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diff --git a/34629.txt b/34629.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..79f601e --- /dev/null +++ b/34629.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3234 @@ +Project Gutenberg's The Mysterious Wanderer; Vol. II, by Sophia Reeve + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Mysterious Wanderer; Vol. II + +Author: Sophia Reeve + +Release Date: December 12, 2010 [EBook #34629] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MYSTERIOUS WANDERER; VOL. II *** + + + + +Produced by Mark C. Orton, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive) + + + + + + + + + + THE MYSTERIOUS WANDERER. + + A NOVEL: + + BY SOPHIA REEVE. + + + IN THREE VOLUMES. + + Dedicated, by Permission, + + _TO THE RIGHT HON. LADY ELIZABETH SPENCER._ + + VOL. II. + + LONDON: + + PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR, BY C. PILSBURY, ANGEL-COURT, + SNOW-HILL; + + AND SOLD BY RICHARDSON AND SON, ROYAL-EXCHANGE; + J. HIGHLEY, FLEET-STREET; AND DIDIER AND TEBBETT + ST. JAMES'S-STREET. + + 1807. + + + + +THE MYSTERIOUS WANDERER. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + +Sir Henry entertained not the least doubt of its being Ferrand who had +taken Louise; nor, from his general character, but that he would +endeavour to retain her, though in open defiance to the Governor's +command. That he was devoid of principle or honour, he had given an +indubitable proof, in his intended assassination of Harland; nor would +the affair, Sir Henry apprehended, yet end without an effusion of blood. +The courage of Sir Henry was cool but constant: an injury offered to +himself, the benevolence of his disposition would induce him rather to +pardon than resent; but this outrage to a sister he sincerely loved +affected him more keenly; and he determined, should Ferrand prove the +aggressor, to hazard, or even lose his life, to effect her liberation. +With his mind absorbed in a labyrinth of conjectures, and plans for his +procedure, he arrived at the Governor's country residence, and, on +inquiring for Ferrand, was shown into a library. + +The East-Indian received him with a constrained civility; which, +however, ceased on learning the purport of his visit: and, in answer to +Sir Henry's demand, if his sister were there? he haughtily replied, he +was not answerable to any one for his conduct, nor would he be +questioned like a school-boy, or dictated to! + +"It is not my intention, Sir," said Sir Henry loftily, "to dictate to +you; for my question, if you refuse to answer it, your servants, I doubt +not, will give the information I want: if not, I shall proceed to the +executive part of my commission." + +Ferrand bit his lip, and, stamping with passion, exclaimed, "What +farther insults am I to receive? I have been rejected by a proud menial; +my love contemned; insulted by a rival; reproved for my just vengeance, +and treated as a prisoner!--and now--on what authority is the finger of +suspicion pointed at me? Search the fleet; you may, perhaps, find her +with some of her gallant countrymen!" + +As he uttered the last sentence, he flung from the room, leaving Sir +Henry to proceed as he should think proper. Sir Henry was not long in +determining: he summoned the attendants, and, showing the Governor's +order, demanded to be admitted into every apartment. But Louise was not +to be found; and Sir Henry at last was persuaded she was not in the +power of Ferrand. The suspicion too that she might have been torn away +by some of the French officers who daily visited the Marchioness, added +to his perplexity. Had Ferrand, he thought, been guilty, he would rather +have braved the action; but, on the contrary, he appeared wholly +actuated by rage at his restriction. + +Uncertain how to act, or where to proceed to recover Louise, he returned +to the Marchioness's, where the impatient Harland had unwillingly +remained. His countenance told the success of his commission; and +scarcely could his tongue confirm it, ere Harland exclaimed--"I knew +it--I knew it! Fool that I was to yield to the command of an interested +dotard, and idly lose the moments which may have teemed with danger to +her. But I will find her, though hell and earth combine to hide her from +me!" + +He rushed out of the house, followed by Sir Henry, who asked which way +he proposed to direct his course?--"The island is before me," answered +Harland distractedly, "nor will I leave a single spot unsearched!" + +Sir Henry mentioned the suspicion to which Ferrand had given rise, and +proposed requesting of the Governor that an inquiry might be made +through the fleets. Harland eagerly agreed to the measure; to which the +Governor as readily consented. Commissioners were accordingly deputed to +the several vessels, whilst Harland and Sir Henry, after vainly +searching the town, directed their course to the surrounding +plantations: but disappointment still attended them; the lovely fugitive +was no where to be discovered, though the most liberal rewards were +offered to those who could give intelligence respecting her. + +For four days they continued their search, scarcely allowing themselves +the rest and refreshment nature required, when, to add to their +distress, they were informed the fleet was ready to sail, and only +waited for a favourable wind. + +"God of Heaven prevent it!" exclaimed Harland, "for if Louise be not +found, I can sooner forfeit my commission, my honour, nay my life, than +lose her! What can be done, Sir Henry? Which way can we go?" + +"Chance, or rather Providence, George," answered Sir Henry dejectedly, +"must direct us. Though the unfortunate girl I am afraid is too well +secreted to be discovered by any means we can use." + +"Drive me not mad, Sir Henry, by the supposition," said Harland; "rather +encourage me with hopes, though delusive ones, than tear my heart by +such a truth." + +"Alas, Harland," answered Sir Henry, "I would encourage hope in you, but +it is dead in my own bosom. Louise, I am afraid, is irrecoverably lost." + +"I must not, will not lose her," cried the frantic Harland. "Ferrand, +the villain Ferrand, too surely has her in his power! But I will +instantly go to the grove, despite of his uncle's prohibition, and force +the truth from him." + +He turned into a path which conducted to the Governor's seat, and Sir +Henry, after a moment's hesitation, followed him. "I will go with you, +Harland," he said; "if Louise be secreted at the Grove, my assistance +may be requisite; and the Governor, in that respect, I doubt not, will +pardon our transgressing the bounds he has prescribed. If she be not, my +presence will be equally necessary, as your passion may otherwise hurry +you into too great excesses." + +They were here interrupted by the appearance of a skirmish in an +adjoining enclosure; and, on their nearer approach, beheld an old negro +defending himself with a stake against four others who were armed. The +odds were too great to demand a moment's hesitation how to act: they +hastened to his rescue, and, after a slight contest, compelled their +opponents to retreat. Sir Henry then directed his attention to the old +man, who had fallen to the ground apparently lifeless. + +"The poor wretch, I believe, is dying," said Harland, as he assisted Sir +Henry to raise him, "and here no assistance can be had." Sir Henry +supported him against his knee. The negro faintly opened his eyes, and +regarded them with a wild surprise, which, as recollection returned, +gradually settled to a look of stern ferocity. + +"How can we remove him?" said Sir Henry, "To leave him thus is +impossible." + +"To take him with us is equally impossible," answered Harland, +impatiently, "and the day, Corbet, wears apace." + +"Yet cannot I leave him to perish," said Sir Henry. "Try, my good +fellow, if you can walk or stand." + +"Let me die where I am," answered the negro sullenly. + +"Leave him--leave him, Sir Henry," exclaimed Harland; "Louise is of more +consequence than a worthless runaway slave, for such I am certain he is; +and to her, I think, a brother's hand ought to be extended." + +"And shall be, Harland," said Sir Henry, with emotion. "Yet, as a man, +is this slave my brother, and to him shall my hand be extended also. I +feel the weight of his afflictions, the misery of his life passed in +slavery; and, with him, could curse the hand that first forged chains +for a fellow-creature!--A few minutes, and he may be better; and we will +then prosecute our search for my unfortunate Louise." + +During this speech the old negro had raised himself from the knee of Sir +Henry, and grasped his arm, with that anxious confidence the unhappy +only can feel when relieved by the hand of benevolence; each word struck +as a chord on his heart, and told him he was supported by a +friend.--"Seek you Louise de St. Ursule?" he hesitatingly asked. The +quick ear of Harland caught the sound, and, springing toward him, he +demanded if he knew aught of Louise? "I do," answered the slave, with +reserve, "and if this European seek her, will direct him to her." + +"Tell me this instant," said Harland; "on your life I charge you!" + +"You may take it, if you please," said the negro coolly, "and afterward +find her if you can. I am a slave, and, as you said, a runaway! If I +discover the European woman to you, in return, perhaps, you would +deliver me to a merciless master, to expire beneath the whip." + +Harland deserved not the supposition; cruelty formed no part of his +character, though truly the child of pride. Unused to entreat, he had +demanded the information he would not have regretted half his fortune to +have obtained. The answer of the slave stung him to the heart; and, +though Louise was at stake, he would have retorted with the wildest +acrimony, had not Sir Henry prevented him, by saying to the slave--"If +you be the means of restoring Louise to us, I promise to procure your +pardon, if the interest of the Governor can effect it; and your liberty, +if your owner will dispose of you." + +The slave half rose, looked wistfully in the face of Sir Henry: the name +of liberty sounded sweetly on his ear, and made his heart beat with +unwonted velocity. Yet a momentary doubt shot across his brain. Mankind +had ever been his enemy; could he then give credit to the flattering +promise?--The countenance of Sir Henry beamed with philanthropy and +truth; suspicion vanished; and, rising from the ground, he cried--"I +will believe you.--Pursue the path you are in, and I will conduct you to +her." + +"You forget your late accident," said Sir Henry; "let me assist you." + +"I am, I believe," said the old man, "more capable of walking than you. +Slavery has inured me to fatigue. Neither am I materially hurt. I was +exhausted when you came to my assistance, and stunned by the last blow I +received. But your timely interposition saved my life, and freely now +shall you command it." + +He conducted them, by private paths, to a plantation near Ferrand Grove; +in which, after some time, he pointed out a small cottage, so concealed +by the foliage that it might have escaped the eyes of a casual +observer.--"I can proceed no farther," he said, "without danger of being +seen and retaken, which would inevitably bring me to a merciless death. +There is the cottage I yester-evening fled from; and there is Louise de +St. Ursule confined." + +Harland heard no more, but rushed through a gateway which opened to the +cottage. The soft voice of Louise, broken by a plaintive sob, reached +his ear; and, a moment after, that of Ferrand, speaking in a threatening +tone. With a resistless force, the maddened effort of the moment, he +burst the door, and the next instant brought him to the presence of +Louise and his rival. + +Ferrand started at the unexpected apparition, but drew his sword, +perceiving the point of Harland's already at his breast; whilst Louise, +with a scream of mingled joy and terror, attempted to throw herself into +the protecting arms of her lover; but was withheld by one of Ferrand's +attendants, who, recalling to mind his master's assailant, endeavoured +to force her to the interior part of the cottage. In this he was +prevented by Sir Henry, who had followed Harland, and who now sprung to +the rescue of his sister. A few minutes would have decided the conflict +in favour of the adventurers, but the domestics, alarmed by the tumult +and the screams of Louise, hastened to the assistance of their master. +They were, therefore, obliged to act on the defensive; and, to add to +their distress, Louise, after vainly struggling for emancipation, sunk +senseless at the feet of Ferrand. Another moment and she had been torn +from their sight; when Ferrand, thrown off his guard by her fall, +received a wound from Harland: he staggered--and the servant, who was +raising the fair cause of the contention, extended his arm to save his +master. It was a moment granted by fortune. Quick as lightning Sir Henry +tore her from him, and, defended by Harland, conveyed her out of the +cottage. By the time they had passed the gate, Ferrand, however, was +sufficiently recovered to order the servants, who had officiously +attended to him, to pursue them, and force Louise back. They hastened to +execute his commands, but the narrowness of the path prevented their +passing to impede the flight of the fugitives. The sword of Harland was +opposed to those who first presented themselves; but fearing they would +force their way through the underwood, and thus surround them, he +hastily bade Sir Henry--save Louise! Sir Henry, accordingly, after an +anxious but vain look for the old negro, and desiring the Lieutenant to +follow him, entered the nearly trackless path by which they had been +conducted to the cottage. + +Louise soon revived; and, after a few incoherent exclamations of joy, +and thankfulness at her deliverance, anxiously inquired after Harland. +"I hope in a few minutes he will join us," answered Sir Henry. But +scarcely were the words pronounced when they heard a violent tumult, and +immediately after distinguished the voice of Ferrand, commanding his +people to pursue Louise. His anxiety for George was instantly absorbed +in apprehension for the safety of his sister, and, supporting her on his +arm, they again fled. + +Night soon concealed them from farther danger, and the hapless Harland +retook possession of their imaginations. The timid Louise, with tearful +eyes, endeavoured to pierce through the gloom, or entreated Sir Henry to +stop and listen if perchance his distant footfall, or voice, could be +heard. But all was silent--and busy fancy quickly portrayed him as +sinking beneath the vengeance of his furious rival. Sir Henry's thoughts +did not present a more cheerful picture; he entertained not a doubt but +Ferrand had overpowered the Lieutenant; and an idea of assassination +presented itself to his imagination, which the ferocious character of +the East-Indian but too justly authorised. Could he have left Louise, he +would instantly have retraced his way to the cottage, but no friendly +roof presented itself which might have afforded shelter for the lovely +maid; he had therefore no alternative but to proceed, though every nerve +trembling with anxiety to return and aid the unfortunate Lieutenant. + +It was nearly the hour of midnight when they arrived at the +Marchioness's, where Louise had again the satisfaction of being folded +to the bosom of her generous benefactress. An inquiry after Harland +followed the embrace. The tears of Louise informed her some accident had +happened; and, on her applying to Sir Henry for an explanation, he gave +a concise relation of the evening's adventures; at the same time +declaring his intention of instantly returning. The Marchioness could +not oppose his determination, but applied herself to console Louise, who +appeared nearly overpowered by her emotions. + +Sir Henry advanced to her, and tenderly taking her hand--"Indulge not +this immoderate grief, my dear girl, which can only add to our present +distress. Summon your fortitude. George may be wounded--he may be +overpowered; or, which is most probable, he may have missed his way in +the plantations. I yesterday, my dear girl, despaired of ever beholding +you again; yet, when least expected, Providence conducted us to you. +Hope, then, for the best. I will proceed, with the utmost expedition, to +his assistance, if he need it: and if our fears are prophetic--but you +must not indulge the idea.--Harland shall live, and live to bless my +Louise!" + +The enthusiasm with which Sir Henry pronounced the last sentence, +imparted a hope to the heart of Louise, he dared not himself indulge. +She faintly smiled through her tears: Sir Henry again repeated--"Hope +for the best!" and was hastening out of the room, when a loud peal at +the outward door arrested his steps, and, the minute after, Harland, +with breathless impatience, rushed into the room, followed by the old +Negro. + +"My dearest, loveliest girl!" he exclaimed, clasping the delighted +Louise to his bosom; "am I again so blessed as to behold you?--Nor will +I part from you again, my Louise, till the Church's sanction has placed +it beyond the power of aught but death to separate us!" + +"But you are wounded, Harland," said the Marchioness anxiously; "let me +procure you some assistance." + +Harland, indeed, had forgotten his wounds, and the joy Louise at first +experienced on seeing him, prevented her observing his pallid +countenance, or the blood which had stained his clothes. She now with +trembling lips joined in the Marchioness's request, that a surgeon might +be sent for. Harland complied,--"though the hurts I have received," he +continued, "are not such as to require a moment's consideration. But the +dastardly villain, Sir Henry, who inflicted them, shall yet feel the +power of my arm!" + +The last words were uttered with a vehemence which declared Ferrand not +only the man alluded to, but that he had been guilty of some atrocity +they were as yet unacquainted with. + +"Ah, Harland!" sighed Louise, "if you have any regard for my peace, +resign all thoughts of revenge, in which perhaps yourself, not Ferrand, +might become the victim!" + +"In every other circumstance of my life," said Harland, "Louise shall be +my monitor; but I cannot tamely pass by the injuries I have received. To +Sir Henry I am indebted for your preservation--to yonder slave for my +own!--Not two hours since he saved me from the assassin's hand!" + +The countenance of Louise assumed a paler hue at this relation.--"Yonder +slave!" she faintly repeated.--"It is the villain who forced me to the +cottage of Ferrand." + +The old slave, who had hitherto remained near the door, now +advanced:--"I am, it is true, Madam," he said, "the man who, by the +commands of an imperious master, took you from your friends: yet am I +not deserving the name of villain! The slave--but not the man, was +guilty of the action!--By preserving you from dishonour, I incurred the +usage which drove me a naked fugitive from my ancient home. These +Europeans saved me from a cruel death, and promised the richest reward a +wretched slave could receive, if I would conduct them to you. I did +more--and let the action prove a Negro's soul to be susceptible of +gratitude!" + +Louise blushed her recantation of the sentiments she had entertained +respecting the slave. "You have raised my curiosity," said the +Marchioness, "to the highest degree: but as I am certain my Louise, and +you, my young friends, are greatly in need of repose; I will repress it +till the morning, when I shall expect to have it gratified by an ample +relation of every incident." + +Louise thankfully acceded to the Marchioness's proposal of retiring, and +again took possession of her former apartment; whither one of the +Marchioness's daughters accompanied her, that no farther attempt might +be made, without the knowledge of the family or the means of assistance. +Harland likewise, after a surgeon had attended him, retired, as did Sir +Henry, to the apartments which had been prepared for them, and where +repose, the sweetest they had long experienced, rewarded them for the +toils and anxieties of the day. + +It was late in the morning when they assembled at the breakfast-table; +where the Captain and Frederick, having been previously informed of the +successful termination of Sir Henry and Harland's search, attended them. +Mutual compliments and congratulations passed, and after breakfast the +Marchioness reminded them of the last night's arrangement, and Louise +began her relation, as follows: + +"I had not, my dear Madam, retired many minutes to my apartment, on the +night I was forced away, when Rachel, (who has chiefly attended on me +since our arrival in St. Helena) after apologizing for the liberty she +was going to take, with a well-counterfeited appearance of concern, +began to relate a tale of a distressed family, highly deserving, she +said, of compassion and relief, who wished to apply for your +beneficence, but wanted a friend to speak for them: and, knowing my +influence, she had given her word, she said, to ask my assistance. + +"I inquired more particularly into the nature of their distress; and she +so insensibly engaged my attention by her interesting but artful tale, +that the time passed unheeded till long after the usual hour of repose. +I was first recalled to a sense of my improper conduct, by a light +footstep on the outside of my apartment. Unsuspicious of danger, I was +hastening to see who it was, and to apologize, if by my heedlessness I +had disturbed any part of the family; when two men entered the room, and +before I could call for help, Rachel threw a handkerchief over my head, +which she tied so securely across my mouth, that the power of speech was +entirely prevented. My struggles were equally inefficacious: my hands +and feet were bound, and I was then carried silently down the stairs, +and conveyed to the cottage of Ferrand; where freeing me from my bonds, +they left me to reflections painful in the highest degree. The idea that +they designed to murder me, which had taken possession of my mind on our +first entrance into the plantation, then gave place to fears far better +founded, and I dreaded the moment which would bring Ferrand to my sight. + +"An old female soon attended, to show me to a chamber: I endeavoured to +interest her in my favour, and to prevail on her to aid me in returning +to my friends. But she heard me with indifference, spoke in praise of +Ferrand, who, she said, would visit me in the evening, and, advising me +to seek repose, again left me. Thankful, and somewhat easier by hearing +Ferrand was not under the same roof with me, I determined to take +advantage of the respite allowed, and if possible effect my escape. I +hastened to the window--it was secured by strong iron bars, and the door +had been locked and bolted on the outside by my female gaoler. +Disappointed in the faint hope I entertained of liberty, I yielded to a +momentary despair, and, bursting into tears, threw myself on the bed. +Reflection, however, soon showed me the inutility of my grief: many +hours were to pass before Ferrand would come to the cottage; I therefore +endeavoured to calm my agitation, that I might, if possible, meet him +with firmness and resolution. Then again I dreaded the uncontrolled +licence of his passions, or that Harland or my brother, learning who had +taken me away, might be involved in a quarrel, which would terminate in +the loss of their lives. + +"It was noon when my attendant entered with refreshments; and a smile, I +thought truly demoniacal, played on her features as she again launched +out in praise of her master, and the happy life I might lead if I were +but compliant with his wishes. I listened to her in silence, as my +spirits were too dejected to permit my answering her; and she left me, I +believe highly satisfied with her own eloquence. The afternoon passed +comfortless; evening arrived; and I was forced from reflections on a +more deserving lover, to the presence of Ferrand. He accosted me with an +exultation and assurance that implied he thought the conquest over me +completely gained, by the success of his stratagem: he did not, +therefore, patiently listen to my reproaches and animadversions on his +conduct; but, after a violent paroxysm of passion, reminded me he was +then the master of my fate. He was willing, he said, to join his destiny +with mine by a lawful union; but, if I rejected his offer, I must answer +to myself for any measures he might pursue. I could not conceal the +terror occasioned by this declaration; the courage I at first exerted +forsook me, and tears and entreaties were my only defence. The next day, +and the next, passed with little variation; Ferrand sometimes strove to +soothe, but more often to terrify me to compliance. The third evening a +violent bustle in the lower rooms raised my hopes that my brother and +Harland had gained intelligence of my prison, and were come to my +deliverance. With a throbbing heart I listened to catch the welcome +sound of their voices; but the tumult gradually ceased; all became +quiet; and I was obliged to resign myself to a state rendered more +horrid by the short-lived but sanguine hope I had indulged of +liberation. + +"I did not see Ferrand again till late the next day; when he informed me +the fleets had sailed, and that Harland and my friends had left the +island. I cannot attempt to describe the agony of mind I endured on +receiving this intelligence. He renewed his offer of immediate marriage, +but I turned from him with horror. My sorrow renewed his anger; he +repeated his threats--declared he would grant me only till the morning +to determine whether I would accept his honourable proposal, or submit +to a state of infamy; and was proceeding in his invectives, when the +door was burst from its hinges, and the entrance of my Harland and Sir +Henry proved the falsity of Ferrand's report, and changed my sorrow to +joy." + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +Louise ceased speaking, and Harland, who had with difficulty restrained +his impatience during the latter part of her relation, exclaimed--"And +think you, my Louise, I will not chastise the villain for his +conduct?--I should be undeserving the affection you have honoured me +with to let it pass unpunished!" + +The Marchioness smiled.--"At present, Harland, we will think of your +marriage with Louise. You have sufficiently proved your knight-errantry +by her rescue: and as for Ferrand, I think he is punished enough, in the +loss of his mistress, for the steps he took to obtain her. Had you, my +young friend, been the rejected lover, I do not think your passions +would have been more under control than his have been." + +Harland looked confused. The Captain returned the Marchioness's smile. +"Harland, I believe, Madam, feels the force of the words you have +uttered: and let their plain truth, George, recommend them to your +consideration. Your character for courage has been long established: but +that courage, if it lead you to revenge, degenerates to assassination; +nor could I then regard you in a more respectable light than the hired +Bravo! Too much blood has already been shed. Leave Ferrand then to the +dictate of his own conscience for what he has done, and yield to the +happiness which awaits you. Our stay here may be limited to a few hours, +and it is highly necessary your union with Mademoiselle St. Ursule +should take place before we part with the Marchioness." + +The latter part of this speech reconciled George to its preceding +reproof; and he earnestly entreated the marriage might take place that +very evening. + +"To-morrow morning it shall," said the Marchioness; "but some little +preparation is necessary: our worthy friend the Governor is not yet +acquainted with our Louise's return: and one piece of justice yet +remains to be performed: Rachel ought not, nor shall she escape +punishment, for her assistance toward the destruction of Louise." + +The lovely girl here interceded for the guilty Rachel; who, she said, +had certainly been bribed by Ferrand to the action. "That very +consideration," the Marchioness replied, "added to her guilt; as it +proved her ingratitude to a generous mistress." And as Sir Henry and his +friends sided with the Marchioness, Louise was obliged to submit. + +Rachel was therefore ordered to appear; but, after repeated summonses, +was declared to have absconded! On the return of Louise she indeed +became certain the part she had taken in betraying her to Ferrand must +be discovered; and, to avoid punishment, she secretly conveyed her +clothes to the house of a friend, and early in the morning departed for +the cottage. The Marchioness was therefore necessitated to leave her +punishment to the future vigilance and justice of the Governor; to whom +a servant was dispatched to acquaint him with Sir Henry and Harland's +success: and composure being once more restored, that lady reminded +Harland his evening adventures were yet to be related. George bowed, and +immediately began: + +"I guarded the pass from the cottage, my dear Madam, till my Louise was +out of sight; when I endeavoured also to retreat, and should have +succeeded, had not Ferrand (recovered from the effects of our late +rencounter) come from the cottage. Perceiving my sweet girl was escaped, +he turned the effects of his rage against me, who did not patiently +receive the onset; and a far more furious contest than the former +commenced. Blinded by rage against my principal adversary, I too much +disregarded the number and power of his servants, who then found means +to surround me, and treacherously assailed me behind. In consequence of +this I was overpowered and dragged to the ground. 'Secure him!' was all +Ferrand uttered, as he darted past me, with some of his servants, to +pursue Sir Henry. His orders, however, were punctually obeyed by those +who remained, and I was in an instant effectually secured. + +"You, my friends, who so well know my irritable temper, may judge of my +rage at the restriction and indignity I endured. The only power I +retained was that of speech, and I vented my passion in vain defiance +and imprecations against Ferrand. After some time I was carried into the +cottage; and thence again removed to a rude cave or grot in a retired +part of the plantation: a place apparently formed for murder and the +blackest deeds; and where I was left on a few rushes to exhaust the +residue of my rage. + +"Some time elapsed, when Ferrand presented himself, with a light in one +hand, his sword in the other; fury and madness were depicted in his +countenance, and reflected with additional force by the red glare of the +torch. + +"'You--scoundrel, at least, have not escaped me!' he vociferated as he +advanced, 'and shall now pay for the slights and indignities I have +endured! For you, Louise rejected me; and has placed a serpent in my +heart: but some of its stings shall yet reach her in the person of her +minion!' + +"My satisfaction at the certainty of Louise's escape, was absorbed in +returning fury at this address. I struggled to shake off my fetters; +demanded to be free; and that our pretensions might be ultimately +decided by the sword! + +"'They shall be!' he repeated with increased vehemence. His hand was +raised to plunge his sword into my bosom, when the old slave darted from +the entrance, and, before its point could reach me, arrested his arm! A +scuffle ensued: but Ferrand was by no means able to contend with his +slave; who soon wrested the sword from him.-- + +"'Villain! Degenerate wretch!' he exclaimed, nearly choked with rage, +'thy life shall answer for this interference!' + +"'My life!' repeated the old man, grasping him firmly by the collar and +shaking him. 'Thine is now completely in my power!--and here may I +revenge the blows, the usage, thou hast unjustly dealt me: but I scorn +to embrue my hands in thy blood. Begone!--and thank the mercy of thy +slave, thou art not now grovelling in the dust!' + +"He cast him to the entrance, and Ferrand, who had shrunk with terror +when in the hands of the stern negro, hastened toward the cottage, +calling for help, and vociferating the names of his servants. The old +man snatched up the torch, which lay burning on the ground, and, placing +it in the earth, hastily applied himself to extricate me from the +fetters with which I had been loaded. Fully sensible of the inevitable +death he had preserved me from, I endeavoured to express the gratitude +which swelled in my heart, and promised not only to join with Sir Henry +in procuring his liberty, but to add such a recompense as should evince +my sense of the obligation I owed him. + +"'To Sir Henry, and the European woman,' he replied, 'you are indebted +for your preservation. From what I over-heard, I learned you were the +friend of one, the destined husband of the other: and, for their sakes, +was I coming to liberate you, when the haughty Ferrand passed me: and +let the danger you have been in teach you this lesson--never to scorn a +fellow-creature, or despise his afflictions, because he is beneath you. +The lowest weed you carelessly trample on, is not without its virtues; +and is equally the work of the Creator as the loftiest pine of the +forest. As men, we all are equal: nor are the circumstances of life so +certain, but the monarch may be indebted for his existence to the hand +of a slave!' He raised me from the ground; and, as a sentiment of shame +arose for the cause of this reproach, I accepted his proffered arm in +silence, for my limbs were at first too benumbed to admit of my walking +without assistance. The voice of Ferrand, directing his servants as he +again approached the recess, informed us not a moment was to be lost; +and my companion, dashing out the torch, with hasty steps conducted me +into the plantation. By paths well known to himself, he guided me across +the tangled wilderness to the high road, where he first broke silence, +by informing me we were out of danger. We, however, continued our way +with the utmost expedition, as my soul burned with impatience to be +convinced that my beloved Louise was not only freed from the power of +Ferrand, but that she was also safe under the protection of her amiable +benefactress." + +The comments on this account of Harland, were interrupted by the arrival +of the Governor, who, after congratulating him on the recovery of +Louise, likewise requested to be informed of the particulars respecting +her disappearance and restoration. Louise and Harland therefore briefly +recapitulated the foregoing events; Harland only enlarging on those +circumstances wherein the old slave was concerned. The Governor listened +with attention to their relations, and with visible concern and +impatience to what had passed in the cave. When Harland concluded, he +appeared for some moments absorbed in reflection, and then desired to +see the slave. Sir Henry and Harland looked anxiously at each other, and +would have interceded in behalf of the old man, but were prevented by +his entrance; their apprehensions on his account, however, ceased, as +the Governor said-- + +"So, Carlo--I find you have been a principal actor in the adventures of +our European friends. You have undoubtedly acted right as a man, but not +with the obedience and respect due from a slave to his owner. I am, +however, so well pleased with the termination of this affair, I rather +wish to reward than punish you. For your preservation of this gentleman, +I therefore pardon your desertion: for your forbearance on the life of +my Ferrand, I give you your liberty!" + +"Liberty--liberty!" shouted the old man; "oh, bless my ears with a +repetition of the word! Say again that I am free, and I will indeed +believe you!" + +"From this moment," repeated the Governor, "I declare you free; and +these your friends are witnesses of that declaration." + +Carlo sunk at the feet of his generous master; embraced his knees; and, +whilst the tears of gratitude rolled down his cheeks, in broken accents +breathed his thanks. The Governor appeared affected-- + +"At how easy a price," he cried, addressing the Captain, "might man, +would he reflect, dispense happiness on a fellow-creature. I declare, +till this moment I never felt the irresistible power of nature, or how +nearly allied the free man was to the slave. Rise, Carlo; I will make it +my business to provide for you in a manner more suitable to your +deserts." + +"That," said Harland, "shall be my care. The obligations I am under to +Carlo, can never be repaid; but I will instantly assign over to him, +property to the value of two thousand pounds, as an acknowledgment for +the services he has rendered me, and as a peace-offering for the +sentiments I once expressed; and if he will go with me to England, I +will settle him to his satisfaction, either in a mercantile or +agricultural situation." + +Carlo rose from the feet of his late master, and grasping Harland's arm, +said energetically--"I thank you!--my heart feels your bounty, but I +cannot speak its sentiments. Not to England, however, do I wish to go. +Give me half the wealth you have named, and let me return to Coromandel; +the land where first I drew my breath; the land whence, ere fourteen +revolving seasons had marked my life, I was basely torn from freedom, +friends, and kindred!--but I beg your pardon; in this moment when my +soul is overflowing with joy--with gratitude--I ought not to intrude a +tale of misery, or vex your ears with woes which no longer exist." + +"I have often, Carlo," said the Governor, "thought you superior to a +common slave; but the duties of my situation, and my own more immediate +concerns, prevented my ever questioning you on the subject; but as the +late events have introduced you more particularly to our notice, these +your friends, I doubt not, will excuse my inquiring by what accident you +were forced into slavery?" + +"Forced indeed!" ejaculated Carlo. "For till then I was gay and free as +the breeze which lightly fanned my native groves.--I had one day, Sir, +been with some of my youthful companions, laving my limbs in the +expanded ocean, when a party of European sailors came to the spot where +we were: they found us unarmed--an easy prey; and, seizing us in spite +of resistance, forced us on board their vessel, and brought us to this +island, where we were consigned to slavery! It is true, my chains for +years were formed with flowers. The late Governor became my master; and +when memory brought to mind the past, or painted the distraction of my +parents for my loss--if I madly reprobated the hand that tore me from +them, or sunk in despondence, wept, and sighed for liberty; he would +deign to soothe my sorrows; on hearing my tale, he did more: he promised +to restore me to my friends and country! But alas--grief for the loss +of her offspring, had closed the number of my mother's days; my father +sought his child, to redeem him--and perished in the search! + +"My generous benefactor, on being informed of these events, declared he +would in future supply the place of the parents I had lost; I should be +the child of his adoption, and as such he would provide for me. I was +accordingly instructed in those sciences by which Europeans claim +superiority over ruder climes; and never had he cause to regret his +beneficence. At his death, he said, I should be free and affluent; nay, +would then have given me liberty, but that he feared to lose me. Ah! he +knew not, that the strongest chains which can be forged, are those of +gratitude and affection! + +"His death happened too suddenly for him to fulfil his intentions in my +favour; and his sordid relations, who had long regarded me with jealous +envy, sold me with the rest of his slaves! + +"Then indeed I first experienced the horrors of slavery: those who had +courted my acquaintance in the days of prosperity, when it was no longer +in my power to render them services, ceased to know me: my friendship +was no longer sought--I was disregarded--forgotten! Till then, hope had +cheered my days and shed her influence on my slumbers; she then deserted +me--and each succeeding day was marked with misery! + +"Many, indeed, have been my afflictions: nor do I count the loss of an +humble, but faithful companion, who was rudely torn from my arms, the +least I have endured. After twenty years absence, I was once more +brought to St. Helena, and bought, my noble master, by you. But far +different was I from what I had been in the days of my youth: affliction +had gradually marked my brow with gloom, and deadened the milder virtues +of my heart! I was appointed by you, to attend on your nephew; who--but +he had never experienced woe; how then could he judge of that, he +wantonly inflicted on others! + +"By him I was commanded, with his favourite valet, to force Mademoiselle +de St. Ursule to the cottage; which was easily effected with the +assistance of Rachel. The sight of her, I could not but regard as a +victim, rekindled a spark of pity in my bosom: that she disliked your +nephew and loved another, I had discovered in his moments of passion; I +thought of the wife who had been forced from me: a pang shot through my +heart, and I wished if possible to save her: but Marguerite too well +knew the duties of her office, to entrust the keys of her chamber in my +possession. + +"The offers of your nephew were rejected by that lady; and on the third +day of her confinement, he vowed, by force or stratagem, to effect his +purpose. The sibyl of his pleasures proposed drugs, which she +accordingly prepared, and mixed in a beverage for the lovely prisoner. +The indignation of my soul could then be no longer restrained. I dashed +the vessel to the floor, and, forgetting I was his slave, reproved him +for his ungenerous proceedings! + +"What followed, I scarcely need relate: he struck me, and, summoning my +fellow slaves, ordered me to be punished--even to death! But indignation +gave me strength, I broke from them, and sought refuge among the rocks. +My enraged master, as I yester-evening learned, joined himself in the +fruitless pursuit, he ordered after me. + +"The remembrance of the lady whom I wished to save, returned with the +morning; I thought I might perhaps be able to effect her deliverance, or +at least inform her friends where she was; and for that purpose was, +toward the close of the day, retracing my steps to the plantation which +surrounds the cottage, and where I thought I might lie concealed, when I +was suddenly attacked by four of my late companions, and but for the +assistance of these gentlemen, should there have resigned my being! +They, however, preserved me, and with you, have this day restored me to +life--to hope--to happiness! My faithful Mella bears her bonds in my +native land, and thither would I return, that she too may be free; and +with me hourly offer up her prayers for those, whose beneficence had +unbound the chains of our slavery!" + +"And you shall return, Carlo," said the Marchioness, "if I have any +influence with these gentlemen. I am going to Pondicherry; and you shall +return with me. The present of your generous young friend will be +sufficient to establish you; and under the protection of my husband, the +Governor, you yet may experience the happiness you so truly deserve." + +The Governor and Harland readily agreed to the Marchioness's +arrangement; and Carlo retired, anticipating with impatience the hour +which would restore him to his native land, and his long-lost Mella. + +The Governor soon after took his leave, as did the Captain, who, with +Frederick and Sir Henry, returned on board: Harland only remaining at +the Marchioness's. + +At last the hour so ardently wished for arrived, which was to unite the +lovely Louise to Harland. Sir Henry and his friends attended: the +Governor likewise honoured the ceremony with his presence, and by his +generous behaviour endeavoured to atone for his former restriction on +George, which the well-known disposition of his nephew (who had shut +himself up in gloomy discontent at the Grove) rendered highly necessary. +A numerous company had been invited to pass the day at the +Marchioness's, not only in honour of Louise's nuptials, but also as a +farewell visit, the next day being appointed for their embarkation. The +thoughts of separation, however, were superseded by the pleasure which +prevailed, and animated every countenance. + +In the course of the evening, Sir Henry, who by the friendship of the +Captain had procured a draft on a merchant at Pondicherry, for a +thousand pounds, sought Carlo, and, taking him into a private room, +presented him with it, saying--"I must beg your acceptance, Carlo, of +this mark of my friendship. I believe I possess a place in your esteem, +and I wish you not to forget me. With part of this, procure the liberty +of your Mella; and may the rest add to the comforts of your age." + +"Forget you!" repeated Carlo emphatically. "Never, Sir Henry! You were +the first who spoke peace to my wounded spirit.--Yes, from this I will +indeed redeem my Mella; and her presence shall prove a perpetual memento +of your friendship. A few hours, Sir Henry, and I shall behold you no +more: here, then, take an old man's blessing; and may you experience +happiness equal to that you have conferred on me!" + +Sir Henry shook his hand, and Carlo, sinking on his knee, pressed that +of his youthful benefactor to his bosom and his lips, and, repeating his +blessing, hastily withdrew. Sir Henry then returned to the Captain; who +soon after took his final leave of the amiable Marchioness and the +Governor. + +The next morning Sir Henry and Frederick attended to conduct Harland and +his bride on board. The painful moment of separation was arrived: the +Marchioness and her daughters endeavoured to appear cheerful and +collected; but the respectful and affectionate behaviour of Louise had +too much endeared her to them to permit them to part without regret; nor +could the obtrusive tear be restrained. + +"We may meet again, my dear girl!" said the Marchioness, as the +signal-gun warned them to depart. Harland gently forced his Louise from +the arms of her early friends, and, placing her in the barge, they were +soon conveyed on board. The signal was given to weigh--Louise faintly +murmured the name of her benefactress; who with her daughters still +sighed a blessing and adieu, as the unfurled sails swelled with the +breeze which conveyed them from the romantic cliffs of St. Helena. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +The mind of Harland now enjoyed a serenity hitherto unknown; the +mildness of Louise, the increasing knowledge of her virtues, whilst they +added to his love, softened the harshness of his manners: and, from +experiencing the sweets arising from beneficence, he was taught to +regard the happiness of others, as conducive to his own. + +It was one of those evenings when the serenity of the heavens shed its +influence on mankind, and harmonized the mind to happiness, that the +Captain, with his youthful companions, after long enjoying the tranquil +beauties of the declining day, retired to his cabin. The careful +mariner, freed for a time from toil, reclined in easy repose on the +deck, or carrolled his humble ditty, as he watched the different +vessels, of which he might be deemed in part the safeguard. A transient +peace possessed every bosom: when Harland, after a considerable pause, +addressing his Louise, said--"I have often designed, my dear girl, to +request some account of the occurrences attending your childhood; of +which I have hitherto had a very imperfect knowledge: the present moment +is favourable for the relation, which I think would prove equally +gratifying to Sir Henry and our friends." + +"There is not any thing in the account, Harland," replied Louise, "to +repay your attention in the hearing: a monastic life affords but little +variety."--However, as Sir Henry and Frederick joined in the request, +she without farther hesitation complied. + +"Of the manner in which I was left at the gate of the Convent, you have +already, Harland, been informed. I was found there in the morning by the +portress, and by her carried to the mother St. Claire, the venerable +Abbess. The meanness of my clothes by no means accorded with the +valuable miniature tied round my neck; but rather tended, as the worthy +Abbess said, to show that my parents were actuated by shame, not +poverty. She, however, hesitated not a moment to take me in, and, after +an ineffectual search to discover the authors of my being, determined to +rear me, and dedicate my life me to the God who had placed me under her +protection. + +"I was accordingly given to the care of a lay sister, who faithfully +discharged her trust; and as my infant mind expanded, the Abbess became +each day more partial to me. The friendship of the mother St. Claire was +followed by the real or pretended love of the other inmates of the +Convent, and I was soon the avowed favourite of all. + +"Amongst those, however, who evinced a sincere regard for me, was the +sister Francoise; between whom, and the venerable Abbess, my early +affection was divided. Under their more immediate care, I was instructed +in every useful and ornamental branch of education; and their +approbation and praise were the rewards of my diligence. Thus passed my +earlier days, unclouded with a sorrow; sister Francoise and the Abbess +were all the world to me, nor knew I of one beyond the walls of the +Convent. + +"The frequent visits, however, paid to the other children by their +friends, could not but lead me, at length, to reflect on the difference +of my lot. No father, no mother, ever inquired for me; and the first +sigh that ever swelled my bosom, was for those relations, whom fate +prohibited me from ever knowing." + +A half-stifled sigh escaped Sir Henry; which was gently returned by +Louise, who, after a moment's pause, again proceeded. + +"Sister Francoise soon observed, and learned the cause of my dejection. +'You have no acknowledged parents, Louise,' she said; 'but I will be +your mother, and you shall love me as a daughter.' She burst into tears; +I kissed them off her cheek as she embraced me, and, pleased with the +idea of mother, soon regained my cheerfulness. From that time, I became +the nearly inseparable companion of sister Francoise: I addressed her +by the name of mother, I believed her such, and fully did her tenderness +authorise the title. + +"It was not till I was fourteen, that mother St. Claire put into my +possession the miniature found with me, and informed me of the +circumstance which had placed me under her protection, and of her +intentions that I should take the veil. The latter intelligence, +repugnant as it was to my inclinations, affected me less than the +knowledge of my orphan state. 'And is not sister Francoise then my +mother?' I would have asked; but tears impeded my utterance; and, +throwing my arms round the neck of St. Claire, I wept in silence. She +tenderly embraced me; and when the violence of my grief was abated, +exhorted me to resignation to the state that Providence had assigned me; +and explained the reasons which rendered a life of seclusion necessary +to one, who without friends could only look for infamy and destruction +in the world. + +"'Yet do not, dear mother,' I exclaimed, 'force me to be a nun--at +least, not yet!' + +"'Force you, my child!' repeated the venerable woman, 'never! Forced +vows cannot be sincere; and sincere indeed ought those to be, which are +offered to your God! You yet are young: but two years hence, if I be in +existence, I hope to receive you at the altar. I have pointed out the +dangers which would attend you, in a world you are a stranger to; you +know the peaceful happiness, the security which reign within these +walls: let both be the subject of your reflections; and too well am I +assured of the sense, the goodness of heart my girl possesses, to doubt +her cheerful acquiescence in the lot assigned her." + +"Never before had my heart refused accordance to the sentiments or +wishes of this my earliest friend; but the fascinating picture, the +young Victoire, and Julie de Valois, (for three years my intimate +companions) had often painted of the world, had first engaged my +attention by its novelty, then taught me to wish for those pleasures, +with which I thought it abounded. The world,--however, its +gaieties--all were absorbed in the circumstance of my deserted infancy; +and I left the worthy Abbess, overwhelmed with the only real sorrow I +had ever known. + +"Instead of going to my beloved mother, as I had hitherto termed her, I +sought the gloomy solitude of the cloister; and was indulging in an +unrestrained flow of tears, when the approach of two nuns caused me to +retreat into an adjoining chapel. They seated themselves at the +entrance, nor could I then have re-passed without discovery; which would +have exposed me to a severe reproof from sister Brigide (one of them), +for my intrusion into a place, sacred to the sisterhood. They, however, +continued their discourse without the slightest suspicion of unhallowed +ears, and I soon found sister Francoise was the subject of their +conversation. + +"'I, who have been an inmate here these six-and-thirty years,' said +sister Brigide, 'am less regarded by the superannuated mother St. +Claire; I may, however, one day be head of this convent; then woe betide +some, whom I shall not name.' + +"'How long is it since she took the veil?' asked the other, whom, by her +voice I discovered to be a sister lately professed. 'Fourteen years,' +answered Brigide: 'just after the Abbess's favourite Louise was left +here; and much I mistake, if Francoise be not really her mother!' + +"'Her great partiality to the child,' answered sister Marie, 'may +certainly justify the suspicion.' + +"'Suspicion'--repeated Brigide; 'I have proofs--facts, indubitable ones! +I know more of sister Francoise than she thinks.' + +"The curiosity of Marie thus raised, induced her to press Brigide to an +explanation; whilst I scarcely respired lest a syllable of the important +intelligence should escape me. + +"'It is now about fifteen years,' said Brigide, 'since sister Francoise, +then Mademoiselle de Colline, was a reigning belle; though, for my part, +I never could discover the surprising beauty they say she possessed: +being, however, the youngest daughter, she was designed for a monastic +life; but was by nature more inclined to vows of love than religion. By +her artful coquetries she at last fascinated a young Englishman who was +on his travels, and who demanded her of her father in marriage. Monsieur +de Colline refused him, he being an heretic; and the gallant apparently +ceased his addresses; but after a lapse of some time, he was detected +one morning by her father, descending from her chamber window. Justly +enraged at the depravity of his daughter and the young fellow, Monsieur +de Colline seized his pistols, and as the lover was scaling the +garden-wall, a brace of bullets brought him to the earth! + +"'Not satisfied with this victim to his injured honour, he hastened to +the apartment of his daughter, taxed her with her crime, and was +proceeding to tell her the vengeance he had taken, when the guilty +wretch fell into fits, and was discovered to be in a state of pregnancy! + +"'Her sisters, who before had been inclined to pity her, then abandoned +her to the fury of her father; and happy had it been, if she had then +expiated her sin by the loss of life; but an old servant, who had been +privy to her amour, preserved her from the effects of his passion. She +was, however, by his order, confined in an obscure part of the Chateau, +and treated with the greatest rigour; but, instead of bewailing her +fault, she only deplored the loss of her lover! There, with the +assistance of her old confidant, she was delivered of an infant: its sex +I never learned, or what became of it; but about that time Louise was +found at the gates of the convent!' + +"'Oh, a clear case--a clear case!' exclaimed sister Marie. 'But, with +all the search they say St. Claire caused to be made for the parents, do +not you think it strange these circumstances did not lead her to them?' + +"'Not at all,' replied Brigide. 'The events I have related were +transacted in too secret a manner to let suspicion even point a finger +at the De Collines; nor do I believe there is another in the Convent, +except the Abbess, who is acquainted with these particulars respecting +her; nor should I have known them, but for the old confidant I +mentioned; who, about five years since, became a lay sister, and died +here. She too was very fond of Louise: and a few words she one day +inadvertently uttered, raised my suspicion there was more concerning +sister Francoise than I knew; and I determined never to rest till I had +discovered what it was; and by a thousand questions, and indeed by +pretending I was in the confidence of Francoise, I learned what I have +now related.'-- + +"Sufficient indeed," interrupted Sir Henry, starting from his seat, and +pacing the cabin, "to blast her character; but not to draw the tear of +pity, the unhappy--injured Francoise deserved! Not even a convent, I +find, can screen the unfortunate from malice and detraction!--But +proceed, my dear Louise; I meant not to interrupt you." + +"And did you, my brother," asked Louise, "ever before hear the +misfortunes of Francoise?" + +"I learned them from herself, Louise." + +"From herself, Sir Henry! When did you know her?" + +"Not till after you, my sister, left the convent. And here let me +endeavour to do justice to her character. To the lover sister Brigide +mentioned, Francoise, on her father's refusal, was privately united: +and, by the assistance of the old servant, who witnessed their marriage, +he was secretly admitted into the house. This intercourse had continued +several months, when her father saw, and shot the unhappy husband; who +was soon after found nearly lifeless, by some peasants, and by them +conveyed to the house of a surgeon. + +"In Monsieur de Colline's subsequent interview with Francoise, she +avowed her marriage; but he either did not--or would not believe her. He +caused her to be confined, and fearing, if she persisted in her +declaration of marriage, he could not force her to take the veil; he not +only informed her, her lover was dead, but, to further his purpose, that +her infant likewise expired soon after its birth. By him it was indeed +doomed to expiate, by its death, the supposed fault of its wretched +mother: but Providence preserved it for a better fate. + +"Francoise, however--her heart nearly broken by the double loss of her +husband and child--gladly availed herself of the fate designed her, to +escape the reproaches of her father, and the taunts of her sisters, and +threw herself into the convent of St. Ursule; where she took the veil at +the very time her husband, recovered of his wound, was searching the +country to discover her: but Monsieur de Colline had taken his measures +too effectually; and at last, supposing her dead, he returned to +England. At the old man's death, however, the letters the unhappy Henry +had addressed to Francoise, and to him, were discovered by his +Confessor; as likewise the Monk who had married them; and as her husband +was then living, a dispensation was obtained, and sister Francoise, +freed from her vows, returned with my father to England." + +"Your father! O God, my brother!" exclaimed Louise, clasping her hands. +"Tell me, I entreat you, if Francoise de Colline was really my mother!" + +Sir Henry appeared confused--distressed: but at last said--"Seek not, my +dear girl, the knowledge which cannot add to your happiness, but would +plunge me still deeper in the gulf of misery. Your mother lives: and you +shall one day know her. The time, alas! will too soon arrive, when every +midnight deed must be brought to light: but, till then--let not the hand +of Louise level an unnecessary shaft at my bosom!" + +Louise could urge no farther; her anxiety to be satisfied on this +subject, yielded to the visible concern and agitation her question had +occasioned Sir Henry. She sighed, and a pause ensued, from which they +were relieved by the Captain requesting her to proceed in her narrative. + +"Little more passed," continued Louise, "between sister Brigide and +Marie, than what I have related. The latter mentioned the miniature +found with me, as a proof that must instantly confirm the truth of +Brigide's allegation; but Brigide ridiculed the idea. She had seen the +miniature, she said, it was not of Francoise: but Monsieur de Colline +and his daughter were both too cunning, she added, to leave any proof +with me, which must discover them; the miniature was a trinket, by +which if ever they chose to reclaim me, they could; but a ring or a seal +would have answered the purpose equally the same.--They were here +interrupted by the arrival of another nun, with whom they proceeded to +the refectory; whilst I, freed from the danger of detection, hastened to +the cell of sister Francoise, and, throwing myself into her arms, +exclaimed--'I am--I am your child; oh, do not attempt to deceive me, but +say that you are indeed my mother!' + +"Sister Francoise was at first alarmed at the wildness of my address, +but, on my relating the discoveries of the morning, her agitation far +exceeded my own.--'No--no, Louise,' she sighed, 'you are not my child: +would to heaven that you were: but I am indeed widowed--and childless!' + +"She wrung her hands, and, bursting into tears, sunk on her humble +couch. I mingled my tears with hers; I strove to soothe her; yet still +urged my claim to maternal acknowledgment. She referred me to the +miniature:--'The resemblance you bear to it, Louise,' she said, 'must +convince you it was done for a parent; but no likeness can be traced in +it to me. Cease then to wring my soul by forcing to remembrance, scenes +long since passed. I love you, Louise; but utterly disclaim all kindred +with your blood. Be satisfied then with my affection, nor ever again +renew this subject to me or any one!' + +"Thus prohibited, I forbore to speak, but sighed in secret over the +mystery of my birth; my mind by degrees lost its serenity, and I was +apprehended to be in a decline; when the Marchioness de Valois came to +the Convent. The friendship of her lovely daughters had before +introduced me to her notice; she regarded me with an eye of pity, and +proposed my going with her to Montpellier. The worthy St. Claire readily +consented; and taking an affectionate leave of her and sister Francoise, +for the first time in my life, I re-passed the gates of the Convent. + +"What were my sentiments of the various objects I beheld, I shall leave +to your own conceptions; all indeed was wonder, joy, and amazement! The +amiable Marchioness, pleased with my inquiries and remarks, pointed out +and explained whatever she thought worthy my notice or regard. She did +more: she traced the grief which oppressed me to its source, and wiped +the tear of dejection from my cheek. She taught me to look forward with +hope, and to rely with confidence on the wisdom of Providence, which, in +its own time, would develope the mystery that distressed me. The +friendship of this amiable woman, the paternal behaviour of the Marquis, +who joined us at Montpellier, and the amusements of that celebrated +place, to me so novel, soon restored my wonted cheerfulness and health; +and, after an absence of three months, I returned to the Convent; where +the increased infirmities of mother St. Claire, and a fever with which +sister Francoise was seized, called forth all my tenderness and +attention. + +"They were repaid by the restoration of this mother of my affection, and +the mild serenity of the venerable Abbess; who, unalarmed, awaited the +hour of dissolution, with a smile of confidence and peace, that +anticipated the reward of a life passed in piety and benevolence. Her +fondness for me appeared daily to increase; but, to my great surprise +and satisfaction, she no longer urged my taking the vows, or even +expressed a wish for my engaging in a monastic life. + +"Thus passed a twelvemonth, happy as those I had formerly known; when +the Marchioness again came to the Convent, to take Victoire and Julie +finally from under the care of St. Claire. + +"It was then that she declared her intentions in my favour; to which St. +Claire added--'For this reason, my child, I have long ceased importuning +you to enter on your probation. You dislike the life of a nun, and, how +much soever I wish for your society, I prefer your happiness and real +advantage to my own gratification. Here you would be secure from the +storms and cares of life; but, from what I have learned respecting +sister Brigide, who will undoubtedly be my successor, you could hope for +nothing more, save the peace arising from internal religion; and even +that, the mother of a sisterhood has it in her power to disturb, though +not to destroy. With me, you might experience the happiness a life of +religion is calculated to afford; but see, my child,' and she turned a +glass whose last sands were running out, 'my hour is nearly expired! To +the Marchioness then I resign you.--Let the religion, the precepts I +have inculcated, the example I have given you, prove the guides of your +conduct.--Transfer the obedience you have shown me, to her; and may +every happiness attend you!' + +"Tears of affection and gratitude were my only answer; I could not +speak, but, sinking at her feet, hid my face on her knees; the world I +had sighed for, faded on my imagination before this instance of her +love; and the thoughts of leaving her far outweighed the life of liberty +she had awarded me. + +"Orders, however, were given for my departure; nor did St. Claire +provide for me as the orphan of her charity, but as the child of her +tenderest regard. To the former marks of her munificence, she added many +valuable presents. 'They will remind you of my lessons, Louise,' she +said, 'even in the assemblies of the gay. I shall feel the loss of your +attentions, but sister Francoise will supply your place; and remember, +my child, whilst I have life, you shall be welcomed here with open +arms!' + +"All was soon prepared, and receiving her final blessing, with that of +sister Francoise, I followed the Marchioness to her carriage. + +"We proceeded to Paris, where a continued round of amusements for some +time banished reflection, and the remembrance of the worthy St. Claire. +Pleasure, however, at length lost its attractions, and only in the +friendship of the Marchioness, and a few select families, I found that +real satisfaction I had in vain expected in the more brilliant, but +dissipated circles of the fashionable world. + +"Twelve months had elapsed, since I quitted the Convent; I had +repeatedly written to St. Claire and sister Francoise, but never +received an answer: and as we were then going to the Marquis's country +seat, the Marchioness consented that I should cross the country to +Rennes. It was late in the evening when I arrived at the Convent; +painfully anticipating the intelligence of St. Claire's death: there, +instead of the benevolent mild old sister Marthe, who first succoured my +helpless infancy, a lay sister I had never seen, attended the summons to +the gate, and demanded my business? + +"'Is mother St. Claire still living?' I tremulously asked. + +"'She has been dead eleven months,' replied the portress; 'and mother +St. Brigide is now the head of this Convent. If you wish to speak with +her, send in your name and business, and I will endeavour to gain you +admittance.' + +"'Oh no,' I exclaimed--'not with her: but tell sister Francoise, her +child--her Louise, wishes to see her.' + +"'Louise--sister Francoise!' she repeated with a frown. 'There is no +such sister within these walls.' + +"'O God!' I cried. 'Is she too dead?' + +"'I have positive orders,' said the portress, 'not to answer any +questions, or take in any message from you.'--She closed the grate: and +Jacques hearing what passed, of his own accord drove to an hotel, where +I passed the night in mournful reflections, and the next day, with an +oppressed heart, rejoined the Marchioness at Rohan. + +"No occurrence happened from that time, till nearly a twelvemonth after, +when the Count de Dreux declared himself my admirer. He was nearly +fifty--vain, self-sufficient, and affected; but likewise rich; and, for +the last consideration, the Marquis advised my encouragement of his +addresses: to the Marchioness, however, I avowed my real sentiments +respecting him; and she gave him a gentle, but positive refusal. At the +same time she undeceived him respecting my birth, by which he had +supposed me nearly related to her; and that consideration, I believe, +reconciled him to her rejection; but though he ceased to regard me as +longer worthy his honourable addresses, he still pursued me, as an +object of desire. + +"At that time the Marquis was unexpectedly appointed Governor of +Pondicherry; for which place he was ordered immediately to depart. + +"The Marchioness accompanied him to L'Orient, whither I should likewise +have attended her with Victoire and Julie, but indisposition obliged me +to remain at the Chateau. The opportunity was too favourable to the +projects of the Count, to be neglected; he wrote me a passionate letter, +with a brilliant offer of settlements, jewels, &c.: of which I did not +deign to take the least notice. My silence produced a second, on the +supposition that he had not been sufficiently liberal: and he sent a +carte blanche. To evince my contempt, I tore the letters, and returned +them in a cover; and, as I was surrounded by faithful servants, and two +days elapsed without hearing of him, I apprehended no farther +molestation or danger. + +"On the morning of the third, however, a courier, covered with dust, +and apparently fatigued, arrived at the Chateau. He came, he said, from +L'Orient, where the Marchioness, who had been overturned in her +carriage, was in the most imminent danger. He brought a letter, as he +pretended, from her femme-de-chambre, which repeated the information, +and begged my immediate presence, as Victoire and Julie were in the +greatest affliction. + +"Alarmed at this account of my beloved benefactress, I gave orders for a +chaise to be instantly prepared; and, without an idea occurring that the +tale might be fictitious, assisted my maid to pack up a change of +apparel. The chaise was soon ready, and I set out for L'Orient, attended +by Janette, the false courier, and two old servants, who, on hearing +the accident which had happened, entreated they might accompany me. We +proceeded with great expedition, and were within a few miles of +L'Orient, when, on passing a thicket, two men on horseback suddenly +approached; one stopped the horses, whilst the other, presenting a +pistol to Jacques, threatened to shoot him if he offered to proceed. The +faithful Gregoire, perceiving the situation of his fellow-servant, would +have advanced to his assistance, but was withheld by the pretended +messenger; who seized him by the collar, and a scuffle immediately +ensued. A carriage then approached, from which the Count himself +alighted; and, opening the door of my chaise, he attempted to force me +out. Vain would have been my resistance, had not a sailor, attracted I +believe by my screams, darted from the thicket, and with a bludgeon +struck the Count to the ground. + +"What directly followed, I cannot say, as I fainted; but, as Janette +afterwards informed me, the men who first stopped us, seeing their +master fall, sprung to defend him, and old Jacques finding himself at +liberty, without regarding the sailor who had so gallantly come to our +assistance, or Gregoire, drove off with the utmost velocity.--When I +recovered, we were far from the scene of contention; and as Jacques, +equally alarmed as myself, still urged the speed of his horses, we soon +arrived at L'Orient. + +"I found my beloved benefactress well, but dejected from the departure +of the Marquis, who had sailed the day before. On relating my tale, she +expressed her satisfaction at my escape from the Count; and, convinced +the greatest care was necessary to guard me from his machinations, +determined in future not to trust me from her own immediate protection. + +"Soon after this, Gregoire arrived, and informed us that the men who +first stopped us, prepared to pursue me; but were remanded by the valet, +on the supposition that the Count was dead.--After some time, however, +he showed signs of returning life and sense, and whilst they were +replacing him in his carriage, to re-convey him to a seat he possessed +near the spot, (whither he had proposed to carry me), the sailor, who +had at first been secured, made his escape again into the thicket. As +for Gregoire, he was no longer regarded either in a hostile or amicable +manner, and accordingly remounted his horse, and followed us to +L'Orient. + +"The next day we returned to the Chateau, at which place the Marchioness +proposed remaining, till the vessel preparing to take the family, should +be ready to sail. A month of tranquillity ensued, when we were surprised +by a visit from the Count. The obstacles he had met with, it appeared, +so far from abating, had added to his desire of obtaining me; but, +convinced of the impracticability of either seducing, or forcing me from +the protection of the Marchioness, and being, he said, unable to exist +without me, he again demanded my hand in marriage. The Marchioness would +have urged my accedence to an establishment so brilliant; but, on +declaring my utter dislike to him, she yielded, and again gave him a +positive refusal. + +"The Count, mortified and enraged at my repeated rejections, vowed never +to quit the pursuit, till he had, either by honourable or other means, +subdued my obduracy. Secure, however, in the friendship of the +Marchioness, I equally disregarded his entreaties and threats; and the +vessel appointed for us, being fully prepared, and the fleet ready to +sail, we bade adieu to France; and I was thus happily freed from the +importunities of a troublesome lover." + +"Thanks, my dear Louise," said Harland, "for your interesting tale; +which, though unmarked with any extraordinary occurrences, proves you to +have been truly the child of Providence." + +"The child of Providence indeed," repeated Sir Henry, "nor can I +sufficiently admire the wisdom of that Power, who directs the most +trivial of our actions. Little did I think, when I hastened to your +rescue, it was to that of the sister, of whom I was then in search. Your +fainting, and the confusion arising from the unlucky blow I gave the +Count, prevented me from observing you; and on that nobleman's partial +recovery, I was glad to elude the vigilance of his servants, and seek +the shelter the luxurious foliage of the thicket afforded." + +"And was it you, my brother," said Louise, in a voice of grateful +mildness, "who then preserved me from the Count? But what accident +conducted you to so solitary a spot? and why in a garb so unsuitable to +your station and character?" + +"Mrs. Harland has anticipated the question, I was in part going to ask +Sir Henry," said the Captain; "and as you have raised my curiosity, if +you will acquaint us with the particulars of your peregrination in +France, which you mentioned when at St. Helena, it will add to the +pleasure I have received in hearing the relation of your sister?" + +Sir Henry readily complied--"although I have little to recite," he said, +"except an action I must ever remember with regret, as a weakness for +which one so long inured to sorrow as myself, can offer no excuse." + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +"When at St. Helena, I believe I informed you I went from Cardigan to +Havre-de-Grace, as a common sailor; I there determined to seek a sister, +endeared to me by misfortune as well as the ties of blood; and +accordingly directed my steps to Rennes; my whole wealth consisting in +the clothes I wore, which were those I obtained by exchange from a lad +near Harwich, and the wages arising from my voyage. This little stock, +however, was insufficient to bear my expenses, and the last day I +travelled without money or food; but hope impelled me forward, and on my +arrival at Rennes, I inquired my way to the Convent of St. Ursule. My +appearance there was too mean to gain me access to the Abbess, or even +procure me a civil answer to the question I asked, whether Louise were +living, and residing in the Convent? The portress disclaimed all +knowledge of the circumstance--or the child I alluded to, and finally +closed the grate to my face. + +"Thus repulsed, I slowly turned from the gate, and directed my steps to +an humble _auberge_, where I threw myself on a bench in the yard, in a +state of mind painfully depressed. The hope I had indulged to a most +sanguine degree of finding Louise, and being acknowledged by her as a +brother, and which had cheered me on my journey, and soothed me in my +moments of sadness, was thus completely destroyed; nor had I then the +least clue to guide me to her. + +"Was my sister dead? I asked myself--or had I been deceived? + +"The question led to events long since past; busy memory, in vivid +colours, brought to view each circumstance which had progressively +involved me in a state of wretchedness, and made me feel with maddening +exaggeration a fate I thought unmerited. I was indeed driven by a power +I could not oppose, from kindred, friends, and fortune--a wanderer on a +foreign shore, without even the means of procuring a single meal to +satisfy the wants of nature.--The only prospect before me, was beggary! + +"The idea was too much--my passions, long restrained, with a violence +not to be controlled, o'erburst the bounds of reason; franticly I called +for death; cursed the hour that gave me to the arms of my parents; and +bade the earth open and bury me for ever in her bosom! + +"What inconsistencies I was guilty of, I cannot say; I was unconscious +of observation--of all around me!--and such ascendancy did my madness +at last attain, that I thought I heard the voice of my father in the +breeze, chiding me for living in a world, where I had lost every +prospect of happiness. + +"The conceit led to self-destruction; and suicide instantly presented +itself to my fevered imagination, as affording the oblivion I coveted. +Wildly my eye glanced to every object, in search of some instrument +wherewith to perpetrate my design; but none presented itself. A well, +however, met my view, and, starting from my seat, I ran with an +intention of precipitating myself into it. Already had I reached the +brink, when my arm was arrested, with a violence, which not only +prevented my design, but forced me some paces back from the place of +destruction. + +"The shock in some degree recalled my recollection, and, raising my +eyes, I beheld an old _religieux_, to whose timely interposition I was +indebted for preservation. The tear started to his eye, and his right +hand trembled as he grasped my arm; he gently raised his other toward +heaven, and regarded me with such a look, as struck me to the the heart; +and reproved me more forcibly, than language could have done, for my +temerity in daring to rush unsummoned into the presence of my Maker! + +"The tempest of my mind ceased; but was succeeded by a horror and +remorse, I cannot attempt to describe. I passively permitted the worthy +Monk to conduct me to the seat I had quitted; where, placing himself +beside me, he hesitatingly asked, what had induced me to attempt +self-destruction? + +"I would have offered an extenuation of my madness; but my words were +incoherent. He stopped me--'Suicide, my son, can admit of no +excuse!--Misfortune and sorrow attend us all, from the monarch to the +lowest mendicant; but, were the burden ten times heavier than that +inflicted, it is our duty to bear it! I saw you in the street; your +appearance bespoke distress, and I followed, for the purpose of +affording that relief, I thought you merited. The action I have +witnessed here, young man,' he continued with severity, 'I need not +comment on; your own conscience, I trust, will sufficiently speak its +enormity.' + +"I could not look up--I dared not meet his penetrating eye: and shame +added an additional pang to sorrow.--He saw the struggle in my bosom, +and pity regained her influence: his voice softened--'Forgive my +harshness, youth; I ought perhaps rather to apply the balm of +consolation to a mind diseased, than by reproaches add to its malady: +but you appear faint, my child;--perhaps for want of sustenance?'--He +anxiously arose, and beckoning the host, desired him to carry some wine +and provisions into a private room; then again addressing me, proffered +his assistance to conduct me into the house. + +"A false pride at first made me recoil: but the benevolence which beamed +in his eyes, as he gently drew my hand on his arm, checked the +ungrateful sentiment. + +"I attended him to a room, where the humble Jean officiously spread a +table with the little dainties of the larder; but a significant glance +from my entertainer telling him his presence could be dispensed with, he +respectfully bowed and retired. The worthy Monk then pressed me to eat; +filled a glass with wine, and placed it near my plate: but all was +ineffectual; my mind, more exhausted than my body, required that support +he vainly offered to my enfeebled frame. I would in gratitude have +eaten, but nature refused her office. He looked grieved--'Your sorrows, +my son, I believe, are deeper than I at first imagined. Your looks--your +deportment, bespeak you acquainted with fairer scenes in life, as well +as with misfortune. Tell me--am I mistaken?' + +"'You are not, Father,' I replied, 'and the action you lately witnessed, +may tell you those misfortunes are neither trivial nor common. I am +indeed the child of misery!' + +"'Alas! my son,' he returned with a sigh, 'we view the events of life +through the glass of prejudice. When misfortunes oppress us, we look +through the magnifying end, and think our own afflictions by far the +most superior: and, by the same rule, we reverse the glass to the +distresses of others, and see them in a lessened point of view: still +judging the happiness or misery of the world by our own feelings. Yet, +true it is, that which afflicts you, might by another be disregarded; +and that which would bow another to the grave, you, perhaps, could +support with fortitude! It is the hand of a Power, which cannot err, +that dispenses our portion of good and evil to each according to his +abilities of bearing. Take religion for your staff, my son, and +integrity for your guide, and the misfortunes of the world combined, can +never crush you!' + +"'Ah! Father,' I cried, 'resignation is easy in theory, to those who +have only to preach it. Sheltered yourself from misfortune, how can you +judge of that, which drove me a fugitive from hope and happiness?' + +"'I can judge,' said he solemnly; 'for I have experienced sorrow; and I +preach--from my practice! Listen to my tale, young man, with attention, +and from my misfortunes learn to bear your own without repining.-- + +"'Monsieur La Roche, my father, was in his youth clerk to a merchant at +Nantes, and early in life married a woman in circumstances humble as his +own. I was the only fruit of that marriage, my mother dying of a +decline, a few months after my birth. My father, however, did not long +remain in a state of widowhood; for the only daughter of his master, who +had long entertained a partiality for him, inadvertently so far +discovered her sentiments, that he was emboldened to offer secret +addresses; and a private marriage soon after made him the presumptive +heir to his master. The old gentleman, who certainly had expected a more +suitable match for his daughter, was yet too doatingly fond of her, to +refuse the forgiveness she entreated: and the respectful behaviour of +my father to him, and his strict application to business, in a little +time, not only reconciled him to her imprudent choice, but raised my +father so high in his esteem, that he voluntarily took him into +partnership. + +"'By my mother-in-law, who had not any children, and this worthy man, I +was ever treated with the greatest tenderness, but in less than five +years, a malignant fever broke out at Nantes, and, amongst its numerous +victims, carried the gentle Madeleine and her sire to the grave; leaving +my father, for the second time, what the world called, an inconsolable +widower. He found himself, however, master of a princely fortune; and, +in less than twelve months, surprised the world, by a third +marriage--and that with the femme-de-chambre of his late wife! + +"'From that period I date the commencement of the sorrows and +misfortunes which attended me, till my head was silvered by the hand of +time! + +"'Madame La Roche, my new mother-in-law, who far exceeded her +predecessors in personal attractions, soon gained a complete ascendancy +over my father: and as, in the course of three years, she presented him +with as many children, she began to regard me with an eye of jealous +hatred. This showed itself on a variety of occasions, and one day, on my +father honouring me with his notice, a thing rather unusual, she +peremptorily insisted on my being sent to a public academy. My father +yielded, and I was thus banished from home--never to be recalled! + +"'At first I rejoiced at being freed from the tyranny of Madame La +Roche; but after passing three years, without once visiting the +habitation of my father, I began to think my lot peculiarly hard; till +the master informed me I was not to return till my education was +completed. This reason satisfied me, and three years more elapsed, when +I was surprised by a visit from Monsieur and Madame La Roche. My father +beheld me without emotion, and, on his wife declaring that my uncouth +appearance would disgrace the family, readily agreed to her proposal of +binding me apprentice to some reputable tradesman. I timidly expressed +my wish of being placed in his counting-house, but was refused by Madame +with a frown; and after telling me I must remain at the academy till +they had fixed on a trade suitable to my genius, they departed. + +"'About three weeks after, a chaise was sent for me, in which I was +conveyed to the house of a printer, in the suburbs of Nantes, where I +was immediately settled as an apprentice for seven years. + +"'There I endured every mortification, ill nature and arrogance could +inflict; heightened by the comparison of my lot to those of my brothers, +whom I frequently saw, with their mother, in all the pomp of dress and +equipage! + +"'Slowly passed the time in my imagination, till I had completed the +term of my servitude: still had I indulged hopes that my father would +receive me into his house, if not as a son, at least as an assistant; +when I determined, by the most circumspect behaviour, to obliterate, if +possible, the unfavourable sentiments he entertained of me. But vain +were my hopes; my mother-in-law's influence overbalanced the weak claim +I had to his regard. When I went to his house, he was not at home, the +servant said, and I was refused admittance. I again went, and was +rudely reprimanded by the menial for being troublesome. I then wrote to +my father, urged my claim of nature, to his notice and protection, and +appealed to his heart, if any part of my conduct had given just cause +for the neglect with which I had been treated? I coveted not his wealth, +I said, but to his affection I felt I had an equal claim with his other +children. + +"'This letter was answered by Madame La Roche. She coolly denied the +justness of my claim, by reminding me I had never been regarded as one +of the family: however, as she acknowledged I had some small demand on +their notice, she remitted me a draft for two thousand livres; a sum +sufficient, she said, to establish me respectably: and to my own +diligence I must look for future supplies. My father added a postscript, +to confirm the decree of his wife, and advised my proceeding to Paris, +as a place where industry was most likely to be rewarded. + +"'A tear of wounded sensibility forced its way down my cheek, at this +final act and renunciation of my father: I, however, determined to show +my obedience to his will, cruel as it was, and, accordingly, a few days +after receiving my small fortune, set out for Paris, having been +previously refused the liberty of writing to him. + +"'On my arrival at Paris, I determined to engage as a journeyman to some +master, till I should meet with a situation to my satisfaction; and not, +by plunging into business without friends or connexions, with so small a +principal, hazard what might terminate in my ruin. + +"'With a printer in the Fauxbourg St. Germain, I engaged, and passed +three years in that humble station, when I married an amiable woman, who +declared herself willing to share the frowns or smiles of fortune with +me; and for two years experienced a happiness interrupted only by the +remembrance of my father. + +"'A smiling infant crowned our love. Fortune, too, assumed a fairer +aspect. My master retired from business; and, though it required a +larger capital than I possessed, I ventured to take it, relying on my +own application to clear the debt I incurred. + +"'But, alas! weak man!--I read not the volume of my fate: I dreaded not +the wretchedness which in that hour of fancied prosperity awaited me! + +"'Cheerfully I paid my little fortune into the hands of my master, and +gave him my bond for the residue of the debt. But scarcely had we been +settled in our new habitation a week, when, in the night, I was roused +from a peaceful slumber by the alarm of fire! I instantly awoke my wife, +and, starting from the bed, ran to the staircase,--but, alas! it was in +flames! I then hastened to the window, and called for assistance, but +its situation was too obscure to gain me notice; and my voice was +unheard amidst the noise and confusion which reigned in the street, +where all were assiduous to assist and save an opulent family, whose +house adjoined mine, and where the fire, I believe, originally began. In +this distressing situation, we remained, nearly suffocated with smoke, +till the flames began to appear through the floor of the room:--not +another moment, I found, was to be lost:--I clasped my infant daughter +to my bosom, and, springing on the frame of the window, bade my wife +trust herself to my arms, and, by throwing ourselves into the street, +either be saved or perish together! She approached--the height appalled +her--she drew back--hesitated--the floor gave way, and she sunk to a +grave--horrid as inevitable! + +"'The flames raged around me with the maddest fury, and, unable to +withstand their force, I gave a groan of anguish to the fate of my +wretched wife, and threw myself from the window. I fell unnoticed: two +of my ribs and my arm were broken, and my hapless infant killed on the +spot: but oblivion drew her veil over my senses, and for some hours +kindly saved me from the knowledge of my misery. I was at last +discovered; and, as I was afterwards informed, carried to several houses +in the neighbourhood, but no one had charity sufficient to receive me. +I was therefore conveyed to an hospital, where proper means were used +for my restoration; but the last shriek of my wife still vibrated in my +ears: her last look, with all its horrors, still pierced my heart: the +innocent pressure of my infant to my bosom--all combined to tear reason +from her seat. My fractures were healed, and I was removed from the +hospital to a madhouse.' + +"The worthy Monk," said Sir Henry, "here paused, whilst a tear unbidden +forced its way from his eye. I attempted not to speak: my faculties, +indeed, were suspended by his tale; and I still regarded him with a look +of silent attention, sufficiently expressive, I believe, of the +commiseration and curiosity I felt, and which had, for the time, wholly +banished my own afflictions from my mind. + +"His voice soon regained its wonted tone, when he thus continued the +relation of his misfortunes. + +"'It was three years before my senses regained their usual tenour; when +I was permitted to enter on the world to seek subsistence. The accidents +I had met with, I thought might authorise an application to my father. I +accordingly wrote; but he was dead, and his fortune wholly settled on my +brothers and Madame La Roche! She condescended to inform me of these +particulars, and testified her surprise at my application, after the +liberal provision formerly bestowed on me, which, she said, if I had +either squandered or lost, I must answer to myself, as she should by no +means injure her fortune to re-establish mine. + +"'I gave a tear to the memory of my father, which, however neglectful he +had been of my welfare, I still held sacred. To my lot of poverty I +submitted with feelings of mingled regret and resignation; and once more +sought employment as a journeyman. But sorrow had robbed me of my +vivacity; my mind had been deranged; some believed it so still; few +cared to trust me; and fewer to employ, or pay me for my labour. At +last, unable to bear the penury which threatened me, I left Paris: and, +after unsuccessful applications for employ, in various places, I was +received on moderate wages by a printer at St. Malo's. I there by +degrees recovered my health and spirits, and served my master with such +attention and diligence, that, at the end of five years, he agreed to +admit me as a partner in his business, allowing me a small share of the +profits, independently of my salary. Here then fortune once more began +to smile, and for four years rewarded my assiduity with success. + +"'At that time my master consented to take me into equal partnership; +and I was on the point of marriage with a young lady of small fortune; +when one evening, as I was returning home, I was accosted by a +countrywoman with an infant, who earnestly entreated I would direct her +the road to Rennes. I gave her the information she wanted, but observed +it was too late for her to think of prosecuting her journey; and as she +declared herself a stranger, offered to conduct her to a house of honest +repute, where she might pass the night. She thanked me, and as she +appeared much fatigued, I took the child in my arms and carried it. Some +idle chat with the hostess and herself, when I had seen her accommodated +to her satisfaction, detained me nearly an hour, when I returned home, +little suspecting an action so trivial and innocent, would be the means +of involving me again in trouble. + +"'The next day, on visiting my intended bride, I was received with a +reserve I could not account for; thinking, however, some occurrence, +unconnected with me, might have occasioned a dissatisfaction as apparent +as unusual, I concealed my observation of it; but, in the evening, on +repeating my visit, her coldness had so far increased, that I could no +longer refrain from asking an explanation: and was answered, by an +accusation of an illicit connexion with the woman I had the preceding +evening conducted to the auberge. My surprise at this unexpected charge, +she construed into a confirmation of my guilt, and declared her +resolution of instantly breaking off an acquaintance with a man, who had +so wantonly deceived her. In vain I affirmed my innocence; related my +accidental meeting with the woman, and appealed to her evidence for the +truth of my assertion; but, with a look of reproachful triumph, as +detecting my falsehood, she told me, the servant had seen me enter the +auberge with my infant charge and its worthless mother; and on informing +her, she herself went and questioned the woman concerning the nature of +our acquaintance: and her answers, ambiguous as they were, were yet +sufficient to condemn me. That she had at first declared herself a +native of the place; then again, that she was a stranger, and unknown. +That the child was hers--then, that she was only hired to take it from +its mother.--Of its father, she would not give any account, but its +likeness to me sufficiently proved that father to be myself! In vain I +strove to reason--to rally her from an opinion so absurdly founded; she +resented my justification, as an additional insult. Finding the foolish +dispute likely to terminate too seriously, I at last insisted on the +woman being sent for, and made to acknowledge to whom it was, the child +belonged. Antoinette scornfully smiled at what she termed my artful +subterfuge, as the woman, she said, had no doubt received her lesson. I +could not conceal my vexation at this additional charge; but, however, +sent for the peasant. She had left the town: I dispatched a person +after her, on the road to Rennes: but her steps were not to be traced; +and I remained stigmatised as an unprincipled debauchee, by the unjust +suspicions of my mistress, and the tattling hostess. + +"'Antoinette truly kept her word, in ceasing to admit of my addresses, +and my master, to whom she was related, incensed at the breaking-off of +the marriage, not only refused to fulfil his intentions in my favour, +but dissolved our partnership, and dismissed me from his service! + +"'At that time I entertained not the idea, but subsequent occurrences +induce me to believe, that Antoinette was actuated by other motives +than jealousy, for her conduct; as she soon after accepted the hand of a +man, by far my junior, and in more affluent circumstances. + +"'This, however, was but the commencement of my difficulties; for, +whilst I was endeavouring to clear myself to my irritated master, a +person inquired for me. On being admitted, he informed me, that Monsieur +Orfevre, my former master in Paris, was dead; and that on examining his +papers, a bond was found for two thousand livres, due from me, for the +stock unfortunately consumed by fire. That his nephew, who succeeded to +his property, understanding that I was in circumstances sufficiently +affluent to discharge the obligation, had deputed him to receive the +money. + +"'The justness of the debt I attempted not to deny; yet, reflecting on +the promise of the deceased, (which I declared), of expunging it, on +account of my misfortune, I hesitated to pay the demand. The officer, +for such he proved to be, coolly answered, if such had been the +intentions of Monsieur Orfevre, he would undoubtedly have mentioned it +in his will, or have destroyed the bond; and on my master saying I was +capable of paying the debt, he immediately arrested me! + +"'Thus compelled, I paid the money; which, by dint of the strictest +frugality, I had accumulated, and found myself once more in the world, +poor and friendless! I endeavoured to submit with patience to my lot; +but injudiciously entered into business, without the means of pursuing +it. This was regarded as an avowed opposition to my master, who highly +resented the action; and as his interest and connexions were great, my +exertions were rendered abortive. For two years I struggled for +support--for bread; when my creditors finding me unable to satisfy their +demands, completed my ruin by throwing me into prison. + +"'At first the gloomy horrors of the place, the misery of its inmates, +deeply affected my mind, and each hour the sigh of sorrow swelled my +bosom; till religion opened to my soul that source of comfort which can +never fail; my prison lost its horrors, peace shed her gentlest +influence on my slumbers, and marked my days with serenity: my brow lost +its contraction, and my heart expanded, and bowed before the wisdom of +my God! Contentedly I passed the day, in such work as the charity of a +few individuals afforded me; by which means, I not only acquired +sufficient to procure me what comforts my situation would admit of, but +likewise to assist those more helpless than myself. + +"'Thus passed fourteen years of my existence, when an English gentleman, +actuated by curiosity, came to the prison. He saw--conversed with me; +and at last inquired on what account I was confined? I told him, and the +years I had been immured. He regarded me, as I spoke, with a look of the +gentlest pity: the half-formed answer hung on his lips, but turning from +me, he hastily left the prison.--In less than an hour, an order came for +my enlargement! Scarcely could I credit the gaoler's assertion, that I +was at liberty; yet, though weaned from the world, the thoughts of once +more becoming an active member in it, made the tide of life, which had +been wont to flow calmly through its channels, rush with reanimated +force, and each pulse to beat with redoubled vigour. I raised my heart +in thankfulness to God--I blessed the generous Corbet, and on the doors +of the prison being opened to me, hastened to the hotel where he was. I +was instantly shown to the room where he was sitting, with his lady; but +such were my emotions, I could not return the thanks my heart dictated: +I attempted to speak--and burst into tears! My benefactor instantly +arose, and conducted me to a seat, and after pressing me to partake of +refreshments, requested to be informed by what circumstances I had +incurred the debt, for which I had so long suffered confinement. I +instantly complied, and gave him a concise relation of my life: when I +recounted my meeting with the peasant woman, the emotions of my auditors +were too apparent to escape observation, and the words, 'Poor Louise!' +faintly murmured by Sir Henry, (for so was my benefactor called), induce +me to believe they were the parents of that infant. + +"'Fearful of intruding, when I had concluded, I arose to depart; and Sir +Henry, presenting me a small packet, said--'Oblige me, Monsieur La +Roche, by accepting this trifle; little should I evince myself a friend, +by leaving you exposed to indigence, or the fate from which I so lately +rescued you. From the misfortunes you have experienced in your native +land, you perhaps would feel little repugnance in quitting it; and I +should advise you to seek a situation in the Eastern or Western +settlements, where fortune yet may make you amends for your former +losses. + +"'Oppressed as I was by his late beneficence, I for a moment hesitated +to receive this additional proof of his friendship, but the glance of +his eye, beaming with benevolence, more than his words, urged my +acceptance. I readily promised to follow his advice, and in language +scarcely coherent, was endeavouring to express my gratitude, when the +master of the packet came to inform them all was prepared for their +departure for England. Sir Henry instantly arose, and presenting his +hand to his fair companion, bade me a cordial and a last adieu. I +followed at a humble distance, willing to retain a last view of a man I +thought an honour to human nature. I saw them embark, and watched the +vessel till they retired from the deck, when I slowly retraced my way +into town. On examining the contents of my packet, I found in it, to the +amount of a thousand crowns; a sum so far exceeding my expectation, I at +first nearly doubted its reality: the sight of Antoinette and her +husband, however, convinced me my senses retained their perfect powers; +and as their appearance recalled ideas far from pleasing, I determined +to quit St. Malo's that very evening. The few necessaries I wanted, were +soon procured, and I set out towards L'Orient, intending to embark in +some vessel for Madagascar or Pondicherry. + +"'As I drew near L'Orient, however, I experienced a wish to take a last +farewell of the place where I first drew breath; and therefore directed +my steps to Nantes. I there visited every place I remembered as pleasing +to my childhood; and having passed some hours greatly to my +satisfaction, went to an hotel, where I inquired after my brothers, and +my father's widow. Madame La Roche, the host informed me, had been dead +some years, and her eldest son, to whom she left the principal part of +her property, lived long enough to squander it, with that left him by my +father, and died in consequence of his debaucheries. Her second son, a +man of the fairest character and honour, and who had been brought up to +the mercantile business, was lost about two years preceding my inquiry, +in returning from America. The youngest, who had succeeded to his +property, was the only one left of her descendants; and he had been +thrown from his horse a few days before, and was so severely hurt, that +the most serious apprehensions were entertained for his life. + +"'I could not, unmoved, hear this account of my only relation; in that +hour of affliction, I longed to claim the privilege of a brother; to +minister to his wants, to speak the words of comfort, and soothe the +anguish of a sick bed.--I at last determined to write: my advances +might, perhaps, be rejected with disdain; but I should nevertheless, I +thought, feel a satisfaction from the consciousness of having performed +a duty. I accordingly wrote: but, contrary to my expectation, in less +than an hour, my brother's chariot drove to the hotel, and the servants +with the utmost obsequiousness, requested my presence immediately, at +the house of their master. I went--and found my brother, as I expected, +confined to his bed; a smile of satisfaction enlivened his manly +features at my approach; for my resemblance to my father convinced him I +was not an impostor. He immediately ordered his servants to pay the same +deference to me, as to himself; and at his request I related my past +misfortunes, the reason which brought me to Nantes, and my future +prospects. + +"'He heard me with attention, but strenuously opposed my leaving the +kingdom--'If I live, Hilaire,' he said, 'you shall share my fortune: if +I die--none but yourself shall inherit it.' + +"'As I saw he wished it, I readily promised to remain with him; and from +that day my time and attention were employed to effect his restoration: +but my efforts, and those of the faculty, were equally ineffectual; he +died in my arms, resigned and serene, leaving me, as he had promised, +the undivided heir of his possessions. + +"'I felt the loss of my brother more severely than might have been +expected from the little time he had been known to me; but the tie of +nature, never before indulged, joined to the lively regard he evinced +for me, made me regret him as the dearest of friends: and as he had left +me wealth beyond my wishes, I relinquished my intention of quitting +France, and determined to dedicate the residue of my days to the service +of my God, and the assistance of my fellow-creatures. In the course of +settling my affairs, I came to Rennes, and here meeting with a companion +of my boyish days, who had become a Benedictine, I determined to enter +into the same brotherhood; and as soon as I had fully withdrawn my money +from business, after vainly endeavouring to discover the generous +Corbet, to repay my debt of gratitude, here took the cowl. Half my +property I settled on the Convent, reserving the other at my own +disposal, to relieve those I thought deserving my assistance. + +"'And here, young man, I have experienced a foretaste of that happiness +I hope to enjoy hereafter. I look forward with hope, I can look back +without regret: I have experienced misfortunes, but never was guilty of +an action, that can justly raise the blush of shame on my cheek!'" + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +"The worthy Monk," continued Sir Henry, "here concluded; and I bowed my +head in conviction to the justness of the reproach his last words +implied. As the good father intended, I could not avoid drawing a +comparison of our lives; and the resignation, the fortitude he had +evinced, indeed, raised a blush for the madness of which I had been +guilty. The mention he made of my Louise, however, and the hope that, +by means, I should be able to trace her, soon obliterated every +unpleasant sensation; and, without disclosing my history or name, I +informed him the infant he had mentioned was at that time the object of +my search. I related the treatment I had met with at the convent of St. +Ursule, and asked his advice as to the measures I should pursue to +discover her. He was urgent to know who we were, but, on my telling him +I was not at liberty to reveal what he asked, he desisted; and offered +to go himself and speak to the Abbess concerning Louise. I thankfully +accepted his offer, and, at his earnest solicitation, consented to take +the sustenance I truly wanted. + +"He was gone nearly an hour, and returned unsuccessful in his mission. +Mother St. Brigide could not refuse to see him, though her answers were +very unsatisfactory. She confessed that Louise had been reared in the +Convent, but utterly disclaimed all knowledge of the lady who took her. +She had not, she said, ever been admitted to the confidence of her +predecessor; and the circumstance of Louise leaving the Convent had been +both secret and sudden. Finding it impossible to gain the information he +wanted, Father Hilaire returned to me. I received his account with a +sigh, and declared my resolution to re-commence my search after Louise +the ensuing morning. He approved my determination, and imperceptibly +drew me into a conversation, as entertaining as instructive; and when +we parted at night, gave me his blessing and a purse containing forty +louis. + +"The supply was seasonable. I parted from him with regret; and early the +next morning left Rennes. + +"For four months I wandered through Anjou, Poitou, and Bretagne, without +meeting with any occurrence worthy of mention, or being able to trace +Louise. When I rescued her from the Count, as I before observed, I did +not see her face; and, unsuspicious of who she was, still continued my +search; till my money being expended, and not knowing how to procure +subsistence, I engaged in the vessel which conveyed me to St. Helena." + +"The history of Father Hilaire," said the Captain, "is not without its +moral; from the misfortunes of others, we are induced to draw a +comparative consolation under our own; and his may truly teach the +impatient sufferer an useful lesson." + +"Yet I wish, Sir Henry," said Frederick, "you had informed him who you +were; for, from the idea I have conceived of the man, I think he would +have been highly gratified in repaying the obligation he owed your +father." + +"He had more than cancelled the obligation, Frederick," answered Sir +Henry, "by preserving my life; and, had I acknowledged who I was, it +might have led to questions I should have found it difficult and +distressing to have answered." + +The conversation here became general, and soon after they separated for +the night. + +The relation of Sir Henry added greatly to Louise's solicitude to be +informed respecting her parents, but her inquiries and intreaties were +equally ineffectual; Sir Henry persevered in his mysterious silence on +the subject, though the anxiety she showed evidently added to his +unhappiness; and, on their nearer approach to England, they with grief +perceived in him every symptom of a rapid decline. The Captain in vain +urged medical assistance; and, as he watched the daily ravages of +sorrow, painfully anticipated the moment when death would bereave him of +the friend by whose means he had hoped to recover his Ellenor. +Frederick, independently of his concern on his uncle's account, regarded +Sir Henry with more than fraternal friendship; but his eloquence was +equally unavailing to discover the source from whence his unhappiness +arose. + +At last, the loud shouts of the sailors proclaimed the appearance of +their native land, and in a few days they reached the Thames: thence +Harland, impatient to introduce his Louise to his parents, proceeded to +Harland-Hall; whilst the Captain, accompanied by Sir Henry and +Frederick, pursued his way toward London, intending, as soon as he had +transacted his business there, to renew his search after Ellenor; but in +this he was prevented, by the arrival of one of Mrs. Howard's servants, +who, the morning preceding the commencement of his intended search, +hastily entered the room where he was at breakfast, and, presenting a +letter, informed him his lady was at the point of death. + +Alarmed at this intelligence, he eagerly opened the letter, which was +from the steward, and confirmed the bearer's account, with entreaties +that he would immediately repair to Bristol, where Mrs. Howard had for +some time resided.--Humanity demanded compliance: the Captain +accordingly set out with the messenger, and reached Bristol a few hours +previously to Mrs. Howard's dissolution; but the malignancy which had +ever marked her character displayed itself in her latest moments. She +received the Captain with that acrimonious contempt which, for years, +had accompanied each sentiment or look addressed to him. The loss of +life she regretted, as depriving her of the power of longer tormenting +him; and, with a smile of triumph that defied the power of death to +efface, told him, she had left him her fortune, but on restriction that +he never married again, as a punishment for his treatment of her. + +The Captain could not affect a concern at her death which he did not +experience; for years she had proved literally a torment; and he could +not but feel that he was free: free to claim the promise of his Ellenor, +and, in an union with her, meet a recompence for the years of +unhappiness he had endured from Deborah, whose fortune, if requisite, he +would not have hesitated a moment in resigning; but that lady's wishes +had, in this respect, exceeded her power, for her fortune was fully +secured to him at the time of their marriage. + +The Captain wrote immediately for his nephew and Sir Henry, who arrived +the day after the funeral; and, having settled his affairs with the +steward, with every cheerful sentiment, hope could inspire, commenced +his projected search for Ellenor and his son.--Neither was Frederick +uninterested in the discovery of them; as the idea of the youthful Ellen +was still impressed on his mind; and he secretly wished fortune had +blessed him with independency, that he might have offered her his hand +and heart. Sir Henry likewise seemed to forget his own sorrow, in the +prospect of the Captain's happiness, and, by a number of little +anecdotes concerning the objects of their search, endeavoured to beguile +the time, and lessen the solicitude they could not altogether avoid +experiencing. + +They crossed the Channel to Cardiff, and directed their course to the +humble dwelling of Jarvis, who, they thought, might, perhaps, by that +time have learned the route of the fugitives. + +The honest innkeeper received them with a hearty welcome, and, in answer +to their inquiries, informed them, that a few weeks after they left the +village, a man arrived there, who declared himself commissioned by +Lieutenant Booyers, to dispose of the furniture of the cottage; which +was accordingly sold: that Jarvis had endeavoured to learn where the +Lieutenant had retired, but the man behaved with the greatest reserve. +On his leaving the village, however, he had taken a guide to Newport, +and by an inadvertent sentence he had uttered, he was induced to believe +the Lieutenant and the ladies were gone to reside at--or near +Gloucester. The Captain's heart beat with exulting hope at this +intelligence; and such was his impatience to recover the lost partner of +his heart, he would that instant have set out for Gloucester, could Sir +Henry have supported the fatigue of such rapid travelling. On his +account he consented to remain where they were till the morning, when +Sir Henry willingly obeyed his summons to continue their journey. + +Early the ensuing day, they reached Gloucester, where the Captain, Sir +Henry, and Frederick, separated, to inquire through the city, agreeing +to meet in the evening, at the inn where they left their horses. For two +days they traversed the city, and, on the morning of the third, were +preparing to leave the inn, to search some of the adjacent villages, +when they were surprised by the appearance of Sir Arthur Howard. As the +Captain had long ceased to regard him with enmity, he cordially advanced +to meet him, whilst Frederick, forgetting his unkindness in the +unexpected rencounter, as eagerly sprung to embrace him. Sir Arthur was +equally surprised, though less pleased at beholding them; he, however, +returned their salutation, and, at their request, accompanied them into +the room they had quitted. He there answered to their inquiries +respecting his family, and coldly expressed his approbation at the +improvement seven years had made in the person and manners of Frederick. +Sir Arthur in reality was rather chagrined than pleased at the graceful +figure and deportment of his son, as they conveyed a reproach to +himself, at the time they evinced the care and attention of the Captain +to the duties which he, though a father, had neglected. + +The Captain observed the displeasure depicted in his countenance, but, +unconscious of the cause, sought relief from an unpleasant pause in the +discourse, by asking the occasion of his being at Gloucester? The +question was likewise a relief to Sir Arthur, as it afforded him an +opportunity of venting his rising spleen. + +"I came to recover a runaway," he replied, "who is endeavouring to +disgrace the family to which she has the honour to belong: but severely +shall she suffer for the fault she has committed!" + +He then informed them, he had projected a match for his eldest daughter, +not only suitable, but highly advantageous, as the gentleman possessed a +noble independency, and had offered to take her without a portion: by +which means the fortune of his eldest son would be considerably +augmented; but that his daughter had objected to the union, and, on his +threatening her, had privately left the Hall. That he pursued her to +Gloucester, where, the preceding day, he had luckily overtaken her, and +was going to order his carriage, to re-convey her home, when he was +addressed by the Captain. + +Frederick heard this account with concern; he well knew the harshness of +his father's temper, and sincerely pitied his sister, whom he had not +seen since the days of childhood. He now entreated he might have that +satisfaction, and Sir Arthur, who knew not well how to refuse, was +necessitated to comply: though he expressed his fear she would +endeavour to elude his vigilance, and again escape; and concluded with +an invective against children in general, for their wilfulness and +disobedience. The entrance of his daughter saved his auditors the +necessity of replying; her looks were pallid, and she approached with a +timidity, which was rather increased than relieved, by the appearance of +strangers. Frederick, however, soon recalled her recollection of a +brother to whom she had in her infancy been particularly attached; yet +she dared not yield to the pleasure she had in beholding him. Her +father's eye still sternly expressed his anger; tears fell from her own; +and folding her arms round the neck of Frederick, she wept in silence on +his bosom. + +Sir Henry, who had hitherto been a silent spectator, could not, unmoved, +witness the distress of the amiable Theodosia; for every tear of +pleasure occasioned by the presence of her brother, was evidently +accompanied by one of sorrow at the treatment she received from her +father; he therefore advanced to her, and, in the mildest accents, +joined Frederick in his endeavours to soothe and cheer her. They at last +succeeded: a faint smile played on her lips, she looked up, and spoke +with some degree of confidence. + +Sir Arthur observed Sir Henry's attentions, and learning from the +Captain who he was, permitted his features to unbend from their usual +severity. He was no stranger to Sir Henry's family, or the fortune +possessed by his father; and, knowing he was an only son, concluded his +possessions were equally the same. Sir Henry's attention, therefore, +which proceeded entirely from commiseration, he beheld with +satisfaction, as thinking them occasioned by a softer passion. +Theodosia, too, appeared to listen to, and regard him with unusual +pleasure; and he determined to encourage an acquaintance, as the Corbet +possessions were superior to those of the suitor he had wished Theodosia +to have accepted. + +He now condescended to enter into conversation with Sir Henry: he +regarded his brother and son with a look of greater cordiality; and +declared his intention of remaining with them till the evening. The +Captain, who sincerely wished to be reconciled to him, looked on the +determination as arising from a return of fraternal friendship, and +cheerfully acceded to his proposal of passing the day together: nor +could Frederick conceal his delight at an appearance of regard he had +never before experienced, and as flattering to himself as it was +unexpected. + +A half-suppressed sigh from Theodosia, reminded him of her unpleasant +situation; and, regarding the moment as favourable, he ventured to +intercede to Sir Arthur in her behalf: the Captain warmly seconded him: +Sir Henry did not think himself authorised to speak; but the concern +expressed in his countenance, and the glance of intercession he directed +to Sir Arthur, pleaded more effectually in her cause, than the eloquence +of Frederick and the Captain: as it erroneously added to his opinion, +that Sir Henry was enamoured of his daughter. Pleased with the idea, he +pretended to yield to intreaties, he would otherwise have disregarded; +and not only pronounced Theodosia's pardon for her elopement, but +promised to dismiss all thoughts of forcing her into an union with a man +she avowedly disapproved. Theodosia could not speak her joy--her thanks +at this unlooked-for indulgence; but, pressing her father's hand to her +lips, burst into tears. Sir Arthur's bosom was a stranger to the milder +virtues: he coldly reproved, what he termed, her childish behaviour; +and, withdrawing his hand, bade her not abuse the forgiveness she had by +no means merited; and remember that on her future behaviour must depend +the continuance of his good opinion. + +Theodosia felt the ungenerous chiding of her father, at a moment when +her heart overflowed with the tenderest sentiments of filial gratitude +and affection; she, however, knew him to be too tenacious of his word, +to apprehend any farther importunity respecting her disagreeable lover; +and the joy, which at first expressed itself in tears, soon restored the +wonted smile to her animated countenance. Frederick beheld her returning +cheerfulness with pleasure; whilst Sir Arthur, equally pleased with Sir +Henry, and the chimerical idea he indulged of one day having him for a +son-in-law, endeavoured to soften his natural austerity, and to +conciliate the esteem of the interesting Corbet. + +Early in the evening, as Sir Arthur had proposed, his carriage was in +readiness, and he parted from his brother and son, with the greatest +professions of friendship, pressing them, but more particularly Sir +Henry, to pass some weeks at Howard Hall. The Captain, highly gratified +at the occurrences of the day, readily accepted the invitation; and that +night, for the first time during many years, experienced a repose, +unembittered with the idea of a brother's hatred! + +The next morning, he with his companions again continued his search +after Ellenor, hope still leading them on to the reward the ensuing day +might perhaps afford, to compensate for the disappointments of the one +which had passed. + +Already had they traversed great part of Gloucestershire, when in +crossing from Painswick to Cheltenham, an equipage passed them, the +unusual elegance of which attracted the Captain's attention. A lady, +whose personal beauty, though on the wane, could be equalled by few, was +in the principal carriage; and was so intently engaged in perusing a +letter, that the party passed unheeded. The Captain was beginning to +express his admiration, when he was alarmed by Sir Henry's falling from +his horse, in a state of insensibility; from which their efforts to +recover him proved ineffectual. A servant was, therefore, dispatched for +assistance, and soon returned with a surgeon, to whose house Sir Henry +was conveyed. + +The Captain's concern at this accident was considerably increased, when +he understood it might be attended with fatal consequences; and, not +being willing to intrust the life of Sir Henry entirely to the skill of +the surgeon, he sent to Gloucester for a physician, who, on visiting the +patient, declared there was no immediate danger: the illness of Sir +Henry proceeded from distress of mind; a confidential friend, he +affirmed, was the most essential requisite toward his recovery; to which +his native air might in some degree likewise conduce. To the surprise of +the Captain, and regret of the surgeon, Sir Henry instantly coincided +with the latter part of his advice, and as Ellenor, notwithstanding +Jarvis's supposition, might have retired to Caermarthen, the Captain +readily agreed to his proposal of proceeding to that county; and in +spite of Sir Henry's feeble state, which would scarcely admit of his +travelling, they, the next day, pursued their way toward Wales. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +On entering an inn at Monmouth, the Captain was surprised at beholding +Mr. Talton, who advanced to meet him with a hasty exclamation, +expressive of the joy he felt at the rencounter. Far different were the +sensations of Sir Henry; he could not regard Mr. Talton with composure; +but, pressing the Captain's hand, bade him remember his promise, and +immediately retired to his chamber. + +Mr. Talton then inquired the particulars of Sir Henry's restoration, as +he had heard an account of his visit to the parsonage, which was +afterwards confirmed by the confession of old Owen, of his real +existence: and, to the astonishment of the Captain, he learned it was +Lady Corbet who had passed them near Painswick, and who, having been +informed by Lady Dursley of her son's arrival, was then going to London, +to entreat his return to Caermarthen. This instantly accounted to the +Captain for Sir Henry's fainting, and his willingness to revisit Wales; +he would not, however, comply with Mr. Talton's proposal to apprize Lady +Corbet of their destination, that she might see her son: Sir Henry's +will, in that respect, he said, should be uncontrolled; he had given his +promise, and it should be sacred. + +Mr. Talton at last ceased from further importunity; and finding the +Captain proposed to stay at Monmouth only that night, expressed his +regret at their early separation; accusing the Captain with want of +friendship, in not deferring his journey at least for one day. + +"Freely, Talton," said the Captain, "would I defer my journey a week, if +it depended on myself; but, as I must think Sir Henry's life really in +danger, notwithstanding the Physician's affirmation; let that plead my +excuse.--Neither, I think, could you experience pleasure in our society; +as Sir Henry's dislike--or, term it what you will--must place a +restraint on every moment. I do not expect to leave England for some +time; and if I recover my Ellenor, most probably shall quit the +seafaring life; therefore, depend on it, I will shortly pay you a visit, +when you shall find me neither a niggard of my time, nor forgetful of +the sentiments I once avowed." + +With this assurance Mr. Talton was obliged to retire for the night; but +in the morning renewed his solicitations: in which not being able to +prevail, he declared he would postpone his journey to London, and return +with the Captain to the interior of Wales. + +Sir Henry turned pale at this declaration, which Mr. Talton observing, +said--"I perceive with sorrow, Sir Henry, the early prepossession you +entertained against me is not eradicated; perhaps from mistaking the +cause of your conduct, I have acted toward you with a severity foreign +to my nature, but which I thought highly authorised by reason! Your +reserve to me, on the renewal of my acquaintance with your mother, I +imputed, I acknowledge, to interested motives. That I love Lady Corbet, +is no secret to you; but that I wished to alienate her fortune--nothing +was ever farther from my thoughts! On the contrary, if your amiable +mother bless me with her hand, it is my avowed, my earnest wish, that +the estates appertaining to the Corbet family, should be resigned to +you. My fortune is more than adequate to my wants or desires: and Heaven +forbid that I should be instrumental in withholding from you those +possessions, of which the injustice of your father would deprive you." + +Sir Henry sighed, and Mr. Talton, after a moments pause, +proceeded.--"Your mother has consented to resign the name of Corbet, +when her son can be prevailed on to return: but whilst he is a wanderer, +she cannot experience happiness. Thus, Sir Henry, you see the claims +which are made upon you. Your mother's happiness, consequently mine--and +I must think your own--depend on your compliance. I, therefore, again +entreat your return to the seat of your ancestors; let these seeming +mysteries be cleared up, and, by giving me a legal title to the name of +father, let me compensate for him you have lost!" + +Sir Henry appeared agitated, and, taking the hand of Mr. Talton, "I +believe, Mr. Talton, I have mistaken your character. Your affection for +my mother I am no stranger to; and sincerely wish it depended but on me +to ensure your happiness: but, alas! the means would prove the bane! I +will, however, see--will speak to my mother: more I dare not promise; +and for that--I may, perhaps, answer with my life!" + +Mr. Talton and the Captain regarded Sir Henry with a momentary +astonishment--"Your life!" repeated the former--But Sir Henry bowed, and +taking Frederick by the arm, left the room. + +"May answer with his life!" reiterated Mr. Talton. "What, Howard, can he +mean?" + +The Captain could not resolve the question, and, after a few +unsatisfactory surmises, they followed Sir Henry and Frederick, who were +already on horseback. Sir Henry's reply, however, had given rise to such +a confusion of ideas in the mind of Mr. Talton, he could by no means +reconcile them; he therefore asked an explanation: but Sir Henry's +answers tended only to increase the mystery. + +In the afternoon, willing to avoid the revival of the subject, he +lingered behind with Frederick; whilst the Captain and Mr. Talton, being +engaged in a discourse highly interesting to the former, as it concerned +his Ellenor, were not aware of the separation till they had gained the +summit of a hill, where, on turning round, the Captain perceived them +and their attendants nearly two miles behind. He immediately proposed to +wait for them, and, retiring beneath the shade of an oak, began to +descant on the prospect before them, which presented one of the richest +scenes of autumn. + +The non-appearance of Sir Henry and Frederick, however, soon recalled +their attention from the beauties of nature; and the Captain, declaring +his apprehension that some accident had happened, with every mark of +impatient concern, descended the hill, followed by Mr. Talton and his +servant. Their party, however, was not to be perceived. They had, +indeed, taken a road, which led in a different direction from the bottom +of the hill, and which the Captain now first observed. Anxious to +overtake them, he hastened the pace of his horse, but no appearance of +them could be discovered; and the road branching off into a variety of +others, added to his perplexity. In this dilemma, he followed the advice +of Mr. Talton, and entered that which, from its direction, they supposed +would lead to Brecon: but it soon became so intricate, that they at +last agreed to relinquish the attempt, and endeavour to trace their way +back. + +This, however, they found as difficult to accomplish, nor was it till +night had spread her glooms over the surrounding scenes, that they +entered a road, which, from the plainness of its tracks, they imagined +to be the one they had formerly quitted. Mr. Talton could not refrain +from a hasty exclamation against the young men, for their carelessness: +which was answered by expressions of concern on their account by the +Captain. + +Slowly they ascended the hill; when, to the consternation of Mr. Talton, +he discovered they had entirely mistaken their road: they had, however, +no alternative, but to proceed, trusting to Providence for guidance; and +continued their way, till they arrived at a place where the road again +taking different directions, involved them in their former perplexity. + +"What is now to be done?" asked Mr. Talton. "By Heavens, I think some +daemon has placed a spell in our path, to mislead and confound us! Fools +that we were, to travel without a guide!" + +"The road was sufficiently plain," answered the Captain, "if we had not +negligently missed it. But hark! I think I hear the trampling of +horses. If it be Sir Henry and my nephew, I shall think little of +passing the night under the canopy of Heaven: and in the morning we may +easily rectify our mistake." + +He listened attentively; but, two horsemen only approached: he, however, +hailed them, and on being answered, briefly recounted the manner in +which he had been separated from his nephew, his subsequent search, and +the unpleasant situation he was then in, begging to know if they had +accidentally seen the objects of his anxiety, or would direct him to +some hamlet or town, where he and his friend might procure +accommodations for the night? + +"I am sorry, Sir," said the stranger, who had first answered the +Captain's salutation, "it is not in my power to give you any +intelligence respecting your friends. In regard to a night's lodging, it +is at least three miles to the next village, whence I now come, and the +road is very indifferent; I reside about half a mile from this place, +and if you will accompany me home, although I cannot promise you +splendid entertainment, I can insure you a hearty welcome." + +Pleased with the frankness of the offer, the Captain and Mr. Talton +accepted it, and, turning their horses, followed the benevolent +stranger. The uncertainty, however, of Frederick's and Sir Henry's +safety, destroyed the momentary satisfaction of the Captain, nor could +he help expressing his fears to the stranger. + +"Hope for the best, Sir," he replied: "my humble dwelling, though +screened on this side from observation, commands an extensive view over +the lower part of the country; where, from your account, I am induced to +think your friends have strayed: and whence the light from our window +will most probably serve them as a guide." + +"May it prove a favourable beacon!" said the Captain. "Yonder is the +place of our destination," continued the stranger, extending his hand +toward a distant light. + +"Aye--and there, Sir," said his attendant, "is Argus barking most +furiously. What, in the name of wonder, can ail the beast? Surely the +house is not beset by thieves." + +The stranger stopped his horse for a moment, and listened--the barking +continued without intermission, and a distant shout likewise assailed +their ears. + +"Something, I am afraid, has indeed happened," he cried in a voice of +concern. "If you please, gentlemen, we will hasten forward." + +The shouts increased, mixed with the deep-mouthed tones of Argus: but +not as they had apprehended, in a direction from the house. They, +however, still hastened forward.--"It may be our fugitives," said the +Captain.--"Ah! I hear Frederick's voice!" He now exerted his own, and in +a few minutes, was joined by the wanderers. + +"Thank heaven, my dear uncle, we have found you!" said Frederick +exultingly--"a circumstance, from the various accidents we have met +with, beyond my hopes. But for this noble dog, we should most probably +yet have been in a morass, we incautiously entered." + +The Captain could scarcely express his concern at the difficulties they +had experienced, ere they arrived at the gateway, leading to the +ancient though not extensive dwelling of the hospitable stranger. An +aged man-servant attended the summons of his master: Sir Henry started +on beholding him, and, anxiously grasping the Captain's arm, cried--"O +gracious Heaven!--haste, haste, Captain!" and hurrying him past their +kind invitor, entered the house.--The Captain had not time to ask the +meaning of his behaviour, before Sir Henry, with a trembling hand, threw +open the door of a parlour. + +A cheerful fire blazed on the hearth, round which were seated a +gentleman, a lady, and two lovely girls. + +"Is that my Edward?" the lady asked; and, raising her head, discovered +to the Captain, the features of his Ellenor! + +"My Ellenor!" he exclaimed, rushing to her, "Yes, it is your Edward! my +loved--my long-lost Ellenor!" + +A scream of surprise and delight escaped her as he caught her in his +arms, and faintly articulating his name, she sunk inanimate on his +bosom. + +Mrs. Blond, who had been engaged in an adjoining room, alarmed by the +scream, flew to the assistance of her friend, at the moment Mr. Talton, +Frederick, and young Howard, entered the room: but the appearance of +the former, in an instant obliterated every other idea, and, wildly +clasping her hands, she stood the image of horror! + +"My mother!--Do I once more behold you?" said Sir Henry, hastening to +meet her--but she heeded him not, her eye was fixed on Talton: nor was +it till the repeated exclamation of--"Sir Henry! my benefactor!" roused +her from her stupor. Franticly she threw her arms round Sir Henry; but +Talton again attracting her eye, she as hastily pushed him from her, +crying--"Fly--fly, my Harry; destruction awaits thee! It is Talton +himself. Fly to Howard, he only can protect thee! Oh! Ellenor--Ellenor, +ruin awaits us all." + +The surprise which had been depicted on the countenance of Mr. Talton, +now yielded to embarrassment, as his name was faintly echoed on every +side: Sir Henry vainly attempted to persuade them Talton was not an +enemy: Mrs. Blond still urged him to fly, till overpowered by the +agitation of her mind, she sunk in a state of insensibility on the +floor. + +All was incoherence and confusion: the friendly Booyers had been +assisting the Captain and young Howard, to restore Ellenor to life; he +now ran distractedly from her to Mrs. Blond, in vain calling for help: +the entrance of the servants but added to the distress which prevailed. + +At last the Captain, with joy perceived the current of life re-animate +the features of his Ellenor; who, in a few minutes, became conscious of +her situation. With a smile of inexpressible delight, she took the hand +of her son, and placing it in that of the Captain, encircled them in her +arms. The action spoke more than words; nature confessed it: Edward +intuitively bent his knee, and as the Captain raised, and pressed him to +his heart, he felt that moment more than recompensed for all he had +suffered. + +A faint groan from Mrs. Blond now reached the ear of Ellenor, and, +leaving her Edward, she flew to the side of this companion in her +afflictions: but her attentions were equally unavailing to recall her +senses, and she was therefore conveyed to her chamber, followed by her +daughter and Ellen. Ellenor would likewise have attended, but was +prevented by Sir Henry, who, affectionately taking her hand, was +beginning to congratulate her on her restoration to the Captain, when +the door was again thrown open, and the old servant-man rushed into the +room. + +"It is--it is Sir Henry!" he exclaimed, throwing himself at his feet. +"Little did I think, when I opened the gate, it was to admit the son of +my beloved master. Yet my old eyes could not distinguish you: but since +the news arrived that you were drowned, they have been more dim than +they were wont to be! Ah! many a tear has been shed for your loss, my +master; and as often have I wished, I could have recalled your life, by +resigning my own." + +"I thank you, my good old friend," said Sir Henry, raising him; +"sincerely thank you for your love: and may one day have it in my power +to acknowledge it more effectually, than by words; though, for myself, +Thomas, the tomb of my father is the only inheritance I covet!" + +His head drooped on his bosom, whilst the starting tear too plainly +evinced the painful recollection of the moment. With looks of the +tenderest pity, Ellenor folded him in her arms. + +"Forgive me," continued Sir Henry, returning her embrace. "At such a +moment as this, I ought not to let a single idea of myself intrude, to +cast a gloom on your happiness. For your sake--for the sake of my +beloved Eliza, and her mother, I will break through those ties, which +have hitherto restrained me, and act according to the dictates of +justice!" + +"The means are in our power!" cried old Thomas, exultingly. "The night +before my Lady returned from London, with the account of your death, I +entered the closet of my deceased master; the event answered our +expectation: and now let the guilty beware!" + +Sir Henry sighed; but in a moment assuming a more cheerful aspect, +reminded Thomas, they were weary travellers, who, for some hours had not +received refreshment. + +Thomas instantly left the room; and Sir Henry congratulated the Captain +and his Ellenor on the late happy discovery. Young Howard and Lieutenant +Booyers likewise claimed his attention; he introduced them to Frederick +and Mr. Talton, who, already prepossessed in their favour, eagerly +accepted, and returned their proffered friendship. The name of Talton +caused a momentary alarm in the bosom of Ellenor: involuntarily she +threw herself into the arms of the Captain, for protection; but, on his +assuring her of Talton's friendship, apologized for her mistrust, and +extending her hand, welcomed him with all the cordiality she had +formerly shown. + +"I believe, Mrs. Crawton," said Mr. Talton, "my appearance here is as +surprising to you, as the events of this evening have been to me. Some +strange mistake exists; but as an explanation is beyond my power, I can +only assert my innocence of intentional wrong toward you, or your +friends!" + +"No more apologies, Talton," said the Captain; "let the past be +forgotten; for your conduct in future, I will be answerable; and, as the +first proof of your friendship, shall demand your attendance again on my +Ellenor, as a father.--Your Howard," he continued to Ellenor, "is, thank +Heaven, at last at liberty, and here claims your promise, of again +uniting your fate to his for ever!" + +A tear of grateful delight swelled in the eye of Ellenor, as she gave +him her hand, and assured him her promise was not forgotten. + +The entrance of Ellen and Eliza, with the account that Mrs. Blond was +fallen into a gentle sleep, added to their satisfaction: "And as I was +anxious," said Ellen with a smile, "to see my adopted brother, I +persuaded Eliza to leave her mother to the sweets of repose, and return +with me to our friends." + +A blush overspread the beautiful face of her companion, as Sir Henry +said--"And did Eliza require persuasion, to return to the presence of +her Henry? A welcome from her was the first wish of my heart, and is she +then the last to give it?" + +"Do more justice to the sentiments of Eliza," said young +Howard.--"Deeply has she mourned the loss of Corbet; and her heart, I am +certain, if not her tongue, sincerely welcomes, and rejoices at his +return." + +Sir Henry pressed the hand of the blushing girl to his lips, and, with a +heart more replete with happiness than he had long experienced, attended +the summons to the supper-table. The restraint which the presence of Mr. +Talton at first created, gradually wore off; as, willing to eradicate +the idea he was certain they entertained of him, he exerted those powers +of pleasing, which he possessed in an eminent degree; and on their +retiring for the night, each secretly wished he might prove himself as +amiable as he had that evening appeared to be. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +Early in the morning, the Captain rose, and having dispatched his +servant to Monmouth for a licence, left the house for the purpose of +enjoying a ramble, till the appearance of his Ellenor; but had not +proceeded many paces, when he perceived his son, Sir Henry, and +Frederick. He immediately joined them, and, under the guidance of +Edward, traced the tangled wilds, which had afforded an asylum to his +Ellenor. + +"It is now more than eighteen months," said young Howard, "since the +appearance of Mr. Talton drove us from the house of Lieutenant Booyers, +whither we had retired on the report of Sir Henry's death. Not knowing +which way to direct our steps, and uncertain whether, in flying from one +evil, we were not hurrying into a greater, we pursued an indirect road +to Monmouth; where, leaving my mother and Mrs. Blond, I set out with our +faithful Thomas, in search of an obscure village, or cot, that might +afford us the shelter we required. + +"Fortune conducted me to this spot, which was then in the wildest state +of ruin. The beauties which surrounded it, and its retired situation, +immediately pointed it out as a place designed by Heaven to afford the +asylum we wanted. The owner, for a trifling consideration, agreed to my +becoming his tenant, and here we removed the whole of our property, not +amounting to a hundred pounds.--Industry, however, found out many means +of procuring a livelihood: needle-work, embroidery, painting, every +accomplishment was turned to account, and, with superintending our +household affairs, employed the time of my mother and her friends. + +"Thomas, before he entered the service of Sir Horace Corbet, had been +engaged in the farming business; and under his direction, your Edward, +my dear Sir, set his hand to the plough and spade; nor was our friendly +Booyers idle; though deprived of an arm, he assisted in sowing, pruning, +&c. and under his care, the garden soon assumed a pleasing and +flourishing appearance.--On our first coming, we engaged an useful +active man, who lived in the only cottage near our residence; and who, +from his knowledge of the land, directed, as well as executed, our first +plans of husbandry: his wife likewise superintends our dairy, who, with +Susan, comprise the female attendants of our family. This man, we sent, +as being unknown, to dispose of the furniture left in the residence we +had so abruptly deserted: and he executed his commission with the +greatest exactness; leaving the village, as we had directed, by a +different route from the one he was really to pursue; by which means, we +hoped to avoid being traced. Our house was soon repaired: and our +harvest, though late, richly repaid our labour. Plenty, indeed, has here +deigned to dwell; and, could we have forgotten the past, we might have +been happy; but remembrance still recalled the friends we had lost, and, +by a retrospect of the injuries we had suffered, cast a shade on the +passing moment." + +"But what, my son," said the Captain, "are the injuries to which you +allude?" + +The appearance of Mr. Talton and Lieutenant Booyers, prevented Edward +from replying; and, on being joined by those gentlemen, the conversation +was renewed on general subjects, till they arrived at the spot where the +Captain had the preceding evening met with his son; when Mr. Talton +said,--"I yesterday, Howard, should have treated the idea with the +greatest ridicule, that the accidents we met with, could be the means of +conducting us to Mrs. Crawton, or that by losing our way, you should +meet with a son, you have so many years vainly sought.--But under your +present embarrassments," he continued, addressing Edward, "do you think, +young gentleman, you acted prudently in inviting two strangers to your +house? Had Talton been the man you suspected, it might have been +attended with unpleasant circumstances. But it was benevolence which +impelled you, and it has been rewarded!" + +"Or rather, Sir," said Edward smiling, "it was nature; which, the moment +my father spoke, attached me to him, and destroyed the caution, which +the situation of our affairs certainly required." + +"Providence," said Frederick, "equally guided us all. By deviating from +our road yesterday, we saved the life of a man and his son; who, in +crossing a foot-bridge, by the heedlessness of the boy, fell into the +current beneath. We likewise had the satisfaction of relieving a +family, reduced to the lowest state of poverty and distress. These +circumstances detained us a considerable time; and afforded such ample +scope for conversation, that all remembrance of you and Mr. Talton was +lost; and it was not till the close of day, you recurred to our +recollection. Willing then to rectify the error we had committed, we +took the nearest direction toward Brecon; but had not proceeded far, +before Sir Henry's horse sunk into a morass; and in endeavouring to +assist him, my own met with the same fate. This completed our distress; +and by the time we had succeeded in extricating the unlucky animals, +darkness had nearly enveloped the heavens. We would then have retraced +our path, but could not discover it; and fearful of wandering from the +spot where we were, we hallooed for assistance, but without effect; and +I began to have very disagreeable ideas, when we were relieved by Argus, +who sprung to Sir Henry, with the familiarity of an old acquaintance, +enticing us to follow him; nor did we deliberate long, but, tying a +handkerchief to his collar, submitted ourselves to his guidance. He soon +conducted us to a firm road, and we were directing our steps toward the +light, which beamed from the windows of our friends, when you, my dear +uncle, so happily joined us." + +They were here interrupted by the arrival of a servant, with a summons +to breakfast, and, on entering the parlour, they had the satisfaction +of seeing Mrs. Blond, assembled with the rest of the family. Sir Henry +instantly flew to her, and affectionately welcomed her return to their +society. + +"The happiness of my friend Ellenor, and the discovery of your +existence," said Mrs. Blond, faintly smiling, "have been my +restoratives; to see the child of my beloved Corbet; to know that the +means of obtaining him justice, are in our possession--O, Harry, I +cannot speak my joy!" + +They proceeded to breakfast, and the Captain, at Ellenor's request, +related the occurrences of his life, since their separation, and the +little train of accidents which had conducted him to her. "And now, my +Ellenor," he continued, "will you gratify my impatience, and explain a +mystery, which for years has perplexed and rendered me unhappy?" + +"As I live, there are Harland and Louise!" interrupted Sir Henry, as a +carriage drove to the gate; and, hastening out of the room, he +immediately introduced his sister and the Lieutenant. An exclamation of +surprise escaped Mr. Talton, as Sir Henry presented her to him, but +passed unheeded, as the Captain asked Harland, by what accident he had +discovered where they were? + +"By unexpectedly meeting your servant, Captain," answered Harland.--"We +have for some weeks been engaged in a ramble through the adjacent parts, +and were this morning going to Brecon, when we met James. He instantly +informed us where you were, and of some farther particulars, which +induced us to use the privilege of relationship, and join Sir Henry. + +"Welcome, indeed," said Ellenor, "shall the relations of my Henry ever +be. The countenance of Louise is a passport to the heart; nor is there +one here, who could refuse her a claim to their friendship." + +Louise looked wistfully at Ellenor; the strong resemblance between her +and Sir Henry, the cordiality of her salutation, gave rise to the idea, +that it might perhaps be the mother she so ardently wished to know, who +embraced her. The name of mother faintly escaped her lips, as her +inquiring eye glanced to Sir Henry, for a confirmation of her suspicion. + +"No, my sweet girl," replied Sir Henry, "this Lady is not your mother; +would to Heaven thine were equally amiable! This morning, Louise, is +dedicated to the explanation of my life and conduct; and fortunately are +you arrived to learn the particulars of your birth without necessitating +me to repeat a tale, which will distress you equally to hear, as me to +relate." + +"I was early taught resignation to the will of Heaven, my brother," +replied Louise; "nor will I shrink from the recital; though happy should +I have deemed myself, if I had here found a mother!" + +"In affection you shall, sweet girl," said Ellenor; "Louise is not +answerable for the vices of her parents!" + +The Captain here introduced his Ellenor and son, more particularly to +Harland and Louise; who congratulated them on their restoration to each +other; and after they had partaken of refreshments, the Captain reminded +Sir Henry of the expected relation. + +"Yet, before I commence my narrative," said Sir Henry, "let me explain +the meaning of a sentence, you say has occasioned you so much +anxiety--the secret to which your Ellenor in her letter alluded. + +"In Ellenor Worton, then, give me leave to introduce the daughter of Sir +Horace Corbet--the sister of my father! Worton was the name she received +from her god-mother, and which she wholly assumed, when the harshness of +Sir Horace drove her from her paternal roof; and when she discovered, +that her Howard had been previously married, she regarded it as a +punishment for her breach of filial obedience. Suspend your surprise a +moment.--In Mrs. Blond, behold the youngest daughter of Sir James +Elvyn:--another victim of my grandfather's cruelty and injustice!" + +"Good God!" cried Mr. Talton: "And does your mother, Sir Henry, know of +these circumstances?" + +"She does, Mr. Talton," answered Sir Henry, with a sigh. The Captain's +looks likewise testified his surprise.--"But wherefore, my Ellenor," he +said, "the necessity of concealing your name from my knowledge?" + +"With the character of my father, Howard," answered Ellenor, "you have +already been made acquainted. Proud, vindictive, and avaricious, every +consideration yielded to the gratification of those passions. On account +of her fortune, he married my mother, to whom he proved literally a +tyrant: nor did his children experience greater affection or indulgence. +When I was seventeen, old Lord Aberford, who had accidentally seen me, +declared himself my admirer; and as his offers were highly gratifying to +my father, he little regarded sacrificing my happiness. In vain were my +tears, my mother's intreaties, or the supplications of my brother: fury +took possession of his bosom, at our daring to dispute his will; and in +the first paroxysm of rage, he sent my mother to a ruinous seat he +possessed in Cornwall, ordered my brother back to college, and confined +me to my chamber; which he vowed I should never leave, till he resigned +me to the arms of Lord Aberford. The being separated from my mother, was +the severest punishment he could inflict, as her tenderness ever +compensated for the harshness of his behaviour. + +"His increasing severity, every time he visited my apartment, had nearly +reduced me to compliance, when Thomas returned from Cornwall, and +secretly delivered me a letter from my mother. She advised me, if my +father still persisted in forcing me into an union with Lord Aberford, +to leave the Hall, and seek an asylum at Mrs. Radnor's, the bosom friend +of her early days. The means of escape were easily effected by Thomas, +who at night placed a ladder at my window, and conducted me in safety +to the park-gate, whence Owen, the gamekeeper, who was waiting with +horses, escorted me to Radnor Moor.--Mrs. Radnor received me with open +arms, and, fully aware of the violent temper of my father, advised my +taking the name of Worton; and, to screen me more effectually from his +knowledge, a few days after left the Moor for Brighthelmstone. + +"I there, Howard, became acquainted with you. The sentiments we +entertained for each other, were reciprocal; and freely should I have +communicated the secret of my family, but Mrs. Radnor strenuously +opposed it. Her detestation of my father, daily increased, and as he +had declared that he no longer regarded me as his daughter, I should +not, she said, with her approbation, ever acknowledge him as a father. +The favourable opinion she entertained of you, encouraged the passion I +had imbibed, and, regarding her councils as those of a parent, I early +avowed my affection and consented to plight my faith to you for ever. + +"At this time, my brother privately visited us. My father, he said, +continued inveterate against me, and having discovered that my mother +had been the instigator of my elopement, he still confined her at his +estate in Cornwall, though he occasionally allowed my brother the +liberty of seeing her. Henry brought me a letter, the last I ever +received from my beloved mother. It was dictated by maternal tenderness. +The happiness of her children, she said, constituted hers: Henry's, she +thought, would be established in his expected union with Miss Elvyn; and +mine, she hoped, would be equally secured, in the choice I had made. She +added a blessing on our nuptials; and the morning after Henry left us, +to join his friend Booyers, previously to his intended marriage, I gave +my hand to you at the altar. + +"Happy, indeed, were the days which succeeded our union, till the +illness of Mrs. Radnor; which was occasioned by the sudden disclosure of +my mother's death: her own followed in a few days, and I had to mourn +the loss of both, and the knowledge I then first received of a brother's +unhappiness. + +"Gladly would I have flown to the bosom of my Edward, for consolation; +but Mrs. Radnor had extorted a promise from me, not to undeceive +you.--'If Crawton, my child,' she said, 'should find that you have acted +disingenuously by him, it may implant suspicion in his mind, and destroy +the tenderness you at present experience. Rest satisfied, then, my love, +with the happiness you enjoy, nor hazard its destruction by that which +cannot possibly increase it. If I advise wrong, may Heaven forgive me; +but I speak from the best of motives.' + +"Ah! she knew not the heart of Howard, or the precaution had been +needless. What passed from that time, Edward, till the discovery of your +prior marriage, I need not repeat: and what I experienced at that +moment, is beyond my power to describe! An idea of self-destruction took +possession of my mind, till the remembrance of my infant checked my +despair; when, finding Susan willing to follow my fortune, I determined +on flight. Your absence favoured my design; and leaving a few lines for +you, with Mary, I proceeded to London. + +"I was there delivered of my Edward, and as soon as I was enabled to +bear the fatigue of travelling, proceeded to Caermarthen; where I sent +a peasant to the Hall, and a few hours after had the satisfaction of +beholding my brother. + +"But ah, what an alteration had two years made in the once blooming, and +ever interesting Corbet! All indeed was changed, but the heart of Henry! + +"He wept over the sorrows of his Ellenor, promised to prove a father to +my babe, and a protector to me: but, starting from his seat, he +exclaimed, 'O God! vain is the promise!--Your father, Ellenor, has +deprived me of the power. To revenge your refusal of Lord Aberford, he +has cut you off from every part of his fortune; and prohibited my +affording you the least pecuniary assistance, under forfeiture of every +part of my property, but that entailed from my ancestors. Yet, think +not, Ellenor, I can desert you: no, though I cannot publicly support you +as my sister, I still will prove myself a brother!' + +"Till that moment I knew not the death of my father: tears relieved my +oppressed heart, and Henry, again embracing me, continued--'Grieve not, +my sister; your father, in his last moments, wished he had been less +severe; blessed his Ellenor, and prayed she might find a better friend +than he had proved. He would have altered his will, but death prevented +him: and your brother must ever be subjected to the control of--.' + +"He paused--Alas! my brother, I knew not then the full extent of your +misery! + +"He that evening conducted me to the house of Mr. Blond, where for +seventeen years I lived secluded from the world. The occurrences which +then drove me from Caermarthen, will be fully recounted in the narrative +of our Henry." + +"Thanks, my dear Ellenor," said the Captain, "for your part of these +explanations. It indeed shows me, by what trifles the happiness or +misery of life may be occasioned. For a farther and final explanation, +Sir Henry, we must now refer to you." + +"The task," said Sir Henry, "is indeed a painful one: as it must +discover the vices of a parent--nature still forces me to love!" He +paused a moment, when, perceiving all were attentive, he began his +relation, in the following words. + + +END OF VOLUME II. + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Mysterious Wanderer; Vol. II, by Sophia Reeve + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MYSTERIOUS WANDERER; VOL. II *** + +***** This file should be named 34629.txt or 34629.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/4/6/2/34629/ + +Produced by Mark C. 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