gold in turn, observing that it was only to +enlarge the sphere of his charity. + +"Let Lady Bothwell enlarge the sphere of her own charity," said +the Paduan, "not merely in giving of alms, in which I know she is +not deficient, but in judging the character of others; and let +her oblige Baptista Damiotti by believing him honest, till she +shall discover him to be a knave. Do not be surprised, madam, if +I speak in answer to your thoughts rather than your expressions; +and tell me once more whether you have courage to look on what I +am prepared to show?" + +"I own, sir," said Lady Bothwell, "that your words strike me with +some sense of fear; but whatever my sister desires to witness, I +will not shrink from witnessing along with her." + +"Nay, the danger only consists in the risk of your resolution +failing you. The sight can only last for the space of seven +minutes; and should you interrupt the vision by speaking a single +word, not only would the charm be broken, but some danger might +result to the spectators. But if you can remain steadily silent +for the seven minutes, your curiosity will be gratified without +the slightest risk; and for this I will engage my honour." + +Internally Lady Bothwell thought the security was but an +indifferent one; but she suppressed the suspicion, as if she had +believed that the adept, whose dark features wore a half-formed +smile, could in reality read even her most secret reflections. A +solemn pause then ensued, until Lady Forester gathered courage +enough to reply to the physician, as he termed himself, that she +would abide with firmness and silence the sight which he had +promised to exhibit to them. Upon this, he made them a low +obeisance, and saying he went to prepare matters to meet their +wish, left the apartment. The two sisters, hand in hand, as if +seeking by that close union to divert any danger which might +threaten them, sat down on two seats in immediate contact with +each other--Jemima seeking support in the manly and habitual +courage of Lady Bothwell; and she, on the other hand, more +agitated than she had expected, endeavouring to fortify herself +by the desperate resolution which circumstances had forced her +sister to assume. The one perhaps said to herself that her +sister never feared anything; and the other might reflect that +what so feeble-minded a woman as Jemima did not fear, could not +properly be a subject of apprehension to a person of firmness and +resolution like her own. + +In a few moments the thoughts of both were diverted from their +own situation by a strain of music so singularly sweet and solemn +that, while it seemed calculated to avert or dispel any feeling +unconnected with its harmony, increased, at the same time, the +solemn excitation which the preceding interview was calculated to +produce. The music was that of some instrument with which they +were unacquainted; but circumstances afterwards led my ancestress +to believe that it was that of the harmonica, which she heard at +a much later period in life. + +When these heaven-born sounds had ceased, a door opened in the +upper end of the apartment, and they saw Damiotti, standing at +the head of two or three steps, sign to them to advance. His +dress was so different from that which he had worn a few minutes +before, that they could hardly recognize him; and the deadly +paleness of his countenance, and a certain stern rigidity of +muscles, like that of one whose mind is made up to some strange +and daring action, had totally changed the somewhat sarcastic +expression with which he had previously regarded them both, and +particularly Lady Bothwell. He was barefooted, excepting a +species of sandals in the antique fashion; his legs were naked +beneath the knees; above them he wore hose, and a doublet of dark +crimson silk close to his body; and over that a flowing loose +robe, something resembling a surplice, of snow-white linen. His +throat and neck were uncovered, and his long, straight, black +hair was carefully combed down at full length. + +As the ladies approached at his bidding, he showed no gesture of +that ceremonious courtesy of which he had been formerly lavish. +On the contrary, he made the signal of advance with an air of +command; and when, arm in arm, and with insecure steps, the +sisters approached the spot where he stood, it was with a warning +frown that he pressed his finger to his lips, as if reiterating +his condition of absolute silence, while, stalking before them, +he led the way into the next apartment. + +This was a large room, hung with black, as if for a funeral. At +the upper end was a table, or rather a species of altar, covered +with the same lugubrious colour, on which lay divers objects +resembling the usual implements of sorcery. These objects were +not indeed visible as they advanced into the apartment; for the +light which displayed them, being only that of two expiring +lamps, was extremely faint. The master--to use the Italian +phrase for persons of this description--approached the upper end +of the room, with a genuflection like that of a Catholic to the +crucifix, and at the same time crossed himself. The ladies +followed in silence, and arm in arm. Two or three low broad +steps led to a platform in front of the altar, or what resembled +such. Here the sage took his stand, and placed the ladies beside +him, once more earnestly repeating by signs his injunctions of +silence. The Italian then, extending his bare arm from under his +linen vestment, pointed with his forefinger to five large +flambeaux, or torches, placed on each side of the altar. They +took fire successively at the approach of his hand, or rather of +his finger, and spread a strong light through the room. By this +the visitors could discern that, on the seeming altar, were +disposed two naked swords laid crosswise; a large open book, +which they conceived to be a copy of the Holy Scriptures, but in +a language to them unknown; and beside this mysterious volume was +placed a human skull. But what struck the sisters most was a +very tall and broad mirror, which occupied all the space behind +the altar, and, illumined by the lighted torches, reflected the +mysterious articles which were laid upon it. + +The master then placed himself between the two ladies, and, +pointing to the mirror, took each by the hand, but without +speaking a syllable. They gazed intently on the polished and +sable space to which he had directed their attention. Suddenly +the surface assumed a new and singular appearance. It no longer +simply reflected the objects placed before it, but, as if it had +self-contained scenery of its own, objects began to appear within +it, at first in a disorderly, indistinct, and miscellaneous +manner, like form arranging itself out of chaos; at length, in +distinct and defined shape and symmetry. It was thus that, after +some shifting of light and darkness over the face of the +wonderful glass, a long perspective of arches and columns began +to arrange itself on its sides, and a vaulted roof on the upper +part of it, till, after many oscillations, the whole vision +gained a fixed and stationary appearance, representing the +interior of a foreign church. The pillars were stately, and hung +with scutcheons; the arches were lofty and magnificent; the floor +was lettered with funeral inscriptions. But there were no +separate shrines, no images, no display of chalice or crucifix on +the altar. It was, therefore, a Protestant church upon the +Continent. A clergyman dressed in the Geneva gown and band stood +by the communion table, and, with the Bible opened before him, +and his clerk awaiting in the background, seemed prepared to +perform some service of the church to which he belonged. + +At length, there entered the middle aisle of the building a +numerous party, which appeared to be a bridal one, as a lady and +gentleman walked first, hand in hand, followed by a large +concourse of persons of both sexes, gaily, nay richly, attired. +The bride, whose features they could distinctly see, seemed not +more than sixteen years old, and extremely beautiful. The +bridegroom, for some seconds, moved rather with his shoulder +towards them, and his face averted; but his elegance of form and +step struck the sisters at once with the same apprehension. As +he turned his face suddenly, it was frightfully realized, and +they saw, in the gay bridegroom before them, Sir Philip Forester. +His wife uttered an imperfect exclamation, at the sound of which +the whole scene stirred and seemed to separate. + +"I could compare it to nothing," said Lady Bothwell, while +recounting the wonderful tale, "but to the dispersion of the +reflection offered by a deep and calm pool, when a stone is +suddenly cast into it, and the shadows become dissipated and +broken." The master pressed both the ladies' hands severely, as +if to remind them of their promise, and of the danger which they +incurred. The exclamation died away on Lady Forester's tongue, +without attaining perfect utterance, and the scene in the glass, +after the fluctuation of a minute, again resumed to the eye its +former appearance of a real scene, existing within the mirror, as +if represented in a picture, save that the figures were movable +instead of being stationary. + +The representation of Sir Philip Forester, now distinctly visible +in form and feature, was seen to lead on towards the clergyman +that beautiful girl, who advanced at once with diffidence and +with a species of affectionate pride. In the meantime, and just +as the clergyman had arranged the bridal company before him, and +seemed about to commence the service, another group of persons, +of whom two or three were officers, entered the church. They +moved, at first, forward, as though they came to witness the +bridal ceremony; but suddenly one of the officers, whose back was +towards the spectators, detached himself from his companions, and +rushed hastily towards the marriage party, when the whole of them +turned towards him, as if attracted by some exclamation which had +accompanied his advance. Suddenly the intruder drew his sword; +the bridegroom unsheathed his own, and made towards him; swords +were also drawn by other individuals, both of the marriage party +and of those who had last entered. They fell into a sort of +confusion, the clergyman, and some elder and graver persons, +labouring apparently to keep the peace, while the hotter spirits +on both sides brandished their weapons. But now, the period of +the brief space during which the soothsayer, as he pretended, was +permitted to exhibit his art, was arrived. The fumes again mixed +together, and dissolved gradually from observation; the vaults +and columns of the church rolled asunder, and disappeared; and +the front of the mirror reflected nothing save the blazing +torches and the melancholy apparatus placed on the altar or table +before it. + +The doctor led the ladies, who greatly required his support, into +the apartment from whence they came, where wine, essences, and +other means of restoring suspended animation, had been provided +during his absence. He motioned them to chairs, which they +occupied in silence--Lady Forester, in particular, wringing her +hands, and casting her eyes up to heaven, but without speaking a +word, as if the spell had been still before her eyes. + +"And what we have seen is even now acting?" said Lady Bothwell, +collecting herself with difficulty. + +"That," answered Baptista Damiotti, "I cannot justly, or with +certainty, say. But it is either now acting, or has been acted +during a short space before this. It is the last remarkable +transaction in which the Cavalier Forester has been engaged." + +Lady Bothwell then expressed anxiety concerning her sister, whose +altered countenance and apparent unconsciousness of what passed +around her excited her apprehensions how it might be possible to +convey her home. + +"I have prepared for that," answered the adept. "I have directed +the servant to bring your equipage as near to this place as the +narrowness of the street will permit. Fear not for your sister, +but give her, when you return home, this composing draught, and +she will be better to-morrow morning. Few," he added in a +melancholy tone, "leave this house as well in health as they +entered it. Such being the consequence of seeking knowledge by +mysterious means, I leave you to judge the condition of those who +have the power of gratifying such irregular curiosity. Farewell, +and forget not the potion." + +"I will give her nothing that comes from you," said Lady +Bothwell; "I have seen enough of your art already. Perhaps you +would poison us both to conceal your own necromancy. But we are +persons who want neither the means of making our wrongs known, +nor the assistance of friends to right them." + +"You have had no wrongs from me, madam," said the adept. "You +sought one who is little grateful for such honour. He seeks no +one, and only gives responses to those who invite and call upon +him. After all, you have but learned a little sooner the evil +which you must still be doomed to endure. I hear your servant's +step at the door, and will detain your ladyship and Lady Forester +no longer. The next packet from the Continent will explain what +you have already partly witnessed. Let it not, if I may advise, +pass too suddenly into your sister's hands." + +So saying, he bid Lady Bothwell good-night. She went, lighted by +the adept, to the vestibule, where he hastily threw a black cloak +over his singular dress, and opening the door, entrusted his +visitors to the care of the servant. It was with difficulty that +Lady Bothwell sustained her sister to the carriage, though it was +only twenty steps distant. When they arrived at home, Lady +Forester required medical assistance. The physician of the +family attended, and shook his head on feeling her pulse. + +"Here has been," he said, "a violent and sudden shock on the +nerves. I must know how it has happened." + +Lady Bothwell admitted they had visited the conjurer, and that +Lady Forester had received some bad news respecting her husband, +Sir Philip. + +"That rascally quack would make my fortune, were he to stay in +Edinburgh," said the graduate; "this is the seventh nervous case +I have heard of his making for me, and all by effect of terror." +He next examined the composing draught which Lady Bothwell had +unconsciously brought in her hand, tasted it, and pronounced it +very germain to the matter, and what would save an application to +the apothecary. He then paused, and looking at Lady Bothwell +very significantly, at length added, "I suppose I must not ask +your ladyship anything about this Italian warlock's proceedings?" + +"Indeed, doctor," answered Lady Bothwell, "I consider what passed +as confidential; and though the man may be a rogue, yet, as we +were fools enough to consult him, we should, I think, be honest +enough to keep his counsel." + +"MAY be a knave! Come," said the doctor, "I am glad to hear your +ladyship allows such a possibility in anything that comes from +Italy." + +"What comes from Italy may be as good as what comes from Hanover, +doctor. But you and I will remain good friends; and that it may +be so, we will say nothing of Whig and Tory." + +"Not I," said the doctor, receiving his fee, and taking his hat; +"a Carolus serves my purpose as well as a Willielmus. But I +should like to know why old Lady Saint Ringan, and all that set, +go about wasting their decayed lungs in puffing this foreign +fellow." + +"Ay--you had best set him down a Jesuit, as Scrub says." On +these terms they parted. + +The poor patient--whose nerves, from an extraordinary state of +tension, had at length become relaxed in as extraordinary a +degree--continued to struggle with a sort of imbecility, the +growth of superstitious terror, when the shocking tidings were +brought from Holland which fulfilled even her worst expectations. + +They were sent by the celebrated Earl of Stair, and contained the +melancholy event of a duel betwixt Sir Philip Forester and his +wife's half-brother, Captain Falconer, of the Scotch-Dutch, as +they were then called, in which the latter had been killed. The +cause of quarrel rendered the incident still more shocking. It +seemed that Sir Philip had left the army suddenly, in consequence +of being unable to pay a very considerable sum which he had lost +to another volunteer at play. He had changed his name, and taken +up his residence at Rotterdam, where he had insinuated himself +into the good graces of an ancient and rich burgomaster, and, by +his handsome person and graceful manners, captivated the +affections of his only child, a very young person, of great +beauty, and the heiress of much wealth. Delighted with the +specious attractions of his proposed son-in-law, the wealthy +merchant--whose idea of the British character was too high to +admit of his taking any precaution to acquire evidence of his +condition and circumstances--gave his consent to the marriage. +It was about to be celebrated in the principal church of the +city, when it was interrupted by a singular occurrence. + +Captain Falconer having been detached to Rotterdam to bring up a +part of the brigade of Scottish auxiliaries, who were in quarters +there, a person of consideration in the town, to whom he had been +formerly known, proposed to him for amusement to go to the high +church to see a countryman of his own married to the daughter of +a wealthy burgomaster. Captain Falconer went accordingly, +accompanied by his Dutch acquaintance, with a party of his +friends, and two or three officers of the Scotch brigade. His +astonishment may be conceived when he saw his own brother-in-law, +a married man, on the point of leading to the altar the innocent +and beautiful creature upon whom he was about to practise a base +and unmanly deceit. He proclaimed his villainy on the spot, and +the marriage was interrupted, of course. But against the opinion +of more thinking men, who considered Sir Philip Forester as +having thrown himself out of the rank of men of honour, Captain +Falconer admitted him to the privilege of such, accepted a +challenge from him, and in the rencounter received a mortal +wound. Such are the ways of Heaven, mysterious in our eyes. +Lady Forester never recovered the shock of this dismal +intelligence. + +* + +"And did this tragedy," said I, "take place exactly at the time +when the scene in the mirror was exhibited?" + +"It is hard to be obliged to maim one's story," answered my aunt, +"but to speak the truth, it happened some days sooner than the +apparition was exhibited." + +"And so there remained a possibility," said I, "that by some +secret and speedy communication the artist might have received +early intelligence of that incident." + +"The incredulous pretended so," replied my aunt. + +"What became of the adept?" demanded I. + +"Why, a warrant came down shortly afterwards to arrest him for +high treason, as an agent of the Chevalier St. George; and Lady +Bothwell, recollecting the hints which had escaped the doctor, an +ardent friend of the Protestant succession, did then call to +remembrance that this man was chiefly PRONE among the ancient +matrons of her own political persuasion. It certainly seemed +probable that intelligence from the Continent, which could easily +have been transmitted by an active and powerful agent, might have +enabled him to prepare such a scene of phantasmagoria as she had +herself witnessed. Yet there were so many difficulties in +assigning a natural explanation, that, to the day of her death, +she remained in great doubt on the subject, and much disposed to +cut the Gordian knot by admitting the existence of supernatural +agency." + +"But, my dear aunt," said I, "what became of the man of skill?" + +"Oh, he was too good a fortune-teller not to be able to foresee +that his own destiny would be tragical if he waited the arrival +of the man with the silver greyhound upon his sleeve. He made, +as we say, a moonlight flitting, and was nowhere to be seen or +heard of. Some noise there was about papers or letters found in +the house; but it died away, and Doctor Baptista Damiotti was +soon as little talked of as Galen or Hippocrates." + +"And Sir Philip Forester," said I, "did he too vanish for ever +from the public scene?" + +"No," replied my kind informer. "He was heard of once more, and +it was upon a remarkable occasion. It is said that we Scots, +when there was such a nation in existence, have, among our full +peck of virtues, one or two little barley-corns of vice. In +particular, it is alleged that we rarely forgive, and never +forget, any injuries received--that we make an idol of our +resentment, as poor Lady Constance did of her grief, and are +addicted, as Burns says, to 'nursing our wrath to keep it warm.' +Lady Bothwell was not without this feeling; and, I believe, +nothing whatever, scarce the restoration of the Stewart line, +could have happened so delicious to her feelings as an +opportunity of being revenged on Sir Philip Forester for the deep +and double injury which had deprived her of a sister and of a +brother. But nothing of him was heard or known till many a year +had passed away. + +"At length--it was on a Fastern's E'en (Shrovetide) assembly, at +which the whole fashion of Edinburgh attended, full and frequent, +and when Lady Bothwell had a seat amongst the lady patronesses, +that one of the attendants on the company whispered into her ear +that a gentleman wished to speak with her in private. + +"'In private? and in an assembly room?--he must be mad. Tell +him to call upon me to-morrow morning.' + +"'I said so, my lady,' answered the man, 'but he desired me to +give you this paper.' + +"She undid the billet, which was curiously folded and sealed. It +only bore the words, 'ON BUSINESS OF LIFE AND DEATH,' written in +a hand which she had never seen before. Suddenly it occurred to +her that it might concern the safety of some of her political +friends. She therefore followed the messenger to a small +apartment where the refreshments were prepared, and from which +the general company was excluded. She found an old man, who, at +her approach, rose up and bowed profoundly. His appearance +indicated a broken constitution, and his dress, though sedulously +rendered conforming to the etiquette of a ballroom, was worn and +tarnished, and hung in folds about his emaciated person. Lady +Bothwell was about to feel for her purse, expecting to get rid of +the supplicant at the expense of a little money, but some fear of +a mistake arrested her purpose. She therefore gave the man +leisure to explain himself. + +"'I have the honour to speak with the Lady Bothwell?' + +"'I am Lady Bothwell; allow me to say that this is no time or +place for long explanations. What are your commands with me?' + +"'Your ladyship,' said the old man, 'had once a sister.' + +"'True; whom I loved as my own soul.' + +"'And a brother.' + +"'The bravest, the kindest, the most affectionate!' said Lady +Bothwell. + +"'Both these beloved relatives you lost by the fault of an +unfortunate man,' continued the stranger. + +"'By the crime of an unnatural, bloody-minded murderer,' said the +lady. + +"'I am answered,' replied the old man, bowing, as if to withdraw. + +"'Stop, sir, I command you,' said Lady Bothwell. 'Who are you +that, at such a place and time, come to recall these horrible +recollections? I insist upon knowing.' + +"'I am one who intends Lady Bothwell no injury, but, on the +contrary, to offer her the means of doing a deed of Christian +charity, which the world would wonder at, and which Heaven would +reward; but I find her in no temper for such a sacrifice as I was +prepared to ask.' + +"'Speak out, sir; what is your meaning?' said Lady Bothwell. + +"'The wretch that has wronged you so deeply,' rejoined the +stranger, 'is now on his death-bed. His days have been days of +misery, his nights have been sleepless hours of anguish--yet he +cannot die without your forgiveness. His life has been an +unremitting penance--yet he dares not part from his burden while +your curses load his soul.' + +"'Tell him,' said Lady Bothwell sternly, 'to ask pardon of that +Being whom he has so greatly offended, not of an erring mortal +like himself. What could my forgiveness avail him?' + +"'Much,' answered the old man. 'It will be an earnest of that +which he may then venture to ask from his Creator, lady, and from +yours. Remember, Lady Bothwell, you too have a death-bed to look +forward to; Your soul may--all human souls must--feel the awe of +facing the judgment-seat, with the wounds of an untented +conscience, raw, and rankling--what thought would it be then that +should whisper, "I have given no mercy, how then shall I ask +it?"' + +"'Man, whosoever thou mayest be,' replied Lady Bothwell, 'urge me +not so cruelly. It would be but blasphemous hypocrisy to utter +with my lips the words which every throb of my heart protests +against. They would open the earth and give to light the wasted +form of my sister, the bloody form of my murdered brother. +Forgive him?--never, never!' + +"'Great God!' cried the old man, holding up his hands, 'is it +thus the worms which Thou hast called out of dust obey the +commands of their Maker? Farewell, proud and unforgiving woman. +Exult that thou hast added to a death in want and pain the +agonies of religious despair; but never again mock Heaven by +petitioning for the pardon which thou hast refused to grant.' + +"He was turning from her. + +"'Stop,' she exclaimed; 'I will try--yes, I will try to pardon +him.' + +"'Gracious lady,' said the old man, 'you will relieve the over- +burdened soul which dare not sever itself from its sinful +companion of earth without being at peace with you. What do I +know--your forgiveness may perhaps preserve for penitence the +dregs of a wretched life.' + +"'Ha!' said the lady, as a sudden light broke on her, 'it is the +villain himself!' And grasping Sir Philip Forester--for it was +he, and no other--by the collar, she raised a cry of 'Murder, +murder! seize the murderer!' + +"At an exclamation so singular, in such a place, the company +thronged into the apartment; but Sir Philip Forester was no +longer there. He had forcibly extricated himself from Lady +Bothwell's hold, and had run out of the apartment, which opened +on the landing-place of the stair. There seemed no escape in +that direction, for there were several persons coming up the +steps, and others descending. But the unfortunate man was +desperate. He threw himself over the balustrade, and alighted +safely in the lobby, though a leap of fifteen feet at least, then +dashed into the street, and was lost in darkness. Some of the +Bothwell family made pursuit, and had they come up with the +fugitive they might perhaps have slain him; for in those days +men's blood ran warm in their veins. But the police did not +interfere, the matter most criminal having happened long since, +and in a foreign land. Indeed it was always thought that this +extraordinary scene originated in a hypocritical experiment, by +which Sir Philip desired to ascertain whether he might return to +his native country in safety from the resentment of a family +which he had injured so deeply. As the result fell out so +contrary to his wishes, he is believed to have returned to the +Continent, and there died in exile." + +So closed the tale of the MYSTERIOUS MIRROR. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg Etext of My Aunt Margaret's Mirror, by Scott + diff --git a/old/mamsm10.zip b/old/mamsm10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..11bdd01 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/mamsm10.zip |