diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35442-8.txt | 10542 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35442-8.zip | bin | 0 -> 249619 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35442-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 1721408 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35442-h/35442-h.htm | 12001 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35442-h/images/088.jpg | bin | 0 -> 103953 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35442-h/images/090.jpg | bin | 0 -> 92833 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35442-h/images/094.jpg | bin | 0 -> 115590 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35442-h/images/104.jpg | bin | 0 -> 160138 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35442-h/images/164.jpg | bin | 0 -> 143563 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35442-h/images/176.jpg | bin | 0 -> 130526 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35442-h/images/210.jpg | bin | 0 -> 145023 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35442-h/images/248.jpg | bin | 0 -> 95676 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35442-h/images/252.jpg | bin | 0 -> 103294 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35442-h/images/286.jpg | bin | 0 -> 124717 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35442-h/images/314.jpg | bin | 0 -> 106033 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35442-h/images/frontispiece.jpg | bin | 0 -> 152330 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35442.txt | 10542 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35442.zip | bin | 0 -> 249497 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 |
21 files changed, 33101 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/35442-8.txt b/35442-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..97a4685 --- /dev/null +++ b/35442-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10542 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Dodd Family Abroad, Vol. II.(of II), by +Charles James Lever + +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 Dodd Family Abroad, Vol. II.(of II) + +Author: Charles James Lever + +Illustrator: Phiz And W. Cubitt Cooke + +Release Date: March 1, 2011 [EBook #35442] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DODD FAMILY ABROAD *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +THE DODD FAMILY ABROAD + +By Charles James Lever + + +Volume II. + + + + +LETTER I. KENNY JAMES DODD TO THOMAS PURCELL, ESQ., OF THE GRANGE, BRUFF + +Constance. + +My dear Tom,--I got the papers all safe. I am sure the account is +perfectly correct. I only wish the balance was bigger. I waited here to +receive these things, and now I discover that I can't sign the warrant +of attorney except before a consul, and there is none in this place, +so that I must keep it over till I can find one of those pleasant +functionaries,--a class that between ourselves I detest heartily. They +are a presumptuous, under-bred, consequential race,--a cross between +a small skipper and smaller Secretary of Legation, with a mixture +of official pedantry and maritime off-handedness that is perfectly +disgusting. Why our reforming economists don't root them all out I +cannot conceive. Nobody wants, nobody benefits by them; and save that +you are now and then called on for a "consular fee," you might never +hear of their existence. + +I don't rightly understand what you say about the loan from that Land +Improvement Society. Do you mean that the money lent must be laid out on +the land as a necessary condition? Is it possible that this is what I am +to infer? If so, I never heard anything half so preposterous! Sure, if I +raise five hundred pounds from a Jew, he has no right to stipulate that +I must spend the cash on copper coal-scuttles or potted meats! I want +it for my own convenience; enough for him that I comply with his demands +for interest and repayment. Anything else would be downright tyranny and +oppression, Tom,--as a mere momentary consideration of the matter will +show you. At all events, let us get the money, for I 'd like to contest +the point with these fellows; and if ever there was a man heart and +soul determined to break down any antiquated barrier of cruelty or +domination, it is your friend Kenny Dodd! As to that printed paper, with +its twenty-seven queries, it is positive balderdash from beginning +to end. What right have they to conclude that I approve of subsoil +draining? When did I tell them that I believed in Smith of Deanstown? +Where is it on record that I gave in my adhesion to model cottages, +Berkshire pigs, green crops, and guano manure? In what document do these +appear? Maybe I have my own notions on these matters,--maybe I keep them +for my own guidance too! + +You say that the gentry is all changing throughout the whole land, and +I believe you well, Tom Purcell. Changed indeed must they be if they +subscribe to such preposterous humbug as this! At all events, I repeat +we want the money, so fill up the blanks as you think best, and remit me +the amount at your earliest, for I have barely enough to get to the end +of the present month. I don't dislike this place at all. It is quiet, +peaceful,--humdrum, if you will; but we've had more than our share of +racket and row lately, and the reclusion is very grateful. One day is +exactly like another with us. Lord George--for he is back again--and +James go a-fishing as soon as breakfast is over, and only return for +supper. Mary Anne reads, writes, sews, and sings. Mrs. D. fills up the +time discharging Betty, settling with her, searching her trunks for +missing articles, and being reconciled to her again, which, with +occasional crying fits and her usual devotions, don't leave her a single +moment unoccupied! As for me, I'm trying to learn German, whenever I'm +not asleep. I've got a master,--he is a Swiss, and maybe his accent +is not of the purest; but he is an amusing old vagabond,--an +umbrella-maker, but in his youth a travelling-servant. His time is not +very valuable to him, so that he sits with me sometimes for half a day; +but still I make little progress. My notion is, Tom, that there's no use +in either making love or trying a new language after you're five or six +and twenty. It's all up-hill work after that, believe me. Neither your +declensions nor declarations come natural to you, and it's a bungling +performance at the best. The first condition of either is to have +your head perfectly free,--as little in it as need be. So long as +your thoughts are jostled by debts, duns, mortgages, and marriageable +daughters, you 'll have no room for vows or irregular verbs! It's lucky, +however, that one can dispense both with the love and the learning, +and indeed of the two,--with the last best, for of all the useless, +unprofitable kinds of labor ever pursued out of a jail, acquiring +a foreign language is the most. The few words required for daily +necessaries, such as schnaps and cigars, are easily learnt; all beyond +that is downright rubbish. + +For what can a man express his thoughts in so well as his mother tongue? +with whom does he want to talk but his countrymen? Of course you come +out with the old cant about "intelligent natives," "information derived +at the fountain head," "knowledge obtained by social intimacy with +people of the country." To which I briefly reply, "It's all gammon +and stuff from beginning to end;" and what between _your_ blunders in +grammar and your informant's ignorance of fact, all such information is +n't worth a "trauneen." Now, once for all, Tom, let me observe to +you that ask what you will of a foreigner, be it an inquiry into the +financial condition of his country, its military resources, prison +discipline, law, or religion, he 'll never acknowledge his inability to +answer, but give you a full and ready reply, with facts, figures, dates, +and data, all in most admirable order. At first you are overjoyed with +such ready resources of knowledge. You flatter yourself that even +with the most moderate opportunities you cannot fail to learn much; by +degrees, however, you discover errors in your statistics, and at last, +you come to find out that your accomplished friend, too polite to deny +you a reasonable gratification, had gone to the pains of inventing a +code, a church, and a coinage for your sole use and benefit, but without +the slightest intention of misleading, for it never once entered his +head that you could possibly believe him! I know it will sound badly. +I am well aware of the shock it will give to many a nervous system; but +for all that I will not blink the declaration--which I desire to record +as formally and as flatly as I am capable of expressing it--which is, +that of one hundred statements an Englishman accepts and relies upon +abroad, as matter of fact, ninety-nine are untrue; full fifty being lies +by premeditation, thirty by ignorance, ten by accident or inattention, +and the remainder, if there be a balance, for I 'm bad at figures, from +any other cause you like. + +It is no more disgrace for a foreigner not to tell the truth than to +own that he does not sing, nor dance the mazurka; not so much, indeed, +because these are marks of a polite education. And yet it is to +hold conversation with these people we pore over dictionaries, and +Ollendorfs, and Hamiltonian gospels. As for the enlargement and +expansion of the intelligence that comes of acquiring languages, there +never was a greater fallacy. Look abroad upon your acquaintances: who +are the glib linguists, who are the faultless in French genders, and the +immaculate in German declensions? the flippant boarding-school miss, or +the brainless, unpaid attaché, that cannot, compose a note in his own +language. Who are the bungling conversera that make drawing-rooms blush +and dinner-tables titter? Your first-rate debater in the Commons, your +leader at the bar, your double first, or your great electro-magnetic +fellow that knows the secret laws of water-spouts and whirlpools, and +can make thunder and lightning just to amuse himself. Take my word for +it, your linguist is as poor a creature as a dancing-master, and just as +great a formalist. + +If you ask me, then, why I devote myself to such unrewarding labor, I +answer, "It is true I know it to be so, but my apology is, that I make +no progress." No, Tom, I never advance a step. I can neither conjugate +nor decline, and the auxiliary verbs will never aid me in anything. So +far as my lingual incapacity goes, I might be one of the great geniuses +of the age; and very probably I am, too, without knowing it! + +I have little to tell you of the place itself. It is a quaint old town +on the side of the lake; the most remarkable object being the minster, +or cathedral. They show you the spot in the aisle where old Huss stood +to receive his sentence of death. Even after a lapse of centuries, there +was something affecting to stand where a man once stood to bear that he +was to be burned alive. Of course I have little sympathy with a heretic, +but still I venerate the martyr, the more since I am strongly disposed +to think that it is one of those characters which are not the peculiar +product of an age of railroads and submarine telegraphs. The expansion +of the intelligence, Tom, seems to be in the inverse ratio of the +expansion of the conscience, and the stubborn old spirit of right that +was once the mode, would nowadays be construed into a dogged, stupid +bull-headedness, unworthy of the enlightenment of our glorious era. +Take my word for it, there's a great many eloquent and indignant +letter-writers in the newspapers would shrink from old Huss's test for +their opinions, and a fossil elk is not a greater curiosity than would +be a man ready to stake life on his belief. When a fellow tells you of +"dying on the floor of the House," he simply means that he'll talk till +there's a "count out;" and as for "registering vows in heaven," and +"wasting out existence in the gloom of a dungeon," it's just balderdash, +and nothing else. + +The simple fact is this, Tom Purcell: we live in an age of universal +cant, and I swallow all _your_ shams on the easy condition that you +swear to _mine_, and whenever I hear people praising the present age, +and extolling its wonderful progress, and all that, I just think of all +the quackery I see advertised in the newspapers, and sigh heartily to +myself at our degradation! Why, man, the "Patent Pills for the Cure of +Cancer," and the Agapemone, would disgrace the middle ages! And it is +not a little remarkable that England, so prone to place herself at the +head of civilization, is exactly the very metropolis of all this humbug! + +To come back to ourselves, I have to report that James arrived here a +couple of days ago. He followed that scoundrel "the Baron" for thirty +hours, and only desisted from the pursuit when his horse could go no +farther. The police authorities mainly contributed to the escape of the +fugitive, by detaining James on every possible occasion, and upon any +or no pretext. The poor fellow reached Freyburg dead beat, and without a +sou in his pocket; but good luck would have it that Lord George Tiverton +had just arrived there, so that by his aid he came on here, where they +both made their appearance at breakfast on Tuesday morning. + +Lord George, I suspect, had not made a successful campaign of it lately; +though in what he has failed--if it be failure--I have no means of +guessing. He looks a little out at elbows, however, and travels without +a servant. In spirits and bearing I see no change in him; but these +fellows, I have remarked, never show depression, and india-rubber +itself is not so elastic as a bad character! I don't half fancy his +companionship for James; but I know well that this opinion would be +treated by the rest of the family as downright heresy; and certainly he +is an amusing dog, and it is impossible to resist liking him; but there +lies the very peril I am afraid of. If your loose fish, as the +slang phrase calls them, were disagreeable chaps,--prosy, selfish, +sententious,--vulgar in their habits, and obtrusive in their manners, +one would run little risk of contamination; but the reverse is the case, +Tom,--the very reverse! Meet a fellow that speaks every tongue of the +Continent, dresses to perfection, rides and drives admirably, a dead +shot with the pistol, a sure cue at billiards,--if he be the delight of +every circle he goes into,--look out sharp in the "Times," and the odds +are that there's a handsome reward offered for him, and he's either +a forger or a defaulter. The truth is, a man may be ill-mannered as a +great lawyer or a great physician; he may make a great figure in +the field or the cabinet; there may be no end to his talents as a +geometrician or a chemist; it's only your adventurer must be well-bred, +and swindling is the soldiery profession to which a man must bring +fascinating manners, a good address, personal advantages, and the power +of pleasing. I own to you, Tom Purcell, I like these fellows, and +I can't help it! I take to them as I do to twenty things that are +agreeable at the time, but are sure to disagree with me--afterwards. +They rally me out of my low spirits, they put me on better terms with +myself, and they administer that very balmy flattery that says, "Don't +distress yourself, Kenny Dodd. As the world goes, you 're better than +nine-tenths of it. You'd be hospitable if you could; you'd pay your +debts if you could; and there would n't be an easier-tempered, more +good-natured creature breathing than yourself, if it was only the will +was wanting!" Now, these are very soothing doses when a man is scarified +by duns, and flayed alive by lawsuits; and when a fellow comes to my +time of life, he can no more bear the candid rudeness of what is called +friendship than an ex-Lord Mayor could endure Penitentiary diet! + +I must confess, however, that whenever we come to divide on any +question, Lord George always votes with Mrs. D. He told me once that +with respect to Parliament he always sided with the Government, whatever +it was, when he could, and perhaps he follows the same rule in private +life. Last night, after tea, we discussed our future movements, and I +found him strongly in favor of getting us on to Italy for the winter. +I did n't like to debate the matter exactly on financial grounds, but I +hazarded a half-conjecture that the expedition would be a costly one. +He stopped me at once. "Up to this time," said he, "you have really not +benefited by the cheapness of Continental living,"--that was certainly +true,--"and for this simple reason, you have always lived in the beaten +track of the wandering cockney. You must go farther away from England. +You must reach those places where people settle as residents, not ramble +as tourists; you will then be rewarded, not only economically, but +socially. The markets and the morals are both better; for our countrymen +filter by distance, and the farther from home the purer they become." +To Mrs. D. and Mary Anne he gave a glowing description of Trans-Alpine +existence, and rapturously pictured forth the fascinations of Italian +life. I can only give you the items, Tom; you must arrange them for +yourself. So make what you can of starry skies, olives, ices, tenors, +volcanoes, music, mountains, and maccaroni. He appealed to _me_ by the +budget. Never was there such cheapness in the known world. The Italian +nobility were actually crashed down with house-accommodation, and only +entreated a stranger to accept of a palace or a villa. The climate +produced everything without labor, and consequently without cost. Fruit +had no price; wine was about twopence a bottle; a strong tap rose to +two and a half! Clothes one scarcely needed; and, except for decency, +"nothing and a cocked hat" would suffice. These were very seductive +considerations, Tom; and I own to you that, even allowing a large margin +for exaggeration, there was a great amount of solid advantage remaining. +Mrs. D. adduced an additional argument when we were alone, and in this +wise: What was to be done with the wedding finery if we should return +to Ireland; for all purposes of home life they would be totally +inapplicable. You might as well order a service of plate to serve up +potatoes as introduce Paris fashions and foreign elegance into our +provincial circle. "We have the things now," said she; "let us have the +good of them." I remember a cask of Madeira being left with my father +once, by a mistake, and that was the very reason he gave for drinking +it. She made a strong case of it, Tom; she argued the matter well, +laying great stress upon the duty we owed our girls, and the necessity +of "getting them married before we went back." Of course, I did n't +give in. If I was to give her the notion that she could convince me +of anything, we 'd never have a moment's peace again; so I said I 'd +reflect on the subject, and turn it over in my mind. And now I want you +to say what disposable cash can we lay our hands on for the winter. I +am more than ever disinclined to have anything to say to these Drainage +Commissioners. It's our pockets they drain, and not our farms. I 'd +rather try and raise a trifle on mortgage; for you see, nowadays, they +have got out of the habit of doing it, and there's many a one has money +lying idle and does n't know what to do with it. Look out for one of +these fellows, Tom, and see what you can do with him. Dear me, is n't it +a strange thing the way one goes through life, and the contrivances one +is put to to make two ends meet! + +I remember the time, and so do you too, when an Irish gentleman could +raise what he liked; and there was n't an estate in my own county wasn't +encumbered, as they call it, to more than double its value. There's +fellows will tell you "that's the cause of all the present distress." +Not a bit of it. They 're all wrong! It is because that system has come +to an end that we are ruined; that's the root of the evil, Tom Purcell; +and if I was in Parliament I'd tell them so. Where will you find any one +willing to lend money now if the estate would n't pay it? We may thank +the English Government for that; and, as poor Dan used to say, "They +know as much about us as the Chinese!" + +I can't answer your question about James. Vickars has not replied to my +last two letters; and I really see no opening for the boy whatever. I +mean to write, however, in a day or two to Lord Muddleton, to whom Lord +George is nearly related, and ask for something in the Diplomatic way. +Lord G. says it's the only career nowadays does n't require some kind of +qualification,--since even in the army they've instituted a species of +examination. "Get him made an Attaché somewhere," says Tiverton, "and +he must be a 'Plenipo' at last." J. is good-looking, and a great deal of +dash about him; and I 'm informed that's exactly what's wanting in the +career. If nothing comes of this application, I 'll think seriously +of Australia; but, of course, Mrs. D. must know nothing about it; for, +according to _her_ notions, the boy ought to be Chamberlain to the +Queen, or Gold-stick at least. + +I don't know whether I mentioned to you that Betty Cobb had entered the +holy bonds with a semi-civilized creature she picked up in the Black +Forest. The orang-outang is now a part of our household,--at least so +far as living at rack and manger at my cost,--though in what way to +employ him I have not the slightest notion. Do you think, if I could +manage to send him over to Ireland, that we could get him indicted +for any transportable offence? Ask Curtis about it; for I know he +did something of the kind once in the case of a natural son of Tony +Barker's, and the lad is now a judge, I believe, in Sydney. + +Cary is quite well. I heard from her yesterday, and when I write, I 'll +be sure to send her your affectionate message. I don't mean to leave +this till I heat from you. So write immediately and believe me, + +Very sincerely your friend, + +Kenny James. + + + + +LETTER II. JAMES DODD TO ROBERT DOOLAN, ESQ., TRINITY COLLEGE, DUBLIN. + +Bregenz. + +My dear Bob,--I had made up my mind not to write to you till we had +quitted this place, where our life has been of the "slowest;" but this +morning has brought a letter with a piece of good news which I cannot +defer imparting to you. It is a communication from the Under-Secretary +for Foreign Affairs to the governor, to say that I have been appointed +to something somewhere, and that I am to come over to London, and be +examined by somebody. Very vague all this, but I suppose it's the +style of Diplomacy, and one will get used to it. The real bore is the +examination, for George told "dad" that there was none, and, in fact, +that very circumstance it was which gave the peculiar value to the +"service." Tiverton tells me, however, he can make it "all safe;" +whether you "tip" the Secretary, or some of the underlings, I don't +know. Of course there is a way in all these things, for half the fellows +that pass are just as ignorant as your humble servant. + +I am mainly indebted to Tiverton for the appointment, for he wrote to +everybody he could think of, and made as much interest as if it was +for himself. He tells me, in confidence, that the list of names down +is about six feet long, and actually wonders at the good fortune of my +success. From all I can learn, however, there is no salary at first, so +that the governor must "stump out handsome," for an Attaché is expected +to live in a certain style, keep horses, and, in fact, come it "rayther +strongish." In some respects, I should have preferred the army; but +then there are terrible drawbacks in colonial banishment, whereas in +Diplomacy you are at least stationed in the vicinity of a Court, which +is always something. + +I wonder where I am to be gazetted for; I hope Naples, but even Vienna +would do. In the midst of our universal joy at my good fortune, it's not +a little provoking to see the governor pondering over all it will cost +for outfit, and wondering if the post be worth the gold lace on the +uniform. Happily for me, Bob, he never brought me up to any profession, +as it is called, and it is too late now to make me anything either in +law or physic. I say happily, because I see plainly enough that he 'd +refuse the present opportunity if he knew of any other career for me. +My mother does not improve matters by little jokes on his low tastes and +vulgar ambitions; and, in fact, the announcement has brought a good deal +of discussion and some discord amongst us. + +I own to you, frankly, that once named to a Legation, I will do my +utmost to persuade the governor to go back to Ireland. In the first +place, nothing but a very rigid economy at Dodsborough will enable him +to make me a liberal allowance; and secondly, to have my family +prowling about the Legation to which I was attached would be perfectly +insufferable. I like to have my father and mother what theatrical +folk call "practicable," that is, good for all efficient purposes of +bill-paying, and such-like; but I shudder at the notion of being their +pioneer into fashionable life; and, indeed, I am not aware of any one +having carried his parent on his back since the days of Æneas. + +I am obliged to send you a very brief despatch, for I 'm off to-morrow +for London, to make my bow at "F. O.," and kiss hands on my appointment. +I 'd have liked another week here, for the fishing has just come in, and +we killed yesterday, with two rods, eleven large, and some thirty small +trout. They are a short, thick-shouldered kind of fish, ready enough +to rise, but sluggish to play afterwards. The place is pretty, too; the +Swiss Alps at one side, and the Tyrol mountains at the other. Bregenz +itself stands well, on the very verge of the lake, and although not +ancient enough to be curious in architecture, has a picturesque air +about it. The people are as primitive as anything one can well fancy, +and wear a costume as ungracefully barbarous as any lover of nationality +could desire. Their waists are close under their arms, and the longest +petticoats I have yet seen finish at the knee! They affect, besides, +a round, low-crowned cap, like a fur turban, or else a great piece of +filigree sliver, shaped like a peacock's tail, and fastened to the back +of the head. Nature, it must be owned, has been somewhat ungenerous to +them; and with the peculiar advantages conferred on them by costume, +they are the ugliest creatures I 've ever set eyes on. + +It is only just to remark that Mary Anne dissents from me in all this, +and has made various "studies" of them, which are, after all, not a whit +more flattering than my own description. As to a good-looking peasantry, +Bob, it's all humbug. It's only the well-to-do classes, in any country, +have pretensions to beauty. The woman of rank numbers amongst her charms +the unmistakable stamp of her condition. Even in her gait, like the +Goddess in Virgil, she displays her divinity. The pretty "bourgeoise" +has her peculiar fascination in the brilliant intelligence of her +laughing eye, and the sly archness of her witty mouth; but your peasant +beauty is essentially heavy and dull. It is of the earth, earthy; and +there is a bucolic grossness about the lips the very antithesis to the +pleasing. I 'm led to these remarks by the question in your last as to +the character of Continental physiognomy. Up to this, Bob, I have seen +nothing to compare with our own people, and you will meet more pretty +faces between Stephen's Green and the Rotunda than between Schaffhausen +and the sea. I 'm not going to deny that they "make up" better abroad, +but our boast is the raw material of beauty. The manufactured article we +cannot dispute with them. It would be, however, a great error to suppose +that the artistic excellence I speak of is a small consideration; on the +contrary, it is a most important one, and well deserving of deep thought +and reflection, and, I must say, that all our failures in the decorative +arts are as nothing to our blunders when attempting to adorn beauty. A +French woman, with a skin like an old drumhead, and the lower jaw of a +baboon, will actually "get herself up" to look better than many a really +pretty girl of our country, disfigured by unbecoming hairdressing, +ill-assorted colors, ill-put-on clothes, and that confounded walk, which +is a cross between the stride of a Grenadier and running in a sack! + +With all our parade of Industrial Exhibitions and shows of National +Productions lately, nobody has directed his attention to this subject, +and, for _my_ part, I 'd infinitely rather know that our female +population had imbibed some notions of dress and self-adornment from +their French neighbors, than that Glasgow could rival Genoa in velvet, +or that we beat Bohemia out of the field in colored glass. If the proper +study of mankind be man,--which, of course, includes woman,--we +are throwing a precious deal of time away on centrifugal pumps, +sewing-machines, and self-acting razors. If I ever get into Parliament, +Bob, and I don't see why I should not, when once fairly launched in the +Diplomatic line, I 'll move for a Special Commission, not to examine +into foreign railroads, or mines, or schools, or smelting-houses, but to +inquire into and report upon how the women abroad, with not a tenth of +the natural advantages, contrive to look,--I won't say better, but more +fascinating than our own,--and how it is that they convert something a +shade below plainness into features of downright pleasing expression! + +Since this appointment has come, I have been working away to brush up my +French and German, which you will be surprised to hear is pretty +nearly where it was when we first came abroad. We English herd so +much together, and continue to follow our home habits and use our own +language wherever we happen to be, that it is not very easy to break +out of the beaten track. This observation applies only to the men of +the family, for our sisters make a most astonishing progress, under +the guidance of those mustachioed and well-whiskered gents they meet at +balls. The governor and my mother of course believe that I am as great +a linguist as Mezzofanti, if that be the fellow's name, and I shall try +and keep up the delusion to the last. It is not quite impossible I may +have more time for my studies here than I fancy, for "dad" has come +in, this moment, to say that he has n't got five shillings towards the +expenses of my journey to London, nor has he any very immediate prospect +of a remittance from Ireland. What a precious mess will it be if my +whole career in life is to be sacrificed for a shabby hundred or two! +The governor appears to have spent about three times as much as he +speculated on, and our affairs at this moment present as pleasant a +specimen of hopeless entanglement as a counsel in Bankruptcy could +desire. + +I wish I was out of the ship altogether, Bob, and would willingly +adventure on the broad ocean of life in a punt, were it only my own. I +trust that by the time this reaches you her Majesty's gracious pleasure +will have numbered me amongst the servants of the Crown; but whether in +high or humble estate, believe me ever + +Unalterably yours, + +James Dodd. + +P. S. My sister Cary has written to say she will be here to-night or +to-morrow; she is coming expressly to see me before I go; but from all +that I can surmise she need not have used such haste. What a bore it +will be if the governor should not be able to "stump out"! I'm in a +perfect fever at the very thought. + + + + +LETTER III. CAROLINE DODD TO MISS COX AT MISS MINCING'S ACADEMY, BLACK ROCK, IRELAND. + +My dear Miss Cox,--It would appear, from your last, that a letter of +mine to you must have miscarried; for I most distinctly remember having +written to you on the topics you allude to, and, so far as I was able, +answered all your kind inquiries about myself and my pursuits. Lest my +former note should ever reach you, I do not dare to go over again the +selfish narrative which would task even your friendship to peruse once. + +I remained with my kind friend, Mrs. Morris, till three days ago, when I +came here to see my brother James, who has been promised some Government +employment, and is obliged to repair at once to London. Mamma terrified +me greatly by saying that he was to go to China or to India, so that I +hurried back to see and stay with him as much as I could before he +left us. I rejoice, however, to tell you that his prospects are in the +Diplomatic service, and he will be most probably named to a Legation in +some European capital. + +He is a dear, kind-hearted boy; and although not quite untainted by +the corruptions which are more or less inseparable from this rambling +existence, is still as fresh in his affections, and as generous in +nature, as when he left home. Captain Morris, whose knowledge of life +is considerable, predicts most favorably of him, and has only one +misgiving,--the close intimacy he maintains with Lord George Tiverton. +Towards this young nobleman the Captain expresses the greatest distrust +and dislike; feelings that I really own seem to me to be frequently +tinctured by a degree of prejudice rather than suggested by reason. It +is true, no two beings can be less alike than they are. The one, rigid +and unbending in all his ideas of right, listening to no compromise, +submitting to no expediency, reserved towards strangers even to the +verge of stiffness, and proud from a sense that his humble station might +by possibility expose him to freedoms he could not reciprocate. The +other, all openness and candor, pushed probably to an excess, and not +unfrequently transgressing the barrier of an honorable self-esteem; +without the slightest pretension to principle of any kind, and as ready +to own his own indifference as to ridicule the profession of it by +another. Yet, with all this, kind and generous in all his impulses, ever +willing to do a good-natured thing; and, so far as I can judge, +even prepared to bear a friendly part at the hazard of personal +inconvenience. + +Characters of this stamp are, as you have often observed to me, far more +acceptable to very young men than those more swayed by rigid rules of +right; and when they join to natural acuteness considerable practical +knowledge of life, they soon obtain a great influence over the less +gifted and less experienced. I see this in James; for, though not by +any means blind to the blemishes in Lord George's character, nor even +indifferent to them, yet is he submissive to every dictate of his will, +and an implicit believer in all his opinions. But why should I feel +astonished at this? Is not his influence felt by every member of the +family; and papa himself, with all his native shrewdness, strongly +disposed to regard his judgments as wise and correct? I remark this +the more because I have been away from home, and after an absence one +returns with a mind open to every new impression; nor can I conceal from +myself that many of the notions I now see adopted and approved of, are +accepted as being those popular in high society, and not because of +their intrinsic correctness. Had we remained in Ireland, my dear Miss +Cox, this had never been the case. There is a corrective force in the +vicinity of those who have known us long and intimately, who can measure +our pretensions by our station, and pronounce upon our mode of life from +the knowledge they have of our condition; and this discipline, if at +times severe and even unpleasant, is, upon the whole, beneficial to us. +Now, abroad, this wholesome--shall I call it--"surveillance" is +wanting altogether, and people are induced by its very absence to give +themselves airs, and assume a style quite above them. From that very +moment they insensibly adopt a new standard of right and wrong, and +substitute fashion and conventionality for purity and good conduct. I +'m sure I wish we were back in Dodsborough with all my heart! It is not +that there are not objects and scenes of intense interest around us here +on every hand. Even I can feel that the mind expands by the variety of +impressions that continue to pour in upon it. Still, I would not say +that these things may not be bought too dearly; and that if the price +they cost is discontent at our lot in life, a craving ambition to be +higher and richer, and a cold shrinking back from all of our own real +condition, they are unquestionably not worth the sacrifice. + +To really enjoy the Continent it is not necessary--at least, for people +bred and brought up as we have been--to be very rich; on the contrary, +many--ay, and the greatest--advantages of Continental travel are open +to very small fortunes and very small ambitions. Scenery, climate, +inexpensive acquaintanceship, galleries, works of art, public libraries, +gardens, promenades, are all available. The Morrises have certainly much +less to live on than we have, and yet they have travelled over every +part of Europe, know all its cities well, and never found the cost of +living considerable. You will smile when I tell you that the single +secret for this is, not to cultivate English society. Once make up your +mind abroad to live with the people of the country, French, German, and +Italian,--and there is no class of these above the reach of well-bred +English,--and you need neither shine in equipage nor excel in a cook. +There is no pecuniary test of respectability abroad; partly because this +vulgarity is the offspring of a commercial spirit, which is, of course, +not the general characteristic, and partly from the fact that many +of the highest names have been brought down to humble fortunes by +the accidents of war and revolution, and poverty is, consequently, no +evidence of deficient birth. Our gorgeous notions of hospitality are +certainly very fine things, and well become great station and large +fortune, but are ruinous when they are imitated by inferior means and +humble incomes. Foreigners are quite above such vulgar mimicry; and +nothing is more common to hear than the avowal, "I am too poor to +do this; my fortune would not admit of that;" not uttered in a mock +humility, or with the hope of a polite incredulity, but in all the +unaffected simplicity with which one mentions a personal fact, to which +no shame or disgrace attaches. You may imagine, then, how unimpressively +fall upon the ear all those pompous announcements by which we travelling +English herald our high and mighty notions; the palaces we are about to +hire, the _fêtes_ we are going to give, and the other splendors we mean +to indulge in. + +I have read and re-read that part of your letter wherein you speak of +your wish to come and live abroad, so soon as the fruits of your life of +labor will enable you. Oh, my dear kind governess, with what emotion the +words filled me,--emotions very different from those you ever suspected +they would call up; for I bethought me how often I and others must have +added to that toilsome existence by our indolence, our carelessness, and +our wilfulness. In a moment there rose before me the anxieties you must +have suffered, the cares you must have endured, the hopes for those +who threw all their burdens upon _you_, and left to _you_ the blame of +_their_ shortcomings and the reproach of _their_ insufficiency. + +What rest, what repose would ever requite such labor! How delighted am +I to say that there are places abroad where even the smallest fortunes +will suffice. I profited by the permission you gave me to show your +letter to Mrs. Morris, and she gave me in return a list of places for +you to choose from, at any one of which you could live with comfort for +less than you speak of. Some are in Belgium, some in Germany, and some +in Italy. Think, for instance, of a small house on the "Meuse," in the +midst of the most beauteous scenery, and with a country teeming in every +abundance around you, for twelve pounds a year, and all the material of +life equally cheap in proportion. Imagine the habits of a Grand-Ducal +capital, where the Prime Minister receives three hundred per annum, and +spends two; where the admission to the theatre is fourpence, and you go +to a Court dinner on foot at four o'clock in the day, and sit out of an +evening with your work in a public garden afterwards. + +Now, I know that in Ireland or Scotland, and perhaps in Wales too, +places might be discovered where all the ordinary wants of life would +not be dearer than here, but then remember that to live with this +economy at home, you subject yourself to all that pertains to a small +estate; you endure the barbarizing influences of a solitary life, or, +what is worse, the vulgarity of village society. The well-to-do classes, +the educated and refined, will not associate with you. Not so here. Your +small means are no barrier against your admission into the best circles; +you will be received anywhere. Your black silk gown will be "toilet" for +the "Minister's reception," your white muslin will be good enough for a +ball at Court! When the army numbers in its cavalry fifty hussars, and +one battalion for its infantry, the simple resident need never blush for +his humble retinue, nor feel ashamed that a maid-servant escorts him +to a Court entertainment with a lantern, or that a latch-key and a +lucifer-match do duty for a hall-porter and a chandelier! + +One night--I was talking of these things--Captain Morris quoted a Latin +author to the effect "that poverty had no such heavy infliction as in +its power to make people ridiculous." The remark sounds at first an +unfeeling one, but there is yet a true and deep philosophy in it, for it +is in our own abortive and silly attempts to gloss over narrow fortune +that the chief sting of poverty resides, and the ridicule alluded to +is all of our making! The poverty of two thousand a year can be thus as +glaringly absurd, as ridiculous, as that of two hundred, and even more +so, since its failures are more conspicuous. + +Now, had we been satisfied to live in this way, it is not alone that we +should have avoided debt and embarrassment, but we should really have +profited largely besides. I do not speak of the negative advantages of +not mingling with those it had been better to have escaped; but that in +the society of these smaller capitals there is, especially in Germany, a +highly cultivated and most instructive class, slightly pedantic, it +may be, but always agreeable and affable. The domesticity of Germany is +little known to us, since even their writers afford few glimpses of +it. There are no Bulwers nor Bozes nor Thackerays to show the play of +passion, nor the working of deep feeling around the family board and +hearth. The cares of fathers, the hopes of sons, the budding anxieties +of the girlish heart, have few chroniclers. How these people think and +act and talk at home, and in the secret circle of their families, we +know as little as we do of the Chinese. It may be that the inquiry would +require long and deep and almost microscopic study. Life with them is +not as with us, a stormy wave-tossed ocean; it is rather a calm and +landlocked bay. They have no colonial empires, no vast territories for +military ambition to revel in, nor great enterprise to speculate on. +There are neither gigantic schemes of wealth, nor gold-fields to tempt +them. Existence presents few prizes, and as few vicissitudes. The march +of events is slow, even, and monotonous, and men conform themselves to +the same measure! How, then, do they live,--what are their loves, their +hates, their ambitions, their crosses, their troubles, and their joys? +How are they moved to pity,--how stirred to revenge? I own to you I +cannot even fancy this. The German heart seems to me a clasped volume; +and even Goethe has but shown us a chance page or two, gloriously +illustrated, I acknowledge, but closed as quickly as displayed. + +Is Marguerite herself a type? I wish some one would tell me. Is that +childlike gentleness, that trustful nature, that resistless, passionate +devotion, warring with her piety, and yet heightened by it,--are these +German traits? They seem so; and yet do these Fräuleins that I see, with +yellow hair, appear capable of this headlong and impetuous love. Faust, +I 'm convinced, is true to his nationality. He loves like a German,--and +is mad, and mystical, fond, dreamy, and devoted by turns. + +But all these are not what I look for. I want a family picture--a +Teerburgh or a Mieris--painted by a German Dickens, or touched by a +native Titmarsh. So far as I have read of it, too, the German Drama +does not fill up this void; the comedies of the stage present nothing +identical of the people, and yet it appears to me they are singularly +good materials for portraiture. The stormy incidents of university life, +its curious vicissitudes, and its strange, half-crazed modes of thought +blend into the quiet realities of after-life, and make up men such as +one sees nowhere else. The tinge of romance they have contracted in +boyhood is never thoroughly washed out of their natures, and although +statecraft may elevate them to be grave privy councillors, or good +fortune select them for its revenue officers, they cherish the old +memories of Halle and Heidelberg, and can grow valorous over the shape +of a rapier, or pathetic about the color of Fräulein Lydchen's hair. + +It is doubtless very presumptuous in _me_ to speak thus of a people of +whom I have seen so little; but bear in mind, my dear Miss Cox, that I'm +rather giving Mrs. Morris's experiences than my own, and, in some cases, +in her own very words. She has a very extensive acquaintance in Germany, +and corresponds, besides, with many very distinguished persons of that +country. Perhaps private letters give a better insight into the habits +of a people than most other things, and if so, one should pronounce very +favorably of German character from the specimens I have seen. There are +everywhere, great truthfulness, great fairness; a willingness to concede +to others a standard different from their own; a hopeful tone in all +things, and extreme gentleness towards women and children. Of rural +life, and of scenery, too, they speak with true feeling-; and, as Sir +Walter said of Goethe, "they understand trees." + +You will wish to hear something of Bregenz, where we are staying at +present, and I have little to say beyond its situation in a little +bay on the Lake of Constance, begirt with high mountains, amidst which +stretches a level flat, traversed by the Rhine. The town itself is +scarcely old enough to be picturesque, though from a distance on the +lake the effect is very pleasing. A part is built upon a considerable +eminence, the ascent to which is by a very steep street, impassable save +on foot; at the top of this is an old gateway, the centre of which is +ornamented by a grotesque attempt at sculpture, representing a female +figure seated on a horse, and, to all seeming, traversing the clouds. +The phenomenon is explained by a legend, that tells how a Bregenzer +maiden, some three and a half centuries ago, had gone to seek her +fortune in Switzerland, and becoming domesticated there in a family, +lived for years among the natural enemies of her people. Having learned +by an accident one night, that an attack was meditated on her native +town, she stole away unperceived, and, taking a horse, swam the current +of the Rhine, and reached Bregenz in time to give warning of the +threatened assault, and thus rescued her kinsmen and her birthplace from +sack and slaughter. This is the act commemorated by the sculpture, and +the stormy waves of the river are doubtless typified in what seem to be +clouds. + +There is, however, a far more touching memory of the heroism preserved +than this; for each night, as the watchman goes his round of the +village, when he comes to announce midnight, he calls aloud the name of +her who at the same dead hour, three centuries back, came to wake the +sleeping town and tell them of their peril. I do not know of a monument +so touching as this! No bust nor statue, no group of marble or bronze, +can equal in association the simple memory transmitted from age to age, +and preserved ever fresh and green in the hearts of a remote generation. +As one thinks of this, the mind at once reverts to the traditions of +the early Church, and insensibly one is led to feel the beauty of those +transmitted words and acts, which, associated with place, and bound up +with customs not yet obsolete, gave such impressive truthfulness to +all the story of our faith. At the same time, it is apparent that the +current of tradition cannot long run pure. Even now there are those who +scoff at the grateful record of the Bregenzer maiden! Where will her +memory be five years after the first railroad traverses the valley of +the Vorarlberg? The shrill whistle of the "express" is the death-note to +all the romance of life! + +Some deplore this, and assert that, with this immense advancement of +scientific discovery, we are losing the homely virtues of our fathers. +Others pretend that we grow better as we grow wiser, and that increased +intelligence is but another form of enlarged goodness. To myself, the +great change seems to be that every hour of this progress diminishes the +influences of woman, and that, as men grow deeper and deeper engaged in +the pursuits of wealth, the female voice is less listened to, and its +counsels less heeded and cared for. + +But why do I dare to hazard such conjectures to you, so far more capable +of judging, so much more able to solve questions like this! + +I am sorry not to be able to speak more confidently about my music; but +although Germany is essentially the land of song, there is less domestic +cultivation of the art than I had expected; or, rather, it is made less +a matter of display. Your mere acquaintances seldom or never will sing +for your amusement; your friends as rarely refuse you. To our notions, +also, it seems strange that men are more given to the art here than +women. The Frau is almost entirely devoted to household cares. Small +fortunes and primitive habits seem to require this, and certainly no one +who has ever witnessed the domestic peace of a German family could find +fault with the system. + +What has most struck me of all here, is the fact that while many of the +old people retain a freshness of feeling, and a warm susceptibility that +is quite remarkable, the children are uniformly grave, even to sadness. +The bold, dashing, half-reckless boy; the gay, laughing, high-spirited +girl,--have no types here. The season of youth, as we under-stand it, +in all its jocund merriment, its frolics, and its wildness, has no +existence amongst them. The child of ten seems weighted with the +responsibilities of manhood; the little sister carries her keys about, +and scolds the maids with all the semblance of maternal rigor. Would +that these liquid blue eyes had a more laughing look, and that pretty +mouth could open to joyous laughter! + +With all these drawbacks, it is still a country that I love to live +in, and should leave with regret; besides that, I have as yet seen but +little of it, and its least remarkable parts. + +Whither we go hence, and when, are points that I cannot inform you on. +I am not sure, indeed, if any determination on the subject has been come +to. Mamma and Mary Anne seem most eager for Rome and Naples; but though +I should anticipate a world of delight and interest in these cities, I +am disposed to think that they would prove far too expensive,--at least +with our present tastes and habits. + +Wherever my destiny, however, I shall not cease to remember my dear +governess, nor to convey to her, in all the frankness of my affection, +every thought and feeling of her sincerely attached + +Caroline Dodd. + + + + +LETTER IV. MRS. DODD TO MRS. MARY GALLAGHER, DODSBOROUGH + +Bregenz. + +My dear Molly,--It 's well I ever got your last letter, for it seems +there's four places called Freyburg, and they tried the three wrong +ones first, and I believe they opened and read it everywhere it stopped. +"Much good may it do them," says I, "if they did!" They know at +least the price of wool in Kinnegad, and what boneens is bringing in +Ballinasloe, not to mention the news you tell of Betty Walsh! I thought +I cautioned you before not to write anything like a secret when the +letter came through a foreign post, seeing that the police reads +everything, and if there's a word against themselves, you're ordered +over the frontier in six hours. That's liberty, my dear! But that is +not the worst of it, for nobody wants the dirty spalpeens to read about +their private affairs, nor to know the secrets of their families. I must +say, you are very unguarded in this respect, and poor Betty's mishap is +now known to the Emperor of Prussia and the King of Sweden, just as well +as to Father Luke and the Coadjutor; and as they say that these courts +are always exchanging gossip with each other, it will be back in England +by the time this reaches you. Let it be a caution to you in future, +or, if you must allude to these events, do it in a way that can't be +understood, as you may remark they do in the newspapers. I wish you +would n't be tormenting me about coming home and living among my own +people, as you call it. Let them pay up the arrears first Molly, before +they think of establishing any claim of the kind on your humble servant. +But the fact is, my dear, the longer you live abroad, the more you like +it; and going back to the strict rules and habits of England, after it, +is for all the world like putting on a strait-waistcoat. If you only +heard foreigners the way they talk of us, and we all the while thinking +ourselves the very pink of the creation! + +But of all the things they're most severe upon is Sunday. The manner +we pass the day, according to their notions, is downright barbarism. +No diversion of any kind, no dancing, no theatres; shops shut up, and +nothing legal but intoxication. I always tell them that the fault isn't +ours, that it's the Protestants that do these things; for, as Father +Maher says, "they 'd put a bit of crape over the blessed sun if they +could." But between ourselves, Molly, even we Catholics are greatly +behind the foreigners on all matters of civilization. It may be out of +fear of the others, but really we don't enjoy ourselves at all like the +French or the Germans. Even in the little place I'm writing now, there's +more amusement than in a big city at home; and if there's anything I 'm +convinced of at all, Molly, it's this: that there is no keeping people +out of great wickedness except by employing them in small sins; and, let +me tell you, there's not a political economist that ever I heard of has +hit upon the secret. + +We are all in good health, and except that K. I. is in one of his +habitual moods of discontent and grumbling, there's not anything +particular the matter with us. Indeed, if it was n't for his natural +perverseness of disposition, he ought n't to be cross and disagreeable, +for dear James has just been appointed to an elegant situation, on what +they call the "Diplomatic Service." When the letter first came, I was +almost off in a faint. I did n't know where it might be they might be +sending the poor child,--perhaps to Great Carey-o, or the Hy-menoal +Mountains of India; but Lord George says that it's at one of the great +Courts of Europe he's sure to be; and, indeed, with his figure and +advantages, that's the very thing to suit him. He's a picture of a +young man, and the very image of poor Tom McCarthy, that was shot at +Bally-healey the year of the great frost. If he does n't make a great +match, I 'm surprised at it; and the young ladies must be mighty +different in their notions from what I remember them, besides. Getting +him ready and fitting him out has kept us here; for whenever there's a +call upon K. I.'s right-hand pocket, he buttons up the left at once; so +that, till James is fairly off, there 's no hope for us of getting away +from this. That once done, however, I'm determined to pass the winter in +Italy. As Lord George says, coming abroad and not crossing the Alps, +is like going to a dinner-party and getting up after the "roast,"-- +"you have all the solids of the entertainment, but none of the light and +elegant trifles that aid digestion, and engage the imagination."'It's +a beautiful simile, Molly, and very true besides; for, after all, +the heart requires more than mere material enjoyments! You 're maybe +surprised to bear that Lord G. is back here; and so was I to see him. +What his intentions are, I 'm unable to say; but it's surely Mary Anne +at all events; and as she knows the world well, I 'm very easy in my +mind about her. As I told K. I. last night, "Abuse the Continent as you +like, K. I., waste all your bad words about the cookery and the morals +and the light wines and women, but there 's one thing you can't deny to +it,--there's no falling in love abroad,--that I maintain!" And when +you come to think of it, I believe that's the real evil of Ireland. +Everybody there falls in love, and the more surely when they haven't +a sixpence to marry on! All the young lawyers without briefs, all the +young doctors in dispensaries, every marching lieutenant living on his +pay, every young curate with seventy pounds a year,--in fact, +Molly, every case of hopeless poverty,--all what the newspapers call +heartrending distress,--is sure to have a sweetheart! When you think of +the misery that it brings on a single family, you may imagine the ruin +that it entails on a whole country. And I don't speak in ignorance, Mrs. +Gallagher; I 've lived to see the misery of even a tincture of love in +my own unfortunate fate. Not that indeed I ever went far in my feelings +towards K. I., but my youth and inexperience carried me away; and see +where they 've left me! Now that's an error nobody commits abroad; and +as to any one being married according to their inclination, it's quite +unheard of; and if they have less love, they have fewer disappointments, +and that same is something! + +Talking of marriage brings me to Betty,--I suppose I mustn't say Betty +Cobb, now that she calls herself the Frau Taddy. Hasn't she made a nice +business of it! "They're fighting," as K. I. says, "like man and wife, +already!" The creature is only half human; and when he has gorged +himself with meat and drink, he sometimes sleeps for twenty-four, or +maybe thirty hours; and if there's not something ready for him when he +wakes up, his passion is dreadful. I 'm afraid of my life lest K. I. +should see the bill for his food, and told the landlord only to put down +his four regular meals, and that I 'd pay the rest, which I have managed +to do, up to this, by disposing of K. I.'s wearing-apparel. And would +you believe it that the beast has already eaten a brown surtout, two +waistcoats, and three pairs of kerseymere shorts and gaiters, not to say +a spencer that he had for his lunch, and a mackintosh cape that he took +the other night before going to bed! Betty is always crying from his bad +usage, and consequently of no earthly use to any one; but if a word is +said against him, she flies out in a rage, and there's no standing her +tongue! + +Maybe, however, it's all for the best; for without a little excitement +to my nervous system, I 'd have found this place very dull. Dr. Morgan +Moore, that knew the M'Carthy constitution better than any one living, +used to say, "Miss Jemima requires movement and animation;" and, indeed, +I never knew any place agree with me like the "Sheds" of Clontarf. + +Mary Anne keeps telling me that this is now quite vulgar, and that your +people of first fashion are never pleased with anybody or anything; +and whenever a place or a party or even an individual is peculiarly +tiresome, she says, "Be sure, then, that it's quite the mode." That is +possibly the reason why Lord George recommends us passing a few weeks +on the Lake of Comus; and if it's the right thing to do, I 'm ready and +willing; but I own to you, Molly, I 'd like a little sociality, if it +was only for a change. At any rate, Comus is in Italy; and if we once +get there, it will go far with me if I don't see the Pope. I 'm obliged +to be brief this time, for the post closes here whenever the postmaster +goes to dinner; and to-day I 'm told he dines early. I 'll write you, +however, a full and true account of us all next week, till when, believe +me your ever affectionate and attached friend, + +Jemima Dodd. + +P. S. Mary Anne has just reconciled me to the notion of Comus. It is +really the most aristocratic place in Europe, and she remarks that it +is exactly the spot to make excellent acquaintances in for the ensuing +winter; for you see, Molly, that is really what one requires in summer +and autumn, and the English that live much abroad study this point +greatly. But, indeed, there's a wonderful deal to be learned before one +can say that they know life on the Continent; and the more I think +of it, the less am I surprised at the mistakes and blunders of our +travelling countrymen,--errors, I am proud to say, that we have escaped +up to this. + + + + +LETTER V. KENNY JAMES DODD TO THOMAS PURCELL, ESQ., OF THE GRANGE, BRUFF + +Bregenz. + +My dear Tom,--Although it is improbable I shall be able to despatch +this by the post of to-day, I take the opportunity of a few moments +of domestic peace to answer your last--I wish I could say +agreeable--letter. It is not that your intentions are not everything +that consists with rectitude and honor, or that your sentiments are not +always those of a right-minded man, but I beg to observe to you, Tom +Pur-cell, in all the candor of a five-and-forty years' friendship, that +you have about the same knowledge of life and the world that a toad has +of Lord Rosse's telescope. + +We have come abroad for an object, which, whether attainable or not, is +not now the question; but if there be any prospect whatever of realizing +it,--confound the phrase, but I have no other at hand,--it is surely +by an ample and liberal style of living, such as shall place us on a +footing of equality with the best society, and make the Dodds eligible +anywhere. + +I suppose you admit that much. I take it for granted that even bucolic +dulness is capable of going so far. Well, then, what do you mean by your +incessant appeals to "retrenchment" and "economy"? Don't you see that +you make yourself just as preposterous as Cobden, when he says, cut down +the estimates, reduce the navy, and dismiss your soldiers, but still +be a first-rate power. Tie your hands behind your back, but cry out, +"Beware of me, for I'm dreadful when I'm angry." + +You quote me against myself; you bring up my old letters, like Hansard, +against me, and say that all our attempts have been failures; but +without calling you to order for referring "to what passed in another +place," I will reply to you on your own grounds. If we have failed, it +has been because our resources did not admit of our maintaining to the +end what we had begun in splendor,--that our means fell short of our +requirements,--that, in fact, with a well-chosen position and picked +troops, we lost the battle only for want of ammunition, having fired +away all our powder in the beginning of the engagement. Whose fault was +_that_, I beg to ask? Can the Commissary-General Purcell come clear out +of _that_ charge? + +I know your hair-splitting habit; I at once anticipate your reply. An +agent and a commissary are two very different things! And just as flatly +I tell you, you are wrong, and that, rightly considered, the duties of +both are precisely analogous, and that a general commanding an army, and +an Irish landlord travelling on the Continent, present a vast number of +points of similitude and resemblance. In the one case as in the other, +supplies are indispensable; come what will, the forces must be fed, +and if it it would be absurd for the general to halt in his march and +inquire into all the difficulties of providing stores, it would be +equally preposterous for the landlord to arrest his career by going +into every petty grievance of his tenantry, and entering into a minute +examination of the state of every cottier on his laud. Send the rations, +Tom, and I 'll answer for the campaign. I don't mean to say that +there are not some hardships attendant upon this. I know that to raise +contributions an occasional severity must be employed; but is the +fate of a great engagement to be jeopardized for the sake of such +considerations? No, no, Tom. Even your spirit will recoil from such an +admission as this! + +It is only fair to mention that these are not merely my own sentiments. +Lord George Tiverton, to whom I happened to show your letter, was +really shocked at the contents. I don't wish to offend you, Tom, but the +expression he used was, "It is fortunate for your friend Purcell that he +is not _my_ agent" I will not repeat what he said about the management +of English landed property, but it is obvious that our system is not +their system, and that such a thing as a landlord in _my_ position is +actually unheard of. "If Ireland were subject to earthquakes," said he, +"if the arable land were now and then covered over ten feet deep with +lava, I could understand your agent's arguments; but wanting these +causes, they are downright riddles to me." + +He was most anxious to obtain possession of your letter; and I learned +from Mary Anne that he really meant to use it in the House, and show you +up bodily as one of the prominent causes of Irish misery. I have saved +you from this exposure, but I really cannot spare you some of the +strictures your conduct calls for. + +I must also observe to you that there is what the Duke used to call "a +terrible sameness" about your letters. The potatoes are always going to +rot, the people always going to leave. It rains for ten weeks at a time, +and if you have three fine days you cry out that the country is +ruined by drought. Just for sake of a little variety, can't you take +a prosperous tone for once, instead of "drawing my attention," as you +superciliously phrase it, to the newspaper announcement about "George +Davis and other petitioners, and the lands of Ballyclough, Kiltimaon, +and Knocknaslat-tery, being part of the estates of James Kenny Dodd, +Esq., of Dodsborough." I have already given you my opinion about +that Encumbered Estates Court, and I see no reason for changing it. +Confiscation is a mild name for its operation. What Ireland really +wanted was a loan fund,--a good round sum, say three and a half or +four millions, lent out on reasonable security, but free from all +embarrassing conditions. Compel every proprietor to plant so many +potatoes for the use of the poor, and get rid of those expensive +absurdities called "Unions," with all the lazy, indolent officials; do +that, and we might have a chance of prospering once more. + +It makes me actually sick to hear you, an Irishman born and bred, +repeating all that English balderdash about "a cheap and indisputable +title." and so forth. Do you remember about four-and-twenty years ago, +Tom, when I wanted to breach a place for a window in part of the old +house at Dodsborough, and Hackett warned me that if I touched a stone of +it I 'd maybe have the whole edifice come tumbling about my ears. Don't +you see the analogy between that and our condition as landlords, and +that our real security lay in the fact that nobody could dare to breach +us? Meddle with us once, and who could tell where the ruin would fall! +So long as the system lasted we were safe, Tom. Now, your Encumbered +Court, with its parliamentary title, has upset all that security; and +that's the reason of all the distress and misfortune that have overtaken +us. + +I think, after the specimen of my opinions, I 'll hear no more of your +reproaches about my "growing indifference to home topics," my "apparent +apathy regarding Ireland," and other similar reflections in your +last letter. Forget my country, indeed! Does a man ever forget the +cantharides when he has a blister on his back? If I 'm warm, I 'm sorry +for it; but it 's your own fault, Tom Purcell. You know me since I was +a child, and understand my temper well; and whatever it was once, it +hasn't improved by conjugal felicity. + +And now for the Home Office. James started last night for London, to +go through whatever formalities there may be before receiving his +appointment. What it is to be, or where, I have not an idea; but I cling +to the hope that when they see the lad, and discover his utter ignorance +on all subjects, it will be something very humble, and not requiring a +sixpence from me. All that I have seen of the world shows me that the +higher you look for your children the more they cost you; and for that +reason, if I had my choice, I 'd rather have him a gauger than in the +Grenadier Guards. Even as it is, the outfit for this journey has run +away with no small share of your late remittance, and now that we +have come to the end of the M'Carthy legacy,--the last fifty was +"appropriated" by James before starting,--it will require all the +financial skill you can command to furnish me with sufficient means for +our new campaign. + +Yes, Tom, we are going to Italy. I have discussed the matter so long, +and so fully argued it in every shape, artistical, philosophical, +economical, and moral, that I verily believe that our dialogues would +furnish a very respectable manual to Trans-Alpine travellers; and if I +am not a convert to the views of my opponents, I am so far vanquished in +the controversy as to give in. Lord George put the matter, I must say, +very strongly before me. "To turn your steps homeward from the Alps," +said he, "is like the act of a man who, having dressed for an evening +party and ascended the stairs, wheels round at the door of the +drawing-room, and quits the house. All your previous knowledge of the +Continent, so costly and so difficult to attain, is about at length to +become profitable; that insight into foreign life and habits which you +have arrived at by study and observation, is now about to be available. +Italy is essentially the land of taste, elegance, and refinement; and +there will all the varied gifts and acquirements of your accomplished +family be appreciated." Besides this, Tom, he showed me that the +"Snobs," as he politely designated them, are all "Cis-Alpine;" strictly +confining themselves to the Rhine and Switzerland, and never descending +the southern slopes of the Alps. According to his account, therefore, +the climate of Italy is not more marked by superiority than the tone of +its society. There all is polished, elegant, and refined; and if the +men be "not all brave, and the women all virtuous," it is because "their +moral standard is one more in accordance with the ancient traditions, +the temper, and the instincts of the people." I quote you his words +here, because very possibly they may be more intelligible to you than +to myself. At all events, one thing is quite clear,--we ought to go and +judge for ourselves, and to this resolve have we come. Tiverton--without +whom we should be actually helpless--has arranged the whole affair, and, +really, with a regard to economy that, considering his habits and his +station, can only be attributed to a downright feeling of friendship +for us. By a mere accident he hit upon a villa at Como, for a mere +trifle,--he won't tell me the sum, but he calls it a "nothing,"--and +now he has, with his habitual good luck, chanced upon a return carriage +going to Milan, the driver of which horses our carriage, and takes the +servants with him, for very little more than the keep of his beasts on +the road. This piece of intelligence will tickle every stingy fibre in +your economical old heart, and at last shall I know you to mutter, "K. +I. is doing the prudent thing." + +Tiverton himself says, "It's not exactly the most elegant mode of +travelling; but as the season is early, and the Splugen a pass seldom +traversed, we shall slip down to Como unobserved, and save some forty +or fifty 'Naps.' without any one being the wiser." Mrs. D. would, +of course, object if she had the faintest suspicion that it was +inexpensive; but "my Lord," who seems to read her like a book, has told +her that it is the very mode in which all the aristocracy travel, and +that by a happy piece of fortune we have secured the vetturino that took +Prince Albert to Rome, and the Empress of Russia to Palermo! + +He has, or he is to find, four horses for our coach, and three for +his own; we are to take the charge of bridges, barriers, rafts, and +"remounts," and give him, besides, five Napoleons _per diem_, and a +"buona mano," or gratuity, of three more, if satisfied, at the end of +the journey. Now, nothing could be more economical than this; for we are +a large party, and with luggage enough to fill a ship's jolly-boat. + +You see, therefore, what it is to have a shrewd and intelligent friend. +You and I might have walked the main street of Bregenz till our shoes +were thin, before we discovered that the word "Gelegenheit," chalked up +on the back-leather of an old calèche, meant "A return conveniency to be +had cheap." The word is a German one, and means "Opportunity:" and ah! +my dear Tom, into what a strange channel does it entice one's thoughts! +What curious reflections come across the mind as we think of all our +real opportunities in this world, and how little we did of them! Not but +there might be a debit side to the account, too, and that some two or +three may have escaped us that it was just as well we let pass! + +We intended to have left this to-morrow, but Mrs. D. won't travel on +a Friday. "It's an unlucky day," she says, and maybe she's right. If I +don't mistake greatly, it was on a Friday I was married; but of course +this is a reminiscence I keep to myself. This reminds me of the question +in your postscript, and to which I reply: "Not a bit of it; nothing of +the kind. So far as I see, Tiverton feels a strong attachment to James, +but never even notices the girls. I ought to add that this is not Mrs. +D.'s opinion; and she is always flouncing into my dressing-room, with +a new discovery of a look that he gave Mary Anne, or a whisper that he +dropped into Cary's ear. Mothers would be a grand element in a detective +police, if they did n't now and then see more than was in sight; but +that's their failing, Tom. The same generous zeal which they employ +in magnifying their husbands' faults helps them to many another +exaggeration. Now Mrs. D. is what she calls fully persuaded--in other +words, she has some shadowy suspicions--that Lord George has formed a +strong attachment to one or other of her daughters, the only doubtful +point being which of them is to be my Lady." + +Shall I confess to you that I rather cherish the notion than seek to +disabuse her of it, and for this simple reason: whenever she is in +full cry after grandeur, whether in the shape of an acquaintance, an +invitation, or a match for the girls, she usually gives me a little +peace and quietness. The peerage, "God bless our old nobility," acts +like an anodyne on her. + +I give you, therefore, both sides of the question, repeating once more +my own conviction that Lord G. has no serious intentions, to use the +phrase maternal, whatever. And now to your second query: If not, is it +prudent to encourage his intimacy? Why, Tom Purcell, just bethink you +for a moment, and see to what a strange condition would your theory, if +acted on, resolve all the inhabitants of the globe. Into one or other +category they must go infallibly. "Either they want to marry one of the +Dodds, or they don't." Now, though the fact is palpable enough, it is +for all purposes of action a most embarrassing one; and if I proceed to +make use of it, I shall either be doomed to very tiresome acquaintances, +or a life of utter solitude and desertion. + +Can't a man like your society, your dinners, your port, your jokes, and +your cigars, but he must perforce marry one of your daughters? Is your +house to be like a rat-trap, and if a fellow puts his head in must he be +caught? I don't like the notion at all; and not the less that it rather +throws a slight over certain convivial gifts and agreeable qualities for +which, once upon a time at least, I used to have some reputation. As to +Tiverton, I like _him_, and I have a notion that he likes _me_, We suit +each other as well as it is possible for two men bred, born, and brought +up so perfectly unlike. We both have seen a great deal of the world, or +rather of two worlds, for _his_ is not _mine_. At the same time, every +remark he makes--and all his observations show me that mankind is +precisely the same thing everywhere, and that it is exactly with the +same interests, the same impulses, and the same passions my Lord bets +his thousands at "Crocky's" that Billy Healey or Father Tom ventures his +half-crown at the Pig and Pincers, in Bruff. I used to think that what +with races, elections, horse-fairs, and the like, I had seen my share of +rascality or roguery; but, compared to my Lord's experiences, I might be +a babe in the nursery. There is n't a dodge--not a piece of knavery that +was ever invented--he doesn't know. Trickery and deception of every kind +are all familiar to him, and, as he says himself, he only wants a few +weeks in a convict settlement to put the finish on his education. + +You 'd fancy, from what I say, that he must be a cold, misanthropic, +suspectful fellow, with an ill-natured temper, and a gloomy view of +everybody and everything. Far from it, his whole theory of life is +benevolent; and his maxim, to believe every one honorable, trustworthy, +and amiable. I see the half-cynical smile with which you listen to this, +and I already know the remark that trembles on your lip. You would +say that such a code cuts both ways, and that a man who pronounces so +favorably of his fellows almost secures thereby a merciful verdict on +himself. In fact, that he who passes base money can scarcely refuse, +now and then, to accept a bad halfpenny in change. Well, Tom, I 'll not +argue the case with you, for if not myself a disciple of this creed, +I have learned to think that there are very few, indeed, who are +privileged to play censor upon their acquaintances, and that there is +always the chance that when you are occupied looking at your neighbor +drifting on a lee shore, you may bump on a rock yourself. + +You said in your last that you thought me more lax than I used to be +about right and wrong,--"less strait-laced," you were polite enough to +call it; and with an equal urbanity you ascribed this change in me to +the habits of the Continent. I am proud to say "Guilty" to the charge, +and I believe you are right as to the cause. Yes, Tom, the tone of +society abroad is eminently merciful, and it must needs be a bad case +where there are no attenuating circumstances. So much the worse, say +you; where vice is leniently looked on, it will be sure to flourish. To +which I answer, Show me where it does not! Is it in the modern Babylon, +is it in moral Scotland, or drab-colored Washington? On my conscience, I +don't believe there is more of wickedness in a foreign city than a +home one; the essential difference being that we do wrong with a +consciousness of our immorality; whereas the foreigner has a strong +impression that after all it's only a passing frailty, and that human +nature was not ever intended to be perfect. Which system tends most to +corrupt a people, and which creates more hopeless sinners, I leave to +you, and others as fond of such speculations, to ponder over. + +Another charge--for your letter has as many counts as an +indictment--another you make against me is that I seem as if I was +beginning to like--or, as you modestly phrase it--as if I was getting +more reconciled to the Continent. Maybe I am, now that I have learned +how to qualify the light wines with a little brandy, and to make my +dinner of the eight or nine, instead of the two-and-thirty dishes they +serve up to you; and since I have trained myself to walk the length of +a street, in rain or sunshine, without my hat, and have attained to the +names of the cards at whist in a foreign tongue, I believe I do feel +more at home here than at first; but still I am far, very far, in arrear +of the knowledge that a man bred and born abroad would possess at my +age. To begin, Tom: He would be a perfect cook; you couldn't put a clove +of garlic too little, or an olive too much, without his detecting it in +the dish. Secondly, he would be curious in snuffs, and a dead hand at +dominos; then he would be deep in the private histories of the ballet, +and tell you the various qualities of short-draperied damsels that had +figured on the boards for the last thirty years. These, and such-like, +would be the consolations of his declining years; and of these I know +absolutely next to nothing. Who knows, however, but I may improve? The +world is a wonderful schoolmaster, and if Mrs. D. is to be believed, I +am an apt scholar whenever the study is of an equivocal kind. + +We hope to spend the late autumn at Como, and then step down into some +of the cities of the South for the winter months. The approved plan is +Florence till about the middle of January, Rome till the beginning +of Lent, then Naples till the Holy Week, whence back again for the +ceremonies. After that, northward wherever you please. All this sounds +like a good deal of locomotion, and, consequently, of expense; but Lord +G. says, "Just leave it to _me_, I'll be your courier;" and as he not +only performs that function, but unites with it that of banker,--he can +get anything discounted at any moment,--I am little disposed to depose +him from his office. Now no more complaints that I have not replied to +you about this, that, and t' other, not informed you about our future +movements, nor given you any hint as to our plans: you know everything +about us, at least so far as it is known to your + +Very sincere friend, + +Kenny I. Dodd. + +As I mentioned in the beginning, I am too late for the post, so I 'll +keep this open if anything should occur to me before the next mail. + + +The Inn, Splugen, Monday. + +I thought this was already far on its way to you; but, to my great +surprise, on opening my writing-desk this morning, I discovered it +there still. The truth is, I grow more absent, and what the French call +"distracted," every day; and it frequently happens that I forget some +infernal bill or other, till the fellow knocks at the door with "the +notice." Here we are, at a little inn on the very top of the Alps. +We arrived yesterday, and, to our utter astonishment, found ourselves +suddenly in a land of snow and icebergs. The whole way from Bregenz the +season was a mellow autumn: some of the corn was still standing, but +most was cut, and the cattle turned out over the stubble; the trees were +in full leaf, and the mountain rivulets were clear and sparkling, for no +rain had fallen for some time back. It was a picturesque road and full +of interest in many ways. From Coire we made a little excursion across +the Rhine to a place called Ragatz,--a kind of summer resort for +visitors who come to bathe and drink the waters of Pfeffers, one of +the most extraordinary sights I ever beheld. These baths are built in +a cleft of the mountain, about a thousand feet in depth, and scarcely +thirty wide in many parts; the sides of the precipices are straight as a +wall, and only admit of a gleam of the sun when perfectly vertical. The +gloom and solemnity of the spot, its death-like stillness and shade, +even at noonday, are terribly oppressive. Nor is the sadness dispelled +by the living objects of the picture,--Swiss, Germans, French, and +Italians, swathed in flannel dressing-gowns and white dimity cerements, +with nightcaps and slippers, steal along the gloomy corridors and the +gloomier alleys, pale, careworn, and cadaverous. They come here for +health, and their whole conversation is sickness. Now, however consoling +it may be to an invalid to find a recipient of his sorrows, the price +of listening in turn is a tremendous infliction. Nor is the character of +the scene such as would probably suggest agreeable reflections; had it +been the portico to the nameless locality itself, it could not possibly +be more dreary and sorrow-stricken. Now, whatever virtues the waters +possess, is surely antagonized by all this agency of gloom and +depression; and except it be as a preparation for leaving the world +without regret, this place seems to be marvellously ill adapted for its +object. It appears to me, however, that foreigners run into the greatest +extremes in these matters; a sick man must either live in a perpetual +Vauxhall of fireworks, music, dancing, dining, and gambling, as at +Baden, or be condemned to the worse than penitentiary diet and prison +discipline of Pfeffers! Surely there must be some halting-place between +the ball-room and the cloister, or some compromise of costume between +silk stockings and bare feet! But really, to a thinking, reasonable +being, it appears very distressing that you must either dance out of the +world to Strauss's music, or hobble miserably out of life to the sound +of the falling waters of Pfeffers. + +Does it not sound, also, very oddly to our free-trade notions of malady, +that the doctor of these places is appointed by the State; that without +his sanction and opinion of your case, you must neither bathe nor drink; +that no matter how satisfied you may be with your own physician, nor how +little to your liking the Government medico, he has the last word on the +subject of your disorder, and without his wand the pool is never to be +stirred in your behalf. You don't quite approve of this, Tom,--neither +do I. The State has no more a right to choose my doctor than to select +a wife for me. If there be anything essentially a man's own prerogative, +it is his--what shall I call it?--his caprice about his medical adviser. +One man likes a grave, sententious, silently disposed fellow, who feels +his pulse, shakes his head, takes his fee, and departs, with scarcely +more than a muttered monosyllable; another prefers the sympathetic +doctor, that goes half-and-half in all his sufferings, lies awake at +night thinking of his case, and seems to rest his own hopes of future +bliss in life on curing him. As for myself, I lean to the fellow that, +no matter what ails me, is sure to make me pass a pleasant half-hour; +that has a lively way of laughing down all my unpleasant symptoms, and +is certain to have a droll story about a patient that he has just come +from. That's the man for my money; and I wish you could tell me where a +man gets as good value as for the guinea be gives to one of these. Now, +from what I have seen of the Continent, this is an order of which +they have no representative. All the professional classes, but more +essentially the medical, are taken from an inferior grade in society, +neither brought up in intercourse with the polite world, nor ever +admitted to it afterwards. The consequence is, that your doctor comes +to visit you as your shoemaker to measure you for shoes, and it would +be deemed as great a liberty were he to talk of anything but your +complaint, as for Crispin to impart his sentiments about Russia or the +policy of Louis Napoleon. I don't like the system, and I am convinced +it does n't work well. If I know anything of human nature, too, it is +this,--that nobody tells the whole truth to his physician _till he can't +help it_. No, Tom, it only comes out after a long cross-examination, +great patience, and a deal of dodging; and for these you must have no +vulgarly minded, commonplace, underbred fellow, but a consummate man of +the world, who knows when you are bamboozling him and when fencing him +off with a sham. He must be able to use all the arts of a priest in the +confessional, and an advocate in a trial, with a few more of his own not +known to either, to extort your secret from you; and I am sure that a +man of vulgar habits and low associations is not the best adapted for +this. + +I wanted to stop and dine with this lugubrious company. I was curious +to see what they ate, and whether their natures attained any social +expansion under the genial influences of food and drink; but Mrs. D. +would n't hear of it. She had detected, she said, an "impudent hussy +with black eyes" bestowing suspicious glances at your humble servant. I +thought that she was getting out of these fancies,--I fondly hoped that +a little peace on these subjects would in a degree reconcile me to many +of the discomforts of old age; but, alas! the gray hairs and the stiff +ankles have come, and no writ of ease against conjugal jealousies. +Away we came, fresh and fasting, and as there was nothing to be had at +Ragatz, we were obliged to go on to Coire before we got supper; and if +you only knew what it is to arrive at one of these foreign inns after +the hour of the ordinary meals, you 'd confess there was little risk of +our committing an excess. + +I own to you, Tom, that the excursion scarcely deserved to be called +a pleasant one. Fatigue, disappointment, and hunger are but ill +antagonized by an outbreak of temper; and Mrs. D. lightened the way +homeward by a homily on fidelity that would have made Don Juan appear +deserving of being canonized as a saint! I must also observe that +Tiverton's conduct on this occasion was the very reverse of what I +expected from him. A shrewd, keen fellow like him could not but know in +his heart that Mrs. D.'s suspicions were only nonsense and absurdity; +and yet what did he do but play shocked and horrified, agreed completely +with every ridiculous notion of my wife, and actually went so far as to +appeal to me as a father against myself as a profligate. I almost choked +with passion; and if it was not that we were under obligations to him +about James's business, I'm not certain I should not have thrown him +out of the coach. I wish to the saints that the women would take to +any other line of suspicion, even for the sake of variety,--fancy me an +incurable drunkard, a gambler, an uncertificated bankrupt, or a forger. +I'm not certain if I would not accept the charge of a transportable +felony rather than be regarded as the sworn enemy of youth and virtue, +and the snake in the grass to all unprotected females. + +From Coire we travelled on to Reichenau, a pretty village at the foot +of the Alps, watered by the Rhine, which is there a very inconsiderable +stream, and with as little promise of future greatness as any barrister +of six years' standing you please to mention. There is a neat-looking +chateau, which stands on a small terrace above the river here, not +without a certain interest attached to it. It was here that Louis +Philippe, then Duke of Orleans, taught mathematics in the humble +capacity of usher to a school. Just fancy that deep politician--the +wiliest head in all Europe, with the largest views of statecraft, and +the most consummate knowledge of men--instilling angles and triangles +into impracticable numskulls, and crossing the Asses' bridge ten times a +day with lame and crippled intellects. + +It would be curious to know what views of mankind, what studies of +life, he made during this period. Such a man was not made to suffer +any opportunity, no matter how inconsiderable in itself, to escape him +without profiting; and it may be easily believed that in the monarchy of +a school he might have meditated over the rule of large masses. + +History can scarcely present greater changes of fortune than those that +have befallen that family, which is the more singular, since they +have been brought about neither by great talents nor great crimes. The +Orleans family was more remarkable for the qualities which shine in +the middle ranks of life than either for any towering genius or +any unscrupulous ambition. Their strength was essentially in this +mediocrity, and it was a momentary forgetfulness of that same +stronghold--by the Spanish marriage--that cost the King his throne. The +truth was, Tom, that the nation never liked us,--they hated England just +as they hated it at Cressy, at Blenheim, and at Waterloo, and will hate +it, notwithstanding your great Industrial gatherings, to the end of +time. They were much dissatisfied with Louis Philippe's policy of +an English alliance; they deemed it disadvantageous, costly, and +humiliating; but that it should be broken up and destroyed for an object +of mere family, for a piece of dynastic ambition, was a gross outrage +and affront to the spirit of national pride. It was the sentiment of +insulted honor that leagued the followers of the Orleans branch with the +Legitimists and the Republicans, and formed that terrible alliance that +extended from St. Antoine to the Faubourg St. Germain, and included +every one from the peer to the common laborer. + +All this prosing about politics will never take us over the Alps; and, +indeed, so far as I can see, there is small prospect of that event just +now; for it has been snowing smartly all night, with a strong southerly +wind, which they say always leaves heavy drifts in different parts of +the mountain. + +We are cooped up here in a curious, straggling kind of an inn, that +gradually dwindles away into a barn, a stable, and a great shed, filled +with disabled diligences and smashed old sledges,--an incurable asylum +for diseased conveyances. The house stands in a cleft of the hills; but +from the windows you can see the zigzag road that ascends for miles in +front, and which now is only marked by long poles, already some ten or +twelve feet deep in snow. It is snow on every side,--on the mountains, +on the roofs, on the horses that stand shaking their bells at the door, +on the conducteur that drinks his schnaps, on the postilion as he +lights his pipe. The thin flakes are actually plating his whiskers and +moustaches, till he looks like one of the "Old Guard," as we see them in +a melodrama. + +Tiverton, who conducts all our arrangements, has had a row with our +vetturino, who says that he never contracted to take us over the +mountain in sledges; and as the carriages cannot run on wheels, here +we are discussing the question. There have been three stormy debates +already, and another is to come off this afternoon; meanwhile, the snow +is falling heavily, and whatever chance there was of getting forward +yesterday is now ten times less practicable. The landlord of our inn is +to be arbiter, I understand; and as he is the proprietor of the sledges +we shall have to hire, if defeated, without impugning in any way the +character of Alpine justice, you can possibly anticipate the verdict. + +A word upon this vetturino system ere I leave it,--I hope forever. It +is a perfect nuisance from beginning to end. From the moment you set off +with one of these rascals, till the hour you arrive at your journey's +end, it is plague, squabble, insolence, and torment. They start at what +hour of the morning they please; they halt where they like, and for as +long as they like, invariably, too, at the worst wayside inns,--away +from a town and from all chance of accommodation,--since rye-bread and +sour wine, with a mess of stewed garlic, will always satisfy _them_. +They rarely drive at full five miles the hour, and walk every inch with +an ascent of a foot in a hundred yards. If expostulated with by the +wretched traveller, they halt in some public place, and appeal to the +bystanders in some dialect unknown to you. The result of which is that +a ferocious mob surrounds you, and with invectives, insults, and +provocative gestures assail and outrage you, till it please your +tormentor to drive on; which you do at length amidst hooting and uproar +that even convicted felons would feel ashamed of. + +On reaching your inn at night, they either give such a representation of +you as gets you denied admittance at all, or obtain for you the enviable +privilege of paying for everything "en Milor." Between being a swindler +and an idiot the chance alone lies for you. Then they refuse to unstrap +your luggage; or if they do so, tie it on again so insecurely that it +is sure to drop off next day. I speak not of a running fire of petty +annoyances; such as fumigating you with pestilent tobacco, nor the +blessed enjoyment of that infernal Spitz dog which stands all day on the +roof, and barks every mile of the road from Berne to Naples. As to any +redress against their insolence, misconduct, or extortion, it is utterly +hopeless,--and for this reason: they are sure to have a hundred petty +occasions of rendering small services to the smaller authorities of +every village they frequent. They carry the judge's mother for nothing +to a watering-place; or they fetch his aunt to the market town; or they +smuggle for him--or thieve for him--something that is only to be had +over the frontier. Very probably, too, on the very morning of your +appeal, you have kicked the same judge's brother, he being the waiter +of your inn, and having given you bad money in change,--at all events, +_you_ are not likely ever to be met with again; the vetturino is certain +to come back within the year; and, finally, you are sure to have money, +and be able to pay,--so that, as the Irish foreman said, as the reason +for awarding heavy damages against an Englishman, "It is a fine thing to +bring so much money into the country." + +Take my word for it, Tom, the system is a perfect disgust from beginning +to end, and even its cheapness only a sham; for your economy is more +than counterbalanced by police fees, fines, and impositions, delays, +remounts, bulls, and starved donkeys, paid for at a price they would not +bring if sold at a market. Post, if you can afford it; take the public +conveyances, if you must; but for the sake of all that is decent and +respectable,--all that consists with comfort and self-respect,--avoid +the vetturino! I know that a contrary opinion has a certain prevalence +in the world,--I am quite aware that these rascals have their +advocates,--and no bad ones either,--since they are women. + +I have witnessed more than one Giuseppe, or Antonio, with a beard, +whiskers, and general "get up," that would have passed muster in a comic +opera; and on looking at the fellow's book of certificates (for such as +these always have a bound volume, smartly enclosed in a neat case), I +have found that "Mrs. Miles Dalrymple and daughters made the journey +from Milan to Aix-les-Bains with Francesco Birbante, and found him +excessively attentive, civil, and obliging; full of varied information +about the road, and quite a treasure to ladies travelling alone." +Another of these villains is styled "quite an agreeable companion;" one +was called "charming;" and I found that Miss Matilda Somers, of Queen's +Road, Old Brompton, pronounces Luigi Balderdasci, although in the +humble rank of a vetturino, "an accomplished gentleman." I know, +therefore, how ineffectual would it be for Kenny Dodd to enter the lists +against such odds, and it is only under the seal of secrecy that I dare +to mutter them. The widows and the fatherless form a strong category in +foreign travel; dark dresses and demure looks are very vagrant in their +habits, and I am not going to oppose myself single-handed to such a +united force. But to you, Tom Purceli, I may tell the truth in all +confidence and security. If I was in authority, I 'd shave these +scoundrels to-morrow. I 'd not suffer a moustache, a red sash, nor a +hat with a feather amongst them; and take my word for it, the panegyrics +would be toned down, and we'd read much more about the horses than the +drivers, and learn how many miles a day they could travel, and not how +many sonnets of Petrarch the rascal could repeat. + +I have lost my "John Murray." I forgot it in our retreat from Pfeffers; +so that I don't remember whether he lauds these fellows or the reverse, +but the chances are it is the former. It is one of the endless delusions +travellers fall into, and many's the time I have had to endure a +tiresome description of their delightful vetturino, that "charming +Beppo, who, 'however he got them,' had a bouquet for each of us every +morning at breakfast." If I ever could accomplish the writing of that +book I once spoke to you about upon the Continent and foreign travels, I +'d devote a whole chapter to these fellows; and more than that, Tom, I'd +have an Appendix--a book of travels is nothing without an Appendix in +small print--wherein I'd give a list of all these scoundrels who have +been convicted as bandits, thieves, and petty larceners; of all their +misdeeds against old gentlemen with palsy, and old ladies with "nerves." +I 'd show them up, not as heroes but highwaymen; and take my word for +it, I 'd be doing good service to the writers of those sharply formed +little paragraphs now so enthusiastic about Giovanni, and so full of +"grateful recollections" of "poor Giuseppe." + +I am positively ashamed to say how many of the observations, ay, and of +the printed observations of travellers, I have discovered to have their +origin in this same class; and that what the tourist jotted down as +his own remark on men and manners, was the stereotyped opinion of +these illiterate vagabonds. But as for books of travel, Tom, of all the +humbugs of a humbugging age, there is nothing can approach them. I have +heard many men talk admirably about foreign life and customs. I have +never chanced upon one who could write about them. It is not only +that your really smart fellows do not write; but that, to pronounce +authoritatively on a people, one must have a long and intimate +acquaintance with them. Now, this very fact alone to a great degree +invalidates the freshness of observation; for what we are accustomed +to see every day ceases to strike us as worthy of remark. To the raw +tourist, all is strange, novel, and surprising; and if he only record +what he sees, he will tell much that everybody knows, but also some +things that are not quite so familiar to the multitude. Now, your old +resident abroad knows the Continent too well and too thoroughly to find +any one incident or circumstance peculiar. To take an illustration: A +man who had never been at a play in his life would form a far better +conception of what a theatre was like from hearing the description of +one from an intelligent child, who had been there once, than from the +most labored criticism on the acting from an old frequenter of the pit. +Hence the majority of these tours have a certain success at home; but +for the man who comes abroad, and wishes to know something that may aid +to guide his steps, form his opinions, and direct his judgment, believe +me they are not worth a brass farthing. There is this also to be taken +into account,--that every observer is, more or less, recounting some +trait of his own nature, of his habits, his tastes, and his prejudices; +so that before you can receive his statement, you have to study his +disposition. Take all these adverse and difficult conditions into +consideration,--give a large margin for credulity, and a larger for +exaggeration,--bethink you of the embarrassments of a foreign tongue, +and then I ask you how much real information you have a right to expect +from Journals of the Long Vacation, or Winters in Italy, or Tyrol +Rambles in Autumn? I say it in no boastfulness, Tom, nor in any mood of +vanity, but if I was some twenty years younger, with a good income and +no encumbrances, well versed in languages, and fairly placed as regards +social advantages, I myself could make a very readable volume about +foreign life and foreign manners. You laugh at the notion of Kenny Dodd +on a titlepage; but have n't we one or two of our acquaintances that cut +just as ridiculous a figure? + +Tiverton has come in to tell me that the judgment of the Court has been +given against him, and consequently against us, "_in re_ Vetturino;" and +the award of the judge is, "That we pay all the expenses for the journey +to Milan, the gratuity,--that was only to be given as an evidence of +our perfect satisfaction,--and anything more that our sense of honor +and justice may suggest, as compensation for the loss of time he has +sustained in litigating with us." On these conditions he is to be free +to follow his road, and we are to remain here till--I wish I could say +the time--but, according to present appearances, it may be spring before +we get away. When I tell you that the decision has been given by the +landlord of the inn, where we must stop,--as no other exists within +twenty miles of us,--you may guess the animus of the judgment-seat. It +requires a great degree of self-restraint not be to carried into what +the law calls an overt act, by a piece of iniquity like this. I have +abstained by a great effort; but the struggle has almost given me a fit +of apoplexy. Imagine the effrontery of the rascal, Tom: scarcely had +he counted over his Napoleons, and made his grin of farewell, than he +mounted his box and drove away over the mountain, which had just been +declared impassable,--a feat witnessed by all of us,--in company with +the landlord who had pronounced the verdict against us. I stormed--I +swore--in short, I worked myself into a sharp fit of the gout, which +flew from my ankle to my stomach, and very nigh carried me off. A day +of extreme suffering has been succeeded by one of great depression; and +here I am now, with the snow still falling fast; the last courier who +went by saying "that all the inns at Chiavenna were full of people, none +of whom would venture to cross the mountain." It appears that there are +just two peculiarly unpropitious seasons for the passage,--when the snow +falls first, and when it begins to melt in spring. It is needless to say +that we have hit upon one of these, with our habitual good fortune! + + +Thursday. The Inn, Splügen. + +Here we are still in this blessed place, this being now our seventh day +in a hole you would n't condemn a dog to live in. How long we might +have continued our sojourn it is hard to say, when a mere accident has +afforded us the prospect of liberation. It turns out that two families +arrived and went forward last night, having only halted to sup and +change horses. On inquiry why we could n't be supposed capable of the +same exertion, you 'll not believe me when I tell you the answer we got. +No, Tom! The enormous power of lying abroad is clear and clean beyond +your conception. It was this, then. We could go when we pleased,--it was +entirely a caprice of our own that we had not gone before. "How so, may +I ask?" said I, in the meekest of inquiring voices. "You would n't go +like others," was the answer. "In what respect,--how?" asked I again. +"Oh, your English notions rejected the idea of a sledge. You insisted +upon going on wheels, and as no wheeled carriage could run--" Grant me +patience, or I'll explode like a shell. My hand shakes, and my temples +are throbbing so that I can scarcely write the lines. I made a great +effort at a calm and discretionary tone, but it would n't do; a certain +fulness about the throat, a general dizziness, and a noise like the sea +in my ears, told me that I'd have been behaving basely to the "Guardian" +and the "Equitable Fire and Life" were I to continue the debate. I sat +down, and with a sponge and water and loose cravat, I got better. There +was considerable confusion in my faculties on my coming to myself; I had +a vague notion of having conducted myself in some most ridiculous and +extravagant fashion,--having insisted upon the horses being harnessed +in some impossible mode, or made some demand or other totally +impracticable. Cary, like a dear kind girl as she is, laughed and +quizzed me out of my delusion, and showed me that it was the cursed +imputation of that scoundrel of a landlord had given this erratic turn +to my thoughts. The gout has settled in my left foot, and I now, with +the exception of an occasional shoot of pain that I relieve by a shout, +feel much better, and hope soon to be fit for the road. Poor Cary made +me laugh by a story she picked up somewhere of a Scotch gentleman who +had contracted with his vetturino to be carried from Genoa to Rome and +fed on the road,--a very common arrangement. The journey was to occupy +nine days; but wishing to secure a splendid "buona mano," the vetturino +drove at a tremendous pace, and actually arrived in Rome on the eighth +day, having almost killed his horses and exhausted himself. When he +appeared before his traveller, expecting compliments on his speed, and +a handsome recognition for his zeal, guess his astonishment to hear his +self-panegyrics cut short by the pithy remark: "You drove very well, my +friend; but we are not going to part just yet,--you have still another +day to _feed_ me." + +Tiverton has at length patched up an arrangement with our landlord +for twelve sledges,--each only carries one and the driver,--so that if +nothing adverse intervene we are to set forth to-morrow. He says that we +may reasonably hope to reach Chiavenna before evening. I 'll therefore +not detain this longer, but in the prospect that our hour of liberation +has at length drawn nigh, conclude my long despatch. + +Our villa at Como will be our next address, and I hope to find a letter +there from you soon after our arrival. Remember, Tom, all that I have +said about the supplies, for though they tell me Italy be cheap, I +have not yet discovered a land where the population believes gold to be +dross. Adieu! + + + + +LETTER VI. MARY ANNE DODD TO MISS DOOLAN, OF BALLYDOOLAN. + +On the Splügen Alps. + +Dearest Kitty,--I write these few lines from the Refuge-house on the +Splügen Pass. We are seven thousand feet above the level of something, +with fifty feet of snow around us, and the deafening roar of avalanches +thundering on the ear. We set out yesterday from the village of Splügen, +contrary to the advice of the guides, but papa insisted on going. He +declared that if no other means offered, he 'd go on foot, so that +opposition was really out of the question. Our departure was quite a +picture. First came a long, low sledge, with stones and rocks to explore +the way, and show where the footing was secure. Then came three others +with our luggage; after that mamma, under the guidance of a most careful +person, a certain Bernardt something, brother of the man who acted +as guide to Napoleon; Cary followed her in another sledge, and I came +third, papa bringing up the rear, for Betty and the other servants +were tastefully grouped about the luggage. Several additional sledges +followed with spade and shovel-folk, ropes, drags, and other implements +most suggestive of peril and adventure. We were perfect frights to look +at; for, in addition to fur boots and capes, tarpaulins and hoods, we +had to wear snow goggles as a precaution against the fine drifting snow, +so that really for very shame' sake I was glad that each sledge only +held one, and the driver, who is fortunately, also, at your back. + +The first few miles of ascent were really pleasurable, for the snow +was hard, and the pace occasionally reached a trot, or at least such a +resemblance to one as shook the conveniency, and made the bells jingle +agreeably on the harness. The road, too, followed a zigzag course on +the steep side of the mountain, so that you saw at moments some of those +above and some beneath you, winding along exactly like the elephant +procession in Bluebeard. The voices sounded cheerily in the sharp +morning air, itself exhilarating to a degree, and this, with the bright +snow-peaks, rising one behind the other in the distance, and the little +village of Splügen in the valley, made up a scene strikingly picturesque +and interesting. There was a kind of adventure, too, about it all, +dearest Kitty, that never loses its charm for the soul deeply imbued +with a sense of the beautiful and imaginative. I fancied myself at +moments carried away by force into the Steppes of Tartary, or that I +was Elizabeth crossing the Volga, and I believe I even shed tears at my +fancied distress. To another than you, dearest, I might hesitate even if +I confessed as much; but you, who know every weakness of a too feeling +heart, will forgive me for being what I am. + +My guide, a really fine-looking mountaineer, with a magnificent beard, +fancied that it was the danger that had appalled me. He hastened to +offer his rude but honest consolations; he protested that there was +nothing whatever like peril, and that if there were--But why do I go on? +even to my dearest friend may not this seem childish? and is it not a +silly vanity that owns it can derive pleasure from every homage, even +the very humblest? + +We gradually lost sight of the little smoke-wreathed village, and +reached a wild but grandly desolate region, with snow on every side. The +pathway, too, was now lost to us, and the direction only indicated by +long poles at great intervals. That all was not perfectly safe in front +might be apprehended, for we came frequently to a dead halt, and then +the guides and the shovel-men would pass rapidly to and fro, but, +muffled as we were, all inquiry was impossible, so that we were left to +the horrors of doubt and dread without a chance of relief. At length we +grew accustomed to these interruptions, and felt in a measure tranquil. +Not so the guides, however; they frequently talked together in knots, +and I could see from their upward glances, too, that they apprehended +some change in the weather. Papa had contrived to cut some of the cords +with which they had fastened his muffles, and by great patience and +exertion succeeded in getting his head out of three horsecloths, with +which they had swathed him. + +"Are we near the summit?" cried he, in English,--"how far are we from +the top?" + +His question was of course unintelligible, but his action not; and the +consequence was that three of our followers rushed over to him, and +after a brief struggle, in which two of them were tumbled over in the +snow, his head was again enclosed within its woolly cenotaph; and, +indeed, but for a violent jerking motion of it, it might have been +feared that even all access to external air was denied him. This little +incident was the only break to the monotony of the way, till nigh noon, +when a cold, biting wind, with great masses of misty vapor, swept past +and around us, and my guide told me that we were somewhere, with a hard +name, and that he wished we were somewhere else, with a harder. + +I asked why, but my question died away in the folds of my head-gear, and +I was left to my own thoughts, when suddenly a loud shout rang through +the air. It was a party about to turn back, and the sledges stopped up +the road. The halt led to a consultation between the guides, which I +could see turned on the question of the weather. The discussion was +evidently a warm one, a party being for, and another against it. Hearing +what they said was of course out of the question, muffled as I was; but +their gestures clearly defined who were in favor of proceeding, and who +wished to retrace their steps. One of the former particularly struck me; +for, though encumbered with fur boots and an enormous mantle, his action +plainly indicated that he was something out of the common. He showed +that air of command, too, Kitty, that at once proclaims superiority. +His arguments prevailed, and after a considerable time spent, on we went +again. I followed the interesting stranger till he was lost to me; but +guess my feelings, Kitty, when I heard a voice whisper in my ear, +"Don't be afraid, dearest, I watch over _your_ safety." Oh! fancy the +perturbation of my poor heart, for it was Lord George who spoke. He it +was whose urgent persuasions had determined the guides to proceed, and +he now had taken the place behind my own sledge, and actually drove +instead of the postilion. Can you picture to yourself heroism and +devotion like this? And while I imagined that he was borne along with +all the appliances of ease and comfort, the poor dear fellow was braving +the storm _for me_, and _for me_ enduring the perils of the raging +tempest. From that instant, my beloved Kitty, I took little note of the +dangers around me. I thought but of him who stood so near to me,--so +near, and yet so far off; so close, and yet so severed! I bethought me, +too, how unjust the prejudice of the vulgar mind that attributes to our +youthful nobility habits of selfish indolence and effeminate ease. Here +was one reared in all the voluptuous enjoyment of a splendid household, +trained from his cradle to be waited on and served, and yet was he there +wilfully encountering perils and hardships from which the very bravest +might recoil. Ah, Kitty! it is impossible to deny it,--the highly born +have a native superiority in everything. Their nobility is not a thing +of crosses and ribbons, but of blood. They feel that they are of earth's +purest clay, and they assert the claim to pre-eminence by their own +proud and lofty gifts. I told you, too, that he said "dearest." I might +have been deceived; the noise was deafening at the moment; but I feel +as if my ears could not have betrayed me. At all events, Kitty, his hand +sought mine while he spoke, and though in his confusion it was my elbow +he caught, he pressed it tenderly. In what a delicious dream did I revel +as we slid along over the snow! What cared I for the swooping wind, the +thundering avalanche, the drifting snow-wreath,--was he not there, my +protector and my guide? Had he not sworn to be my succor and my safety? +We had just arrived at a lofty tableland,--some few peaks appeared still +above us, but none very near,--when the wind, with a violence beyond +all description, bore great masses of drift against us, and effectually +barred all farther progress. The stone sledge, too, had partly become +embedded in the soft snow, and the horse was standing powerless, when +suddenly mamma's horse stumbled and fell. In his efforts to rise he +smashed one of the rope traces, so that when he began to pull again, +the unequal draught carried the sledge to one side, and upset it. A +loud shriek told me something had happened, and at the instant Lord G. +whispered in my ear, "It's nothing,--she has only taken a 'header' in +the soft snow, and won't be a bit the worse." + +Further questioning was vain; for Cary's sledge-horse shied at the +confusion in front, and plunged off the road into the deep snow, where +he disappeared all but the head, fortunately flinging her out into +the guide's arms. My turn was now to come; for Lord G., with his mad +impetuosity, tried to pass on and gain the front, but the animal, by +a furious jerk, smashed all the tackle, and set off at a wild, +half-swimming pace through the snow, leaving our sledge firmly wedged +between two dense walls of drift Papa sprang out to our rescue; but so +helpless was he, from the quantity of his integuments, that he rolled +over, and lay there on his back, shouting fearfully. + +It appeared as if the violence of the storm had only waited for this +moment of general disaster; for now the wind tore along great masses of +snow, that rose around us to the height of several feet, covering up +the horses to their backs, and embedding the men to their armpits. Loud +booming masses announced the fall of avalanches near, and the sky became +darkened, like as if night was approaching. Words cannot convey the +faintest conception of that scene of terror, dismay, and confusion. +Guides shouting and swearing; cries of distress and screams of anguish +mingled with the rattling thunder and the whistling wind. Some were for +trying to go back; others proclaimed it impossible; each instant a new +disaster occurred. The baggage had disappeared altogether, Betty Cobb +being saved, as it sank, by almost superhuman efforts of the guide. +Paddy Byrne, who had mistaken the kick of a horse on the back of his +head for a blow, had pitched into one of the guides, and they were now +fighting in four feet of snow, and likely to carry their quarrel out of +the world with them. Taddy was "nowhere." To add to this uproar, papa +had, in mistake for brandy, drunk two-thirds of a bottle of complexion +wash, and screamed out that he was poisoned. Of mamma I could see +nothing; but a dense group surrounded her sledge, and showed me she was +in trouble. + +I could not give you an idea of what followed, for incidents of peril +were every moment interrupted by something ludicrous. The very efforts +we made to disengage ourselves were constantly attended by some absurd +catastrophe, and no one could stir a step without either a fall, or +a plunge up to the waist in soft snow. The horses, too, would make no +efforts to rise, but lay to be snowed over as if perfectly indifferent +to their fate. By good fortune our britschka, from which the wheels had +been taken off, was in a sledge to the rear, and mamma, Cary, and myself +were crammed into this, to which all the horses, and men also, were +speedily harnessed, and by astonishing efforts we were enabled to get +on. Papa and Betty were wedged fast into one sledge, and attached to us +by a tow-rope, and thus we at length proceeded. + +When mamma found herself in comparative safety, she went off into a +slight attack of her nerves; but, fortunately, Lord G. found out the +bottle papa had been in vain in search of, and she got soon better. Poor +fellow, no persuasion could prevail on him to come inside along with us. +How he travelled, or how he contrived to brave that fearful day, I never +learned! From this moment our journey was at the rate of about a mile +in three hours, the shovel and spade men having to clear the way as we +went; and what between horses that had to be dug out of holes, harness +repaired, men rescued, and frequent accident to papa's sledge, which, on +an average, was upset every half-hour, our halts were incessant. It was +after midnight that we reached a dreary-looking stone edifice in the +midst of the snow. Anything so dismal I never beheld, as it stood there +surrounded with drift-snow, its narrow windows strongly barred with +iron, and its roof covered with heavy masses of stone to prevent +it being earned away by the hurricane. This, we were told, was the +Refuge-house on the summit, and here, we were informed, we should stay +till a change of weather might enable us to proceed. + +But does not the very name "Refuge-house" fill you with thoughts of +appalling danger? Do you not instinctively shudder at the perils to +which this is the haven of succor? + +"I see we are not the first here," cried Caroline; "don't you see lights +moving yonder?" + +She was right, for as we drew up we perceived a group of guides and +drivers in the doorway, and saw various conveyances and sledges within +the shed at the side of the building. + +A dialogue in the wildest shouts was now conducted between our party and +the others, by which we came to learn that the travellers were some +of those who had left Splugen the night before ourselves, and whose +disasters had been even worse than our own. Indeed, as far as I could +ascertain, they had gone through much more than we had. + +Our first meeting with papa--in the kitchen, as I suppose I must call +the lower room of this fearful place--was quite affecting, for he had +taken so much of the guide's brandy as an antidote to the supposed +poison, that he was really overcome, and, under the delusion that he was +at home in his own house, ran about shaking hands with every one, and +welcoming them to Dodsborough. Mamma was so convinced that he had lost +his reason permanently, that she was taken with violent hysterics. The +scene baffles all description, occurring, as it did, in presence of +some twenty guides and spade-folk, who drank their "schnaps," ate their +sausages, smoked, and dried their wet garments all the while, with a +most well-bred inattention to our sufferings. Though Cary and I were +obliged to do everything ourselves,--for Betty was insensible, owing to +her having travelled in the vicinity of the same little cordial flask, +and my maid was sulky in not being put under the care of a certain +good-looking guide,--we really succeeded wonderfully, and contrived to +have papa put to bed in a little chamber with a good mattress, and where +a cheerful fire was soon lighted. Mamma also rallied, and Lord George +made her a cup of tea in a kettle, and poured her out a cup of it into +the shaving-dish of his dressing-box, and we all became as happy as +possible. + +It appeared that the other arrivals, who occupied a separate quarter, +were not ill provided for the emergency, for a servant used to pass +and repass to their chamber with a very savory odor from the dish he +carried, and Lord G. swore that he heard the pop of a champagne cork. We +made great efforts to ascertain who they were, but without success. All +we could learn was that it was a gentleman and a lady, with their two +servants, travelling in their own carriage, which was unmistakably +English. + +"I 'm determined to run them to earth," exclaimed Lord G. at last. "I +'ll just mistake my way, and blunder into their apartment." + +We endeavored to dissuade him, but he was determined; and when he is so, +Kitty, nothing can swerve him. Off he went, and after a pause of a few +seconds we heard a heavy door slammed, then another. After that, both +Cary and myself were fully persuaded that we heard a hearty burst of +laughter; but though we listened long and painfully, we could detect +no more. Unhappily, too, at this time mamma fell asleep, and her +deep respirations effectually masked everything but the din of the +avalanches. After a while Cary followed ma's example, leaving me alone +to sit by the "watch-fire's light," and here, in the regions of eternal +snow, to commune with her who holds my heart's dearest affections. + +It is now nigh three o'clock. The night is of the very blackest, neither +moon nor stars to be seen; fearful squalls of wind--gusts strong enough +to shake this stronghold to its foundation--tear wildly past, and from +the distance comes the booming sound of thundering avalanches. One might +fancy, easily, that escape from this was impossible, and that to be cast +away here implied a lingering but inevitable fate. No great strain of +fancy is needed for such a consummation. We are miles from all human +habitation, and three yards beyond the doorway the boldest would not +dare to venture! And you, Kitty, at this hour are calmly sleeping to the +hum of "the spreading sycamore;" or, perchance, awake, and thinking of +her who now pours out her heart before you; and oh, blame me not if it +be a tangled web that I present to you, for such will human hopes and +emotions ever make it My poor heart is, indeed, a battleground for +warring hopes and fears, high-soaring ambitions, and depressing terrors. +Would that you were here to guide, console, and direct me! + +Lord George has not returned. What can his absence mean? All is silent, +too, in the dreary building. My anxieties are fearful,--I dread I know +not what. I fancy a thousand ills that even possibility would have +rejected. The courier is to pass this at five o'clock, so that I must, +perchance, close my letter in the same agony of doubt and uncertainty. + +Oh, dearest, only fancy the _mal à propos_. Who do you think our +neighbors are? Mr. and Mrs. Gore Hampton, on their way to Italy! Can you +imagine anything so unfortunate and so distressing? You may remember +all our former intimacy,--I may call it friendship,--and by what an +unpropitious incident it was broken up. Lord George has just come to +tell me the tidings, but, instead of participating in my distress, he +seems to think the affair an admirable joke. I need not tell you that he +knows nothing of mamma's temper, nor her manner of acting. What may come +of this there is no saying. It seems that there is scarcely a chance of +our being able to get on to-day; and here we are all beneath one roof, +our mutual passions of jealousy, hatred, revenge, and malice, all snowed +up on the top of the Splugen Alps! + +I have asked of Lord George, almost with tears, what is to be done? but +to all seeming he sees no difficulty in the matter, for his reply is +always, "Nothing whatever." When pressed closely, he says, "Oh, the +Gore Hamptons are such thoroughly well-bred folk, there is never any +awkwardness to be apprehended from _them_. Be quite easy in your mind; +_they_ have tact enough for any emergency." What this may mean, Kitty, I +cannot even guess; for the "situation," as the French would call it, is +peculiar. And as to tact, it is, after all, like skill in a game which, +however available against a clever adversary, is of little value when +opposed to those who neither recognize the rules, nor appreciate the +nice points of the encounter. + +But I cannot venture to inquire further; it would at once convict me +of ignorance, so that I appear to be satisfied with an explanation that +explains nothing. And now, Kitty, to conclude; for, though dying to tell +you that this knotty question has been fairly solved, I must seal my +letter and despatch it by Lord George, who is this moment about to set +out for the Toll-house, three miles away. It appears that two of our +guides have refused to go farther, and that we must have recourse to the +authorities to compel them. This is the object of Lord George's mission; +but the dear fellow braves every hardship and every peril for us, and +says that he would willingly encounter far more hazardous dangers +for one "kind word, or one kind look," from your distracted, but ever +devoted + +Mary Anne. + +They begin to fear now that some accident must have befallen the courier +with the mails; he should have passed through here at midnight. It is +now daybreak, and no sign of him! Our anxieties are terrible, and what +fate may yet be ours there is no knowing. + + + + +LETTER VII. MRS. DODD TO MRS. MARY GALLAGHER, PRIEST'S HOUSE, BRUFF. + +Colico, Italy. + +My dear Molly,--After fatigues and distresses that would have worn out +the strength of a rhinocerass, here we are, at length, in Italy. If you +only saw the places we came through, the mountains upon mountains of +snow, the great masses that tumbled down on every side of us, and we +lost, as one might call it, in the very midst of eternal dissolution, +you 'd naturally exclaim that you had got the last lines ever to be +traced by your friend Jemima. Two days of this, no less, my dear, +with fifteen degrees below "Nero," wherever he is, that's what I call +suffering and misery. We were twice given up for lost, and but for +Providence and a guide called--I am afraid to write it, but it answers +to Barny with us--we 'd have soon gone to our long account; and, oh, +Molly! what a reckoning will that be for K. I.! If ever there was a +heart jet black with iniquity and baseness, it is his; and he knows it; +and he knows I knows it; and more than that, the whole world shall know +it I 'll publish him through what the poet calls the "infamy of space;" +and, so long as I 'm spared, I 'll be a sting in his flesh, and a thorn +in his side. + +I can't go over our journey--the very thought of it goes far with +me--but if you can imagine three females along with the Arctic voyagers, +you may form some vague idea of our perils. Bitter winds, piercing +snow-drift, pelting showers of powdered ice, starvation, and +danger,--dreadful danger,--them was the enjoyments that cost us +something over eighteen pounds! Why?--you naturally say,--why? And well +may you ask, Mrs. Gallagher. It is nothing remarkable in your saying +that this is singular and almost unintelligible. The answer, however, is +easy, and the thing itself no mystery. It's as old as Adam, my dear, and +will last as long as his family. The natural baseness and depravity +of the human heart! Oh, Molly, what a subject that is! I'm never weary +thinking of it; and, strange to say, the more you reflect the more +difficult does it become. Father Shea had an elegant remark that I often +think over: "Our bad qualities," says he, "are like noxious reptiles. +There 's no good trying to destroy them, for they 're too numerous; nor +to reclaim them, for they 're too savage; the best thing is to get out +of their way." There's a deal of fine philosophy in the observation, +Molly; and if, instead of irritating and vexing and worrying our +infirmities, we just treated them the way we should a shark or a +rattlesnake, depend upon it we 'd preserve our unanimity undisturbed, +and be happier as well as better. Maybe you 'll ask why I don't try this +plan with K. I.? But I did, Molly. I did so for fifteen years. I went +on never minding his perfidious behavior; I winked at his frailties, +and shut my eyes, as you know yourself, to Shusy Connor; but my leniency +only made him bolder in wickedness, till at last we came to that elegant +business, last summer, in Germany, that got into all the newspapers, and +made us the talk of the whole world. + +I thought the lesson he got at that time taught him something. I fondly +dreamed that the shame and disgrace would be of service to him; at all +events, that it would take the conceit out of him. Vain hopes, Molly +dear,--vain and foolish hopes! He isn't a bit better; the bad dross +is in him; and my silent tears does no more good than my gentle +remonstrances. + +It was only the other day we went to see a place called Pfeffers, a +dirty, dismal hole as ever you looked at I thought we were going to see +a beautiful something like Ems or Baden, with a band and a pump-room, +and fine company, and the rest of it Nothing of the kind,--but a gloomy +old building in a cleft between two mountains, that looked as if they +were going to swallow it up. The people, too, were just fit for the +place,--a miserable set of sickly creatures in flannel dresses, either +sitting up to their necks in water, or drying themselves on the rocks. +To any one else the scene would be full of serious reflections about the +uncertainty of human life, and the certainty of what was to come after +it Them was n't K. I.'s sentiments, my dear, for he begins at once what +naval men call "exchanging signals" with one of the patients. "This is +the Bad-house, my dear," says he. "I think so, Mr. D.," said I, with a +look that made him tremble. He had just ordered dinner, but I did n't +care for that; I told them to bring out the horses at once. "Come, +girls," said I, "this is no place for you; your father's proceedings are +neither very edifying nor exemplary." + +"What's the matter now?" says he. "Where are we going before dinner?" + +"Out of this, Mr. Dodd," said I. "Out of this at any rate." + +"Where to,--what for?" cried he. + +"I think you might guess," said I, with a sneer; "but if not, perhaps +that hussy with the spotted gingham could aid you to the explanation." + +He was so overwhelmed at my discovering this, Molly, that he was +speechless; not a word,--not a syllable could he utter. He sat down on a +stone, and wiped his head with a handkerchief. + +"Don't make me ill, Mrs. D.," said he, at last. "I 've a notion that the +gout is threatening me." + +"If that's all, K. I.," said I, "it's well for you,--it's well if it is +not worse than the gout. Ay, get red in the face,--be as passionate as +you please, but you shall hear the truth from me, at least; I mayn't +be long here to tell it. Sufferings such as I 've gone through will +do their work at last; but I 'll fulfil my duty to my family till I +'m released--" With that I gave it to him, till we arrived at Coire, +eighteen miles, and a good part of it up hill, and you may think what +that was. At all events, Molly, he did n't come off with flying colors, +for when we reached a place called Splügen he was seized with the gout +in earnest I only wish you saw the hole he pitched upon to be laid +up in; but it's like everything else the man does. Every trait of his +character shows that he has n't a thought, nor a notion, but about his +own comforts and his own enjoyments. And I told him so. I said to him, +"Don't think that your self-indulgence and indolence go down with _me_ +for easiness of temper: that's an imposture may do very well for the +_world_, but your wife can't be taken in by it." In a word, Molly, I +didn't spare him; and as his attack was a sharp one, I think it's +likely he does n't look back to the Splügen with any very grateful +reminiscences. + +Little I thought, all the time, what good cause I had for my complaints, +nor what was in store for me in the very middle of the snow! You must +know that we had to take the wheels off the carriage and put it on +something like a pair of big skates, for the snow was mountains high, +and as soft as an egg-pudding. You may think what floundering we had +through it for twelve hours, sometimes sinking up to the chin, now +swimming, now digging, and now again being dragged out of it by ropes, +till we came to what they call the "Refuge-house;" a pretty refuge, +indeed, with no door, and scarcely a window, and everybody--guides, +postboys, diggers, and travellers--all hickledy-pickledy inside! There +we were, my dear, without a bed, or even a mattress, and nothing to eat +but a bottle of Sir Robert Peel's sauce, that K. I. had in his trunk, +with a case of eau-de-Cologne to wash it down. Fortunately for me my +feelings got the better of me, and I sobbed and screeched myself to +rest. When I awoke in the morning, I heard from Mary Anne that another +family, and English too, were in the refuge with us, and, to all +appearance, not ill-supplied with the necessaries of life. This much I +perceived myself, for the courier lit a big fire on the hearth, and laid +a little table beside it, as neat and comfortable as could be. After +that he brought out a coffee-pot and boiled the coffee, and made a plate +of toast, and fried a dish of ham-rashers and eggs. The very fizzing of +them on the fire, Molly, nearly overcame me! But that wasn't all; but he +put down on the table a case of sardines and a glass bowl of beautiful +honey, just as if he wanted to make my suffering unbearable. It was all +I could do to stand it. At last, when he had everything ready, he went +to a door at the end of the room and knocked. Something was said inside +that I didn't catch, but he answered quickly, "Oui, Madame," and a +minute after out they walked. Oh, Molly, there 's not words in the +language to express even half of my feelings at that moment. Indeed, +for a minute or two I would n't credit my senses, but thought it was an +optical confusion. In she flounced, my dear, just as if she was walking +into the Court of St. James's, with one arm within his, and the other +hand gracefully holding up her dress, and _he_, with a glass stuck in +his eye, gave us a look as he passed just as if we were the people of +the place. + +Down they sat in all state, smiling at each other, and settling their +napkins as coolly as if they were at the Clarendon. "Will you try a +rasher, my dear?" "Thanks, love; I'll trouble you." It was "love" and +"dear" every word with them; and such looks as passed, Molly, I am +ashamed even to think of it! Heaven knows I never looked that way at K. +I. There I sat watching them; for worlds I could n't take my eyes away; +and though Mary Anne whispered and implored, and even tried to force me, +I was chained to the spot. To be sure, it's little they minded me! They +talked away about Lady Sarah This and Sir Joseph That; wondered if the +Marquis had gone down to Scotland, and whether the Duchess would meet +them at Milan. As I told you before, Molly, I was n't quite sure my eyes +did n't betray me, and while I was thus struggling with my doubts, in +came K. I. "I was over the whole place, Jemi," said he, "and there 's +not a scrap of victuals to be had for love or money. They say, however, +that there 's an English family--" When he got that far, he stopped +short, for his eyes just fell on the pair at breakfast. + +"May I never, Mrs. D.," said he, "but that's our friend Mrs. G. H. As +sure as I'm here, that's herself and no other." + +"And of course quite a surprise to you," said I, with a look, Molly, +that went through him. + +"Faith, I suppose so," said he, trying to laugh. "I wasn't exactly +thinking of her at this moment. At all events, the meeting is fortunate; +for one might die of hunger here." + +I need n't tell you, Molly, that I 'd rather endure the trials of +Tartary than I 'd touch a morsel belonging to her; but before I could +say so, up he goes to the table, bowing, and smiling, and smirking in +a way that I 'm sure he thought quite irresistible. She, however, never +looked up from her teacup, but her companion stuck his glass in his eye, +and stared impudently without speaking. + +[Illustration: 088] + +"If I 'm not greatly mistaken," said K. I., "I have the honor and the +happiness to see before me--" + +"Mistake,--quite a mistake, my good man. Au! au!" said the other, +cutting him short. "Never saw you before in my life!" + +"Nor are _you_, sir, the object of my recognition. It is this +lady,--Mrs. Gore Hampton." + +She lifted her head at this, and stared at K. I. as coldly as if he was +a wax image in a hairdresser's window. + +"Don't you remember me, ma'am?" says he, in a soft voice; "or must I +tell you my name?" + +"I'm afraid even that, sir, would not suffice," said she, with a most +insulting smile of compassion. + +"Ain't you Mrs. Gore Hampton, ma'am?" asked he, trembling all over +between passion and astonishment. + +"Pray, do send him away, Augustus," said she, sipping her tea. + +"Don't you perceive, sir--eh, au--don't you see--that it's a au--au, +eh--a misconception--a kind of a demned blunder?" + +"I tell you what I see, sir," said K. I,--"I see a lady that travelled +day and night in my company, and with no other companion too, for two +hundred and seventy miles; that lived in the same hotel, dined at the +same table, and, what's more--" + +But I could n't bear it any longer, Molly. Human nature is not strong +enough for trials like this,--to hear him boasting before my face of his +base behavior, and to see her sitting coolly by listening to it. I gave +a screech that made the house ring, and went off in the strongest fit of +screaming ever I took in my life. I tore my cap to tatters, and pulled +down my hair,--and, indeed, if what they say be true, my sufferings must +have been dreadful; for I didn't leave a bit of whisker on one of the +guides, and held another by the cheek till he was nigh insensible. I was +four hours coming to myself; but many of the others were n't in a much +better state when it was all over. The girls were completely overcome, +and K. I. taken with spasms, that drew him up like a football. Meanwhile +_she_ and her friend were off; never till the last minute as much as +saying one word to any of us, but going away, as I may say, with colors +flying, and all the "horrors of war." + +Oh, Molly, was n't that more than mere human fragility is required to +bear, not to speak of the starvation and misery in my weak state? Black +bread and onions, that was our dinner, washed down with the sourest +vinegar, called wine forsooth, I ever tasted. And that's the way we +crossed the Alps, my dear, and them the pleasures that accompanied us +into the beautiful South. + +If I wanted a proof of K. I.'s misconduct, Molly, was n't this scene +decisive? Where would be the motive of her behavior, if it was n't +conscious guilt? That was the ground I took in discussing the subject +as we came along; and a more lamentable spectacle of confounded iniquity +than he exhibited I never beheld. To be sure, I did n't spare him much, +and jibed him on the ingratitude his devotion met with, till he grew +nearly purple with passion. "Mrs. D.," said he, at last, "when we lived +at home, in Ireland, we had our quarrels like other people, about the +expense of the house, and waste in the kitchen, the time the horses was +kept out under the rain, and such-like,--but it never occurred to you to +fancy me a gay Lutherian. What the ------ has put that in your head +now? Is it coming abroad? for, if so, that's another grudge I owe this +infernal excursion!" + +"You've just guessed it, Mr. Dodd, then," said I. "When you were at home +in your own place, you were content like the other old fools of your +own time of life, with a knowing glance of the eye, a sly look, and +maybe a passing word or two, to a pretty girl; but no sooner did you +put foot on foreign ground than you fancied yourself a lady-killer! You +never saw how absurd you were, though I was telling it to you day and +night. You would n't believe how the whole world was laughing at you, +though I said so to the girls." + +I improved on this theme till we came at nightfall to the foot of the +Alps, and by that time--take my word for it, Mrs. Gallagher--there was +n't much more to be said on the subject. + +New troubles awaited us here, Molly. I wonder will they ever end? You +may remember that I told you how the wheels was taken off our carriage +to put it on a sledge on account of the snow. Well, my dear, what do +you think the creatures did, but they sent our wheels over the Great +St. Bernardt,--I think they call it,--and when we arrived here we found +ourselves on the hard road without any wheels to the coach, but sitting +with the axles in the mud! I only ask you where's the temper can stand +that? And worse, too, for K. I. sat down on a stone to look at us, and +laughed till the tears run down his wicked old cheeks and made him look +downright horrid. + +[Illustration: 090] + +"May I never!" said he, "but I 'd come the whole way from Ireland for +one hearty laugh like this! It's the only thing I 've yet met that +requites me for coming! If I live fifty years, I'll never forget it." + +I perceive that I have n't space for the reply I made him, so that I +must leave you to fill it up for yourself, and believe me your + +Ever attached and suffering + +Jemima Dodd. + + + + +LETTER VIII. JAMES DODD TO LORD GEORGE TIVERTON, M. P., POSTE RESTANTE, BREGENZ. + +Hotel of All Nations, Baths of Homburg. + +My dear Tiverton,--You often said I was a fellow to make a spoon or +spoil a--something which I have forgotten--and I begin to fancy that +you were a better prophet than that fellow in "Bell's Life" who always +predicts the horse that does _not_ win the Oaks. When we parted a few +days ago, my mind was resolutely bent on becoming another Metternich or +Palmerston. I imagined a whole life of brilliant diplomatic successes, +and thought of myself receiving the freedom of the City of London, +dining with the Queen, and making "very pretty running" for the peerage. +What will you say, then, when I tell you that I despise the highest +honors of the entire career, and would n't take the seals of the Foreign +Office, if pressed on my acceptance this minute? To save myself from +even the momentary accusation of madness, I 'll give you--and in as few +words as I can--ray explanation. As I have just said, I set out with my +head full of Ambassadorial ambitions, and jogged along towards England, +scarcely noticing the road or speaking to my fellow-travellers. On +arriving at Frankfort, however, I saw nothing on all sides of me but +announcements and advertisements of the baths of Homburg,--"The +last week of the season, and the most brilliant of all." Gorgeous +descriptions of the voluptuous delights of the place--lists of +distinguished visitors, and spicy bits of scandal--alternated with +anecdotes of those who had "broke the bank," and were buying up all +the chateaux and parks in the neighborhood. I tried to laugh at these +pictorial puffs; I did my best to treat them as mere humbugs; but it +would n't do. I went to bed so full of them that I dreamed all night of +the play-table, and fancied myself once again the terror of croupiers, +and the admired of the fashionable circle in the _salon_. To crown all, +a waiter called me to say that the carriage I had ordered for the baths +was at the door. I attempted to undeceive him; but even there my effort +was a failure; and, convinced that there was a fate in the matter, +I jumped out of bed, dressed, and set off, firmly impressed with the +notion that I was not a free agent, but actually impelled and driven by +destiny to go and win my millions at Homburg. + +Perhaps my ardor was somewhat cooled down by the aspect of the place. It +has few of the advantages nature has so lavishly bestowed on Baden, +and which really impart to that delightful resort a charm that totally +disarms you of all distrust, and make you forget that you are in a land +of "legs" and swindlers, and that every second man you meet is a rogue +or a runaway. Now, Homburg does not, as the French say, "impose" in this +way. You see at once that it is a "Hell," and that the only amusement is +to ruin or to be ruined. + +"No matter," thought I; "I have already graduated at the green table; I +have taken my degree in arts at Baden, and am no young hand fresh from +Oxford and new to the Continent; I 'll just go down and try my luck--as +a fisherman whips a stream. If they rise to my fly,--well; if not, pack +up the traps, and try some other water." You know that my capital was +not a strong one,--about a hundred and thirty in cash, and a bill on +Drummond for a hundred more,--and with this, the governor had "cleared +me out" for at least six months to come. I was therefore obliged to +"come it small;" and merely dabbled away with a few "Naps.," which, by +dint of extraordinary patience and intense application, I succeeded in +accumulating to the gross total of sixty. As I foresaw that I could n't +loiter above a day longer, I went down in the evening to experimentalize +on this fund, and, after a few hours, rose a winner of thirty-two +thousand odd hundred francs. The following morning, I more than doubled +this; and in the evening, won a trifle of twenty thousand francs; when, +seeing the game take a capricious turn, I left off, and went to supper. + +I was an utter stranger in the place, had not even a passing +acquaintance with any one; so that, although dying for a little +companionship, I had nothing for it but to order my roast partridge in +my own apartment, and hobnob with myself. It is true, I was in capital +spirits,--I had made glorious running, and no mistake,--and I drank my +health, and returned thanks for the toast with an eloquence that really +astonished me. Egad, I think the waiter must have thought me mad, as he +heard me hip, hipping with "one cheer more," to the sentiment. + +[Illustration: 094] + +I suppose I must have felt called on to sing; for sing I did, and, I +am afraid, with far more zeal than musical talent; for I overheard a +tittering of voices outside my door, and could plainly perceive that the +household had assembled as audience. What cared I for this? The world +had gone too well with me of late to make me thin-skinned or peevishly +disposed. I could afford to be forgiving and generous: and I revelled in +the very thought that I was soaring in an atmosphere to which trifling +and petty annoyances never ascended. In this enviable frame of mind was +I, when a waiter presented himself with a most obsequious bow, and, in +a voice of submissive civility, implored me to moderate my musical +transports, since the lady who occupied the adjoining apartment was +suffering terribly from headache. + +"Certainly, of course," was my reply at once; and as he was leaving the +room,--just by way of having something to say,--I asked, "Is she young, +waiter?" + +"Young and beautiful, sir." + +"An angel, eh?" + +"Quite handsome enough to be one, sir, I'm certain." + +"And her name?" + +"The Countess de St. Auber, widow of the celebrated Count de St. Auber, +of whom Monsieur must have read in the newspapers." + +But Monsieur had not read of him, and was therefore obliged to ask +further information; whence it appeared that the Count had accidentally +shot himself on the morning of his marriage, when drawing the charge +of his pistols, preparatory to putting them in his carriage. The waiter +grew quite pathetic in his description of the young bride's agonies, and +had to wipe his eyes once or twice during his narrative. + +"But she has rallied by this, hasn't she?" asked I. + +"If Monsieur can call it so," said he, shrugging his shoulders. "She +never goes into the world,--knows no one,--receives no one,--lives +entirely to herself; and, except her daily ride in the wood, appears to +take no pleasure whatever in life." + +"And so she rides out every day?" + +"Every day, and at the same hour too. The carriage takes her about a +league into the forest, far beyond where the usual promenade extends, +and there her horses meet her, and she rides till dusk. Often it is even +night ere she returns." + +There was something that interested me deeply in all this. You know that +a pretty woman on horseback is one of my greatest weaknesses; and so I +went on weaving thoughts and fancies about the charming young widow till +the champagne was finished, after which I went off to bed, intending to +dream of her, but, to my intense disgust, to sleep like a sea-calf till +morning. + +My first care on waking, however, was to despatch a very humble apology +by the waiter for my noisy conduct on the previous evening, and a very +sincere hope that the Countess had not suffered on account of it. + +He brought me back for answer "that the Countess thanked me for my +polite inquiry, and was completely restored." + +"Able to ride out as usual?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"How do you know that?" + +"She has just given orders for the carriage, sir." + +"I say, waiter, what kind of a hack can be got here? Or, stay, is there +such a thing as a good-looking saddle-horse to be sold in the place?" + +"There are two at Lagrange's stables, sir, this moment Prince +Guiciatelli has left them and his groom to pay about thirty thousand +francs he owes here." + +In less than a quarter of an hour I was dressed and at the stables. The +nags were a neat pair; the groom, an English fellow, had just brought +them over. He had bought them at Anderson's, and paid close upon three +hundred for the two. It was evident that they were "too much," as +horses, for the Prince, for he had never backed either of them. Before +I left I had bought them both for six thousand francs, and taken "Bob" +himself, a very pretty specimen of the short-legged, red-whiskered +tribe, into my service. + +This was on the very morning, mark, when I should have presented myself +before the dons of Downing Street, and been admitted a something into +her Majesty's service! + +"I wish they may catch me at red-tapery!" thought I, as I shortened my +stirrups, and sat down firmly in the saddle. "I 'm much more at home +here than perched on an office-stool in that pleasant den they call the +'Nursery' at the Foreign Office." + +Guided by a groom, with a led horse beside him, I took the road to the +forest, and soon afterwards passed a dark-green barouche, with a lady +in it, closely veiled, and evidently avoiding observation. The wood is +intersected by alleys, so that I found it easy, while diverging from the +carriage-road, to keep the equipage within view, and after about half an +hour's sharp canter, I saw the carriage stop, and the Countess descend +from it. + +Even _you_ admit that I am a sharp critic about all that pertains to +riding-gear; and that as to a woman's hat, collar, gloves, habit, +and whip, I am a first-rate opinion. Now, in the present instance, +everything was perfect There was a dash of "costume" in the long +drooping feather and the snow-white gauntlets; but then all was strictly +toned down to extreme simplicity and quiet elegance. I had just time to +notice this much, and catch a glimpse of such a pair of black eyes! when +she was in the saddle at once. I only want to see a woman gather up +her reins in her hand, shake her habit back with a careless toss of +her foot, and square herself well in the saddle, to say, "That's +a horsewoman!" Egad, George, her every gesture and movement were +admirable, and the graceful bend forwards with which she struck out +into a canter was actually captivating. I stood watching her till she +disappeared in the wood, perfectly entranced. I own to you I could not +understand a Frenchwoman sitting her horse in this fashion. I had always +believed the accomplishment to be more or less English, and I felt +ashamed at the narrow prejudice into which I had fallen. + +"What an unlucky fellow that same Count must have been!" thought I; and +with this reflection I spurred my nag into a sharp pace, hoping that +fast motion might enable me to turn my thoughts into some other channel. +It was to no use. Go how I would, or where I would, I could think of +nothing but the pretty widow,--whither she might be travelling,--where +she intended to stop,--whether alone, or with others of her family,--her +probable age,--her fortune?--all would rise up before me, to trouble my +curiosity or awaken my interest. + +I was deep in my speculations, when suddenly a horse bounded past me by +a cross path. I had barely time to see the flutter of a habit, when +it was lost to view. I waited to see her groom follow, but he did not +appear. I listened, but no sound of a horse could be heard approaching. +Had her horse run away? Had her servant lost trace of her? were +questions that immediately occurred to me; but there was nothing to +suggest the answer or dispel the doubt I could bear my anxiety no +longer, and away I dashed after her. It was not till after a quarter +of an hour that I came in sight of her, and then she was skimming along +over the even turf at a very slapping pace, which, however, I quickly +perceived was no run-away gallop. + +[Illustration: 104] + +This fact proclaimed itself in a most unmistakable manner, for she +suddenly drew up, and wheeled about, pointing at the same time to the +ground, where her whip had just fallen. I dashed up and dismounted, +when, in a voice tremulous with agitation, and with a face suffused in +blushes, she begged my pardon for her gesture; she believed it was her +groom who was following her, and had never noticed his absence before. +I cannot repeat her words, but in accent, manner, tone, and utterance, +I never heard the like of them before. What would I have given at that +moment, George, for your glib facility of French! Hang me if I would not +have paid down a thousand pounds to have been able to rattle out even +some of those trashy commonplaces I have seen you scatter with such +effect in the _coulisses_ of the opera! It was all of no avail. "Where +there 's a will there 's a way," says the adage; but it's a sorry maxim +where a foreign language is concerned. All the volition in the world +won't supply irregular verbs; and the most go-ahead resolution will +never help one to genders. + +I did, of course, mutter all that I could think of; and, default of +elocution, I made my eyes do duty for my tongue, and with tolerable +success too, as her blush betrayed. I derived one advantage, too, from +my imperfect French, which is worth recording,--I was perfectly obdurate +as to anything she might have replied in opposition to my wishes, +and notwithstanding all her scruples to the contrary, persisted in +accompanying her back to the town. + +If I was delighted with her horsemanship, I was positively enchanted +with her conversation; for, the first little novelty of our situation +over, she talked away with a frank innocence and artless ease which +quite fascinated me. She was, in fact, the very realization of that +high-bred manner you have so often told me of as characterizing the best +French society. How I wished I could have prolonged that charming ride! +I 'm not quite sure that she did n't detect me in a purposed mistake of +the road, that cost us an additional mile or two; if she did, she +was gracious enough to pardon the offence without even showing +any consciousness of it. Short as the road was, George, it left me +irretrievably in love. I know you 'll not stand any raptures about +beauty, but this much I must and will say, that she is incomparably +handsomer than that Sicilian princess you raved about at Ems, and in +the same style too,--brunette, but with a dash of color in the cheek, a +faint pink, that gives a sparkling brilliancy to the rich warmth of the +southern tint. Besides this,--and let me remark, it is something,--_my_ +Countess is not two-and-twenty, at most. Indeed, but for the story of +the widowhood, I should guess her as something above nineteen. + +There 's a piece of fortune for you! and all--every bit of it--of my +own achieving too! No extraneous aid in the shape of friends, or +introductory letters. "Alone I did it," as the fellow says in the play. +Now, I do think a man might be pardoned a little boastfulness for such a +victory, and I freely own I esteem Jem Dodd a sharper fellow than I ever +believed him. + +Perhaps you suspect all this while that I am going too fast, and that +I have taken a casual success for a regular victory. If so, you 're all +wrong, my boy. She has struck her flag already, and acknowledged that +your humble servant has effected a change in her sentiments that but a +few short weeks before she would have pronounced impossible. The truth +is, George, "the Tipperary tactics" that win battles in India are just +as successful in love. Make no dispositions for a general engagement, +never trouble your head about cavalry supports, reserves, or the like, +but "just go in and win." It is a mighty short "General Order," and +cannot possibly be misapprehended. The Countess herself has acknowledged +to me, full half a dozen times within the last fortnight, that she was +quite unprepared for such warfare. She expected, doubtless, that I 'd +follow the old rubric, with opera-boxes, bouquets, _marrons glacés_, and +so on, for a month or two. Nothing of the kind, George. I frankly told +her that she was the most beautiful creature in Europe without knowing +it. That it would be little short of a sacrilege she should pass her +life in solitude and sorrow, and ten times worse than sacrilege to marry +anything but an Irishman. That in all other countries the men are either +money-getting, ambitious, or selfish, but that Paddy turns his whole +thoughts towards fun and enjoyment. That Napier's Peninsular War and +Moore's Melodies might be referred to for evidence of our national +tastes; and, in short, such a people for fighting and making love was +never recorded in history. She laughed at me for the whole of the first +week, grew more serious the second, and now, within the last three days, +instead of calling me "Monsieur le Sauvage," "Cosaque Anglais," and so +on, she gravely asks my advice about everything, and never ventures on +a step without my counsel and approbation. I have been candid with you +hitherto, Tiverton, and so I must frankly own that, profiting by the +adage that says "stratagem is equally legitimate in love as in war," I +have indulged slightly in the strategy of mystification. For instance, +I have represented the governor as a great don in his own country, +with immense estates, and an ancient title, that he does not assume in +consequence of some old act of attainder against the family. My mother +I have made a princess in her own right; and here I am on safer ground, +for, if called into court, she 'll sustain me in every assertion. Of my +own self and prospects I have spoken meekly enough, merely hinting that +I dislike diplomacy, and would rather live with the woman of my choice +in some comparatively less distinguished station, upon a pittance +of--say--three or four thousand a year! + +This latter assumption, I must observe to you, is the only one ever +disputed between us, and many a debate have we had on the subject. She +sees, as everybody sees here, that I spend money lavishly, that not +only I indulge in everything costly, but that I outbid even the Russians +whenever anything is offered for sale; and at this moment my rooms are +filled with pictures, china, carved ivory, stained glass, and other such +lumber, that I only bought for the _éclat_ of the purchase. If you +only heard her innocent remonstrances to me about my extravagance, her +anxious appeals as to what "le Prince," as she calls my father, will say +to all this wastefulness! + +It's a great trial to me sometimes not to laugh at all this, and, +indeed, if I did n't know in my heart that I 'll make her the very best +of husbands, I 'd be even ashamed of my deceit; but it's only a pious +fraud after all, and the good result will more than atone for the +roguery. + +I have hinted at our marriage, you see, and I may add that it is all +but decided on. There is, however, a difficulty which must be got over +first. She was betrothed when a child to a young Neapolitan Prince of +the blood,--a brother, I take it, of the present King. This ceremony +was overlooked on her first marriage; and had her husband lived, +very serious consequences--but of what kind I don't know--might +have resulted. Now, before contracting a second union, we must get a +dispensation of some sort from the Pope, which I fear will take time, +although she says that her uncle, the Cardinal, will do his utmost to +expedite it. + +Indeed, I may mention, incidentally, that she is a great favorite with +his Eminence, and _we_ hope to be his heirs! Egad, George, I almost +fancy myself "punting" his Eminence's gold pieces at hazard, with his +signet-ring on my finger! What a house I'll keep, old fellow! what a +stable! what a cellar!--and such cigars! Meanwhile I look to you to aid +and abet me in various ways. The Countess, like all foreigners of real +rank, knows our peerage and nobility off by heart; and she constantly +asks me if I know the Marquis of this, and the Duchess of that, and I 'm +sorely put to, to show cause why I 'm not intimate with them all. Now, +my dear Tiverton, can't you somehow give me the Shibboleth amongst these +high-priests of Fashion, and get me into the Tabernacle, if only for a +season? I used myself to know some of the swells of London life when I +was at Baden, but, to be sure, I lost a deal of money to them at "creps" +and "lansquenet" as the price of the intimacy; and when "_I_ shut up," +so did _they_ too. You, I'm sure, however, will hit upon some expedient +to gain me at least acceptance and recognition for a week or two. I only +want the outward signs of acquaintanceship, mark you, for I honestly own +that all I ever saw during my brief intimacy with these fellows gave me +anything but a high "taste of their quality." + +I'll enclose you the list of the distinguished company now here, and +you 'll pick out any to whom you can present me. Another, and not a less +important service, I also look to at your hands, which is, to break all +this to the governor, to whom I 'm half ashamed to write myself. In +the first place, a recent event, of which I may speak more fully to you +hereafter, may have made the old gent somewhat suspectful; and secondly, +he 'll be fraptious about my not going over to England; although, I +'ll take my oath, if he wants it, that I 'd pitch up the appointment +to-morrow, if I had it At the best, I don't suppose they 'd make me +more than a Secretary of Legation; and _that_, perhaps, at the Hague, or +Stuttgard, or some other confounded capital of fog and flunkeydom; and I +need n't say your friend Jem is not going to "enter for such stakes." + +You 'd like to know our plans; and so far as I can make out, we're not +to marry till we reach Italy. At Milan, probably, the dispensation will +reach us, and the ceremony will be performed by the Arch B.. himself. +This she insists upon; for about church matters and dignitaries she +stickles to a degree that I 'd laugh at if I dare; and that I intend to +do later on, when I can _dare_ with impunity. + +Except this, and a most inordinate amount of prudery, she hasn't a +fault on earth. Her reserve is, however, awful; and I almost spoiled +everything t' other evening by venturing to kiss her hand before she +drew her glove on. By Jove, did n't she give me a lecture! If any one +had only overheard her, I 'm not sure they would n't have thought me a +lucky fellow to get off with transportation for life! As it was, I +had to enter into heavy recognizances for the future, and was even +threatened with having Mademoiselle Pauline, her maid, present at all +our subsequent meetings! The very menace made me half crazy! + +After all, the fault is on the right side; and I suppose the day will +come when I shall deem it the very reverse of a failing. You will be +curious to know something about her fortune, but not a whit more so +than I am. That her means are ample--even splendid--her style of +living evidences. The whole "premier" of a fashionable hotel, four +saddle-horses, two carriages, and a tribe of servants are a strong +security for a well-filled purse; but more than that I can ascertain +nothing. + +As for myself, my supplies will only carry me through a very short +campaign, so that I am driven of necessity to hasten matters as much as +possible. Now, my dear Tiverton, you know my whole story; and I beg you +to lose no time in giving me your very best and shrewdest counsels. Put +me up to everything you can think of about settlements, and so forth; +and tell me if marrying a foreigner in any way affects my nationality. +In brief, turn the thing over in your mind in all manner of ways, and +let me have the result. + +She is confoundedly particular about knowing that my family approve +of the match; and though I have represented myself as being perfectly +independent of them on the score of fortune,--which, so far as not +expecting a shilling from them, is strictly true,--I shall probably +be obliged to obtain something in the shape of a formal consent and +paternal benediction; in which case I reckon implicitly on you to +negotiate the matter. + +I have been just interrupted by the arrival of a packet from Paris. It +is a necklace and some other trumpery I had sent for to "Le Roux." She +is in ecstasy with it, but cannot conceal her terror at my extravagance. +The twenty thousand francs it cost are a cheap price for the remark the +present elicited: "My miserable 'rente' of a hundred thousand francs," +said she, "will be nothing to a man of such wasteful habits." So, then, +we have, four thousand a year, certain, George; and, as times go, one +might do worse. + +I have no time for more, as we are going to ride out Write to me at +once, like a good fellow, and give all your spare thoughts to the +fortunes of your ever attached friend, + +James Dodd. + +Address me Lucerne, for _she_ means to remove from this at once,--the +gossips having already taken an interest in us more flattering than +agreeable. I shall expect a letter from you at the post-office. + + + + +LETTER IX. MISS MARY ANNE DODD TO THOMAS PURCELL, ESQ., OF THE GRANGE, BRUFF + +Villa della Fontana, Lake of Como + +My dear Mr. Purcell,--Poor papa has been so ill since his arrival in +Italy, that he could not reply to either of your two last letters, +and even now is compelled to employ me as his amanuensis. A misfortune +having occurred to our carriage, we were obliged to stop at a small +village called Colico, which, as the name implies, was remarkably +unhealthy. Here the gout, that had been hovering over him for some +days previous, seized him with great violence; no medical aid could +be obtained nearer than Milan, a distance of forty miles, and you may +imagine the anxiety and terror we all suffered during the interval +between despatching the messenger and the arrival of the doctor. As +it was, we did not succeed in securing the person we had sent for, he +having been that morning sentenced to the galleys for having in his +possession some weapon--a surgical instrument, I believe--that was +longer or sharper than the law permits; but Dr. Pantuccio came in his +stead, and we have every reason to be satisfied with his skill and +kindness. He bled papa very largely on Monday, twice on Tuesday, and +intends repeating it again to-day, if the strength of the patient allow +of it. The debility resulting from all this is, naturally, very great; +but papa is able to dictate to me a few particulars in reply to your +last. First, as to Crowther's bill of costs: he says, "that he certainly +cannot pay it at present," nor does he think he ever will. I do not know +how much of this you are to tell Mr. C., but you will be guided by your +own discretion in that, as on any other point wherein I may be doubtful. +Harris also must wait for his money--and be thankful when he gets it. + +You will make no abatement to Healey, but try and get the farm out of +his hands, by any means, before he sublets it and runs away to America. +Tom Dunne's house, at the cross-roads, had better be repaired; and if a +proper representation was made to the Castle about the disturbed state +of the country, papa thinks it might be made a police-station, and +probably bring twenty pounds a year. He does not like to let Dodsborough +for a "Union;" he says it's time enough when we go back there to make it +a poorhouse. As to Paul Davis, he says, "let him foreclose, if he likes; +for there are three other claims before his, and he 'll only burn his +fingers,"--whatever that means. + +Papa will give nothing to the schoolhouse till he goes back and examines +the children himself; but you are to continue his subscription to the +dispensary, for he thinks overpopulation is the real ruin of Ireland. I +don't exactly understand what he says about allowance for improvements, +and he is not in a state to torment him with questions; but it appears +to me that you are not to allow anything to anybody till some +Bill passes, or does not pass, and after that it is to be arranged +differently. I am afraid poor papa's head was wandering here, for he +mumbled something about somebody being on a "raft at sea," and hoped he +wouldn't go adrift, and I don't know what besides. + +Your post-bill arrived quite safe; but the sum is totally insufficient, +and below what he expected. I am sure, if you knew how much irritation +it cost him, you would take measures to make a more suitable remittance. +I think, on the whole, till papa is perfectly recovered, it would be +better to avoid any irritating or unpleasant topics; and if you would +talk encouragingly of home prospects, and send him money frequently, it +would greatly contribute to his restoration. + +I may add, on mamma's part and my own, the assurance of our being ready +to submit to any privation, or even misery if necessary, to bring papa's +affairs into a healthier condition. Mamma will consent to anything but +living in Ireland, which, indeed, I think is more than could be expected +from her. As it is, we keep no carriage here, nor have any equipage +whatever; our table is simply two courses, and some fruit. We are +wearing out all our old-fashioned clothes, and see nobody. If you can +suggest any additional mode of economizing, mamma begs you will favor +us with a line; meanwhile, she desires me to say that any allusion to +"returning to Dodsborough," or any plan "for living abroad as we lived +at home" will only embitter the intercourse, which, to be satisfactory, +should be free from any irritation between us. + +Of course, for the present you will write to mamma, as papa is far from +being fit for any communication on matters of business, nor does the +doctor anticipate his being able for such for some weeks to come. +We have not heard from James since he left this, but are anxiously +expecting a letter by every post, and even to see his name in the +"Gazette." Cary does not forget that she was always your favorite, and +desires me to send her very kindest remembrances, with which I beg you +to accept those of very truly yours, + +Mart Anne Dodd. + +P. S. As it is quite uncertain when papa will be equal to any exertion, +mamma thinks it would be advisable to make your remittances, for some +time, payable to her name. + +The doctor of the dispensary has written to papa, asking his support +at some approaching contest for some situation,--I believe under the +Poor-law. Will you kindly explain the reasons for which his letter has +remained unreplied to? and if papa should not be able to answer, perhaps +you could take upon yourself to give him the assistance he desires, as +I know pa always esteemed him a very competent person, and kind to +the poor. Of course the suggestion is only thrown out for your own +consideration, and in strict confidence besides, for I make it a point +never to interfere with any of the small details of pa's property. + + + + +LETTER X. MRS. DODD TO MRS. MARY GALLAGHER, DODSBOROUGH + +My dear Molly,--I received your letter in due course, and if it was n't +for crying, I could have laughed heartily over it! I don't know, I'm +sure, where you got your elegant description of the Lake of Comus; but I +am obliged to tell you it's very unlike the real article; at all events, +there 's one thing I 'm sure of,--it's a very different matter living +here like Queen Caroline, and being shut up in the same house with K. +I.; and therefore no more balderdash about my "queenly existence," and +so on, that your last was full of. + +Here we are, in what they call the Villa of the Fountains, as if there +was n't water enough before the door but they must have it spouting +up out of a creature's nose in one corner, another blowing it out of a +shell, and three naked figures--females, Molly--dancing in a pond of +it in the garden, that kept me out of the place till I had them covered +with an old mackintosh of K. I.'s. We have forty-seven rooms, and +there's barely furniture, if it was all put together, for four; and +there 's a theatre, and a billiard-room, and a chapel; but there 's +not a chair would n't give you the lumbago, and the stocks at Bruff is +pleasant compared to the grand sofa. The lake comes round three sides of +the house, and a mountain shuts in the other one, for there 's no road +whatever to it. You think I 'm not in earnest, but it's as true as I 'm +here; the only approach is by water, so that everything has to come in +boats. Of course, as long as the weather keeps fine, we 'll manage to +send into the town; but when there comes--what we 're sure to have in +this season--aquenoctial gales, I don't know what 's to become of us. +The natives of the place don't care, for they can live on figs and +olives, and those great big green pumpkins they call watermelons; but, +after K. I.'s experience, I don't think we'll try _them_. It was at a +little place on the way here, called Colico, that he insisted on having +a slice of one of these steeped in rum for his supper, because he saw +a creature eating it outside the door. Well, my dear, he relished it +so much that he ate two, and--you know the man--would n't stop till he +finished a whole melon as big as one of the big stones over the gate +piers at home. + +"Jemi," says he, when he'd done, "is this the place the hand-book says +you should n't eat any fruit in, or taste the wines of the country?" + +"I don't see that," said I; "but Murray says it's notorious for March +miasma, which is most fatal in the fall of the year." + +"What's the name of it?" said he. + +I could n't say the word before he gave a screech out of him that made +the house ring. + +"I 'm a dead man," says he; "that's the very place I was warned about." + +From that minute the pains begun, and he spent the whole night in +torture. Lord George, the kindest creature that ever breathed, got out +of his bed and set off to Milan for a doctor, but it was late in the +afternoon when he got back. Half an hour later, Molly, and it would +have been past saving him. As it was, he bled him as if he was veal: for +that's the new system, my dear, and it's the blood that does us all the +harm, and works all the wickedness we suffer from. If it's true, K. I. +will get up an altered man, for I don't think a horse could bear what he +'s gone through. Even now he 's as gentle as an infant, Molly, and you +would n't know his voice if you heard it. We only go in one at a time to +him, except Cary, that never leaves him, and, indeed, he would n't +let her quit the room. Sometimes I fancy that he 'll never be the same +again, and from a remark or two of the doctor's, I suspect it's his +head they 're afraid of. If it was n't English he raved in, I 'd be +dreadfully ashamed of the things he says, and the way he talks of the +family. + +As it is, he makes cruel mistakes; for he took Lord George the other +night for James, and began talking to him, and warning him against his +Lordship. "Don't trust him too far, Jemmy," said he. "If he was n't in +disgrace with his equals, he 'd never condescend to keep company with +us. Depend on 't, boy, he 's not 'all right,' and I wish we were well +rid of him." + +Lord George tried to make him believe that he did n't understand him, +And said something about the Parliament being prorogued, but K. I. went +on: "I suppose, then, our noble friend did n't get his Bill through the +Lords?" + +"His mind is quite astray to-night," said Lord George, in a whisper, and +made a sign for us to creep quietly away, and leave him to Caroline. +She understands him best of any of us; and, indeed, one sees her to more +advantage when there 's trouble and misery in the house than when we 're +all well and prosperous. + +We came here for economy, because K. I. determined we should go +somewhere that money couldn't be spent in. Now, as there is no road, we +cannot have horses; and as there are no shops, we cannot make purchases; +but, except for the name of the thing, Molly, might n't we as well be +at Bruff? I would n't say so to one of the family, but to you, in +confidence between ourselves, I own freely I never spent a more dismal +three weeks at Dodsborough. Betty Cobb and myself spend our time crying +over it the livelong day. Poor creature, she has her own troubles too! +That dirty spalpeen she married ran away with all her earnings, and even +her clothes; and Mary Anne's maid says that he has two other wives in +his own country. She 's made a nice fool of herself, and she sees it +now. + +How long we're to stay here in this misery, I can't guess, and K. I.'s +convalescence may be, the doctor thinks, a matter of months; and even +then, Molly, who knows in what state he 'll come out of it! Nobody +can tell if we won't be obliged to take what they call a Confession of +Lunacy against him, and make him allow that he's mad and unfit to manage +his affairs. If it was the will of Providence, I 'd just as soon be a +widow at once; for, after all, it's uncertainty that tries the spirits +and destroys the constitution worse than any other affliction. + +Indeed, till yesterday afternoon, we all thought he was going off in +a placid sleep; but he opened one eye a little, and bade Cary draw the +window-curtain, that he might look out. He stared for a while at the +water coming up to the steps of the door, and almost entirely round the +house, and he gave a little smile. "What's he thinking of?" said I, in a +whisper; but he heard me at once, and said, "I 'll tell you, Jemi, what +it was. I was thinking this was an elegant place against the bailiffs." +From that moment I saw that the raving had left him, and he was quite +himself again. + +Now, my dear Molly, you have a true account of the life we lead, and +don't you pity us? If your heart does not bleed for me this minute, I +don't know you. Write to me soon, and send me the Limerick papers, that +has all the news about the Exhibition in Dublin. By all accounts it's +doing wonderfully well, and I often wish I could see it. Cary has just +come down to take her half-hour's walk on the terrace,--for K. I. makes +her do that every evening, though he never thinks of any of the rest of +us,--and I must go and take her place; so I write myself + +Yours in haste, but in sorrow, + +Jemima Dodd + + + + +LETTER XI. MISS MARY ANNE DODD TO MISS DOOLAN, OF BALLYDOOLAN + +Villa della Fontana, Como. + +Forget thee! No, dearest Kitty. But how could such cruel words have ever +escaped your pen? To cease to retain you in memory would be to avow an +oblivion of childhood's joys, and of my youth's fondest recollections; +of those first expansions of the heart, when, "fold after fold to the +fainting air," the petals of my young existence opened one by one +before you; when my shadowy fancies grew into bright realities, and the +dream-world assumed all the lights and, alas! all the shadows of the +actual. The fact was, dearest, papa was very, very ill; I may, indeed, +say so dangerously, that at one time our greatest fears were excited for +his state; nor was it till within a few days back that I could really +throw off all apprehension and revel in that security enjoyed by the +others. He is now up for some hours every day, and able to take light +sustenance, and even to participate a little in social intercourse, +which of course we are most careful to moderate, with every regard to +his weak state; but his convalescence makes progress every hour, and +already he begins to talk and laugh, and look somewhat like himself. + +So confused is my poor head, and so disturbed by late anxieties, that +I quite forget if I have written to you since our arrival here; at all +events, I will venture on the risk of repetition so far, and say that we +are living in a beautiful villa, in a promontory of the Lake of Como. It +was the property of the Prince Belgiasso, who is now in exile from +his share in the late struggle for Italian independence, and who, +in addition to banishment, is obliged to pay above a million of +livres--about forty thousand pounds--to the Austrian Government. Lord +George, who knew him intimately in his prosperity, arranged to take the +villa for us; and it is confessedly one of the handsomest on the whole +lake. Imagine, Kitty, a splendid marble façade, with a Doric portico, so +close to the water's edge that the whole stands reflected in the crystal +flood; an Alpine mountain at the back; while around and above us the +orange and the fig, the vine, the olive, the wild cactus, and the cedar +wave their rich foliage, and load the soft air with perfume. It is not +alone that Nature unfolds a scene of gorgeous richness and beauty before +us; that earth, sky, and water show forth their most beautiful of forms +and coloring; but there is, as it were, an atmosphere of voluptuous +enjoyment, an inward sense of ecstatic delight, that I never knew nor +felt in the colder lands of the north. The very names have a magic in +their melody; the song of the passing gondolier; the star-like lamp of +the "pescatore," as night steals over the water; the skimming lateen +sail,--all breathe of Italy,--glorious, delightful, divine Italy!--land +of song, of poetry, and of love! + +Oh, how my dearest Kitty would enjoy those delicious nights upon the +terrace, where, watching the falling stars, or listening to the far-off +sounds of sweet music, we sit for hours long, scarcely speaking! How +responsively would her heart beat to the plash of the lake against her +rocky seat! and how would her gentle spirit drink in every soothing +influence of that fair and beauteous scene! With Lord George it is a +passion; and I scarcely know him to be the same being that he was on the +other side of the Alps. Young men of fashion in England assume a certain +impassive, cold, apathetic air, as though nothing could move them to any +sentiment of surprise, admiration, or curiosity about anything; and when +by an accident these emotions are excited, the very utmost expression in +which their feelings find vent is some piece of town slang,--the turf, +the mess-room, the universities, and, I believe, even the House of +Commons, are the great nurseries of this valuable gift; and as Lord +George has graduated in each of these schools, I take it he was no mean +proficient. But how different was the real metal that lay buried under +the lacquer of conventionality! Why, dearest Kitty, he is the very soul +of passion,--the wildest, most enthusiastic of creatures; he worships +Byron, he adores Shelley. He has told me the whole story of his +childhood,--one of the most beautiful romances I ever listened to. He +passed his youth at Oxford, vacillating between the wildest dissipations +and the most brilliant triumphs. After that he went into the Hussars, +and then entered the House, moving the Address, as it is called, at +one-and-twenty; a career exactly like the great Mr. Pitt's, only that +Lord G. really possesses a range of accomplishments and a vast variety +of gifts to which the Minister could lay no claim. Amidst all these +revelations, poured forth with a frank and almost reckless impetuosity, +it was still strange, Kitty, that he never even alluded to the one great +and turning misfortune of his life. He did at one time seem approaching +it; I thought it was actually on his lips; but he only heaved a deep +sigh, and said, "There is yet another episode to tell you,--the darkest, +the saddest of all,--but I cannot do it now." I thought he might have +heard my heart beating, as he uttered these words; but he was too deeply +buried in his own grief. At last he broke the silence that ensued, by +pressing my hand fervently to his lips, and saying, "But when the time +comes for this, it will also bring the hour for laying myself and +my fortunes at your feet,--for calling you by the dearest of all +names,--for--"Only fancy, Kitty,--it was just as he got this far that +Cary, who really has not a single particle of delicacy in such cases, +came up to ask me where she could find some lemons to make a drink for +papa! I know I shall never forgive her--I feel that I never can--for her +heartless interruption. What really aggravates her conduct, too, was the +kind of apology she subsequently made to me in my own room. Just imagine +her saying,-- + +"I was certain it would be a perfect boon to you to get away from that +tiresome creature." + +If you only saw him, Kitty! if you only heard him! But all I said was,-- + +"There is certainly the merit of a discovery in your remark, Cary; for +I fancy you are the first who has found out Lord George Tiverton to be +tiresome!" + +"I only meant," said she, "that his eternal egotism grows wearisome at +last, and that the most interesting person in the world would benefit by +occasionally discussing something besides himself." + +"Captain Morris, for instance," said I, sharply. + +"Even so," said she, laughing; "only I half suspect the theme is one he +'ll not touch upon!" And with this she left the room. + +The fact is, Kitty, jealousy of Lord George's rank, his high station, +and his aristocratic connections are the real secret of her animosity to +him. She feels and sees how small "her poor Captain" appears beside him, +and of course the reflection is anything but agreeable. Yet I am sure +she might know that I would do everything in my power to diminish the +width of that gulf between them, and that I would study to reconcile the +discrepancies and assuage the differences of their so very dissimilar +stations. She may, it is true, place this beyond my power to effect; but +the fault in that case will be purely and solely her own. + +You do me no more than justice, Kitty, in saying that you are sure I +will feel happy at anything which can conduce to the welfare of Dr. B.; +and I unite with you in wishing him every success his new career can +bestow. Not but, dearest, I must say that, judging from the knowledge I +now possess of life and the world, I should augur more favorably of his +prospects had he still remained in that quiet obscurity for which his +talents and habits best adapt him than adventure upon the more ambitious +but perilous career he has just embarked in. You tell me that, having +gone up to Dublin to thank one of his patrons at the late election, he +was invited to a dinner, where he made the acquaintance of the Earl of +Darewood; and that the noble Lord, now Ambassador at Constantinople, was +so struck with his capacity, knowledge, and great modesty that he made +him at once an offer of the post of Physician to the Embassy, which with +equal promptitude was accepted. + +Very flatteringly as this reads, dearest, it is the very climax of +improbability; and I have the very strongest conviction that the whole +appointment is wholly and solely due to the secret influence of Lord +George Tiverton, who is the Earl's nephew. In the first place, Kitty, +supposing that the great Earl and the small Dispensary Doctor did really +meet at the same dinner-table,--an incident just as unlikely as need be +conceived,--how many and what opportunities would there exist for that +degree of intercourse of which you speak? + +If the noble Lord did speak at all to the Doctor, it would have been in +a passing remark, an easily answered question as to the sanitary state +of his neighborhood, or a chance allusion to the march of the cholera in +the north of Europe,--so at least Lord G. says; and, moreover, that if +the Doctor did, by any accident, evidence any of the qualities for which +you give him credit, save the modesty, that the Earl would have just +as certainly turned away from him, as a very forward, presuming person, +quite forgetful of his station, and where he was then standing. You can +perceive from this that I have read the paragraph in yours to Lord G.; +but I have done more, Kitty: I have positively taxed him with having +obtained the appointment in consequence of a chance allusion I had made +to Dr. B. a few weeks ago. He denies it, dearest; but how? He says, "Oh, +my worthy uncle never reads _my_ letters; he 'd throw them aside after a +line or two; he's angry with me, besides, for not going into the 'line,' +as they call Diplomacy, and would scarcely do me a favor if I pressed +him ever so much." + +When urged further, he only laughed, and, lighting his cigar, puffed +away for a moment or two; after which he said in his careless way: +"After all, it mightn't have been a bad dodge of me to send the Doctor +off to Turkey. He was an old admirer, wasn't he?" + +After this, Kitty, to allude to the subject was impossible, and here I +had to leave it. But who could possibly have insinuated such a scandal +concerning me? or how could it have occurred to malignant ingenuity to +couple my name with that of a person in his station? I cried the entire +evening in my own room as I thought over the disgrace to which the bare +allusion exposed me. + +Is there not a fatality, then, I ask you, in everything that ties us to +Ireland? Are not the chance references to that country full of low and +unhappy associations? and yet you can talk to me of "when we come back +again." + +We are daily becoming more uneasy about James. He is now several weeks +gone, and not a line has reached us to say where he is, or what success +has attended him. I know his high-spirited nature so well, and how any +reverse or disappointment would inevitably drive him to the wildest +excesses, that I am in agony about him. A letter in your brother's hand +is now here awaiting him, so that I can perceive that even Robert is as +ignorant of his fate as we are. + +All these cares, dearest, will have doubtless thrown their shadows over +this dreary epistle, the reflex of my darkened spirit. Bear with and +pity me, dearest Kitty; and even when calmer reason refuses to follow +the more headlong impulses of my feeling, still care for, still love +Your ever heart-attached and devoted + +Mary Anne Dodd. + +P. S. The post has just arrived, bringing a letter for Lord G. in +James's hand. It was addressed Bregenz, and has been several days on +the road. How I long to learn its tidings! But I cannot detain this; so +again good-bye. + + + + +LETTER XII. KENNY JAMES DODD TO THOMAS PURCELL, ESQ., OF THE GRANGE, BRUFF + +Lake of Como. + +My dear Tom,--Though I begin this to-day, it may be it will take me to +the end of the week to finish it, for I am still very weak, and my +ideas come sometimes too quick and sometimes too slow, and, like an +ill-ordered procession, stop the road, and make confusion everywhere. +Mary Anne has told you how I have been ill, and for both our sakes, I +'ll say little more about it. One remark, however, I will make, and it +is this: that of all the good qualities we ascribe to home, there is one +unquestionably pre-eminent,--"it is the very best place to be sick in." +The monotony and sameness so wearisome in health are boons to the sick +man. The old familiar faces are all dear to him; the well-known voices +do not disturb him; the little gleam of light that steals in between the +curtains checkers some accustomed spot in the room that he has watched +on many a former sick-bed. The stray words he catches are of home +and homely topics. In a word, he is the centre of a little world, all +anxious and eager about him, and even the old watchdog subdues his growl +out of deference to his comfort. + +Now, though I am all gratitude for the affection and kindness of every +one around me, I missed twenty things I could have had at Dodsborough, +not one of them worth a brass farthing in reality, but priceless in the +estimation of that peevish, fretful habit that grows out of a sick-bed. +It was such a comfort to me to know how Miles Dogherty passed the night, +and to learn whether he got a little sleep towards morning, as I +did, and what the doctor thought of him. Then I liked to hear all the +adventures of Joe Barret, when he "went in" for the leeches, how the +mare threw him, and left him to scramble home on his feet. Then I +revelled in all that petty tyranny illness admits of, but which is only +practicable amongst one's own people, refusing this, and insisting on +that, just to exercise the little despotism that none rebel against, +but which declines into a mixed monarchy on the first day you eat +chicken-broth, and from which you are utterly deposed when you can dine +at table. In good truth, Tom, I don't wonder at men becoming _malades +imaginaires_, seeing the unnatural importance they attain to by a life +of complaining, and days passed in self-commiseration and sorrow. + +In place of all this, think of a foreign country and a foreign doctor; +fancy yourself interrogated about your feelings in a language of which +you scarcely know a word, and are conscious that a wrong tense in your +verb may be your death-warrant. Imagine yourself endeavoring, +through the flighty visions of a wandering intellect, to find out the +subjunctive mood or the past participle, and almost forgetting the +torment of your gout in the terrors of your grammar! + +This is a tiresome theme, and let us change it. Like all home-grown +people, I see you expect me to send you a full account of Italy and the +Italians within a month after my crossing the Alps. It is, after all, a +pardonable blunder on your part, since the very titles we read to books +of travels in the newspapers show that for sketchy books there +are always to be found "skipping" readers. Hence that host of +surface-description that finds its way into print from men who have +the impudence to introduce themselves as writers of "Jottings from my +Note-Book," "Loose Leaves from my Log," "Smoke Puffs from Germany," and +"A Canter over the Caucasus." Cannot these worthy folk see that the very +names of their books are exactly the apologies they should offer for not +having written them, had any kind but indiscreet friend urged them into +letterpress? "I was only three weeks in Sweden, and therefore I wrote +about it," seems to me as ugly a _non sequitur_ as need be. And now, +Tom, that I have inveighed against the custom, I am quite ready to +follow the example, and if you could only find me a publisher, I am +open to an offer for a tight little octavo, to be called "Italy from my +Bedroom Window." + +Most writers set out by bespeaking your attention on the ground of their +greater opportunities, their influential acquaintances, position, and so +forth. To this end, therefore, must I tell you that my bedroom window, +besides a half-view of the lake, has a full look-out over a very +picturesque landscape of undulating surface, dotted with villas and +cottages, and backed by a high mountain, which forms the frontier +towards Switzerland. At the first glance it seems to be a dense wood, +with foliage of various shades of green, but gradually you detect little +patches of maize and rice, and occasionally, too, a green crop of wurzel +or turnips, which would be creditable even in England; but the vine +and the olive surround these so completely, or the great mulberry-trees +enshadow them so thoroughly, that at a distance they quite escape view. +The soil is intersected everywhere by canals for irrigation, and water +is treasured up in tanks, and conveyed in wooden troughs for miles and +miles of distance, with a care that shows the just value they ascribe +to it. Their husbandry is all spade work, and I must say neatly and +efficiently done. Of course, I am here speaking of what falls under +my own observation; and it is, besides, a little pet spot of rich +proprietors, with tasteful villas, and handsomely laid-out gardens on +every side; but as the system is the same generally, I conclude that the +results are tolerably alike also. The system is this: that the landlord +contributes the soil, and the peasant the labor, the produce being +fairly divided afterwards in equal portions between them. It reads +simple enough, and it does not sound unreasonable either; while, with +certain drawbacks, it unquestionably contains some great advantages. To +the landlord it affords a fair and a certain remuneration, subject only +to the vicissitudes of seasons and the rate of prices. It attaches him +to the soil, and to those who till it, by the very strongest of all +interests, and, even on selfish grounds, enforces a degree of regard for +the well-being of those beneath him. The peasant, on the other hand, +is neither a rack-rented tenant nor a hireling, but an independent man, +profiting by every exercise of his own industry, and deriving direct +and positive benefit from every hour of his labor. It is not alone his +character that is served by the care he bestows on the culture of the +land, but every comfort of himself and his family are the consequences +of it; and lastly, he is not obliged to convert his produce into money +to meet the rent-day. I am no political economist, but it strikes me +that it is a great burden on a poor man, that he must buy a certain +commodity in the shape of a legal tender, to satisfy the claim of a +landlord. Now, here the peasant has no such charge. The day of reckoning +divides the produce, and the "state of the currency" never enters into +the question. He has neither to hunt fairs nor markets, look out for +"dealers" to dispose of his stock, nor solicit a banker to discount his +small bill. All these are benefits, Tom, and some of them great ones +too. The disadvantages are that the capabilities of the soil are not +developed by the skilful employment of capital. The landlord will not +lay out money of which he is only to receive one-half the profit. The +peasant has the same motive, and has not the money besides. The result +is that Italy makes no other progress in agriculture than the skill +of an individual husbandman can bestow. Here are no Smiths of +Deanstown,--no Sinclairs,--no Mechis. The grape ripens and the olive +grows as it did centuries ago; and so will both doubtless continue to +do for ages to come. Again, there is another, and in some respects a +greater, grievance, since it is one which saps the very essence of all +that is good in the system. The contract is rarely a direct one between +landlord and tenant, but is made by the intervention of a third party, +who employs the laborers, and really occupies the place of oar middlemen +at home. The fellow is usually a hard taskmaster to the poor man, and a +rogue to the rich one; and it is a common thing, I am told, for a fine +estate to find itself at last in the hands of the _fattore_. This is a +sore complication, and very difficult to avoid, for there are so many +different modes of culture, and such varied ways of treating the crops +on an Italian farm, that the overseer must be sought for in some rank +above that of the peasant. + +We have a notion in Ireland that the Italian lives on maccaroni; depend +upon it, Tom, he seasons it with something better. In the little village +beside me, there are three butchers' shops, and as the wealthy of the +neighborhood all market at Como, these are the recourse of the poorer +classes. Of wine he has abundance; and as to vegetables and fruits, the +soil teems with them in a rich luxuriance of which I cannot give you +a notion. Great barges pass my window every morning, with melons, +cucumbers, and cauliflowers, piled up half-mast high. How a Dutch +painter would revel in the picturesque profusion of grapes, peaches, +figs, and apricots, heaped up amidst huge pumpkins of bursting ripeness, +and those brilliant "love apples," the allusion to which was so costly +to Mr. Pickwick. You are smacking your lips already at the bare idea +of such an existence. Yes, Tom, you are reproaching Fate for not having +"raised" you, as Jonathan says, on the right side of the Alps, and +left you to the enjoyments of an easy life, with lax principles, little +garments, and a fine climate. But let me tell you, Idleness is only a +luxury WHERE OTHER PEOPLE ARE OBLIGED TO WORK; where every one indulges +in it, it is worth nothing. I remember, when sitting listlessly on +a river's bank, of a sunny day, listening to the hum of the bees, or +watching the splash of a trout in the water, I used to hug myself in the +notion of all the fellows that were screaming away their lungs in the +Law Courts, or sitting upon tall stools in dark counting-houses, or +poring over Blue-books in a committee-room, or maybe broiling on the +banks of the Ganges; and then bethink me of the easy, careless, happy +flow of my own existence. I was quite a philosopher in this way,--I +despised riches, and smiled at all ambition. + +Now there is no such resources for me here. There are eight or nine +fellows that pass the day--and the night also, I believe--under my +window, that would beat me hollow in the art of doing nothing, and seem +to understand it as a science besides. There they lie--and a nice group +they are--on their backs, in the broiling sun; their red nightcaps drawn +a little over their faces for shade; their brawny chests and sinewy +limbs displayed, as if in derision of their laziness. The very squalor +of their rags seems heightened by the tawdry pretension of a scarlet +sash round the waist, or a gay flower stuck jauntily in a filthy bonnet. +The very knife that stands half buried in the water-melon beside them +has its significance,--you have but to glance at the shape to see that, +like its owner, its purpose is an evil one. What do these fellows know +of labor? Nothing; nor will they, ever, till condemned to it at the +galleys. And what a contrast to all around them,--ragged, dirty, and +wretched, in the midst of a teeming and glorious abundance; barbarous, +in a land that breathes of the very highest civilization, and sunk in +brutal ignorance, beside the greatest triumphs of human genius. + +What a deal of balderdash people talk about Italian liberty, and the +cause of constitutional freedom! There are--and these only in the +cities--some twenty or thirty highly cultivated, well-thinking +men--lawyers, professors, or physicians, usually--who have taken pains +to study the institutions of other countries, and aspire to see some of +the benefits that attend them applied to their own; but there ends the +party. The nobles are a wretched set, satisfied with the second-hand +vices of France and England grafted upon some native rascalities of +even less merit. They neither read nor think: their lives are spent +in intrigue and play. Now and then a brilliant exception stands forth, +distinguished by intellect as well as station; but the little influence +he wields is the evidence of what estimation such qualities are held in. +My doctor is a Liberal, and a very clever fellow too; and I only wish +you heard him describe the men who have assumed the part of "Italian +Regenerators." + +Their "antecedents" show that in Italy, as elsewhere, patriotism is too +often but the last refuge of a scoundrel. I know how all this will +grate and jar upon your very Irish ears; and, to say truth, I don't like +saying it myself; but still I cannot help feeling that the "Cause +of Liberty" in the peninsula is remarkably like the process of +grape-gathering that now goes on beneath my window,--there is no care, +no selection,--good, bad, ripe, and unripe,--the clean, the filthy, the +ruddy, and the sapless, are all huddled together, pressed and squeezed +down into a common vat, to ferment into bad wine or--a revolution, as +the case may be. It does not require much chemistry to foresee that it +is the crude, the acrid, the unhealthy, and the bad that will give +the flavor to the liquor. The small element of what is really good is +utterly overborne in the vast Maelstrom of the noxious; and so we see +in the late Italian struggle. Who are the men that exercise the widest +influence in affairs? Not the calm and reasoning minds that gave the +first impulse to wise measures of Reform, and guided their sovereigns +to concessions that would have formed the strong foundations of +future freedom. No; it was the advocate of the wildest doctrines of +Socialism,--the true disciple of the old guillotine school, that ravaged +the earth at the close of the last century. These are the fellows who +scream "Blood! blood!" till they are hoarse; but, in justice to their +discretion, it must be said, they always do it from a good distance off. + +Don't fancy from this that I am upholding the Austrian rule in Italy. I +believe it to be as bad as need be, and exactly the kind of government +likely to debase and degrade a people whom it should have been their +object to elevate and enlighten. Just fancy a system of administration +where there were all penalties and no rewards,--a school with no +premiums but plenty of flogging. That was precisely what they did. They +put a "ban" upon the natives of the country; they appointed them to no +places of trust or confidence, insulted their feelings, outraged their +sense of nationality; and whenever the system had goaded them into a +passionate burst of indignation, they proclaimed martial law, and hanged +them. + +Now, the question is not whether any kind of resistance would not be +pardonable against such a state of things, but it is this: what species +of resistance is most likely to succeed? This is the real inquiry; and +I don't think it demands much knowledge of mankind and the world to +say that stabbing a cadet in the back as he leaves a _café_, shooting a +solitary sentinel on his post, or even assassinating his corporal as +he walks home of an evening, are exactly the appropriate methods for +reforming a state or remodelling a constitution. Had the Lombards +devoted themselves heart and hand to the material prosperity of their +country,--educated their people, employed them in useful works, fostered +their rising and most prosperous silk manufactories,--they would have +attained to a weight and consideration in the Austrian Empire which +would have enabled them not to solicit, but dictate the terms of their +administration. + +A few years back, as late as '47, Milan, I am told, was more than the +rival of Vienna in all that constitutes the pride and splendor of +a capital city; and the growing influence of her higher classes was +already regarded with jealousy by the Austrian nobility. Look what a +revolution has made her now! Her palaces are barracks; her squares are +encampments; artillery bivouac in her public gardens; and the rigors +of a state of siege penetrate into every private house, and poison all +social intercourse. + +You may rely upon one thing, Tom, and it is this: that no government +ever persisted in a policy of oppression towards a country that +was advancing on the road of prosperity. It is to the disaffected, +dispirited, bankrupt people--idle and cantankerous, wasting their +resources, and squandering their means of wealth--that cabinets play +the bully. They grind them the way a cruel colonel flogs a condemned +regiment. Let industry and its consequences flow in; let the laborer be +well fed, and housed, and clothed; and the spirit of independence in him +will be a far stronger and more dangerous element to deal with than the +momentary burst of passion that comes from a fevered heart in a famished +frame! Ask a Cabinet Minister if he wouldn't be more frightened by a +deputation from the City, than if the telegraph told him a Chartist mob +was moving on London? We live in an age of a very peculiar kind, and +where real power and real strength are more respected than ever they +were before. + +Don't you think I have given you a dose of politics? Well, happily for +you, I must desist now, for Cary has come to order me off to bed. It is +only two p.m., but the siesta is now one of my habits, and so pleasant a +one that I intend to keep it when I get well again. + +Nine o'clock, Evening. + +Here I am again at my desk for you, though Cary has only given me leave +to devote half an hour to your edification. + +What a good girl it is,--so watchful in all her attention, and with that +kind of devotion that shows that her whole heart is engaged in what she +is doing! The doctor may fight the malady, Tom, but, take my word for +it, it is the nurse that saves the patient. If ever I raised my eyelids, +there she was beside me! I could n't make a sign that I was thirsty till +she had the drink to my lips. She had, too, that noiseless, quiet way +with her, so soothing to a sick man; and, above all, she never bothered +with questions, but learned to guess what I wanted, and sat patiently +watching at her post. + +It is a strange confession to make, but the very best thing I know of +this foreign tour of ours is that it has not spoiled that girl; she +has contracted no taste for extra finery in dress, nor extra liberty in +morals; her good sense is not overlaid by the pretentious tone of those +mock nobles that run about calling each other count and marquis, and +fancying they are the great world. There she is, as warmhearted, +as natural, and as simple--in all that makes the real excellence of +simplicity--as when she left home. And now, with all this, I 'd wager a +crown that nineteen young fellows out of twenty would prefer Mary Anne +to her. She is, to be sure, a fine, showy girl, and has taken to a +stylish line of character so naturally that she never abandons it. + +I assure you, Tom, the way she used to come in of a morning to ask me +how I was, and how I passed the night; her graceful stoop to kiss me; +her tender little caressing twaddle, as if I was a small child to be +bribed into black-bottle by sugar-candy,--were as good as a play. The +little extracts, too, that she made from the newspapers to amuse me were +all from that interesting column called fashionable intelligence, and +the movements in fashionable life, as if it amused me to hear who Lady +Jemima married, and who gave away the bride. Cary knew better what I +cared for, and told me about the harvest and the crops, and the state +of the potatoes, with now and then a spice of the foreign news, whenever +there was anything remarkable. To all appearance, we are not far from a +war; but where it 's to be, and with whom, is hard to say. There 's no +doubt but fighting is a costly amusement; and I believe no country pays +so heavily for her fun in that shape as England; but, nevertheless, +there is nothing would so much tend to revive her drooping and declining +influence on the Continent as a little brush at sea. She is, I take +it, as good as certain to be victorious; and the very fervor of the +enthusiasm success would evoke in England would go far to disabuse the +foreigner of his notion that we are only eager about printing calicoes, +and sharpening Sheffield ware. Believe me, it is vital to us to +eradicate this fallacy; and until the world sees a British fleet reeling +up the Downs with some half-dozen dismasted line-of-battle ships in +their wake, they 'll not be convinced of what you and I know well,--that +we are just the same people that fought the Nile and Trafalgar. Those +Industrial Exhibitions, I think, brought out a great deal of trashy +sentimentality about universal brotherhood, peace, and the rest of it. I +suppose the Crystal Palace rage was a kind of allegory to show that +they who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones; but our ships, +Tom,--our ships, as the song says, are "hearts of oak"! Here's Cary +again, and with a confounded cupful of something green at top and muddy +below! Apothecaries are filthy distillers all the world over, and one +never knows the real blessing of health till one has escaped from their +beastly brewings. Good-night. + +Saturday Morning. + +A regular Italian morning, Tom, and such a view! The mists are swooping +down the Alps, and showing cliffs and crags in every tint of sunlit +verdure. The lake is blue as a dark turquoise, reflecting the banks and +their hundred villas in the calm water. The odor of the orange-flower +and the oleander load the air, and, except my vagabonds under the +window, there is not an element of the picture devoid of interest and +beauty. There they are as usual; one of them has his arm in a bloody +rag, I perceive, the consequence of a row last night,--at least, +Paddy Byrne saw a fellow wiping his knife and washing his bands in the +lake--very suspicious circumstances--just as he was going to bed. + +I have been hearing all about our neighbors,--at least, Cary has been +interrogating the gardener, and "reporting progress" to me as well +as she could make him out. This Lake of Como seems the paradise of +_ci-devant_ theatrical folk; all the prima donnas who have amassed +millions, and all the dancers that have pirouetted into great wealth, +appear to have fixed their ambition on retiring to this spot. Of a +truth, it is the very antithesis to a stage existence. The silent and +almost solemn grandeur of the scene, the massive Alps, the deep dense +woods, the calm unbroken stillness, are strong contrasts to the crash +and tumult, the unreality and uproar of a theatre. I wonder, do they +enjoy the change? I am curious to know if they yearn for the blaze +of the dress-circle and the waving pit? Do they long at heart for the +stormy crash of the orchestra and the maddening torrent of applause; +and does the actual world of real flowers and trees and terraces and +fountains seem in their eyes a poor counterfeit of the dramatic one? +It would not be unnatural if it were so. There is the same narrowing +tendency in every professional career. The doctor, the lawyer, the +priest, the soldier,--ay, and even your Parliament man, if he be an old +member, has got to take a House of Commons standard for everything and +everybody. It is only your true idler, your genuine good-for-nothing +vagabond, that ever takes wide or liberal views of life; one like +myself, in short, whose prejudices have not been fostered by any kind of +education, and who, whatever he knows of mankind, is sure to be his own. + +They 've carried away my ink-bottle, to write acknowledgments and +apologies for certain invitations the womenkind have received to go and +see fireworks somewhere on the lake; for these exhibitions seem to be a +passion with Italians! I wish they were fonder of burning powder to more +purpose! I 'm to dine below to-day, so it is likely that I 'll not be +able to add anything to this before to-morrow, when I mean to despatch +it A neighbor, I hear, has sent us a fine trout; and another has +forwarded a magnificent present of fruit and vegetables,--very graceful +civilities these to a stranger, and worthy of record and remembrance. +Lord George tells me that these Lombard lords are fine fellows,--that +is, they keep splendid houses and capital horses, have first-rate cooks, +and London-built carriages,--and, as he adds, will bet you what you like +at piquet or _écarté_. Egad, such qualities have great success in the +world, despite all that moralists may say of them! + +The ink has come back, but it is _I_ am dry now! The fact is, Tom, that +very little exertion goes far with a man in this climate! It is scarcely +noon, but the sultry heat is most oppressive; and I half agree with my +friends under the window, that the dorsal attitude is the true one for +Italy. In any other country you want to be up and doing: there are snipe +or woodcocks to be shot, a salmon to kill, or a fox to hunt; you have +to look at the potatoes or the poorhouse; there 's a row, or a road +session, or something or other to employ you; but here, it's a snug spot +in the shade you look for,--six feet of even ground under a tree; +and with that the hours go glibly over, in a manner that is quite +miraculous. + +It ought to be the best place under the sun for men of small fortune. +The climate alone is an immense economy in furs and firing; and there is +scarcely a luxury that is not, somehow or other, the growth of the +soil: on this head--the expense I mean--I can tell you nothing, for, +of course, I have not served on any committee of the estimates since +my illness; but I intend to audit the accounts to-morrow, and then you +shall hear all. Tiverton, I understand, has taken the management of +everything; and Mrs. D. and Mary Anne tell me, so excellent is his +system, that a rebellion has broken out below stairs, and three of our +household have resigned, carrying away various articles of wardrobe, and +other property, as an indemnity, doubtless, for the treatment they +had met with. I half suspect that any economy in dinners is more than +compensated for in broken crockery; for every time that a fellow is +scolded in the drawing-room, there is sure to be a smash in the plate +department immediately afterwards, showing that the national custom of +the "vendetta" can be carried into the "willow pattern." This is one of +my window observations. I wish there were no worse ones to record. + +"Not a line, not another word, till you take your broth, papa," says my +kind nurse; and as after my broth I take my sleep, I 'll just take leave +of you for to-day. I wish I may remember even half of what I wanted to +say to you tomorrow, but I have a strong moral conviction that I shall +not It is not that the oblivion will be any loss to you, Tom; but when +I think of it, after the letter is gone, I 'm fit to be tied with +impatience. Depend upon it, a condition of hopeless repining for +the past is a more terrible torture than all that the most glowing +imagination of coming evil could ever compass or conceive. + +Sunday Afternoon. + +I told you yesterday I had not much faith in my memory retaining even +a tithe of what I wished to say to you. The case is far worse than +that,--I can really recollect nothing. I know that I had questions to +ask, doubts to resolve, and directions to give, but they are all so +commingled and blended together in my distracted brain that I can make +nothing out of the disorder. The fact is, Tom, the fellow has bled me +too far, and it is not at my time of life--58° in the shade, by old +Time's thermometer--that one rallies quickly out of the hands of the +doctor. + +I thought myself well enough this morning to look over my accounts; +indeed, I felt certain that the inquiry could not be prudently delayed, +so I sent for Mary Anne after breakfast, and proceeded in state to a +grand audit. I have already informed you that all the material of life +here is the very cheapest,--meat about fourpence a pound; bread and +butter and milk and vegetables still more reasonable; wine, such as it +is, twopence a bottle; fruit for half nothing. It was not, therefore, +any inordinate expectation on my part that we should be economizing in +rare style, and making up for past extravagance by real retrenchment. +I actually looked forward to the day of reckoning as a kind of holiday +from all care, and for once in my life revel in the satisfaction of +having done a prudent thing. + +Conceive my misery and disappointment--I was too weak for rage--to find +that our daily expenses here, with a most moderate household, and no +company, amounted to a fraction over five pounds English a day. The +broad fact so overwhelmed me that it was only with camphor-julep and +ether that I got over it, and could proceed to details. Proceed to +details, do I say! Much good did it do me! for what between a new +coinage, new weights and measures, and a new language, I got soon into +a confusion and embarrassment that would have been too much for my brain +in its best days. Now and then I began to hope that I had grappled with +a fact, even a small one; but, alas! it was only a delusion, for though +the prices were strictly as I told you, there was no means of even +approximating to the quantities ordered in. On a rough calculation, +however, it appears that _my_ mutton broth took half a sheep _per +diem_. The family consumed about two cows a week in beef; besides hares, +pheasants, bams, and capons at will. The servants--with a fourth of +the wine set down to me--could never have been sober an hour; while our +vegetable and fruit supply would have rivalled Covent Garden Market. + +"Do you understand this, Mary Anne?" said I. + +"No, papa," said she. + +"Does your mother?" said I. + +"No, papa." + +"Does Lord George understand it?" + +"No, papa; but he says he is sure Giacomo can explain everything,--for +he is a capital fellow, and honest as the sun!" + +"And who is Giacomo?" said I. + +"The Maestro di Casa, papa. He is over all the other servants, pays all +the bills, keeps the keys of everything, and, in fact, takes charge of +the household." + +"Where did he come from?" + +"The Prince Belgiasso had him in his service, and strongly recommended +him to Lord George as the most trustworthy and best of servants. His +discharge says that he was always regarded rather in the light of a +friend than a domestic!" + +Shall I own to you, Tom, that I shuddered as I heard this? It may be a +most unfair and ungenerous prejudice; but if there be any class in life +of whose good qualities I entertain a weak opinion, it is of the servant +tribe, and especially of those who enter into the confidential category. +They are, to my thinking, a pestilent race, either tyrannizing over the +weakness, or fawning to the vices, of their employers. I have known a +score of them, and I rejoice to think that a very large proportion of +that number have been since transported for life. + +"Does Giacomo speak English?" asked I. + +"Perfectly, papa; as well as French, Spanish, German, and a little +Russian." + +"Send him to me, then," said I, "and let us have a talk together. + +"You can't see him to-day, papa, for he is performing St. Barnabas in a +grand procession that is to take place this evening." + +This piece of information shows me that it is a "Festa," and the post +will consequently close early, so that I now conclude this, promising +that you shall have an account of my interview with Giacomo by to-morrow +or the day after. + +Not a line from James yet, and I am beginning to feel very uncomfortable +about him. + +Yours ever faithfully, + +Kenny I. Dodd. + + + + +LETTER XIII. KENNY JAMES DODD TO THOMAS PURCELL, ESQ., OF THE GRANGE, BRUFF + +Como + +My dear Tom,--This may perchance be a lengthy despatch, for I have just +received a polite invitation from the authorities here to pack off, bag +and baggage, over the frontier; and as it is doubtful where our next +move may take us, I write this "in extenso," and to clear off all +arrears up to the present date. + +At the conclusion of my last, if I remember aright, I was in +anxious expectation of a visit from Signor Giacomo Lamporeccho. That +accomplished gentleman, however, had been so fatigued by his labors in +the procession, and so ill from a determination of blood to the +head, brought on by being tied for two hours to a tree, with his legs +uppermost, to represent the saint's martyrdom, that he could not wait +upon me till the third day after the Festa; and then his streaked +eyeballs and flushed face attested that even mock holiness is a costly +performance. + +"You are Giacomo?" said I, as he entered; and I ought to mention that +in air and appearance he was a large, full, fine-looking man, of about +eight-and-thirty or forty, dressed in very accurate black, and with +a splendid chain of mosaic gold twined and festooned across his +ample chest; opal shirt-studs and waistcoat buttons, and a very +gorgeous-looking signet-ring on his forefinger aided to show off a +stylish look, rendered still more imposing by a beard a Grand Vizier +might have envied, and a voice a semi-tone deeper than Lablache's. + +"Giacomo Lamporeccho," said he; and though he uttered the words like a +human bassoon, they really sounded as if he preferred not to be himself, +but somebody else, in case I desired it. + +"Well, Giacomo," said I, easily, and trying to assume as much +familiarity as I could with so imposing a personage, "I want you to +afford me some information about these accounts of mine." + +"Ah! the house accounts!" said he, with a very slight elevation of +the eyebrows, but quite sufficient to convey to me an expression of +contemptuous meaning. + +"Just so, Giacomo; they appear to me high,--enormously, extravagantly +high!" + +"His Excellency paid, at least, the double in London," said he, bowing. + +"That's not the question. We are in Lombardy,--a land where the price +of everything is of the cheapest. How comes it, then, that we are +maintaining our house at greater cost than even Paris would require?" + +With a volubility that I can make no pretension to follow, the fellow +ran over the prices of bread, meat, fowls, and fish, showing that they +were for half their cost elsewhere; that his Excellency's table was +actually a mean one; that sea-fish from Venice, and ortolans, seldom +figured at it above once or twice a week; that it was rare to see a +second flask of champagne opened at dinner; that our Bordeaux was bad, +and our Burgundy bitter; in short, he thought his Excellency had come +expressly for economy, as great "milors" will occasionally do, and +that if so, he must have had ample reason to be satisfied with the +experiment. + +Though every sentiment the fellow uttered was an impertinence, he +bowed and smiled, and demeaned himself with such an air of humility +throughout, that I stood puzzled between the matter and the manner +of his address. Meanwhile he was not idle, but running over with glib +volubility the names of all the "illustrissimi Inglesi" he had been +cheating and robbing for a dozen years back. To nail him to the fact +of the difference between the cost of the article and the gross sum +expended, was downright impossible, though he clearly gave to understand +that any inquiry into the matter showed his Excellency to be the +shabbiest of men,--mean, grasping, and avaricious, and, in fact, very +likely to be no "milor" at all, but some poor pretender to rank and +station. + +I felt myself waxing wroth with a weak frame,--about as unpleasant a +situation as can be fancied; for let me observe to you, Tom, that the +brawny proportions of Signor Lamporeccho would not have prevented my +trying conclusion with him, had I been what you last saw me; but, alas! +the Italian doctor had bled me down so low that I was not even a match +for one of his countrymen. I was therefore obliged to inform my friend +that, being alone with him, and our interview having taken the form of a +privileged communication, he was a thief and a robber! + +The words were not uttered, when he drew a long and glistening knife +from behind his back, under his coat, and made a rush at me. I seized +the butt-end of James's fishing-rod,--fortunately beside me,--and held +him at bay, shouting wildly, "Murder!" all the while. The room was +filled in an instant; Tiverton and the girls, followed by all the +servants and several peasants, rushing in pell-mell. Before, however, +I could speak, for I was almost choked with passion, Signor Giacomo had +gained Lord George's ear, and evidently made him his partisan. + +Tiverton cleared the room as fast as he could, mumbling out something to +the girls that seemed to satisfy them and allay their fears, and then, +closing the door, took his seat beside me. + +"It will not signify," said he to me, in a kind voice; "the thing is +only a scratch, and will be well in a day or two." + +"What do you mean?" said I. + +"Egad! you'll have to be cautious, though," said he, laughing. "It was +in a very awkward place; and that too is n't the handiest for minute +anatomy." + +"Do you want to drive me mad, my Lord; for, if not, Just take the +trouble to explain yourself." + +"Pooh, pooh!" said he; "don't fuss yourself about nothing. I understand +how to deal with these fellows. You 'll see, five-and-twenty Naps, will +set it all right." + +"I see," said I, "your intention is to outrage me; and I beg that I may +be left alone." + +"Come, don't be angry with me, Dodd," cried he, in one of his +good-tempered, coaxing ways. "I know well you 'd never have done it--" + +"Done what,--done what?" screamed I, in an agony of rage. + +He made a gesture with the fishing-rod, and burst out a-laughing for +reply. + +"Do you mean that I stuck that scoundrel that has just gone out?" cried +I. + +"And no great harm, either!" said he. + +"Do you mean that I stuck him?--answer me that." + +"Well, I 'd be just as much pleased if you had not," said he; "for, +though they are always punching holes into each other, they don't like +an Englishman to do it. Still, keep quiet, and I 'll set it all straight +before to-morrow. The doctor shall give a certificate, setting forth +mental excitement, and so forth. We 'll show that you are not quite +responsible for your actions just now." + +"Egad, you 'll have a proof of your theory, if you go on much longer at +this rate," said I, grinding my teeth with passion. + +"And then we 'll get up a provocation of some kind or other. Of course, +the thing will cost money,--that can't be helped; but we'll try to +escape imprisonment." + +"Send Cary to me,--send my daughter here!" said I, for I was growing +weak. + +"But had n't you better let us concert--" + +"Send Cary to me, my Lord, and leave me!" and I said the words in a way +that he could n't misunderstand. He had scarcely quitted the room when +Cary entered it. + +"There, dearest papa," said she, caressingly, "don't fret. It's a mere +trifle; and if he was n't a wretchedly cowardly creature, he 'd think +nothing of it!" + +"Are you in the conspiracy against me too?" cried I; "have _you_ also +joined the enemy?" + +"That I haven't," said she, putting an arm round my neck; "and I know +well, if the fellow had not grossly outraged, or perhaps menaced you, +you 'd never have done it! I 'm certain of that, pappy!" + +Egad, Tom, I don't like to own it, but the truth is--I burst out +a-crying; that's what all this bleeding and lowering has brought me to, +that I have n't the nerve of a kitten! It was the inability to rebut +all this balderdash--to show that it was a lie from beginning to +end--confounded me; and when I saw my poor Cary, that never believed ill +of me before, that, no matter what I said or did, always took my part, +and, if she could n't defend at least excused me,--when, I say, I saw +that _she_ gave in to this infernal delusion, I just felt as if my heart +was going to break, and I sincerely wished it might. + +I tried very hard to summon strength to set her right; I suppose that a +drowning man never struggled harder to reach a plank than did I to grasp +one thought well and vigorously; but to no use. My ideas danced about +like the phantoms in a magic lantern, and none would remain long enough +to be recognized. + +"I think I 'll take a sleep, my dear," said I. + +"The very wisest thing you could do, pappy," said she, closing the +shutters noiselessly, and sitting down in her old place beside my bed. + +Though I pretended slumber, I never slept a wink. I went over all this +affair in my mind, and, summing up the evidence against me, I began to +wonder if a man ever committed a homicide without knowing it,--I +mean, if, when his thoughts were very much occupied, he could stick a +fellow-creature and not be aware of it. I could n't exactly call any +case in point to mind, but I did n't see why it might not be possible. +If stabbing people was a common and daily habit of an individual, +doubtless he might do it, just as he would wind his watch or wipe +his spectacles, while thinking of something else; but as it was not a +customary process, at least where I came from, there was the difficulty. +I would have given more than I had to give, just to ask Cary a few +questions,--as, for instance, how did it happen? where is the wound? how +deep is it? and so on,--but I was so terrified lest I should compromise +my innocence that I would not venture on a syllable. One sees constantly +in the police reports how the prisoner, when driving off to jail with +Inspector Potts, invariably betrays himself by some expression of +anxiety or uneasiness, such as "Well, nobody can say I did it! I was in +Houndsditch till eleven o'clock;" or, "Poor Molly, I did n't mean +her any harm, but it was she begun it." Warned by these indiscreet +admissions, I was guarded not to utter a word. I preserved my resolution +with such firmness that I fell into a sound sleep, and never awoke till +the next morning. + +Before I acknowledged myself to be awake,--don't you know that state, +Tom, in which a man vibrates between consciousness and indolence, and +when he has not fully made up his mind whether he 'll not skulk his +load of daily cares a little longer?--I could perceive that there was +a certain stir and movement about me that betokened extraordinary +preparation, and I could overhear little scraps of discussions as to +whether "he ought to be awakened," and "what he should wear," Cary's +voice being strongly marked in opposition to everything that portended +any disturbance of me. Patience, I believe, is not my forte, though +long-suffering may be my fortune, for I sharply asked, "What the------ +was in the wind now?" + +"We'll leave him to Cary," said Mrs. D., retiring precipitately, +followed by the rest, while Cary came up to my bedside, and kindly +began her inquiries about my health; but I stopped her, by a very abrupt +repetition of my former question. + +"Oh! it's a mere nothing, pappy,--a formality, and nothing more. That +creature, Giacomo, has been making a fuss over the affair of last night; +and though Lord George endeavored to settle it, he refused, and went off +to the Tribunal to lodge a complaint." + +"Well, go on." + +"The Judge, or Prefect, or whatever he is, took his depositions, and +issued a warrant--" + +"To apprehend me?" + +"Don't flurry yourself, dearest pappy; these are simply formalities, for +the Brigadier has just told me--" + +"He is here, then,--in the house?" + +"Why will you excite yourself in this way, when I tell you that all +will most easily be arranged? The Brigadier only asks to see you,--to +ascertain, in fact, that you are really ill, and unable to be removed--" + +"To jail--to the common prison, eh?" + +"Oh, I must not talk to you, if it irritates you in this fashion; +indeed, there is now little more to say, and if you will just permit the +Brigadier to come in for a second, everything is done." + +"I 'm ready for him," said I, in a tone that showed I needed no further +information; and Cary left the room. + +After about five minutes' waiting, in an almost intolerable impatience, +the Brigadier, stooping his enormous bearskin to fully three feet, +entered with four others, armed cap-à-pic, who drew up in a line behind +him, and grounded their carbines with a clank that made the room shake. +The Brigadier, I must tell you, was a very fine soldier-like fellow, and +with fully half a dozen decorations hanging to his coat. It struck me +that he was rather disappointed; he probably expected to see a man of +colossal proportions and herculean strength, instead of the poor remnant +of humanity that chicken broth and the lancet have left me. The room, +too, seemed to fall below his expectations; for he threw his eyes around +him without detecting any armory or offensive weapons, or, indeed, any +means of resistance whatever. + +"This is his Excellency?" said he at last, addressing Cary; and she +nodded. + +"Ask him his own name, Cary," said I. "I'm curious about it." + +"My name," said he, sonorously, to her question,--"my name is Alessandro +Lamporeccho;" and with that he gave the word to his people to face +about, and away they marched with all the solemnity of a military +movement. As the door closed behind them, however, I heard a few words +uttered in whispers, and immediately afterwards the measured tread of a +sentry slowly parading the lobby outside my room. + +"That's another _formality_, Cary," said I, "is n't it?" She nodded for +reply. "Tell them I detest ceremony, my dear," said I; "and--and "--I +could n't keep down my passion--"and if they don't take that fellow +away, I'll pitch him head and crop over the banisters." I tried to +spring up, but back I fell, weak, and almost fainting. The sad truth +came home to me at once that I had n't strength to face a baby; so I +just turned my face to the wall, and sulked away to my heart's content. +If I tell you how I spent that day, the same story will do for the rest +of the week. I saw that they were all watching and waiting for some +outbreak, of either my temper or my curiosity. They tried every means +to tempt me into an inquiry of one kind or other. They dropped hints, in +half-whispers, before me. They said twenty things to arouse anxiety, and +even alarm, in me; but I resolved that if I passed my days there, I 'd +starve them out: and so I did. + +On the ninth day, when I was eating my breakfast, just as I had +finished my mutton-chop, and was going to attack the eggs, Cary, in a +half-laughing way, said, "Well, pappy, do you never intend to take the +air again? The weather is now delightful,--that second season they call +the summer of St. Joseph." + +"Ain't I a prisoner?" said I. "I thought I had murdered somebody, and +was sentenced for life to this chamber." + +"How can you be so silly!" said she. "You know perfectly well how these +foreigners make a fuss about everything, and exaggerate every trifle +into a mock importance. Now, we are not in Ireland--" + +"No," said I, "would to Heaven we were!" + +"Well, perhaps I might echo the prayer without doing any great violence +to my sincerity; but as we are not there, nor can we change the +venue--is n't that the phrase?--to our own country, what if we just were +to make the best of it, and suffer this matter to take its course here?" + +"As how, Cary?" + +"Simply by dressing yourself, and driving into Como. Your case will be +heard on any morning you present yourself; and I am so convinced +that the whole affair will be settled in five minutes that I am quite +impatient it should be over." + +I will not repeat all her arguments, some good and some bad, but every +one of them dictated by that kind and affectionate spirit which, however +her judgment incline, never deserts her. The end of it was, I got up, +shaved, and dressed, and within an hour was skimming over the calm clear +water towards the little city of Como. + +Cary was with me,--she would come,--she said she knew she did me good; +and it was true: but the scene itself--those grand, great mountains; +those leafy glens, opening to the glassy lake, waveless and still; that +glorious reach of blue sky, spanning from peak to peak of those Alpine +ridges--all soothed and calmed me; and in the midst of such gigantic +elements, I could not help feeling shame that such a reptile as I should +mar the influence of this picture on my heart by petty passions and +little fractious discontents an worthy of a sick schoolboy. + +"Is n't it enough for you, K. I.," says I, "ay, and more than you +deserve, just to live, and breathe, and have your being in such a bright +and glorious world? If you were a poet, with what images would not these +swooping mists, these fleeting shadows, people your imagination? What +voices would you hear in the wind sighing through the olive groves, and +dying in many a soft cadence along the grottoed shore? If a painter, +what effects of sunlight and shadow are there to study? what tints +of color, that, without nature to guarantee, you would never dare to +venture on? But being neither, having neither gift nor talent, being +simply one of those 4 fruit consumers,' who bring back nothing to the +common stock of mankind, and who can no more make my fellow-man wiser or +better than I make myself taller or younger, is it not a matter of +deep thankfulness that, in all my common-place of mind and thought, I +too--even K. I. that I am--have an intense feeling of enjoyment in the +contemplation of this scene? I could n't describe it like Shelley, nor +paint it like Stan field, but I 'll back myself for a five-pound note +to feel it with either of them." And there, let me tell you, Tom, is the +real superiority of Nature over all her counterfeits. You need no study, +no cultivation, no connoisseurship to appreciate her: her glorious works +come home to the heart of the peasant, as, mist-begirt, he waits for +sunrise on some highland waste, as well as to the Prince, who gazes on +the swelling landscape of his own dominions. I could n't tell a Claude +from a Canaletti,--I 'm not sure that I don't like H. B. better than +Albert Durer,--but I 'd not surrender the heartfelt delight, the calm, +intense, deep-souled gratitude I experience from the contemplation of a +lovely landscape, to possess the Stafford gallery. + +I was, then, in a far more peaceful and practicable frame of mind as we +entered Como than when I quitted the villa. + +I should like to have lingered a little in the old town itself, with its +quaint little arched passages and curious architecture; but Cary advised +me to nurse all my strength for the "Tribunal." I suppose it must +be with some moral hope of discountenancing litigation that foreign +Governments always make the Law Courts as dirty and disgusting as +possible, pitch them in a filthy quarter, and surround them with every +squalor. This one was a paragon of its kind, and for rags and ruffianly +looks I never saw the equal of the company there assembled. I am not +yet quite sure that the fellow who showed us the way did n't purposely +mislead us; for we traversed a dozen dark corridors, and went up and +went down more staircases than I have accomplished for the last six +months. Now and then we stopped for a minute to interrogate somebody +through a sliding pane in a kind of glass cage, and off we went again. +At last we came to a densely crowded passage, making way through which, +we entered a large hall with a vaulted roof, crammed with people, but +who made room at the instance of a red-eyed, red-bearded little man in +a black gown, that I now, to my horror and disgust, found out was my +counsel, being already engaged by Lord George to defend me. + +"This is treachery, Cary," whispered I, angrily. + +"I know it is," said she, "and I 'm one of the traitors; but anything is +better than to see you pine away your life in a sick-room." + +This was neither the time nor place for much colloquy, as we now had to +fight our way vigorously through the mob till we reached a row of seats +where the bar were placed, and where we were politely told to be seated. +Directly in front of us sat three ill-favored old fellows in black +gowns and square black caps, modelled after those brown-paper helmets +so popular with plasterers and stucco men in our country. I found it a +great trial not to laugh every time I looked at them! + +There was no case "on" at the moment, but a kind of wrangle was going +forward about whose was to be the next hearing, in which I could hear +my own name mingled. My lawyer, Signor Mastuccio, seemed to make a +successful appeal in my favor; for the three old "plasterers" put up +their eyeglasses, and stared earnestly at Cary, after which the chief +of them nodded benignly, and said that the case of Giacomo Lamporeccho +might be called; and accordingly, with a voice that might have raised +the echoes of the Alps, a fellow screamed out that the "homicidio"--I +have no need to translate the word--was then before the Court If I +only were to tell you, Tom, of the tiresome, tedious, and unmeaning +formalities that followed, your case in listening would be scarcely +more enviable than was my own while enduring them. All the preliminary +proceedings were in writing, and a dirty little dog, with a vile odor +of garlic about him, read some seventy pages of a manuscript which I +was informed was the accusation against me. Then appeared another +creature,--his twin brother in meanness and poverty,--who proved to be +a doctor, the same who had professionally attended the wounded man, +and who also read a memoir of the patient's sufferings and peril. +These occupied the Court till it was nigh three o'clock, when, being +concluded, Giacomo himself was called. I assure you, Tom, I gave a start +when, instead of the large, fine, burly, well-bearded rascal with the +Lablache voice, I beheld a pale, thin, weakly creature, with a miserable +treble, inform the Court that he was Giacomo Lamporeccho. + +Cary, who translated for me as he spoke, told me that he gave an account +of our interview together, in which it would appear that my conduct was +that of an outrageous maniac. He described me as accusing everybody of +roguery and cheating,--calling the whole country a den of thieves, +and the authorities their accomplices. He detailed his own mild +remonstrances against my hasty judgment, and his calm appeals to my +better reason. He dwelt long upon his wounded honor, and, what he felt +still more deeply, the wounded honor of his nation; and at last he +actually began to cry when his feelings got too much for him, at which +the Court sobbed, and the bar sobbed, and the general audience, in a +mixture of grief and menace, muttered the most signal vengeance against +your humble servant. + +I happened to be--a rare thing for me, latterly--in one of my old moods, +when the ludicrous and absurd carry away all my sympathies; and faith, +Tom, I laughed as heartily as ever I did in my life at the whole scene. +"Are we coming to the wound yet, Cary," said I, "tell me that," for the +fellow had now begun again. + +"Yes, papa, he is describing it, and, by his account, it ought to have +killed him." + +"Egad," said I, "it will be the death of _me_ with laughing;" and I +shook till my sides ached. + +"Does his Excellency know that he is in a Court of Justice?" said +Plasterer No. 1. + +"Tell him, my dear, that I quite forgot it. I fancied I was at a play, +and enjoyed it much." + +I believe Cary did n't translate me honestly, for the old fellow seemed +appeased, and the case continued. I could now perceive that my atrocious +conduct had evoked a very strong sentiment in the auditory, for +there was a great rush forward to get a look at me, and they who were +fortunate enough to succeed complimented me by a string of the most +abusive and insulting epithets. + +My advocate was now called on, and, seeing him rise, I just whispered to +Cary, "Ask the judge if we may see the wound?" + +"What does that question mean?" said the chief judge, imperiously. +"Would the prisoner dare to insinuate that the wound has no existence?" + +"You've hit it," said I. "Tell him, Cary, that's exactly what I mean." + +"Has not the prisoner sworn to his sufferings," repeated he, "and the +doctor made oath to the treatment?" + +"They 're both a pair of lying scoundrels. Tell him so, Cary." + +"You see him now. There is the man himself in his true colors, most +illustrious and most ornate judges," exclaimed Giacomo, pointing to me +with his finger, as I nearly burst with rage. + +"Ah! che diavolo! che demonio infernale!" rang out amidst the waving +crowd; and the looks bestowed on me from the bench seemed to give hearty +concurrence to the opinion. + +Now, Tom, a court of justice, be its locale ever so humble, and its +procedure ever so simple, has always struck me as the very finest +evidence of homage to civilization. There is something in the fact of +men submitting, not only their worldly interests and their characters, +but even their very passions, to the arbitration of their fellow-men, +that is indescribably fine and noble, and shows--if we even wanted such +a proof--that this corrupt nature of ours, in the midst of all its worst +influences, has still some of that divine essence within, unsullied and +untarnished. And just as I reverence this, do I execrate, with all my +heart's indignation, a corrupt judicature. The governments who employ, +and the people who tolerate them, are well worthy of each other. + +Take all the vices that degrade a nation, "bray them in a mortar," and +they 'll not eat so deep into the moral feeling of a people as a tainted +administration of the law. + +You may fancy that, in my passionate warmth, I have forgotten all about +my individual case: no such thing. I have, however, rescued myself +from the danger of an apoplexy by opening this safety-valve to my +indignation. And now I cannot resume my narrative. No, Tom, "I have lost +the scent," and all I can do is to bring you "in at the death." I was +sentenced to pay seven hundred zwanzigers,--eight-pences,--all the costs +of the procedure, the doctor's bill, and the maintenance of Giacomo +till his convalescence was completed. I appealed on the spot to an upper +court, and the judgment was confirmed! I nearly burst with indignant +anger, and asked my advocate if he had ever heard of such iniquity. +He shrugged his shoulders, smiled slightly, and said, "The law is +precarious in all countries." + +"Yes,--but," said I, "the judges are not always corrupt. Now, that old +president of the first court suggested every answer to the witness--" + +"Vincenzio Lamporeccho is a shrewd man--" + +"What! How do you call him? Is he anything to our friend Giacomo?" + +"He is his father!" + +"And the Brigadier who arrested me?" + +"Is his brother. The junior judge of the Appeal Court, Luigi +Lamporeccho, is his first cousin." + +I did n't ask more questions, Tom. Fancy a country where your butler +is brother to the chief baron, and sues you for wages in the Court of +Exchequer! + +"And you, Signor Mastuccio," said I. "I hope I have not exposed you to +the vengeance of this powerful family by your zeal in my behalf?" + +"Not in the least," said he; "my mother was a Lamporeccho herself." + +Now, Tom, I think I need not take any more pains to explain the issue of +my lawsuit; and here I'll leave it. + +My parting benediction to the Court was brief: "Goodbye, old gentlemen. +I 'm glad you have the Austrians here to bully you; and not sorry that +_you_ are here to assassinate _them_." This speech was overheard by +some learned linguist in court, and on the same evening I received an +intimation to quit the Imperial dominions within twenty-four hours. +Tiverton was for going up to Milan to Radetzky, or somebody, else, and +having it all "put straight," as he calls it; but I would not hear of +this. + +"We 'll write to the Ambassador at Vienna?" said he. + +"Nor that either," said I. + +"To the 'Times,' then." + +"Not a word of it." + +"You don't mean to say," said he, "that you 'll put up with this +treatment, and that you'll lower the name of Briton before these +foreigners by such a tame submission?" + +"My view of the case is a very simple one, my Lord," said I; "and it +is this. We travelling English are very prone to two faults; one is, +a bullying effort to oppose ourselves to the laws of the countries we +visit; and then, when we fail, a whining appeal to some minister +or consul to take up our battle. The first is stupid, the latter is +contemptible. The same feeling that would prevent me trespassing on the +hospitality of an unwilling host will rescue me from the indignity of +remaining in a country where my presence is distasteful to the rulers of +it." + +"Such a line of conduct," said he, "would expose us to insult from one +end of Europe to the other." + +"And if it teach us to stay at home, and live under laws that we +understand, the price is not too high for the benefit." + +He blustered away about what he would n't do in the Press, and in his +"place" in Parliament; but what's the use of all that? Will England go +to war for Kenny James Dodd? No. Well, then, by no other argument is the +foreigner assailable. Tell the Austrian or the Russian Government that +the company at the "Freemasons'" dinner were shocked, and the ladies at +Exeter Hall were outraged at their cruelty, and they 'll only laugh at +you. We can't send a fleet to Vienna; nor--we would n't if we could. + +I did n't tell Lord George, but to you, in confidence, Tom, I will say, +I think we have--if we liked it--a grand remedy for all these cases. Do +you know that it was thinking of Tim Ryan, the rat-catcher at Kelly's +mills, suggested it to me. Whenever Tim came up to a house with his +traps and contrivances, if the family said they did n't need him, "for +they had no rats," he 'd just loiter about the place till evening,--and, +whatever he did, or how he did it, one thing was quite sure, they had +never to make the same complaint again! Now, my notion is, whenever we +have any grudge with a foreign State, don't begin to fit out fleets or +armaments, but just send a steamer off to the nearest port with one of +the refugees aboard. I 'd keep Kossuth at Malta, always ready; +Louis Blanc and Ledru Rollin at Jersey; Don Miguel and Don Carlos at +Gibraltar; and have Mazzini and some of the rest cruising about for +any service they may be wanted on. In that way, Tom, we 'd keep these +Governments in order, and, like Tim Ryan, be turning our vermin to a +good account besides! + +I thought that Mrs. D. and Mary Anne displayed a degree of attachment to +this place rather surprising, considering that I have heard of nothing +but its inconvenience till this moment, when we are ordered to quit it. +Now, however, they suddenly discover it to be healthful, charming, and +economical. I have questioned Cary as to the secret of this change, but +she does not understand it. She knows that Lord George received a +large packet by the post this morning, and instantly hurried off to +communicate its contents to Mary Anne. By George! Tom, I have come to +the notion that to rule a family of four people, one ought to have +a "detective officer" attached to the household. Every day or so, +something puzzling and inexplicable occurs, the meaning of which never +turns up till you find yourself duped, and then it is too late to +complain. Now, this same letter Cary speaks of is at this very instant +exercising a degree of influence here, and I am to remain in ignorance +of the cause till I can pick it out from the effect. This, too, is +another blessed result of foreign travel! When we lived at home the +incidents of our daily life were few, and not very eventful; they were +circumscribed within narrow limits, and addressed themselves to the +feelings of every one amongst us. Concealment would have been absurd, +even were it possible; but the truth was, we were all so engaged with +the same topics and the same spirit, that we talked of them constantly, +and grew to think that outside the little circle of ourselves the world +was a mere wilderness. To be sure, all this sounds very narrow-minded, +and all that. So it does; but let me tell you, it conduces greatly to +happiness and contentment. + +Now, here, we have so many irons in the fire, some one or other of us is +always burning his fingers! + +I continue to be very uneasy about James. Not a line have we had from +him, and he 's now several weeks gone! I wrote to Vickars, but have not +yet heard from him in reply. Cary endeavors to persuade me that it is +only his indolent, careless habit is in fault; but I can see that she is +just as uncomfortable and anxious as myself. + +You will collect from the length of this document that I am quite myself +again; and, indeed, except a little dizziness in my head after dinner, +and a tendency to sleep, I 'm all right. Not that I complain of the +latter,--far from it, Tom. Sancho Panza himself never blessed the +inventor of it more fervently than I do. + +Sometimes, however, I think that it is the newspapers are not so amusing +as they used to be. The racy old bitterness of party spirit is dying +out, and all the spicy drollery and epigrammatic fun of former days gone +with it. It strikes me, too, Tom, that "Party," in the strong sense, +never can exist again amongst us. Party is essentially the submission of +the many to the few; and so long as the few were pre-eminent in ability +and tactical skill, nothing was more salutary. Wal-pole, Pelham, Pitt, +and Fox stood immeasurably above the men and the intelligence of +their time. Their statecraft was a science of which the mass of +their followers were totally ignorant, and the crew never dreamt of +questioning the pilot as to the course he was about to take. Whereas +now--although by no means deficient in able and competent men to +rule us--the body of the House is filled by others very little their +inferiors. Old Babbington used to say "that between a good physician and +a bad one, there was only the difference between a pound and a guinea." +In the same way, there is not a wider interval now between the Right +Honorable Secretary on the Treasury Bench and the Honorable Member below +him. Education is widely disseminated,--the intercourse of club life is +immense,--opportunities of knowledge abound on every hand,--the Press is +a great popular instructor; and, above all, the temper and tendency of +the age favors labor of every kind. Idleness is not in vogue with any +class of the whole community. What chance, then, of any man, no matter +how great and gifted he be, imposing, his opinions--_as such_--upon +the world of politics! A minister, or his opponent, may get together a +number of supporters for a particular measure, just as you or I could +muster a mob at an election or a fair; but there would be no more +discipline in the one case than in the other. They'd come now, and go +when they liked; and any chance of reducing such "irregulars" to the +habits of an army would be downright impossible! + +There is another cause of dulness, too, in the newspapers. All the +accidents--a most amusing column it used to be--are now entirely caused +by railroads; and there is a shocking sameness about them. They were +"shunting" wagons across the line when the express came up, or the +pointsman did n't turn the switch, or the fog obscured the danger +signal. With these three explanations, some hundreds of human beings are +annually smashed, smothered, and scalded, and the survivors not a whit +more provident than before. + +Cruel assaults upon women--usually the wives of the ruffians +themselves--are, I perceive, becoming a species of popular custom in +England. Every "Times" I see has its catalogue of these atrocities; and +I don't perceive that five shilling fines nor even three weeks at the +treadmill diminishes the number. One of the railroad companies announces +that it will not hold itself responsible for casualties, nor indemnify +the sufferers. Don't you think that we might borrow a hint from them, +and insert some cause of the same kind into the marriage ceremony, and +that the woman should know all her "liabilities" without any hope +of appeal? Ah! Tom Purcell, all our naval reviews, and industrial +exhibitions, and boastful "leading" articles about our national +greatness come with a very ill grace in the same broad sheet with these +degrading police histories. Must savage ferocity accompany us as we grow +in wealth and power? If so, then I 'd rather see us a third-rate power +to-morrow than rule the world at the cost of such disgrace! + +Ireland, I see, jogs on just as usual, wrangling away. They can't even +agree whether the potatoes have got the rot or not. Some of the papers, +too, are taking up the English cry of triumph over the downfall of our +old squirearchy; but it does not sound well from _them_. To be sure, +some of the new proprietors would seem not only to have taken our +estates, but tasted the Blarney-stone besides; and one, a great man too, +has been making a fine speech with his "respected friend, the Reverend +Mr. O'Shea," on his right hand, and vowing that he 'll never turn out +anybody that pays the rent, nor dispossess a good tenant! The stupid +infatuation of these English makes me sick, Tom. Why, with all their +self-sufficiency, can't they see that we understand our own people +better than they do? We know the causes of bad seasons and short +harvests better; we know the soil better, and the climate better, and if +we haven't been good landlords, it is simply because we couldn't afford +it. Now, they are rich, and can afford it; and if they have bought up +Irish estates to get the rents out of them, I 'd like to know what's to +be the great benefit of the change. "Pay up the arrears," says I; but if +my Lord Somebody from England says the same, I think there 's no use in +selling _me_ out, and taking _him_ in my place. And this brings me to +asking when I'm to get another remittance? I _am_ thinking seriously of +retrenchment; but first, Tom, one must have something to retrench upon. +You must possess a salary before you can stand "stoppages." Of course +we mean "to come home again." I have n't heard that the Government have +selected me for a snug berth in the Colonies; so be assured that you'll +see us all back in Dodsborough before-- + +Mrs. D. had been looking over my shoulder, Tom, while I was writing the +last line, and we have just had what she calls an "explanation," but +what ordinary grammarians would style--a row. She frankly and firmly +declares that I may try Timbuctoo or the Gambia if I like, but back to +Ireland she positively will not go! She informs me, besides, that she +is quite open to an arrangement about a separate maintenance. But my +property, Tom, is like poor Jack Heffernan's goose,--it would n't bear +carving, so he just helped himself to it all! And, as I said to Mrs. D., +two people may get some kind of shelter under one umbrella, but they 'll +infallibly be wet through if they cut it in two, and each walk off with +his half. "If you were a bit of a gentleman," said she, "you 'd give it +all to the lady." That's what I got for my illustration. + +But now that I 'm safe once more, I repeat, you shall certainly see us +back in our old house again, and which, for more reasons than I choose +to detail here, we ought never to have quitted. + +I have been just sent for to a cabinet council of the family, who are +curious to know whither we are going from this; and as I wish to appear +prepared with a plan, and am not strong in geography, I 'll take a +look at the map before I go. I've hit it, Tom,--Parma. Parma will do +admirably. It's near, and it's never visited by strangers. There 's a +gallery of pictures to look at, and, at the worst, plenty of cheese to +eat. Tourists may talk and grumble as they will about the dreary aspect +of these small capitals, without trade and commerce, with a beggarly +Court and a ruined nobility,--to me they are a boon from Heaven. You can +always live in them for a fourth of the cost of elsewhere. The head +inn is your own, just as the Piazza is, and the park at the back of the +palace. It goes hard but you can amuse yourself poking about into old +churches, and peeping into shrines and down wells, pottering into the +market-place, and watching the bargaining for eggs and onions; and when +these fail, it's good fun to mark the discomfiture of your womankind at +being shut up in a place where there's neither opera nor playhouse,--no +promenade, no regimental band, and not even a milliner's shop. + +From all I can learn, Parma will suit me perfectly; and now I 'm off +to announce my resolve to the family. Address me there, Tom, and with a +sufficiency of cash to move further when necessary. + +I 'm this moment come back, and not quite satisfied with what I 've +done. Mrs. D. and Mary Anne approve highly of my choice. They say +nothing could be better. Some of us must be mistaken, and I fervently +trust that it may not be + +Your sincere friend, + +Kenny James Dodd. + + + + +LETTER XIV. JAMES DODD TO LORD GEORGE TIVERTON, M.P. + +Cour de Vienne, Mantua. + +My dear George,--I 've only five minutes to give you; for the horses are +at the door, and we 're to start at once. I have a great budget for you +when we meet; for we've been over the Tyrol and Styria, spent ten days +at Venice, and "done" Verona and the rest of them,--John Murray in hand. + +We 're now bound for Milan, where I want you to meet us on our arrival, +with an invitation from my mother, asking Josephine to the villa. I 've +told her that the note is already there awaiting her, and for mercy' +sake let there be no disappointment. + +This dispensation is a horrible tedious affair; but I hope we shall have +it now within the present month. The interval _she_ desires to spend +in perfect retirement, so that the villa is exactly the place, and the +attention will be well timed. + +Of course they ought to receive her as well as possible. Mary Anne, +I know, requires no hint; but try and persuade the governor to +trim himself up a little, and if you could make away with that old +flea-bitten robe be calls his dressing-gown, you 'd do the State +some service. Look to the servants, too, and smarten them up; a cold +perspiration breaks over me when I think of Betty Cobb! + +I rely on you to think of and provide for everything, and am ever your +attached friend, + +James Dodd. + +I changed my last five-hundred-pound note at Venice, so that I must +bring the campaign to a close immediately. + + + + +LETTER XV. MRS. DODD TO MRS. MARY GALLAGHER, DODSBOROUGH + +Parma, the "Cour de Parme." + +My dear Molly,--When I wrote to you last, we were living, quietly, it is +true, and unostensively, but happily, on the Lake of Comus, and there +we might have passed the whole autumn, had not K. L, with his usual +thoughtfulness for the comfort of his family, got into a row with the +police, and had us sent out of the country. + +No less, my dear! Over the frontier in twenty-four hours was the word; +and when Lord George wanted to see some of the great people about it, or +even make a stir in the newspapers, he wouldn't let him. "No," said he, +"the world is getting tired of Englishmen that are wronged by foreign +governments. They say, naturally enough, that there must be some fault +in ourselves, if we are always in trouble, this way; and, besides, I +would not take fifty pounds, and have somebody get up in the House and +move for all the correspondence in the case of Mr. Dodd, so infamously +used by the authorities in Lombardy." Them 's his words, Molly; and when +we told him that it was a fine way of getting known and talked about in +the world, what was his answer do you think? "I don't want notoriety; +and if I did, I 'd write a letter to the 'Times,' and say it was I that +defended Hougoumont, in the battle of Waterloo. There seems to be +a great dispute about it, and I don't see why I could n't put in my +claim." + +I suppose after that, Molly, there will be very little doubt that his +head isn't quite right, for he was no more at Waterloo than you or me. + +It was a great shock to us when we got the order to march; for on that +same morning the post brought us a letter from James, or, at least, it +came to Lord George, and with news that made me cry with sheer happiness +for full two hours after. I was n't far wrong, Molly, when I told you +that it 's little need he 'd have of learning or a profession. Launch +him out well in life was my words to K. I. Give him ample means to +mix in society and make friends, and see if he won't turn it to good +account. I know the boy well; and that's what K. I. never did,--never +could. + +See if I 'm not right, Mary Gallagher. He went down to the baths of--I'm +afraid of the name, but it sounds like "Humbug," as well as I can make +out--and what does he do but make acquaintance with a beautiful young +creature, a widow of nineteen, rolling in wealth, and one of the first +families in France! + +How he did it, I can't tell; no more than where he got all the money he +spent there on horses and carriages and dinners, and elegant things that +he ordered for her from Paris. He passed five weeks there, courting her, +I suppose; and then away they went, rambling through Germany, and over +the mountains, down to Venice. She in her own travelling-carriage, +and James driving a team of four beautiful grays of his own; and then +meeting when they stopped at a town, but all with as much discretion as +if it was only politeness between them. At last he pops the question, +Molly; and it turns out that she has no objection in life, only that +she must get a dispensation from the Pope, because she was promised and +betrothed to the King of Naples, or one of his brothers; and though she +married another, she never got what they call a Bull of release. + +This is the hardest thing in the world to obtain; and if it was n't that +she has a Cardinal an uncle, she might never get it. At all events, +it will take time, and meanwhile she ought to live in the strictest +retirement. To enable her to do this properly, and also by way of +showing her every attention, James wrote to have an invitation ready for +her to come down to the villa and stay with us on a visit. + +By bad luck, my dear, it was the very morning this letter came, K. I. +had got us all ordered away! What was to be done, was now the question; +we daren't trust him with the secret till she was in the house, for we +knew well he 'd refuse to ask her,--say he could n't afford the expense, +and that we were all sworn to ruin him. We left it to Lord George to +manage; and he, at last, got K. I. to fix on Parma for a week or two, +one of the quietest towns in Italy, and where you never see a coach in +the streets, nor even a well-dressed creature oat on Sunday. K. I. was +delighted with it all; saving money is the soul of him, and he never +thinks of anything but when he can make a hard bargain. What he does +with his income, Molly, the saints alone can tell; but I suspect that +there's some sinners, too, know a trifle about it; and the day will come +when I 'll have the proof! Lord G. sent for the landlord's +tariff, and it was reasonable enough. Rooms were to be two +zwanzigers--one-and-fourpence--apiece; breakfast, one; dinner, two +zwanzigers; tea, half a one; no charge for wine of the place; and if we +stayed any time, we were to have the key of a box at the opera. + +K. I. was in ecstasy. "If I was to live here five or six years," says +he, "and pay nobody, my affairs wouldn't be so much embarrassed as they +are now!" + +"If you 'd cut off your encumbrances, Mr. Dodd," says I, "that would +save something." + +"My what?" said he, flaring up, with a face like a turkey-cock. + +But I was n't going to dispute with him, Molly; so I swept out of the +room, and threw down a little china flowerpot just to stop him. + +The same day we started, and arrived here at the hotel, the "Cour de +Parme," by midnight; it was a tiresome journey, and K. I. made it worse, +for he was fighting with somebody or other the whole time; and Lord +George was not with us, for he had gone off to Milan to meet James; and +Mr. D. was therefore free to get into as many scrapes as he pleased. +I must say, he did n't neglect the opportunity, for he insulted the +passport people and the customhouse officers, and the man at the bridge +of boats, and the postmasters and postilions everywhere. "I did n't come +here to be robbed," said he everywhere; and he got a few Italian words +for "thief," "rogue," "villain," and so on; and if I saw one, I saw ten +knives drawn on him that blessed day. He would n't let Cary translate +for him, but sat on the box himself, and screamed out his directions +like a madman. This went on till we came to a place called San Donino, +and there--it was the last stage from Parma--they told him he could n't +have any horses, though he saw ten of them standing all ready harnessed +and saddled in the stable. I suppose they explained to him the reason, +and that he did n't understand it, for they all got to words together, +and it was soon who 'd scream loudest amongst them. + +At last K. I. cried out, "Come down, Paddy, and see if we can't get four +of these beasts to the carriage, and we 'll not ask for a postilion." + +Down jumps Paddy out of the rumble, and rushes after him into the +stable. A terrible uproar followed this, and soon after the stable +people, helpers, ostlers, and postboys, were seen running out of +the door for their lives, and K. I. and Paddy after them, with two +rack-staves they had torn out of the manger. "Leave them to me," says K. +I.; "leave them to me, Paddy, and do you go in for the horses; put them +to, and get a pair of reins if you can; if not, jump up on one of the +leaders, and drive away." + +If he was bred and born in the place, he could not have known it better, +for he came out the next minute with a pair of horses, that he fastened +to the carriage in a trice, and then hurried back for two more, that +he quickly brought out and put to also. "There 's no whip to be found," +says he, "but this wattle will do for the leaders; and if your honor +will stir up the wheelers, here 's a nice little handy stable fork to do +it with." With this Paddy sprung into the saddle, K. I. jumped up to the +box, and off they set, tearing down the street like mad. It was pitch +dark, and of course neither of them knew the road; but K. I. screamed +out, "Keep in the middle, Paddy, and don't pull up for any one." We +went through the village at a full gallop, the people all yelling and +shouting after us; but at the end of the street there were two roads, +and Paddy cried out, "Which way now?" "Take the widest, if you can see +it," screamed out K. I.; and away he went, at a pace that made the big +travelling-carriage bump and swing like a boat at sea. + +[Illustration: 164] + +We soon felt we were going down a dreadful steep, for the carriage was +all but on top of the horses, and K. I. kept screaming out, "Keep up +the pace, Paddy. Make them go, or we'll all be smashed." Just as he +said that I heard a noise, like the sea in a storm,--a terrible sound +of rushing, dashing, roaring water; then a frightful yell from Paddy, +followed by a plunge. "In a river, by ------!" roared out K. I.; and as +he said it, the coach gave a swing over to one side, then righted, then +swung back again, and with a crash that I thought smashed it to atoms, +fell over on one side into the water. + +"All right," said K. I.; "I turned the leaders short round and saved +us!" and with that he began tearing and dragging us out. I fell into +a swoon after this, and know no more of what happened. When I came to +myself, I was in a small hut, lying on a bed of chestnut leaves, and the +place crowded with peasants and postilions. + +"There 's no mischief done, mamma," said Cary. "Paddy swam the leaders +across beautifully, for the traces snapped at once, and, except the +fright, we 're nothing the worse." + +"Where's Mary Anne?" said I. + +"Talking to the gentleman who assisted us--outside--some friend of Lord +George's, I believe, for he is with him." + +Just as she said this, in comes Mary Anne with Lord George and his +friend. + +"Oh, mamma," says she, in a whisper, "you don't know who it is,--the +Prince himself." + +"Ah, been and done it, marm," said he, addressing me with his glass in +his eye. + +"What, sir?" said I. + +"Taken a 'header,' they tell me, eh? Glad there's no harm done." + +"His Serene Highness hopes you 'll not mind it, mamma," said Mary Anne. + +"Oh, is _that_ it?" said I. + +"Yes, mamma. Isn't he delightful,--so easy, so familiar, and so truly +kind also." + +"He has just ordered up two of his own carriages to take us on." + +By this time his Serene Highness had lighted his cigar, and, seating +himself on a log of wood in the corner of the hut, began smoking. In the +intervals of the puffs he said,-- + +"Old gent took a wrong turning--should have gone left--water very high, +besides, from the late rains--regular smash--wish I 'd seen it." + +K. I. now joined us, all dripping, and hung round with weeds and +water-lilies,--as Lord George said, like an ancient river-god. "In any +other part of the globe," said he, "there would have been a warning of +some kind or other stuck up here to show there was n't a bridge; but +exactly as I said yesterday, these little beggarly States, with their +petty governments, are the curse of Europe." + +"Hush, papa, for mercy' sake," whispered Mary Anne; "this is the Prince +himself; it is his Serene Highness--" + +"Oh, the devil!" said he. + +"My friend, Mr. Dodd, Prince," said Lord George, presenting him with a +sly look, as much as to say, "the same as I told you about." + +"Dodd--Dodd--fellow of that name hanged, wasn't there?" said the Prince. + +"Yes, your Highness; he was a Dr. Dodd, who committed forgery, and for +whom the very greatest public sympathy was felt at the time," said K. I. + +"Your father, eh?" + +"No, your Highness, no relation whatever," + +"Won't have him at any price, George," said the Prince, with a wink. +"Never draw a weed, miss?" said he, turning to Mary Anne. + +I don't know what she said, but it must have been smart, for his Serene +Highness laughed heartily and said,-- + +"Egad, I got it there, Tiverton!" + +In due time a royal carriage arrived. The Prince himself handed us in, +and we drove off with one of the Court servants on the box. To be sure, +we forgot that we had left K. I. behind; but Mary Anne said he 'd have +no difficulty in finding a conveyance, and the distance was only a few +miles. + +"I wish his Serene Highness had not taken away Lord George," said Mary +Anne; "he insists upon his going with him to Venice." + +"For my part," said Cary, "though greatly obliged to the Prince for his +opportune kindness to ourselves, I am still more grateful to him for +this service." + +On that, my dear, we had a dispute that lasted till we got to our +journey's end; for though the girls never knew what it was to disagree +at home in Dodsborough, here, abroad, Cary's jealousy is such that she +cannot control herself, and says at times the most cruel and unfeeling +things to her sister. + +At last we got to the end of this wearisome day, and found ourselves at +the door of the inn. The Court servant said something to the landlord, +and immediately the whole household turned out to receive us; and the +order was given to prepare the "Ambassador's suite of apartments for +us." + +"This is the Prince's doing," whispered Mary Anne in my ear. "Did you +ever know such a piece of good fortune?" + +The rooms were splendid, Molly; though a little gloomy when we first got +in, for all the hangings were of purple velvet, and the pictures on +the walls were dark and black, so that, though we had two lamps in our +saloon and above a dozen caudles, you could not see more than one-half +the length of it. + +I never saw Mary Anne in such spirits in my life. She walked up and +down, admiring everything, praising everything; then she 'd sit down to +the piano and play for a few minutes, and then spring up and waltz about +the room like a mad thing. As for Cary, I didn't know what became of +her till I found that she had been downstairs with the landlord, getting +him to send a conveyance back for her father, quite forgetting, as Mary +Anne said, that any fuss about the mistake would only serve to expose +us. And there, Molly, once for all, is the difference between the two +girls! The one has such a knowledge of life and the world, that she +never makes a blunder; and the other, with the best intentions, is +always doing something wrong! + +We waited supper for K. I. till past one o'clock; but, with his usual +selfishness and disregard of others, he never came till it was nigh +three, and then made such a noise as to wake up the whole house. It +appeared, too, that he missed the coach that was sent to meet him, and +he and Paddy Byrne came the whole way on foot! Let him do what he will, +he has a knack of bringing disgrace on his family! The fatigue and wet +feet, and his temper more than either, brought back the gout on him, and +he did n't get up till late in the afternoon. We were in the greatest +anxiety to tell him about James; but there was no saying what humor he'd +be in, and how he'd take it. Indeed, his first appearance did not augur +well. He was cross with everything and everybody. He said that sleeping +on that grand bed with the satin hangings was like lying in state after +death, and that our elegant drawing-room was about as comfortable as a +cathedral. + +He got into a little better temper when the landlord came up with the +bill of fare, and to consult him about the dinner. + +"Egad!" said he, "I've ordered fourteen dishes; so I don't think they'll +make much out of the two zwanzigers a head!" Out of decency he had to +order champagne, and a couple of bottles of Italian wine of a very high +quality. "It's like all my economy," says he; "five shillings for a +horse, and a pound to get him shod!" + +We saw it was best to wait till dinner was over before we spoke to him; +and, indeed, we were right, for he dined very heartily, finished the two +bottles every glass, and got so happy and comfortable that Mary Anne sat +down to the piano to sing for him. + +"Thank you, my darling," said he, when she was done. "I 've no doubt +that the song is a fine one, and that you sung it well, but I can't +follow the words, nor appreciate the air. I like something that touches +me either with an old recollection, or by some suggestion for the +future; and if you 'd try and remember the 'Meeting of the Waters,' or +'Where's the Slave so lowly'--" + +"I 'm afraid, sir, I cannot gratify you," said she; and it was all she +could do to get out of the room before he heard her sobbing. + +"What's the matter, Jemi," said he, "did I say anything wrong? Is Molly +angry with me?" + +"Will you tell me," said I, "when you ever said anything right? Or do +you do anything from morning till night but hurt the feelings and dance +upon the tenderest emotions of your whole family? I've submitted to it +so long," said I, "that I have no heart left in me to complain; but now +that you drive me to it, I 'll tell you my mind;" and so I did, Molly, +till he jumped up at last, put on his hat, and rushed downstairs into +the street. After which I went to my room, and cried till bedtime! As +poor Mary Anne said to me, "There was a refined cruelty in that request +of papa's I can never forget;" nor is it to be expected she should! + +The next morning at breakfast he was in a better humor, for the table +was covered with delicacies of every kind, fruit and liqueurs besides. +"Not dear at eightpence, Jemi," he 'd say, at every time he filled his +plate. "Just think the way one is robbed by servants, when you see what +can be had for a 'zwanziger;'" and he made Cary take down a list of the +things, just to send to the "Times," and show how the English hotels +were cheating the public. + +We saw that this was a fine opportunity to tell him about James, and so +Mary Anne undertook the task. "And so he never went to London at all," +he kept repeating all the while. No matter what she said about the +Countess, and her fortune, and her great connections; nothing came out +of his lips but the same words. + +"Don't you perceive," said I, at last, for I could n't bear it any +longer, "that he did better,--that the boy took a shorter and surer road +in life than a shabby place under the Crown!" + +"May be so," said he, with a deep sigh,--"may be so! but I ought to +be excused if I don't see at a glance how any man makes his fortune by +marriage!" + +I knew that he meant that for a provocation, Molly, but I bit my lips +and said nothing. + +We then explained to him that we had sent off a note to the Countess, +asking her to pass a few weeks with us, and were in hourly expectation +of her arrival. + +He gave another heavy sigh, and drank off a glass of Curaçoa. + +Mary Anne went on about our good luck in finding such a capital hotel, +so cheap and in such a sweet retired spot,--just the very thing the +Countess would like. + +"Never went to London at all!" muttered K. I., for he could n't get his +thoughts out of the old track. And, indeed, though we were all talking +to him for more than an hour afterwards, it was easy to see that he was +just standing still on the same spot as before. I don't ever remember +passing a day of such anxiety as that, for every distant noise of +wheels, every crack of a postilion's whip, brought us to the window to +see if they were coming. We delayed dinner till seven o'clock, and put +K. I.'s watch back, to persuade him it was only five; we loitered and +lingered over it as long as we could, but no sight nor sound was there +of their coming. + +"Tell Paddy to fetch my slippers, Molly," said K. I., as we got into the +drawing-room. + +"Oh, papa! impossible," said she; "the Countess may arrive at any +moment." + +"Think of his never going to London at all," said he, with a groan. + +I almost cried with spite, to see a man so lost to every sentiment of +proper pride, and even dead to the prospects of his own children! + +"Don't you think I might have a cigar?" said he. + +"Is it here, papa?" said Mary Anne. "The smell of tobacco would +certainly disgust the Countess." + +"He thinks it would be more flattering to receive her into all the +intimacy of the family," said I, "and see us without any disguise." + +"Egad, then," said he, bitterly, "she's come too late for _that_; she +should have made our acquaintance before we began vagabondizing over +Europe, and pretending to fifty things we 've no right to!" + +"Here she is,--here they are!" screamed Mary Anne at this moment; and, +with a loud noise like thunder, the heavy carriage rolled under the +arched gateway, while crack--crack--crack went the whips, and the big +bell of the ball began ringing away furiously. + +"_I'm_ off, at all events," said K. I.; and snatching one of the candles +off the table, he rushed out of the room as hard as he could go. + +I had n't more than time to put my cap straight on my head, when I heard +them on the stairs; and then, with a loud bang of the folding-doors, the +landlord himself ushered them into the room. She was leaning on James's +arm, but the minute she saw me, she rushed forward and kissed my hand! +I never was so ashamed in my life, Molly. It was making me out such a +great personage at once, that I thought I 'd have fainted at the very +notion. As to Mary Anne, they were in each other's arms in a second, +and kissed a dozen times. Cary, however, with a coldness that I'll never +forgive her for, just shook hands with her, and then turned to embrace +James a second time. + +While Mary Anne was taking off her shawl and her bonnet, I saw that she +was looking anxiously about the room. + +"What is it?" said I to Mary Anne,--"what does she want?" "She's asking +where's the Prince; she means papa," whispered Mary Anne to me; and +then, in a flash, I saw the way James represented us. "Tell her, my +dear," said I, "that the Prince was n't very well, and has gone to bed." +But she was too much engaged with us all to ask more about him, and we +all sat down to tea, the happiest party ever you looked at. I had +time now to look at her; and really, Molly, I must allow, she was the +handsomest creature I ever beheld. She was a kind of a Spanish beauty, +brown, and with jet-black eyes and hair, but a little vermilion on her +cheeks, and eyelashes that threw a shadow over the upper part of her +face. As to her teeth, when she smiled,--I thought Mary Anne's good, but +they were nothing in comparison. When she caught me looking at her, she +seemed to guess what was passing in my mind, for she stooped down and +kissed my hand twice or thrice with rapture. + +It was a great loss to me, as you may suppose, that I could n't speak +to her, nor understand what she said to me; but I saw that Mary Anne +was charmed with her, and even Cary--cold and distant as she was at +first--seemed very much taken with her afterwards. + +When tea was over, James sat down beside me, and told me everything. +"If the governor will only behave handsomely for a week or two," said +he,--"I ask no more,--that lovely creature and four thousand a year are +all my own." He went on to show me that we ought to live in a certain +style--not looking too narrowly into the cost of it--while she was with +us. "She can't stay after the fourteenth," said he, "for her uncle the +Cardinal is to be at Pisa that day, and she must be there to meet him; +so that, after all, it's only three weeks I 'm asking for, and a couple +of hundred pounds will do it all. As for me," said he, "I'm regularly +aground,--haven't a ten-pound note remaining, and had to sell my 'drag' +and my four grays at Milan, to get money to come on here." + +He then informed me that her saddle-horses would arrive in a day or two, +and that we should immediately provide others, to enable him and the +girls to ride out with her. "She is used to every imaginable luxury," +said he, "and has no conception that want of means could be the +impediment to having anything one wished for." + +I promised him to do my best with his father, Molly: but you may guess +what a task that was; for, say what I could, the only remark I could get +out of him was, "It's very strange that he never went to London." + +After all, Molly, I might have spared myself all my fatigue and all my +labor, if I had only had the common-sense to remember what he was,--what +he is,--ay, and what he will be--to the end of the chapter. He was n't +well in the room with her the next morning, when I saw the old fool +looking as soft and as sheepish at her as if he was making love himself. +I own to you, Molly, I think she encouraged it. She had that French way +with her, that seems to say, "Look as long as you like, and I don't mind +it;" and so he did,--and even after breakfast I caught him peeping under +the "Times" at her foot, which, I must say, was beautifully shaped and +small; not but that the shoe had a great deal to say to it. + +"I hope you 're pleased, Mr. Dodd?" said I, as I passed behind his +chair. + +"Yes," said he; "the funds is rising." + +"I mean with the prospect," said I. + +"Yes," said he; "we 'll be all looking up presently." + +"Better than looking down," said I, "you old fool!" + +I could n't help it, Molly, if it was to have spoiled everything,--the +words would come out. + +He got very red in the face, Molly, but said nothing, and so I left +him to his own reflections. And it is what I'm now going to do with +yourself, seeing that I 've come to the end of all my news, and +carefully jotted down everything that has occurred here for your +benefit. Four days have now passed over, and they don't seem like as +many hours, though the place itself has not got many amusements. + +The young people ride out every morning on horseback, and rarely come +back until time to dress for dinner. Then we all meet; and I must say +a more elegant display I never witnessed! The table covered with plate, +and beautiful colored glass globes filled with flowers. The girls in +full dress,--for the Countess comes down as if she was going to a Court, +and wears diamond combs in her head, and a brooch of the same, as large +as a cheese-plate. I too do my best to make a suitable appearance,--in +crimson velvet and a spangled turban, with a deep fall of gold +fringe,--and, except the "Prince,"--as we call K. I.,--we are all fit to +receive the Emperor of Russia. In the evening we have music and a game +of cards, except on the opera nights, which we never miss; and then, +with a nice warm supper at twelve o'clock, Molly, we close as pleasant +a day as you could wish. Of course I can't tell you much more about +the Countess, for I 'm unable to talk to her, but she and Mary Anne are +never asunder; and, though Cary still plays cold and retired, she can't +help calling her a lovely creature. + +It seems there is some new difficulty about the dispensation; and the +Cardinal requires her to do "some meritorious works," I think they call +them, before he 'll ask for it. But if ever there was a saintly young +creature, it is herself; and I hear she's up at five o'clock every +morning just to attend first mass. + +Here they are now, coming up the stairs, and I have n't more than time +to seal this, and write myself + +Your attached friend, + +Jemima Dodd. + +Mary Anne begs you will tell Kitty Doolan that she has not been able to +write to her, with all the occupation she has lately had, but will take +the very first moment to send her at least a few lines. As James's good +luck will soon be no secret, you may tell it to Kitty, and I think it +won't be thrown away on her, as I suspect she was making eyes at him +herself, though she might be his mother! + + + + +LETTER XVI. MISS MARY ANNE DODD TO MISS DOOLAN, OF BALLYDOOLAN + +Parma. + +Dearest Kitty,--It is but seldom I have to bespeak your indulgence on +the score of my brevity, but I must do so now, overwhelmed as I am with +occupation, and scarcely a moment left me that I can really call my own. +Mamma's letter to old Molly will have explained to you the great fortune +which has befallen James, and, I might add also, all who belong to +him. And really, dearest, with all the assurance the evidence of my own +senses can convey, I still find it difficult to credit such unparalleled +luck. Fancy beauty--and such beauty,--youth, genius, mind, rank, and a +large fortune, thrown, I may say, at his feet! She is Spanish, by the +mother's side; "Las Caldenhas," I think the name, whose father was a +grandee of the first class. Her own father was the General Count de +St. Amand, who commanded in the celebrated battle of Austerlitz in +the retreat from Moscow. I 'm sure, dearest, you 'll be amazed at my +familiarity with these historical events; but the truth is, she is a +perfect treasury of such knowledge, and I must needs gain some little by +the contact. + +I am at a loss how to give you any correct notion of one whose +universality seems to impart to her character all the semblance of +contradictory qualities. She is, for instance, proud and haughty, to +a degree little short of insolence. She exacts from men a species of +deference little less than a slavish submission. As she herself says, +"Let them do homage." All her ideas of life and society are formed on +the very grandest scale. She has known, in fact, but one "set," and +that has been one where royalties moved as private individuals. Her very +trinkets recall such memories; and I have passed more than one morning +admiring pearl ear-rings, with the cipher of the Czarawitsch; bracelets +with the initials of an Austrian Archduke, and a diamond cross, which +she forgot whether it was given her by Prince Metternich or Mehemet Ali. +If you only heard her, too, how she talks of that "dear old thing, the +ex-King of Bavaria," and with what affectionate regard she alludes to +"her second self,--the Queen of Spain," you 'd feel at once, dearest +Kitty, that you were moving amidst crowns and sceptres, with the rustle +of royal purple beside, and the shadow of a thronely canopy over you. In +one sense, this has been for us the very rarest piece of good fortune; +for, accustomed as she has been to only one sphere,--and that the very +highest,--she does not detect many little peculiarities in papa's and +mamma's habits, and censure them as vulgar, but rather accepts them as +the ways and customs among ordinary nobility. In fact, she thinks the +Prince, as she calls papa, the very image of "Pozzo di Borgo;" and mamma +she can scarcely see without saying, "Your Majesty," she is so like the +Queen Dowager of Piedmont. + +As to James, if it were not that I knew her real sentiments, and that +she loves him to distraction,--merely judging from what goes on in +society,--I should say he had not a chance of success. She takes +pleasure, I almost think, in decrying the very qualities he has most +pretension to. She even laughs at his horsemanship; and yesterday went +so far as to say that activity was not amongst his perfections,--James, +who really is the very type of agility! One of her amusements is to +propose to him some impossible feat or other, and the poor boy has +nearly broken his back and dislocated his limbs by contortions that +nothing but a fish could accomplish. But the contrarieties of her nature +do not end here! She, so grave, so dignified, so imperious, I might even +call it, before others, once alone with me becomes the wildest creature +in existence. The very moment she makes her escape to her own room, she +can scarcely control her delight at throwing off the "Countess," as she +says herself, and being once again free, joyous, and unconstrained. + +I have told her, over and over again, that if James only knew her in +these moods, that he would adore her even more than he does now; but +she only laughs, and says, "Well, time enough; he shall see me so one of +these days." It was not till after ten or twelve days that she admitted +me to her real confidence. The manner of it was itself curious. "Are you +sleepy?" said she to me, one evening as we went upstairs to bed; "for, +if not, come and pay me a visit in my room." + +[Illustration: 176] + +I accepted the invitation; and after exchanging my evening robe for a +dressing-gown, hastened to the chamber. I could scarcely believe my +eyes as I entered! She was seated on a richly embroidered cushion on +the floor, dressed in Turkish fashion, loose trousers of gold-sprigged +muslin, with a small fez of scarlet cloth on her head, and a jacket of +the same colored velvet almost concealed beneath its golden embroidery; +a splendid scimitar lay beside her, and a most costly pipe, in pure +Turkish taste, which, however, she did not make use of, but smoked a +small paper cigarette instead. + +"Come, dearest," said she, "turn the key in the door, and light your +cigar; here we are at length free and happy." It was in vain that I +assured her I never had tried to smoke. At first she would n't believe, +and then she actually screamed with laughter at me. "One would fancy," +said she, "that you had only left England yesterday. Why, child, where +have you lived and with whom?" I cannot go over all she said; nor need +I repeat the efforts I made to palliate my want of knowledge of life, +which she really appeared to grieve over. "I should never think of +asking your sister here," said she; "there is a frivolity in all her +gayety--a light-heartedness, without sentiment--that I cannot abide; +but you, _ma chère_, you have a nature akin to my own. You ought, and, +indeed, must be one of us." + +So far as I could collect, Kitty,--for remember, I was smoking my first +cigarette all this time, and not particularly clear of head,--there is a +set in Parisian society, the most exclusive and refined of all, who have +voted the emancipation of women from all the slavery and degradation +to which the social usages of the world at large would condemn them. +Rightly judging that the expansion of intelligence is to be acquired +only in greater liberty of action, they have admitted them to a freer +community and participation in the themes which occupy men's thoughts, +and the habits which accompany their moods of reflection. + +Gifted, as we confessedly are, with nicer and more acute perceptions, +finer powers of discrimination and judgment, greater delicacy of +feeling, and more apt appreciation of the beautiful and the true, why +should we descend to an intellectual bondage? As dearest Josephine +says, "Our influence, to be beneficial, should be candidly and openly +exercised, not furtively practised, and cunningly insinuated. Let us +leave these arts to women who want to rule their husbands; our destiny +be it--to sway mankind!" Her theory, so far as I understand it, is that +men will not endure petty rivalries, but succumb at once to superior +attainments. Thus, your masculine young lady, Kitty,--your creature of +boisterous manners, slang, and slap-dash,--is invariably a disgust; +but your true "lionne," gifted yet graceful, possessing every manly +accomplishment and yet employing her knowledge to enhance the charms of +her society and render herself more truly companionable, the equal of +men in culture, their superior in taste and refinement, exercises a +despotic influence around her. + +Men will quit the _salon_ for the play-table. Let us, then, be gamblers +for the nonce, and we shall not be deserted. They smoke, that they may +get together and talk with a freedom and a license not used before +us. Let us adopt the custom, and we are no longer debarred from their +intimacy and the power of infusing the refining influences of our sex +through their barbarism! As Josephine says, "We are the martyrs now, +that we may be the masters hereafter!" + +I grew very faint, once or twice, while she was talking; and, indeed, +at last was obliged to lie down, and have my temples bathed with +eau-de-Cologne, so that I unluckily lost many of her strongest arguments +and happiest illustrations; but, from frequent conversations since, and +from reading some of the beautiful romances of "Georges Sand," I +have attained to, if not a full appreciation, at least an unbounded +admiration of this beautiful system. + +Have I forgotten to tell you that we met the Prince of Pontremoli on our +way here?--a Serene Highness, Kitty! but as easy and as familiar as my +brother James. The drollest thing is that he has lived while in England +with all the "fast people," and only talks a species of conventional +slang in vogue amongst them; but for all that he is delightful,--full +of gayety and good spirits, and has the wickedest dark eyes you ever +beheld. + +Dear Josephine's caprices are boundless! Yesterday she read of a black +Arabian that the Imaum of somewhere was sending as a present to General +Lamoricière, and she immediately said, "Oh, the General is exiled now, +he can't want a charger,--send and get him for _me_." Poor James is +out all the morning in search of some one to despatch on this difficult +service; but how it is to be accomplished--not to speak of where the +money is to come from--is an unreadable riddle to + +Your affectionate and devoted + +Mary Anne Dodd. + +You will doubtless be dissatisfied, dearest Kitty, if I seal this +without inserting one word about myself and my own prospects. But what +can I say, save that all is mist-wreathed and shadowy in the dim future +before me? _He_ has said nothing since. I see--it is but too plain to +see--the anguish that is tearing his very heart-strings; but he buries +his sorrow within his soul, and I am not free even to weep beside +the sepulchre! Oh, dearest, when you read what Georges Sand has +written,--when you come to ponder over the misenes the fatal institution +of marriage has wrought in the world,--the fond hearts broken, the noble +natures crushed, and the proud spirits degraded,--you will only wonder +why the tyranny has been borne so long! and exclaim with me, "When--oh, +when shall we be free!" + + + + +LETTER XVII. KENNY JAMES DODD TO THOMAS PURCELL, ESQ., OF THE GRANGE BRUFF + +Parma. + +My dear Tom,--The little gleam of sunshine that shone upon us for +the last week or so has turned out to be but the prelude of a regular +hurricane, and all our feasting and merriment have ended in gloom, +darkness, and disunion. Mrs. D.'s letter to old Molly has made known +to you the circumstances under which James returned home to us, without +ever having gone to London. You, of course, know all about the lovely +young widow, with her immense jointure and splendid connections. If you +do not, I must say that from my heart and soul I envy you, for I have +heard of nothing else for the last fortnight! At all events, you have +heard enough to satisfy you that the house of Dodd was about to garnish +its escutcheon with some very famous quarterings,:--illustrious enough +even to satisfy the pride of the McCarthys. A Cardinal's daughter--niece +I mean--with four thousand a year, had deigned to ally herself with us, +and we were all running breast-high in the blaze of our great success. + +She came here on a visit to us while some negotiations were being +concluded with the Papal Court, for we were great folk, Tom, let me tell +you, and have been performing, so to say, in the same piece with popes, +kings, and cardinals for the last month; and I myself, under the style +and title of the "Prince," have narrowly escaped going mad from the +unceasing influences of delusions, shams, and impositions in which we +have been living and moving. + +Of our extravagant mode of life, I'll only say that I don't think there +was anything omitted which could contribute to ruin a moderate income. +Splendid apartments, grand dinners, horses, carriages, servants, +opera-boxes, bouquets, were all put in requisition to satisfy the young +Countess that she was about to make a suitable alliance, and that any +deficiencies observable in either our manners or breeding were fully +compensated for by our taste in cookery and our tact in wine. To be +plain, Tom, to obtain this young widow with four thousand a year, we had +to pretend to be possessed of about four times as much. It was a regular +game of "brag" we were playing, and with a very bad hand of cards! + +Hope led me on from day to day, trusting that each post would bring +us the wished-for consent, and that at least a private marriage would +ratify the compact Popes and cardinals, however, are too stately for +fast movements, and at the end of five weeks we had n't, so far as I +could see, gained an inch of ground! + +At one time his Holiness had gone off to Albano to bless somebody's +bones, or the bones were coming to bless _him_, I forget which. At +another, the King of Naples, fatigued with signing warrants for death +and the galleys, desired to enjoy a little repose from public business. +Cardinal Antonelli, hearing that we were Irish, got in a rage, and said +that Ireland gave them no peace at all. And so it came to pass that the +old thief--procrastination--was at his usual knavery; and for want of +better, set to work to ruin poor Kenny Dodd! + +It is only fair to observe that, except Cary and myself, nobody +manifested any great impatience at this delay; and even she, I believe, +merely felt it out of regard to me. The others seemed satisfied to fare +sumptuously every day; and assuredly the course of true love ran most +smoothly along in rivulets of "mock turtle" and "potages à la fiancée." +At last, Tom, I brought myself to book with the simple question, "How +long can this continue? Will your capital stand it for a month, or even +a week?" Before I attempted the answer, I sent for Mrs. D., to give her +the honor of solving the riddle if she could. + +Our interview took place in a little crib they call my dressing-room, +but which, I must remark to you, is a dark corner under a staircase, +where the rats hold a parliament every night of the season. Mrs. D. was +so shocked with the locality that she proposed our adjourning to her own +apartment; and thither we at once repaired to hold our council. + +I have too often wearied you with our domestic differences to make any +addition to such recitals pleasant to either of us. You know us both +thoroughly, besides, and can have no difficulty in filling up the debate +which ensued. Enough that I say Mrs. D. was more than usually herself. +She was grandly eloquent on the prospect of the great alliance; +contemptuously indifferent about the petty sacrifice it was to cost us; +caustically criticised the narrow-mindedness by which I measured such +grandeur; winding up all with the stereotyped comparison between Dodds +and M'Carthys, with which she usually concludes an engagement, just as +they play "God save the Queen" at Vauxhall to show that the fireworks +are over. + +"And now," said I, "that we have got over preliminaries, when is this +marriage to come off?" + +"Ask the Pope when he'll sign the Bull," said she, tartly. + +"Do you know," said I, "I think the 'Bull is a mistake'?" but she did +n't take the joke, and I went on. "After that, what delays are there?" + +"I suppose the settlement will take some time. You 'll have to make +suitable provision for James, to give him a handsome allowance out of +the estate." + +"Egad, Mrs. D.," said I, "it must be _out_ of it with a vengeance, for +there's no man living will advance five hundred _upon_ it." + +"And who wants them?" said she, angrily. "You know what I mean, well +enough!" + +"Upon my conscience, ma'am, I do not," said I. "You must just take pity +on my stupidity and enlighten me." + +"Isn't it clear, Mr. D.," said she, "that when marrying a woman with a +large fortune he ought to have something himself?" + +"It would be better he had; no doubt of it!" + +"And if he has n't? if what should have come to him was squandered and +made away with by a life of--No matter, I'll restrain my feelings." + +"Don't, then," said I, "for I find that _mine_ would like a little +expansion." + +It took her five minutes, and a hard struggle besides, before she could +resume. She had, so to say, "taken off the gloves," Tom, and it went +hard with her not to have a few "rounds" for her pains. By degrees, +however, she calmed down to explain that by a settlement on James she +never contemplated actual value, but an inconvertible medium, a mere +parchmentary figment to represent lands and tenements,--just, in fact, +what we had done before, and with such memorable success, in Mary Anne's +case. + +"No," said I, aloud, and at once,--"no more of that humbug! You got me +into that mess before I knew where I was. You involved me in such a maze +of embarrassments that I was glad to take any, even a bad road, to get +away from them. But you 'll not catch me in the same scrape again; and +rather than deliberately sit down to sign, seal, and deliver myself a +swindler, James must die a bachelor, that's all!" + +If I had told her, Tom, that I was going into holy orders, and intended +to be Bishop of Madagascar, she could not have stared at me with more +surprise. + +"What's come over you?" said she, at last; "what 's the meaning of all +these elegant fine sentiments and scruples? Are you going to die, Mr. +D.? Is it making your soul you are?" + +"However unmannerly the confession, Mrs. D.," said I, "I 'm afraid I +'m not going to die; but the simple truth is that I can't be a rogue in +cold blood; maybe, if I had the luck to be born a M'Carthy, I might +have had better ideas on the subject." This was a poke at Morgan James +M'Carthy that was transported for altering a will. + +She could n't speak with passion; she was struck dumb with rage, and +so, finding the enemy's artillery spiked, I opened a brisk fire at +musket-range; in other words, I told her that all we had been hitherto +doing abroad rarely went beyond making ourselves ridiculous, but that, +though I liked fun, I could n't push a joke as far as a felony. And, +finally, I declared, in a loud and very unmistakable manner, that as I +had n't a sixpence to settle on James, I 'd not go through the mockery +of engrossing a lie on parchment; that I thought very meanly of the +whole farce we were carrying on; and that if I was only sure I could +make myself intelligible in my French, I 'd just go straight to the +Countess and say,--I 'm afraid to write the words as I spoke them, lest +my spelling should be even worse than my pronunciation, for they were in +French, but the meaning was,--"I 'm no more a Prince than I 'm Primate +of Ireland. I 'm a small country gentleman, with an embarrassed estate +and a rascally tenantry. I came abroad for economy, and it has almost +ruined me. If you like my son, there he is for you; but don't flatter +yourself that we possess either nobility or fortune." + +"You 've done it now, you old--------." The epithet was lost in a +scream, Tom, for she went off in strong hysterics; so I just rang the +bell for Mary Anne, and slipped quietly away to my own room. I trust it +is a good conscience does it for me, but I find that I can almost always +sleep soundly when I go to bed; and it is a great blessing, Tom,--for +let me tell you, that after five or six and fifty, one's waking hours +have more annoyances than pleasures about them; but the world is just +like a man's mistress: he cares most for it when it is least fond of +him! + +I slept like a humming-top, and, indeed, there 's no saying when I +should have awoke, if it had n't been for the knocking they kept up at +my door. + +It was Cary at last got admittance, and I had only to look in her face +to see that a misfortune had befallen us. + +"What is it, my dear?" said I. + +"All kinds of worry and confusion, pappy," said she, taking my hand in +both of hers. "The Countess is gone." + +"Gone?--how?--where?" + +"Gone. Started this morning,--indeed, before daybreak,--I believe for +Genoa; but there 's no knowing, for the people have been evidently +bribed to secrecy." + +"What for?--with what object?" + +"The short of the matter is this, pappy. She appears to have overheard +some conversation--evidently intended to be of a private nature--that +passed between you and mamma last night. How she understood it does not +appear, for, of course, you did n't talk French." + +"Let that pass. Proceed." + +"Whatever it was that she gathered, or fancied she gathered, one thing +is certain: she immediately summoned her maid, and gave orders to pack +up; post-horses were also ordered, but all with the greatest secrecy. +Meanwhile she indited a short note to Mary Anne, in which, after +apologizing for a very unceremonious departure, she refers her to you +and to mamma for the explanation, with a half-sarcastic remark 'that +family confidences had much better be conducted in a measured tone of +voice, and confined to the vernacular of the speakers.' With a very +formal adieu to James, whom she styles 'votre estimable frère,' the +letter concludes with an assurance of deep and sincere consideration on +the part of Josephine de St. A." + +"What does all this mean?" exclaimed I, with a terrible misgiving, Tom, +that I knew only too well how the mischief originated. + +"That is exactly what I want you to explain, pappy," said she, "for the +letter distinctly refers to something within your knowledge." + +"I must see the document itself," said I, cautiously; "fetch me the +letter." + +"James carried it off with him." + +"Off with him,--why, is he gone too?" + +"Yes, pappy, he started with post-horses after her,--at least, so far as +he could make out the road she travelled. Poor fellow! he seemed almost +out of his mind when he left this." + +"And your mother, how is she?" + +Cary shook her head mournfully. + +Ah, Tom, I needed but the gesture to show me what was in store for me. +My fertile imagination daguerreotyped a great family picture, in which +I was shortly to fill a most lamentable part. My prophetic soul--as a +novelist would call it--depicted me once more in the dock, arraigned for +the ruin of my children, the wreck of their prospects, and the downfall +of the Dodds. I fancied that even Cary would turn against me, and almost +thought I could hear her muttering, "Ah, it was papa did it all!" + +While I was thus communing with myself, I received a message from Mrs. +D. that she wished to see me. I take shame to myself for the confession, +Tom, but I own that I felt it like an order to come up for sentence. +There could be no longer any question of my guilt,--my trial was over; +there remained nothing but to hear the last words of the law, which +seemed to say, "Kenny Dodd, you have been convicted of a great offence. +By your blundering stupidity--your unbridled temper, and your gratuitous +folly--you have destroyed your son's chance of worldly fortune, blasted +his affections, and--and lost him four thousand a year. But your +iniquity does not end even here. You have also--" As I reached this, the +door opened, and Mrs. D., in her "buff coat," as I used to call a +certain flannel dressing-gown that she usually donned for battle, slowly +entered, followed by Mary Anne, with a whole pharmacopoeia of +restoratives,--an "ambulance" that plainly predicted hot work before us. +Resolving that our duel should have no witnesses, I turned the girls out +of the room, and for the same reason do I preserve a rigid secrecy as to +all the details of our engagement; enough when I say that the sun went +down upon our wrath, and it was near nightfall when we drew off our +forces. Though I fought vigorously, and with the courage of despair, I +couldn't get over the fact that it was my unhappy explosion in French +that did all the mischief. I tried hard to make it appear that her +sudden departure was rather a boon than otherwise; that our expenses +were terrific, and, moreover, that, as I was determined against any +fictitious settlement, her flight had only anticipated a certain +catastrophe; but all these devices availed me little against my real +culpability, which no casuistry could get over. + +"Well, ma'am," said I, at last, "one thing is quite clear,--the +Continent does not suit us. All our experience of foreign life and +manners neither guides us in difficulty nor warns us when in danger. Let +us go back to where we are, at least, as wise as our neighbors,--where +we are familiar with the customs, and where, whatever our shortcomings, +we meet with the indulgent judgment that comes of old acquaintance." + +"Where 's that?" said she. "I 'm curious to know where is this elegant +garden of paradise?" + +"Bruff, ma'am,--our own neighborhood." + +"Where we were always in hot water with every one. Were you ever out +of a squabble on the Bench or at the poorhouse? Were n't you always +disputing about land with the tenants, and about water with the miller? +Had n't you a row at every assizes, and a skirmish at every road +session? Bruff, indeed; it's a new thing to hear it called the Happy +Valley!" + +"Faith, I know I 'm not Rasselas," said I. + +"You're restless enough," said she, mistaking the word; "but it's your +own temper that does it. No, Mr. D., if you want to go back to Ireland, +I won't be selfish enough to oppose it; but as for myself, I 'll never +set a foot in it." + +"You are determined on that?" said I. + +"I am," said she. + +"In that case, ma'am," said I, "I 'm only losing valuable time waiting +for you to change your mind; so I 'll start at once." + +"A pleasant journey to you, Mr. D.," said she, flouncing out of the +room, and leaving me the field of battle, but scarcely the victory. Now, +Tom, I 've too much to do and to think about to discuss the point that I +know you 're eager for,--which of us was more in the wrong. Such debates +are only casuistry from beginning to end. Besides, at all events, _my_ +mind is made up. I 'll go back at once. The little there ever was of +anything good about me is fast oozing away in this life of empty parade +and vanity. Mary Anne and James are both the worse of it; who knows how +long Cary will resist its evil influence? I'll go down to Genoa, and +take the Peninsular steamer straight for Southampton. I 'm a bad sailor, +but it will save me a few pounds, and some patience besides, in escaping +the lying and cheating scoundrels I should meet in a land journey. + +To any of the neighbors, you may say that I 'm coming home for a few +weeks to look after the tenants; and to any whom you think would believe +it, just hint that the Government has sent for me. + +I conclude that I 'll be very short of cash when I reach Genoa, so send +me anything you can lay hands on, and believe me, + +Ever yours faithfully, + +Kenny James Dodd. + +P. S. I told you this was a cheap place. The bill has just come up, and +it beats the "Clarendon"! It appears that his Serene Highness told them +to treat us like princes, and we must pay in the same style. I'm going +to settle' part of our debt by parting with our travelling-carriage, +which, besides assisting the exchequer, will be a great shock to Mrs. +D., and a foretaste of what she has to come down to when I 'm gone. +It is seldom that a man can combine the double excellence of a great +financier and a great moralist! + + + + +LETTER XVIII. MARY ANNE DODD TO MISS DOOLAN, OP BALLYDOOLAN + +"Cour de Parme," Parma. + +Dearest Kitty,--So varied have been my emotions of late, and with such +whirlwind rapidity have they succeeded each other in my distracted +brain, that I am really at a loss to know where I left off in my last +epistle to you, and at what particular crisis in our adventures I closed +my narrative. Forgive me, dearest, if I impose on you the tiresome task +of listening twice to the same tale, or the almost equally unpleasant +duty of trying to follow me through gaps of unexplained events. + +Have I told you of the Countess's departure,--that most mysterious +flight, which has thrown poor James into, I fear, a hopeless melancholy, +and made shipwreck of his heart forever? I feel as if I had revealed it +to my dearest Kitty; my soul whispers to me that she bears her share in +my sorrows, and mingles her tears with mine. Yes, dearest, she is gone! +Some indiscreet revelations papa made to mamma in his room would +appear to have disclosed more of our private affairs than ought to have +obtained publicity, were overheard by her, and she immediately gave +orders to her servants to pack up, leaving a very vague note behind +her, plainly intimating, however, that papa might, if he pleased, +satisfactorily account for the step she had taken. This, and a few +almost flippant acknowledgments of our attentions, concluded an epistle +that fell in the midst of us like a rocket. + +If I feel deeply wounded at the slight thus shown us, and the still +heavier injury inflicted on poor dear James, yet am I constrained to +confess that Josephine was quite justified in what she did. Born in +the very highest class, all her habits, her ways, her very instincts +aristocratic, the bare thought of an alliance with a family struggling +with dubious circumstances must have been too shocking! I did not ever +believe that she returned James's affection; she liked him, perhaps, +well enough,--that is, well enough to marry! She deemed him her equal in +rank and fortune, and in that respect regarded the match as a fair one. +To learn that we were neither titled nor rich, neither great by station +nor rolling in wealth, was of course to feel that she had been deceived +and imposed upon, and might reasonably warrant even the half-sarcastic +spirit of her farewell note. + +To tell what misery this has cost us all is quite beyond me; scorned +affection,--blasted hopes,--ambitions scattered to the winds,--a +glorious future annihilated! Conceive all of these that you can, +and then couple them with meaner and more vulgar regrets, as to what +enormous extravagance the pursuit has involved us in, the expense of a +style of living that even a prince could scarcely have maintained, and +all at a little secluded capital where nobody comes, nobody lives; so +that we do not reap even the secondary advantage of that notoriety for +which we have to pay so dearly. Mamma and I, who think precisely alike +on these subjects, are overwhelmed with misery as we reflect over what +the money thus squandered would have done at Rome, Florence, or Vienna! + +James is distracted, and papa sits poring all day long over papers and +accounts, by way of arranging his affairs before his death. Cary alone +maintains her equanimity, for which she may thank the heartlessness of a +nature insensible to all feeling. + +Imagine a family circle of such ingredients! Think of us as you saw +us last, even in all the darkness of Dodsborough, and you will find it +difficult to believe we are the same! Yet, dearest, it might all have +been different,--how different! But papa--there is no use trying to +conceal it--has a talent for ruining the prospects of his family, that +no individual advantages, no combination of events, however felicitous, +can avail against! An absurd and most preposterous notion of being what +he calls "honest and aboveboard" leads him to excesses of every kind, +and condemns us to daily sorrows and humiliations. It is in vain that +we tell him nobody parades his debts no more than his infirmities; that +people wear their best faces for the world, and that credit is the same +principle in morals as in mercantile affairs. His reply is, "No. I 'm +tired of all that. I never perform a great part without longing for the +time when I shall be Kenny Dodd again!" + +This one confession will explain to you the hopelessness of all our +efforts to rise in life, and our last resource is in the prospect of his +going back to Ireland. Mamma has already proposed to accept a thousand +a year for herself and me; while Cary should return with papa to +Dodsborough. It is possible that this arrangement might have been +concluded ere this, but that papa has got a relapse of his gout, and +been laid up for the last eight days. He refuses to see any doctor, +saying that they all drive the malady in by depletion, and has taken to +drinking port wine all day long, by way of confining the attack to his +foot. What is to be the success of this treatment has yet to be seen, +but up to this time its only palpable effect has been to make him like +a chained tiger. He roars and shouts fearfully, and has smashed all the +more portable articles of furniture in the room,--throwing them at the +waiters. He insists, besides, on having his bill made up every night, +so that instead of one grand engagement once a week, we have now a smart +skirmish every evening, which usually lasts till bedtime. + +For economy, too, we have gone up to the second story, and come down to +a very meagre dinner. No carriage,--no saddle-horses,--no theatre. The +courier dismissed, and a strict order at the bar against all "extras." + +James lies all day abed; Cary plays nurse to papa; mamma and I sit +moping beside a little miserable stove till evening, when we receive our +one solitary visitor,--a certain Father M'Grail, an Irish priest, who +has been resident here for thirty years, and is known as the Padre +Giacomo! He is a spare, thin, pock-marked little man, with a pair of +downcast, I was going to say dishonest-looking, eyes, who talks with an +accent as rich as though he only left Kilrush yesterday. We have only +known him ten days, but he has already got an immense influence over +mamma, and induced her to read innumerable little books, and to practise +a variety of small penances besides. I suspect he is rather afraid +of _me_,--at least we maintain towards each other a kind of armed +neutrality; but mamma will not suffer me to breathe a word against him. + +It is not unlikely that he owes much of the esteem mamma feels for him +to his own deprecatory estimate of papa, whom he pronounces to be, in +many respects, almost as infamous as a Protestant. Cary he only alludes +to by throwing up hands and eyes, and seeming to infer that she is +irrecoverably lost. + +I own to you, Kitty, I don't like him,--I scarcely trust him,--but it +is, after all, such a resource to have any one to talk to, anything to +break the dull monotony of this dreary life, that I hail his coming with +pleasure, and am actually working a rochet, or an alb, or a something +else for him to wear on Saint Nicolo of Treviso's "festa,"--an occasion +on which the little man desires to appear with extraordinary splendor. +Mamma, too, is making a canopy to hold over his honored head; and I +sincerely hope that our _oeuvres méritoires_ will redound to our future +advantage! I am half afraid that I have shocked you with an apparent +irreverence in speaking of these things, but I must confess to you, +dearest Kitty, that I am occasionally provoked beyond all bounds by the +degree of influence this small saint exercises in our family, and by no +means devoid of apprehension lest his dominion should become absolute. +Even already he has persuaded mamma that papa's illness will resist +all medical skill to the end of time, and will only yield to the +intervention of a certain Saint Agatha of Orsaro, a newly discovered +miracle-worker, of whose fame you will doubtless hear much erelong. + +To my infinite astonishment, papa is quite converted to this opinion, +and Cary tells me is most impatient to set out for Orsaro, a little +village at the foot of the mountain of that name, and about thirty miles +from this. As the only approach is by a bridle-path, we are to travel on +mules or asses; and I look forward to the excursion, if not exactly with +pleasure, with some interest. Father Giacomo--I can't call him anything +else--has already written to secure rooms for us at the little inn; and +we are meanwhile basely employed in the manufacture of certain pilgrim +costumes, which are indispensable to all frequenting the holy shrine. +The dress is far from unbecoming, I assure you; a loose robe of white +stuff--ours are Cashmere--with wide sleeves, and a large hood lined +with sky-blue; a cord of the same color round the waist; no shoes or +stockings, but light sandals, which show the foot to perfection. An +amber rosary is the only ornament permitted; but the whole is charming. + +Saint Agatha of Orsaro will unquestionably make a great noise in the +world; and it will therefore be interesting to you to know something +of her history,--or, what Fra Giacomo more properly calls, her +manifestation--which was in this wise: The priest of Orsaro--a very +devout and excellent man--had occasion to go into the church late at +night on the eve of Saint Agatha's festival. He was anxious, I believe, +to see that all the decorations to do honor to the day were in proper +order, and, taking a lamp from the sacristy, he walked down the aisle +till he came to the shrine, where the saint's image stood. He knelt +for a moment to address her in prayer, when, with a sudden sneeze, she +extinguished his light, and left him fainting and in darkness on the +floor of the church. In this fashion was he discovered the following +morning, when, after coming to himself, he made the revelation I have +just given you. Since that she has been known to sneeze three times, +and on each occasion a miracle has followed. The fame of this wonderful +occurrence has now traversed Italy, and will doubtless soon extend to +the faithful in every part of Europe. Orsaro is becoming crowded with +penitents; among whom I am gratified to see the names of many of the +English aristocracy; and it has become quite a fashionable thing to pass +a week or ten days there. + +Now, dearest Kitty, from you, with whom I have no concealments, I will +not disguise the confession that I look forward to this excursion +with considerable hope and expectation. You cannot but have perceived +latterly how our faith, instead of being, as it once was, the symbol +of low birth and ignoble connections, has become the very bond of +aristocratic society. The church has become the _salon_ wherein we make +our most valued acquaintances; and devout observances are equivalent to +letters of introduction. If I wanted a proof of this, I'd give it in +the number of those who have become converts to our religion, from +the manifest social benefits the change of faith has conferred. How +otherwise would third and fourth-rate Protestants obtain access to +Princely _soirées_ and Ducal receptions? By what other road could +they arrive at recognition in the society of Rome and Naples, frequent +Cardinals' levees, and be even seen lounging in the ante-chambers of the +Vatican! + +Hence it is clear that the true faith has its benefits in _this_ world +also, and that piety is a passport to high places even on earth. I have +no doubt, if we manage properly, our sojourn at Orsaro may be made very +profitable, and that, even without miracles, the excursion may pay us +well. + +I have been interrupted by a message to attend mamma in her own room,--a +summons I rightly guessed to imply something of importance. Only fancy, +Kitty, it was a letter which had arrived addressed to papa,--but +of course not given to him to read in his present highly agitated +state,--from Captain Morris, with a proposal for Caroline! + +He very properly sets out by acknowledging the great difference of age +between them, but he might certainly have added something as to the +discrepancy between their stations. He talks, too, of his small means, +"sufficient for those who can limit their ambitions and wants within a +narrow circle,"--I wonder who they are?--and professes a deal of that +cold kind of respectful love which all old men affect to think a woman +ought to feel flattered by. In fact, the whole reads far more like a +law paper than a love-letter, and is rather a rough draft of an Act of +Parliament against celibacy than a proposal for a pretty girl! + +Mamma had shown the letter to Fra Giacomo before I entered, and I had +very little trouble to guess the effect produced by his counsels. The +Captain, as a heretic, was at once denounced by him; and the little +man grew actually enthusiastic in inveighing against the insulting +presumption of the offer. He insisted on a peremptory, flat rejection +of the proposal, without any reference whatever to papa. He said that to +hesitate in such a question was in itself a sin; and he even hinted that +he was n't quite sure what reception Saint Agatha might vouchsafe us +after so much of intercourse with an outcast and a disbeliever. + +This last argument was decisive, and I accordingly sat down and wrote, +in mamma's name, a very stiff acknowledgment of the receipt of his +letter, and an equally cold refusal of the honor it tendered for our +acceptance. We all agreed that Cary should hear nothing whatever of the +matter, but, as Fra Giacomo said, "we 'd keep the disgrace for our own +hearts." + +I own to you, Kitty, that if the religious question could be got over, +I do not think the thing so inadmissible. Cary is evidently not destined +to advance our family interests; had she even the capacity, she lacks +the ambition. Her tastes are humble, commonplace, and--shall I say +it?--vulgar. + +It gives her no pleasure to move in high society, and she esteems the +stupid humdrum of domestic life as the very supreme of happiness. With +such tastes this old Captain--he is five-and-thirty at least--would +perhaps have suited her perfectly, and his intolerable mother been quite +a companion. Their small fortune, too, would have consigned them to some +cheap, out-of-the-way place, where we should not have met; and, in fact, +the arrangement might have combined a very fair share of advantage. Fra +G., however, had decided the matter on higher grounds, and there is no +more to be said about it. + +There is another letter come by this post, too, from Lord George, +dearest! He is to arrive to-night, if he can get horses. He is full of +some wonderful tournament about to be held at Genoa,--a spectacle to +be given by the city to the King, which is to attract all the world +thither; and Lord G. writes to say that we have n't a moment to lose in +securing accommodation at the hotel. Little suspecting the frame of mind +his communication is to find us in, and that, in place of doughty +deeds and chivalrous exploits, our thoughts are turned to fastings, +mortifications, and whipcord! Oh, how I shudder at the ridicule with +which he will assail us, and tremble for my own constancy under the +raillery he will shower on us! I never dreaded his coming before, and +would give worlds now that anything could prevent his arrival. + +How reconcile his presence with that of Fra Giacomo? How protect the +priest from the overt quizzings of my Lord? and how rescue his Lordship +from the secret machinations of the "father?"? are difficulties that I +know not how to face. Mamma, besides, is now so totally under priestly +guidance that she would sacrifice the whole peerage for a shaving of +a saint's shin-bone! There will not be even time left me to concert +measures with Lord G. The moment he enters the house he'll see the +"altered temper of our ways" in a thousand instances. Relics, missals, +beads, and rosaries have replaced Gavarni's etchings,--"Punch," and the +"Illustration." Charms and amulets blessed by popes occupy the places +of cigar-holders, pipe-sticks, and gutta-percha drolleries. The "Stabat +Mater" has usurped the seat of "Casta Diva" on the piano, and a number +of other unmistakable signs point to our reformed condition. + +I hear post-horses approaching--they come nearer and nearer! Yes, +Kitty, it must be--it is he! James has met him--they are already on the +stairs--how they laugh! James must be telling him everything. I knew he +would. Another burst of that unfeeling laughter! They are at the door. +Good-bye! + +Mount Orsaro, "La Pace." + +Here we are, dearest, at the end of our pilgrimage. Such a delightful +excursion I never remember to have taken. I told you all about my +fears of Lord George. Would that I had never written the ungracious +lines!--never so foully wronged him! Instead of the levity I +apprehended, he is actually reverential,--I might say, devout! The +moment he reached Parma, he ordered a dress to be made for him exactly +like James's, and decided immediately on accompanying us. Fra Giacomo, +I need scarcely observe, was in ecstasies. The prospect of such a noble +convert would be an immense piece of success, and he did not hesitate to +avow, would materially advance his own interests at Rome. + +As for the journey, Kitty, I have no words to describe the scenery +through which we travelled: deep glens between lofty mountains, wooded +to the very summits with cork and chestnut trees, over which, towering +aloft, were seen the peaks of the great Apennines, glistening in snow, +or golden in the glow of sunset. Wending along through these our little +procession went, in itself no unpicturesque feature, for we were obliged +to advance in single file along the narrow pathway, and thus our mules, +with their scarlet trappings and tasselled bridles, and our floating +costumes, made up an effect which will remain painted on my heart +forever. In reality, I made a sketch of the scene; but Lord George, who +for the convenience of talking to me always rode with his face to the +mule's tail, made me laugh so often that my drawing is quite spoiled. + +[Illustration: frontispiece] + +At last we arrived at our little inn called "La Pace,"--how beautifully +it sounds, dearest! and really stands so, too, beside a gushing +mountain-stream, and perfectly embowered in olives. We could only obtain +two rooms, however,--one, adjoining the kitchen, for papa and mamma; +the other, under the tiles, for Cary and myself. Fra Giacomo quarters +himself on the priest of the village; and Lord George and James are what +the Italians call "_a spasso_" Betty Cobb is furious at being consigned +to the kitchen, in company with some thirty others, many of whom, I may +remark, are English people of rank and condition. In fact, dearest, the +whole place is so crowded that a miserable room, in all its native dirt +and disgust, costs the price of a splendid apartment in Paris. Many of +the first people of Europe are here: ministers, ambassadors, generals; +and an English earl also, who is getting a drawing made of the shrine +and the Virgin, and intends sending a narrative of her miracles to +the "Tablet." You have no idea, my dearest Kitty, of the tone of +affectionate kindness and cordiality inspired by such a scene. Dukes, +Princes, even Royalties, accost you as their equals. As Fra G. says, +"The holy influences level distinctions." The Duke of San Pietrino +placed his own cushion for mamma to kneel on yesterday. The Graf von +Dummerslungen gave me a relic to kiss as I passed this morning. Lord +Tollington, one of the proudest peers in England, stopped to ask papa +how he was, and regretted we had not arrived last Saturday, when the +Virgin sneezed twice! + +As we begin our Novena to-morrow, I shall probably not have a moment to +continue this rambling epistle; but you may confidently trust that my +first thoughts, when again at liberty, shall be given to you. Till then, +darling Kitty, believe me, + +Your devoted and ever affectionate + +Mart Anne Dodd. + +P. S. More arrivals, Kitty,--three carriages and eleven donkeys! Where +they are to put up I can't conceive. Lord G. says, "It's as full as the +'Diggins,' and quite as dear." The excitement and novelty of the whole +are charming! + + + + +LETTER XIX. MRS. DODD TO MRS. MARY GALLAGHER, DODSBOROUGH + +Orsaro, Feast of Saint Gingo. + +My dear Molly,--The Earl of Guzeberry, that leaves this to-day for +England, kindly offers to take charge of my letters to you; and so I +write "Favored by his Lordship" on the outside, just that you may show +the neighbors, and teach them Davises the respect they ought to show us, +if it 's ever our misfortune to meet. + +The noble Lord was here doing his penances with us for the last +three weeks, and is now my most intimate friend on earth. He 's the +kindest-hearted creature I ever met, and always doing good works, of +one sort or other; and whenever not sticking nails in his own flesh, or +pulling hairs out of his beard or eyelashes, always ready to chastise a +friend! + +We came here to see the wonderful Virgin of Orsaro, and beg her +intercession for us all, but more especially for K. I., whose temper +proves clearly that there's what Father James calls a "possession of +him;" that is to say, "he has devils inside of him." The whole account +of the saint herself--her first manifestation and miraculous doings--you +'ll find in the little volume that accompanies this, written, as you +will see, by your humble servant. Lord G. gave me every assistance in +his power; and, indeed, but for him and Father James, it might have +taken years to finish it; for I must tell you, Molly, bad as Berlin-work +is, it 's nothing compared to writing a book; for when you have the wool +and the frame, it's only stitching it in, but with a book you have to +arrange your thoughts, and then put them down; after that, there 's the +grammar to be minded, and the spelling, and the stops; and many times, +where you think it's only a comma, you have come to your full period! I +assure you I went through more with that book--little as it is--than in +all my "observances," some of them very severe ones. First of all, we +had to be so particular about the miracles, knowing well what Protestant +bigotry would do when the account came out. We had to give names and +dates and places, with witnesses to substantiate, and all that could +corroborate the facts. Then we had a difficulty of another kind,--how to +call the Virgin. You may remember how those Exeter Hall wretches spoke +of Our Lady of Rimini,--as the "Winking Virgin." We could n't +say sneezing after that, so we just called her "La Madonna dei +Sospiri,"--"Our Lady of Sighs." To be sure, we can't get the people here +to adopt this title; but that's no consequence as regards England. + +By the time the volume reaches you, all Europe will be ringing with the +wonderful tidings; for there are three bishops here, and they have all +signed the "Mémoire," recommending special services in honor of the +Virgin, and strongly urging a subscription to build a suitable shrine +for her in this her native village. + +You have no idea, dear Molly, of what a blessed frame of mind +these spiritual duties have enabled me to enjoy. How peaceful is my +spirit!--how humble my heart! I turn my thoughts away from earth as +easily as I could renounce rope-dancing; and when I sit of an evening, +in a state of what Lord Guzeberry calls "beatitude," K. I. might have +the cholera without my caring for it. + +The season is now far advanced, however, and, to my infinite grief, +we must leave this holy spot, where we have made a numerous and most +valuable acquaintance; for, besides several of the first people of +England, we have formed intimacy with the Duchessa di Sangue Nero, +first lady to the Queen of Naples; the Marquesa di Villa Guasta, a great +leader of fashion in Turin; the "Noncio" at the court of Modena; and a +variety of distinguished Florentines and Romans, who all assure us that +our devotions are the best passports for admission in all the select +houses of Italy. + +Mary Anne predicts a brilliant winter before us, and even Cary is all +delight at the prospect of picture galleries and works of art. Is n't it +paying the Protestants off for their insulting treatment of us at home, +Molly, to see all the honor and respect we receive abroad? The tables +are completely turned, my dear; for not one of them ever gets his nose +into the really high society of this country, while we are welcomed +to it with open arms. But if there 's anything sure to get you well +received in the first houses, it is having a convert of rank in your +train. To be the means of bringing a lord over to the true fold is to be +taken up at once by cardinals and princes of all kinds. + +As Mary Anne says, "Let us only induce Lord George to enter the Catholic +Church and our fortune is made." And oh, Molly, putting all the pomps +and vanities of this world aside, never heeding the grandeur of this +life, nor caring what men may do to us, is n't it an elegant reflection +to save one poor creature from the dreadful road of destruction and +ruin! I'm sure it would be the happiest day of my life when I could +read in the "Tablet," "We have great satisfaction in announcing to our +readers that Lord George Tiverton, member for"--I forget where--"and son +of the Marquis "--I forget whom,--"yesterday renounced the errors of the +Protestant Church to embrace those of the Church of Rome." + +Maybe, now, you 'd like to hear something about ourselves; but I 've +little to tell that is either pleasant or entertaining. You know--or, +at least, you will know from Kitty Doolan--the way K. I. destroyed poor +James, and lost him a beautiful creature and four thousand a year. That +was a blow there's no getting over; and, indeed, I'd have sunk under it +if it was n't for Father James, and the consolation he has been able to +give me. There was an offer came for Caroline. Captain Morris, that you +'ve heard me speak of, wrote and proposed, which I opened during K. I.'s +illness, and sent him a flat refusal, Molly, with a bit of advice in the +end, about keeping in his own rank of life, and marrying into his own +creed. + +Maybe I mightn't have been so stout about rejecting him, for it's the +hardest thing in life to marry a daughter nowadays, but that Father +Giacomo said his Holiness would never forgive me for taking a heretic +into the family, and that it was one of the nine deadly sins. + +You may perceive from this, that Father G. is of great use to me when I +need advice and guidance, and, indeed, I consulted him as to whether I +ought to separate from K. I., or not. There are cases of conscience, +he tells me, and cases of convenience. The first are matters for the +cardinals and the Holy College! but the others any ordinary priest can +settle; and this is one of them. "Don't leave him," says he, "for your +means of doing good will only be more limited; and as to your trials, +take out some of your mortifications that way; and, above all, don't be +too lenient to _him_." Ay, Molly, he saw my weak point, do what I would +to hide it; he knew my failing was an easy disposition, and a patient, +submissive turn of mind. But I 'll do my endeavor to conquer it, if it +was only for the poor children's sake; for I know he'd marry again, and +I sometimes suspect I 've hit the one he has his eyes on. + +On Friday next we are to leave this for Genoa. It's the end of our +Novena, and we would n't have time for another before the snow sets in; +for though we're in Italy, Molly, the mountains all round us are tipped +with snow, and it's as cold now, when you 're in the shade, as I ever +felt it in Ireland. It's a great tournament at Genoa is taking us there. +There 's to be the King of Saxony, and the King of Bohemia, too, I +believe; for whenever you begin to live in fashionable life, you must +run after royal people from place to place, be seen wherever they +are, and be quite satisfied whenever your name is put down among the +"distinguished company." + +I was near forgetting that I want you to get Father John to have my +little book read by the children in our National School; for, as K. +I. is the patron, we have, of course, the right. At all events _I'll_ +withdraw if they refuse; and they can't accuse me of illiberality or +bigotry, for I never said a word against the taking away the Bible. Let +them just remember _that!_ + +Lord Guzeberry is just going, so that I have only time to seal, and sign +myself as ever yours, + +Jemima Dodd. + +I send you two dozen of the tracts to distribute among our friends. The +one bound in red silk is for Dean O'Dowd, "with the author's devotions +and duties." + + + + +LETTER XX. BETTY COBB TO MISTRESS SHUSAN O'SHEA. + +Mount Orsaro. + +My dear Shusan,--It's five months and two days since I wrote to you +last, and it 's like five years in regard to the way time has worn and +distressed me. The mistress tould Mrs. Gallagher how I was deserted +by that deceatfull blaguard, taking off with him my peace of mind, two +petticoats, and a blue cloth cloak, that I thought would last me for +life! so that I need n't go over my miseries again to yourself. We +heard since that he had another wife in Switzerland, not to say two more +wandering about, so that the master says, if we ever meet him, we can +hang him for "bigotry." And, to tell you the truth, Shusy, I feel as if +it would be a great relief to me to do it! if it was only to save other +craytures from the same feat that he did to your poor friend Betty Cobb; +besides that, until something of the kind is done, I can't enter the +holy state again with any other deceaver. + +Such a life as we 're leadin', Shusy, at one minute all eatin' and +drinkin' and caressin' from morning till night; at another, my dear, +it's all fastin' and mortification, for the mistress has no moderation +at all; but, as the master says, she 's always in her extremities! If +ye seen the dress of her last week, she was Satan from head to foot, and +now she 's, by way of a saint, in white Cashmar, with a little scurge at +her waist, and hard pegs in her shoes! + +We have nothin' to eat but roots, like the beasts of the field; and +them, too, mostly raw! That's to make us good soldiers of the Church, +Father James says; but in my heart and soul, Shusy, I 'm sick of the +regiment. Shure, when we 've a station in Ireland, it only lasts a day +or two at most; and if your knees is sore with the pennance, shure you +have the satisfaction of the pleasant evenings after; with, maybe, a +dance, or, at all events, tellin' stories over a jug of punch; but +here it's prayers and stripes, stripes and offices, starvation and more +stripes, till, savin' your presence, I never sit down without a screech! + +Why we came here I don't know; the mistress says it was to cure the +master; but did n't I hear her tell him a thousand times that the bad +drop was in him, and he 'd never be better to his dyin' day? so that it +can't be for that. Sometimes I think it's to get Mary Anne married, and +they want Saint Agatha to help them; but faith, Shusy, one sinner +is worth two saints for the like of that. Lord George tould me in +confidence--the other day it was--that the mistress wanted an increase +to her family. Faith, you may well open your eyes, my dear, but them 's +his words! And tho' I did n't believe him at first, I 'm more persuaded +of it now, that I see how she's goin' on. + +If the master only suspected it, he 'd be off to-morrow, for he 's +always groanin' and moanin' over the expense of the family; and, between +you and me, I believe I ought to go and tell him. Maybe you 'd give me +advice what to do, for it's a nice point. + +You would n't know Paddy Byrne, how much he's grown, and the wonderful +whiskers he has all over his face; but he 's as bowld as brass, and has +the impedince of the divil in him. He never ceases tormentin' me about +Taddy, and says I ought to take out a few florins in curses on him, just +as if I could n't do it cheaper myself than payin' a priest for it As +for Paddy himself,--do what the mistress will,--she can get no good of +him, in regard to his duties. He does all his stations on his knees, to +be sure, but with a cigar in his mouth; and when he comes to the holy +well, it's a pull at a dram bottle he takes instead of the blessed +water. I wondered myself at his givin' a crown-piece to the Virgin on +Tuesday last, but he soon showed me what he was at by say in', "If she +does n't get my wages riz for that, the divil receave the f arthin' she +'ll ever receave of mine again!" + +After all, Shusy, it 's an elegant sight to see all them great people +that thinks so much of themselves, crawling about on their hands and +knees, kissin' a relict here, huggin' a stone there, just as much +frightened about the way the saint looks at them as one of us! It +does one's heart good to know that, for all their fine livin' and fine +clothes, ould Nick has the same hould of them that he has of you and me! + +I had a great deal to tell you about the family and their goin's on, but +I must conclude in haste, for tho' it's only five o'clock, there's the +bell ringing for martins, and I have a station to take before first +mass. I suppose it's part of my mortifications, but the mistress and +Mary Anne never gives me a stitch of clothes till they're spoiled; and +I'm drivin to my wits' end, tearin' and destroyin' things in such a way +as not to ruin them when they come to me! Miss Caroline never has a gown +much better than my own; and, indeed, she said the other day, "When I +want to be smart, Betty, you must lend me your black bombaseen." + +There's the mistress gone out already, so no more from + +Your sincear friend, + +Betty Cobb. + +I think Lord G. is right about the mistress. The saints forgive her, at +her time of life! More in my next. + + + + +LETTER XXI. JAMES DODD TO ROBERT DOOLAN, ESQ. TRINITY COLLEGE, DUBLIN. + +The Inn, Orsaro. + +My dear Bob,--This must be a very brief epistle, since, amongst other +reasons, the sheet of letter-paper costs me a florin, and I shall have +to pay three more for a messenger to convey it to the post-town, a +distance of as many miles off. To explain these scarce credible facts, +I must tell you that we are at a little village called Orsaro, in +the midst of a wild mountain country, whither we have come to perform +penances, say prayers, and enact other devotions at the shrine of a +certain St. Agatha, who, some time last autumn, took to working miracles +down here, and consequently attracting all the faithful who had nothing +to do with themselves before Carnival. + +My excellent mother it was who, in an access of devotion, devised the +excursion; and the governor, hearing that the locality was a barbarous +one, and the regimen a strict fast, fancied, of course, it would be a +most economical dodge, at once agreed; but, by Jove! the saving is a +delusion and a snare. Two miserable rooms, dirty and ill furnished, +cost forty francs a day; bad coffee and black bread, for breakfast, +are supplied at four francs a head; dinner--if by such a name one would +designate a starved kid stewed in garlic, or a boiled hedgehog with +chiccory sauce,--ten francs each; sour wine at the price of Château +Lafitte; and a seat in the sanctuary, to see the Virgin, four times as +dear as a stall at the Italian Opera. Exorbitant as all these charges +are, we are gravely assured that they will be doubled whenever the +Virgin sneezes again, that being the manifestation, as they call it, by +which she displays her satisfaction at our presence here. I do not +fancy talking irreverently of these things, Bob, but I own to you I +am ineffably shocked at the gross impositions innkeepers, postmasters, +donkey-owners, and others practise by trading on the devotional feelings +and pious aspirations of weak but worthy people. I say nothing of the +priests themselves; they may or may not believe all these miraculous +occurrences. One thing, however, is clear: they make every opportunity +of judging of them so costly that only a rich man can afford himself +the luxury, so that you and I, and a hundred others like us, may either +succumb or scoff, as we please, without any means of correcting our +convictions. One inevitable result ensues from this. There are two +camps: the Faithful, who believe everything, and are cheated by +every imaginable device of mock relics and made-up miracles; and the +Unbelieving, who actually rush into ostentatious vice, to show their +dislike to hypocrisy! Thus, this little dirty village, swarming with +priests, and resounding with the tramp of processions, is a den of every +kind of dissipation. The rattle of the dice-box mingles with the nasal +chantings of the tonsured monks, and the wild orgies of a drinking party +blend with the strains of the organ! If men be not religiously minded, +the contact with the Church seems to make demons of them. How otherwise +interpret the scoff and mockery that unceasingly go forward against +priests and priestcraft in a little community, as it were, separated for +acts of piety and devotion? + +That we live in a most believing age is palpable, by the fact that this +place swarms with men distinguished in every court and camp in Europe. +Crafty ministers, artful diplomatists, keen old generals, versed in +every wile and stratagem, come here as it were to divest themselves of +all their long-practised acuteness, and give in their adhesion to the +most astounding and incoherent revelations. I cannot bring myself to +suppose these men rogues and hypocrites, and yet I have nearly as +much difficulty to believe them dupes! What have become of those sharp +perceptive powers, that clever insight into motives, and the almost +unerring judgment they could exhibit in any question of politics or +war? It cannot surely be that they who have measured themselves with +the first capacities of the world dread to enter the lists against some +half-informed and narrow-minded village curate; or is it that there +lurks in every human heart some one spot, a refuge as it were for +credulity, which even the craftiest cannot exclude? You are far better +suited than I to canvass such a question, my dear Bob. I only throw it +out for your consideration, without any pretension to solve it myself. + +My father, you are well aware, is too good a Churchman to suffer a +syllable to escape his lips which might be construed into discredit of +the faith; but I can plainly see that he skulks his penances, and shifts +off any observance that does not harmonize with his comfort. At the same +time he strongly insists that the fastings and other privations enjoined +are an admirable system to counteract the effect of that voluptuous life +practised in almost every capital of Europe. As he shrewdly remarked, +"This place was like Groeffenberg,--you might not be restored by the +water-cure, but you were sure to be benefited by early hours, healthful +exercise, and a light diet." This, you may perceive, is a very modified +approval of the miracles. + +I have dwelt so long on this theme that I have only left myself what +Mary Anne calls the selvage of my paper, for anything else. Nor is +it pleasant to me, Bob, to tell you that I am low-spirited and +down-hearted. A month ago, life was opening before me with every +prospect of happiness and enjoyment. A lovely creature, gifted and +graceful, of the very highest rank and fortune, was to have been mine. +She was actually domesticated with us, and only waiting for the day +which should unite our destinies forever, when one night--I can scarcely +go on--I know not how either to convey to you what is _half_ shrouded in +mystery, and should be perhaps _all_ concealed in shame; but somehow +my father contrived to talk so of our family affairs--our debts, our +difficulties, and what not--that Josephine overheard everything, and +shocked possibly more at our duplicity than at our narrow fortune, she +hurried away at midnight, leaving a few cold lines of farewell behind +her, and has never been seen or heard of since. + +I set out after her to Milan; thence to Bologna, where I thought I had +traces of her. From that I went to Rimini, and on a false scent down to +Ancona. I got into a slight row there with the police, and was obliged +to retrace my steps, and arrived at Parma, after three weeks' incessant +travelling, heart-broken and defeated. + +That I shall ever rally,--that I shall ever take any real interest +in life again, is totally out of the question. Such an opportunity of +fortune as this rarely occurs to any one once in life; none are lucky +enough to meet it a second time. The governor, too, instead of feeling, +as he ought, that he has been the cause of my ruin, continues to pester +me about the indolent way I spend my life, and inveighs against even the +little dissipations that I endeavor to drown my sorrows by indulging in. +It 's all very well to talk about active employment, useful pursuits, +and so forth; but a man ought to have his mind at ease, and his heart +free from care, for all these, as I told the governor yesterday. When a +fellow has got such a "stunner" as I have had lately, London porter and +a weed are his only solace. Even Tiverton's society is distasteful, he +has such a confoundedly flippant way of treating one. + +I 'm thinking seriously of emigrating, and wish you could give me any +useful hints on the subject. Tiverton knows a fellow out there, who +was in the same regiment with himself,--a baronet, I believe,--and he's +doing a capital stroke of work with a light four-in-hand team that he +drives, I think, between San Francisco and Geelong, but don't trust me +too far in the geography; he takes the diggers at eight pounds a head, +and extra for the "swag." Now that is precisely the thing to suit me; +I can tool a coach as well as most fellows: and as long as one keeps on +the box they don't feel it like coming down in the world! + +I half suspect Tiverton would come out too. At least, he seems very sick +of England, as everybody must be that has n't ten thousand a year and a +good house in Belgravia. + +I don't know whither we go from this, and, except in the hope of hearing +from you, I could almost add, care as little. The governor has got so +much better from the good air and the regimen, that he is now anxious +to be off; while my mother, attributing his recovery to the saint's +interference, wants another "Novena." Mary Anne likes the place too; and +Cary, who sketches all day long, seems to enjoy it. + +How the decision is to come is therefore not easy to foresee. Meanwhile, +whether _here_ or _there_, + +Believe me your attached friend, + +James Dodd. + +[Illustration: 210] + +I open this to say that we are "booked" for another fortnight here. +My mother went to consult the Virgin about going away last night, and +she--that is, the saint--gave such a sneeze that my mother fainted, +and was carried home insensible. The worst of all this is that Father +Giacomo--our guide in spirituals--insists on my mother's publishing a +little tract on her experiences; and the women are now hard at work with +pen and ink at a small volume to be called "St. Agatha of Orsaro," +by Jemima D------. They have offered half a florin apiece for good +miracles, but they are pouring in so fast they 'll have to reduce the +tariff. Tiverton recommends them to ask thirteen to the dozen. + +The governor is furious at this authorship, which will cost some +five-and-twenty pounds at the least! + + + + +LETTER XXII. MRS. DODD TO MRS. MARY GALLAGHER + +Hôtel Feder, Genoa. + +My dear Molly,--It's little that piety and holy living assists us in +this wicked world, as you 'll allow, when I tell you that after all +my penances, my mortifications, and my self-abstainings, instead of +enjoyment and pleasure, as I might reasonably look for in this place, I +never knew real misery and shame till I came here. I would n't believe +anybody that said people was always as bad as they are now! Sure, if +they were, why would n't we be prepared for their baseness and iniquity? +Why would we be deceived and cheated at every hand's turn? It's all +balderdash to pretend it, Molly. The world must be coming to an end, for +this plain reason, that it's morally impossible it can be more corrupt, +more false, and more vicious than it is. + +I 'm trying these three days to open my heart to you. I 've taken ether, +and salts, and neumonia--I think the man called it--by the spoonfuls, +just to steady my nerves, and give me strength to tell you my +afflictions; and now I 'll just begin, and if my tears does n't blot out +the ink, I 'll reveal my sorrows, and open my breast before you. + +We left that blessed village of Orsaro two days after I wrote to you +by the Earl of Guzeberry, and came on here, by easy stages, as we were +obliged to ride mules for more than half the way. Our journey was, of +course, fatiguing, but unattended by any other inconvenience than K. +I.'s usual temper about the food, the beds, and the hotel charges as we +came along. He would n't fast, nor do a single penance on the road; nor +would he join in chanting a Litany with Father James, but threatened +to sing "Nora Chrina," if we did n't stop. And though Lord George was +greatly shocked, James was just as bad as his father. Father Giacomo +kept whispering to me from time to time, "We 'll come to grief for this. +We 'll have to pay for all this impiety, Mrs. D.;" till at last he got +my nerves in such a state that I thought we 'd be swept away at every +blast of wind from the mountains, or carried down by every torrent that +crossed the road. I couldn't pass a bridge without screeching; and as +to fording a stream, it was an attack of hysterics. These, of course, +delayed us greatly, and it was a good day when we got over eight miles. +For all that, the girls seemed to like it. Cary had her sketch-book +always open; and Mary Anne used to go fishing with Lord G. and James, +and contrived, as she said, to make the time pass pleasantly enough. + +I saw very little of K. I., for I was always at some devotional +exercise; and, indeed, I was right glad of it, for his chief amusement +was getting Father James into an argument, and teasing and insulting him +so that I only wondered why he did n't leave us at once and forever. He +never ceased, too, gibing and jeering about the miracles of Orsaro; and +one night, when he had got quite beyond all bounds, laughing at Father +G., he told him, "Faith," says he, "you 're the most credulous man ever +I met in my life; for it seems to me that you can believe anything but +the Christian religion." + +From that moment Father G. only shook his hands at him, and would n't +discourse. + +This is the way we got to Genoa, where, because we arrived at night, +they kept us waiting outside the gates of the town till the commandant +of the fortress had examined our passports; K. I. all the while abusing +the authorities, and blackguarding the governor in a way that would have +cost us dear, if it was n't that nobody could understand his Italian. + +That wasn't all, for when we got to the hotel, they said that all the +apartments had been taken before Lord George's letter arrived, and that +there was n't a room nor a pantry to be had in the whole city at any +price. In fact, an English family had just gone off in despair to +Chiavari, for even the ships in the harbor were filled with strangers, +and the "steam dredge" was fitted up like an hotel! K. I. took down the +list of visitors, to see if he could find a friend or an acquaintance +amongst them, but, though there were plenty of English, we knew none of +them; and as for Lord G., though he was acquainted with nearly all the +titled people, they were always relatives or connections with whom he +wasn't "on terms." While we sat thus at the door, holding our council of +war, with sleepy waiters and a sulky porter, a gentleman passed in, and +went by us, up the stairs, before we could see his face. The landlord, +who lighted him all the way himself, showed that he was a person of some +consequence. K. I. had just time to learn that he was "No. 4, the grand +apartment on the first floor, towards the sea," which was all they +knew, when the landlord came down, smiling and smirking, to say that the +occupant of No. 4 felt much pleasure in putting half his suite of rooms +at our disposal, and hoped we might not decline his offer. + +"Who is it?--who is he?" cried we all at once; but the landlord made +such a mess of the English name that we were obliged to wait till we +could read it in the Strangers' Book. Meanwhile we lost not a second in +installing ourselves in what I must call a most princely apartment, with +mirrors on all sides, fine pictures, china, and carved furniture, +giving the rooms the air of a palace. There was a fine fire in the great +drawing-room, and the table was littered with English newspapers and +magazines, which proved that he had just left the place for us, as he +was himself occupying it. + +"Now for our great Unknown," said Lord George, opening the Strangers' +Book, and running his eye down the list. There was Milor Hubbs and +Miladi, Baron this, Count that, the "Vescovo" di Kilmore, with the +"Vescova" and five "Vescovini,"--that meant the Bishop and his wife, and +the five small little Bishops,--which made us laugh. And at last we came +down to "No. 4, Grand Suite, Sir Morris Penrhyn, Bt," not a word more. + +"There is a swell of that name that owns any amount of slate quarries +down near Holyhead, I think," said Lord George. "Do you happen to know +him?" + +"No," was chorused by all present. + +"Oh! everyone knows his place. It's one of the show things of the +neighborhood. How is this they call it,--Pwlldmmolly Castle?--that's the +name, at least so far as human lips can approach it At all events, he +has nigh fifteen thousand a year, and can afford the annoyance of a +consonant more or less." + +"Any relative of your Lordship's?" asked K. I. + +"Don't exactly remember; but, if so, we never acknowledged him. Can't +afford Welsh cousin ships!" + +"He 's a right civil fellow, at all events," said K. I., "and here's his +health;" for at that moment the waiter entered with the supper, and we +all sat down in far better spirits than we had expected to enjoy half an +hour back. We soon forgot all about our unknown benefactor; and, indeed, +we had enough of our own concerns to engross our attention, for there +were places to be secured for the tournament and the other great sights; +for, with all the frailty of our poor natures, there we were, as hot +after the vanities and pleasures of this world as if we had never done a +"Novena" nor a penance in our lives! + +When I went to my room, Mary Anne and I had a long conversation about +the stranger, whom she was fully persuaded was a connection of Lord +G.'s, and had shown us this attention solely on his account. "I can +perceive," said she, "from his haughty manner, that he doesn't like to +acknowledge the relationship, nor be in any way bound by the tie of an +obligation. His pride is the only sentiment he can never subdue! A bad +'look-out' for me, perhaps, mamma," said she, laughing; "but we'll see +hereafter." And with this she wished me good-night. + +The next morning our troubles began, and early, too; for Father James, +not making any allowance for the different life one must lead in a +great city from what one follows in a little out-of-the-way place amidst +mountains, expected me to go up to a chapel two miles away and hear +matins, and be down at mid-day mass in the town, and then had a whole +afternoon's work at the convent arranged for us, and was met by Lord +George and James with a decided and, indeed, almost rude opposition. The +discussion lasted till late in the morning, and might perhaps have gone +on further, when K. L, who was reading his "Galignani," screamed out, +"By the great O'Shea!"--a favorite exclamation of his,--"here's a bit +of news. Listen to this, Gentles, all of you: 'By the demise of Sir +Walter Prichard Penrhyn, of--I must give up the castle--' the ancient +title and large estates of the family descend to a sister's son, Captain +George Morris, who formerly served in the--th Foot, but retired from +the army about a year since, to reside on the Continent. The present +Baronet, who will take the name of Penrhyn, will be, by this accession +of fortune, the richest landed proprietor in the Principality, and may, +if he please it, exercise a very powerful interest in the political +world. We are, of course, ignorant of his future intentions, but we +share in the generally expressed wish of all classes here, that the +ancient seat of his ancestors may not be left unoccupied, or only +tenanted by those engaged in exhibiting to strangers its varied +treasures in art, and its unrivalled curiosities in antiquarian +lore.--_Welsh Herald_.' There 's the explanation of the civility we +met with last night; that clears up the whole mystery, but, at the same +time, leaves another riddle unsolved. Why did n't he speak to us on the +stairs? Could it be that he did not recognize us?" + +Oh, Molly! I nearly fainted while he was speaking. I was afraid of my +life he 'd look at me, and see by my changed color what was agitating +me; for only think of what it was I had done,--just gone and refused +fifteen thousand a year, and for the least marriageable of the two +girls, since, I need n't say, that for one man that fancies Cary, there +'s forty admires Mary Anne--and a baronetcy! She 'd have been my Lady, +just as much as any in the peerage. I believe in my heart I could n't +have kept the confession in if it had n't been that Mary Anne took my +arm and led me away. Father G. followed us out of the room, and began: +"Isn't it a real blessing from the Virgin on ye," said he, "that you +rejected that heretic before temptation assailed ye?" But I stopped him, +Molly; and at once too! I told him it was all his own stupid bigotry got +us into the scrape. "What has religion to do with it?" said I. "Can't a +heretic spend fifteen thousand a year; and sure if his wife can't live +with him, can't she claim any-money, as they call it?" + +"I hope and trust," said he, "that your backsliding won't bring a +judgment on ye." + +And so I turned away from him, Molly, for you may remark that there 's +nothing as narrow-minded as a priest when he talks of worldly matters.' + +Though we had enough on our minds the whole day about getting places for +the tournament, the thought of Morris never left my head; and I knew, +besides, that I 'd never have another day's peace with K. I. as long as +I lived, if he came to find out that I refused him. I thought of twenty +ways to repair the breach: that I 'd write to him, or make Mary Anne +write--or get James to call and see him. Then it occurred to me, if we +should make out that Cary was dying for love of him, and it was to save +our child that we condescended to change our mind. Mary Anne, however, +overruled me in everything, saying, "Rely upon it, mamma, we 'll have +him yet. If he was a very young man, there would be no chance for us, +but he is five or six and thirty, and he 'll not change now! For a few +months or so, he'll try to bully himself into the notion of forgetting +her, but you 'll see he'll come round at last; and if he should not, +then it will be quite time enough to see whether we ought to pique his +jealousy or awaken his compassion." + +She said much more in the same strain, and brought me round completely +to her own views. "Above all," said she, "don't let Father James +influence you; for though it's all right and proper to consult him about +the next world, he knows no more than a child about the affairs of +this one." So we agreed, Molly, that we 'd just wait and see, of course +keeping K. I. blind all the time to what we were doing. + +The games and the circus, and all the wonderful sights that we were +to behold, drove everything else out of my head; for every moment Lord +George was rushing in with some new piece of intelligence about some +astonishing giant, or some beautiful creature, so that we hadn't a +moment to think of anything. + +It was the hardest thing in life to get places at all. The pit was taken +up with dukes and counts and barons, and the boxes rose to twenty-five +Napoleons apiece, and even at that price it was a favor to get one! +Early and late Lord George was at work about it, calling on ministers, +writing notes, and paying visits, till you 'd think it was life and +death were involved in our success. + +You have no notion, Molly, how different these matters are abroad and +with us. At home we go to a play or a circus just to be amused for the +time, and we never think more of the creatures we see there than if they +were n't of our species; but abroad it 's exactly the reverse. Nothing +else is talked of, or thought of, but how much the tenor is to have for +six nights. "Is Carlotta singing well? Is Nina fatter? How is Francesca +dancing? Does she do the little step like a goat this season? or has +she forgotten her rainbow spring?" Now, Lord George and James gave us +no peace about all these people till we knew every bit of the private +history of them, from the man that carried a bull on his back, to the +small child with wings, that was tossed about for a shuttlecock by +its father and uncle. Then there was a certain Sofia Bettrame, that +everybody was wild about; the telegraph at one time saying she was at +Lyons, then she was at Vichy, then at Mont Cenis,--now she was sick, +now she was supping with the Princess Odelzeffska,--and, in fact, what +between the people that were in _love_ with _her_, and a number of +others to whom she was _in debt_, it was quite impossible to hear of +anything else but "La Sofia," "La Bettrame," from morning till night +It's long before an honest woman, Molly, would engross so much of public +notice; and so I could n't forbear remarking to K. I. Nobody cared to +ask where the Crown Prince of Russia was going to put up, or where the +Archduchess of Austria was staying, but all were eager to learn if the +"Croce di Matta" or the "Leone d'Oro" or the "Cour de Naples" were to +lodge the peerless Sofia. The man that saw her horses arrive was the +fashion for two entire days, and an old gentleman who had talked with +her courier got three dinner invitations on the strength of it. What +discussions there were whether she was to receive a hundred thousand +francs, or as many crowns; and then whether for one or for two nights. +Then there were wagers about her age, her height, the color of her eyes, +and the height of her instep, till I own to you, Molly, it was downright +offensive to the mother of a family to listen to what went on about her; +James being just as bad as the rest. + +At last, my dear, comes the news that Sofia has taken a sulk and won't +appear. The Grand-Duchess of somewhere did something, or didn't do +it--I forget which--that was or was not "due to her." I wish you saw +the consternation of the town at the tidings. If it was the plague was +announced, the state of distraction would have been less. + +You would n't believe me if I told you how they took it to heart. +Old generals with white moustaches, fat, elderly gentlemen in +counting-bouses, grave shopkeepers, and grim-looking clerks in the +Excise went about as if they had lost their father, and fallen suddenly +into diminished circumstances. They shook hands, when they met, with a +deep sigh, and parted with a groan, as if the occasion was too much for +their feelings. + +At this moment, therefore, after all the trouble and expense, nobody +knows if there will be any tournament at all. Some say it is the +Government has found out that the whole thing was a conspiracy for a +rising; and there are fifty rumors afloat about Mazzini himself being +one of the company, in the disguise of a juggler. But what may be the +real truth it is impossible to say. At all events, I 'll not despatch +this till I can give you the latest tidings. + +Tuesday Evening. + +The telegraph has just brought word that she _will_ come. James is gone +down to the office to get a copy of the despatch. + +James is come back to say that she is at Novi. If she arrive here +to-night, there will be an illumination of the town! Is not this too +bad, Molly? Doesn't your blood run cold at the thought of it all? + +They 're shouting like mad under my window now, and Lord George thinks +she must be come already. James has come in with his hat in tatters and +his coat in rags. The excitement is dreadful. The people suspect that +the Government are betraying them to Russia, and are going to destroy a +palace that belongs to a tallow merchant. + +All is right, Molly. She is come! and they are serenading her now under +the windows of the "Croce di Matta!" + +Wednesday Night. + +If my trembling hand can subscribe legibly a few lines, it is perhaps +the last you will ever receive from your attached Jemima. I was never +intended to go through such trials as these; and they 're now rending a +heart that was only made for tenderness and affection. + +We were there, Molly! After such a scene of crushing and squeezing as +never was equalled, we got inside the circus, and with the loss of my +new turban and one of my "plats," we reached our box, within two of +the stage, and nearly opposite the King. For an hour or so, it was +only fainting was going on all around us, with the heat and the violent +struggle to get in. Nobody minded the stage at all, where they were +doing the same kind of thing we used to see long ago. Ten men in pinkish +buff, vaulting over an old white horse, and the clown tumbling over the +last of them with a screech; the little infant of three years, with a +strap round its waist, standing and tottering on the horse's back; the +man with the brass balls and the basin, and the other one that stood on +the bottles,--all passed off tiresome enough, till a grand flourish of +trumpets announced Signor Annibale, the great Modern Hercules. In he +rode, Molly, full gallop, all dressed in a light, flesh-colored, web, +and looking so like naked that I screeched out when I saw him. His hair +was divided on his forehead, and cut short all round the head; and, +indeed, I must confess he was a fine-looking man. After a turn or two, +brandishing a big club, he galloped in again, but quickly reappeared +with a woman lying over one of his arms, and her hair streaming down +half-way to the ground. This was Sofia; and you may guess the enthusiasm +of the audience at her coming! There she lay, like in a trance, as he +dashed along at full speed, the very tip of one foot only touching the +saddle, and her other leg dangling down like dead. It was shocking to +hear the way they talked of her symmetry and her shape,--not but they +saw enough to judge of it, Molly!--till at last the giant stopped to +breathe a little just under our box. K. I. and the young men, of course, +leaned over to have a good look at her with their glasses, when suddenly +James screamed, "By the ------ --I won't say what--it is herself!" Mary +Anne and I both rose together. The sight left my eyes, Molly, for she +looked up at me, and who was it--but the Countess that James was going +to marry! There she was, lying languidly on the giant, smiling up at us +as cool as may be. I gave a screech, Molly, that made the house ring, +and went off in Mary Anne's arms. + +If this is n't disgrace enough to bring me to the grave, Nature must +have given stronger feelings than she knows to your ever afflicted and +heart-broken + +Jemima Dodd. + + + + +LETTER XXIII. MISS CAROLINE DODD TO MISS COX, AT MISS MINCING'S ACADEMY, BLACK ROCK, IRELAND + +Sestri, Gulf of Genoa. + +My dear Miss Cox,--I had long looked forward to our visit to Genoa in +order to write to you. I had fancied a thousand things of the "Superb +City" which would have been matters of interest, and hoped that many +others might have presented themselves to actual observation. But with +that same fatality by which the future forever evades us, we have come +and gone again, and really seen nothing. + +Instead of a week or fortnight passed in loitering about these +mysterious, narrow streets, each one of which is a picture, poking into +crypts, and groping along the aisles of those dim churches, and then +issuing forth into the blaze of sunshine to see the blue sea heaving +in mighty masses on the rocky shore, we came here to see some vulgar +spectacle of a circus or a tournament. By ill-luck, too, even +this pleasure has proved abortive; a very mortifying, I might say +humiliating, discovery awaited us, and we have, for shame's sake, taken +our refuge in flight from one of the most interesting cities in the +whole peninsula. + +I am ashamed to confess to you how ill I have borne the disappointment. +The passing glimpses I caught here and there of steep old alleys, barely +wide enough for three to go abreast; the little squares, containing some +quaint monument or some fantastic fountain; the massive iron gateways, +showing through the bars the groves of orange-trees within; the wide +portals, opening on great stairs of snow-white marble,--all set me +a-dreaming of that proud Genoa, with its merchant-princes, who combined +all the haughty characteristics of a feudal state with the dashing +spirit of a life of enterprise. + +The population, too, seemed as varied in type as the buildings around +them. The bronzed, deep-browed Ligurian--the "Faquino"--by right of +birth, stood side by side with the scarcely less athletic Dalmatian. The +Arab from Tiflis, the Suliote, the Armenian, the dull-eyed Moslem, and +the treacherous-looking Moor were all grouped about the Mole, with a +host of those less picturesque figures that represent Northern Europe. +There, was heard every language and every dialect. There, too, seen +the lineaments of every nation, and the traits of every passion that +distinguish a people. Just as on the deep blue water that broke beside +them were ships of every build, from the proud three-decker to the swift +"lateen," and from the tall, taper spare of the graceful clipper to the +heavily rounded, low-masted galliot of the Netherlands. + +I own to you that however the actual life of commerce may include +commonplace events and commonplace people, there is something about the +sea and those that live on the great waters that always has struck me as +eminently poetical. + +The scene, the adventurous existence, the strange faraway lands they +have visited, the Spice Islands of the South, the cold shores of the +Arctic Seas, the wondrous people with whom they have mingled, the +dangers they have confronted,--all invest the sailor with a deep +interest to me, and I regard him ever as one who has himself been an +actor in the great drama of which I have only read the outline. + +I was, indeed, very sorry to leave Genoa, and to leave it, too, unseen. +An event, however, too painful to allude to, compelled us to start at +once; and we came on here to the little village from whence I write. A +lovely spot it is,--sheltered from the open sea by a tall promontory, +wooded with waving pines, whose feathery foliage is reflected in the +calm sea beneath. A gentle curve of the strand leads to Chiavari, +another town about six miles off; and behind us, landward, rise the +great Apennines, several thousand feet in height,--grand, barren, +volcanic-looking masses of wildest outline, and tinted with the colors +of every mineral ore. On the very highest pinnacles of these are +villages perched, and the tall tower of a church is seen to rise against +the blue sky, at an elevation, one would fancy, untrodden by man. + +There is a beautiful distinctness in Italian landscape,--every detail +is "picked out" sharply. The outline of every rock and cliff, of every +tree, of every shrub, is clean and well defined. Light and shadow fall +boldly, and even abruptly, on the eye; but--shall I own it?--I long for +the mysterious distances, the cloud-shadows, the vague atmospheric tints +of our Northern lands. I want those passing effects that seem to give +a vitality to the picture, and make up something like a story of the +scene. It is in these the mind revels as in a dreamland of its own. It +is from these we conjure up so many mingled thoughts of the past, the +present, and the coming time,--investing the real with the imaginary, +and blending the ideal with the actual world. + +How naturally do all these thoughts lead us to that of Home! Happily for +us, there is that in the religion of our hearts towards home that takes +no account of the greater beauty of other lands. The loyalty we owe our +own hearth defies seduction. Admire, glory in how you will the grandest +scene the sun ever set upon, there is still a holy spot in your heart +of hearts for some little humble locality,--a lonely glen,--a Highland +tarn,--a rocky path beside some winding river, rich in its childish +memories, redolent of the bright hours of sunny infancy,--and this you +would not give for the most gorgeous landscapes that ever basked beneath +Italian sky. + +Do not fancy that I repine at being here because I turn with fond +affection to the scene of my earliest days. I delight in Italy; I +glory in its splendor of sky and land and water. I never weary of its +beauteous vegetation, and my ear drinks in with equal pleasure the soft +accents of its language; but I always feel that these things are to +be treasured for memory to be enjoyed hereafter, just as the emigrant +labors for the gold he is to spend in his own country. In this wise, it +may be, when wandering along some mountain "boreen" at home, sauntering +of a summer's eve through some waving meadow, that Italy in all its +brightness will rise before me, and I will exalt in my heart to have +seen the towers of the Eternal City, and watched the waves that sleep in +"still Sorrento." + +We leave this to-morrow for Spezia, there to pass a few days; our object +being to loiter slowly along till papa can finally decide whether to go +back or forward: for so is it, my dearest friend, all our long-planned +tour and its pleasures have resolved themselves into a hundred +complications of finance and fashionable acquaintances. + +One might have supposed, from our failures in these attempts, that we +should have learned at least our own unfitness for success. The very +mortifications we have suffered might have taught us that all the +enjoyment we could ever hope to reap could not repay the price of a +single defeat. Yet here we are, just as eager, just as short-sighted, +just as infatuated as ever, after a world that will have "none of +us," and steadily bent on storming a position in society that, if won +to-morrow, we could not retain. + +I suppose that our reverses in this wise must have attained some +notoriety, and I am even prepared to hear that the Dodd family have +made themselves unhappily conspicuous by their unfortunate attempt at +greatness; but I own, dearest friend, that I am not able to contemplate +with the same philosophical submission the loss of good men's esteem and +respect, to which these failures must expose US--an instance of which, I +tremble to think, has already occurred to us. + +You have often heard me speak of Mrs. Morris, and of the kindness with +which she treated me during a visit at her house. She was at that time +in what many would have called very narrow circumstances, but which by +consummate care and good management sufficed to maintain a condition in +every way suitable to a gentlewoman. She has since--or rather her son +has--succeeded to a very large fortune and a title. They were at Genoa +when we arrived there,--at the same hotel,--and yet never either called +on or noticed us! It is perfectly needless for me to say that I know, +and know thoroughly, that no change in _their_ position could have +produced any alteration in their manner towards us. If ever there were +people totally removed from such vulgarity,--utterly incapable of even +conceiving it,--it is the Morrises. They were proud in their humble +fortune,--that is, they possessed a dignified self-esteem, that would +have rejected the patronage of wealthy pretension, but willingly +accepted the friendship of very lowly worth; and I can well believe that +prosperity will only serve to widen the sphere of their sympathies, and +make them as generous in action as they were once so in thought. That +their behavior to _us_ depends on anything in themselves, I therefore +completely reject,--this I know and feel to be an impossibility. What +a sad alternative is then left me, when I own that they have more than +sufficient cause to shun our acquaintance and avoid our intimacy! + +The loss of such a friend as Captain Morris might have been to James +is almost irreparable; and from the interest he once took in him, it +is clear he felt well disposed for such a part; and I am thoroughly +convinced that even papa himself, with all his anti-English prejudices, +has only to come into close contact with the really noble traits of the +English character, to acknowledge their excellence and their worth. I am +very far from undervaluing the great charm of manner which comes +under the category of what is called "aimable." I recognize all its +fascination, and I even own to an exaggerated enjoyment of its display; +but shall I confess that I believe that it is this very habit of +simulation that detracts from the truthful character of a people, and +that English bluntness is--so to say--the complement of English honesty. +That they push the characteristic too far, and that they frequently +throw a chill over social intercourse, which under more genial +influences had been everything that was agreeable, I am free to admit; +but, with all these deficiencies, the national character is incomparably +above that of any other country I have any knowledge of. It will be +scarcely complimentary if I add, after all this, that we Irish are +certainly more popular abroad than our Saxon relatives. We are more +compliant with foreign usages, less rigid in maintaining our own habits, +more conciliating in a thousand ways; and both our tongues and our +temperaments more easily catch a new language and a new tone of society. + +Is it not fortunate for you that I am interrupted in these gossipings by +the order to march? Mary Anne has come to tell me that we are to start +in half an hour; and so, adieu till we meet at Spezia. + +Spezia, Croce di Malta. + +The little sketch that I send with this will give you some very faint +notion of this beautiful gulf, with which I have as yet seen nothing to +compare. This is indeed Italy. Sea, sky, foliage, balmy air, the soft +influences of an atmosphere perfumed with a thousand odors,--all breathe +of the glorious land. + +The Garden--a little promenade for the townspeople, that stretches along +the beach--is one blaze of deep crimson flowers,--the blossom of the +San Giuseppe,--I know not the botanical name. The blue sea--and such a +blue!--mirrors every cliff and crag and castellated height with the most +minute distinctness. Tall lateen-sailed boats glide swiftly to and fro; +and lazy oxen of gigantic size drag rustling wagons of loaded vines +along, the ruddy juice staining the rich earth as they pass. + +Como was beautiful; but there was--so to say--a kind of trim coquetry in +its beauty that did not please me. The villas, the gardens, the +terraced walks, the pillared temples, seemed all the creations of a +landscape-gardening spirit that eagerly profited by every accidental +advantage of ground, and every casual excellence of situation. Now, here +there is none of this. All that man has done here had been even +better left undone. It is in the jutting promontories of rock-crowned +olives,--the landlocked, silent bays, darkened by woody shores,--the +wild, profuse vegetation, where the myrtle, the cactus, and the arbutus +blend with the vine, the orange, and the fig,--the sea itself, heaving +as if oppressed with perfumed languor,--and the tall Apennines, +snow-capped, in the distance, but whiter still in the cliffs of pure +Carrara marble,--it is in these that Spezia maintains its glorious +superiority, and in these it is indeed unequalled. + +It will sound, doubtless, like a very ungenerous speech, when I say that +I rejoice that this spot is so little visited--so little frequented--by +those hordes of stray and straggling English who lounge about the +Continent. I do not say this in any invidious spirit, but simply in the +pleasure that I feel in the quiet and seclusion of a place which, should +it become by any fatality "the fashion" will inevitably degenerate +by all the vulgarities of the change. At present the Riviera--as the +coast-line from Genoa to Pisa is called--is little travelled. The +steamers passing to Leghorn by the cord of the arch, take away nearly +all the tourists, so that Spezia, even as a bathing-place, is little +resorted to by strangers. There are none, not one, of the ordinary +signs of the watering-place about it. Neither donkeys to hire, nor +subscription concerts; not a pony phaeton, a pianist, nor any species +of human phenomenon to torment you; and the music of the town band is, +I rejoice to say, so execrably bad that even a crowd of twenty cannot be +mustered for an audience. + +Spezia is, therefore, _au naturel_,--and long may it be so! Distant be +the day when frescoed buildings shall rise around, to seduce from its +tranquil scenery the peaceful lover of nature, and make of him the +hot-cheeked gambler or the broken debauchee. I sincerely, hopefully +trust this is not to be, at least in our time. + +We made an excursion this morning by boat to Lerici, to see poor +Shelley's house, the same that Byron lived in when here. It stands in +the bight of a little bay of its own, and close to the sea; so close, +indeed, that the waves were plashing and frothing beneath the arched +colonnade on which it is built. It is now in an almost ruinous +condition, and the damp, discolored walls and crumbling plaster bespeak +neglect and decay. + +The view from the terrace is glorious; the gulf in its entire extent is +before you, and the island of Palmaria stands out boldly, with the tall +headlands of Porto Venere, forming the breakwater against the sea. It +was here Shelley loved to sit; here, of a summer's night, he often sat +till morning, watching the tracts of hill and mountain wax fainter and +fainter, till they grew into brightness again with coming day; and it +was not far from this, on the low beach of Via Reggio, that he was lost! +The old fisherman who showed us the house had known him well, and spoke +of his habits as one might have described those of some wayward child. +The large and lustrous eyes, the long waving hair, the uncertain step, +the look half timid, half daring, had made an impression so strong, that +even after long years he could recall and tell of them. + +It came on to blow a "Levanter" as we returned, and the sea got up with +a rapidity almost miraculous. From a state of calm and tranquil repose, +it suddenly became storm-lashed and tempestuous; nor was it without +difficulty we accomplished a landing at Spezia. To-morrow we are to +visit Porto Venere,--the scene which it is supposed suggested to Virgil +his description of the Cave in which Æneas meets with Dido; and the +following day we go to Carrara to see the marble quarries and the +artists' studios. In fact, we are "handbooking" this part of our tour in +the most orthodox fashion; and from the tame, half-effaced impressions +objects suggest, of which you come primed with previous description, +I can almost fancy that reading "John Murray" at your fireside at home +might compensate for the fatigue and cost of a journey. It would be +worse than ungrateful to deny the aid one derives from guide-books; but +there is unquestionably this disadvantage in them, that they limit +your faculty of admiration or disapproval. They set down rules for your +liking and disliking, and far from contributing to form and educate +your taste, they cramp its development by substituting criticism for +instinct. + +As I hope to write to you again from Florence, I 'll not prolong this +too tiresome epistle, but, with my most affectionate greetings to all my +old schoolfellows, ask my dear Miss Cox to believe me her ever attached +and devoted + +Caroline Dodd. + +The Morrises arrived here last night and went on this morning, without +any notice of us. They must have seen our names in the book when writing +their own. Is not this more than strange? Mamma and Mary Anne seemed +provoked when I spoke of it, so that I have not again alluded to the +subject. I wish from my heart I could ask how _you_ interpret their +coldness. + + + + +LETTER XXIV. MARY ANNE DODD TO MISS DOOLAN, OF BALLYDOOLAN. + +Lucca, Pagnini's Hotel. + +Dearest Kitty,--This must be the very shortest of letters, for we are on +the wing, and shall be for some days to come. Very few words, however, +will suffice to tell you that we have at length persuaded papa to come +on to Florence,--for the winter, of course. Rome will follow,--then +Naples,--_e poi?_--who knows! I think he must have received some very +agreeable tidings from your uncle Purcell, for he has been in better +spirits than I have seen him latterly, and shows something like a return +to his old vein of pleasantry. Not but I must own that it is what +the French would call, very often, a _mauvaise plaisanterie_ in its +exercise, his great amusement being to decry and disparage the people +of the Continent. He seems quite to forget that in every country the +traveller is, and must be, a mark for knavery and cheating. His newness +to the land, his ignorance, in almost all cases, of the language, +his occasional mistakes, all point him out as a proper subject +for imposition; and if the English come to compare notes with any +Continental country, I'm not so sure we should have much to plume +ourselves upon, as regards our treatment of strangers. + +For our social misadventures abroad, it must be confessed that we are +mainly most to blame ourselves. All the counterfeits of rank, station, +and position are so much better done by foreigners than by our people, +that we naturally are more easily imposed on. Now in England, for +instance, it would be easier to be a duchess than to imitate one +successfully. All the attributes that go to make up such a station +abroad, might be assumed by any adventurer of little means and less +capacity. We forget--or, more properly speaking, we do not know--this, +when we come first on the Continent; hence the mistakes we fall into, +and the disasters that assail us. + +It would be very disagreeable for me to explain at length how what +I mentioned to you about James's marriage has come to an untimely +conclusion. Enough when I say that the lady was not, in any respect, +what she had represented herself, and my dear brother may be said to +have had a most fortunate escape. Of course the poor fellow has suffered +considerably from the disappointment, nor are his better feelings +alleviated by the--I will say--very indelicate raillery papa is pleased +to indulge in on the subject. It is, however, a theme I do not care to +linger on, and I only thus passively allude to it that it may be buried +in oblivion between us. + +We came along here from Genoa by the seaboard, a very beautiful and +picturesque road, traversing a wild range of the Apennines, and almost +always within view of the blue Mediterranean. At Spezia we loitered for +a day or two, to bathe, and I must say nothing can be more innocently +primitive than the practice as followed there. + +Ladies and gentlemen--men and women, if you like it better--all meet in +the water as they do on land, or rather not as they do on land, but in +a very first-parentage state of no-dressedness. There they splash, swim, +dive, and converse,--float, flirt, talk gossip, and laugh with a most +laudable forgetfulness of externals. Introductions and presentations +go forward as they would in society, and a gentleman asks you to duck +instead of to dance with him. It would be affectation in me were I not +to say that I thought all this very shocking at first, and that I really +could scarcely bring myself to adopt it; but Lord George, who really +swims to perfection, laughed me out of some, and reasoned me out of +others of my prejudices, and I will own, dearest Kitty, his arguments +were unanswerable. + +"Were you not very much ashamed," said he, "the first time you saw +a ballet, or 'poses plastiques'?--did not the whole strike you as +exceedingly indelicate?--and now, would not that very same sense of +shame occur to you as real indelicacy, since in these exhibitions it is +Art alone you admire,--Art in its graceful development? The 'Ballarina' +is not a woman; she is an ideal,--she is a Hebe, a Psyche, an Ariadne, +or an Aphrodite. Symmetry, grace, beauty of outline,--these are the +charms that fascinate you. Can you not, therefore, extend this spirit to +the sea, and, instead of the Marquis of this and the Countess of that, +only behold Tritono and sea-nymphs disporting in the flood?" + +I saw at once the force of this reasoning, Kitty, and perceived that to +take any lower view of the subject would be really a gross indelicacy. I +tried to make Cary agree with me, but utterly in vain,--she is so devoid +of imagination! There is, too, an utter want of refinement in her mind +positively hopeless. She even confessed to me that Lord George without +his clothes still seemed Lord George to her, and that no effort she +could make was able to persuade her that the old Danish Minister in the +black leather skullcap had any resemblance to a river god. Mamma behaved +much better; seeing that the custom was one followed by all the "best +people," she adopted it at once, and though she would scream out +whenever a gentleman came to talk to her, I 'm sure, with a few +weeks' practice, she 'd have perfectly reconciled herself to "etiquette +in the water." Should you, with your very Irish notions, raise hands and +eyes at all this, and mutter, "How very dreadful!--how shocking!" and +so on, I have only to remind you of what the Princess Pauline said to an +English lady, who expressed her prudish horrors at the Princess having +"sat for Canova in wet drapery": "Oh, it was not so disagreeable as you +think; there was always a fire in the room." Now, Kitty, I make the same +reply to your shocked scruples, by saying the sea was deliciously warm. +Bathing is here, indeed, a glorious luxury. There is no shivering or +shuddering, no lips chattering, blue-nosed, goose-skinned misery, like +the home process! It is not a rush in, in desperation, a duck in agony, +and a dressing in ague, but a delicious lounge, associated with all the +enjoyments of scenery and society. The temperature of the sea is just +sufficiently below that of the air to invigorate without chilling, like +the tone of a company that stimulates without exhausting you. It is, +besides, indescribably pleasant to meet with a pastime so suggestive of +new themes of talk. Instead of the tiresome and trite topics of ballet +and balls, and dress and diamonds, your conversation smacks of salt +water, and every allusion "hath suffered a sea change." Instead of a +compliment to your dancing, the flattery is now on your diving; and he +who once offered his arm to conduct you to the "buffet," now proposes +his company to swim out to a lifebuoy! + +And now let me get back to land once more, and you will begin to fancy +that your correspondent is Undine herself in disguise. I was very sorry +to leave Spezia, since I was just becoming an excellent swimmer. Indeed, +the surgeon of an American frigate assured me that he thought "I had +been raised in the Sandwich Islands,"--a compliment which, of course, I +felt bound to accept in the sense that most flattered me. + +We passed through Carrara, stopping only to visit one or two of the +studios. They had not much to interest us, the artists being for the +most part copyists, and their works usually busts; busts being now the +same passion with our travelling countrymen as once were oil portraits. +The consequence is that every sculptor's shelves are loaded with +thin-lipped, grim-visaged English women, and triple-chinned, +apoplectic-looking aldermen, that contrast very unfavorably with the +clean-cut brows and sharply chiselled features of classic antiquity. +The English are an eminently good-looking race of people, seen in their +proper costume of broadcloth and velvet. They are manly and womanly. The +native characteristics of boldness, decision, and highhearted honesty +are conspicuous in all their traits; nor is there any deficiency in the +qualities of tenderness and gentleness. But with all this, when they +take off their neckcloths, they make but very indifferent Romans; and +he who looked a gentleman in his shirt-collar becomes, what James would +call, "an arrant snob" when seen in a toga. And yet they _will_ do it! +They have a notion that the Anglo-Saxon can do anything,--and so he can, +perhaps,--the difference being whether he can _look_ the character he +knows so well how to _act_. + +We left Carrara by a little mountain path to visit the Bagni di Lucca, +a summer place, which once, in its days of Rouge-et-Noir celebrity, was +greatly resorted to. The Principality of Lucca possessed at that period, +too, its own reigning duke, and had not been annexed to Tuscany. Like +all these small States, without trade or commerce, its resources were +mainly derived from the Court; and, consequently, the withdrawal of the +Sovereign was the death-blow to all prosperity. It would be quite beyond +me to speculate on the real advantages or disadvantages resulting from +this practice of absorption, but pronouncing merely from externals, I +should say that the small States are great sufferers. Nothing can +be sadder than the aspect of this little capital. Ruined palaces, +grass-grown streets, tenantless houses, and half-empty shops are seen +everywhere. Poverty--I might call it misery--on every hand. The various +arts and trades cultivated had been those required by, even called into +existence by, the wants of a Court. All the usages of the place had +been made to conform to its courtly life and existence, and now this was +gone, and all the "occupation" with it! You are not perhaps aware that +this same territory of Lucca supplies nearly all of that tribe of image +and organ men so well known, not only through Europe, but over the vast +continent of America. They are skilful modellers naturally, and work +really beautiful things in "terra cotta." They are a hardy mountain +race, and, like all "montagnards," have an equal love for enterprise and +an attachment to home. Thus they traverse every land and sea, they labor +for years long in far-away climes, they endure hardships and privations +of every kind, supported by the one thought of the day when they can +return home again, and when in some high-perched mountain village--some +"granuolo," or "bennabbia "--they can rest from wandering, and, seated +amidst their kith and kind, tell of the wondrous things they have seen +in their journeyings. It is not uncommon here, in spots the very wildest +and least visited, to find a volume in English or French on the shelf of +some humble cottage: now it is perhaps a print, or an engraving of +some English landscape,--a spot, doubtless, endeared by some especial +recollection,--and not unfrequently a bird from Mexico--a bright-winged +parrot from the Brazils--shows where the wanderer's footsteps have borne +him, and shows, too, how even there the thoughts of home had followed. + +Judged by our own experiences, these people are but scantily welcomed +amongst us. They are constantly associated in our minds with intolerable +hurdy-gurdies and execrable barrel-organs. They are the nightmare of +invalids, and the terror of all studious heads, and yet the wealth +with which they return shows that their gifts are both acknowledged and +rewarded. It must be that to many the organ-man is a pleasant visitor, +and the image-hawker a vendor of "high art" I have seen a great many of +them since we came here, and in their homes too; for mamma has taken +up the notion that these excellent people are all living in a state +of spiritual darkness and destitution, and to enlighten them has been +disseminating her precious little volume on the Miracles of Mount +Orsaro. It is plain to me that all this zeal of a woman of a foreign +nation seems to them a far more miraculous manifestation than anything +in her little book, and they stare and wonder at her in a way that +plainly shows a compassionate distrust of her sanity. + +It is right I should say that Lord George thinks all these people knaves +and vagabonds; and James says they are a set of smugglers, and live by +contraband. Whatever be the true side of the picture, I must now leave +to your own acuteness, or rather to your prejudices, which for all +present purposes are quite good enough judges to decide. + +Papa likes this place so much that he actually proposed passing the +winter here, for "cheapness,"--a very horrid thought, but which, +fortunately, Lord George averted by a private hint to the landlord of +the inn, saying that papa was rolling in wealth, but an awful miser; so +that when the bill made its appearance, with everything charged double, +papa's indignation turned to a perfect hatred of the town and all in it: +the consequence is that we are tomorrow to leave for Florence, which, +if but one half of what Lord George says be true, must be a real earthly +paradise. Not that I can possibly doubt him, for he has lived there two, +or, I believe, three winters,--knows everybody and everything. How I +long to see the Cascini, the Court Balls, the Private Theatricals, at +Prince Polywkowsky's, the picnics at Fiesole, and those dear receptions +at Madame della Montanare's, where, as Lord G. says, every one goes, and +"there's no absurd cant heard about character." + +Indeed, to judge from Lord G.'s account, Florence--to use his own +words--is "the most advanced city in Europe;" that is to say, the +Florentines take a higher and more ample view of social philosophy than +any other people. The erring individual in our country is always treated +like the wounded crow,--the whole rookery is down upon him at once. Not +so here; he--or _she_, to speak more properly--is tenderly treated and +compassionated; all the little blandishments of society showered on her. +She is made to feel that the world is really not that ill-natured thing +sour moralists would describe it; and even if she feel indisposed to +return to safer paths, the perilous ones are made as pleasant for her +as it is possible. These are nearly his own words, dearest, and are they +not beautiful? so teeming with delicacy and true charity. And oh! +Kitty, I must say these are habits we do not practise at home in our +own country. But of this more hereafter; for the present, I can think of +nothing but the society of this delightful city, and am trying to learn +off by heart the names of all the charming houses in which he is to +introduce us. He has written, besides, to various friends in England +for letters for us, so that we shall be unquestionably better off +here--socially speaking--than in any other city of the Continent. + +We leave this after breakfast to-morrow; and before the end of the week +it is likely you may hear from me again, for I am longing to give you +my first impressions of Firenza la Bella; till when, I am, as ever, your +dearly attached + +Mary Anne Dodd. + +P. S. Great good fortune, Kitty,--we shall arrive in time for the races. +Lord G. has got a note from Prince Pincecotti, asking him to ride +his horse "Bruise-drog,"--which, it seems, is the Italian for +"Bull-dog,"--and he consents. He is to wear my colors, too, +dearest,--green and white,--and I have promised to make him a present of +his jacket How handsome he _will_ look in jockey dress! + +James is in distraction at being too heavy for even a hurdle-race; +but as he is six feet one, and stout in proportion, it is out of the +question. Lord G. insists upon it that Cary and I must go on horseback. +Mamma agrees with him, and papa as stoutly resists. It is in vain we +tell him that all depends on the way we open the campaign here, and that +the present opportunity is a piece of rare good fortune; he is in one of +his obstinate moods, and mutters something about "beggars on horseback," +and the place they "ride to." I open my letter to say--carried +triumphantly, dearest--we _are_ to ride. + + + + +LETTER XXV. JAMES DODD TO ROBERT DOOLAN, ESQ., TRINITY COLLEGE, DUBLIN. + +Hôtel d'Italie, Florence, Wednesday. + +My dear Bob,--Here we are going it, and in about the very "fastest" +place I ever set foot in. In any other city society seems to reserve +itself for evening and lamplight; but here, Bob, you make "running from +the start," and keep up the pace till you come in. In the morning there +'s the club, with plenty of whist; all the gossip of the town,--and such +gossip too,--the real article, by Jove!--no shadowy innuendoes, no +vague and half-mystified hints of a flaw here or a crack there, but home +blows, my boy, with a smashed character or a ruined reputation at every +stroke. This is, however, only a breathing canter for what awaits you at +the Cascini,--a sort of "promenade," where all the people meet in +their carriages, and exchange confidences in scandal and invitations +to tea,--the Cascini being to the club what the ballet is to the opera. +After this, you have barely time to dress for dinner; which over, the +opera begins. There you pay visits from box to box; learn all that is +going on for the evening; hear where the prettiest women are going, and +where the smartest play will be found. Midnight arrives, and then--but +not before--the real life of Florence begins. The dear Contessa, that +never showed by daylight, at last appears in her _salon_; the charming +Marchesa, whose very head-dress is a study from Titian, and whose +dark-fringed eyes you think you recognize from the picture in "the +Pitti," at length sails in, to receive the humble homage of--what, +think you? a score of devoted worshippers, a band of chivalrous adorers? +Nothing of the kind, Bob: a dozen or so of young fellows, in all manner +of costumes, and all shapes of beards and moustaches; all smoking cigars +or cigarettes, talking, singing, laughing, thumping the piano, shouting +choruses, playing tricks with cards,--all manner of tomfoolery, in fact; +with a dash of enthusiasm in the nonsense that carries you along in +spite of yourself. The conversation--if one can dare to call it such--is +a wild chaos of turf-talk, politics, scandal, literature, buffoonery, +and the ballet. There is abundance of wit,--plenty of real smartness on +every side. The fellows who have just described the cut of a tucker can +tell you accurately the contents of a treaty; and they who did not seem +to have a thought above the depth of a flounce or the width of a sandal, +are thoroughly well versed in the politics of every State of Europe. +There is no touch of sarcasm in their gayety,--none of that refined, +subtle ridicule that runs through a Frenchman's talk; these fellows are +eminently good-natured: the code of morals is not severe, and hence the +secret of the merciful judgments you hear pronounced on every one. + +As to breeding, we English should certainly say there was an excess of +familiarity. Everybody puts his arm on your shoulder, pats you on the +back, and calls you by your Christian name. I am "Giacomo" to a host of +fellows I don't know by name; and "Gemess" to a select few, who +pride themselves on speaking English. At all events, Bob, there is no +constraint,--no reserve amongst them. You are at your ease at once, and +good fellowship is the order of the day. + +As to the women, they have a half-shy, half-confident look, that puzzles +one sadly. They 'll stand a stare from you most unblushingly; they think +it's all very right and very reasonable that you should look at them as +long and as fixedly as you would do at a Baffaelle in the Gallery: but +with all that, there is a great real delicacy of deportment, and those +coram-publico preferences which are occasionally exhibited in England, +and even in France, are never seen in Italian society. As to good looks, +there is an abundance, but of a character which an Englishman at first +will scarcely accept as beauty. They are rarely handsome by feature, +but frequently beautiful by expression. There is, besides, a graceful +languor, a tender Cleopatra-like voluptuousness in their air that +distinguishes them from other women; and I have no doubt that any +one who has lived long in Italy would pronounce French smartness +and coquetry the very essence of vulgarity. They cannot dress like a +Parisian, nor waltz like a Wienerin; but, to my thinking, they are far +more captivating than either. I am already in love with four, and I have +just heard of a fifth, that I am sure will set me downright distracted. +There 's one thing I like especially in them; and I own to you, Bob, it +would compensate to me for any amount of defects, which I believe do not +pertain to them. It is this: they have no accomplishments,--they neither +murder Rossini, nor mar Salvator Rosa; they are not educated to torment +society, poison social intercourse, and push politeness to its last +entrenchment. You are not called on for silence while they scream, nor +for praise when they paint. They do not convert a drawing-room into a +boarding-school on examination-day, and they are satisfied to charm you +by fascinations that cost you no compromise to admire. + +After all, I believe we English are the only people that adopt the other +plan. We take a commercial view of the matter, and having invested so +much of our money in accomplishment, we like to show our friends that we +have made a good speculation. For myself, I 'd as soon be married to a +musical snuff-box or a daguerreotype machine as to a "well-brought-up +English girl," who had always the benefit of the best masters in music +and drawing. The fourth-rate artist in anything is better than the +first-rate amateur; and I 'd just as soon wear home-made shoes as listen +to home-made music. + +I have not been presented in any of the English houses here as yet. +There is some wonderful controversy going forward as to whether we are +to call first, or to wait to be called on; and I begin to fear that the +Carnival will open before it can be settled. The governor, too, has got +into a hot controversy with our Minister here, about our presentation at +Court. It would appear that the rule is, you should have been presented +at home, in order to be eligible for presentation abroad. Now, we have +been at the Castle, but never at St James's. The Minister, however, will +not recognize reflected royalty; and here we are, suffering under a real +Irish grievance O'Connell would have given his eye for. The fun of it is +that the Court--at least, I hear so--is crammed with English, who never +even saw a Viceroy, nor perhaps partook of the high festivities of a +Lord Mayor's Ball. How they got there is not for me to inquire, but I +suppose that a vow to a chamberlain is like a customhouse oath, and can +always be reconciled to an easy conscience. + +We have arrived here at an opportune moment,--time to see all the +notorieties of the place at the races, which began to-day. So far as I +can learn, the foreigners have adopted the English taste, with the true +spirit of imitators; that is, they have given little attention to any +improvement in the breed of cattle, but have devoted considerable energy +to all the rogueries of the ring, and with such success that Newmarket +and Doncaster might still learn something from the "Legs" of the +Continent. + +Tiverton, who is completely behind the scenes, has told me some strange +stories about their doings; and, at the very moment I am writing, +horses are being withdrawn, names scratched, forfeits declared, and bets +pronounced "off," with a degree of precipitation and haste that shows +how little confidence exists amongst the members of the ring. As for +myself, not knowing either the course, the horses, nor the colors of +the riders, I take my amusement in observing--what is really most +laughable--the absurd effort made by certain small folk here to resemble +the habits and ways of certain big ones in England. Now it is a retired +coach-maker, or a pensioned-off clerk in a Crown office, that jogs down +the course, betting-book in hand, trying to look--in the quaintness of +his cob, and the trim smugness of his groom--like some old county squire +of fifteen thousand a year. Now it is some bluff, middle-aged gent, who, +with coat thrown back and thumbs in his waistcoat, insists upon being +thought Lord George Bentinck. There are Massy Stanleys, George Paynes, +Lord Wiltons, and Colonel Peels by dozens; "gentlemen jocks" swathed in +drab paletots, to hide the brighter rays of costume beneath, gallop at +full speed across the grass on ponies of most diminutive size; smartly +got-up fellows stand under the judge's box, and slang the authorities +above, or stare at the ladies in front. There are cold luncheons, +sandwiches, champagne, and soda-water; bets, beauties, and bitter +beer,--everything, in short, that constitutes races, but horses! The +system is that every great man gives a cup, and wins it himself; the +only possible interest attending such a process being whether, in some +paroxysm of anger at this, or some frump at that, he may not withdraw +his horse at the last moment,--an event on which a small knot of +gentlemen with dark eyes, thick lips, and aquiline noses seem to +speculate as a race chance, and only second in point of interest to a +whist party at the Casino with a couple of newly come "Bulls." A more +stupid proceeding, therefore, than these races--bating always the fun +derived from watching the "snobocracy". + +I have mentioned--cannot be conceived. Now it was a walk over; now a +"sell;" now two horses of the same owner; now one horse that was owned +by three. The private history of the rogueries might possibly amuse, but +all that met the public eye was of the very slowest imaginable. + +I begin to think, Bob, that horse-racing is only a sport that can be +maintained by a great nation abounding in wealth, and with all the +appliances of state and splendor. You ought to have gorgeous equipages, +magnificent horses, thousands of spectators, stands crowded to the roof +by a class such as only exists in great countries. Royalty itself, in +all its pomp, should be there; and all that represents the pride and +circumstance of a mighty people. To try these things on a small scale +is ridiculous,--just as a little navy of one sloop and a steamer! With +great proportions and ample verge, the detracting elements are hidden +from view. The minor rascalities do not intrude themselves on a scene of +such grandeur; and though cheating, knavery, and fraud are there, +they are not foreground figures. Now, on a little "race-course," it is +exactly the reverse: just as on board of a three-decker you know nothing +of the rats, but in a Nile boat they are your bedfellows and your guests +at dinner. + +To-morrow we are to have a match with gentlemen riders, and if anything +worth recording occurs I 'll keep a corner for it Mother is in the grand +stand, with any amount of duchesses and marchionesses around her. +The governor is wandering about the field, peeping at the cattle, and +wondering how the riders are to get round a sharp turn at the end of +the course. The girls are on horseback with Tiverton; and, in the long +intervals between the matches, I jot down these rough notes for you. The +scene itself is beautiful. The field, flanked on one side by the wood of +the Cascini, is open on t' other to the mountains: Fiezole, from base to +summit, is dotted over with villas half buried in groves of orange and +olive trees. The Val d'Arno opens on one side, and the high mountain +of Vallombrosa on the other. The gayly dressed and bright-costumed +Florentine population throng the ground itself, and over their heads +are seen the glorious domes and towers and spires of beautiful Florence, +under a broad sky of cloudless blue, and in an atmosphere of rarest +purity. + +Thursday. + +Tiverton has won his match, and with the worst horse too. Of his +competitors one fell off; another never got up at all; a third bolted; +and a fourth took so much out of his horse in a breathing canter before +the race, that the animal was dead beat before he came to the start. And +now the knowing ones are going about muttering angry denunciations on +the treachery of grooms and trainers, and vowing that "Gli gentlemen +riders son grandi bricconi." + +I am glad it is over. The whole scene was one of quarrelling, row, and +animosity from beginning to end. These people neither know how to +win money nor to lose it; and as to the English who figure on such +occasions, take my word for it, Bob, the national character gains little +by their alliance. It is too soon for me, perhaps, to pronounce in +this fashion, but Tiverton has told me so many little private +histories--revealed so much of the secret memoirs of these folk--that I +believe I am speaking what subsequent experience will amply confirm. For +the present, good-bye, and believe me, + +Ever yours, + +James Dodd. + + + + +LETTER XXVI. KENNY DODD TO THOMAS PURCELL, ESQ., ORANGE, BRUFF. + +Florence, Lungo l'Arno. + +My dear Tom,--It is nigh a month since I wrote to you last, and if I +didn't "steal a few hours from the night, my dear," it might be longer +still. The address will tell you where we are,--I wish anybody or +anything else would tell you how or why we came here! I intended to have +gone back from Genoa, nor do I yet understand what prevented me doing +so. My poor head--none of the clearest in what may be called my lucid +intervals--is but a very indifferent thinking machine when harassed, +worried, and tormented as I have been latterly. You have heard how +James's Countess, the Cardinal's niece and the betrothed of a Neapolitan +Prince, turned out to be a circus woman, one of those bits of tawdry +gold fringe and pink silk pantaloons that dance on a chalked saddle to a +one-shilling multitude! By good fortune she had two husbands living, or +she might have married the boy. As it was, he has gone into all manner +of debt on her account; and if it was not that I can defy ruin in any +shape,--for certain excellent reasons you may guess at,--this last +exploit of his would go nigh to our utter destruction. + +We hurried away out of Genoa in shame, and came on here by slow stages. +The womenkind plucked up wonderfully on the way, and I believe of the +whole party your humble servant alone carried abasement with him inside +the gates of Florence. + +My sense of sorrow and shame probably somehow blunted my faculties and +dulled my reasoning powers, for I would seem to have concurred in a vast +number of plans and arrangements that now, when I have come to myself, +strike me with intense astonishment. For instance, we have taken a suite +of rooms on the Arno, hired a cook, a carriage, and a courier; we are, I +hear, also in negotiation for a box at the "Pergola," and I am credibly +informed that I am myself looking out for saddle-horses for the girls, +and a "stout-made, square-jointed cob of lively action," to carry +myself. + +It may be all true--I have no doubt it is more philosophical, as the +cant phrase is--to believe Kenny Dodd to be mistaken rather than suppose +his whole family deranged, so that if I hear to-morrow or next day +that I 'm about to take lessons in singing, or to hire a studio as a +sculptor, I 'm fully determined to accept the tidings with a graceful +submission. There is only one thing, Tom Purcell, that passes my belief, +and that is, that there ever lived as besotted an old fool as your +friend Kenny D., a man so thoroughly alive to everything that displeased +him, and yet so prone to endure it; so actively bent on going a road the +very opposite to the one he wanted to travel; and that entered heart and +soul into the spirit of ruining himself, as if it was the very best fun +imaginable. + +That you can attempt to follow me through the vagaries of this strange +frame of mind is more than I expect, neither do I pretend to explain +it to you. There it is, however,--make what you can of it, just as you +would with a handful of copper money abroad, where there was no clew to +the value of a single coin in the mass, but wherewith you are assured +you have received your change. + +With a fine lodging, smart liveries, a very good cook, and a +well-supplied table, I thought it possible that though ruin would follow +in about three months, yet in the interval I might probably enjoy a +little ease and contentment. At all events, like the Indian, who, +when he saw that he must inevitably go over the Falls, put his paddles +quietly aside, and resolved to give himself no unnecessary trouble, I +also determined I 'd leave the boat alone, and never "fash myself for +the future." Wise as this policy may seem, it has not saved me. Mrs. D. +is a regular storm-bird! Wherever she goes she carries her own hurricane +with her! and I verily believe she could get up a tornado under the +equator. + +In a little pious paroxysm that seized her in the mountains, she, at the +instigation of a stupid old lord there, must needs write a tract +about certain miracles that were or were not--for I 'll not answer for +either--performed by a saint that for many years back nobody had paid +any attention to. This precious volume cost _her_ three weeks' loss of +rest, and _me_ about thirty pounds sterling. It was, however, a pious +work, and even as a kind of _visa_ on her passport to heaven, I +suppose it would be called cheap. I assure you, Tom, I spent the cash +grudgingly; that I did pay it at all I thought was about as good "a +miracle" as any in the book. + +Armed with this tract, she tramped through the Lucchese mountains, +leaving copies everywhere, and thrusting her volume into the hands of +all who would have it. I 'm no great admirer of this practice in any +sect. The world has too many indiscreet people to make this kind of +procedure an over-safe one; besides, I 'm not quite certain that even a +faulty religion is not preferable to having none at all, and it happens +not unfrequently that the convert stops half-way on his road, and leaves +one faith without ever reaching the other. I 'll not discuss this matter +further; I have trouble enough on my hands without it. + +These little tracts of Mrs. D.'s attracted the attention of the +authorities. It was quite enough that they had been given away gratis, +and by an Englishwoman, to stamp them as attempts to proselytize, and, +although they could n't explain how, yet they readily adopted the idea +that the whole was written in a figurative style purposely to cover +its real object, and so they set lawyers and judges to work, and what +between oaths of peasants and affirmations of prefects, they soon made +a very pretty case, and yesterday morning, just as we had finished +breakfast, a sergeant of the gendarmerie entered the room, and with a +military salute asked which was la Signora Dodd? The answer being +given, he proceeded to read aloud a paper, that he held in his hand, +the contents of which Cary translated for me in a whisper. They were, in +fact, a judge's warrant to commit Mrs. D. to prison under no less than +nine different sections of a new law on the subject of religion. In vain +we assured him that we were all good Catholics, kept every ordinance of +the Church, and hated a heretic. He politely bowed to our explanation, +but said that with this part of the matter he had nothing to do; that +doubtless we should be able to establish our innocence before the +tribunal; meanwhile Mrs. D. must go to prison. + +I 'm ashamed at all the warmth of indignation we displayed, seeing that +this poor fellow was simply discharging his duty,--and that no pleasant +one,--but somehow it is so natural to take one's anger out on the +nearest official, that we certainly didn't spare him. Tiverton +threatened him with the House of Commons; James menaced him with the +"Times;" Mary Anne protested that the British fleet would anchor off +Leghorn within forty hours; and I hinted that Mazzini should have the +earliest information of this new stroke of tyranny. He bore all like--a +gendarme! stroked his moustaches, clinked his sword on the ground, put +his cocked-hat a little more squarely on his head, and stood at +ease. Mrs. D.--there s no guessing how a woman will behave in any +exigency--did n't go off, as I thought and expected she would, in strong +hysterics; she did n't even show fight; she came out in what, I am free +to own, was for her a perfectly new part, and played martyr; ay, Tom, +she threw up her eyes, clasped her hands upon her bosom, and said, "Lead +me away to the stake--burn me--torture me--cut me in four quarters--tear +my flesh off with hot pincers." She suggested a great variety of these +practices, and with a volubility that showed me she had studied the +subject. Meanwhile the sergeant grew impatient, declared the "séance" +was over, and ordered her at once to enter the carriage that stood +awaiting her at the door, and which was to convey her to the prison. I +need n't dwell on a very painful scene; the end of it was that she was +taken away, and though we all followed in another carriage, we were only +admitted to a few moments of leave-taking with her, when the massive +gates were closed, and she was a captive! + +[Illustration: 248] + +Tiverton told me I must at once go to our Legation and represent the +case. "Be stout about it," said he; "say she must be liberated in half +an hour. Make the Minister understand you are somebody, and won't stand +any humbug. I 'd go," he added, "but I can't do anything against the +present Government." A knowing wink accompanied this speech, and though +I didn't see the force of the remark, I winked too, and said nothing. + +"What language does he speak?" said I, at last. + +"Our Minister? English, of course!" + +"In that case I 'm off at once;" and away I drove to the Legation. The +Minister was engaged. Called again,--he was out. Called later,--he was +in conference with the Foreign Secretary. Later still,--he was dressing +for dinner. Tipped his valet a Nap. and sent in my card, with a pressing +entreaty to be admitted. Message brought back, quite impossible,--must +call in the morning. Another Nap. to the flunkey, and asked his advice. + +"His Excellency receives this evening,--come as one of the guests." + +I did n't half like this counsel, Tom; it was rather an obtrusive line +of policy, but what was to be done? I thought for a few minutes, and, +seeing no chance of anything better, resolved to adopt it. At ten +o'clock, then, behold me ascending a splendidly illuminated staircase, +with marble statues on either side, half hid amidst all manner of rare +and beautiful plants. Crowds of splendidly dressed people are wending +their way upward with myself--doubtless with lighter hearts--which was +not a difficult matter. At the top, I find myself in a dense crowd, +all a blaze of diamonds and decorations, gorgeous uniforms and jewelled +dresses of the most costly magnificence. + +I assure you I was perfectly lost in wonderment and admiration. The +glare of wax-lights, the splendor of the apartments themselves, and the +air of grandeur on every side actually dazzled and astounded me. At each +instant I heard the title of Duke and Prince given to some one or other. +"Your Highness is looking better;" "I trust your Grace will dance;" "Is +the Princess here?" "Pray present me to the Duchess." Egad, Tom, I felt +I was really in the very centre of that charmed circle of which one +hears so much and yet sees so little. + +I need n't say that I knew nobody, and I own to you it was a great +relief to me that nobody knew _me_. Where should I find the Minister in +all this chaos of splendor, and if I did succeed, how obtain the means +of addressing him? These were very puzzling questions to be solved, and +by a brain turning with excitement, and half wild between astonishment +and apprehension. On I went, through room after room,--there seemed no +end to this gorgeous display. Here they were crushed together, so that +stars, crosses, epaulettes, diamond coronets, and jewelled arms seemed +all one dense mass; here they were broken into card-parties; here they +were at billiards; here dancing; and here all were gathered around a +splendid buffet, where the pop, pop of champagne corks explained the +lively sallies of the talkers. I was not sorry to find something like +refreshment; indeed, I thought my courage stood in need of a glass of +wine, and so I set myself vigorously to pierce the firm and compact +crowd in front of me. My resolve had scarcely been taken, when I felt a +gentle but close pressure within my arm, and on looking down, saw three +fingers of a white-gloved hand on my wrist. + +I started back; and even before I could turn my head, Tom, I heard a +gentle voice murmur in my ear, "Dear creature,--how delighted to see +you!--when did you arrive?" and my eyes fell upon Mrs. Gore Hampton! +There she was, in all the splendor of full dress, which, I am bound to +say, in the present instance meant as small an amount of raiment as +any one could well venture out in. That I never saw her look half so +beautiful is quite true. Her combs of brilliants set off her glossy +hair, and added new brilliancy to her eyes, while her beauteous neck and +shoulders actually shone in the brightness of its tints. I bethought me +of the "Splügen," Tom, and the cold insolence of her disdain. I tried +to summon up indignation to reproach her, but she anticipated me, by +saying, with a bewitching smile, "Adolphus isn't here now, Doddy!" +Few as the words were, Tom, they revealed a whole history,--they were +apology for the past, and assurance for the present. "Still," said I, +"you might have--" "What a silly thing it is!" said she, putting her fan +on my lips; "and it wants to quarrel with me the very moment of meeting; +but it must n't and it sha'n't. Get me some supper, Doddy,--an oyster +patty, if there be one,--if not, an ortolan truffé." + +This at least was a good sensible speech, and so I wedged firmly into +the mass, and, by dint of very considerable pressure, at length landed +my fair friend at the buffet. It was, I must say, worth all the labor. +There was everything you can think of, from sturgeon to Maraschino +jelly, and wines of every land of Europe. It was a good opportunity +to taste some rare vintages, and so I made a little excursion through +Marcobrunner to Johannisberg, and thence on to Steinberger. Leaving the +Rhine land, I coquetted awhile with Burgundy, especially Chambertin, +back again, however, to Champagne, for the sake of its icy coldness, to +wind up with some wonderful Schumlawer,--a Hungariau tap,--that actually +made me wish I had been born a hussar. + +It is no use trying to explain to _you_ the tangled maze of my poor +bewitched faculties. _You_, whose experiences in such trials have not +gone beyond a struggle for a ham sandwich, or a chicken bone for some +asthmatic old lady in black satin,--_you_ can neither comprehend my +situation nor compassion ate my difficulties. How shall I convey to +your uninformed imagination the bewitching effects of wine, beauty, +heat, light, music, soft words, soft glances, blue eyes, and snowy +shoulders? I may give you all the details, but you 'll never be able +to blend them into that magic mass that melts the heart, and makes such +fools of the Kenny Dodds of this world. There is such a thing, believe +me, as "an atmosphere of enchantment." There are elements which compose +a magical air around you, perfumed with odors, and still more entrancing +by flatteries. The appeal is now to your senses, now to your heart, your +affections, your intellect, your sympathies; your very self-love is even +addressed, and you are more than man, at least more than an Irishman, if +you resist. + +Egad, Tom, she is a splendid woman! and has that air of gentleness +and command about her that somehow subdues you at once. Her little +cajoleries--those small nothings of voice and look and touch--are such +subtle tempters for one admired even to homage itself. + +"You must be my escort, Doddy," said she, drawing on her glove, after +fascinating me by the sight of that dimpled hand, and those rose-tipped +fingers so full of their own memories for me. "You shall give me your +arm, and I'll tell you who every one is." And away we sailed out of the +supper-room into the crowded _salons_. + +Our progress was slow, for the crush was tremendous; but, as we went, +her recognitions were frequent. Still, I could not but remark, not with +women. All, or nearly all, her acquaintances were of, I was going to +say the harder, but upon my life I believe the real epithet would be the +softer sex. They saluted her with an easy, almost too easy, familiarity. +Some only smiled; and one, a scoundrel,--I shall know him again, +however,--threw up his eyes with a particular glance towards me, as +plainly as possible implying, "Oh, another victim, eh?" As for the +ladies, some stared full at her, and then turned abruptly away; some +passed without looking; one or two made her low and formal courtesies; +and a few put up their glasses to scan her lace flounce or her lappets, +as if _they_ were really the great objects to be admired. At last we +came to a knot of men talking in a circle round a very pretty woman, +whose jet-black eyes and ringlets, with a high color, gave her a most +brilliant appearance. The moment she saw Mrs. G. H. she sprang from her +seat to embrace her. They spoke in French, and so rapidly that I could +catch nothing of what passed; but the dark eyes were suddenly darted +towards me with a piercing glance that made me half ashamed. + +[Illustration: 252] + +"Let us take possession of that sofa," said Mrs. Gore, moving towards +one. "And now, Doddy, I want to present you to my dearest friend on +earth, my own darling Georgina." + +Then they both kissed, and I muttered some stupid nonsense of my own. + +"This, Georgy,--this is that dear creature of whom you have heard me +speak so often; this is that generous, noble-hearted soul whose devotion +is written upon my heart; and this," said she, turning to the other +side, "this is my more than sister,--my adored Georgina!" + +I took my place between them on the sofa, and was formally presented to +whom?--guess you? No less a person than Lady George Tiverton! Ay, Tom, +the fascinating creature with the dark orbs was another injured woman! +I was not to be treated like a common acquaintance, it seemed, for +"Georgy" began a recital of her husband's cruelties to me. Of all the +wretches I ever heard or read he went far beyond them. There was not +an indignity, not an outrage, he had not passed on her. He studied +cruelties to inflict upon her. She had been starved, beaten, bruised, +and, I believe, chained to a log. + +She drew down her dress to show me some mark of cruelty on her shoulder; +and though I saw nothing to shock me, I took her word for the injury. +In fact, Tom, I was lost in wonderment how one that had gone through +so much not only retained the loveliness of her looks, but all the +fascinations of her beauty, unimpaired by any traits of suffering. + +What a terrible story it was, to be sure! Now he had sold her diamonds +to a Jew; now he had disposed of her beautiful dark hair to a wig-maker. +In his reckless extravagance her very teeth were not safe in her head; +but more dreadful than all were the temptations he had exposed her +to,--sweet, young, artless, and lovely as she was! All the handsome +fellows about town,--all that was gay, dashing, and attractive,--the +young Peerage and the Blues,--all at her feet; but her saintlike purity +triumphed; and it was really quite charming to hear how these two pretty +women congratulated each other on all the perils they had passed +through unharmed, and the dangers through which virtue had borne +them triumphant. There I sat, Tom, almost enveloped in gauze and +Valenciennes,--for their wide flounces encompassed me, their beauteous +faces at either side, their soft breath fanning me,--listening to +tales of man's infamy that made my blood boil. To the excitement of +the champagne had succeeded the delirious intoxication compounded of +passionate indignation and glowing admiration; and at any minute I felt +ready to throw myself at the heads of the husbands or the feet of their +wives! + +Vast crowds moved by us as we sat there, and I could perceive that +we were by no means unnoticed by the company. At last I perceived an +elderly lady, leaning on a young man's arm, whom I thought I recognized; +but she quickly averted her head and said something to her companion. +He turned and bowed coldly to me; and I perceived it was Morris,--or +Penrhyn, I suppose he calls himself now; and, indeed, his new dignity +would seem to have completely overcome him. Mrs. G. H. asked his name; +and when I told it, said she would permit me to present him to her,--a +liberty I had no intention to profit by. + +The company was now thinning fast; and so, giving an arm to each of my +fair friends, we descended to the cloak-ing-room. "Call our carriage, +Doddy,--the Villino Amaldini! for Georgy and I go together," said Mrs. +G. I saw them to the door, helped them in, kissed their hands, promised +to call on them early on the morrow,--"Villa Amaldini,--Via +Amaldini,"--got the name by heart; another squeeze of the two fair +hands, and away they rolled, and I turned homeward in a frame of mind of +which I have not courage to attempt the description. + +When I arrived at our lodgings, it was nigh three o'clock; Mary Anne and +Cary were both sitting up waiting for me. The police had made a descent +on the house in my absence, and carried away three hundred and seventy +copies of the blessed little tract, all our house bills, some of your +letters, and the girls' Italian exercises; a very formidable array +of correspondence, to which some equations in algebra, by James, +contributed the air of a cipher. + +"Well, papa, what tidings?" cried both the girls, as I entered the +room. "When is she to be liberated? What says the Minister?--is he +outrageous?--was he civil?--did he show much energy?" + +"Wait a bit, my dears," said I, "and let me collect myself. After all I +have gone through, my head is none of the clearest." + +This was quite true, Tom, as you may readily believe. They both waited, +accordingly, with a most exemplary patience; and there we sat in +silence, confronting each other; and I own to you honestly, a criminal +in a dock never had a worse conscience than myself at that moment. + +"Girls," said I, at last, "if I am to have brains to carry me through +this difficult negotiation, it will only be by giving me the most +perfect peace and tranquillity. No questioning--no interrogation--no +annoyance of any kind--you understand me--this," said I, touching my +forehead,--"this must be undisturbed." They both looked at each other +without speaking, and I went on; but what I said, and how I said it, +I have no means of knowing: I dashed intrepidly into the wide sea of +European politics, mixing up Mrs. D. with Mazzini, making out something +like a very strong case against her. From that I turned to Turkey +and the Danubian Provinces, and brought in Omer Pasha and the Earl of +Guzeberry; plainly showing that their mother was a wronged and injured +woman, and that Sir Somebody Dundas might be expected any moment at the +mouth of the Arno, to exact redress for her wrongs. "And now," said I, +winding up, "you know as much of the matter as I do, my dears; you view +things from the same level as myself; and so, off to bed, and we 'll +resume the consideration of the subject in the morning." I did n't wait +for more, but took my candle and departed. + +"Poor papa!" said Mary Anne, as I closed the door; "he talks quite +wildly. This sad affair has completely affected his mind." + +"He certainly _does_ talk most incoherently," said Cary; "I hope we +shall find him better in the morning." Ah! Tom, I passed a wretched +night of self-accusation and sorrow. There was nothing Mrs. D. herself +could have said to me that I did n't say. I called myself a variety +of the hardest names, and inveighed stoutly against my depravity and +treachery. The consequence was that I couldn't sleep a wink, and rose +early, to try and shake off my feverish state by a walk. + +I sallied out into the streets, and half unconsciously took the way to +the prison. It was one of those old feudal fortresses--half jail, half +palace--that the Medici were so fond of,--grim-looking, narrow-windowed, +high-battlemented buildings, that stand amidst modern edifices as a +mailed knight might stand in a group of our every-day dandies. I looked +up at its dark and sullen front with a heavy and self-reproaching heart. +"Your wife is there, Kenny Dodd," said I, "a prisoner!--treated like +a malefactor and a felon!--carried away by force, without trial or +investigation, and already sentenced--for a prisoner is under sentence +when even passingly deprived of liberty--and there you stand, powerless +and inactive! For this you quitted a land where there is at least a law, +and the appeal to it open to every one! For this you have left a +country where personal liberty can be assailed neither by tyranny nor +corruption! For this you have come hundreds of miles away from home, to +subject yourself and those belonging to you to the miserable despotism +of petty tyrants and the persecution of bigots! Why don't they print +it in large letters in every passport what one has to expect in these +journeyings? What nonsense it is to say that Kenny Dodd is to travel at +his pleasure, and that the authorities themselves are neither to give +nor 'permettre qu'il lui soit donné empêchement quelconque, mais au +contraire toute aide et assistance!' Why not be frank, and say, 'Kenny +Dodd comes abroad at his own proper risk and peril, to be cheated in +Belgium, bamboozled in Holland, and blackguarded on the Rhine; with +full liberty to be robbed in Spain, imprisoned in Italy, and knouted +in Russia'? With a few such facts as these before you, you would think +twice on the Tower Stairs, and perhaps deliberate a little at Dover. +It's no use making a row because foreigners do not adopt our notions. +They have no Habeas Corpus, just as they have no London Stout,--maybe +for the same reason, too,--it would n't suit the climate. But what +brings us amongst them! There's the question. Why do we come so far away +from home to eat food that disagrees with us, and live under laws we cry +out against? Is it consistent with common-sense to run amuck through the +statutes of foreign nations just out of wilfulness? I wish my wife was +out of that den, and I wish we were all back in Dodsborough." And with +that wise reflection, uttered in all the fulness of my heart, I turned +slowly away and reached the Arno. A gentleman raised his hat politely to +me as I passed. I turned hastily, and saw it was Morris. His salute was +a cold one, and showed no inclination for nearer acquaintance; but I was +too much humiliated in my own esteem to feel pride, so I followed and +overtook him. His reception of me was so chilling, Tom, that even before +I spoke I regretted the step I had adopted. I rallied, however, and +after reminding him how on a former occasion I had been benefited by his +able intervention in my behalf, briefly told him of Mrs. D.'s arrest, +and the great embarrassment I felt as to the course to be taken. + +He thawed in a moment. All his distance was at once abandoned, and, +kindly offering me his arm, begged me to relate what had occurred. +He listened calmly, patiently,--I might almost say, coldly. He never +dropped a sentence,--not a syllable like sympathy or condolence. He +had n't as much as a word of honest indignation against the outrageous +behavior of the authorities. In fact, Tom, he took the whole thing just +as much as a matter of course as if there was nothing remarkable nor +strange in imprisoning an Englishwoman, and the mother of a family. He +made a few pencil notes in his pocket-book as to dates and such-like, +and then, looking at his watch, said,-- + +"We'll go and breakfast with Dunthorpe. You know him intimately, don't +you?" + +I had to confess I did not know him at all. + +"Oh! seeing you there last night," said he, "I thought you knew him +well, as you are only a very short time in Florence." + +I drew a long breath, Tom, and told him how I had happened to find +myself at the Minister's "rout." He smiled good-humoredly; there was +nothing offensive in it, however, and it passed off at once. + +"Sir Alexander and I are old friends," said he. "We served in the same +regiment once together, and I can venture to present you, even at this +early hour;" and with that we walked briskly on towards the Legation. + +All this while Morris--I can't call him by his new name yet--never +alluded to the family; he did n't even ask after James, and I plainly +saw that he was bent on doing a very good-natured thing, without any +desire to incur further intimacy as its consequence. + +Sir Alexander had not left his room when we arrived, but on receiving +Morris's card sent word to say he should be down in a moment, and +expected us both at breakfast. The table was spread in a handsome +library, with every possible appliance of comfort about it. There was +a brisk wood-fire blazing on the ample hearth, and a beautiful Blenheim +asleep before it. Newspapers of every country and every language lay +scattered about with illustrated journals and prints. Most voluptuous +easy-chairs and fat-cushioned sofas abounded, and it was plain to see +that the world has some rougher sides than she turns to her Majesty's +Envoys and Ministers Plenipotentiary! + +I was busy picturing to myself what sort of person the present occupant +of this post was likely to prove, when he entered. A tall, very +good-looking man, of about forty, with bushy whiskers of white hair; +his air and bearing the very type of frankness, and his voice the rich +tone of a manly speaker. He shook me cordially by the hand as Morris +introduced me, apologized for keeping us waiting, and at once seated us +at table. A sickly-looking lad, with sore eyes and a stutter, slipped +unobtrusively in after him, and he was presented to us as Lord Adolphus +de Maudley, the unpaid Attaché. + +Leaving all to Morris, and rightly conjecturing that he would open the +subject we came upon at the fitting time, I attacked a grouse-pie most +vigorously, and helped myself freely to his Excellency's Bordeaux. There +were all manner of good things, and we did them ample justice, even to +the Unpaid himself, who certainly seemed to take out in prog what they +denied him in salary. + +Sir Alexander made all the running as to talk. He rattled away about +Turks and Russians,--affairs home and foreign,--the Ministry and the +Opposition,--who was to go next to some vacant embassy, and who was +to be the prima donna at the Pergola. Then came Florence gossip,--an +amusing chapter; but perhaps--as they say in the police reports--not +quite fit for publication. His Excellency had seen the girls at the +races, and complimented me on their good looks, and felicitated the city +on the accession of so much beauty. At last Morris broke ground, and +related the story of Mrs. D.'s captivity. Sir Alex--who had by this time +lighted his cigar--stood with his hands in his dressing-gown pockets, +and his back to the fire, the most calm and impassive of listeners. + +"They are so stupid, these people," said he at last, puffing his weed +between each word; "won't take the trouble to look before them--won't +examine--won't investigate--a charge. Mrs. Dodd a Catholic too?" + +"A most devout and conscientious one!" said I. + +"Great bore for the moment, no doubt; but--try a cheroot, they 're +milder--but, as I was saying, to be amply recompensed hereafter. There's +nothing they won't do in the way of civility and attention to make +amends for this outrage." + +"Meanwhile, as to her liberation?" said Morris. + +"Ah! that _is_ a puzzle. No use writing to Ministers, you know. That's +all lost time. Official correspondence--only invented to train up our +youth--like Lord Dolly, there. Must try what can be done with Bradelli." + +"And who is Bradelli, your Excellency?" + +"Bradelli is Private Secretary to the Cardinal Boncelli, at Rome." + +"But we are in Tuscany." + +"Geographically speaking, so we are. But leave it to me, Mr. Dodd. No +time shall be lost. Draw up a note, Dolly, to the Prince Cigalaroso. +You have a mem. in the Chancellerie will do very well. The English are +always in scrapes, and it is always the same: 'Mon cher Prince,--Je +regrette infiniment que mes devoirs m'imposent,' &c., &c, with a full +account of the 'fâcheux incident,'--that's the phrase, mind that, Dolly; +do everything necessary for the Blue Book, and in the meanwhile take +care that Mrs. D. is out of prison before the day is over." + +I was surprised to find how little Sir Alexander cared for the real +facts of the case, or the gross injustice of the entire proceeding. +In fact, he listened to my explanations on this head with as much +impatience as could consist with his unquestionable good breeding, +simply interpolating as I went on: "Ah, very true;" "Your observation is +quite correct;" "Perfectly just," and so on. "Can you dine here to-day, +Mr. Dodd?" said he, as I finished; "Penrhyn is coming, and a few other +friends." + +I had some half scruples about accepting a dinner invitation while my +wife remained a prisoner, but I thought, "After all, the Minister must +be the best judge of such a point," and accordingly said "Yes." A most +agreeable dinner it was too, Tom. A party of seven at a round table, +admirably served, and with--what I assure you is growing rather a rarity +nowadays--a sufficiency of wine. + +The Minister himself proved most agreeable; his long residence abroad +had often brought him into contact with amusing specimens of his own +countrymen, some of whose traits and stories he recounted admirably, +showing me that the Dodds are only the species of a very widely extended +and well-appreciated genus. + +I own to you that I heard, with no small degree of humiliation, how +prone we English are to demand money compensations for the wrongs +inflicted upon us by foreign governments. As the information came from a +source I cannot question, I have only to accept the fact, and deplore it. + +As a nation, we are, assuredly, neither mean nor mercenary. As +individuals, I sincerely hope and trust we can stand comparison in all +that regards liberality of purse with any people. Yet how comes it +that we have attained to an almost special notoriety for converting our +sorrows into silver, and making our personal injuries into a credit at +our banker's? I half suspect that the tone imparted to the national mind +by our Law Courts is the true reason of this, and that our actions for +damages are the damaging features of our character as a people. The man +who sees no indignity in taking the price of his dishonor, will find +little difficulty in appraising the value of an insult to his liberty. +Take my word for it, Tom, it is a very hard thing to make foreigners +respect the institutions of a country stained with this reproach, or +believe that a people can be truly high-minded and high-spirited who +have recourse to such indemnities. + +From what fell from Sir Alexander on this subject, I could plainly +perceive the embarrassment a Minister must labor under, who, while +asserting the high pretensions of a great nation, is compelled to +descend to such ignoble bargains; and I only wish that the good public +at home, as they pore over Blue Books, would take into account this very +considerable difficulty. + +As regards foreign governments themselves, it is right to bear in mind +that they rarely or never can be induced to believe the transgressions +of individuals as anything but parts of a grand and comprehensive scheme +of English interference. If John Bull smuggle a pound of tea, it is +immediately set down that England is going to alter the Custom Laws. Let +him surreptitiously steal his fowling-piece over the frontier, and we +are accused of "arming the disaffected population." A copy of a tract +is construed into a treatise on Socialism; and a "Jim-Crow" hat is the +symbol of Republican doctrines. + +I see the full absurdity of these suspicions, but I wish, for our own +comfort's sake, to take no higher ground, that we were somewhat more +circumspect in our conduct abroad. "Rule Britannia" is a very fine tune, +and nobody likes to hear it, well sung, better than myself; but this I +will say, Tom, Britons _ever_ will be slaves to their prejudices and +self-delusions, until they come to see that _their_ notions of right +and wrong are not universal, and that there is no more faulty impression +than to suppose an English standard of almost anything applicable to +people who have scarcely a thought, a feeling, or even a prejudice in +common with us. + +One might almost fancy that the travelling Englishman loved a scrape +from the pleasure it afforded him of addressing his Minister, and making +a fuss in the "Times." Just as a fellow who knew he had a cork jacket +under his waistcoat might take pleasure in falling overboard and +attracting public attention, without incurring much risk. + +While we were discussing these and such-like topics, there came a note +from James to say that Mrs. Dodd had just been liberated, and was then +safe in what is popularly called the bosom of her family. I accordingly +arose and thanked Sir Alexander most heartily for his kind and +successful interference, and though I should not have objected to +another glass or two of his admirable port, I felt it was only decent +and becoming in me to hasten home to my wife. + +As Morris had shown so much good-nature in the affair, and +had--formerly, at least--been on very friendly terms with us, I asked +him to come along with me; but he declined, with a kind of bashful +reserve that I could not comprehend; and so, half offended at his +coldness, I wished him a "good-night," and departed. + +I have now only to add that I found Mrs. D. in good health and spirits, +and, on the whole, rather pleased with the incident than otherwise. You +shall hear from me again erelong, and meanwhile believe me, + +Your ever faithful friend, + +Kenny James Dodd. + + + + +LETTER XXVII. MRS. DODD TO MRS. GALLAGHER, DODSBOROUGH + +Casa Dodd, Florence. + +My dear Molly,--So you tell me that the newspapers is full of me, and +that nothing is talked of but "the case of Mrs. Dodd" and her "cruel +incarnation in the dungeons of Tuscany." I wish they 'd keep their +sympathies to themselves, Molly, for, to tell you a secret, this same +captivity has done us the greatest service in the world. Here we are, +my darling, at the top of the tree,--going to all the balls, dining +out every day, and treated with what they call the most distinguished +consideration. And I must say, Molly, that of all the cities ever I +seen, Florence is the most to my taste. There's a way of living here,--I +can't explain how it is done, exactly; but everybody has just what he +likes of everything. I believe it 's the bankers does it,--that they +have a way of exchanging, or discounting, or whatever it is called, +that makes every one at their ease; and, indeed, my only surprise is why +everybody does n't come to live in a place with so many advantages. Even +K. I. has ceased grumbling about money matters, and for the last three +weeks we have really enjoyed ourselves. To be sure, now and then, he +mumbles about "as well to be hanged for a sheep as a lamb;" and this +morning he said that he was "too old to beg," to "dig he was ashamed." +"I hope you are," says I; "it is n't in your station in life that you +can go out as a navvy, and with your two daughters the greatest beauties +in the town." And so they are, Molly. There isn't the like of Mary Anne +in the Cascini; and though Caroline won't give herself fair play in the +way of dress, there's many thinks she 's the prettiest of the two. + +I wish you saw the Cascini, Molly, when the carriages all drive up, and +get mixed together, so that you would wonder how they 'd ever get out +again. They are full of elegantly dressed ladies; there's nothing too +fine for them, even in the morning, and there they sit, and loll +back, with all the young dandies lying about them, on the steps of +the carriages, over the splash-boards,--indeed, nearly under the +wheels,--squeezing their hands, looking into their eyes and under their +veils. Oh dear, but it seems mighty wicked till you 're used to it, and +know it 's only the way of the place, which one does remarkably soon. +The first thing strikes a stranger here, Molly, is that everybody knows +every other body most intimately. It's all "Carlo," "Luigi," "Antonio +mio," with hands clasped or arms about each other, and everlasting +kissing between the women. And then, Molly, when you see a newly arrived +English family in the midst of them, with a sulky father, a stiff +mother, three stern young ladies, and a stupid boy of sixteen, you think +them the ugliest creatures on earth, and don't rightly know whether to +be angry or laugh at them. + +Lord George says that the great advantage of the Cascini is that +you hear there "all that's going on." Faith, you do, Molly, and nice +goings-on it is! The Florentines say they 've no liberty. I 'd like to +know how much more they want, for if they haven't it by right, Molly, +they take it at all events, and with everybody too. The creatures, all +rings and chains, beards and moustaches, come up to the side of your +carriage, put up their opera-glasses, and stare at you as if you was +waxwork! Then they begin to discuss you, and almost fall out about the +color of your hair or your eyes, till one, bolder than the rest, comes +up close to you, and decides what is maybe a wager! It's all very trying +at first,--not but Mary Anne bears it beautifully, and seems never to +know that she is standing under a battery of fifty pair of eyes! + +As to James, it's all paradise. He knows all the beauties of the town +already, and I see him with his head into a brougham there, and his legs +dangling out of a phaeton here, just as if he was one of the family. You +may think, Molly, when they begin that way of a morning, what it is when +they come to the evening! If they 're all dear friends in the daylight, +it 's brothers and sisters--no, but husbands and wives--they become, +when the lamps are lighted! Whether they walk or waltz, whether they +hand you to a seat or offer you an ice, they 've an art to make it a +particular attention,--and, as it were, put you under an obligation for +it; and whether you like it or not, Molly, you are made out in their +debt, and woe to you when they discover you 're a defaulter! + +I 'm sure, without Lord George's advice, we could n't have found the +right road to the high society of this place so easily; but he told K. +I. at once what to do,--and for a wonder, Molly, he did it. Florence, +says he, is like no other capital in Europe. In all the others there is +a circle, more or less wide, of what assumes to be "the world;" there +every one is known, his rank, position, and even his fortune. Now in +Florence people mix as they do at a Swiss _table d'hôte_; each talks to +his neighbor, perfectly aware that _he_ may be a blackleg, or she--if +it be a she--something worse. That society is agreeable, pleasant, and +brilliant is the best refutation to all the cant one hears about freedom +of manners, and so on. And, as Lord G. observes, it is manifestly a duty +with the proper people to mingle with the naughty ones, since it is +only in this way they can hope to reclaim them. "Take those two charming +girls of yours into the world here, Mrs. D.," said he to me the other +day; "show the folks that beauty, grace, and fascination are all +compatible with correct principles and proper notions; let them see that +you yourself, so certain of attracting admiration, are not afraid of +its incense; say to society, as it were, 'Here we are, so secure of +ourselves that we can walk unharmed through all the perils around us, +and enjoy health and vigor with the plague on every side of us.'" And +that's what we 're doing, Molly. As Lord George says, "we 're diffusing +our influence," and I 've no doubt we 'll see the results before long. + +I wish I was as sure of K. I.'s goings-on; but Betty tells me that he +constantly receives letters of a morning, and hurries out immediately +after; that he often drives away late at night in a hackney-coach, and +does n't return till nigh morning! I 'm only waiting for him to buy us a +pair of carriage-horses to be at him about this behavior; and, indeed, I +think he 's trying to push me on to it, to save him from the expense of +the horses. I must tell you, Molly, that next to having no character, +the most fashionable thing here is a handsome coach; and, indeed, +without something striking in that way, you can't hope to take society +by storm. With a phaeton and a pair of blood bays, James says, you can +drive into Prince Walleykoffsky's drawing-room; with a team of four, you +can trot them up the stairs of the Pitti Palace. + +After a coach, comes your cook; and is n't my heart broke trying them! +We've had a round of "experimental dinners," that has cost us a little +fortune, since each "chef" that came was free to do what he pleased, +without regard to the cost, and an eatable morsel never came to the +table all the while. Our present artist is Monsieur Chardron, who goes +out to market in a brougham, and buys a turkey with kid gloves on +him. He won't cook for us except on company days, but leaves us to his +"aide," as he calls him, whom K. I. likes best, for he condescends to +give us a bit of roast meat, now and then, that has really nourishment +in it. We 're now, therefore, in a state to open the campaign. We 've an +elegant apartment, a first-rate cook, a capital courier; and next week +we 're to set up a chasseur, if K. I. will only consent to be made a +Count. + +You may stare, Molly, when I tell you that he fights against it as if it +was the Court of Bankruptcy; though Lord George worked night and clay +to have it done. There never was the like of it for cheapness; a trifle +over twenty pounds clears the whole expense; and for that he would be +Count Dodd, of Fiezole, with a title to each of the children. As many +thousands would n't do that in England; and, indeed, one does n't wonder +at the general outcry of the expense of living there, when the commonest +luxuries are so costly. Mary Anne and I are determined on it, and before +the month is over your letters will be addressed to a Countess. + +In the middle of all this happiness, my dear, there is a drop of bitter, +as there always is in the cup of life, though you may do your best not +to taste it. Indeed, if it was n't for this drawback, Florence would be +a place I 'd like to live and die in. What I allude to is this: here we +are be-tween two fires, Molly,--the Morrises on one side, and Mrs. Gore +Hampton on the other,--both watching, scrutinizing, and observing us; +for, as bad luck would have it, they both settled down here for the +winter! Now, the Morrises know all the quiet, well-behaved, respectable +people, that one ought to be acquainted with just for decency's sake. +But Mrs. G. H. is in the fashionable and fast set, where all the fun is +going on; and from what I can learn them 's the very people would +suit us best. Being in neither camp, we hear nothing but the abuse and +scandal that each throws on the other; and, indeed, to do them justice, +if half of it was true, there's few of them ought to escape hanging! + +That's how we stand; and can you picture to yourself a more embarrassing +situation? for you see that many of the slow people are high in station +and of real rank, while some of the fast are just the reverse. Lord +George says, "Cut the fogies, and come amongst the fast 'uns," and talks +about making friends with the "Mammoth of unrighteousness;" and if +he means Mrs. G. H., I believe he is n't far wrong: but even if we +consented, Molly, I don't know whether she 'd make up with us; though +Lord George swears that he 'll answer for it with his head. One thing is +clear, Molly, we must choose between them, and that soon too; for it's +quite impossible to be "well with the Treasury and the Opposition also." + +K. I. affects neutrality, just to blind us to his real intentions; but +I know him well, and see plainly what he 's after. Cary fights hard for +her friends; though, to say the truth, they have n't taken the least +notice of her since they came to their fortune,--the very thing I +expected from them, Molly, for it's just the way with all upstarts! Now +you see some of the difficulties that attend even the highest successes +in life; and maybe it will make you more contented with your own +obscurity. Perhaps, before this reaches you, we'll have decided for one +or the other; for, as Lord G. says, you can't pass your life between +silly and crabbed.(1) + + 1 Does Mrs. D. mean Scylla and Charybdis?--Editor of + "Dodd Correspondence." + +There 's another thing fretting me, besides, Molly. It is what this same +Lord George means about Mary Anne; for it's now more than six months +since he grew particular; and yet there 's nothing come of it yet. I see +it's preying on the girl herself, too,--and what's to be done? I am sure +I often think of what poor old Jones McCarthy used to say about this: +"If I 'd a family of daughters," says he, "I 'd do just as I manage with +the horses when I want to sell one of them. There they are,--look at +them as long as you like in the stable, but I 'll have no taking them +out for a trial, and trotting them here, and cantering them there; and +then, a fellow coming to tell me that they have this, that, and the +other." And the more I think of it, Molly, the more I'm convinced it's +the right way; though it's too late, maybe, to help it now. + +As I mean to send you another letter soon, I 'll close this now, wishing +you all the compliments of the season, except chilblains, and remain +your true and affectionate friend, + +Jemima Dodd. + +P. S. You 'd better direct your next letter to us "Casa Dodd," for I +remark that all the English here try and get rid of the Italian names to +the houses as soon as they can. + + + + +LETTER XXVIII. JAMES DODD TO ROBERT DOOLAN, ESQ., TRINITY COLLEGE, +DUBLIN. + +Florence. + +My dear Bob,--If you only knew how difficult it is to obtain even five +minutes of quiet leisure in this same capital, you 'd at once absolve +me from all the accusations in your last letter. It is pleasure at a +railroad pace, from morning till night, and from night till morning. +Perhaps, after all, it is best there should be no time for reflection, +since it would be like one waiting on the rails for an express train to +run over him! + +I can give you no better nor speedier illustration of the kind of +life we lead here, than by saying that even the governor has felt the +fascination of the place, and goes the pace, signing checks and drawing +bills without the slightest hesitation, or any apparent sense of a +coming responsibility. He plays, too, and loses his money freely, +and altogether comports himself as if he had a most liberal income, +or--terrible alternative--not a sixpence in the world. I own to you, +Bob, that this recklessness affrights me far more than all his former +grumbling over our expensive and wasteful habits. He seems to have +adopted it, too, with a certain method that gives it all the appearance +of a plan, though I confess what possible advantage could redound from +it is utterly beyond my power of calculation. + +Meanwhile our style of living is on a scale of splendor that might well +suit the most ample fortune. Tiverton says that for a month or two this +is absolutely necessary, and that in society, as in war, it is the first +dash often decides a campaign. And really, even my own brief experience +of the world shows that one's friends, as they are conventionally +called, are far more interested in the skill of your cook than in the +merits of your own character; and that he who has a good cellar may +indulge himself in the luxury of a very bad conscience. You, of course, +suspect that I am now speaking of a class of people dubious both in +fortune and position, and who have really no right to scrutinize too +closely the characters of those with whom they associate. Quite the +reverse, Bob, I am actually alluding to our very best and most correct +English, and who would not for worlds do at home any one of the hundred +transgressions they commit abroad. For instance, we have, in this +goodly capital of debt and divorce celebrity, a certain house of almost +princely splendor; the furniture, plate, pictures, all perfection; the +cook, an artist that once pampered royal palates; in a word, everything, +from the cellar to the conservatory, a miracle of correct taste. +The owner of all this magnificence is--what think you?--a successful +swindler!--the hero of a hundred bubble speculations,--the spoliator of +some thousands of shareholders,--a fellow whose infractions have been +more than once stigmatized by public prosecution, and whose rascalities +are of European fame! You 'd say that with all these detracting +influences he was a man of consummate social tact, refined manners, and +at least possessing the outward signs of good breeding. Wrong again, +Bob. He is coarse, uneducated, and vulgar; he never picked up any +semblance of the class from whom he peculated; and has lived on, as he +began, a "low comedy villain," and no more. Well, what think you, when +I tell you that is "_the_ house," _par excellence_, where all strangers +strive to be introduced,--that to be on the dinner-list here is a +distinction, and that even a visitor enjoys an envied fortune,--and that +at the very moment I write, the Dodd family are in earnest and active +negotiation to attain to this inestimable privilege? Now, Bob, there's +no denying that there must be something rotten, and to the core too, +where such a condition of things prevails. If this man fed the hungry +and sheltered the houseless, who had no alternative but his table or no +food, the thing requires no explanation; or if his hospitalities were +partaken of by that large floating class who in every city are to be +found, with tastes disproportionate to their fortunes, and who will +at any time postpone their principles to their palates, even then the +matter is not of difficult solution; but what think you that his company +includes some of the very highest names of our stately nobility, and +that the titles that resound through his _salon_ are amongst the most +honored of our haughty aristocracy! These people assuredly stand in no +want of a dinner. They are comfortably lodged, and at least reasonably +well fed at the "Italie" or the "Grande Bretagne." Why should they stoop +to such companionship? Who can explain this, Bob? Assuredly, I am not +the Ædipus! + +I am nothing surprised that people like ourselves, for instance, seek +to enjoy even this passing splendor, and find themselves at a princely +board, served with a more than royal costliness. One of these grand +dinners is like a page of the Arabian Nights to a man of ordinary +condition; but surely his Grace the Duke, or the most Noble the Marquis +has no such illusions. With _him_ it is only a question whether the +Madeira over-flavored the soup, or that the ortolans might possibly have +been fatter. _He_ dines pretty much in the same fashion every day during +the London season, and a great part of the rest of the year afterwards. +Why then should he descend to any compromise to accept Count +"Dragonards's" hospitality? for I must tell you that "Dives" is a Count, +and has orders from the Pope and the Queen of Spain. + +With the explanation, as I have said, I have nothing to do. It is beyond +and above me. For the fact alone I am guarantee; and here comes Tiverton +in a transport of triumph to say that "Heaven is won," or, in humbler +phrase, "Monsieur le Comte de Dragonards prie Phonneur," &c, and that +Dodd _père_ and Dodd _mère_ are requested to dine with him on Tuesday, +the younger Dodds to assist at a reception in the evening. + +Tiverton assures me that by accepting with a good grace the humbler part +of a "refresher," I am certain of promotion afterwards to a higher range +of character; and in this hope I live for the present. + +It is likely I shall not despatch this without being able to tell you +more of this great man's house; meanwhile--"majora cantamus"--I am in +love, Bob! If I did n't dash into the confession at once, as one +springs into the sea of a chilly morning, I'd even put on the clothes of +secrecy, and walk off unconfessed. She is lovely, beyond anything I can +give you an idea of,--pale as marble; but such a flesh tint! a sunset +sleeping upon snow, and with lids fringed over a third of her cheek. +You know the tender, languid, longing look that vanquishes me,--that's +exactly what she has! A glance of timid surprise, like an affrighted +fawn, and then a downcast consciousness,--a kind of self-reproaching +sense of her own loveliness,--a sort of a--what the devil kind of +enchantment and witchery, Bob? that makes a man feel it's all no use +struggling and fighting,--that his doom is _there!_ that the influence +which is to rule his destiny is before him, and that, turn him which way +he will, his heart has but one road--and _will_ take it! + +She was in Box 19, over the orchestra! I caught a glimpse of her +shoulder--only her shoulder--at first, as she sat with her face to the +stage, and a huge screen shaded her from the garish light of the lustre. +How I watched the graceful bend of her neck each time she saluted--I +suppose it was a salutation--some new visitor who entered! The drooping +leaves and flowers of her hair trembled with a gentle motion, as if to +the music of her soft voice. I thought I could hear the very accents +echoing within my heart! But oh! my ecstasy when her hand stole forth +and hung listlessly over the cushion of the box! True it was gloved, +yet still you could mark its symmetry, and, in fancy, picture the +rosy-tipped fingers in all their graceful beauty. + +Night after night I saw her thus; yet never more than I have told you. +I made superhuman efforts to obtain the box directly in front; but it +belonged to a Russian princess, and was therefore inaccessible. I bribed +the bassoon and seduced the oboe in the orchestra; but nothing was to +be seen from their inferno of discordant tunings. I made love to a +ballet-dancer, to secure the _entrée_ behind the scenes; and on the +night of my success _she_--my adored one--had changed her place with a +friend, and sat with her back to the stage. The adverse fates had taken +a spite against me, Bob, and I saw that my passion must prove unhappy! + +Somehow it is in love as in hunting, you are never really in earnest +so long as the country is open and the fences easy; but once that the +ditches are "yawners," and the walls "raspers," you sit down to your +work with a resolute heart and a steady eye, determined, at any cost and +at any peril, to be in at the death. Would that the penalties were alike +also! How gladly would I barter a fractured rib or a smashed collar-bone +for the wrecked and cast-away spirit of my lost and broken heart! + +If I suffer myself to expand upon my feelings, there will be no end +of this, Bob. I already have a kind of consciousness that I could fill +three hundred and fifty folio volumes, like "Hansard's," in subtle +description and discrimination of sensations that were not exactly +"_this_," but were very like "_that_;" and of impressions, hopes, +fancies, fears, and visions, a thousand times more real than all +the actual events of my _bona fide_ existence. And, after all, what +balderdash it is to compare the little meaningless incidents of our +lives with the soul-stirring passions that rage within us! the thoughts +that, so to say, form the very fuel of our natures! These are, indeed, +the realities; and what we are in the habit of calling such are the +mere mockeries and semblances of fact! I can honestly aver that I +suffered--in the true sense of the word--more intense agony from the +conflict of my distracted feelings than I ever did when lying under the +pangs of a compound fracture; and I may add of a species of pain not to +be alleviated by anodynes and soothed by hot flannels. + +To be brief, Bob, I felt that, though I had often caught slight attacks +of the malady, at length I had contracted it in its deadliest form,--a +regular "blue case," as they say, with bad symptoms from the start. Has +it ever struck you that a man may go through every stage of a love fever +without even so much as speaking to the object of his affections? I can +assure you that the thing is true, and I myself suffered nightly every +vacillating sense of hope, fear, ecstasy, despair, joy, jealousy, and +frantic delight, just by following out the suggestions of my own fancy, +and exalting into importance the veriest trifles of the hour. + +With what gloomy despondence did I turn homeward of an evening, when +she sat back in the box, and perhaps nothing of her but her bouquet was +visible for a whole night!--with what transports have I carried away +the memory of her profile, seen but for a second! Then the agonies of +my jealousy, as I saw her listening, with pleased attention, to some +essenced puppy--I could swear it was such--who lounged into her box +before the ballet! But at last came the climax of my joy, when I saw +her "lorgnette" directed towards me, as I stood in the pit, and actually +felt her eyes on me! I can imagine some old astronomer's ecstasy, as, +gazing for hours on the sky of night, the star that he has watched and +waited for has suddenly shone through the glass of his telescope, and +lit up his very heart within him with its radiance. I 'd back myself to +have experienced a still more thrilling sense of happiness as the beams +of her bright eyes descended on me. + +At first, Bob, I thought that the glances might have been meant for +another. I turned and looked around me, ready to fasten a deadly quarrel +upon him, whom I should have regarded at once as my greatest enemy. But +the company amidst which I stood soon reassured me. A few snuffy-looking +old counts, with brown wigs and unshaven chins,--a stray Government +clerk with a pinchbeck chain and a weak moustache, couldn't be my +rivals. I looked again, but she had turned away her bead; and save that +the "lorgnette" still rested within her fingers, I'd have thought the +whole a vision. + +Three nights after this the same thing occurred. I had taken care to +resume the very same place each evening, to wear the same dress, to +stand in the very same attitude,--a very touching "pose," which I had +practised before the glass. I had not been more than two hours at my +post, when she turned abruptly round and stared full at me. There could +be no mistake, no misconception whatever; for, as if to confirm my +wavering doubts, her friend took the glass from her, and looked full and +long at me. You may imagine, Bob, somewhat of the preoccupation of my +faculties when I tell you that I never so much as recognized her friend. +I had thoughts, eyes, ears, and senses for one,--and one only. Judge, +then, my astonishment when she saluted me, giving that little gesture +with the hand your Florentines are such adepts in,--a species of +salutation so full of most expressive meaning. + +Short of a crow-quilled billet, neatly endorsed with her name, nothing +could have spoken more plainly. It said, in a few words, "Come up here, +Jim, we shall be delighted to see you." I accepted the augury, Bob, +as we used to say in Virgil, and in less than a minute had forced my +passage through the dense crowd of the pit, and was mounting the box +stairs, five steps at a spring. "Whose box is No. 19?" said I to an +official. "Madame de Goranton," was the reply. Awkward this; never had +heard the name before; sounded like French; might be Swiss; possibly +Belgian. + +No time for debating the point, tapped and entered,--several persons +within barring up the passage to the front,--suddenly heard a well-known +voice, which accosted me most cordially, and, to my intense surprise, +saw before me Mrs. Gore Hampton! You know already all about her, Bob, +and I need not recapitulate. + +"I fancied you were going to pass your life in distant adoration yonder, +Mr. Dodd," said she, laughingly, while she tendered her hand for me to +kiss. "Adeline, dearest, let me present to you my friend Mr. Dodd." A +very cold--an icy recognition was the reply to this speech; and Adeline +opened her fan, and said something behind it to an elderly dandy beside +her, who laughed, and said, "Parfaitement, ma foi!" + +Registering a secret vow to be the death of the antiquated tiger +aforesaid, I entered into conversation with Mrs. G. H., who, +notwithstanding some unpleasant passages between our families, expressed +unqualified delight at the thought of meeting us all once more; inquired +after my mother most affectionately; and asked if the girls were looking +well, and whether they rode and danced as beautifully as ever. She made, +between times, little efforts to draw her friend into conversation by +some allusion to Mary Anne's grace or Cary's accomplishments; but all +in vain. Adeline only met the advances with a cold stare, or a little +half-smile of most sneering expression. It was not that she was distant +and reserved towards me. No, Bob; her manner was downright contemptuous; +it was insulting; and yet such was the fascination her beauty had +acquired over me that I could have knelt at her feet in adoration of +her. I have no doubt that she saw this. I soon perceived that Mrs. Gore +Hampton did. There is a wicked consciousness in a woman's look as she +sees a man "hooked," there's no mistaking. Her eyes expressed this +sentiment now; and, indeed, she did not try to hide it. + +She invited me to come home and sup with them. She half tried to make +Adeline say a word or two in support of the invitation; but no, she +would not even hear it; and when I accepted, she half peevishly declared +she had got a bad headache, and would go to bed after the play. I +tell you these trivial circumstances, Bob, just that you may fancy how +irretrievably lost I was when such palpable signs of dislike could not +discourage me. I felt this all--and acutely too; but somehow with no +sense of defeat, but a stubborn, resolute determination to conquer them. + +I went back to sup with Mrs. G. H., and Adeline kept her word and +retired. There were a few men--foreigners of distinction--but I sat +beside the hostess, and heard nothing but praises of that "dear angel." +These eulogies were mixed up with a certain tender pity that puzzled me +sadly, since they always left the impression that either the angel had +done something herself, or some one else had done it towards her, that +called for all the most compassionate sentiments of the human heart. +As to any chance of her history--who she was, whence she came, and so +on--it was quite out of the question; you might as well hope for the +private life of some aerial spirit that descends in the midst of canvas +clouds in a ballet. She was there--to be worshipped, wondered at, and +admired, but not to be catechised. + +I left Mrs. H.'s house at three in the morning,--a sadder but scarcely a +wiser man. She charged me most solemnly not to mention to any one where +I had been,--a precaution possibly suggested by the fact that I had lost +sixty Napoleons at lansquenet,--a game at which I left herself and her +friends deeply occupied when I came away. I was burning with impatience +for Tiverton to come back to Florence. He had gone down to the Maremma +to shoot snipe. For, although I was precluded by my promise from +divulging about the supper, I bethought me of a clever stratagem by +which I could obtain all the counsel and guidance without any breach +of faith, and this was, to take him with me some evening to the pit, +station him opposite to No. 19, and ask all about its occupants; he +knows everybody everywhere, so that I should have the whole history of +my unknown charmer on the easiest of all terms. + +From that day and that hour, I became a changed creature. The gay +follies of my fashionable friends gave me no pleasure. I detested balls. +I abhorred theatres. _She_ ceased to frequent the opera. In fact, I +gave the most unequivocal proof of my devotion to one by a most sweeping +detestation of all the rest of mankind. Amidst my other disasters, I +could not remember where Mrs. Gore Hampton lived. We had driven to her +house after the theatre; it was a long way off, and seemed to take a +very circuitous course to reach, but in what direction I had not the +very vaguest notion of. The name of it, too, had escaped me, though she +repeated it over several times when I was taking my leave of her. Of +course, my omitting to call and pay my respects would subject me to +every possible construction of rudeness and incivility, and here was, +therefore, another source of irritation and annoyance to me. + +My misanthropy grew fiercer. I had passed through the sad stage, and +now entered upon the combative period of the disease. I felt an intense +longing to have a quarrel with somebody. I frequented _cafe's_, +and walked the streets in a battle, murder, and sudden-death +humor,--frowning at this man, scowling at that. But, have you never +remarked, the caprice of Fortune is in this as in all other things? Be +indifferent at play, and you are sure to win; show yourself regardless +of a woman, and you are certain to hear she wants to make your +acquaintance. Go out of a morning in a mood of universal love and +philanthropy, and I'll take the odds that you have a duel on your hands +before evening. + +There was one man in Florence whom I especially desired to fix a quarrel +upon,--this was Morris, or, as he was now called, Sir Morris Penrhyn. A +fellow who unquestionably ought to have had very different claims on +my regard, but who now, in this perversion of my feelings, struck me as +exactly the man to shoot or be shot by. Don't you know that sensation, +Bob, in which a man feels that he must select a particular person, quite +apart from any misfortune he is suffering under, and make _him_ pay +its penalty? It is a species of antipathy that defies all reason, +and, indeed, your attempt to argue yourself out of it only serves to +strengthen and confirm its hold on you. + +Morris and I had ceased to speak when we met; we merely saluted coldly, +and with that rigid observance of a courtesy that makes the very easiest +prelude to a row, each party standing ready prepared to say "check" +whenever the other should chance to make a wrong move. Perhaps I am +not justified in saying so much of _him_, but I know that I do not +exaggerate my own intentions. I fancied--what will a man not fancy in +one of these eccentric stages of his existence?--that Morris saw my +purpose, and evaded me. I argued myself into the notion that he was +deficient in personal courage, and constructed upon this idea a whole +edifice of absurdity. + +I am ashamed, even before you, to acknowledge the extent to which my +stupid infatuation blinded me; perhaps the best penalty to pay for it is +an open confession. + +I overtook our valet one morning with a letter in my governor's hand +addressed to Sir Morris Penrhyn, and on inquiring, discovered that +he and my father had been in close correspondence for the three days +previous. At once I jumped to the conclusion that I was, somehow or +other, the subject of these epistles, and in a fit of angry indignation +I drove off to Morris's hotel. + +When a man gets himself into a thorough passion on account of some +supposed injury, which even to himself he is unable to define, his state +is far from enviable. When I reached the hotel, I was in the hot stage +of my anger, and could scarcely brook the delay of sending in my card. +The answer was, "Sir Morris did not receive." I asked for pen and ink to +write a note, and scribbled something most indiscreet and offensive. I +am glad to say that I cannot now remember a line of it. The reply came +that my "note should be attended to," and with this information I issued +forth into the street half wild with rage. + +I felt that I had given a deadly provocation, and must now look out for +some "friend" to see me through the affair. Tiverton was absent, and +amongst all my acquaintances I could not pitch upon one to whose keeping +I liked to entrust my honor. I turned into several _cafés_, I strolled +into the club, I drove down to the Cascini, but in vain; and at last was +walking homeward, when I caught sight of a friendly face from the window +of a travelling-carriage that drove rapidly by, and, hurrying after, +just came up as it stopped at the door of the Hôtel d'Italie. + +You may guess my astonishment as I felt my hand grasped cordially by no +other than our old neighbor at Bruff, Dr. Belton, the physician of our +county dispensary. Five minutes explained his presence there. He had +gone out to Constantinople as the doctor to our Embassy, and by some +piece of good luck and his own deservings to boot, had risen to the post +of Private Secretary to the Ambassador, and was selected by him to carry +home some very important despatches, to the rightful consideration of +which his own presence at the Foreign Office was deemed essential. + +Great as was the difference between, his former and his present station, +it was insignificant in comparison with the change worked in himself. +The country doctor, of diffident manners and retiring habits, grateful +for the small civilities of small patrons, cautiously veiling his +conscious superiority under an affected ignorance, was now become a +consummate man of the world,--calm, easy, and self-possessed. His very +appearance had undergone an alteration, and he held himself more erect, +and looked not only handsomer but taller. These were the first things +that struck me; but as we conversed together, I found him the same +hearty, generous fellow I had ever known him, neither elated by his good +fortune, nor, what is just as common a fault, contemptuously pretending +that it was only one-half of his deserts. + +One thing alone puzzled me, it was that he evinced no desire to come and +see our family, who had been uniformly kind and good-natured to him; in +fact, when I proposed it, he seemed so awkward and embarrassed that I +never pressed my invitation, but changed the topic. I knew that there +bad been, once on a time, some passages between my sister Mary Anne +and him, and therefore supposed that possibly there might have been +something or other that rendered a meeting embarrassing. At all events, +I accepted his half-apology on the ground of great fatigue, and agreed +to dine with him. + +What a pleasant dinner it was! He related to me all the story of his +life, not an eventful one as regarded incident, but full of those traits +which make up interest for an individual. You felt as you listened that +it was a thoroughly good fellow was talking to you, and that if he were +not to prove successful in life, it was just because his were the very +qualities rogues trade on for their own benefit. There was, moreover, a +manly sense of independence about him, a consciousness of self-reliance +that never approached conceit, but served to nerve his courage and +support his spirit, which gave him an almost heroism in my eyes, and I +own, too, suggested a most humiliating comparison with my own nature. + +I opened my heart freely to him about everything, and in particular +about Morris; and although I saw plainly enough that he took very +opposite views to mine about the whole matter, he agreed to stop in +Florence for a day, and act as my friend in the transaction. This being +so far arranged, I started for Carrara, which, being beyond the Tuscan +frontier, admits of our meeting without any risk of interruption,--for +that it must come to such I am fully determined on. The fact is, Bob, my +note is a "stunner," and, as I won't retract, Morris has no alternative +but to come out. + +I have now given you--at full length too--the whole history, up to the +catastrophe,--which perhaps may have to be supplied by another hand. +I am here, in this little capital of artists and quarry men, patiently +waiting for Bel-ton's arrival, or at least some despatch, which may +direct my future movements. It has been a comfort to me to have the +task of this recital, since, for the time at least, it takes me out of +brooding and gloomy thoughts; and though I feel that I have made out a +poor case for myself, I know that I am pleading to a friendly Court and +a merciful Chief Justice. + +They say that in the few seconds of a drowning agony a man calls up +every incident of his life,--from infancy to the last moment,--that a +whole panorama of his existence is unrolled before him, and that he sees +himself--child, boy, youth, and man--vividly and palpably; that all his +faults, his short-comings, and his transgressions stand out in strong +colors before him, and his character is revealed to him like an +inscription. I am half persuaded this may be true, judging from what I +have myself experienced within these few hours of solitude here. Shame, +sorrow, and regret are ever present with me. I feel utterly disgraced +before the bar of my own conscience. Even of the advantages which +foreign travel might have conferred, how few have fallen to my +share!--in modern languages I have scarcely made any progress, with +respect to works of art I am deplorably ignorant, while in everything +that concerns the laws and the modes of government of any foreign State +I have to confess myself totally uninformed. To be sure, I have acquired +some insight into the rogueries of "Rouge-et-Noir," I can slang a +courier, and even curse a waiter; but I have some misgivings whether +these be gifts either to promote a man's fortune or form his character. +In fact, I begin to feel that engrafting Continental slang upon home +"snobbery" is a very unrewarding process, and I sorely fear that I have +done very little more than this. + +I am in a mood to make a clean breast of it, and perhaps say more than +I should altogether like to remember hereafter, so will conclude for +the present, and with my most sincere affection write myself, as ever, +yours, + +Jim Dodd. + +P. S. It is not impossible that you may have a few lines from me by +to-morrow or next day,--at least, if I have anything worth the telling +and am "to the fore" to tell it. + + + + +LETTER XXIX. MARY ANNE DODD TO MISS DOOLAN, OF BALLYDOOLAN + +Casa Dodd, Florence. + +Dearest Kitty,--Seventeen long and closely written pages to you--the +warm out-gushings of my heart--have I just consigned to the flames. +They contained the journal of my life in Florence,--all my thoughts and +hopes, my terrors, my anxieties, and my day-dreams. Why, then, will you +say, have they met this fate? I will tell you, Kitty. Of the feelings +there recorded, of the emotions depicted, of the very events themselves, +nothing--absolutely nothing--now remains; and my poor, distracted, +forlorn heart no more resembles the buoyant spirit of yesterday than the +blackened embers before me are like the carefully inscribed pages I had +once destined for your hand. Pity me, dearest Kitty,--pour out every +compassionate thought of your kindred heart, and let me feel that, as +the wind sweeps over the snowy Apennines, it bears the tender sighs of +your affection to one who lives but to be loved! But a week ago, and +what a world was opening before me,--a world brilliant in all that makes +life a triumph! We were launched upon the sunny sea of high society, +our "argosy" a noble and stately ship; and now, Kitty, we lie stranded, +shattered, and shipwrecked. + +Do not expect from me any detailed account of our disasters. I am +unequal to the task. It is not at the moment of being cast away that the +mariner can recount the story of his wreck. Enough if these few lines be +like the chance words which, enclosed in a bottle, are committed to the +waves, to tell at some distant date and in some far-away land the tale +of impending ruin. + +It is in vain I try to collect my thoughts: feelings too acute to be +controlled burst in upon me at each moment and my sobs convulse me as I +write. These lines must therefore bear the impress of the emotions that +dictate them, and be broken, abrupt, mayhap incoherent! + +He is false, Kitty!--false to the heart that he had won, and the +affections where he sat enthroned! Yes, by the blackest treason has he +requited my loyalty and rewarded my devotion. If ever there was a pure +and holy love, it was mine. It was not the offspring of self-interest, +for I knew that he was married; nor was I buoyed up by dreams of +ambition, for I always knew the great difficulty of obtaining a +divorce. But I loved him, as the classic maiden wept,--because it was +inconsolable! It is not in my heart to deny the qualities of his gifted +nature. No, Kitty, not even now can I depreciate them. How accomplished +as a linguist!--how beautifully he drove!--how exquisitely he +danced!--what perfection was his dress!--how fascinating his manners! +There was--so to say--an idiosyncrasy--an idealism about him; +his watchguard was unlike any other,--the very perfume of his +pocket-handkerchief was the invention of his own genius. + +And then, the soft flattery of his attentions before the world, bestowed +with a delicacy that only high breeding ever understands. What wonder +if my imagination followed where my heart had gone before, and if the +visions of a future blended with the ecstasies of the present! + +I cannot bring myself to speak of his treachery. No, Kitty, it would be +to arraign myself were I to do so. My heartstrings are breaking, as +I ask myself, "Is this, then, the love that I inspired? Are these the +proofs of a devotion I fondly fancied eternal?" No more can I speak of +our last meeting, the agony of which must endure while life remains. +When he left me, I almost dreaded that in his despair he might be driven +to suicide. He fled from the house,--it was past midnight,--and never +appeared the whole of the following day; another and another passed +over,--my terrors increased, my fears rose to madness. I could restrain +myself no longer, and hurried away to confide my agonizing sorrows to +James's ear. It was early, and he was still sleeping. As I stole across +the silent room, I saw an open note upon the table,--I knew the hand and +seized it at once. There were but four lines, and they ran thus:-- + + "Dear Jim,--The birds are wild and not very plenty; but + there is some capital boar-shooting, and hares in abundance. + + "They tell me Lady George is in Florence; pray see her, and + let me know how she 's looking. + + "Ever yours, + + "George Tiverton. + + "MAREMMA." + +I tottered to a seat, Kitty, and burst into tears. Yours are now falling +for me,--I feel it,--I know it, dearest I can write no more. + +I am better now, dearest Kitty. My heart is stilled, its agonies are +calmed, but my blanched cheek, my sunken eye, my bloodless lip, my +trembling hand, all speak my sorrows, though my tongue shall utter +them no more. Never again shall that name escape me, and I charge your +friendship never to whisper it to my ears. + +From myself and my own fortunes I turn away as from a theme barren and +profitless. Of Mary Anne--the lost, the forlorn, and the broken-hearted, +you shall hear no more. + +On Friday last--was it Friday?--I really forget days and dates and +everything--James, who has latterly become totally changed in temper +and appearance, contrived to fix a quarrel of some kind or other on Sir +Morris Penrhyn. The circumstance was so far the more unfortunate, since +Sir M. had shown himself most kind and energetic about mamma's release, +and mainly, I believe, contributed to that result. In the dark obscurity +that involves the whole affair, we have failed to discover with whom the +offence originated, or what it really was. We only know that James wrote +a most indiscreet and intemperate note to Sir Morris, and then hastened +away to appoint a friend to receive his message. By the merest accident +he detected, in a passing travelling-carriage, a well-known face, +followed it, and discovered--whom, think you?--but our former friend and +neighbor, Dr. Belton. + +He was on his way to England with despatches from Constantinople; +but, fortunately for James, received a telegraphic message to wait at +Florence for more recent news from Vienna before proceeding farther. +James at once induced him to act for him; and firmly persuaded that +a meeting must ensue, set out himself for the Modense frontier beyond +Lucca. + +I have already said that we know nothing of the grounds of quarrel; we +probably never shall; but whatever they were, the tact and delicacy of +Dr. B., aided by the unvarying good sense and good temper of Sir Morris, +succeeded in overcoming them; and this morning both these gentlemen +drove here in a carriage, and had a long interview with papa. The room +in which he received them adjoined my own, and though for a long time +the conversation was maintained in the dull, monotonous tone of ordinary +speakers, at last I heard hearty laughter, in which papa's voice was +eminently conspicuous. + +With a heart relieved of a heavy load, I dressed, and went into the +drawing-room. I wore a very becoming dark blue silk, with three deep +flounces, and as many falls of Valenciennes lace on my sleeves. My hair +was "à l'Impératrice," and altogether, Kitty, I felt I was looking my +very best; not the less, perhaps, that a certain degree of expectation +had given me a faint color, and imparted a heightened animation to my +features. I was alone, too, and seated in a large, low arm-chair, one of +those charming inventions of modern skill, whose excellence is to unite +grace with comfort, and make ease itself subsidiary to elegance. + +I could see in the glass at one side of me that my attitude was well +chosen, and even to my instep upon the little stool the effect was good. +Shall I own to you, Kitty, that I was bent on astonishing this poor +native doctor with a change a year of foreign travel had wrought in me? +I actually longed to enjoy the amazed look with which he would survey +me, and mark the deferential humility struggling with the remembrance +of former intimacy. A hundred strange fancies shot through me,--shall +I fascinate him by mere externals, or shall I condescend to captivate? +Shall I delight him by memories of home and of long ago, or shall +I shock him by the little levities of foreign manner? Shall I be +brilliant, witty, and amusing, or shall I show myself gentle and +subdued, or shall I dash my manner with a faint tinge of eccentricity, +just enough to awaken interest by exciting anxiety? + +I was almost ashamed to think of such an amount of preparation against +so weak an adversary. It seemed ungenerous and even unfair, when +suddenly I heard a carriage drive away from the door. I could have cried +with vexation, but at the same instant heard papa's voice on the +stairs, saying, "If you 'll step into the drawing-room, I 'll join you +presently;" and Dr. Belton entered. + +[Illustration: 286] + +I expected, if not humility, dearest, at least deference, mingled with +intense astonishment and, perhaps, admiration. Will you believe me when +I tell you that he was just as composed, as easy and unconstrained as +if it was my sister Cary! The very utmost I could do was to restrain +my angry sense of indignation; I'm not, indeed, quite certain that I +succeeded in this, for I thought I detected at one moment a half-smile +upon his features at a sally of more than ordinary smartness which I +uttered. + +I cannot express to you how much he is disimproved, not in appearance, +for I own that he is remarkably good-looking, and, strange to say, has +even the air and bearing of fashion about him. It is his manners, Kitty, +his insufferable ease and self-sufficiency, that I allude to. He talked +away about the world and society, about great people and their habits, +as if they were amongst his earliest associations. He was not astonished +at anything; and, stranger than all, showed not the slightest desire to +base his present acquaintance upon our former intimacy. + +I told him I detested Ireland, and hoped never to go back there. He +coldly remarked that with such feelings it were probably wiser to live +abroad. I sneered at the vulgar tone of the untravelled English; and +his impertinent remark was an allusion to the demerits of badly imitated +manners and ill-copied attractions. I grew enthusiastic about art, +praised pictures and statues, and got eloquent about music. Fancy his +cool insolence, in telling me that he was too uninformed to enter upon +these themes, and only knew when he was pleased, but without being able +to say why. In fact, Kitty, a more insufferable mass of conceit and +presumption I never encountered, nor could I have believed that a +few months of foreign travel could have converted a simple-hearted, +unaffected young man into a vain, self-opinionated coxcomb,--too +offensive to waste words on, and for whom I have really to apologize in +thus obtruding on your notice. + +It was an unspeakable relief to me when papa joined us. A very little +more would have exhausted my patience; and in my heart I believe the +puppy saw as much, and enjoyed it as a triumph. Worse again, too, papa +complimented him upon the change a knowledge of the world had effected +in him, and even asked me to concur in the commendation. I need not say +that I replied to this address by a sneer not to be misunderstood, and I +trust he felt it. + +He is to dine here to-day. He declined the invitation at first, but +suffered himself to be persuaded into a cold acceptance afterwards. He +had to go to Lord Stanthorpe's in the evening. I expected to hear him +say "Stanthorpe's;" but he did n't, and it vexed me. I have not been +peculiarly courteous nor amiable to him this morning, but I hope he will +find me even less so at dinner. I only wish that a certain person +was here, and I would show, by the preference of my manner, how I can +converse with, and how treat those whom I really recognize as my equals. +I must now hurry away to prepare Cary for what she is to expect, and, +if possible, instil into her mind some share of the prejudices which now +torture my own. + +Saturday Morning. + +Everything considered, Kitty, our dinner of yesterday passed off +pleasantly,--a thousand times better than I expected. Sir Morris Penrhyn +was of the party too; and notwithstanding certain awkward passages that +had once occurred between mamma and him, comported himself agreeably and +well. I concluded that papa was able to make some explanations that must +have satisfied him, for he appeared to renew his attentions to Cary; +at least, he bestowed upon her some arctic civilities, whose frigid +deference chills me even in memory. + +You will be curious to hear how Mr. B. (he appears to have dropped +the Doctor) appeared on further intimacy; and, really, I am forced to +confess that he rather overcame some of the unfavorable impressions his +morning visit had left. He has evidently taken pains to profit by the +opportunities afforded to him, and seen and learned whatever lay within +his reach. He is a very respectable linguist, and not by any means so +presumptuous as I at first supposed. I fancy, dearest, that somehow, +unconsciously perhaps, we have been sparring with each other this +morning, and that thus many of the opinions he appeared to profess were +simply elicited by the spirit of contradiction. I say this, because +I now find that we agree on a vast variety of topics, and even our +judgments of people are not so much at variance as I could have +imagined. + +Of course, Kitty, the sphere of his knowledge of the world is a very +limited one, and even what he _has_ seen has always been in the capacity +of a subordinate. He has not viewed life from the eminence of one who +shall be nameless, nor mixed in society with a rank that confers its +prescriptive title to attention. I could wish he were more aware--more +conscious of this fact I mean, dearest, that I should like to see him +more penetrated by his humble position, whereas his manner has an easy, +calm unconstraint, that is exactly the opposite of what I imply. I +cannot exactly, perhaps, convey the impression upon my own mind, but +you may approximate to it, when I tell you that he vouchsafes neither +surprise nor astonishment at the class of people with whom we now +associate; nor does he appear to recognize in them anything more exalted +than our old neighbors at Bruff. + +Mamma gave him some rather sharp lessons on this score, which it is only +fair to say that he bore with perfect good breeding. Upon the whole, he +is really what would be called very agreeable, and, unquestionably, very +good-looking. I sang for him two things out of Verdi's last opera of the +"Trovatore;" but I soon discovered that music was one of the tastes he +had not cultivated, nor did he evince any knowledge whatever when the +conversation turned on dress. In fact, dearest, it is only your really +fashionable man ever attains to a nice appreciation of this theme, or +has a true sentiment for the poetry of costume. + +Sir Morris and he seemed to have fallen into a sudden friendship, and +found that they agreed precisely in their opinion about Etruscan +vases, frescos, and pre-Raphaelite art,--subjects which, I own, general +good-breeding usually excludes from discussion where there are pretty +girls to talk to. Cary, of course, was in ecstasies with all this; she +thought--or fancied she thought--Morris most agreeable, whereas it was +really the other man that "made all the running." + +James arrived while we were at supper, and, the first little awkwardness +of the meeting over, became excellent friends with Morris. With all his +cold, unattractive qualities, I am sure that Morris is a very amiable +and worthy person; and if Cary likes him, I see no reason in life to +refuse such an excellent offer,--always provided that it be made. But of +this, Kitty, I must be permitted to doubt, since he informed us that he +was daily expecting his yacht out from England, and was about to sail +on a voyage which might possibly occupy upwards of two years. He pressed +Mr. B. strongly to accompany him, assuring him that he now possessed +influence sufficient to reinstate him in his career at his return. I 'm +not quite certain that the proposal, when more formally renewed, will +not be accepted. + +I must tell you that I overheard Morris say, in a whisper to Belton, "I +'m sure if you ask her, Lady Louisa will give you leave." Can it be that +the doctor has dared to aspire to a Lady Louisa? I almost fancy it may +be so, dearest, and that this presumption is the true explanation of all +his cool self-sufficiency. I only want to be certain of this to hate him +thoroughly. + +Just before they took their leave a most awkward incident occurred. Mr. +B., in answer to some question from Morris, took out his tablets to look +over his engagements for the next day: "Ah! by the way," said he, "that +must not be forgotten. There is a certain scampish relative of Lord +Dare-wood, for whom I have been entrusted with a somewhat disagreeable +commission. This hopeful young gentleman has at last discovered that +his wits, when exercised within legal limits, will not support him, and +though he has contrived to palm himself off as a man of fashion on +some second-rate folks who know no better, his skill at _écarté_ and +lansquenet fails to meet his requirements. He has, accordingly, taken a +higher flight, and actually committed a forgery. The Earl whose name +was counterfeited has paid the bill, but charged me with the task of +acquainting his nephew with his knowledge of the fraud, and as frankly +assuring him that, if the offence be repeated, he shall pay its penalty. +I assure you I wish the duty had devolved upon any other, though, from +all I have heard, anything like feelings of respect or compassion would +be utterly thrown away if bestowed on such an object as Lord George +Tiverton." + +Oh, Kitty, the last words were not needed to make the cup of my anguish +run over. At every syllable he uttered, the conviction of what was +coming grew stronger; and though I maintained consciousness to the end, +it was by a struggle that almost convulsed me. + +As for mamma, she flew out in a violent passion, called Lord Darewood +some very hard names, and did not spare his emissary; fortunately, her +feelings so far overcame her that she became totally unintelligible, and +was carried away to her room in hysterics. As I was obliged to follow +her, I was unable to hear more. But to what end should I desire it? Is +not this last disappointment more than enough to discourage all hope +and trustfulness forever? Shall my heart ever open again to a sense of +confidence in any? + +When I sat down to write, I had firmly resolved not to reveal this +disgraceful event to you; but somehow, Kitty, in the overflowing of a +heart that has no recesses against you, it has come forth, and I leave +it so. + +James came to my room later on, and told me such dreadful stories--he +had heard them from Morris--of Lord G. that I really felt my brain +turning as I listened to him; that the separation from his wife was all +a pretence,--part of a plot arranged between them; that she, under the +semblance of desertion, attracted to her the compassion--in some cases +the affection--of young men of fortune, from whom her husband exacted +the most enormous sums; that James himself had been marked out for a +victim in this way; in fact, Kitty, I cannot go on: a web of such infamy +was exposed as I firmly believed, till then, impossible to exist, and a +degree of baseness laid bare that, for the sake of human nature, I trust +has not its parallel. + +I can write no more. Tears of shame as well as sorrow are blotting my +paper, and in my self-abasement I feel how changed I must have become, +when, in reflecting over such disgrace as this, I have a single thought +but of contempt for one so lost and dishonored. + +Yours in the depth of affliction, + +Mary Anne Dodd. + + + + +LETTER XXX. KENNY JAMES DODD TO THOMAS PURCELL, ESQ., OF THE GRANGE, BRUFF + +Florence. + +My dear Tom,--I have had a busy week of it, and even now I scarcely +perceive that the day is come when I can rest and repose myself. The +pleasure-life of this same capital is a very exhausting process, and +to do the thing well, a man's constitution ought to be in as healthy a +condition as his cash account! Now, Tom, it is an unhappy fact, that I +am a very "low letter" in both person and pocket, and I should be sorely +puzzled to say whether I find it harder to dance or to pay for the +music! + +Don't fancy that I 'm grumbling, now; not a bit of it, old fellow; I +have had my day, and as pleasant a one as most men. And if a man starts +in life with a strong fund of genial liking for his fellows, enjoying +society less for its display than for its own resources in developing +the bright side of human nature, take my word for it, he 'll carry on +with him, as he goes, memories and recollections enough to make his road +agreeable, and, what is far better, to render himself companionable to +others. + +You tell me you want to hear "all about Florence,"--a modest request, +truly! Why, man, I might fill a volume with my own short experiences, +and afterwards find that the whole could be condensed into a foot-note +for the bottom of a page. In the first place, there are at least half a +dozen distinct aspects in this place, which are almost as many cities. +There is the Florence of Art,--of pictures, statues, churches, frescos, +a town of unbounded treasures in objects of high interest. There are +galleries, where a whole life might be passed in cultivating the eye, +refining the taste, and elevating the imagination. There is the Florence +of Historical Association, with its palaces recalling the feudal age, +and its castellated strongholds, telling of the stormy times before the +"Medici." There is not a street, there is scarcely a house, whose name +does not awaken some stirring event, and bring you back to the period +when men were as great in crime as in genius. Here an inscription tells +you Benvenuto Cellini lived and labored; yonder was the window of his +studio; there the narrow street through which he walked at nightfall, +his hand upon his rapier, and his left arm well enveloped in his mantle; +there the stone where Dante used to sit; there the villa Boccaccio +inhabited; there the lone tower where Galileo watched; there the house, +unchanged in everything, of the greatest of them all, Michael Angelo +himself. The pen sketches of his glorious conceptions adorn the walls, +the half-finished models of his immortal works are on the brackets. That +splendid palace on the sunny Arno was Alfieri's. Go where you will, in +fact, a gorgeous story of the past reveals itself before you, and you +stand before the great triumphs of human genius, with the spirit of the +authors around and about you. + +There is also Florence the Beautiful and the Picturesque; Florence the +City of Fashion and Splendor; and, saddest of all, Florence garrisoned +by the stranger, and held in subjection by the Austrian! + +I entertain no bigoted animosity to the German, Tom; on the contrary, +I like him; I like his manly simplicity of character, his thorough good +faith, his unswerving loyalty; but I own to you, his figure is out of +keeping with the picture here,--the very tones of his harsh gutturals +grate painfully on the ears attuned to softer sounds. It is pretty +nearly a hopeless quarrel when a Sovereign has recourse to a foreign +intervention between himself and his subjects; as in private life, there +is no reconciliation when you have once called Doctors' Commons to your +councils. You may get damages; you 'll never have tranquillity. You 'll +say, perhaps, the thing was inevitable, and could n't be helped. Nothing +of the kind. Coercing the Tuscans by Austrian bayonets was like herding +a flock of sheep with bull-dogs. I never saw a people who so little +require the use of strong measures; the difficulty of ruling them lies +not in their spirit of resistance, but in its very opposite,--a plastic +facility of temper that gives way to every pressure. Just like a horse +with an over-fine mouth, you never can have him in hand, and never know +that he has stumbled till he is down. + +It was the duty of our Government to have prevented this occupation, +or at least to have set some limits to its amount and duration. We +did neither, and our influence has grievously suffered iu consequence. +Probably at no recent period of history was the name of England so +little respected in the entire peninsula as at present. And now, if I +don't take care, I 'll really involve myself in a grumbling revery, so +here goes to leave the subject at once. + +These Italians, Tom, are very like the Irish. There is the same +blending of mirth and melancholy in the national temperament, the +same imaginative cast of thought, the same hopefulness, and the same +indolence. In justice to our own people, I must say that they are the +better of the two. Paddy has strong attachments, and is unquestionably +courageous; neither of these qualities are conspicuous here. It would +be ungenerous and unjust to pronounce upon the _naturel_ of a people +who for centuries have been subjected to every species of misrule, whose +moral training has been also either neglected or corrupted, and whose +only lessons have been those of craft and deception. It would be worse +than rash to assume that a people so treated were unfitted for a freedom +they never enjoyed, or un suited to a liberty they never even heard of. +Still, I may be permitted to doubt that Constitutional Government will +ever find its home in the hearts of a Southern nation. The family, +Tom,--the fireside, the domestic habits of a Northern people, are the +normal schools for self-government. It is in the reciprocities of a +household men learn to apportion their share of the burdens of life, and +to work for the common weal. The fellow who with a handful of chestnuts +can provision himself for a whole day, and who can pass the night +under the shade of a fig-tree, acknowledges no such responsibilities. +All-sufficing to himself, he recognizes no claims upon him for exertion +in behalf of others; and as to the duties of citizenship, he would +repudiate them as an intolerable burden. Take ray word for it, +Parliamentary Institutions will only flourish where you have coal-fires +and carpets, and Elective Governments have a close affinity to +easy-chairs and hearth-rugs! + +You are curious to learn "how far familiarity with works of high art may +have contributed to influence the national character of Italy." I +don't like to dogmatize on such a subject, but so far as my own narrow +experience goes, I am far from attributing any high degree of culture +to this source. I even doubt whether objects of beauty suggest a high +degree of enjoyment, except to intellects already cultivated. I suspect +that your men of Glasgow or Manchester, who never saw anything more +artistic than a power-loom and a spinning-jenny, would stand favorable +comparison with him who daily passes beside the "Dying Gladiator" or the +Farnese Hercules. + +Of course I do not extend this opinion to the educated classes, amongst +whom there is a very high range of acquirement and cultivation. They +bring, moreover, to the knowledge of any subject a peculiar subtlety +of perception, a certain Machiavellian ingenuity, such as I have never +noticed elsewhere. A great deal of the national distrustful-ness and +suspicion has its root in this very habit, and makes me often resigned +to Northern dulness for the sake of Northern reliance and good faith. + +They are most agreeable in all the intercourse of society. Less full +of small attentions than the French, less ceremonious than the Germans, +they are easier in manner than either. They are natural to the very +verge of indifference; but above all their qualities stands pre-eminent +their good nature. An ungenerous remark, a harsh allusion, an unkind +anecdote, are utterly unknown amongst them, and all that witty smartness +which makes the success of a French _salon_ would find no responsive +echo in an Italian drawing-room. In a word, Tom, they are eminently a +people to live amongst They do not contribute much, but they exact +as little; and if never broken-hearted when you separate, they are +delighted when you meet; falling in naturally with your humor, tolerant +of anything and everything, except what gives trouble. + +There now, my dear Tom, are all my Italian experiences in a few words. +I feel that by a discreet use of my material I might have made a tureen +with what I have only filled a teaspoon; but as I am not writing for the +public, but only for Tom Purcell, I 'll not grumble at my wastefulness. + +Of the society, what can I say that would not as well apply to any city +of the same size as much resorted to by strangers? The world of fashion +is pretty much the same thing everywhere; and though we may "change the +venue," we are always pleading the same cause. They tell me that social +liberty here is understood in a very liberal sense, and the right of +private judgment on questions of morality exercised with a more than +Protestant independence. I hear of things being done that could not be +done elsewhere, and so on; but were I only to employ my own unassisted +faculties, I should say that everything follows its ordinary routine, +and that profligacy does not put on in Florence a single "travesty" that +I have not seen at Brussels and Baden, and twenty similar places! True, +people know each other very well, and discuss each other in all the +privileged candor close friendship permits. This sincerity, abused +as any good thing is liable to be, now and then grows scandalous; but +still, Tom, though they may bespatter you with mud, nobody ever thinks +you too dirty for society. In point of fact, there is a great deal of +evil speaking, and very little malevolence; abundance of slander, but +scarcely any ill-will. Mark you, these are what they tell me; for up +to this moment I have not seen or heard anything but what has pleased +me,--met much courtesy and some actual cordiality. And surely, if a +man can chance upon a city where the climate is good, the markets well +supplied, the women pretty, and the bankers tractable, he must needs be +an ill-conditioned fellow not to rest satisfied with his good fortune. +I don't mean to Bay I 'd like to pass my life here, no more than I would +like to wear a domino, and spend the rest of my days in a masquerade, +for the whole thing is just as unreal, just as unnatural; but it is +wonderfully amusing for a while, and I enjoy it greatly. + +From what I have seen of the world of pleasure, I begin to suspect that +we English people are never likely to have any great success in our +attempts at it; and for this simple reason, that we bring to our social +hours exhausted bodies and fatigued minds; we labor hard all day in law +courts or counting-houses or committee-rooms, and when evening comes are +overcome by our exertions, and very little disposed for those efforts +which make conversation brilliant, or intercourse amusing. Your +foreigner, however, is a chartered libertine. He feels that nature never +meant him for anything but idleness; he takes to frivolity naturally +and easily; and, what is of no small importance too, without any loss +of self-esteem! Ah, Tom! that is the great secret of it all. We never +do our fooling gracefully. There is everlastingly rising up within us a +certain bitter conviction that we are not doing fairly by ourselves, and +that our faculties might be put to better and more noble uses than we +have engaged them in. We walk the stage of life like an actor ashamed +of his costume, and "our motley" never sets easily on us to the last. I +think I had better stop dogmatizing, Tom. Heaven knows where it may lead +me, if I don't. Old Woodcock says that "he might have been a vagabond, +if Providence had n't made him a justice of the peace;" so I feel that +it is not impossible I might have been a moral philosopher, if fate had +n't made me the husband of Mrs. Dodd. + +Wednesday Afternoon. + +My dear Tom,--I had thought to have despatched this prosy epistle +without being obliged to inflict you with any personal details of the +Dodd family. I was even vaunting to myself that I had kept us all +"out of the indictment," and now I discover that I have made a signal +failure, and the codicil must revoke the whole body of the testament. +How shall I ever get my head clear enough to relate all I want to tell +you? I go looking after a stray idea the way I 'd chase a fellow in +a crowded fair or market, catching a glimpse of him now--losing him +again--here, with my hand almost on him,--and the next minute no sign of +him! Try and follow me, however; don't quit me for a moment; and, above +all, Tom, whatever vagaries I may fall into, be still assured that I +have a road to go, if I only have the wit to discover it! + +First of all about Morris, or Sir Morris, as I ought to call him. I +told you in my last how warmly he had taken up Mrs. D.'s cause, and how +mainly instrumental was he in her liberation. This being accomplished, +however, I could not but perceive that he inclined to resume the cold +and distant tone he had of late assumed towards us, and rather retire +from, than incur, any renewal of our intimacy. When I was younger in the +world, Tom, I believe I'd have let him follow his humor undisturbed; but +with more mature experience of life, I have come to see that one often +sacrifices a real friendship in the indulgence of some petty regard to +a ceremonial usage, and so I resolved at least to know the why, if I +could, of Morris's conduct. + +I went frankly to him at his hotel, and asked for an explanation. +He stared at me for a second or two without speaking, and then said +something about the shortness of my memory,--a recent circumstance,--and +such like, that I could make nothing of. Seeing my embarrassment, he +appeared slightly irritated, and proceeded to unlock a writing-desk on +the table before him, saying hurriedly,-- + +"I shall be able to refresh your recollection, and when you read over--" +He stopped, clasped his hand to his forehead suddenly, and, as if +overcome, threw himself down into a seat, deeply agitated. "Forgive me," +said he at length, "if I ask you a question or two. You remember being +ill at Genoa, don't you?" + +"Perfectly." + +"You can also remember receiving a letter from me at that time?" + +"No,--nothing of the kind!" + +"No letter?--you received no letter of mine?" + +"None!" + +"Oh, then, this must really--" He paused, and, overcoming what I saw +was a violent burst of indignation, he walked the room up and down for +several minutes. "Mr. Dodd," said he to me, taking ray hand in both his +own, "I have to entreat your forgiveness for a most mistaken impression +on my part influencing me in my relations, and suggesting a degree of +coldness and distrust which, owing to your manliness of character alone, +has not ended in our estrangement forever. I believed you had been in +possession of a letter from me; I thought until this moment that it +really had reached you. I now know that I was mistaken, and have only to +express my sincere contrition for having acted under a rash credulity." +He went over this again and again, always, as it seemed to me, as +if about to say more, and then suddenly checking himself under what +appeared to be a quickly remembered reason for reserve. + +I was getting impatient at last. I thought that the explanation +explained little, and was really about to say so; but he anticipated me +by saying, "Believe me, my dear sir, any suffering, any unhappiness that +my error has occasioned, has fallen entirely upon me. _You_ at least +have nothing to complain of. The letter which ought to have reached you +contained a proposal from me for the hand of your younger daughter; +a proposal which I now make to you, happily, in a way that cannot be +frustrated by an accident." He went on to press his suit, Tom, eagerly +and warmly; but still with that scrupulous regard to truthfulness I +have ever remarked in him. He acknowledged the difference in age, the +difference in character, the disparity between Cary's joyous, sunny +nature and his own colder mood; but he hoped for happiness, on grounds +so solid and so reasonable that showed me much of his own thoughtful +habit of mind. + +Of his fortune, he simply said that it was very far above all his +requirements; that he himself had few, if any, expensive tastes, but was +amply able to indulge such in a wife, if she were disposed to cultivate +them. He added that he knew my daughter had always been accustomed to +habits of luxury and expense, always lived in a style that included +every possible gratification, and therefore, if not in possession of +ample means, he never would have presumed on his present offer. + +I felt for a moment the vulgar pleasure that such flattery confers. I +own to you, Tom, I experienced a degree of satisfaction at thinking +that even to the observant eyes of Morris himself,--old soldier as he +was,--the Dodds had passed for brilliant and fashionable folk, in the +fullest enjoyment of every gift of fortune; but as quickly a more honest +and more manly impulse overcame this thought, and in a few words I told +him that he was totally mistaken; that I was a poor, half-ruined Irish +gentleman, with an indolent tenantry and an encumbered estate; that our +means afforded no possible pretension to the style in which we lived, +nor the society we mixed in; that it would require years of patient +economy and privation to repay the extravagance into which our foreign +tour had launched us; and that, so convinced was I of the inevitable +ruin a continuance of such a life must incur, I had firmly resolved to +go back to Ireland at the end of the present month and never leave it +again for the rest of my days. + +I suppose I spoke warmly, for I felt deeply. The shame many of the +avowals might have cost me in calmer mood was forgotten now, in my +ardent determination to be honest and above-board. I was resolved, +too, to make amends to my own heart for all the petty deceptions I had +descended to in a former case, and, even at the cost of the loss of a +son-in-law, to secure a little sense of self-esteem. + +He would not let me finish, Tom, but, grasping my hand in his with a +grip I did n't believe he was capable of, he said,-- + +"Dodd,"--he forgot the Mr. this time,--"Dodd, you are an honest, +true-hearted fellow, and I always thought so. Consent now to my +entreaty,--at least do not refuse it,--and I 'd not exchange my +condition with that of any man in Europe!" + +Egad, I could not have recognized him as he spoke, for his cheek colored +up, and his eye flashed, and there was a dash of energy about him I had +never detected in his nature. It was just the quality I feared he was +deficient in. Ay, Tom, I can't deny it, old Celt that I am, I would n't +give a brass farthing for a fellow whose temperament cannot be warmed up +to some burst of momentary enthusiasm! + +Of my hearty consent and my good wishes I speedily assured him, just +adding, "Cary must say the rest." I told him frankly that I saw it was +a great match for my daughter; that both in rank and fortune he was +considerably above what she might have looked for; but with all that, if +she herself would n't have taken him in his days of humbler destiny, my +advice would be, "don't have him now." + +He left me for a moment to say something to his mother,--I suppose some +explanation about this same letter that went astray, and of which I can +make nothing,--and then they came back together. The old lady seemed +as well pleased as her son, and told me that his choice was her own in +every respect. She spoke of Cary with the most hearty affection; but +with all her praise of her, she does n't know half her real worth; but +even what she did say brought the tears to my eyes,--and I 'm afraid I +made a fool of myself! + +You may be sure, Tom, that it was a happy day with me, although, for a +variety of reasons, I was obliged to keep my secret for my own heart. +Morris proposed that he should be permitted to wait on us the next +morning, to pay his respects to Mrs. D. upon her liberation, and thus +his visit might be made the means of reopening our acquaintance. You'd +think that to these arrangements, so simple and natural, one might +look forward with an easy tranquillity. So did I, Tom,--and so was I +mistaken. Mr. James, whose conduct latterly seems to have pendulated +between monastic severity and the very wildest dissipation, takes it +into his wise head that Morris has insulted him. He thinks--no, not +thinks, but dreams--that this calm-tempered, quiet gentleman is pursuing +an organized system of outrage towards him, and has for a time back made +him the mark of his sarcastic pleasantry. Full of this sage conceit, +he hurries on to his hotel, to offer him a personal insult. They +fortunately do not meet; but James, ordering pen and paper, sits down +and indites a letter. I have not seen it; but even his friend considers +it to have been "a step ill-advised and inconsiderate,--in fact, to be +deeply regretted." + +I cannot conjecture what might have been Morris's conduct under other +circumstances, but in his present relations to myself, he saw probably +but one course open to him. He condescended to overlook the terms of +this insulting note, and calmly asked for an explanation of it. By great +good luck, James had placed the affair in young Belton's hands,--our +former doctor at Bruff,--who chanced to be on his way through here; and +thus, by the good sense of one, and the calm temper of the other, this +rash boy has been rescued from one of the most causeless quarrels ever +heard of. James had started for Modena, I believe, with a carpet-bag +full of cigars, a French novel, and a bullet-mould; but before he had +arrived at his destination, Morris, Belton, and myself were laughing +heartily over the whole adventure.. Morris's conduct throughout the +entire business raised him still higher in my esteem; and the consummate +good tact with which he avoided the slightest reflection that might pain +me on my son's score, showed me that he was a thorough gentleman. I must +say, too, that Belton behaved admirably. Brief as has been his residence +abroad, he has acquired the habits of a perfect man of the world, but +without sacrificing a jot of his truly frank and generous temperament. + +Ah, Tom! it was not without some sharp self-reproaches that I saw this +young fellow, poor and friendless as he started in life, struggling with +that hard fate that insists upon a man's feeling independent in spirit, +and humble in manner, fighting that bitter battle contained in +a dispensary doctor's life, emerge at once into an accomplished, +well-informed gentleman, well versed in all the popular topics of +the day, and evidently stored with a deeper and more valuable kind of +knowledge,--I say, I saw all this, and thought of my own boy, bred +up with what were unquestionably greater advantages and better +opportunities of learning, not obliged to adventure on a career in his +mere student years, but with ample time and leisure for cultivation; and +yet there he was,--there he is, this minute,--and there is not a station +nor condition in life wherein he could earn half a crown a day. He was +educated, as it is facetiously called, at Dr. Stingem's school. He read +his Homer and Virgil, wrote his false quantities, and blundered +through his Greek themes, like the rest. He went through--it's a +good phrase--some books of Euclid, and covered reams of foolscap with +equations; and yet, to this hour, he can't translate a classic, nor do a +sum in common arithmetic, while his handwriting is a cuneiform character +that defies a key: and with all that, the boy is not a fool, nor +deficient in teachable qualities. I hope and trust this system is coming +to an end. I wish sincerely, Tom, that we may have seen the last of +a teaching that for one whom it made accomplished and well-informed, +converted fifty into pedants, and left a hundred dunces! Intelligible +spelling, and readable writing, a little history, and the "rule of +three," some geography, a short course of chemistry and practical +mathematics,--that's not too much, I think,--and yet I 'd be easy in +my mind if James had gone that far, even though he were ignorant of +"spondees," and had never read a line of that classic morality they call +the Heathen Mythology. I'd not have touched upon this ungrateful theme, +but that my thoughts have been running on the advantages we were to have +derived from our foreign tour, and some misgivings stinking me as to +their being realized. + +Perhaps we are not very docile subjects, perhaps we set about the thing +in a wrong way, perhaps we had not stored our minds with the preliminary +knowledge necessary, perhaps--anything you like, in short; but here we +are, in all essentials, as ignorant of everything a residence abroad +might be supposed to teach, as though we had never quitted Dodsborough. +Stop--I'm going too fast--we _have_ learned some things not usually +acquired at home; we have attained to an extravagant passion for dress, +and an inordinate love of grand acquaintances. Mary Anne is an advanced +student in modern French romance literature; James no mean proficient +at écarté; Mrs. D. has added largely to the stock of what she calls her +"knowledge of life," by familiar intimacy with a score of people who +ought to be at the galleys; and I, with every endeavor to oppose the +tendency, have grown as suspicious as a government spy, and as meanly +inquisitive about other people's affairs as though I were prime minister +to an Italian prince. + +We have lost that wholesome reserve with respect to mere acquaintances, +and by which our manner to our friends attained to its distinctive signs +of cordiality, for now we are on the same terms with all the world. The +code is, to be charmed with everything and everybody,--with their looks, +with their manners, with their house and their liveries, with their +table and their "toilette,"--ay, even with their vices! There is the +great lesson, Tom; you grow lenient to everything save the reprobation +of wrong, and _that_ you set down for rank hypocrisy, and cry out +against as the blackest of all the blemishes of humanity. + +Nor is it a small evil that our attachment to home is weakened, and even +a sense of shame engendered with respect to a hundred little habits +and customs that to foreign eyes appear absurd--and perhaps vulgar. +And lastly comes the great question, How are we ever to live in our own +country again, with all these exotic notions and opinions? I don't mean +how are _we_ to bear _Ireland_, but how is _Ireland_ to endure us! An +American shrewdly remarked to me t' other day, "that one of the greatest +difficulties of the slave question was, how to emancipate the slave +_owners_; how to liberate the shackles of their rusty old prejudices, +and fit them to stand side by side with real freemen." And in a vast +variety of questions you 'll often discover that the puzzle is on the +side opposite to that we had been looking at. In this way do I feel that +all my old friends will have much to overlook,--much to forgive in my +present moods of thinking. I 'll no more be able to take interest in +home politics again than I could live on potatoes! My sympathies are now +more catholic. I can feel acutely for Schleswig-Holstein, or the Druses +at Lebanon. I am deeply interested about the Danubian Provinces, and +strong on Sebastopol; but I regard as contemptible the cares of a +quarter sessions, or the business of the "Union." If you want me to +listen, you must talk of the Cossacks, or the war in the Caucasus; and I +am far less anxious about who may be the new member for Bruff, than who +will be the next "Vladica" of "Montenegro." + +These ruminations of mine might never come to a conclusion, Tom, if +it were not that I have just received a short note from Belton, with a +pressing entreaty that he may see me at once on a matter of importance +to myself, and I have ordered a coach to take me over to his hotel. If I +can get back in time for post hour, I 'll be able to explain the reason +of this sudden call, till when I say adieu. + + + + +LETTER XXXI. MISS CAROLINE DODD TO MISS COX, AT MISS MINCINGS ACADEMY, +BLACK ROCK, IRELAND. + +Florence. + +My dearest Miss Cox,--It would be worse than ingratitude in me were I +to defer telling you how happy I am, and with what a perfect shower of +favors Fortune has just overwhelmed me! Little thought I, a few weeks +back, that Florence was to become to me the spot nearest and dearest to +my heart, associated as it is, and ever must be, with the most blissful +event of my life! Sir Penrhyn Morris, who, from some unexplained +misconception, had all but ceased to know us, was accidentally thrown +in our way by the circumstance of mamma's imprisonment. By his kind and +zealous aid her liberation was at length accomplished, and, as a matter +of course, he called to make his inquiries after her, and receive our +grateful acknowledgments. + +I scarcely can tell--my head is too confused to remember--the steps by +which he retraced his former place in our intimacy. It is possible there +may have been explanations on both sides. I only know that he took his +leave one morning with the very coldest of salutations, and appeared +on the next day with a manner of the deepest devotion, so evidently +directed towards myself that it would have been downright affectation to +appear indifferent to it. + +He asked me in a low and faltering voice if I would accord him a few +moments' interview. He spoke the words with a degree of effort at +calmness that gave them a most significant meaning, and I suddenly +remembered a certain passage in one of your letters to me, wherein you +speak of the inconsiderate conduct which girls occasionally pursue in +accepting the attentions of men whose difference in age would seem to +exclude them from the category of suitors. So far from having incurred +this error, I had actually retreated from any advances on his part, +not from the disparity of our ages, but from the far wider gulfs that +separated _his_ highly cultivated and informed mind from _my_ ungifted +and unstored intellect. Partly in shame at my inferiority, partly with a +conscious sense of what his impression of me must be, I avoided, so far +as I could, his intimacy; and even when domesticated with him, I sought +for occupations in which he could not join, and estranged myself from +the pursuits which he loved to practise. + +Oh, my dear, kind governess, how thoroughly I recognize the truthfulness +of all your views of life; how sincerely I own that I have never +followed them without advantage, never neglected them without loss! How +often have you told me that "dissimulation is never good;" that, however +speciously we may persuade ourselves that in feigning a part we are +screening our self-esteem from insult, or saving the feelings of others, +the policy is ever a bad one; and that, "if our sincerity be only allied +with an honest humility, it never errs." The pains I took to escape from +the dangerous proximity of his presence suggested to him that I disliked +his attentions, and desired to avoid them; and acting on this conviction +it was that he made a journey to England during the time I was a visitor +at his mother's. It would appear, however, that his esteem for me had +taken a deeper root than he perhaps suspected, for on his return his +attentions were redoubled, and I could detect that in a variety of +ways his feelings towards me were not those of mere friendship. Of mine +towards him I will conceal nothing from you. They were deep and intense +admiration for qualities of the highest order, and as much of love as +consisted with a kind of fear,--a sense of almost terror lest he should +resent the presumption of such affection as mine. + +You already know something of our habits of life abroad,--wasteful +and extravagant beyond all the pretensions of our fortune. It was a +difficult thing for me to carry on the semblance of our assumed position +so as not to throw discredit upon my family, and at the same time avoid +the dis-ingenuousness of such a part. The struggle, from which I saw no +escape, was too much for me, and I determined to leave the Morrises and +return home,--to leave a house wherein I already had acquired the first +steps of the right road in life, and go back to dissipations in which I +felt no pleasure, and gayeties that never enlivened! I did not tell +you all this at the time, my dear friend, partly because I had not +the courage for it, and partly that the avowal might seem to throw a +reproach on those whom my affection should shield from even a criticism. +If I speak of it now, it is because, happily, the theme is one hourly +discussed amongst us in all the candor of true frankness. We have no +longer concealments, and we are happy. + +It may have been that the abruptness of my departure offended Captain +Morris, or, possibly, some other cause produced the estrangement; but, +assuredly, he no longer cultivated the intimacy he had once seemed so +ardently to desire, and, until the event of mamma's misfortune here, he +ceased to visit us. + +And now came the interview I have alluded to! Oh, my dearest friend, if +there be a moment in life which combines within it the most exquisite +delight with the most torturing agony, it is that in which an affection +is sought for by one who, immeasurably above us in all the gifts of +fortune, still seems to feel that there is a presumption in his demand, +and that his appeal may be rejected. I know not how to speak of that +conflict between pride and shame, between the ecstasy of conquest and +the innate sense of the unworthiness that had won the victory! + +Sir Penrhyn thought, or fancied he thought, me fond of display and +splendor,--that in conforming to the quiet habits of his mother's house, +I was only submitting with a good grace to privations. I undeceived him +at once. I confessed, not without some shame, that I was in a manner +unsuited to the details of an exalted station,--that wealth and its +accompaniments would, in reality, be rather burdens than pleasure to one +whose tastes were humble as my own,--that, in fact, I was so little of a +"Grande Dame" that I should inevitably break down in the part, and +that no appliances of mere riches could repay for the onerous duties of +dispensing them. + +"In so much," interrupted he, with a half-smile, "that you would prefer +a poor man to a rich one?" + +"If you mean," said I, "a poor man who felt no shame in his poverty, +in comparison with a rich man who felt his pride in his wealth, I say, +Yes." + +"Then what say you to one who has passed through both ordeals," said he, +"and only asks that you should share either with him to make him happy?" + +I have no need to tell you my answer. It satisfied _him_, and made mine +the happiest heart in the world. And now we are to be married, dearest, +in a fortnight or three weeks,--as soon, in fact, as maybe; and then we +are to take a short tour to Rome and Naples, where Sir Penrhyn's yacht +is to meet us; after which we visit Malta, coast along Spain, and home. +Home sounds delightfully when it means all that one's fondest fancies +can weave of country, of domestic happiness, of duties heartily entered +on, and of affections well repaid. + +Penrhyn is very splendid; the castle is of feudal antiquity, and the +grounds are princely in extent and beauty. Sir Morris is justly proud +of his ancestral possessions, and longs to show me its stately +magnificence; but still more do I long for the moment when my dear Miss +Cox will be my guest, and take up her quarters in a certain little room +that opens on a terraced garden overlooking the sea. I fixed on the spot +the very instant I saw a drawing of the castle, and I am certain you +will not find it in your heart to refuse me what will thus make up the +perfect measure of my happiness. + +In all the selfishness of my joy, I have forgotten to tell you of +Florence; but, in truth, it would require a calmer head than mine to +talk of galleries and works of art while my thoughts are running on the +bright realities of my condition. It is true we go everywhere and see +everything, but I am in such a humor to be pleased that I am delighted +with all, and can be critical to nothing. I half suspect that art, as +art, is a source of pleasure to a very few. I mean that the number is a +limited one which can enter into all the minute excellences of a great +work, appreciate justly the difficulties overcome, and value deservingly +the real triumph accomplished. For myself, I know and feel that painting +has its greatest charm for me in its power of suggestiveness, and, +consequently, the subject is often of more consequence than the +treatment of it; not that I am cold to the chaste loveliness of a +Raphael, or indifferent to the gorgeous beauty of a Giordano. They +appeal to me, however, in somewhat the same way, and my mind at once +sets to work upon an ideal character of the creation before me. That +this same admiration of mine is a very humble effort at appreciating +artistic excellence, I want no better proof than the fact that it is +exactly what Betty Cobb herself felt on being shown the pictures in "the +Pitti." Her honest worship of a Madonna at once invested her with every +attribute of goodness, and the painter, could he only have heard the +praises she uttered, might have revelled in the triumph of an art that +can rise above the mere delineation of external beauty. That the appeal +to her own heart was direct, was evidenced by her constant reference to +some living resemblance to the picture before her. Now it was a +saintly hermit by Caracci,--that was the image of Peter Delany at +the cross-roads; now it was a Judas,--that was like Tom Noon of the +turnpike; and now it was a lovely head by Titian,--the "very moral of +Miss Kitty Doolan, when her hair was down about her." I am certain, my +dearest Miss Cox, that the delight conveyed by painting and music is +a much more natural pleasure than that derived from the enjoyment of +imaginary composition by writing. The appeal is not alone direct, but +it is in a manner the same to all,--to the highest king upon the throne, +and to the lowly peasant, as in meek wonder he stands entranced and +enraptured. + +But why do I loiter within doors when it is of Florence itself, of its +sunny Arno, of its cypress-crowned San Miniato, and of the villa-clad +Fiezole I would tell you! But even these are so interwoven with the +frame of mind in which I now enjoy them, that to speak of them would be +again to revert to my selfishness. + +Yesterday we made an excursion to Vallambrosa, which lies in a cleft +between two lofty mountains, about thirteen miles from this. It was a +strange transition from the warm air and sunny streets of Florence, with +all their objects of artistic wonder on every side, to find one's self +suddenly traversing a wild mountain gorge in a rude bullock-cart, +guided by a peasant of semi-savage aspect, his sheepskin mantle and long +ox-goad giving a picturesque air to his tall and sinewy figure. The snow +lay heavily in all the crevices around, and it was a perfectly Alpine +scene in its desolation; nor, I must say, did it recall a single one +of the ideas with which our great poet has associated it. The thickly +strewn leaves have no existence here, since the trees are not deciduous, +and consist entirely of pines. + +A straight avenue in the forest leads to the convent, which is of +immense size, forming a great quadrangle. At a little distance off, +sheltered by a thick grove of tall pines, stands a small building +appropriated to the accommodation of strangers, who are the guests +of the monks for any period short of three days, and by a special +permission for even a longer time. + +We passed the day and the night there, and I would willingly have +lingered still longer. From the mountain peak above the convent the two +seas at either side of the peninsula are visible, and the Gulf of Genoa +and the Adriatic are stretched out at your feet, with the vast plain of +Central Italy, dotted over with cities, every name of which is a spell +to memory! Thence back to Florence, and all that gay world that seemed +so small to the eye the day before! And now, dearest Miss Cox, let me +conclude, ere my own littleness become more apparent; for here I am, +tossing over laces and embroidery, gazing with rapture at brooches +and bracelets, and actually fancying how captivating I shall be when +apparelled in all this finery. It would be mere deceitfulness in me were +I to tell you that I am not charmed with the splendor that surrounds me. +Let me only hope that it may not corrupt that heart which at no time was +more entirely your own than while I write myself yours affectionately, + +Caroline Dodd. + + + + +LETTER XXXII. KENNY JAMES DODD TO THOMAS PURCELL, ESQ., OF THE GRANGE, +BRUFF. + +Florence. + +Well, my dear Tom, my task is at last completed,--my _magnum opus_ +accomplished. I have carried all my measures, if not with triumphant +majorities, at least with a "good working party," as the slang has it, +and I stand proudly pre-eminent the head of the Dodd Administration. I +have no patience for details. I like better to tell you the results in +some striking paragraph, to be headed "Latest Intelligence," and to run +thus: "Our last advices inform us that, notwithstanding the intrigues +in the Cabinet, K. I. maintains his ascendency. We have no official +intelligence of the fact, but all the authorities concur in believing +that the Dodds are about to leave the Continent and return to Ireland." + +Ay, Tom, that is the grand and comprehensive measure of family reform I +have so long labored over, and at length have the proud gratification to +see Law! + +I find, on looking back, that I left off on my being sent for by Belton. +I 'll try and take up one of the threads of my tangled narrative at +that point. I found him at his hotel in conversation with a very smartly +dressed, well-whiskered, kid-gloved little man, whom he presented as +"Mr. Curl Davis, of Lincoln's Inn." Mr. D. was giving a rather pleasant +account of the casualties of his first trip to Italy when I entered, +but immediately stopped, and seemed to think that the hour of business +should usurp the time of mere amusement. + +Belton soon informed me why, by telling me that Mr. C. D. was a London +collector who transacted the foreign affairs for various discounting +houses at home, and who held a roving commission to worry, harass, and +torment all such and sundry as might have drawn, signed, or endorsed +bills, either for their own accommodation or that of their friends. + +Now, I had not the most remote notion how I should come to figure in +this category. I knew well that you had "taken care of"--that's the +word--all my little missives in that fashion. So persuaded was I of my +sincerity that I offered him at once a small wager that he had mistaken +his man, and that it was, in fact, some other Dodd, bent on bringing our +honorable name to shame and disgrace. + +"It must, under these circumstances, then," said he, "be a very gross +case of forgery, for the name is yours; nor can I discover any other +with the same Christian names." So saying, he produced a pocket-book, +like a family Bible, and drew from out a small partition of it a bill +for five hundred pounds, at nine months, drawn and endorsed by me in +favor of the Hon. Augustus Gore Hampton! + +This precious document had now about fifty-two hours some odd minutes +to run. In other words, it was a crocodile's egg with the shell already +bursting, and the reptile's head prepared to spring out. + +"The writing, if not yours, is an admirable imitation," said Davis, +surveying it through his double eye-glass. + +"Is it yours?" asked Belton. + +"Yes," said I, with a great effort to behave like an ancient Roman. + +"Ah, then, it is all correct," said Davis, smirking. "I am charmed to +find that the case presents no difficulty whatsoever." + +"I 'm not quite so certain of that, sir," said I; "I take a very +different view of the transaction." + +"Don't be alarmed, Mr. Dodd," said he, coaxingly, "we are not Shylocks. +We will meet your convenience in any way; in fact, it is with that sole +object I have come out from England. 'Don't negotiate it,' said Mr. Gore +Hampton to me,' if you can possibly help it; see Mr. D. himself, ask +what arrangement will best suit him, take half the amount in cash, +and renew the bill at three months, rather than push him to an +inconvenience.' I assure you these were his own words, for there is n't +a more generous fellow breathing than Gore." Mr. Davis uttered this with +a kind of hearty expansiveness, as though to say, "The man 's my friend, +and let me see who 'll gainsay me." + +"Am I at liberty to inquire into the circumstances of this transaction?" +said Belton, who had been for some minutes attentively examining the +bill, and the several names upon it, and comparing the writing with some +other that he held in his hand. + +I half scrupled to say "Yes" to this request, Tom. If there be anything +particularly painful in shame above all others, it is for an old fellow +to come to confession of his follies to a young one. It reverses their +relative stations to each other so fatally that they never can stand +rightly again. He saw this, or he seemed to see it, in a second, by my +hesitation, for, quickly turning to Mr. Davis, he said, "Our +meeting here is a most opportune one, as you will perceive by this +paper,"--giving him a letter as he spoke. Although I paid little +attention to these words, I was soon struck by the change that had come +over Mr. Davis. The fresh and rosy cheek was now blanched, the easy +smile had departed, and a look of terror and dismay was exhibited in its +place. + +"Now, sir," said Belton, folding up the document, "you see I have been +very frank with you. The charges contained in that letter I am in a +position to prove. The Earl of Darewood has placed all the papers in my +hands, and given me full permission as to how I shall employ them. Mr. +Dodd," said he, addressing me, "if I am not at liberty to ask you +the history of that bill, there is at least nothing to prevent _my_ +informing _you_ that all the names upon it are those of men banded +together for purposes of fraud." + +"Take care what you say, sir," said Davis, affecting to write down his +words, but in his confusion unable to form a letter. + +"I shall accept your caution as it deserves," said Belton, "and say +that they are a party of professional swindlers,--men who cheat at play, +intimidate for money, and even commit forgery for it." + +Davis moved towards the door, but Belton anticipated him, and he sat +down again without a word. + +[Illustration: 314] + +"Now, Mr. Davis," said he, calmly, "it is left entirely to my discretion +in what way I am to proceed with respect to one of the parties to +these frauds." As he got thus far, the waiter entered, and presented a +visiting-card, on which Belton said, "Yes, show him upstairs;" and the +next minute Lord George Tiverton made his appearance. He was already in +the middle of the room ere he perceived me, and for the first time in my +life I saw signs of embarrassment and shame on his impassive features. + +"They told me you were alone, Mr. Belton," said he, angrily, and as if +about to retire. + +"For all the purposes you have come upon, my Lord, it is the same as +though I were." + +"Is it blown, then?" asked his Lordship of Davis; and the other replied +with an almost imperceptible nod. Muttering what sounded like a curse, +Tiverton threw himself into a chair, drawing his hat, which he still +wore, more deeply over his eyes. + +I assure you, Tom, that so overwhelmed was I by this distressing +scene,--for, say what you will, there is nothing so distressing as +to see the man with whom you have lived in intimacy, if not +actual friendship, suddenly displayed in all the glaring colors of +scoundrelism. You feel yourself so humiliated before such a spectacle, +that the sense of shame becomes like an atmosphere around you; I +actually heard nothing,--I saw nothing. A scene of angry discussion +ensued between Belton and the lawyer--Tiverton never uttered a word--of +which I caught not one syllable. I could only mark, at last, that +Belton had gained the upper hand, and in the other's subdued manner and +submissive tone defeat was plainly written. + +"Will Mr. Dodd deny his liability?" cried out Davis; and though, I +suppose, he must have said the words many times over, I could not bring +myself to suppose they were addressed to me. + +"I shall not ask him that question." said Belton, "but _you_ may." + +"Hang it, Curl! you know it was a 'plant,'" said Tiverton, who was now +smoking a cigar as coolly as possible. "What's the use of pushing them +further? We 've lost the game, man!" + +"Just so, my Lord," said Belton; "and notwithstanding all his pretended +boldness, nobody is more aware of that fact than Mr. Curl Davis, and the +sooner he adopts your Lordship's frankness the quicker will this affair +be settled." + +Belton and the lawyer conversed eagerly together in half-whispers. I +could only overhear a stray word or two; but they were enough to show +me that Davis was pressing for some kind of a compromise, to which the +other would not accede, and the terms of which came down successively +from five hundred pounds to three, two, one, and at last fifty. + +"No, nor five, sir,--not five shillings in such a cause!" said Belton, +determinedly. "I should feel it an indelible disgrace upon me forever to +concede one farthing to a scheme so base and contemptible. Take my word +for it, to escape exposure in such a case is no slight immunity." + +Davis still demurred, but it was rather with the disciplined resistance +of a well-trained rascal than with the ardor of a strong conviction. + +The altercation--for it was such--interested me wonderfully little, my +attention being entirely bestowed on Tiverton, who had now lighted his +third cigar, which he was smoking away vigorously, never once bestowing +a look towards me, nor in any way seeming to recognize my presence. A +sudden pause in the discussion attracted me, and I saw that Mr. Davis +was handing over several papers, which, to my practical eye, resembled +bills, to Belton, who carefully perused each of them in turn before +enclosing them in his pocket-book. + +"Now, my Lord, I am at your service," said Belton; "but I presume our +interview may as well be without witnesses." + +"I should like to have Davis here," replied Tiverton, languidly; "seeing +how you have bullied _him_ only satisfies me how little chance _I_ shall +have with you." + +Not waiting to hear an answer to this speech, I arose and took my hat, +and pressing Belton's hand cordially as I asked him to dinner for that +day, I hurried out of the room. Not, however, without his having time to +whisper to me,-- + +"That affair is all arranged,--have no further uneasiness on the +subject." + +I was in the street in the midst of the moving, bustling population, +with all the life, din, and turmoil of a great city around me, and yet +I stood confounded and overwhelmed by what I had just witnessed. "And +this," said I, at last, "is the way the business of the world goes +on,--robbery, cheating, intimidation, and overreaching are the +politenesses men reciprocate with each other!" Ah, Tom, with what +scanty justice we regard our poor hard-working, half-starved, and ragged +people, when men of rank, station, and refinement are such culprits as +this! Nor could I help confessing that if I had passed my life at home, +in my own country, such an instance as I had just seen had, in +all likelihood, never occurred to me. The truth is that there is a +simplicity in the life of poor countries that almost excludes such a +craft as that of a swindler. Society must be a complex and intricate +machinery where _they_ are to thrive. There must be all the thousand +requirements that are begotten of a pampered and luxurious civilization, +and all the faults and frailties that grow out of these. Your well-bred +scoundrel trades upon the follies, the weaknesses, the foibles, rather +than the vices of the world, and his richest harvest lies amongst those +who have ambitions above their station, and pretensions unsuited to +their property,--in one word, to the "Dodds of this world, whether they +issue from Tipperary or Yorkshire, whether their tongue betray the Celt +or the Saxon!" + +I grew very moral on this theme as I walked along, and actually found +myself at my own door before I knew where I was. I discovered that +Morris and his mother had been visiting Mrs. D. in my absence, and that +the interview had passed off satisfactorily Cary's bright and cheery +looks sufficiently assured me. Perhaps she was "not i' the vein," or +perhaps she was awed by the presence of real wealth and fortune, but +I was glad to find that Mrs. D. scarcely more than alluded to the +splendors of Dodsborough; nor did she bring in the M'Carthys more than +four times during their stay. This is encouraging, Tom; and who knows +but in time we may be able to "lay this family," and live without the +terrors of their resurrection! + +The Morrises are to dine with us, and I only trust that we shall not +give them a "taste of our quality" in high living, for I have just +caught sight of a fellow with a white cap going into Mrs. D.'s +dressing-room, and the preparations are evidently considerable. Here 's +Mary Anne saying she has something of consequence to impart to me, and +so, for the present, farewell. + +The murder is out, Tom, and all the mystery of Morris's missing letter +made clear. Mrs. D. received it during my illness at Genoa, and finding +it to be a proposal of marriage to Cary, took it upon her to write an +indignant refusal. + +Mary Anne has just confessed the whole to me in strict secrecy, frankly +owning that she herself was the great culprit on the occasion, and that +the terms of the reply were actually dictated by her. She said that her +present avowal was made less in reparation for her misconduct--which she +owned to be inexcusable--than as an obligation she felt under to requite +the admirable behavior of Morris, who by this time must have surmised +what had occurred, and whose gentlemanlike feeling recoiled from +vindicating himself at the cost of family disunion and exposure. + +I tell you frankly, Tom, that Mary Anne's own candor, the honest, +straightforward way in which she told me the whole incident, amply +repays me for all the annoyance it occasioned. Her conduct now assures +me that, notwithstanding all the corrupting influences of our life +abroad, the girl's generous nature has still survived, and may yet, with +good care, be trained up to high deservings. Of course she enjoined +me to secrecy; but even had she not done so, I 'd have respected her +confidence. I am scarcely less pleased with Morris, whose delicacy is no +bad guarantee for the future; so that for once, at least, my dear Tom, +you find me in good humor with all the world, nor is it my own fault +if I be not oftener so! You may smile, Tom, at my self-flattery; but +I repeat it. All my philosophy of life has been to submit with a good +grace, and make the best of everything,--to think as well of everybody +as they would permit me to do; and when, as will happen, events went +cross-grain, and all fell out "wrong," I was quite ready to "forget my +own griefs, and be happy with _you_." And now to dinner, Tom, where I +mean to drink your health! + +It is all settled; though I have no doubt, after so many "false starts," +you 'll still expect to hear a contradiction to this in my next +letter; but you may believe me this time, Tom. Cary is to be married on +Saturday; and that you may have stronger confidence in my words, I beg +to assure you that I have not bestowed on her, as her marriage portion, +either imaginary estates or mock domains. She is neither to be thought +an Irish princess _en retraite_, nor to be the proud possessor of the +"M'Carthy diamonds." In a word, Tom, we have contrived, by some good +luck, to conduct the whole of this negotiation without involving +ourselves in a labyrinth of lies, and the consequence has been a very +wide-spread happiness and contentment. + +Morris improves every hour on nearer acquaintance; and even Mrs. D. +acknowledges that when "his shyness rubs off, he 'll be downright +agreeable and amusing." Now, that same shyness is very little more +than the constitutional coldness of _his_ country, more palpable when +contrasted with the over-warmth of _ours_. It _never does_ rub off, Tom, +which, unfortunately, our cordiality occasionally does; and hence the +praise bestowed on the constancy of one country, and the censure on the +changeability of the other. But this is no time for such dissertations, +nor is my head in a condition to follow them out. + +The house is beset with milliners, jewellers, and other seductionists +of the same type; and Mrs. D.'s voice is loud in the drawing-room on +the merits of Brussels lace and the becomingness of rubies. Even Cary +appears to have yielded somewhat to the temptation of these vanities, +and gives a passing glance at herself in the glass without any very +marked disapproval. James is in ecstasies with Morris, who has confided +all his horse arrangements to his especial care; and he sits in solemn +conclave every morning with half a dozen stunted, knock-kneed bipeds, in +earnest discussion of thorough-breds, weight-carriers, and fencers, and +talks "Bell's Life" half the day afterwards. + +But, above all, Mary Anne has pleased me throughout the whole +transaction. Not a shadow of jealousy, not the faintest coloring of any +unworthy rivalry has interfered with her sisterly affection, and her +whole heart seems devoted to Cary's happiness. Handsome as she always +was, the impulse of a high motive has elevated the character of her +beauty, and rendered her perfectly lovely. So Belton would seem to think +also, if I were only to pronounce from the mere expression of his face +as he looks at her. + +I must close this at once; there's no use in my trying to journalize any +longer, for events follow too fast for recording; besides, Tom, in the +midst of all my happiness there comes a dash of sadness across me that +I am so soon to part with one so dear to me! The first branch that drops +from the tree tells the story of the decay at the trunk; and so it is as +the chairs around your health become tenantless, you are led to think +of the dark winter of old age, the long night before the longer journey! +This is all selfishness, mayhap, and so no more of it. On Saturday the +wedding, Tom; the Morrises start for Rome, and the Dodds for Ireland. +Ay, my old friend, once more we shall meet, and if I know myself, not to +part again till our passports are made out for a better place. And now, +my dear friend, for the last time on foreign ground, + +I am yours ever affectionately, + +Kenny James Dodd. + +Tell Mrs. Gallagher to have fires in all the rooms, and to see that +Nelligan has a look to the roof where the rain used to come in. We must +try and make the old house comfortable, and if we cannot have the blue +sky without, we 'll at least endeavor to secure the means of an Irish +welcome within doors. + +I suppose it must be a part of that perversity that pertains to human +nature in everything, but now that I have determined on going home +again, I fancy I can detect a hundred advantages to be derived from +foreign travel and foreign residence. You will, of course, meet me by +saying, "What are your own experiences, Kenny Dodd? Do they serve to +confirm this impression? Have you the evidences of such within the +narrow circle of your own family?" No, Tom, I must freely own I have not +But I am, perhaps, able to say why it has been so, and even that same is +something. + +You can scarcely take up a number of the "Times" without reading of some +newly arrived provincial in London being "done" by sharpers, through the +devices of a very stale piece of roguery; his appearance, his dress, and +his general air being the signs which have proclaimed him a fit subject +for deception. So it is abroad; a certain class of travellers, the +"Dodds" for instance, ramble about Switzerland and the Rhine country, +John Murray in hand, speaking unintelligible French, and poking their +noses everywhere. So long as they are migratory, they form the prey of +innkeepers and the harvest of _laquais de place_; but when they settle +and domesticate, they become the mark for ridicule for some, and for +robbery from others. If they be wealthy, much is conceded to them for +their money,--that is, their house will be frequented, their dinners +eaten, their balls danced at; but as to any admission into "the society" +of the place, they have no chance of it. Some Lord George of their +acquaintance, cut by his equals, and shunned by his own set, will +undertake to provide them guests; and so far as their own hospitalities +extend, they will be "in the world," but not one jot further. The +illustrious company that honors your _soirée_ amuses itself with racy +stories of your bad French, or flippant descriptions of your wife's +"toilette;" nor is it enough that they ridicule these, but they will +even make laughing matter of your homely notions of right and wrong, +and scoff at what you know and feel to be the very best things in your +nature. Your "noble friend," or somebody else's "noble friend," has said +in public that you are "nobody;" and every marquis in his garret, and +every count with half the income of your cook, despises as he dines with +you. And you deserve it too; richly deserve it, I say. Had you come +on the Continent to be abroad what you were well contented to be at +home,--had you abstained from the mockery of a class you never belonged +to,--had you settled down amidst those your equals in rank, and often +much more than your equals in knowledge and acquirement,--your journey +would not have been a series of disappointments. You would have seen +much to delight and interest, and much to improve you. You would have +educated your minds while richly enjoying yourselves; and while forming +pleasant intimacies, and even friendships, widened the sphere of your +sympathies with mankind, and assuredly have escaped no small share of +the misfortunes and mishaps that befell the "Dodd Family Abroad." + +THE END. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Dodd Family Abroad, Vol. II.(of II), by +Charles James Lever + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DODD FAMILY ABROAD *** + +***** This file should be named 35442-8.txt or 35442-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/5/4/4/35442/ + +Produced by David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +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 + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/35442-8.zip b/35442-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..eb2ac29 --- /dev/null +++ b/35442-8.zip diff --git a/35442-h.zip b/35442-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9b12d95 --- /dev/null +++ b/35442-h.zip diff --git a/35442-h/35442-h.htm b/35442-h/35442-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b316d21 --- /dev/null +++ b/35442-h/35442-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,12001 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html lang="en"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" + content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> +<title> + The Dodd Family Abroad, Volume II. + by Charles James Lever +</title> + +<style type="text/css"> + <!-- + body { text-align:justify} + P { margin:15%; + margin-top: .75em; + margin-bottom: .75em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; } + hr.full { width: 100%; } + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + .play { margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; text-align: justify; font-size: 100%; } + img {border: 0;} + HR { width: 33%; text-align: center; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%;} + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 1%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: left; + color: gray; + } /* page numbers */ + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 10%; margin-left: 1%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; + margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 5%; margin-bottom: .75em; font-size: 110%;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 5%;} + .indent {font-style: italic; font-size: 100%; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + CENTER { padding: 10px;} + PRE { font-family: Times; font-style: italic; font-size: 100%; margin-left: 25%;} + --> +</style> + +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Dodd Family Abroad, Vol. II.(of II), by +Charles James Lever + +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 Dodd Family Abroad, Vol. II.(of II) + +Author: Charles James Lever + +Illustrator: Phiz And W. Cubitt Cooke + +Release Date: March 1, 2011 [EBook #35442] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DODD FAMILY ABROAD *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + + +<br><br> + +<h1> + THE DODD FAMILY ABROAD +</h1> +<h2> +By Charles James Lever +</h2><br> +<h3> +With Illustrations By Phiz And W. Cubitt Cooke. +</h3><br> + +<h2> +In Two Volumes: Vol. II. +</h2><br> +<h4> +Boston: Little, Brown, And Company + +<br> +1895. +</h4> + + +<br /> +<center> +<img alt="frontispiece (148K)" src="images/frontispiece.jpg" height="999" width="644" /> +</center> +<br /> + + + +<br> +<br> +<hr> +<br> +<br> + + +<h2>Contents</h2> + +<center> +<table summary=""> +<tr><td> + + +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_0001"> +LETTER I. KENNY JAMES DODD TO THOMAS PURCELL, ESQ., OF THE GRANGE, BRUFF +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_0002"> +LETTER II. JAMES DODD TO ROBERT DOOLAN, ESQ., TRINITY COLLEGE, DUBLIN. +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_0003"> +LETTER III. CAROLINE DODD TO MISS COX AT MISS MINCING'S ACADEMY, BLACK ROCK, IRELAND. +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_0004"> +LETTER IV. MRS. DODD TO MRS. MARY GALLAGHER, DODSBOROUGH +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_0005"> +LETTER V. KENNY JAMES DODD TO THOMAS PURCELL, ESQ., OF THE GRANGE, BRUFF +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_0006"> +LETTER VI. MARY ANNE DODD TO MISS DOOLAN, OF BALLYDOOLAN. +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_0007"> +LETTER VII. MRS. DODD TO MRS. MARY GALLAGHER, PRIEST'S HOUSE, BRUFF. +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_0008"> +LETTER VIII. JAMES DODD TO LORD GEORGE TIVERTON, M. P., POSTE RESTANTE, BREGENZ. +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_0009"> +LETTER IX. MISS MARY ANNE DODD TO THOMAS PURCELL, ESQ., OF THE GRANGE, BRUFF +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_0010"> +LETTER X. MRS. DODD TO MRS. MARY GALLAGHER, DODSBOROUGH +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_0011"> +LETTER XI. MISS MARY ANNE DODD TO MISS DOOLAN, OF BALLYDOOLAN +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_0012"> +LETTER XII. KENNY JAMES DODD TO THOMAS PURCELL, ESQ., OF THE GRANGE, BRUFF +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_0013"> +LETTER XIII. KENNY JAMES DODD TO THOMAS PURCELL, ESQ., OF THE GRANGE, BRUFF +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_0014"> +LETTER XIV. JAMES DODD TO LORD GEORGE TIVERTON, M.P. +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_0015"> +LETTER XV. MRS. DODD TO MRS. MARY GALLAGHER, DODSBOROUGH +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_0016"> +LETTER XVI. MISS MARY ANNE DODD TO MISS DOOLAN, OF BALLYDOOLAN +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_0017"> +LETTER XVII. KENNY JAMES DODD TO THOMAS PURCELL, ESQ., OF THE GRANGE BRUFF +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_0018"> +LETTER XVIII. MARY ANNE DODD TO MISS DOOLAN, OP BALLYDOOLAN +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_0019"> +LETTER XIX. MRS. DODD TO MRS. MARY GALLAGHER, DODSBOROUGH +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_0020"> +LETTER XX. BETTY COBB TO MISTRESS SHUSAN O'SHEA. +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_0021"> +LETTER XXI. JAMES DODD TO ROBERT DOOLAN, ESQ. TRINITY COLLEGE, DUBLIN. +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_0022"> +LETTER XXII. MRS. DODD TO MRS. MARY GALLAGHER +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_0023"> +LETTER XXIII. MISS CAROLINE DODD TO MISS COX, AT MISS MINCING'S ACADEMY, BLACK ROCK, IRELAND +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_0024"> +LETTER XXIV. MARY ANNE DODD TO MISS DOOLAN, OF BALLYDOOLAN. +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_0025"> +LETTER XXV. JAMES DODD TO ROBERT DOOLAN, ESQ., TRINITY COLLEGE, DUBLIN. +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_0026"> +LETTER XXVI. KENNY DODD TO THOMAS PURCELL, ESQ., ORANGE, BRUFF. +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_0027"> +LETTER XXVII. MRS. DODD TO MRS. GALLAGHER, DODSBOROUGH +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_0028"> +LETTER XXVIII. JAMES DODD TO ROBERT DOOLAN, ESQ., TRINITY COLLEGE, +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_0029"> +LETTER XXIX. MARY ANNE DODD TO MISS DOOLAN, OF BALLYDOOLAN +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_0030"> +LETTER XXX. KENNY JAMES DODD TO THOMAS PURCELL, ESQ., OF THE GRANGE, BRUFF +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_0031"> +LETTER XXXI. MISS CAROLINE DODD TO MISS COX, AT MISS MINCINGS ACADEMY, +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_0032"> +LETTER XXXII. KENNY JAMES DODD TO THOMAS PURCELL, ESQ., OF THE GRANGE, +</a></p> + + +</td></tr> +</table> +</center> + +<br> +<br> +<hr> +<br> +<br> + + + +<a name="2H_4_0001"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + LETTER I. KENNY JAMES DODD TO THOMAS PURCELL, ESQ., OF THE GRANGE, BRUFF +</h2> +<h3> + Constance. +</h3> +<p> +My dear Tom,—I got the papers all safe. I am sure the account is +perfectly correct. I only wish the balance was bigger. I waited here to +receive these things, and now I discover that I can't sign the warrant +of attorney except before a consul, and there is none in this place, +so that I must keep it over till I can find one of those pleasant +functionaries,—a class that between ourselves I detest heartily. They +are a presumptuous, under-bred, consequential race,—a cross between +a small skipper and smaller Secretary of Legation, with a mixture +of official pedantry and maritime off-handedness that is perfectly +disgusting. Why our reforming economists don't root them all out I +cannot conceive. Nobody wants, nobody benefits by them; and save that +you are now and then called on for a "consular fee," you might never +hear of their existence. +</p> +<p> +I don't rightly understand what you say about the loan from that Land +Improvement Society. Do you mean that the money lent must be laid out on +the land as a necessary condition? Is it possible that this is what I am +to infer? If so, I never heard anything half so preposterous! Sure, if I +raise five hundred pounds from a Jew, he has no right to stipulate that +I must spend the cash on copper coal-scuttles or potted meats! I want +it for my own convenience; enough for him that I comply with his demands +for interest and repayment. Anything else would be downright tyranny and +oppression, Tom,—as a mere momentary consideration of the matter will +show you. At all events, let us get the money, for I 'd like to contest +the point with these fellows; and if ever there was a man heart and +soul determined to break down any antiquated barrier of cruelty or +domination, it is your friend Kenny Dodd! As to that printed paper, with +its twenty-seven queries, it is positive balderdash from beginning +to end. What right have they to conclude that I approve of subsoil +draining? When did I tell them that I believed in Smith of Deanstown? +Where is it on record that I gave in my adhesion to model cottages, +Berkshire pigs, green crops, and guano manure? In what document do these +appear? Maybe I have my own notions on these matters,—maybe I keep them +for my own guidance too! +</p> +<p> +You say that the gentry is all changing throughout the whole land, and +I believe you well, Tom Purcell. Changed indeed must they be if they +subscribe to such preposterous humbug as this! At all events, I repeat +we want the money, so fill up the blanks as you think best, and remit me +the amount at your earliest, for I have barely enough to get to the end +of the present month. I don't dislike this place at all. It is quiet, +peaceful,—humdrum, if you will; but we've had more than our share of +racket and row lately, and the reclusion is very grateful. One day is +exactly like another with us. Lord George—for he is back again—and +James go a-fishing as soon as breakfast is over, and only return for +supper. Mary Anne reads, writes, sews, and sings. Mrs. D. fills up the +time discharging Betty, settling with her, searching her trunks for +missing articles, and being reconciled to her again, which, with +occasional crying fits and her usual devotions, don't leave her a single +moment unoccupied! As for me, I'm trying to learn German, whenever I'm +not asleep. I've got a master,—he is a Swiss, and maybe his accent +is not of the purest; but he is an amusing old vagabond,—an +umbrella-maker, but in his youth a travelling-servant. His time is not +very valuable to him, so that he sits with me sometimes for half a day; +but still I make little progress. My notion is, Tom, that there's no use +in either making love or trying a new language after you're five or six +and twenty. It's all up-hill work after that, believe me. Neither your +declensions nor declarations come natural to you, and it's a bungling +performance at the best. The first condition of either is to have +your head perfectly free,—as little in it as need be. So long as +your thoughts are jostled by debts, duns, mortgages, and marriageable +daughters, you 'll have no room for vows or irregular verbs! It's lucky, +however, that one can dispense both with the love and the learning, +and indeed of the two,—with the last best, for of all the useless, +unprofitable kinds of labor ever pursued out of a jail, acquiring +a foreign language is the most. The few words required for daily +necessaries, such as schnaps and cigars, are easily learnt; all beyond +that is downright rubbish. +</p> +<p> +For what can a man express his thoughts in so well as his mother tongue? +with whom does he want to talk but his countrymen? Of course you come +out with the old cant about "intelligent natives," "information derived +at the fountain head," "knowledge obtained by social intimacy with +people of the country." To which I briefly reply, "It's all gammon +and stuff from beginning to end;" and what between <i>your</i> blunders in +grammar and your informant's ignorance of fact, all such information is +n't worth a "trauneen." Now, once for all, Tom, let me observe to +you that ask what you will of a foreigner, be it an inquiry into the +financial condition of his country, its military resources, prison +discipline, law, or religion, he 'll never acknowledge his inability to +answer, but give you a full and ready reply, with facts, figures, dates, +and data, all in most admirable order. At first you are overjoyed with +such ready resources of knowledge. You flatter yourself that even +with the most moderate opportunities you cannot fail to learn much; by +degrees, however, you discover errors in your statistics, and at last, +you come to find out that your accomplished friend, too polite to deny +you a reasonable gratification, had gone to the pains of inventing a +code, a church, and a coinage for your sole use and benefit, but without +the slightest intention of misleading, for it never once entered his +head that you could possibly believe him! I know it will sound badly. +I am well aware of the shock it will give to many a nervous system; but +for all that I will not blink the declaration—which I desire to record +as formally and as flatly as I am capable of expressing it—which is, +that of one hundred statements an Englishman accepts and relies upon +abroad, as matter of fact, ninety-nine are untrue; full fifty being lies +by premeditation, thirty by ignorance, ten by accident or inattention, +and the remainder, if there be a balance, for I 'm bad at figures, from +any other cause you like. +</p> +<p> +It is no more disgrace for a foreigner not to tell the truth than to +own that he does not sing, nor dance the mazurka; not so much, indeed, +because these are marks of a polite education. And yet it is to +hold conversation with these people we pore over dictionaries, and +Ollendorfs, and Hamiltonian gospels. As for the enlargement and +expansion of the intelligence that comes of acquiring languages, there +never was a greater fallacy. Look abroad upon your acquaintances: who +are the glib linguists, who are the faultless in French genders, and the +immaculate in German declensions? the flippant boarding-school miss, or +the brainless, unpaid attaché, that cannot, compose a note in his own +language. Who are the bungling conversera that make drawing-rooms blush +and dinner-tables titter? Your first-rate debater in the Commons, your +leader at the bar, your double first, or your great electro-magnetic +fellow that knows the secret laws of water-spouts and whirlpools, and +can make thunder and lightning just to amuse himself. Take my word for +it, your linguist is as poor a creature as a dancing-master, and just as +great a formalist. +</p> +<p> +If you ask me, then, why I devote myself to such unrewarding labor, I +answer, "It is true I know it to be so, but my apology is, that I make +no progress." No, Tom, I never advance a step. I can neither conjugate +nor decline, and the auxiliary verbs will never aid me in anything. So +far as my lingual incapacity goes, I might be one of the great geniuses +of the age; and very probably I am, too, without knowing it! +</p> +<p> +I have little to tell you of the place itself. It is a quaint old town +on the side of the lake; the most remarkable object being the minster, +or cathedral. They show you the spot in the aisle where old Huss stood +to receive his sentence of death. Even after a lapse of centuries, there +was something affecting to stand where a man once stood to bear that he +was to be burned alive. Of course I have little sympathy with a heretic, +but still I venerate the martyr, the more since I am strongly disposed +to think that it is one of those characters which are not the peculiar +product of an age of railroads and submarine telegraphs. The expansion +of the intelligence, Tom, seems to be in the inverse ratio of the +expansion of the conscience, and the stubborn old spirit of right that +was once the mode, would nowadays be construed into a dogged, stupid +bull-headedness, unworthy of the enlightenment of our glorious era. +Take my word for it, there's a great many eloquent and indignant +letter-writers in the newspapers would shrink from old Huss's test for +their opinions, and a fossil elk is not a greater curiosity than would +be a man ready to stake life on his belief. When a fellow tells you of +"dying on the floor of the House," he simply means that he'll talk till +there's a "count out;" and as for "registering vows in heaven," and +"wasting out existence in the gloom of a dungeon," it's just balderdash, +and nothing else. +</p> +<p> +The simple fact is this, Tom Purcell: we live in an age of universal +cant, and I swallow all <i>your</i> shams on the easy condition that you +swear to <i>mine</i>, and whenever I hear people praising the present age, +and extolling its wonderful progress, and all that, I just think of all +the quackery I see advertised in the newspapers, and sigh heartily to +myself at our degradation! Why, man, the "Patent Pills for the Cure of +Cancer," and the Agapemone, would disgrace the middle ages! And it is +not a little remarkable that England, so prone to place herself at the +head of civilization, is exactly the very metropolis of all this humbug! +</p> +<p> +To come back to ourselves, I have to report that James arrived here a +couple of days ago. He followed that scoundrel "the Baron" for thirty +hours, and only desisted from the pursuit when his horse could go no +farther. The police authorities mainly contributed to the escape of the +fugitive, by detaining James on every possible occasion, and upon any +or no pretext. The poor fellow reached Freyburg dead beat, and without a +sou in his pocket; but good luck would have it that Lord George Tiverton +had just arrived there, so that by his aid he came on here, where they +both made their appearance at breakfast on Tuesday morning. +</p> +<p> +Lord George, I suspect, had not made a successful campaign of it lately; +though in what he has failed—if it be failure—I have no means of +guessing. He looks a little out at elbows, however, and travels without +a servant. In spirits and bearing I see no change in him; but these +fellows, I have remarked, never show depression, and india-rubber +itself is not so elastic as a bad character! I don't half fancy his +companionship for James; but I know well that this opinion would be +treated by the rest of the family as downright heresy; and certainly he +is an amusing dog, and it is impossible to resist liking him; but there +lies the very peril I am afraid of. If your loose fish, as the +slang phrase calls them, were disagreeable chaps,—prosy, selfish, +sententious,—vulgar in their habits, and obtrusive in their manners, +one would run little risk of contamination; but the reverse is the case, +Tom,—the very reverse! Meet a fellow that speaks every tongue of the +Continent, dresses to perfection, rides and drives admirably, a dead +shot with the pistol, a sure cue at billiards,—if he be the delight of +every circle he goes into,—look out sharp in the "Times," and the odds +are that there's a handsome reward offered for him, and he's either +a forger or a defaulter. The truth is, a man may be ill-mannered as a +great lawyer or a great physician; he may make a great figure in +the field or the cabinet; there may be no end to his talents as a +geometrician or a chemist; it's only your adventurer must be well-bred, +and swindling is the soldiery profession to which a man must bring +fascinating manners, a good address, personal advantages, and the power +of pleasing. I own to you, Tom Purcell, I like these fellows, and +I can't help it! I take to them as I do to twenty things that are +agreeable at the time, but are sure to disagree with me—afterwards. +They rally me out of my low spirits, they put me on better terms with +myself, and they administer that very balmy flattery that says, "Don't +distress yourself, Kenny Dodd. As the world goes, you 're better than +nine-tenths of it. You'd be hospitable if you could; you'd pay your +debts if you could; and there would n't be an easier-tempered, more +good-natured creature breathing than yourself, if it was only the will +was wanting!" Now, these are very soothing doses when a man is scarified +by duns, and flayed alive by lawsuits; and when a fellow comes to my +time of life, he can no more bear the candid rudeness of what is called +friendship than an ex-Lord Mayor could endure Penitentiary diet! +</p> +<p> +I must confess, however, that whenever we come to divide on any +question, Lord George always votes with Mrs. D. He told me once that +with respect to Parliament he always sided with the Government, whatever +it was, when he could, and perhaps he follows the same rule in private +life. Last night, after tea, we discussed our future movements, and I +found him strongly in favor of getting us on to Italy for the winter. +I did n't like to debate the matter exactly on financial grounds, but I +hazarded a half-conjecture that the expedition would be a costly one. +He stopped me at once. "Up to this time," said he, "you have really not +benefited by the cheapness of Continental living,"—that was certainly +true,—"and for this simple reason, you have always lived in the beaten +track of the wandering cockney. You must go farther away from England. +You must reach those places where people settle as residents, not ramble +as tourists; you will then be rewarded, not only economically, but +socially. The markets and the morals are both better; for our countrymen +filter by distance, and the farther from home the purer they become." +To Mrs. D. and Mary Anne he gave a glowing description of Trans-Alpine +existence, and rapturously pictured forth the fascinations of Italian +life. I can only give you the items, Tom; you must arrange them for +yourself. So make what you can of starry skies, olives, ices, tenors, +volcanoes, music, mountains, and maccaroni. He appealed to <i>me</i> by the +budget. Never was there such cheapness in the known world. The Italian +nobility were actually crashed down with house-accommodation, and only +entreated a stranger to accept of a palace or a villa. The climate +produced everything without labor, and consequently without cost. Fruit +had no price; wine was about twopence a bottle; a strong tap rose to +two and a half! Clothes one scarcely needed; and, except for decency, +"nothing and a cocked hat" would suffice. These were very seductive +considerations, Tom; and I own to you that, even allowing a large margin +for exaggeration, there was a great amount of solid advantage remaining. +Mrs. D. adduced an additional argument when we were alone, and in this +wise: What was to be done with the wedding finery if we should return +to Ireland; for all purposes of home life they would be totally +inapplicable. You might as well order a service of plate to serve up +potatoes as introduce Paris fashions and foreign elegance into our +provincial circle. "We have the things now," said she; "let us have the +good of them." I remember a cask of Madeira being left with my father +once, by a mistake, and that was the very reason he gave for drinking +it. She made a strong case of it, Tom; she argued the matter well, +laying great stress upon the duty we owed our girls, and the necessity +of "getting them married before we went back." Of course, I did n't +give in. If I was to give her the notion that she could convince me +of anything, we 'd never have a moment's peace again; so I said I 'd +reflect on the subject, and turn it over in my mind. And now I want you +to say what disposable cash can we lay our hands on for the winter. I +am more than ever disinclined to have anything to say to these Drainage +Commissioners. It's our pockets they drain, and not our farms. I 'd +rather try and raise a trifle on mortgage; for you see, nowadays, they +have got out of the habit of doing it, and there's many a one has money +lying idle and does n't know what to do with it. Look out for one of +these fellows, Tom, and see what you can do with him. Dear me, is n't it +a strange thing the way one goes through life, and the contrivances one +is put to to make two ends meet! +</p> +<p> +I remember the time, and so do you too, when an Irish gentleman could +raise what he liked; and there was n't an estate in my own county wasn't +encumbered, as they call it, to more than double its value. There's +fellows will tell you "that's the cause of all the present distress." +Not a bit of it. They 're all wrong! It is because that system has come +to an end that we are ruined; that's the root of the evil, Tom Purcell; +and if I was in Parliament I'd tell them so. Where will you find any one +willing to lend money now if the estate would n't pay it? We may thank +the English Government for that; and, as poor Dan used to say, "They +know as much about us as the Chinese!" +</p> +<p> +I can't answer your question about James. Vickars has not replied to my +last two letters; and I really see no opening for the boy whatever. I +mean to write, however, in a day or two to Lord Muddleton, to whom Lord +George is nearly related, and ask for something in the Diplomatic way. +Lord G. says it's the only career nowadays does n't require some kind of +qualification,—since even in the army they've instituted a species of +examination. "Get him made an Attaché somewhere," says Tiverton, "and +he must be a 'Plenipo' at last." J. is good-looking, and a great deal of +dash about him; and I 'm informed that's exactly what's wanting in the +career. If nothing comes of this application, I 'll think seriously +of Australia; but, of course, Mrs. D. must know nothing about it; for, +according to <i>her</i> notions, the boy ought to be Chamberlain to the +Queen, or Gold-stick at least. +</p> +<p> +I don't know whether I mentioned to you that Betty Cobb had entered the +holy bonds with a semi-civilized creature she picked up in the Black +Forest. The orang-outang is now a part of our household,—at least so +far as living at rack and manger at my cost,—though in what way to +employ him I have not the slightest notion. Do you think, if I could +manage to send him over to Ireland, that we could get him indicted +for any transportable offence? Ask Curtis about it; for I know he +did something of the kind once in the case of a natural son of Tony +Barker's, and the lad is now a judge, I believe, in Sydney. +</p> +<p> +Cary is quite well. I heard from her yesterday, and when I write, I 'll +be sure to send her your affectionate message. I don't mean to leave +this till I heat from you. So write immediately and believe me, +</p> +<p> +Very sincerely your friend, +</p> +<p> +Kenny James. +</p> +<a name="2H_4_0002"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + LETTER II. JAMES DODD TO ROBERT DOOLAN, ESQ., TRINITY COLLEGE, DUBLIN. +</h2> +<h3> + Bregenz. +</h3> +<p> +My dear Bob,—I had made up my mind not to write to you till we had +quitted this place, where our life has been of the "slowest;" but this +morning has brought a letter with a piece of good news which I cannot +defer imparting to you. It is a communication from the Under-Secretary +for Foreign Affairs to the governor, to say that I have been appointed +to something somewhere, and that I am to come over to London, and be +examined by somebody. Very vague all this, but I suppose it's the +style of Diplomacy, and one will get used to it. The real bore is the +examination, for George told "dad" that there was none, and, in fact, +that very circumstance it was which gave the peculiar value to the +"service." Tiverton tells me, however, he can make it "all safe;" +whether you "tip" the Secretary, or some of the underlings, I don't +know. Of course there is a way in all these things, for half the fellows +that pass are just as ignorant as your humble servant. +</p> +<p> +I am mainly indebted to Tiverton for the appointment, for he wrote to +everybody he could think of, and made as much interest as if it was +for himself. He tells me, in confidence, that the list of names down +is about six feet long, and actually wonders at the good fortune of my +success. From all I can learn, however, there is no salary at first, so +that the governor must "stump out handsome," for an Attaché is expected +to live in a certain style, keep horses, and, in fact, come it "rayther +strongish." In some respects, I should have preferred the army; but +then there are terrible drawbacks in colonial banishment, whereas in +Diplomacy you are at least stationed in the vicinity of a Court, which +is always something. +</p> +<p> +I wonder where I am to be gazetted for; I hope Naples, but even Vienna +would do. In the midst of our universal joy at my good fortune, it's not +a little provoking to see the governor pondering over all it will cost +for outfit, and wondering if the post be worth the gold lace on the +uniform. Happily for me, Bob, he never brought me up to any profession, +as it is called, and it is too late now to make me anything either in +law or physic. I say happily, because I see plainly enough that he 'd +refuse the present opportunity if he knew of any other career for me. +My mother does not improve matters by little jokes on his low tastes and +vulgar ambitions; and, in fact, the announcement has brought a good deal +of discussion and some discord amongst us. +</p> +<p> +I own to you, frankly, that once named to a Legation, I will do my +utmost to persuade the governor to go back to Ireland. In the first +place, nothing but a very rigid economy at Dodsborough will enable him +to make me a liberal allowance; and secondly, to have my family +prowling about the Legation to which I was attached would be perfectly +insufferable. I like to have my father and mother what theatrical +folk call "practicable," that is, good for all efficient purposes of +bill-paying, and such-like; but I shudder at the notion of being their +pioneer into fashionable life; and, indeed, I am not aware of any one +having carried his parent on his back since the days of Æneas. +</p> +<p> +I am obliged to send you a very brief despatch, for I 'm off to-morrow +for London, to make my bow at "F. O.," and kiss hands on my appointment. +I 'd have liked another week here, for the fishing has just come in, and +we killed yesterday, with two rods, eleven large, and some thirty small +trout. They are a short, thick-shouldered kind of fish, ready enough +to rise, but sluggish to play afterwards. The place is pretty, too; the +Swiss Alps at one side, and the Tyrol mountains at the other. Bregenz +itself stands well, on the very verge of the lake, and although not +ancient enough to be curious in architecture, has a picturesque air +about it. The people are as primitive as anything one can well fancy, +and wear a costume as ungracefully barbarous as any lover of nationality +could desire. Their waists are close under their arms, and the longest +petticoats I have yet seen finish at the knee! They affect, besides, +a round, low-crowned cap, like a fur turban, or else a great piece of +filigree sliver, shaped like a peacock's tail, and fastened to the back +of the head. Nature, it must be owned, has been somewhat ungenerous to +them; and with the peculiar advantages conferred on them by costume, +they are the ugliest creatures I 've ever set eyes on. +</p> +<p> +It is only just to remark that Mary Anne dissents from me in all this, +and has made various "studies" of them, which are, after all, not a whit +more flattering than my own description. As to a good-looking peasantry, +Bob, it's all humbug. It's only the well-to-do classes, in any country, +have pretensions to beauty. The woman of rank numbers amongst her charms +the unmistakable stamp of her condition. Even in her gait, like the +Goddess in Virgil, she displays her divinity. The pretty "bourgeoise" +has her peculiar fascination in the brilliant intelligence of her +laughing eye, and the sly archness of her witty mouth; but your peasant +beauty is essentially heavy and dull. It is of the earth, earthy; and +there is a bucolic grossness about the lips the very antithesis to the +pleasing. I 'm led to these remarks by the question in your last as to +the character of Continental physiognomy. Up to this, Bob, I have seen +nothing to compare with our own people, and you will meet more pretty +faces between Stephen's Green and the Rotunda than between Schaffhausen +and the sea. I 'm not going to deny that they "make up" better abroad, +but our boast is the raw material of beauty. The manufactured article we +cannot dispute with them. It would be, however, a great error to suppose +that the artistic excellence I speak of is a small consideration; on the +contrary, it is a most important one, and well deserving of deep thought +and reflection, and, I must say, that all our failures in the decorative +arts are as nothing to our blunders when attempting to adorn beauty. A +French woman, with a skin like an old drumhead, and the lower jaw of a +baboon, will actually "get herself up" to look better than many a really +pretty girl of our country, disfigured by unbecoming hairdressing, +ill-assorted colors, ill-put-on clothes, and that confounded walk, which +is a cross between the stride of a Grenadier and running in a sack! +</p> +<p> +With all our parade of Industrial Exhibitions and shows of National +Productions lately, nobody has directed his attention to this subject, +and, for <i>my</i> part, I 'd infinitely rather know that our female +population had imbibed some notions of dress and self-adornment from +their French neighbors, than that Glasgow could rival Genoa in velvet, +or that we beat Bohemia out of the field in colored glass. If the proper +study of mankind be man,—which, of course, includes woman,—we +are throwing a precious deal of time away on centrifugal pumps, +sewing-machines, and self-acting razors. If I ever get into Parliament, +Bob, and I don't see why I should not, when once fairly launched in the +Diplomatic line, I 'll move for a Special Commission, not to examine +into foreign railroads, or mines, or schools, or smelting-houses, but to +inquire into and report upon how the women abroad, with not a tenth of +the natural advantages, contrive to look,—I won't say better, but more +fascinating than our own,—and how it is that they convert something a +shade below plainness into features of downright pleasing expression! +</p> +<p> +Since this appointment has come, I have been working away to brush up my +French and German, which you will be surprised to hear is pretty +nearly where it was when we first came abroad. We English herd so +much together, and continue to follow our home habits and use our own +language wherever we happen to be, that it is not very easy to break +out of the beaten track. This observation applies only to the men of +the family, for our sisters make a most astonishing progress, under +the guidance of those mustachioed and well-whiskered gents they meet at +balls. The governor and my mother of course believe that I am as great +a linguist as Mezzofanti, if that be the fellow's name, and I shall try +and keep up the delusion to the last. It is not quite impossible I may +have more time for my studies here than I fancy, for "dad" has come +in, this moment, to say that he has n't got five shillings towards the +expenses of my journey to London, nor has he any very immediate prospect +of a remittance from Ireland. What a precious mess will it be if my +whole career in life is to be sacrificed for a shabby hundred or two! +The governor appears to have spent about three times as much as he +speculated on, and our affairs at this moment present as pleasant a +specimen of hopeless entanglement as a counsel in Bankruptcy could +desire. +</p> +<p> +I wish I was out of the ship altogether, Bob, and would willingly +adventure on the broad ocean of life in a punt, were it only my own. I +trust that by the time this reaches you her Majesty's gracious pleasure +will have numbered me amongst the servants of the Crown; but whether in +high or humble estate, believe me ever +</p> +<p> +Unalterably yours, +</p> +<p> +James Dodd. +</p> +<p> +P. S. My sister Cary has written to say she will be here to-night or +to-morrow; she is coming expressly to see me before I go; but from all +that I can surmise she need not have used such haste. What a bore it +will be if the governor should not be able to "stump out"! I'm in a +perfect fever at the very thought. +</p> +<a name="2H_4_0003"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + LETTER III. CAROLINE DODD TO MISS COX AT MISS MINCING'S ACADEMY, BLACK ROCK, IRELAND. +</h2> +<p> +My dear Miss Cox,—It would appear, from your last, that a letter of +mine to you must have miscarried; for I most distinctly remember having +written to you on the topics you allude to, and, so far as I was able, +answered all your kind inquiries about myself and my pursuits. Lest my +former note should ever reach you, I do not dare to go over again the +selfish narrative which would task even your friendship to peruse once. +</p> +<p> +I remained with my kind friend, Mrs. Morris, till three days ago, when I +came here to see my brother James, who has been promised some Government +employment, and is obliged to repair at once to London. Mamma terrified +me greatly by saying that he was to go to China or to India, so that I +hurried back to see and stay with him as much as I could before he +left us. I rejoice, however, to tell you that his prospects are in the +Diplomatic service, and he will be most probably named to a Legation in +some European capital. +</p> +<p> +He is a dear, kind-hearted boy; and although not quite untainted by +the corruptions which are more or less inseparable from this rambling +existence, is still as fresh in his affections, and as generous in +nature, as when he left home. Captain Morris, whose knowledge of life +is considerable, predicts most favorably of him, and has only one +misgiving,—the close intimacy he maintains with Lord George Tiverton. +Towards this young nobleman the Captain expresses the greatest distrust +and dislike; feelings that I really own seem to me to be frequently +tinctured by a degree of prejudice rather than suggested by reason. It +is true, no two beings can be less alike than they are. The one, rigid +and unbending in all his ideas of right, listening to no compromise, +submitting to no expediency, reserved towards strangers even to the +verge of stiffness, and proud from a sense that his humble station might +by possibility expose him to freedoms he could not reciprocate. The +other, all openness and candor, pushed probably to an excess, and not +unfrequently transgressing the barrier of an honorable self-esteem; +without the slightest pretension to principle of any kind, and as ready +to own his own indifference as to ridicule the profession of it by +another. Yet, with all this, kind and generous in all his impulses, ever +willing to do a good-natured thing; and, so far as I can judge, +even prepared to bear a friendly part at the hazard of personal +inconvenience. +</p> +<p> +Characters of this stamp are, as you have often observed to me, far more +acceptable to very young men than those more swayed by rigid rules of +right; and when they join to natural acuteness considerable practical +knowledge of life, they soon obtain a great influence over the less +gifted and less experienced. I see this in James; for, though not by +any means blind to the blemishes in Lord George's character, nor even +indifferent to them, yet is he submissive to every dictate of his will, +and an implicit believer in all his opinions. But why should I feel +astonished at this? Is not his influence felt by every member of the +family; and papa himself, with all his native shrewdness, strongly +disposed to regard his judgments as wise and correct? I remark this +the more because I have been away from home, and after an absence one +returns with a mind open to every new impression; nor can I conceal from +myself that many of the notions I now see adopted and approved of, are +accepted as being those popular in high society, and not because of +their intrinsic correctness. Had we remained in Ireland, my dear Miss +Cox, this had never been the case. There is a corrective force in the +vicinity of those who have known us long and intimately, who can measure +our pretensions by our station, and pronounce upon our mode of life from +the knowledge they have of our condition; and this discipline, if at +times severe and even unpleasant, is, upon the whole, beneficial to us. +Now, abroad, this wholesome—shall I call it—"surveillance" is +wanting altogether, and people are induced by its very absence to give +themselves airs, and assume a style quite above them. From that very +moment they insensibly adopt a new standard of right and wrong, and +substitute fashion and conventionality for purity and good conduct. I +'m sure I wish we were back in Dodsborough with all my heart! It is not +that there are not objects and scenes of intense interest around us here +on every hand. Even I can feel that the mind expands by the variety of +impressions that continue to pour in upon it. Still, I would not say +that these things may not be bought too dearly; and that if the price +they cost is discontent at our lot in life, a craving ambition to be +higher and richer, and a cold shrinking back from all of our own real +condition, they are unquestionably not worth the sacrifice. +</p> +<p> +To really enjoy the Continent it is not necessary—at least, for people +bred and brought up as we have been—to be very rich; on the contrary, +many—ay, and the greatest—advantages of Continental travel are open +to very small fortunes and very small ambitions. Scenery, climate, +inexpensive acquaintanceship, galleries, works of art, public libraries, +gardens, promenades, are all available. The Morrises have certainly much +less to live on than we have, and yet they have travelled over every +part of Europe, know all its cities well, and never found the cost of +living considerable. You will smile when I tell you that the single +secret for this is, not to cultivate English society. Once make up your +mind abroad to live with the people of the country, French, German, and +Italian,—and there is no class of these above the reach of well-bred +English,—and you need neither shine in equipage nor excel in a cook. +There is no pecuniary test of respectability abroad; partly because this +vulgarity is the offspring of a commercial spirit, which is, of course, +not the general characteristic, and partly from the fact that many +of the highest names have been brought down to humble fortunes by +the accidents of war and revolution, and poverty is, consequently, no +evidence of deficient birth. Our gorgeous notions of hospitality are +certainly very fine things, and well become great station and large +fortune, but are ruinous when they are imitated by inferior means and +humble incomes. Foreigners are quite above such vulgar mimicry; and +nothing is more common to hear than the avowal, "I am too poor to +do this; my fortune would not admit of that;" not uttered in a mock +humility, or with the hope of a polite incredulity, but in all the +unaffected simplicity with which one mentions a personal fact, to which +no shame or disgrace attaches. You may imagine, then, how unimpressively +fall upon the ear all those pompous announcements by which we travelling +English herald our high and mighty notions; the palaces we are about to +hire, the <i>fêtes</i> we are going to give, and the other splendors we mean +to indulge in. +</p> +<p> +I have read and re-read that part of your letter wherein you speak of +your wish to come and live abroad, so soon as the fruits of your life of +labor will enable you. Oh, my dear kind governess, with what emotion the +words filled me,—emotions very different from those you ever suspected +they would call up; for I bethought me how often I and others must have +added to that toilsome existence by our indolence, our carelessness, and +our wilfulness. In a moment there rose before me the anxieties you must +have suffered, the cares you must have endured, the hopes for those +who threw all their burdens upon <i>you</i>, and left to <i>you</i> the blame of +<i>their</i> shortcomings and the reproach of <i>their</i> insufficiency. +</p> +<p> +What rest, what repose would ever requite such labor! How delighted am +I to say that there are places abroad where even the smallest fortunes +will suffice. I profited by the permission you gave me to show your +letter to Mrs. Morris, and she gave me in return a list of places for +you to choose from, at any one of which you could live with comfort for +less than you speak of. Some are in Belgium, some in Germany, and some +in Italy. Think, for instance, of a small house on the "Meuse," in the +midst of the most beauteous scenery, and with a country teeming in every +abundance around you, for twelve pounds a year, and all the material of +life equally cheap in proportion. Imagine the habits of a Grand-Ducal +capital, where the Prime Minister receives three hundred per annum, and +spends two; where the admission to the theatre is fourpence, and you go +to a Court dinner on foot at four o'clock in the day, and sit out of an +evening with your work in a public garden afterwards. +</p> +<p> +Now, I know that in Ireland or Scotland, and perhaps in Wales too, +places might be discovered where all the ordinary wants of life would +not be dearer than here, but then remember that to live with this +economy at home, you subject yourself to all that pertains to a small +estate; you endure the barbarizing influences of a solitary life, or, +what is worse, the vulgarity of village society. The well-to-do classes, +the educated and refined, will not associate with you. Not so here. Your +small means are no barrier against your admission into the best circles; +you will be received anywhere. Your black silk gown will be "toilet" for +the "Minister's reception," your white muslin will be good enough for a +ball at Court! When the army numbers in its cavalry fifty hussars, and +one battalion for its infantry, the simple resident need never blush for +his humble retinue, nor feel ashamed that a maid-servant escorts him +to a Court entertainment with a lantern, or that a latch-key and a +lucifer-match do duty for a hall-porter and a chandelier! +</p> +<p> +One night—I was talking of these things—Captain Morris quoted a Latin +author to the effect "that poverty had no such heavy infliction as in +its power to make people ridiculous." The remark sounds at first an +unfeeling one, but there is yet a true and deep philosophy in it, for it +is in our own abortive and silly attempts to gloss over narrow fortune +that the chief sting of poverty resides, and the ridicule alluded to +is all of our making! The poverty of two thousand a year can be thus as +glaringly absurd, as ridiculous, as that of two hundred, and even more +so, since its failures are more conspicuous. +</p> +<p> +Now, had we been satisfied to live in this way, it is not alone that we +should have avoided debt and embarrassment, but we should really have +profited largely besides. I do not speak of the negative advantages of +not mingling with those it had been better to have escaped; but that in +the society of these smaller capitals there is, especially in Germany, a +highly cultivated and most instructive class, slightly pedantic, it +may be, but always agreeable and affable. The domesticity of Germany is +little known to us, since even their writers afford few glimpses of +it. There are no Bulwers nor Bozes nor Thackerays to show the play of +passion, nor the working of deep feeling around the family board and +hearth. The cares of fathers, the hopes of sons, the budding anxieties +of the girlish heart, have few chroniclers. How these people think and +act and talk at home, and in the secret circle of their families, we +know as little as we do of the Chinese. It may be that the inquiry would +require long and deep and almost microscopic study. Life with them is +not as with us, a stormy wave-tossed ocean; it is rather a calm and +landlocked bay. They have no colonial empires, no vast territories for +military ambition to revel in, nor great enterprise to speculate on. +There are neither gigantic schemes of wealth, nor gold-fields to tempt +them. Existence presents few prizes, and as few vicissitudes. The march +of events is slow, even, and monotonous, and men conform themselves to +the same measure! How, then, do they live,—what are their loves, their +hates, their ambitions, their crosses, their troubles, and their joys? +How are they moved to pity,—how stirred to revenge? I own to you I +cannot even fancy this. The German heart seems to me a clasped volume; +and even Goethe has but shown us a chance page or two, gloriously +illustrated, I acknowledge, but closed as quickly as displayed. +</p> +<p> +Is Marguerite herself a type? I wish some one would tell me. Is that +childlike gentleness, that trustful nature, that resistless, passionate +devotion, warring with her piety, and yet heightened by it,—are these +German traits? They seem so; and yet do these Fräuleins that I see, with +yellow hair, appear capable of this headlong and impetuous love. Faust, +I 'm convinced, is true to his nationality. He loves like a German,—and +is mad, and mystical, fond, dreamy, and devoted by turns. +</p> +<p> +But all these are not what I look for. I want a family picture—a +Teerburgh or a Mieris—painted by a German Dickens, or touched by a +native Titmarsh. So far as I have read of it, too, the German Drama +does not fill up this void; the comedies of the stage present nothing +identical of the people, and yet it appears to me they are singularly +good materials for portraiture. The stormy incidents of university life, +its curious vicissitudes, and its strange, half-crazed modes of thought +blend into the quiet realities of after-life, and make up men such as +one sees nowhere else. The tinge of romance they have contracted in +boyhood is never thoroughly washed out of their natures, and although +statecraft may elevate them to be grave privy councillors, or good +fortune select them for its revenue officers, they cherish the old +memories of Halle and Heidelberg, and can grow valorous over the shape +of a rapier, or pathetic about the color of Fräulein Lydchen's hair. +</p> +<p> +It is doubtless very presumptuous in <i>me</i> to speak thus of a people of +whom I have seen so little; but bear in mind, my dear Miss Cox, that I'm +rather giving Mrs. Morris's experiences than my own, and, in some cases, +in her own very words. She has a very extensive acquaintance in Germany, +and corresponds, besides, with many very distinguished persons of that +country. Perhaps private letters give a better insight into the habits +of a people than most other things, and if so, one should pronounce very +favorably of German character from the specimens I have seen. There are +everywhere, great truthfulness, great fairness; a willingness to concede +to others a standard different from their own; a hopeful tone in all +things, and extreme gentleness towards women and children. Of rural +life, and of scenery, too, they speak with true feeling-; and, as Sir +Walter said of Goethe, "they understand trees." +</p> +<p> +You will wish to hear something of Bregenz, where we are staying at +present, and I have little to say beyond its situation in a little +bay on the Lake of Constance, begirt with high mountains, amidst which +stretches a level flat, traversed by the Rhine. The town itself is +scarcely old enough to be picturesque, though from a distance on the +lake the effect is very pleasing. A part is built upon a considerable +eminence, the ascent to which is by a very steep street, impassable save +on foot; at the top of this is an old gateway, the centre of which is +ornamented by a grotesque attempt at sculpture, representing a female +figure seated on a horse, and, to all seeming, traversing the clouds. +The phenomenon is explained by a legend, that tells how a Bregenzer +maiden, some three and a half centuries ago, had gone to seek her +fortune in Switzerland, and becoming domesticated there in a family, +lived for years among the natural enemies of her people. Having learned +by an accident one night, that an attack was meditated on her native +town, she stole away unperceived, and, taking a horse, swam the current +of the Rhine, and reached Bregenz in time to give warning of the +threatened assault, and thus rescued her kinsmen and her birthplace from +sack and slaughter. This is the act commemorated by the sculpture, and +the stormy waves of the river are doubtless typified in what seem to be +clouds. +</p> +<p> +There is, however, a far more touching memory of the heroism preserved +than this; for each night, as the watchman goes his round of the +village, when he comes to announce midnight, he calls aloud the name of +her who at the same dead hour, three centuries back, came to wake the +sleeping town and tell them of their peril. I do not know of a monument +so touching as this! No bust nor statue, no group of marble or bronze, +can equal in association the simple memory transmitted from age to age, +and preserved ever fresh and green in the hearts of a remote generation. +As one thinks of this, the mind at once reverts to the traditions of +the early Church, and insensibly one is led to feel the beauty of those +transmitted words and acts, which, associated with place, and bound up +with customs not yet obsolete, gave such impressive truthfulness to +all the story of our faith. At the same time, it is apparent that the +current of tradition cannot long run pure. Even now there are those who +scoff at the grateful record of the Bregenzer maiden! Where will her +memory be five years after the first railroad traverses the valley of +the Vorarlberg? The shrill whistle of the "express" is the death-note to +all the romance of life! +</p> +<p> +Some deplore this, and assert that, with this immense advancement of +scientific discovery, we are losing the homely virtues of our fathers. +Others pretend that we grow better as we grow wiser, and that increased +intelligence is but another form of enlarged goodness. To myself, the +great change seems to be that every hour of this progress diminishes the +influences of woman, and that, as men grow deeper and deeper engaged in +the pursuits of wealth, the female voice is less listened to, and its +counsels less heeded and cared for. +</p> +<p> +But why do I dare to hazard such conjectures to you, so far more capable +of judging, so much more able to solve questions like this! +</p> +<p> +I am sorry not to be able to speak more confidently about my music; but +although Germany is essentially the land of song, there is less domestic +cultivation of the art than I had expected; or, rather, it is made less +a matter of display. Your mere acquaintances seldom or never will sing +for your amusement; your friends as rarely refuse you. To our notions, +also, it seems strange that men are more given to the art here than +women. The Frau is almost entirely devoted to household cares. Small +fortunes and primitive habits seem to require this, and certainly no one +who has ever witnessed the domestic peace of a German family could find +fault with the system. +</p> +<p> +What has most struck me of all here, is the fact that while many of the +old people retain a freshness of feeling, and a warm susceptibility that +is quite remarkable, the children are uniformly grave, even to sadness. +The bold, dashing, half-reckless boy; the gay, laughing, high-spirited +girl,—have no types here. The season of youth, as we under-stand it, +in all its jocund merriment, its frolics, and its wildness, has no +existence amongst them. The child of ten seems weighted with the +responsibilities of manhood; the little sister carries her keys about, +and scolds the maids with all the semblance of maternal rigor. Would +that these liquid blue eyes had a more laughing look, and that pretty +mouth could open to joyous laughter! +</p> +<p> +With all these drawbacks, it is still a country that I love to live +in, and should leave with regret; besides that, I have as yet seen but +little of it, and its least remarkable parts. +</p> +<p> +Whither we go hence, and when, are points that I cannot inform you on. +I am not sure, indeed, if any determination on the subject has been come +to. Mamma and Mary Anne seem most eager for Rome and Naples; but though +I should anticipate a world of delight and interest in these cities, I +am disposed to think that they would prove far too expensive,—at least +with our present tastes and habits. +</p> +<p> +Wherever my destiny, however, I shall not cease to remember my dear +governess, nor to convey to her, in all the frankness of my affection, +every thought and feeling of her sincerely attached +</p> +<p> +Caroline Dodd. +</p> +<a name="2H_4_0004"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + LETTER IV. MRS. DODD TO MRS. MARY GALLAGHER, DODSBOROUGH +</h2> +<h3> + Bregenz. +</h3> +<p> +My dear Molly,—It 's well I ever got your last letter, for it seems +there's four places called Freyburg, and they tried the three wrong +ones first, and I believe they opened and read it everywhere it stopped. +"Much good may it do them," says I, "if they did!" They know at +least the price of wool in Kinnegad, and what boneens is bringing in +Ballinasloe, not to mention the news you tell of Betty Walsh! I thought +I cautioned you before not to write anything like a secret when the +letter came through a foreign post, seeing that the police reads +everything, and if there's a word against themselves, you're ordered +over the frontier in six hours. That's liberty, my dear! But that is +not the worst of it, for nobody wants the dirty spalpeens to read about +their private affairs, nor to know the secrets of their families. I must +say, you are very unguarded in this respect, and poor Betty's mishap is +now known to the Emperor of Prussia and the King of Sweden, just as well +as to Father Luke and the Coadjutor; and as they say that these courts +are always exchanging gossip with each other, it will be back in England +by the time this reaches you. Let it be a caution to you in future, +or, if you must allude to these events, do it in a way that can't be +understood, as you may remark they do in the newspapers. I wish you +would n't be tormenting me about coming home and living among my own +people, as you call it. Let them pay up the arrears first Molly, before +they think of establishing any claim of the kind on your humble servant. +But the fact is, my dear, the longer you live abroad, the more you like +it; and going back to the strict rules and habits of England, after it, +is for all the world like putting on a strait-waistcoat. If you only +heard foreigners the way they talk of us, and we all the while thinking +ourselves the very pink of the creation! +</p> +<p> +But of all the things they're most severe upon is Sunday. The manner +we pass the day, according to their notions, is downright barbarism. +No diversion of any kind, no dancing, no theatres; shops shut up, and +nothing legal but intoxication. I always tell them that the fault isn't +ours, that it's the Protestants that do these things; for, as Father +Maher says, "they 'd put a bit of crape over the blessed sun if they +could." But between ourselves, Molly, even we Catholics are greatly +behind the foreigners on all matters of civilization. It may be out of +fear of the others, but really we don't enjoy ourselves at all like the +French or the Germans. Even in the little place I'm writing now, there's +more amusement than in a big city at home; and if there's anything I 'm +convinced of at all, Molly, it's this: that there is no keeping people +out of great wickedness except by employing them in small sins; and, let +me tell you, there's not a political economist that ever I heard of has +hit upon the secret. +</p> +<p> +We are all in good health, and except that K. I. is in one of his +habitual moods of discontent and grumbling, there's not anything +particular the matter with us. Indeed, if it was n't for his natural +perverseness of disposition, he ought n't to be cross and disagreeable, +for dear James has just been appointed to an elegant situation, on what +they call the "Diplomatic Service." When the letter first came, I was +almost off in a faint. I did n't know where it might be they might be +sending the poor child,—perhaps to Great Carey-o, or the Hy-menoal +Mountains of India; but Lord George says that it's at one of the great +Courts of Europe he's sure to be; and, indeed, with his figure and +advantages, that's the very thing to suit him. He's a picture of a +young man, and the very image of poor Tom McCarthy, that was shot at +Bally-healey the year of the great frost. If he does n't make a great +match, I 'm surprised at it; and the young ladies must be mighty +different in their notions from what I remember them, besides. Getting +him ready and fitting him out has kept us here; for whenever there's a +call upon K. I.'s right-hand pocket, he buttons up the left at once; so +that, till James is fairly off, there 's no hope for us of getting away +from this. That once done, however, I'm determined to pass the winter in +Italy. As Lord George says, coming abroad and not crossing the Alps, +is like going to a dinner-party and getting up after the "roast,"— +"you have all the solids of the entertainment, but none of the light and +elegant trifles that aid digestion, and engage the imagination."'It's +a beautiful simile, Molly, and very true besides; for, after all, +the heart requires more than mere material enjoyments! You 're maybe +surprised to bear that Lord G. is back here; and so was I to see him. +What his intentions are, I 'm unable to say; but it's surely Mary Anne +at all events; and as she knows the world well, I 'm very easy in my +mind about her. As I told K. I. last night, "Abuse the Continent as you +like, K. I., waste all your bad words about the cookery and the morals +and the light wines and women, but there 's one thing you can't deny to +it,—there's no falling in love abroad,—that I maintain!" And when +you come to think of it, I believe that's the real evil of Ireland. +Everybody there falls in love, and the more surely when they haven't +a sixpence to marry on! All the young lawyers without briefs, all the +young doctors in dispensaries, every marching lieutenant living on his +pay, every young curate with seventy pounds a year,—in fact, +Molly, every case of hopeless poverty,—all what the newspapers call +heartrending distress,—is sure to have a sweetheart! When you think of +the misery that it brings on a single family, you may imagine the ruin +that it entails on a whole country. And I don't speak in ignorance, Mrs. +Gallagher; I 've lived to see the misery of even a tincture of love in +my own unfortunate fate. Not that indeed I ever went far in my feelings +towards K. I., but my youth and inexperience carried me away; and see +where they 've left me! Now that's an error nobody commits abroad; and +as to any one being married according to their inclination, it's quite +unheard of; and if they have less love, they have fewer disappointments, +and that same is something! +</p> +<p> +Talking of marriage brings me to Betty,—I suppose I mustn't say Betty +Cobb, now that she calls herself the Frau Taddy. Hasn't she made a nice +business of it! "They're fighting," as K. I. says, "like man and wife, +already!" The creature is only half human; and when he has gorged +himself with meat and drink, he sometimes sleeps for twenty-four, or +maybe thirty hours; and if there's not something ready for him when he +wakes up, his passion is dreadful. I 'm afraid of my life lest K. I. +should see the bill for his food, and told the landlord only to put down +his four regular meals, and that I 'd pay the rest, which I have managed +to do, up to this, by disposing of K. I.'s wearing-apparel. And would +you believe it that the beast has already eaten a brown surtout, two +waistcoats, and three pairs of kerseymere shorts and gaiters, not to say +a spencer that he had for his lunch, and a mackintosh cape that he took +the other night before going to bed! Betty is always crying from his bad +usage, and consequently of no earthly use to any one; but if a word is +said against him, she flies out in a rage, and there's no standing her +tongue! +</p> +<p> +Maybe, however, it's all for the best; for without a little excitement +to my nervous system, I 'd have found this place very dull. Dr. Morgan +Moore, that knew the M'Carthy constitution better than any one living, +used to say, "Miss Jemima requires movement and animation;" and, indeed, +I never knew any place agree with me like the "Sheds" of Clontarf. +</p> +<p> +Mary Anne keeps telling me that this is now quite vulgar, and that your +people of first fashion are never pleased with anybody or anything; +and whenever a place or a party or even an individual is peculiarly +tiresome, she says, "Be sure, then, that it's quite the mode." That is +possibly the reason why Lord George recommends us passing a few weeks +on the Lake of Comus; and if it's the right thing to do, I 'm ready and +willing; but I own to you, Molly, I 'd like a little sociality, if it +was only for a change. At any rate, Comus is in Italy; and if we once +get there, it will go far with me if I don't see the Pope. I 'm obliged +to be brief this time, for the post closes here whenever the postmaster +goes to dinner; and to-day I 'm told he dines early. I 'll write you, +however, a full and true account of us all next week, till when, believe +me your ever affectionate and attached friend, +</p> +<p> +Jemima Dodd. +</p> +<p> +P. S. Mary Anne has just reconciled me to the notion of Comus. It is +really the most aristocratic place in Europe, and she remarks that it +is exactly the spot to make excellent acquaintances in for the ensuing +winter; for you see, Molly, that is really what one requires in summer +and autumn, and the English that live much abroad study this point +greatly. But, indeed, there's a wonderful deal to be learned before one +can say that they know life on the Continent; and the more I think +of it, the less am I surprised at the mistakes and blunders of our +travelling countrymen,—errors, I am proud to say, that we have escaped +up to this. +</p> +<a name="2H_4_0005"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + LETTER V. KENNY JAMES DODD TO THOMAS PURCELL, ESQ., OF THE GRANGE, BRUFF +</h2> +<h3> + Bregenz. +</h3> +<p> +My dear Tom,—Although it is improbable I shall be able to despatch +this by the post of to-day, I take the opportunity of a few moments +of domestic peace to answer your last—I wish I could say +agreeable—letter. It is not that your intentions are not everything +that consists with rectitude and honor, or that your sentiments are not +always those of a right-minded man, but I beg to observe to you, Tom +Pur-cell, in all the candor of a five-and-forty years' friendship, that +you have about the same knowledge of life and the world that a toad has +of Lord Rosse's telescope. +</p> +<p> +We have come abroad for an object, which, whether attainable or not, is +not now the question; but if there be any prospect whatever of realizing +it,—confound the phrase, but I have no other at hand,—it is surely +by an ample and liberal style of living, such as shall place us on a +footing of equality with the best society, and make the Dodds eligible +anywhere. +</p> +<p> +I suppose you admit that much. I take it for granted that even bucolic +dulness is capable of going so far. Well, then, what do you mean by your +incessant appeals to "retrenchment" and "economy"? Don't you see that +you make yourself just as preposterous as Cobden, when he says, cut down +the estimates, reduce the navy, and dismiss your soldiers, but still +be a first-rate power. Tie your hands behind your back, but cry out, +"Beware of me, for I'm dreadful when I'm angry." +</p> +<p> +You quote me against myself; you bring up my old letters, like Hansard, +against me, and say that all our attempts have been failures; but +without calling you to order for referring "to what passed in another +place," I will reply to you on your own grounds. If we have failed, it +has been because our resources did not admit of our maintaining to the +end what we had begun in splendor,—that our means fell short of our +requirements,—that, in fact, with a well-chosen position and picked +troops, we lost the battle only for want of ammunition, having fired +away all our powder in the beginning of the engagement. Whose fault was +<i>that</i>, I beg to ask? Can the Commissary-General Purcell come clear out +of <i>that</i> charge? +</p> +<p> +I know your hair-splitting habit; I at once anticipate your reply. An +agent and a commissary are two very different things! And just as flatly +I tell you, you are wrong, and that, rightly considered, the duties of +both are precisely analogous, and that a general commanding an army, and +an Irish landlord travelling on the Continent, present a vast number of +points of similitude and resemblance. In the one case as in the other, +supplies are indispensable; come what will, the forces must be fed, +and if it it would be absurd for the general to halt in his march and +inquire into all the difficulties of providing stores, it would be +equally preposterous for the landlord to arrest his career by going +into every petty grievance of his tenantry, and entering into a minute +examination of the state of every cottier on his laud. Send the rations, +Tom, and I 'll answer for the campaign. I don't mean to say that +there are not some hardships attendant upon this. I know that to raise +contributions an occasional severity must be employed; but is the +fate of a great engagement to be jeopardized for the sake of such +considerations? No, no, Tom. Even your spirit will recoil from such an +admission as this! +</p> +<p> +It is only fair to mention that these are not merely my own sentiments. +Lord George Tiverton, to whom I happened to show your letter, was +really shocked at the contents. I don't wish to offend you, Tom, but the +expression he used was, "It is fortunate for your friend Purcell that he +is not <i>my</i> agent" I will not repeat what he said about the management +of English landed property, but it is obvious that our system is not +their system, and that such a thing as a landlord in <i>my</i> position is +actually unheard of. "If Ireland were subject to earthquakes," said he, +"if the arable land were now and then covered over ten feet deep with +lava, I could understand your agent's arguments; but wanting these +causes, they are downright riddles to me." +</p> +<p> +He was most anxious to obtain possession of your letter; and I learned +from Mary Anne that he really meant to use it in the House, and show you +up bodily as one of the prominent causes of Irish misery. I have saved +you from this exposure, but I really cannot spare you some of the +strictures your conduct calls for. +</p> +<p> +I must also observe to you that there is what the Duke used to call "a +terrible sameness" about your letters. The potatoes are always going to +rot, the people always going to leave. It rains for ten weeks at a time, +and if you have three fine days you cry out that the country is +ruined by drought. Just for sake of a little variety, can't you take +a prosperous tone for once, instead of "drawing my attention," as you +superciliously phrase it, to the newspaper announcement about "George +Davis and other petitioners, and the lands of Ballyclough, Kiltimaon, +and Knocknaslat-tery, being part of the estates of James Kenny Dodd, +Esq., of Dodsborough." I have already given you my opinion about +that Encumbered Estates Court, and I see no reason for changing it. +Confiscation is a mild name for its operation. What Ireland really +wanted was a loan fund,—a good round sum, say three and a half or +four millions, lent out on reasonable security, but free from all +embarrassing conditions. Compel every proprietor to plant so many +potatoes for the use of the poor, and get rid of those expensive +absurdities called "Unions," with all the lazy, indolent officials; do +that, and we might have a chance of prospering once more. +</p> +<p> +It makes me actually sick to hear you, an Irishman born and bred, +repeating all that English balderdash about "a cheap and indisputable +title." and so forth. Do you remember about four-and-twenty years ago, +Tom, when I wanted to breach a place for a window in part of the old +house at Dodsborough, and Hackett warned me that if I touched a stone of +it I 'd maybe have the whole edifice come tumbling about my ears. Don't +you see the analogy between that and our condition as landlords, and +that our real security lay in the fact that nobody could dare to breach +us? Meddle with us once, and who could tell where the ruin would fall! +So long as the system lasted we were safe, Tom. Now, your Encumbered +Court, with its parliamentary title, has upset all that security; and +that's the reason of all the distress and misfortune that have overtaken +us. +</p> +<p> +I think, after the specimen of my opinions, I 'll hear no more of your +reproaches about my "growing indifference to home topics," my "apparent +apathy regarding Ireland," and other similar reflections in your +last letter. Forget my country, indeed! Does a man ever forget the +cantharides when he has a blister on his back? If I 'm warm, I 'm sorry +for it; but it 's your own fault, Tom Purcell. You know me since I was +a child, and understand my temper well; and whatever it was once, it +hasn't improved by conjugal felicity. +</p> +<p> +And now for the Home Office. James started last night for London, to +go through whatever formalities there may be before receiving his +appointment. What it is to be, or where, I have not an idea; but I cling +to the hope that when they see the lad, and discover his utter ignorance +on all subjects, it will be something very humble, and not requiring a +sixpence from me. All that I have seen of the world shows me that the +higher you look for your children the more they cost you; and for that +reason, if I had my choice, I 'd rather have him a gauger than in the +Grenadier Guards. Even as it is, the outfit for this journey has run +away with no small share of your late remittance, and now that we +have come to the end of the M'Carthy legacy,—the last fifty was +"appropriated" by James before starting,—it will require all the +financial skill you can command to furnish me with sufficient means for +our new campaign. +</p> +<p> +Yes, Tom, we are going to Italy. I have discussed the matter so long, +and so fully argued it in every shape, artistical, philosophical, +economical, and moral, that I verily believe that our dialogues would +furnish a very respectable manual to Trans-Alpine travellers; and if I +am not a convert to the views of my opponents, I am so far vanquished in +the controversy as to give in. Lord George put the matter, I must say, +very strongly before me. "To turn your steps homeward from the Alps," +said he, "is like the act of a man who, having dressed for an evening +party and ascended the stairs, wheels round at the door of the +drawing-room, and quits the house. All your previous knowledge of the +Continent, so costly and so difficult to attain, is about at length to +become profitable; that insight into foreign life and habits which you +have arrived at by study and observation, is now about to be available. +Italy is essentially the land of taste, elegance, and refinement; and +there will all the varied gifts and acquirements of your accomplished +family be appreciated." Besides this, Tom, he showed me that the +"Snobs," as he politely designated them, are all "Cis-Alpine;" strictly +confining themselves to the Rhine and Switzerland, and never descending +the southern slopes of the Alps. According to his account, therefore, +the climate of Italy is not more marked by superiority than the tone of +its society. There all is polished, elegant, and refined; and if the +men be "not all brave, and the women all virtuous," it is because "their +moral standard is one more in accordance with the ancient traditions, +the temper, and the instincts of the people." I quote you his words +here, because very possibly they may be more intelligible to you than +to myself. At all events, one thing is quite clear,—we ought to go and +judge for ourselves, and to this resolve have we come. Tiverton—without +whom we should be actually helpless—has arranged the whole affair, and, +really, with a regard to economy that, considering his habits and his +station, can only be attributed to a downright feeling of friendship +for us. By a mere accident he hit upon a villa at Como, for a mere +trifle,—he won't tell me the sum, but he calls it a "nothing,"—and +now he has, with his habitual good luck, chanced upon a return carriage +going to Milan, the driver of which horses our carriage, and takes the +servants with him, for very little more than the keep of his beasts on +the road. This piece of intelligence will tickle every stingy fibre in +your economical old heart, and at last shall I know you to mutter, "K. +I. is doing the prudent thing." +</p> +<p> +Tiverton himself says, "It's not exactly the most elegant mode of +travelling; but as the season is early, and the Splugen a pass seldom +traversed, we shall slip down to Como unobserved, and save some forty +or fifty 'Naps.' without any one being the wiser." Mrs. D. would, +of course, object if she had the faintest suspicion that it was +inexpensive; but "my Lord," who seems to read her like a book, has told +her that it is the very mode in which all the aristocracy travel, and +that by a happy piece of fortune we have secured the vetturino that took +Prince Albert to Rome, and the Empress of Russia to Palermo! +</p> +<p> +He has, or he is to find, four horses for our coach, and three for +his own; we are to take the charge of bridges, barriers, rafts, and +"remounts," and give him, besides, five Napoleons <i>per diem</i>, and a +"buona mano," or gratuity, of three more, if satisfied, at the end of +the journey. Now, nothing could be more economical than this; for we are +a large party, and with luggage enough to fill a ship's jolly-boat. +</p> +<p> +You see, therefore, what it is to have a shrewd and intelligent friend. +You and I might have walked the main street of Bregenz till our shoes +were thin, before we discovered that the word "Gelegenheit," chalked up +on the back-leather of an old calèche, meant "A return conveniency to be +had cheap." The word is a German one, and means "Opportunity:" and ah! +my dear Tom, into what a strange channel does it entice one's thoughts! +What curious reflections come across the mind as we think of all our +real opportunities in this world, and how little we did of them! Not but +there might be a debit side to the account, too, and that some two or +three may have escaped us that it was just as well we let pass! +</p> +<p> +We intended to have left this to-morrow, but Mrs. D. won't travel on +a Friday. "It's an unlucky day," she says, and maybe she's right. If I +don't mistake greatly, it was on a Friday I was married; but of course +this is a reminiscence I keep to myself. This reminds me of the question +in your postscript, and to which I reply: "Not a bit of it; nothing of +the kind. So far as I see, Tiverton feels a strong attachment to James, +but never even notices the girls. I ought to add that this is not Mrs. +D.'s opinion; and she is always flouncing into my dressing-room, with +a new discovery of a look that he gave Mary Anne, or a whisper that he +dropped into Cary's ear. Mothers would be a grand element in a detective +police, if they did n't now and then see more than was in sight; but +that's their failing, Tom. The same generous zeal which they employ +in magnifying their husbands' faults helps them to many another +exaggeration. Now Mrs. D. is what she calls fully persuaded—in other +words, she has some shadowy suspicions—that Lord George has formed a +strong attachment to one or other of her daughters, the only doubtful +point being which of them is to be my Lady." +</p> +<p> +Shall I confess to you that I rather cherish the notion than seek to +disabuse her of it, and for this simple reason: whenever she is in +full cry after grandeur, whether in the shape of an acquaintance, an +invitation, or a match for the girls, she usually gives me a little +peace and quietness. The peerage, "God bless our old nobility," acts +like an anodyne on her. +</p> +<p> +I give you, therefore, both sides of the question, repeating once more +my own conviction that Lord G. has no serious intentions, to use the +phrase maternal, whatever. And now to your second query: If not, is it +prudent to encourage his intimacy? Why, Tom Purcell, just bethink you +for a moment, and see to what a strange condition would your theory, if +acted on, resolve all the inhabitants of the globe. Into one or other +category they must go infallibly. "Either they want to marry one of the +Dodds, or they don't." Now, though the fact is palpable enough, it is +for all purposes of action a most embarrassing one; and if I proceed to +make use of it, I shall either be doomed to very tiresome acquaintances, +or a life of utter solitude and desertion. +</p> +<p> +Can't a man like your society, your dinners, your port, your jokes, and +your cigars, but he must perforce marry one of your daughters? Is your +house to be like a rat-trap, and if a fellow puts his head in must he be +caught? I don't like the notion at all; and not the less that it rather +throws a slight over certain convivial gifts and agreeable qualities for +which, once upon a time at least, I used to have some reputation. As to +Tiverton, I like <i>him</i>, and I have a notion that he likes <i>me</i>, We suit +each other as well as it is possible for two men bred, born, and brought +up so perfectly unlike. We both have seen a great deal of the world, or +rather of two worlds, for <i>his</i> is not <i>mine</i>. At the same time, every +remark he makes—and all his observations show me that mankind is +precisely the same thing everywhere, and that it is exactly with the +same interests, the same impulses, and the same passions my Lord bets +his thousands at "Crocky's" that Billy Healey or Father Tom ventures his +half-crown at the Pig and Pincers, in Bruff. I used to think that what +with races, elections, horse-fairs, and the like, I had seen my share of +rascality or roguery; but, compared to my Lord's experiences, I might be +a babe in the nursery. There is n't a dodge—not a piece of knavery that +was ever invented—he doesn't know. Trickery and deception of every kind +are all familiar to him, and, as he says himself, he only wants a few +weeks in a convict settlement to put the finish on his education. +</p> +<p> +You 'd fancy, from what I say, that he must be a cold, misanthropic, +suspectful fellow, with an ill-natured temper, and a gloomy view of +everybody and everything. Far from it, his whole theory of life is +benevolent; and his maxim, to believe every one honorable, trustworthy, +and amiable. I see the half-cynical smile with which you listen to this, +and I already know the remark that trembles on your lip. You would +say that such a code cuts both ways, and that a man who pronounces so +favorably of his fellows almost secures thereby a merciful verdict on +himself. In fact, that he who passes base money can scarcely refuse, +now and then, to accept a bad halfpenny in change. Well, Tom, I 'll not +argue the case with you, for if not myself a disciple of this creed, +I have learned to think that there are very few, indeed, who are +privileged to play censor upon their acquaintances, and that there is +always the chance that when you are occupied looking at your neighbor +drifting on a lee shore, you may bump on a rock yourself. +</p> +<p> +You said in your last that you thought me more lax than I used to be +about right and wrong,—"less strait-laced," you were polite enough to +call it; and with an equal urbanity you ascribed this change in me to +the habits of the Continent. I am proud to say "Guilty" to the charge, +and I believe you are right as to the cause. Yes, Tom, the tone of +society abroad is eminently merciful, and it must needs be a bad case +where there are no attenuating circumstances. So much the worse, say +you; where vice is leniently looked on, it will be sure to flourish. To +which I answer, Show me where it does not! Is it in the modern Babylon, +is it in moral Scotland, or drab-colored Washington? On my conscience, I +don't believe there is more of wickedness in a foreign city than a +home one; the essential difference being that we do wrong with a +consciousness of our immorality; whereas the foreigner has a strong +impression that after all it's only a passing frailty, and that human +nature was not ever intended to be perfect. Which system tends most to +corrupt a people, and which creates more hopeless sinners, I leave to +you, and others as fond of such speculations, to ponder over. +</p> +<p> +Another charge—for your letter has as many counts as an +indictment—another you make against me is that I seem as if I was +beginning to like—or, as you modestly phrase it—as if I was getting +more reconciled to the Continent. Maybe I am, now that I have learned +how to qualify the light wines with a little brandy, and to make my +dinner of the eight or nine, instead of the two-and-thirty dishes they +serve up to you; and since I have trained myself to walk the length of +a street, in rain or sunshine, without my hat, and have attained to the +names of the cards at whist in a foreign tongue, I believe I do feel +more at home here than at first; but still I am far, very far, in arrear +of the knowledge that a man bred and born abroad would possess at my +age. To begin, Tom: He would be a perfect cook; you couldn't put a clove +of garlic too little, or an olive too much, without his detecting it in +the dish. Secondly, he would be curious in snuffs, and a dead hand at +dominos; then he would be deep in the private histories of the ballet, +and tell you the various qualities of short-draperied damsels that had +figured on the boards for the last thirty years. These, and such-like, +would be the consolations of his declining years; and of these I know +absolutely next to nothing. Who knows, however, but I may improve? The +world is a wonderful schoolmaster, and if Mrs. D. is to be believed, I +am an apt scholar whenever the study is of an equivocal kind. +</p> +<p> +We hope to spend the late autumn at Como, and then step down into some +of the cities of the South for the winter months. The approved plan is +Florence till about the middle of January, Rome till the beginning +of Lent, then Naples till the Holy Week, whence back again for the +ceremonies. After that, northward wherever you please. All this sounds +like a good deal of locomotion, and, consequently, of expense; but Lord +G. says, "Just leave it to <i>me</i>, I'll be your courier;" and as he not +only performs that function, but unites with it that of banker,—he can +get anything discounted at any moment,—I am little disposed to depose +him from his office. Now no more complaints that I have not replied to +you about this, that, and t' other, not informed you about our future +movements, nor given you any hint as to our plans: you know everything +about us, at least so far as it is known to your +</p> +<p> +Very sincere friend, +</p> +<p> +Kenny I. Dodd. +</p> +<p> +As I mentioned in the beginning, I am too late for the post, so I 'll +keep this open if anything should occur to me before the next mail. +</p> +<p> +The Inn, Splugen, Monday. +</p> +<p> +I thought this was already far on its way to you; but, to my great +surprise, on opening my writing-desk this morning, I discovered it +there still. The truth is, I grow more absent, and what the French call +"distracted," every day; and it frequently happens that I forget some +infernal bill or other, till the fellow knocks at the door with "the +notice." Here we are, at a little inn on the very top of the Alps. +We arrived yesterday, and, to our utter astonishment, found ourselves +suddenly in a land of snow and icebergs. The whole way from Bregenz the +season was a mellow autumn: some of the corn was still standing, but +most was cut, and the cattle turned out over the stubble; the trees were +in full leaf, and the mountain rivulets were clear and sparkling, for no +rain had fallen for some time back. It was a picturesque road and full +of interest in many ways. From Coire we made a little excursion across +the Rhine to a place called Ragatz,—a kind of summer resort for +visitors who come to bathe and drink the waters of Pfeffers, one of +the most extraordinary sights I ever beheld. These baths are built in +a cleft of the mountain, about a thousand feet in depth, and scarcely +thirty wide in many parts; the sides of the precipices are straight as a +wall, and only admit of a gleam of the sun when perfectly vertical. The +gloom and solemnity of the spot, its death-like stillness and shade, +even at noonday, are terribly oppressive. Nor is the sadness dispelled +by the living objects of the picture,—Swiss, Germans, French, and +Italians, swathed in flannel dressing-gowns and white dimity cerements, +with nightcaps and slippers, steal along the gloomy corridors and the +gloomier alleys, pale, careworn, and cadaverous. They come here for +health, and their whole conversation is sickness. Now, however consoling +it may be to an invalid to find a recipient of his sorrows, the price +of listening in turn is a tremendous infliction. Nor is the character of +the scene such as would probably suggest agreeable reflections; had it +been the portico to the nameless locality itself, it could not possibly +be more dreary and sorrow-stricken. Now, whatever virtues the waters +possess, is surely antagonized by all this agency of gloom and +depression; and except it be as a preparation for leaving the world +without regret, this place seems to be marvellously ill adapted for its +object. It appears to me, however, that foreigners run into the greatest +extremes in these matters; a sick man must either live in a perpetual +Vauxhall of fireworks, music, dancing, dining, and gambling, as at +Baden, or be condemned to the worse than penitentiary diet and prison +discipline of Pfeffers! Surely there must be some halting-place between +the ball-room and the cloister, or some compromise of costume between +silk stockings and bare feet! But really, to a thinking, reasonable +being, it appears very distressing that you must either dance out of the +world to Strauss's music, or hobble miserably out of life to the sound +of the falling waters of Pfeffers. +</p> +<p> +Does it not sound, also, very oddly to our free-trade notions of malady, +that the doctor of these places is appointed by the State; that without +his sanction and opinion of your case, you must neither bathe nor drink; +that no matter how satisfied you may be with your own physician, nor how +little to your liking the Government medico, he has the last word on the +subject of your disorder, and without his wand the pool is never to be +stirred in your behalf. You don't quite approve of this, Tom,—neither +do I. The State has no more a right to choose my doctor than to select +a wife for me. If there be anything essentially a man's own prerogative, +it is his—what shall I call it?—his caprice about his medical adviser. +One man likes a grave, sententious, silently disposed fellow, who feels +his pulse, shakes his head, takes his fee, and departs, with scarcely +more than a muttered monosyllable; another prefers the sympathetic +doctor, that goes half-and-half in all his sufferings, lies awake at +night thinking of his case, and seems to rest his own hopes of future +bliss in life on curing him. As for myself, I lean to the fellow that, +no matter what ails me, is sure to make me pass a pleasant half-hour; +that has a lively way of laughing down all my unpleasant symptoms, and +is certain to have a droll story about a patient that he has just come +from. That's the man for my money; and I wish you could tell me where a +man gets as good value as for the guinea be gives to one of these. Now, +from what I have seen of the Continent, this is an order of which +they have no representative. All the professional classes, but more +essentially the medical, are taken from an inferior grade in society, +neither brought up in intercourse with the polite world, nor ever +admitted to it afterwards. The consequence is, that your doctor comes +to visit you as your shoemaker to measure you for shoes, and it would +be deemed as great a liberty were he to talk of anything but your +complaint, as for Crispin to impart his sentiments about Russia or the +policy of Louis Napoleon. I don't like the system, and I am convinced +it does n't work well. If I know anything of human nature, too, it is +this,—that nobody tells the whole truth to his physician <i>till he can't +help it</i>. No, Tom, it only comes out after a long cross-examination, +great patience, and a deal of dodging; and for these you must have no +vulgarly minded, commonplace, underbred fellow, but a consummate man of +the world, who knows when you are bamboozling him and when fencing him +off with a sham. He must be able to use all the arts of a priest in the +confessional, and an advocate in a trial, with a few more of his own not +known to either, to extort your secret from you; and I am sure that a +man of vulgar habits and low associations is not the best adapted for +this. +</p> +<p> +I wanted to stop and dine with this lugubrious company. I was curious +to see what they ate, and whether their natures attained any social +expansion under the genial influences of food and drink; but Mrs. D. +would n't hear of it. She had detected, she said, an "impudent hussy +with black eyes" bestowing suspicious glances at your humble servant. I +thought that she was getting out of these fancies,—I fondly hoped that +a little peace on these subjects would in a degree reconcile me to many +of the discomforts of old age; but, alas! the gray hairs and the stiff +ankles have come, and no writ of ease against conjugal jealousies. +Away we came, fresh and fasting, and as there was nothing to be had at +Ragatz, we were obliged to go on to Coire before we got supper; and if +you only knew what it is to arrive at one of these foreign inns after +the hour of the ordinary meals, you 'd confess there was little risk of +our committing an excess. +</p> +<p> +I own to you, Tom, that the excursion scarcely deserved to be called +a pleasant one. Fatigue, disappointment, and hunger are but ill +antagonized by an outbreak of temper; and Mrs. D. lightened the way +homeward by a homily on fidelity that would have made Don Juan appear +deserving of being canonized as a saint! I must also observe that +Tiverton's conduct on this occasion was the very reverse of what I +expected from him. A shrewd, keen fellow like him could not but know in +his heart that Mrs. D.'s suspicions were only nonsense and absurdity; +and yet what did he do but play shocked and horrified, agreed completely +with every ridiculous notion of my wife, and actually went so far as to +appeal to me as a father against myself as a profligate. I almost choked +with passion; and if it was not that we were under obligations to him +about James's business, I'm not certain I should not have thrown him +out of the coach. I wish to the saints that the women would take to +any other line of suspicion, even for the sake of variety,—fancy me an +incurable drunkard, a gambler, an uncertificated bankrupt, or a forger. +I'm not certain if I would not accept the charge of a transportable +felony rather than be regarded as the sworn enemy of youth and virtue, +and the snake in the grass to all unprotected females. +</p> +<p> +From Coire we travelled on to Reichenau, a pretty village at the foot +of the Alps, watered by the Rhine, which is there a very inconsiderable +stream, and with as little promise of future greatness as any barrister +of six years' standing you please to mention. There is a neat-looking +chateau, which stands on a small terrace above the river here, not +without a certain interest attached to it. It was here that Louis +Philippe, then Duke of Orleans, taught mathematics in the humble +capacity of usher to a school. Just fancy that deep politician—the +wiliest head in all Europe, with the largest views of statecraft, and +the most consummate knowledge of men—instilling angles and triangles +into impracticable numskulls, and crossing the Asses' bridge ten times a +day with lame and crippled intellects. +</p> +<p> +It would be curious to know what views of mankind, what studies of +life, he made during this period. Such a man was not made to suffer +any opportunity, no matter how inconsiderable in itself, to escape him +without profiting; and it may be easily believed that in the monarchy of +a school he might have meditated over the rule of large masses. +</p> +<p> +History can scarcely present greater changes of fortune than those that +have befallen that family, which is the more singular, since they +have been brought about neither by great talents nor great crimes. The +Orleans family was more remarkable for the qualities which shine in +the middle ranks of life than either for any towering genius or +any unscrupulous ambition. Their strength was essentially in this +mediocrity, and it was a momentary forgetfulness of that same +stronghold—by the Spanish marriage—that cost the King his throne. The +truth was, Tom, that the nation never liked us,—they hated England just +as they hated it at Cressy, at Blenheim, and at Waterloo, and will hate +it, notwithstanding your great Industrial gatherings, to the end of +time. They were much dissatisfied with Louis Philippe's policy of +an English alliance; they deemed it disadvantageous, costly, and +humiliating; but that it should be broken up and destroyed for an object +of mere family, for a piece of dynastic ambition, was a gross outrage +and affront to the spirit of national pride. It was the sentiment of +insulted honor that leagued the followers of the Orleans branch with the +Legitimists and the Republicans, and formed that terrible alliance that +extended from St. Antoine to the Faubourg St. Germain, and included +every one from the peer to the common laborer. +</p> +<p> +All this prosing about politics will never take us over the Alps; and, +indeed, so far as I can see, there is small prospect of that event just +now; for it has been snowing smartly all night, with a strong southerly +wind, which they say always leaves heavy drifts in different parts of +the mountain. +</p> +<p> +We are cooped up here in a curious, straggling kind of an inn, that +gradually dwindles away into a barn, a stable, and a great shed, filled +with disabled diligences and smashed old sledges,—an incurable asylum +for diseased conveyances. The house stands in a cleft of the hills; but +from the windows you can see the zigzag road that ascends for miles in +front, and which now is only marked by long poles, already some ten or +twelve feet deep in snow. It is snow on every side,—on the mountains, +on the roofs, on the horses that stand shaking their bells at the door, +on the conducteur that drinks his schnaps, on the postilion as he +lights his pipe. The thin flakes are actually plating his whiskers and +moustaches, till he looks like one of the "Old Guard," as we see them in +a melodrama. +</p> +<p> +Tiverton, who conducts all our arrangements, has had a row with our +vetturino, who says that he never contracted to take us over the +mountain in sledges; and as the carriages cannot run on wheels, here +we are discussing the question. There have been three stormy debates +already, and another is to come off this afternoon; meanwhile, the snow +is falling heavily, and whatever chance there was of getting forward +yesterday is now ten times less practicable. The landlord of our inn is +to be arbiter, I understand; and as he is the proprietor of the sledges +we shall have to hire, if defeated, without impugning in any way the +character of Alpine justice, you can possibly anticipate the verdict. +</p> +<p> +A word upon this vetturino system ere I leave it,—I hope forever. It +is a perfect nuisance from beginning to end. From the moment you set off +with one of these rascals, till the hour you arrive at your journey's +end, it is plague, squabble, insolence, and torment. They start at what +hour of the morning they please; they halt where they like, and for as +long as they like, invariably, too, at the worst wayside inns,—away +from a town and from all chance of accommodation,—since rye-bread and +sour wine, with a mess of stewed garlic, will always satisfy <i>them</i>. +They rarely drive at full five miles the hour, and walk every inch with +an ascent of a foot in a hundred yards. If expostulated with by the +wretched traveller, they halt in some public place, and appeal to the +bystanders in some dialect unknown to you. The result of which is that +a ferocious mob surrounds you, and with invectives, insults, and +provocative gestures assail and outrage you, till it please your +tormentor to drive on; which you do at length amidst hooting and uproar +that even convicted felons would feel ashamed of. +</p> +<p> +On reaching your inn at night, they either give such a representation of +you as gets you denied admittance at all, or obtain for you the enviable +privilege of paying for everything "en Milor." Between being a swindler +and an idiot the chance alone lies for you. Then they refuse to unstrap +your luggage; or if they do so, tie it on again so insecurely that it +is sure to drop off next day. I speak not of a running fire of petty +annoyances; such as fumigating you with pestilent tobacco, nor the +blessed enjoyment of that infernal Spitz dog which stands all day on the +roof, and barks every mile of the road from Berne to Naples. As to any +redress against their insolence, misconduct, or extortion, it is utterly +hopeless,—and for this reason: they are sure to have a hundred petty +occasions of rendering small services to the smaller authorities of +every village they frequent. They carry the judge's mother for nothing +to a watering-place; or they fetch his aunt to the market town; or they +smuggle for him—or thieve for him—something that is only to be had +over the frontier. Very probably, too, on the very morning of your +appeal, you have kicked the same judge's brother, he being the waiter +of your inn, and having given you bad money in change,—at all events, +<i>you</i> are not likely ever to be met with again; the vetturino is certain +to come back within the year; and, finally, you are sure to have money, +and be able to pay,—so that, as the Irish foreman said, as the reason +for awarding heavy damages against an Englishman, "It is a fine thing to +bring so much money into the country." +</p> +<p> +Take my word for it, Tom, the system is a perfect disgust from beginning +to end, and even its cheapness only a sham; for your economy is more +than counterbalanced by police fees, fines, and impositions, delays, +remounts, bulls, and starved donkeys, paid for at a price they would not +bring if sold at a market. Post, if you can afford it; take the public +conveyances, if you must; but for the sake of all that is decent and +respectable,—all that consists with comfort and self-respect,—avoid +the vetturino! I know that a contrary opinion has a certain prevalence +in the world,—I am quite aware that these rascals have their +advocates,—and no bad ones either,—since they are women. +</p> +<p> +I have witnessed more than one Giuseppe, or Antonio, with a beard, +whiskers, and general "get up," that would have passed muster in a comic +opera; and on looking at the fellow's book of certificates (for such as +these always have a bound volume, smartly enclosed in a neat case), I +have found that "Mrs. Miles Dalrymple and daughters made the journey +from Milan to Aix-les-Bains with Francesco Birbante, and found him +excessively attentive, civil, and obliging; full of varied information +about the road, and quite a treasure to ladies travelling alone." +Another of these villains is styled "quite an agreeable companion;" one +was called "charming;" and I found that Miss Matilda Somers, of Queen's +Road, Old Brompton, pronounces Luigi Balderdasci, although in the +humble rank of a vetturino, "an accomplished gentleman." I know, +therefore, how ineffectual would it be for Kenny Dodd to enter the lists +against such odds, and it is only under the seal of secrecy that I dare +to mutter them. The widows and the fatherless form a strong category in +foreign travel; dark dresses and demure looks are very vagrant in their +habits, and I am not going to oppose myself single-handed to such a +united force. But to you, Tom Purceli, I may tell the truth in all +confidence and security. If I was in authority, I 'd shave these +scoundrels to-morrow. I 'd not suffer a moustache, a red sash, nor a +hat with a feather amongst them; and take my word for it, the panegyrics +would be toned down, and we'd read much more about the horses than the +drivers, and learn how many miles a day they could travel, and not how +many sonnets of Petrarch the rascal could repeat. +</p> +<p> +I have lost my "John Murray." I forgot it in our retreat from Pfeffers; +so that I don't remember whether he lauds these fellows or the reverse, +but the chances are it is the former. It is one of the endless delusions +travellers fall into, and many's the time I have had to endure a +tiresome description of their delightful vetturino, that "charming +Beppo, who, 'however he got them,' had a bouquet for each of us every +morning at breakfast." If I ever could accomplish the writing of that +book I once spoke to you about upon the Continent and foreign travels, I +'d devote a whole chapter to these fellows; and more than that, Tom, I'd +have an Appendix—a book of travels is nothing without an Appendix in +small print—wherein I'd give a list of all these scoundrels who have +been convicted as bandits, thieves, and petty larceners; of all their +misdeeds against old gentlemen with palsy, and old ladies with "nerves." +I 'd show them up, not as heroes but highwaymen; and take my word for +it, I 'd be doing good service to the writers of those sharply formed +little paragraphs now so enthusiastic about Giovanni, and so full of +"grateful recollections" of "poor Giuseppe." +</p> +<p> +I am positively ashamed to say how many of the observations, ay, and of +the printed observations of travellers, I have discovered to have their +origin in this same class; and that what the tourist jotted down as +his own remark on men and manners, was the stereotyped opinion of +these illiterate vagabonds. But as for books of travel, Tom, of all the +humbugs of a humbugging age, there is nothing can approach them. I have +heard many men talk admirably about foreign life and customs. I have +never chanced upon one who could write about them. It is not only +that your really smart fellows do not write; but that, to pronounce +authoritatively on a people, one must have a long and intimate +acquaintance with them. Now, this very fact alone to a great degree +invalidates the freshness of observation; for what we are accustomed +to see every day ceases to strike us as worthy of remark. To the raw +tourist, all is strange, novel, and surprising; and if he only record +what he sees, he will tell much that everybody knows, but also some +things that are not quite so familiar to the multitude. Now, your old +resident abroad knows the Continent too well and too thoroughly to find +any one incident or circumstance peculiar. To take an illustration: A +man who had never been at a play in his life would form a far better +conception of what a theatre was like from hearing the description of +one from an intelligent child, who had been there once, than from the +most labored criticism on the acting from an old frequenter of the pit. +Hence the majority of these tours have a certain success at home; but +for the man who comes abroad, and wishes to know something that may aid +to guide his steps, form his opinions, and direct his judgment, believe +me they are not worth a brass farthing. There is this also to be taken +into account,—that every observer is, more or less, recounting some +trait of his own nature, of his habits, his tastes, and his prejudices; +so that before you can receive his statement, you have to study his +disposition. Take all these adverse and difficult conditions into +consideration,—give a large margin for credulity, and a larger for +exaggeration,—bethink you of the embarrassments of a foreign tongue, +and then I ask you how much real information you have a right to expect +from Journals of the Long Vacation, or Winters in Italy, or Tyrol +Rambles in Autumn? I say it in no boastfulness, Tom, nor in any mood of +vanity, but if I was some twenty years younger, with a good income and +no encumbrances, well versed in languages, and fairly placed as regards +social advantages, I myself could make a very readable volume about +foreign life and foreign manners. You laugh at the notion of Kenny Dodd +on a titlepage; but have n't we one or two of our acquaintances that cut +just as ridiculous a figure? +</p> +<p> +Tiverton has come in to tell me that the judgment of the Court has been +given against him, and consequently against us, "<i>in re</i> Vetturino;" and +the award of the judge is, "That we pay all the expenses for the journey +to Milan, the gratuity,—that was only to be given as an evidence of +our perfect satisfaction,—and anything more that our sense of honor +and justice may suggest, as compensation for the loss of time he has +sustained in litigating with us." On these conditions he is to be free +to follow his road, and we are to remain here till—I wish I could say +the time—but, according to present appearances, it may be spring before +we get away. When I tell you that the decision has been given by the +landlord of the inn, where we must stop,—as no other exists within +twenty miles of us,—you may guess the animus of the judgment-seat. It +requires a great degree of self-restraint not be to carried into what +the law calls an overt act, by a piece of iniquity like this. I have +abstained by a great effort; but the struggle has almost given me a fit +of apoplexy. Imagine the effrontery of the rascal, Tom: scarcely had +he counted over his Napoleons, and made his grin of farewell, than he +mounted his box and drove away over the mountain, which had just been +declared impassable,—a feat witnessed by all of us,—in company with +the landlord who had pronounced the verdict against us. I stormed—I +swore—in short, I worked myself into a sharp fit of the gout, which +flew from my ankle to my stomach, and very nigh carried me off. A day +of extreme suffering has been succeeded by one of great depression; and +here I am now, with the snow still falling fast; the last courier who +went by saying "that all the inns at Chiavenna were full of people, none +of whom would venture to cross the mountain." It appears that there are +just two peculiarly unpropitious seasons for the passage,—when the snow +falls first, and when it begins to melt in spring. It is needless to say +that we have hit upon one of these, with our habitual good fortune! +</p> +<p> +Thursday. The Inn, Splügen. +</p> +<p> +Here we are still in this blessed place, this being now our seventh day +in a hole you would n't condemn a dog to live in. How long we might +have continued our sojourn it is hard to say, when a mere accident has +afforded us the prospect of liberation. It turns out that two families +arrived and went forward last night, having only halted to sup and +change horses. On inquiry why we could n't be supposed capable of the +same exertion, you 'll not believe me when I tell you the answer we got. +No, Tom! The enormous power of lying abroad is clear and clean beyond +your conception. It was this, then. We could go when we pleased,—it was +entirely a caprice of our own that we had not gone before. "How so, may +I ask?" said I, in the meekest of inquiring voices. "You would n't go +like others," was the answer. "In what respect,—how?" asked I again. +"Oh, your English notions rejected the idea of a sledge. You insisted +upon going on wheels, and as no wheeled carriage could run—" Grant me +patience, or I'll explode like a shell. My hand shakes, and my temples +are throbbing so that I can scarcely write the lines. I made a great +effort at a calm and discretionary tone, but it would n't do; a certain +fulness about the throat, a general dizziness, and a noise like the sea +in my ears, told me that I'd have been behaving basely to the "Guardian" +and the "Equitable Fire and Life" were I to continue the debate. I sat +down, and with a sponge and water and loose cravat, I got better. There +was considerable confusion in my faculties on my coming to myself; I had +a vague notion of having conducted myself in some most ridiculous and +extravagant fashion,—having insisted upon the horses being harnessed +in some impossible mode, or made some demand or other totally +impracticable. Cary, like a dear kind girl as she is, laughed and +quizzed me out of my delusion, and showed me that it was the cursed +imputation of that scoundrel of a landlord had given this erratic turn +to my thoughts. The gout has settled in my left foot, and I now, with +the exception of an occasional shoot of pain that I relieve by a shout, +feel much better, and hope soon to be fit for the road. Poor Cary made +me laugh by a story she picked up somewhere of a Scotch gentleman who +had contracted with his vetturino to be carried from Genoa to Rome and +fed on the road,—a very common arrangement. The journey was to occupy +nine days; but wishing to secure a splendid "buona mano," the vetturino +drove at a tremendous pace, and actually arrived in Rome on the eighth +day, having almost killed his horses and exhausted himself. When he +appeared before his traveller, expecting compliments on his speed, and +a handsome recognition for his zeal, guess his astonishment to hear his +self-panegyrics cut short by the pithy remark: "You drove very well, my +friend; but we are not going to part just yet,—you have still another +day to <i>feed</i> me." +</p> +<p> +Tiverton has at length patched up an arrangement with our landlord +for twelve sledges,—each only carries one and the driver,—so that if +nothing adverse intervene we are to set forth to-morrow. He says that we +may reasonably hope to reach Chiavenna before evening. I 'll therefore +not detain this longer, but in the prospect that our hour of liberation +has at length drawn nigh, conclude my long despatch. +</p> +<p> +Our villa at Como will be our next address, and I hope to find a letter +there from you soon after our arrival. Remember, Tom, all that I have +said about the supplies, for though they tell me Italy be cheap, I +have not yet discovered a land where the population believes gold to be +dross. Adieu! +</p> +<a name="2H_4_0006"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + LETTER VI. MARY ANNE DODD TO MISS DOOLAN, OF BALLYDOOLAN. +</h2> +<h3> + On the Splügen Alps. +</h3> +<p> +Dearest Kitty,—I write these few lines from the Refuge-house on the +Splügen Pass. We are seven thousand feet above the level of something, +with fifty feet of snow around us, and the deafening roar of avalanches +thundering on the ear. We set out yesterday from the village of Splügen, +contrary to the advice of the guides, but papa insisted on going. He +declared that if no other means offered, he 'd go on foot, so that +opposition was really out of the question. Our departure was quite a +picture. First came a long, low sledge, with stones and rocks to explore +the way, and show where the footing was secure. Then came three others +with our luggage; after that mamma, under the guidance of a most careful +person, a certain Bernardt something, brother of the man who acted +as guide to Napoleon; Cary followed her in another sledge, and I came +third, papa bringing up the rear, for Betty and the other servants +were tastefully grouped about the luggage. Several additional sledges +followed with spade and shovel-folk, ropes, drags, and other implements +most suggestive of peril and adventure. We were perfect frights to look +at; for, in addition to fur boots and capes, tarpaulins and hoods, we +had to wear snow goggles as a precaution against the fine drifting snow, +so that really for very shame' sake I was glad that each sledge only +held one, and the driver, who is fortunately, also, at your back. +</p> +<p> +The first few miles of ascent were really pleasurable, for the snow +was hard, and the pace occasionally reached a trot, or at least such a +resemblance to one as shook the conveniency, and made the bells jingle +agreeably on the harness. The road, too, followed a zigzag course on +the steep side of the mountain, so that you saw at moments some of those +above and some beneath you, winding along exactly like the elephant +procession in Bluebeard. The voices sounded cheerily in the sharp +morning air, itself exhilarating to a degree, and this, with the bright +snow-peaks, rising one behind the other in the distance, and the little +village of Splügen in the valley, made up a scene strikingly picturesque +and interesting. There was a kind of adventure, too, about it all, +dearest Kitty, that never loses its charm for the soul deeply imbued +with a sense of the beautiful and imaginative. I fancied myself at +moments carried away by force into the Steppes of Tartary, or that I +was Elizabeth crossing the Volga, and I believe I even shed tears at my +fancied distress. To another than you, dearest, I might hesitate even if +I confessed as much; but you, who know every weakness of a too feeling +heart, will forgive me for being what I am. +</p> +<p> +My guide, a really fine-looking mountaineer, with a magnificent beard, +fancied that it was the danger that had appalled me. He hastened to +offer his rude but honest consolations; he protested that there was +nothing whatever like peril, and that if there were—But why do I go on? +even to my dearest friend may not this seem childish? and is it not a +silly vanity that owns it can derive pleasure from every homage, even +the very humblest? +</p> +<p> +We gradually lost sight of the little smoke-wreathed village, and +reached a wild but grandly desolate region, with snow on every side. The +pathway, too, was now lost to us, and the direction only indicated by +long poles at great intervals. That all was not perfectly safe in front +might be apprehended, for we came frequently to a dead halt, and then +the guides and the shovel-men would pass rapidly to and fro, but, +muffled as we were, all inquiry was impossible, so that we were left to +the horrors of doubt and dread without a chance of relief. At length we +grew accustomed to these interruptions, and felt in a measure tranquil. +Not so the guides, however; they frequently talked together in knots, +and I could see from their upward glances, too, that they apprehended +some change in the weather. Papa had contrived to cut some of the cords +with which they had fastened his muffles, and by great patience and +exertion succeeded in getting his head out of three horsecloths, with +which they had swathed him. +</p> +<p> +"Are we near the summit?" cried he, in English,—"how far are we from +the top?" +</p> +<p> +His question was of course unintelligible, but his action not; and the +consequence was that three of our followers rushed over to him, and +after a brief struggle, in which two of them were tumbled over in the +snow, his head was again enclosed within its woolly cenotaph; and, +indeed, but for a violent jerking motion of it, it might have been +feared that even all access to external air was denied him. This little +incident was the only break to the monotony of the way, till nigh noon, +when a cold, biting wind, with great masses of misty vapor, swept past +and around us, and my guide told me that we were somewhere, with a hard +name, and that he wished we were somewhere else, with a harder. +</p> +<p> +I asked why, but my question died away in the folds of my head-gear, and +I was left to my own thoughts, when suddenly a loud shout rang through +the air. It was a party about to turn back, and the sledges stopped up +the road. The halt led to a consultation between the guides, which I +could see turned on the question of the weather. The discussion was +evidently a warm one, a party being for, and another against it. Hearing +what they said was of course out of the question, muffled as I was; but +their gestures clearly defined who were in favor of proceeding, and who +wished to retrace their steps. One of the former particularly struck me; +for, though encumbered with fur boots and an enormous mantle, his action +plainly indicated that he was something out of the common. He showed +that air of command, too, Kitty, that at once proclaims superiority. +His arguments prevailed, and after a considerable time spent, on we went +again. I followed the interesting stranger till he was lost to me; but +guess my feelings, Kitty, when I heard a voice whisper in my ear, +"Don't be afraid, dearest, I watch over <i>your</i> safety." Oh! fancy the +perturbation of my poor heart, for it was Lord George who spoke. He it +was whose urgent persuasions had determined the guides to proceed, and +he now had taken the place behind my own sledge, and actually drove +instead of the postilion. Can you picture to yourself heroism and +devotion like this? And while I imagined that he was borne along with +all the appliances of ease and comfort, the poor dear fellow was braving +the storm <i>for me</i>, and <i>for me</i> enduring the perils of the raging +tempest. From that instant, my beloved Kitty, I took little note of the +dangers around me. I thought but of him who stood so near to me,—so +near, and yet so far off; so close, and yet so severed! I bethought me, +too, how unjust the prejudice of the vulgar mind that attributes to our +youthful nobility habits of selfish indolence and effeminate ease. Here +was one reared in all the voluptuous enjoyment of a splendid household, +trained from his cradle to be waited on and served, and yet was he there +wilfully encountering perils and hardships from which the very bravest +might recoil. Ah, Kitty! it is impossible to deny it,—the highly born +have a native superiority in everything. Their nobility is not a thing +of crosses and ribbons, but of blood. They feel that they are of earth's +purest clay, and they assert the claim to pre-eminence by their own +proud and lofty gifts. I told you, too, that he said "dearest." I might +have been deceived; the noise was deafening at the moment; but I feel +as if my ears could not have betrayed me. At all events, Kitty, his hand +sought mine while he spoke, and though in his confusion it was my elbow +he caught, he pressed it tenderly. In what a delicious dream did I revel +as we slid along over the snow! What cared I for the swooping wind, the +thundering avalanche, the drifting snow-wreath,—was he not there, my +protector and my guide? Had he not sworn to be my succor and my safety? +We had just arrived at a lofty tableland,—some few peaks appeared still +above us, but none very near,—when the wind, with a violence beyond +all description, bore great masses of drift against us, and effectually +barred all farther progress. The stone sledge, too, had partly become +embedded in the soft snow, and the horse was standing powerless, when +suddenly mamma's horse stumbled and fell. In his efforts to rise he +smashed one of the rope traces, so that when he began to pull again, +the unequal draught carried the sledge to one side, and upset it. A +loud shriek told me something had happened, and at the instant Lord G. +whispered in my ear, "It's nothing,—she has only taken a 'header' in +the soft snow, and won't be a bit the worse." +</p> +<p> +Further questioning was vain; for Cary's sledge-horse shied at the +confusion in front, and plunged off the road into the deep snow, where +he disappeared all but the head, fortunately flinging her out into +the guide's arms. My turn was now to come; for Lord G., with his mad +impetuosity, tried to pass on and gain the front, but the animal, by +a furious jerk, smashed all the tackle, and set off at a wild, +half-swimming pace through the snow, leaving our sledge firmly wedged +between two dense walls of drift Papa sprang out to our rescue; but so +helpless was he, from the quantity of his integuments, that he rolled +over, and lay there on his back, shouting fearfully. +</p> +<p> +It appeared as if the violence of the storm had only waited for this +moment of general disaster; for now the wind tore along great masses of +snow, that rose around us to the height of several feet, covering up +the horses to their backs, and embedding the men to their armpits. Loud +booming masses announced the fall of avalanches near, and the sky became +darkened, like as if night was approaching. Words cannot convey the +faintest conception of that scene of terror, dismay, and confusion. +Guides shouting and swearing; cries of distress and screams of anguish +mingled with the rattling thunder and the whistling wind. Some were for +trying to go back; others proclaimed it impossible; each instant a new +disaster occurred. The baggage had disappeared altogether, Betty Cobb +being saved, as it sank, by almost superhuman efforts of the guide. +Paddy Byrne, who had mistaken the kick of a horse on the back of his +head for a blow, had pitched into one of the guides, and they were now +fighting in four feet of snow, and likely to carry their quarrel out of +the world with them. Taddy was "nowhere." To add to this uproar, papa +had, in mistake for brandy, drunk two-thirds of a bottle of complexion +wash, and screamed out that he was poisoned. Of mamma I could see +nothing; but a dense group surrounded her sledge, and showed me she was +in trouble. +</p> +<p> +I could not give you an idea of what followed, for incidents of peril +were every moment interrupted by something ludicrous. The very efforts +we made to disengage ourselves were constantly attended by some absurd +catastrophe, and no one could stir a step without either a fall, or +a plunge up to the waist in soft snow. The horses, too, would make no +efforts to rise, but lay to be snowed over as if perfectly indifferent +to their fate. By good fortune our britschka, from which the wheels had +been taken off, was in a sledge to the rear, and mamma, Cary, and myself +were crammed into this, to which all the horses, and men also, were +speedily harnessed, and by astonishing efforts we were enabled to get +on. Papa and Betty were wedged fast into one sledge, and attached to us +by a tow-rope, and thus we at length proceeded. +</p> +<p> +When mamma found herself in comparative safety, she went off into a +slight attack of her nerves; but, fortunately, Lord G. found out the +bottle papa had been in vain in search of, and she got soon better. Poor +fellow, no persuasion could prevail on him to come inside along with us. +How he travelled, or how he contrived to brave that fearful day, I never +learned! From this moment our journey was at the rate of about a mile +in three hours, the shovel and spade men having to clear the way as we +went; and what between horses that had to be dug out of holes, harness +repaired, men rescued, and frequent accident to papa's sledge, which, on +an average, was upset every half-hour, our halts were incessant. It was +after midnight that we reached a dreary-looking stone edifice in the +midst of the snow. Anything so dismal I never beheld, as it stood there +surrounded with drift-snow, its narrow windows strongly barred with +iron, and its roof covered with heavy masses of stone to prevent +it being earned away by the hurricane. This, we were told, was the +Refuge-house on the summit, and here, we were informed, we should stay +till a change of weather might enable us to proceed. +</p> +<p> +But does not the very name "Refuge-house" fill you with thoughts of +appalling danger? Do you not instinctively shudder at the perils to +which this is the haven of succor? +</p> +<p> +"I see we are not the first here," cried Caroline; "don't you see lights +moving yonder?" +</p> +<p> +She was right, for as we drew up we perceived a group of guides and +drivers in the doorway, and saw various conveyances and sledges within +the shed at the side of the building. +</p> +<p> +A dialogue in the wildest shouts was now conducted between our party and +the others, by which we came to learn that the travellers were some +of those who had left Splugen the night before ourselves, and whose +disasters had been even worse than our own. Indeed, as far as I could +ascertain, they had gone through much more than we had. +</p> +<p> +Our first meeting with papa—in the kitchen, as I suppose I must call +the lower room of this fearful place—was quite affecting, for he had +taken so much of the guide's brandy as an antidote to the supposed +poison, that he was really overcome, and, under the delusion that he was +at home in his own house, ran about shaking hands with every one, and +welcoming them to Dodsborough. Mamma was so convinced that he had lost +his reason permanently, that she was taken with violent hysterics. The +scene baffles all description, occurring, as it did, in presence of +some twenty guides and spade-folk, who drank their "schnaps," ate their +sausages, smoked, and dried their wet garments all the while, with a +most well-bred inattention to our sufferings. Though Cary and I were +obliged to do everything ourselves,—for Betty was insensible, owing to +her having travelled in the vicinity of the same little cordial flask, +and my maid was sulky in not being put under the care of a certain +good-looking guide,—we really succeeded wonderfully, and contrived to +have papa put to bed in a little chamber with a good mattress, and where +a cheerful fire was soon lighted. Mamma also rallied, and Lord George +made her a cup of tea in a kettle, and poured her out a cup of it into +the shaving-dish of his dressing-box, and we all became as happy as +possible. +</p> +<p> +It appeared that the other arrivals, who occupied a separate quarter, +were not ill provided for the emergency, for a servant used to pass +and repass to their chamber with a very savory odor from the dish he +carried, and Lord G. swore that he heard the pop of a champagne cork. We +made great efforts to ascertain who they were, but without success. All +we could learn was that it was a gentleman and a lady, with their two +servants, travelling in their own carriage, which was unmistakably +English. +</p> +<p> +"I 'm determined to run them to earth," exclaimed Lord G. at last. "I +'ll just mistake my way, and blunder into their apartment." +</p> +<p> +We endeavored to dissuade him, but he was determined; and when he is so, +Kitty, nothing can swerve him. Off he went, and after a pause of a few +seconds we heard a heavy door slammed, then another. After that, both +Cary and myself were fully persuaded that we heard a hearty burst of +laughter; but though we listened long and painfully, we could detect +no more. Unhappily, too, at this time mamma fell asleep, and her +deep respirations effectually masked everything but the din of the +avalanches. After a while Cary followed ma's example, leaving me alone +to sit by the "watch-fire's light," and here, in the regions of eternal +snow, to commune with her who holds my heart's dearest affections. +</p> +<p> +It is now nigh three o'clock. The night is of the very blackest, neither +moon nor stars to be seen; fearful squalls of wind—gusts strong enough +to shake this stronghold to its foundation—tear wildly past, and from +the distance comes the booming sound of thundering avalanches. One might +fancy, easily, that escape from this was impossible, and that to be cast +away here implied a lingering but inevitable fate. No great strain of +fancy is needed for such a consummation. We are miles from all human +habitation, and three yards beyond the doorway the boldest would not +dare to venture! And you, Kitty, at this hour are calmly sleeping to the +hum of "the spreading sycamore;" or, perchance, awake, and thinking of +her who now pours out her heart before you; and oh, blame me not if it +be a tangled web that I present to you, for such will human hopes and +emotions ever make it My poor heart is, indeed, a battleground for +warring hopes and fears, high-soaring ambitions, and depressing terrors. +Would that you were here to guide, console, and direct me! +</p> +<p> +Lord George has not returned. What can his absence mean? All is silent, +too, in the dreary building. My anxieties are fearful,—I dread I know +not what. I fancy a thousand ills that even possibility would have +rejected. The courier is to pass this at five o'clock, so that I must, +perchance, close my letter in the same agony of doubt and uncertainty. +</p> +<p> +Oh, dearest, only fancy the <i>mal à propos</i>. Who do you think our +neighbors are? Mr. and Mrs. Gore Hampton, on their way to Italy! Can you +imagine anything so unfortunate and so distressing? You may remember +all our former intimacy,—I may call it friendship,—and by what an +unpropitious incident it was broken up. Lord George has just come to +tell me the tidings, but, instead of participating in my distress, he +seems to think the affair an admirable joke. I need not tell you that he +knows nothing of mamma's temper, nor her manner of acting. What may come +of this there is no saying. It seems that there is scarcely a chance of +our being able to get on to-day; and here we are all beneath one roof, +our mutual passions of jealousy, hatred, revenge, and malice, all snowed +up on the top of the Splugen Alps! +</p> +<p> +I have asked of Lord George, almost with tears, what is to be done? but +to all seeming he sees no difficulty in the matter, for his reply is +always, "Nothing whatever." When pressed closely, he says, "Oh, the +Gore Hamptons are such thoroughly well-bred folk, there is never any +awkwardness to be apprehended from <i>them</i>. Be quite easy in your mind; +<i>they</i> have tact enough for any emergency." What this may mean, Kitty, I +cannot even guess; for the "situation," as the French would call it, is +peculiar. And as to tact, it is, after all, like skill in a game which, +however available against a clever adversary, is of little value when +opposed to those who neither recognize the rules, nor appreciate the +nice points of the encounter. +</p> +<p> +But I cannot venture to inquire further; it would at once convict me +of ignorance, so that I appear to be satisfied with an explanation that +explains nothing. And now, Kitty, to conclude; for, though dying to tell +you that this knotty question has been fairly solved, I must seal my +letter and despatch it by Lord George, who is this moment about to set +out for the Toll-house, three miles away. It appears that two of our +guides have refused to go farther, and that we must have recourse to the +authorities to compel them. This is the object of Lord George's mission; +but the dear fellow braves every hardship and every peril for us, and +says that he would willingly encounter far more hazardous dangers +for one "kind word, or one kind look," from your distracted, but ever +devoted +</p> +<p> +Mary Anne. +</p> +<p> +They begin to fear now that some accident must have befallen the courier +with the mails; he should have passed through here at midnight. It is +now daybreak, and no sign of him! Our anxieties are terrible, and what +fate may yet be ours there is no knowing. +</p> +<a name="2H_4_0007"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + LETTER VII. MRS. DODD TO MRS. MARY GALLAGHER, PRIEST'S HOUSE, BRUFF. +</h2> +<h3> + Colico, Italy. +</h3> +<p> +My dear Molly,—After fatigues and distresses that would have worn out +the strength of a rhinocerass, here we are, at length, in Italy. If you +only saw the places we came through, the mountains upon mountains of +snow, the great masses that tumbled down on every side of us, and we +lost, as one might call it, in the very midst of eternal dissolution, +you 'd naturally exclaim that you had got the last lines ever to be +traced by your friend Jemima. Two days of this, no less, my dear, +with fifteen degrees below "Nero," wherever he is, that's what I call +suffering and misery. We were twice given up for lost, and but for +Providence and a guide called—I am afraid to write it, but it answers +to Barny with us—we 'd have soon gone to our long account; and, oh, +Molly! what a reckoning will that be for K. I.! If ever there was a +heart jet black with iniquity and baseness, it is his; and he knows it; +and he knows I knows it; and more than that, the whole world shall know +it I 'll publish him through what the poet calls the "infamy of space;" +and, so long as I 'm spared, I 'll be a sting in his flesh, and a thorn +in his side. +</p> +<p> +I can't go over our journey—the very thought of it goes far with +me—but if you can imagine three females along with the Arctic voyagers, +you may form some vague idea of our perils. Bitter winds, piercing +snow-drift, pelting showers of powdered ice, starvation, and +danger,—dreadful danger,—them was the enjoyments that cost us +something over eighteen pounds! Why?—you naturally say,—why? And well +may you ask, Mrs. Gallagher. It is nothing remarkable in your saying +that this is singular and almost unintelligible. The answer, however, is +easy, and the thing itself no mystery. It's as old as Adam, my dear, and +will last as long as his family. The natural baseness and depravity +of the human heart! Oh, Molly, what a subject that is! I'm never weary +thinking of it; and, strange to say, the more you reflect the more +difficult does it become. Father Shea had an elegant remark that I often +think over: "Our bad qualities," says he, "are like noxious reptiles. +There 's no good trying to destroy them, for they 're too numerous; nor +to reclaim them, for they 're too savage; the best thing is to get out +of their way." There's a deal of fine philosophy in the observation, +Molly; and if, instead of irritating and vexing and worrying our +infirmities, we just treated them the way we should a shark or a +rattlesnake, depend upon it we 'd preserve our unanimity undisturbed, +and be happier as well as better. Maybe you 'll ask why I don't try this +plan with K. I.? But I did, Molly. I did so for fifteen years. I went +on never minding his perfidious behavior; I winked at his frailties, +and shut my eyes, as you know yourself, to Shusy Connor; but my leniency +only made him bolder in wickedness, till at last we came to that elegant +business, last summer, in Germany, that got into all the newspapers, and +made us the talk of the whole world. +</p> +<p> +I thought the lesson he got at that time taught him something. I fondly +dreamed that the shame and disgrace would be of service to him; at all +events, that it would take the conceit out of him. Vain hopes, Molly +dear,—vain and foolish hopes! He isn't a bit better; the bad dross +is in him; and my silent tears does no more good than my gentle +remonstrances. +</p> +<p> +It was only the other day we went to see a place called Pfeffers, a +dirty, dismal hole as ever you looked at I thought we were going to see +a beautiful something like Ems or Baden, with a band and a pump-room, +and fine company, and the rest of it Nothing of the kind,—but a gloomy +old building in a cleft between two mountains, that looked as if they +were going to swallow it up. The people, too, were just fit for the +place,—a miserable set of sickly creatures in flannel dresses, either +sitting up to their necks in water, or drying themselves on the rocks. +To any one else the scene would be full of serious reflections about the +uncertainty of human life, and the certainty of what was to come after +it Them was n't K. I.'s sentiments, my dear, for he begins at once what +naval men call "exchanging signals" with one of the patients. "This is +the Bad-house, my dear," says he. "I think so, Mr. D.," said I, with a +look that made him tremble. He had just ordered dinner, but I did n't +care for that; I told them to bring out the horses at once. "Come, +girls," said I, "this is no place for you; your father's proceedings are +neither very edifying nor exemplary." +</p> +<p> +"What's the matter now?" says he. "Where are we going before dinner?" +</p> +<p> +"Out of this, Mr. Dodd," said I. "Out of this at any rate." +</p> +<p> +"Where to,—what for?" cried he. +</p> +<p> +"I think you might guess," said I, with a sneer; "but if not, perhaps +that hussy with the spotted gingham could aid you to the explanation." +</p> +<p> +He was so overwhelmed at my discovering this, Molly, that he was +speechless; not a word,—not a syllable could he utter. He sat down on a +stone, and wiped his head with a handkerchief. +</p> +<p> +"Don't make me ill, Mrs. D.," said he, at last. "I 've a notion that the +gout is threatening me." +</p> +<p> +"If that's all, K. I.," said I, "it's well for you,—it's well if it is +not worse than the gout. Ay, get red in the face,—be as passionate as +you please, but you shall hear the truth from me, at least; I mayn't +be long here to tell it. Sufferings such as I 've gone through will +do their work at last; but I 'll fulfil my duty to my family till I +'m released—" With that I gave it to him, till we arrived at Coire, +eighteen miles, and a good part of it up hill, and you may think what +that was. At all events, Molly, he did n't come off with flying colors, +for when we reached a place called Splügen he was seized with the gout +in earnest I only wish you saw the hole he pitched upon to be laid +up in; but it's like everything else the man does. Every trait of his +character shows that he has n't a thought, nor a notion, but about his +own comforts and his own enjoyments. And I told him so. I said to him, +"Don't think that your self-indulgence and indolence go down with <i>me</i> +for easiness of temper: that's an imposture may do very well for the +<i>world</i>, but your wife can't be taken in by it." In a word, Molly, I +didn't spare him; and as his attack was a sharp one, I think it's +likely he does n't look back to the Splügen with any very grateful +reminiscences. +</p> +<p> +Little I thought, all the time, what good cause I had for my complaints, +nor what was in store for me in the very middle of the snow! You must +know that we had to take the wheels off the carriage and put it on +something like a pair of big skates, for the snow was mountains high, +and as soft as an egg-pudding. You may think what floundering we had +through it for twelve hours, sometimes sinking up to the chin, now +swimming, now digging, and now again being dragged out of it by ropes, +till we came to what they call the "Refuge-house;" a pretty refuge, +indeed, with no door, and scarcely a window, and everybody—guides, +postboys, diggers, and travellers—all hickledy-pickledy inside! There +we were, my dear, without a bed, or even a mattress, and nothing to eat +but a bottle of Sir Robert Peel's sauce, that K. I. had in his trunk, +with a case of eau-de-Cologne to wash it down. Fortunately for me my +feelings got the better of me, and I sobbed and screeched myself to +rest. When I awoke in the morning, I heard from Mary Anne that another +family, and English too, were in the refuge with us, and, to all +appearance, not ill-supplied with the necessaries of life. This much I +perceived myself, for the courier lit a big fire on the hearth, and laid +a little table beside it, as neat and comfortable as could be. After +that he brought out a coffee-pot and boiled the coffee, and made a plate +of toast, and fried a dish of ham-rashers and eggs. The very fizzing of +them on the fire, Molly, nearly overcame me! But that wasn't all; but he +put down on the table a case of sardines and a glass bowl of beautiful +honey, just as if he wanted to make my suffering unbearable. It was all +I could do to stand it. At last, when he had everything ready, he went +to a door at the end of the room and knocked. Something was said inside +that I didn't catch, but he answered quickly, "Oui, Madame," and a +minute after out they walked. Oh, Molly, there 's not words in the +language to express even half of my feelings at that moment. Indeed, +for a minute or two I would n't credit my senses, but thought it was an +optical confusion. In she flounced, my dear, just as if she was walking +into the Court of St. James's, with one arm within his, and the other +hand gracefully holding up her dress, and <i>he</i>, with a glass stuck in +his eye, gave us a look as he passed just as if we were the people of +the place. +</p> +<p> +Down they sat in all state, smiling at each other, and settling their +napkins as coolly as if they were at the Clarendon. "Will you try a +rasher, my dear?" "Thanks, love; I'll trouble you." It was "love" and +"dear" every word with them; and such looks as passed, Molly, I am +ashamed even to think of it! Heaven knows I never looked that way at K. +I. There I sat watching them; for worlds I could n't take my eyes away; +and though Mary Anne whispered and implored, and even tried to force me, +I was chained to the spot. To be sure, it's little they minded me! They +talked away about Lady Sarah This and Sir Joseph That; wondered if the +Marquis had gone down to Scotland, and whether the Duchess would meet +them at Milan. As I told you before, Molly, I was n't quite sure my eyes +did n't betray me, and while I was thus struggling with my doubts, in +came K. I. "I was over the whole place, Jemi," said he, "and there 's +not a scrap of victuals to be had for love or money. They say, however, +that there 's an English family—" When he got that far, he stopped +short, for his eyes just fell on the pair at breakfast. +</p> +<p> +"May I never, Mrs. D.," said he, "but that's our friend Mrs. G. H. As +sure as I'm here, that's herself and no other." +</p> +<p> +"And of course quite a surprise to you," said I, with a look, Molly, +that went through him. +</p> +<p> +"Faith, I suppose so," said he, trying to laugh. "I wasn't exactly +thinking of her at this moment. At all events, the meeting is fortunate; +for one might die of hunger here." +</p> +<p> +I need n't tell you, Molly, that I 'd rather endure the trials of +Tartary than I 'd touch a morsel belonging to her; but before I could +say so, up he goes to the table, bowing, and smiling, and smirking in +a way that I 'm sure he thought quite irresistible. She, however, never +looked up from her teacup, but her companion stuck his glass in his eye, +and stared impudently without speaking. +</p> +<a name="image-0001"><!--IMG--></a> +<center> +<img src="images/088.jpg" height="624" width="692" +alt="088 +"> +</center> + +<p> +"If I 'm not greatly mistaken," said K. I., "I have the honor and the +happiness to see before me—" +</p> +<p> +"Mistake,—quite a mistake, my good man. Au! au!" said the other, +cutting him short. "Never saw you before in my life!" +</p> +<p> +"Nor are <i>you</i>, sir, the object of my recognition. It is this +lady,—Mrs. Gore Hampton." +</p> +<p> +She lifted her head at this, and stared at K. I. as coldly as if he was +a wax image in a hairdresser's window. +</p> +<p> +"Don't you remember me, ma'am?" says he, in a soft voice; "or must I +tell you my name?" +</p> +<p> +"I'm afraid even that, sir, would not suffice," said she, with a most +insulting smile of compassion. +</p> +<p> +"Ain't you Mrs. Gore Hampton, ma'am?" asked he, trembling all over +between passion and astonishment. +</p> +<p> +"Pray, do send him away, Augustus," said she, sipping her tea. +</p> +<p> +"Don't you perceive, sir—eh, au—don't you see—that it's a au—au, +eh—a misconception—a kind of a demned blunder?" +</p> +<p> +"I tell you what I see, sir," said K. I,—"I see a lady that travelled +day and night in my company, and with no other companion too, for two +hundred and seventy miles; that lived in the same hotel, dined at the +same table, and, what's more—" +</p> +<p> +But I could n't bear it any longer, Molly. Human nature is not strong +enough for trials like this,—to hear him boasting before my face of his +base behavior, and to see her sitting coolly by listening to it. I gave +a screech that made the house ring, and went off in the strongest fit of +screaming ever I took in my life. I tore my cap to tatters, and pulled +down my hair,—and, indeed, if what they say be true, my sufferings must +have been dreadful; for I didn't leave a bit of whisker on one of the +guides, and held another by the cheek till he was nigh insensible. I was +four hours coming to myself; but many of the others were n't in a much +better state when it was all over. The girls were completely overcome, +and K. I. taken with spasms, that drew him up like a football. Meanwhile +<i>she</i> and her friend were off; never till the last minute as much as +saying one word to any of us, but going away, as I may say, with colors +flying, and all the "horrors of war." +</p> +<p> +Oh, Molly, was n't that more than mere human fragility is required to +bear, not to speak of the starvation and misery in my weak state? Black +bread and onions, that was our dinner, washed down with the sourest +vinegar, called wine forsooth, I ever tasted. And that's the way we +crossed the Alps, my dear, and them the pleasures that accompanied us +into the beautiful South. +</p> +<p> +If I wanted a proof of K. I.'s misconduct, Molly, was n't this scene +decisive? Where would be the motive of her behavior, if it was n't +conscious guilt? That was the ground I took in discussing the subject +as we came along; and a more lamentable spectacle of confounded iniquity +than he exhibited I never beheld. To be sure, I did n't spare him much, +and jibed him on the ingratitude his devotion met with, till he grew +nearly purple with passion. "Mrs. D.," said he, at last, "when we lived +at home, in Ireland, we had our quarrels like other people, about the +expense of the house, and waste in the kitchen, the time the horses was +kept out under the rain, and such-like,—but it never occurred to you to +fancy me a gay Lutherian. What the ——— has put that in your head +now? Is it coming abroad? for, if so, that's another grudge I owe this +infernal excursion!" +</p> +<p> +"You've just guessed it, Mr. Dodd, then," said I. "When you were at home +in your own place, you were content like the other old fools of your +own time of life, with a knowing glance of the eye, a sly look, and +maybe a passing word or two, to a pretty girl; but no sooner did you +put foot on foreign ground than you fancied yourself a lady-killer! You +never saw how absurd you were, though I was telling it to you day and +night. You would n't believe how the whole world was laughing at you, +though I said so to the girls." +</p> +<p> +I improved on this theme till we came at nightfall to the foot of the +Alps, and by that time—take my word for it, Mrs. Gallagher—there was +n't much more to be said on the subject. +</p> +<p> +New troubles awaited us here, Molly. I wonder will they ever end? You +may remember that I told you how the wheels was taken off our carriage +to put it on a sledge on account of the snow. Well, my dear, what do +you think the creatures did, but they sent our wheels over the Great +St. Bernardt,—I think they call it,—and when we arrived here we found +ourselves on the hard road without any wheels to the coach, but sitting +with the axles in the mud! I only ask you where's the temper can stand +that? And worse, too, for K. I. sat down on a stone to look at us, and +laughed till the tears run down his wicked old cheeks and made him look +downright horrid. +</p> +<a name="image-0002"><!--IMG--></a> +<center> +<img src="images/090.jpg" height="576" width="675" +alt="090 +"> +</center> + +<p> +"May I never!" said he, "but I 'd come the whole way from Ireland for +one hearty laugh like this! It's the only thing I 've yet met that +requites me for coming! If I live fifty years, I'll never forget it." +</p> +<p> +I perceive that I have n't space for the reply I made him, so that I +must leave you to fill it up for yourself, and believe me your +</p> +<p> +Ever attached and suffering +</p> +<p> +Jemima Dodd. +</p> +<a name="2H_4_0008"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + LETTER VIII. JAMES DODD TO LORD GEORGE TIVERTON, M. P., POSTE RESTANTE, BREGENZ. +</h2> +<h3> + Hotel of All Nations, Baths of Homburg. +</h3> +<p> +My dear Tiverton,—You often said I was a fellow to make a spoon or +spoil a—something which I have forgotten—and I begin to fancy that +you were a better prophet than that fellow in "Bell's Life" who always +predicts the horse that does <i>not</i> win the Oaks. When we parted a few +days ago, my mind was resolutely bent on becoming another Metternich or +Palmerston. I imagined a whole life of brilliant diplomatic successes, +and thought of myself receiving the freedom of the City of London, +dining with the Queen, and making "very pretty running" for the peerage. +What will you say, then, when I tell you that I despise the highest +honors of the entire career, and would n't take the seals of the Foreign +Office, if pressed on my acceptance this minute? To save myself from +even the momentary accusation of madness, I 'll give you—and in as few +words as I can—ray explanation. As I have just said, I set out with my +head full of Ambassadorial ambitions, and jogged along towards England, +scarcely noticing the road or speaking to my fellow-travellers. On +arriving at Frankfort, however, I saw nothing on all sides of me but +announcements and advertisements of the baths of Homburg,—"The +last week of the season, and the most brilliant of all." Gorgeous +descriptions of the voluptuous delights of the place—lists of +distinguished visitors, and spicy bits of scandal—alternated with +anecdotes of those who had "broke the bank," and were buying up all +the chateaux and parks in the neighborhood. I tried to laugh at these +pictorial puffs; I did my best to treat them as mere humbugs; but it +would n't do. I went to bed so full of them that I dreamed all night of +the play-table, and fancied myself once again the terror of croupiers, +and the admired of the fashionable circle in the <i>salon</i>. To crown all, +a waiter called me to say that the carriage I had ordered for the baths +was at the door. I attempted to undeceive him; but even there my effort +was a failure; and, convinced that there was a fate in the matter, +I jumped out of bed, dressed, and set off, firmly impressed with the +notion that I was not a free agent, but actually impelled and driven by +destiny to go and win my millions at Homburg. +</p> +<p> +Perhaps my ardor was somewhat cooled down by the aspect of the place. It +has few of the advantages nature has so lavishly bestowed on Baden, +and which really impart to that delightful resort a charm that totally +disarms you of all distrust, and make you forget that you are in a land +of "legs" and swindlers, and that every second man you meet is a rogue +or a runaway. Now, Homburg does not, as the French say, "impose" in this +way. You see at once that it is a "Hell," and that the only amusement is +to ruin or to be ruined. +</p> +<p> +"No matter," thought I; "I have already graduated at the green table; I +have taken my degree in arts at Baden, and am no young hand fresh from +Oxford and new to the Continent; I 'll just go down and try my luck—as +a fisherman whips a stream. If they rise to my fly,—well; if not, pack +up the traps, and try some other water." You know that my capital was +not a strong one,—about a hundred and thirty in cash, and a bill on +Drummond for a hundred more,—and with this, the governor had "cleared +me out" for at least six months to come. I was therefore obliged to +"come it small;" and merely dabbled away with a few "Naps.," which, by +dint of extraordinary patience and intense application, I succeeded in +accumulating to the gross total of sixty. As I foresaw that I could n't +loiter above a day longer, I went down in the evening to experimentalize +on this fund, and, after a few hours, rose a winner of thirty-two +thousand odd hundred francs. The following morning, I more than doubled +this; and in the evening, won a trifle of twenty thousand francs; when, +seeing the game take a capricious turn, I left off, and went to supper. +</p> +<p> +I was an utter stranger in the place, had not even a passing +acquaintance with any one; so that, although dying for a little +companionship, I had nothing for it but to order my roast partridge in +my own apartment, and hobnob with myself. It is true, I was in capital +spirits,—I had made glorious running, and no mistake,—and I drank my +health, and returned thanks for the toast with an eloquence that really +astonished me. Egad, I think the waiter must have thought me mad, as he +heard me hip, hipping with "one cheer more," to the sentiment. +</p> +<a name="image-0003"><!--IMG--></a> +<center> +<img src="images/094.jpg" height="714" width="728" +alt="094 +"> +</center> + +<p> +I suppose I must have felt called on to sing; for sing I did, and, I +am afraid, with far more zeal than musical talent; for I overheard a +tittering of voices outside my door, and could plainly perceive that the +household had assembled as audience. What cared I for this? The world +had gone too well with me of late to make me thin-skinned or peevishly +disposed. I could afford to be forgiving and generous: and I revelled in +the very thought that I was soaring in an atmosphere to which trifling +and petty annoyances never ascended. In this enviable frame of mind was +I, when a waiter presented himself with a most obsequious bow, and, in +a voice of submissive civility, implored me to moderate my musical +transports, since the lady who occupied the adjoining apartment was +suffering terribly from headache. +</p> +<p> +"Certainly, of course," was my reply at once; and as he was leaving the +room,—just by way of having something to say,—I asked, "Is she young, +waiter?" +</p> +<p> +"Young and beautiful, sir." +</p> +<p> +"An angel, eh?" +</p> +<p> +"Quite handsome enough to be one, sir, I'm certain." +</p> +<p> +"And her name?" +</p> +<p> +"The Countess de St. Auber, widow of the celebrated Count de St. Auber, +of whom Monsieur must have read in the newspapers." +</p> +<p> +But Monsieur had not read of him, and was therefore obliged to ask +further information; whence it appeared that the Count had accidentally +shot himself on the morning of his marriage, when drawing the charge +of his pistols, preparatory to putting them in his carriage. The waiter +grew quite pathetic in his description of the young bride's agonies, and +had to wipe his eyes once or twice during his narrative. +</p> +<p> +"But she has rallied by this, hasn't she?" asked I. +</p> +<p> +"If Monsieur can call it so," said he, shrugging his shoulders. "She +never goes into the world,—knows no one,—receives no one,—lives +entirely to herself; and, except her daily ride in the wood, appears to +take no pleasure whatever in life." +</p> +<p> +"And so she rides out every day?" +</p> +<p> +"Every day, and at the same hour too. The carriage takes her about a +league into the forest, far beyond where the usual promenade extends, +and there her horses meet her, and she rides till dusk. Often it is even +night ere she returns." +</p> +<p> +There was something that interested me deeply in all this. You know that +a pretty woman on horseback is one of my greatest weaknesses; and so I +went on weaving thoughts and fancies about the charming young widow till +the champagne was finished, after which I went off to bed, intending to +dream of her, but, to my intense disgust, to sleep like a sea-calf till +morning. +</p> +<p> +My first care on waking, however, was to despatch a very humble apology +by the waiter for my noisy conduct on the previous evening, and a very +sincere hope that the Countess had not suffered on account of it. +</p> +<p> +He brought me back for answer "that the Countess thanked me for my +polite inquiry, and was completely restored." +</p> +<p> +"Able to ride out as usual?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, sir." +</p> +<p> +"How do you know that?" +</p> +<p> +"She has just given orders for the carriage, sir." +</p> +<p> +"I say, waiter, what kind of a hack can be got here? Or, stay, is there +such a thing as a good-looking saddle-horse to be sold in the place?" +</p> +<p> +"There are two at Lagrange's stables, sir, this moment Prince +Guiciatelli has left them and his groom to pay about thirty thousand +francs he owes here." +</p> +<p> +In less than a quarter of an hour I was dressed and at the stables. The +nags were a neat pair; the groom, an English fellow, had just brought +them over. He had bought them at Anderson's, and paid close upon three +hundred for the two. It was evident that they were "too much," as +horses, for the Prince, for he had never backed either of them. Before +I left I had bought them both for six thousand francs, and taken "Bob" +himself, a very pretty specimen of the short-legged, red-whiskered +tribe, into my service. +</p> +<p> +This was on the very morning, mark, when I should have presented myself +before the dons of Downing Street, and been admitted a something into +her Majesty's service! +</p> +<p> +"I wish they may catch me at red-tapery!" thought I, as I shortened my +stirrups, and sat down firmly in the saddle. "I 'm much more at home +here than perched on an office-stool in that pleasant den they call the +'Nursery' at the Foreign Office." +</p> +<p> +Guided by a groom, with a led horse beside him, I took the road to the +forest, and soon afterwards passed a dark-green barouche, with a lady +in it, closely veiled, and evidently avoiding observation. The wood is +intersected by alleys, so that I found it easy, while diverging from the +carriage-road, to keep the equipage within view, and after about half an +hour's sharp canter, I saw the carriage stop, and the Countess descend +from it. +</p> +<p> +Even <i>you</i> admit that I am a sharp critic about all that pertains to +riding-gear; and that as to a woman's hat, collar, gloves, habit, +and whip, I am a first-rate opinion. Now, in the present instance, +everything was perfect There was a dash of "costume" in the long +drooping feather and the snow-white gauntlets; but then all was strictly +toned down to extreme simplicity and quiet elegance. I had just time to +notice this much, and catch a glimpse of such a pair of black eyes! when +she was in the saddle at once. I only want to see a woman gather up +her reins in her hand, shake her habit back with a careless toss of +her foot, and square herself well in the saddle, to say, "That's +a horsewoman!" Egad, George, her every gesture and movement were +admirable, and the graceful bend forwards with which she struck out +into a canter was actually captivating. I stood watching her till she +disappeared in the wood, perfectly entranced. I own to you I could not +understand a Frenchwoman sitting her horse in this fashion. I had always +believed the accomplishment to be more or less English, and I felt +ashamed at the narrow prejudice into which I had fallen. +</p> +<p> +"What an unlucky fellow that same Count must have been!" thought I; and +with this reflection I spurred my nag into a sharp pace, hoping that +fast motion might enable me to turn my thoughts into some other channel. +It was to no use. Go how I would, or where I would, I could think of +nothing but the pretty widow,—whither she might be travelling,—where +she intended to stop,—whether alone, or with others of her family,—her +probable age,—her fortune?—all would rise up before me, to trouble my +curiosity or awaken my interest. +</p> +<p> +I was deep in my speculations, when suddenly a horse bounded past me by +a cross path. I had barely time to see the flutter of a habit, when +it was lost to view. I waited to see her groom follow, but he did not +appear. I listened, but no sound of a horse could be heard approaching. +Had her horse run away? Had her servant lost trace of her? were +questions that immediately occurred to me; but there was nothing to +suggest the answer or dispel the doubt I could bear my anxiety no +longer, and away I dashed after her. It was not till after a quarter +of an hour that I came in sight of her, and then she was skimming along +over the even turf at a very slapping pace, which, however, I quickly +perceived was no run-away gallop. +</p> +<a name="image-0004"><!--IMG--></a> +<center> +<img src="images/104.jpg" height="621" width="881" +alt="104 +"> +</center> + +<p> +This fact proclaimed itself in a most unmistakable manner, for she +suddenly drew up, and wheeled about, pointing at the same time to the +ground, where her whip had just fallen. I dashed up and dismounted, +when, in a voice tremulous with agitation, and with a face suffused in +blushes, she begged my pardon for her gesture; she believed it was her +groom who was following her, and had never noticed his absence before. +I cannot repeat her words, but in accent, manner, tone, and utterance, +I never heard the like of them before. What would I have given at that +moment, George, for your glib facility of French! Hang me if I would not +have paid down a thousand pounds to have been able to rattle out even +some of those trashy commonplaces I have seen you scatter with such +effect in the <i>coulisses</i> of the opera! It was all of no avail. "Where +there 's a will there 's a way," says the adage; but it's a sorry maxim +where a foreign language is concerned. All the volition in the world +won't supply irregular verbs; and the most go-ahead resolution will +never help one to genders. +</p> +<p> +I did, of course, mutter all that I could think of; and, default of +elocution, I made my eyes do duty for my tongue, and with tolerable +success too, as her blush betrayed. I derived one advantage, too, from +my imperfect French, which is worth recording,—I was perfectly obdurate +as to anything she might have replied in opposition to my wishes, +and notwithstanding all her scruples to the contrary, persisted in +accompanying her back to the town. +</p> +<p> +If I was delighted with her horsemanship, I was positively enchanted +with her conversation; for, the first little novelty of our situation +over, she talked away with a frank innocence and artless ease which +quite fascinated me. She was, in fact, the very realization of that +high-bred manner you have so often told me of as characterizing the best +French society. How I wished I could have prolonged that charming ride! +I 'm not quite sure that she did n't detect me in a purposed mistake of +the road, that cost us an additional mile or two; if she did, she +was gracious enough to pardon the offence without even showing +any consciousness of it. Short as the road was, George, it left me +irretrievably in love. I know you 'll not stand any raptures about +beauty, but this much I must and will say, that she is incomparably +handsomer than that Sicilian princess you raved about at Ems, and in +the same style too,—brunette, but with a dash of color in the cheek, a +faint pink, that gives a sparkling brilliancy to the rich warmth of the +southern tint. Besides this,—and let me remark, it is something,—<i>my</i> +Countess is not two-and-twenty, at most. Indeed, but for the story of +the widowhood, I should guess her as something above nineteen. +</p> +<p> +There 's a piece of fortune for you! and all—every bit of it—of my +own achieving too! No extraneous aid in the shape of friends, or +introductory letters. "Alone I did it," as the fellow says in the play. +Now, I do think a man might be pardoned a little boastfulness for such a +victory, and I freely own I esteem Jem Dodd a sharper fellow than I ever +believed him. +</p> +<p> +Perhaps you suspect all this while that I am going too fast, and that +I have taken a casual success for a regular victory. If so, you 're all +wrong, my boy. She has struck her flag already, and acknowledged that +your humble servant has effected a change in her sentiments that but a +few short weeks before she would have pronounced impossible. The truth +is, George, "the Tipperary tactics" that win battles in India are just +as successful in love. Make no dispositions for a general engagement, +never trouble your head about cavalry supports, reserves, or the like, +but "just go in and win." It is a mighty short "General Order," and +cannot possibly be misapprehended. The Countess herself has acknowledged +to me, full half a dozen times within the last fortnight, that she was +quite unprepared for such warfare. She expected, doubtless, that I 'd +follow the old rubric, with opera-boxes, bouquets, <i>marrons glacés</i>, and +so on, for a month or two. Nothing of the kind, George. I frankly told +her that she was the most beautiful creature in Europe without knowing +it. That it would be little short of a sacrilege she should pass her +life in solitude and sorrow, and ten times worse than sacrilege to marry +anything but an Irishman. That in all other countries the men are either +money-getting, ambitious, or selfish, but that Paddy turns his whole +thoughts towards fun and enjoyment. That Napier's Peninsular War and +Moore's Melodies might be referred to for evidence of our national +tastes; and, in short, such a people for fighting and making love was +never recorded in history. She laughed at me for the whole of the first +week, grew more serious the second, and now, within the last three days, +instead of calling me "Monsieur le Sauvage," "Cosaque Anglais," and so +on, she gravely asks my advice about everything, and never ventures on +a step without my counsel and approbation. I have been candid with you +hitherto, Tiverton, and so I must frankly own that, profiting by the +adage that says "stratagem is equally legitimate in love as in war," I +have indulged slightly in the strategy of mystification. For instance, +I have represented the governor as a great don in his own country, +with immense estates, and an ancient title, that he does not assume in +consequence of some old act of attainder against the family. My mother +I have made a princess in her own right; and here I am on safer ground, +for, if called into court, she 'll sustain me in every assertion. Of my +own self and prospects I have spoken meekly enough, merely hinting that +I dislike diplomacy, and would rather live with the woman of my choice +in some comparatively less distinguished station, upon a pittance +of—say—three or four thousand a year! +</p> +<p> +This latter assumption, I must observe to you, is the only one ever +disputed between us, and many a debate have we had on the subject. She +sees, as everybody sees here, that I spend money lavishly, that not +only I indulge in everything costly, but that I outbid even the Russians +whenever anything is offered for sale; and at this moment my rooms are +filled with pictures, china, carved ivory, stained glass, and other such +lumber, that I only bought for the <i>éclat</i> of the purchase. If you +only heard her innocent remonstrances to me about my extravagance, her +anxious appeals as to what "le Prince," as she calls my father, will say +to all this wastefulness! +</p> +<p> +It's a great trial to me sometimes not to laugh at all this, and, +indeed, if I did n't know in my heart that I 'll make her the very best +of husbands, I 'd be even ashamed of my deceit; but it's only a pious +fraud after all, and the good result will more than atone for the +roguery. +</p> +<p> +I have hinted at our marriage, you see, and I may add that it is all +but decided on. There is, however, a difficulty which must be got over +first. She was betrothed when a child to a young Neapolitan Prince of +the blood,—a brother, I take it, of the present King. This ceremony +was overlooked on her first marriage; and had her husband lived, +very serious consequences—but of what kind I don't know—might +have resulted. Now, before contracting a second union, we must get a +dispensation of some sort from the Pope, which I fear will take time, +although she says that her uncle, the Cardinal, will do his utmost to +expedite it. +</p> +<p> +Indeed, I may mention, incidentally, that she is a great favorite with +his Eminence, and <i>we</i> hope to be his heirs! Egad, George, I almost +fancy myself "punting" his Eminence's gold pieces at hazard, with his +signet-ring on my finger! What a house I'll keep, old fellow! what a +stable! what a cellar!—and such cigars! Meanwhile I look to you to aid +and abet me in various ways. The Countess, like all foreigners of real +rank, knows our peerage and nobility off by heart; and she constantly +asks me if I know the Marquis of this, and the Duchess of that, and I 'm +sorely put to, to show cause why I 'm not intimate with them all. Now, +my dear Tiverton, can't you somehow give me the Shibboleth amongst these +high-priests of Fashion, and get me into the Tabernacle, if only for a +season? I used myself to know some of the swells of London life when I +was at Baden, but, to be sure, I lost a deal of money to them at "creps" +and "lansquenet" as the price of the intimacy; and when "<i>I</i> shut up," +so did <i>they</i> too. You, I'm sure, however, will hit upon some expedient +to gain me at least acceptance and recognition for a week or two. I only +want the outward signs of acquaintanceship, mark you, for I honestly own +that all I ever saw during my brief intimacy with these fellows gave me +anything but a high "taste of their quality." +</p> +<p> +I'll enclose you the list of the distinguished company now here, and +you 'll pick out any to whom you can present me. Another, and not a less +important service, I also look to at your hands, which is, to break all +this to the governor, to whom I 'm half ashamed to write myself. In +the first place, a recent event, of which I may speak more fully to you +hereafter, may have made the old gent somewhat suspectful; and secondly, +he 'll be fraptious about my not going over to England; although, I +'ll take my oath, if he wants it, that I 'd pitch up the appointment +to-morrow, if I had it At the best, I don't suppose they 'd make me +more than a Secretary of Legation; and <i>that</i>, perhaps, at the Hague, or +Stuttgard, or some other confounded capital of fog and flunkeydom; and I +need n't say your friend Jem is not going to "enter for such stakes." +</p> +<p> +You 'd like to know our plans; and so far as I can make out, we're not +to marry till we reach Italy. At Milan, probably, the dispensation will +reach us, and the ceremony will be performed by the Arch B.. himself. +This she insists upon; for about church matters and dignitaries she +stickles to a degree that I 'd laugh at if I dare; and that I intend to +do later on, when I can <i>dare</i> with impunity. +</p> +<p> +Except this, and a most inordinate amount of prudery, she hasn't a +fault on earth. Her reserve is, however, awful; and I almost spoiled +everything t' other evening by venturing to kiss her hand before she +drew her glove on. By Jove, did n't she give me a lecture! If any one +had only overheard her, I 'm not sure they would n't have thought me a +lucky fellow to get off with transportation for life! As it was, I +had to enter into heavy recognizances for the future, and was even +threatened with having Mademoiselle Pauline, her maid, present at all +our subsequent meetings! The very menace made me half crazy! +</p> +<p> +After all, the fault is on the right side; and I suppose the day will +come when I shall deem it the very reverse of a failing. You will be +curious to know something about her fortune, but not a whit more so +than I am. That her means are ample—even splendid—her style of +living evidences. The whole "premier" of a fashionable hotel, four +saddle-horses, two carriages, and a tribe of servants are a strong +security for a well-filled purse; but more than that I can ascertain +nothing. +</p> +<p> +As for myself, my supplies will only carry me through a very short +campaign, so that I am driven of necessity to hasten matters as much as +possible. Now, my dear Tiverton, you know my whole story; and I beg you +to lose no time in giving me your very best and shrewdest counsels. Put +me up to everything you can think of about settlements, and so forth; +and tell me if marrying a foreigner in any way affects my nationality. +In brief, turn the thing over in your mind in all manner of ways, and +let me have the result. +</p> +<p> +She is confoundedly particular about knowing that my family approve +of the match; and though I have represented myself as being perfectly +independent of them on the score of fortune,—which, so far as not +expecting a shilling from them, is strictly true,—I shall probably +be obliged to obtain something in the shape of a formal consent and +paternal benediction; in which case I reckon implicitly on you to +negotiate the matter. +</p> +<p> +I have been just interrupted by the arrival of a packet from Paris. It +is a necklace and some other trumpery I had sent for to "Le Roux." She +is in ecstasy with it, but cannot conceal her terror at my extravagance. +The twenty thousand francs it cost are a cheap price for the remark the +present elicited: "My miserable 'rente' of a hundred thousand francs," +said she, "will be nothing to a man of such wasteful habits." So, then, +we have, four thousand a year, certain, George; and, as times go, one +might do worse. +</p> +<p> +I have no time for more, as we are going to ride out Write to me at +once, like a good fellow, and give all your spare thoughts to the +fortunes of your ever attached friend, +</p> +<p> +James Dodd. +</p> +<p> +Address me Lucerne, for <i>she</i> means to remove from this at once,—the +gossips having already taken an interest in us more flattering than +agreeable. I shall expect a letter from you at the post-office. +</p> +<a name="2H_4_0009"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + LETTER IX. MISS MARY ANNE DODD TO THOMAS PURCELL, ESQ., OF THE GRANGE, BRUFF +</h2> +<h3> + Villa della Fontana, Lake of Como +</h3> +<p> +My dear Mr. Purcell,—Poor papa has been so ill since his arrival in +Italy, that he could not reply to either of your two last letters, +and even now is compelled to employ me as his amanuensis. A misfortune +having occurred to our carriage, we were obliged to stop at a small +village called Colico, which, as the name implies, was remarkably +unhealthy. Here the gout, that had been hovering over him for some +days previous, seized him with great violence; no medical aid could +be obtained nearer than Milan, a distance of forty miles, and you may +imagine the anxiety and terror we all suffered during the interval +between despatching the messenger and the arrival of the doctor. As +it was, we did not succeed in securing the person we had sent for, he +having been that morning sentenced to the galleys for having in his +possession some weapon—a surgical instrument, I believe—that was +longer or sharper than the law permits; but Dr. Pantuccio came in his +stead, and we have every reason to be satisfied with his skill and +kindness. He bled papa very largely on Monday, twice on Tuesday, and +intends repeating it again to-day, if the strength of the patient allow +of it. The debility resulting from all this is, naturally, very great; +but papa is able to dictate to me a few particulars in reply to your +last. First, as to Crowther's bill of costs: he says, "that he certainly +cannot pay it at present," nor does he think he ever will. I do not know +how much of this you are to tell Mr. C., but you will be guided by your +own discretion in that, as on any other point wherein I may be doubtful. +Harris also must wait for his money—and be thankful when he gets it. +</p> +<p> +You will make no abatement to Healey, but try and get the farm out of +his hands, by any means, before he sublets it and runs away to America. +Tom Dunne's house, at the cross-roads, had better be repaired; and if a +proper representation was made to the Castle about the disturbed state +of the country, papa thinks it might be made a police-station, and +probably bring twenty pounds a year. He does not like to let Dodsborough +for a "Union;" he says it's time enough when we go back there to make it +a poorhouse. As to Paul Davis, he says, "let him foreclose, if he likes; +for there are three other claims before his, and he 'll only burn his +fingers,"—whatever that means. +</p> +<p> +Papa will give nothing to the schoolhouse till he goes back and examines +the children himself; but you are to continue his subscription to the +dispensary, for he thinks overpopulation is the real ruin of Ireland. I +don't exactly understand what he says about allowance for improvements, +and he is not in a state to torment him with questions; but it appears +to me that you are not to allow anything to anybody till some +Bill passes, or does not pass, and after that it is to be arranged +differently. I am afraid poor papa's head was wandering here, for he +mumbled something about somebody being on a "raft at sea," and hoped he +wouldn't go adrift, and I don't know what besides. +</p> +<p> +Your post-bill arrived quite safe; but the sum is totally insufficient, +and below what he expected. I am sure, if you knew how much irritation +it cost him, you would take measures to make a more suitable remittance. +I think, on the whole, till papa is perfectly recovered, it would be +better to avoid any irritating or unpleasant topics; and if you would +talk encouragingly of home prospects, and send him money frequently, it +would greatly contribute to his restoration. +</p> +<p> +I may add, on mamma's part and my own, the assurance of our being ready +to submit to any privation, or even misery if necessary, to bring papa's +affairs into a healthier condition. Mamma will consent to anything but +living in Ireland, which, indeed, I think is more than could be expected +from her. As it is, we keep no carriage here, nor have any equipage +whatever; our table is simply two courses, and some fruit. We are +wearing out all our old-fashioned clothes, and see nobody. If you can +suggest any additional mode of economizing, mamma begs you will favor +us with a line; meanwhile, she desires me to say that any allusion to +"returning to Dodsborough," or any plan "for living abroad as we lived +at home" will only embitter the intercourse, which, to be satisfactory, +should be free from any irritation between us. +</p> +<p> +Of course, for the present you will write to mamma, as papa is far from +being fit for any communication on matters of business, nor does the +doctor anticipate his being able for such for some weeks to come. +We have not heard from James since he left this, but are anxiously +expecting a letter by every post, and even to see his name in the +"Gazette." Cary does not forget that she was always your favorite, and +desires me to send her very kindest remembrances, with which I beg you +to accept those of very truly yours, +</p> +<p> +Mart Anne Dodd. +</p> +<p> +P. S. As it is quite uncertain when papa will be equal to any exertion, +mamma thinks it would be advisable to make your remittances, for some +time, payable to her name. +</p> +<p> +The doctor of the dispensary has written to papa, asking his support +at some approaching contest for some situation,—I believe under the +Poor-law. Will you kindly explain the reasons for which his letter has +remained unreplied to? and if papa should not be able to answer, perhaps +you could take upon yourself to give him the assistance he desires, as +I know pa always esteemed him a very competent person, and kind to +the poor. Of course the suggestion is only thrown out for your own +consideration, and in strict confidence besides, for I make it a point +never to interfere with any of the small details of pa's property. +</p> +<a name="2H_4_0010"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + LETTER X. MRS. DODD TO MRS. MARY GALLAGHER, DODSBOROUGH +</h2> +<p> +My dear Molly,—I received your letter in due course, and if it was n't +for crying, I could have laughed heartily over it! I don't know, I'm +sure, where you got your elegant description of the Lake of Comus; but I +am obliged to tell you it's very unlike the real article; at all events, +there 's one thing I 'm sure of,—it's a very different matter living +here like Queen Caroline, and being shut up in the same house with K. +I.; and therefore no more balderdash about my "queenly existence," and +so on, that your last was full of. +</p> +<p> +Here we are, in what they call the Villa of the Fountains, as if there +was n't water enough before the door but they must have it spouting +up out of a creature's nose in one corner, another blowing it out of a +shell, and three naked figures—females, Molly—dancing in a pond of +it in the garden, that kept me out of the place till I had them covered +with an old mackintosh of K. I.'s. We have forty-seven rooms, and +there's barely furniture, if it was all put together, for four; and +there 's a theatre, and a billiard-room, and a chapel; but there 's +not a chair would n't give you the lumbago, and the stocks at Bruff is +pleasant compared to the grand sofa. The lake comes round three sides of +the house, and a mountain shuts in the other one, for there 's no road +whatever to it. You think I 'm not in earnest, but it's as true as I 'm +here; the only approach is by water, so that everything has to come in +boats. Of course, as long as the weather keeps fine, we 'll manage to +send into the town; but when there comes—what we 're sure to have in +this season—aquenoctial gales, I don't know what 's to become of us. +The natives of the place don't care, for they can live on figs and +olives, and those great big green pumpkins they call watermelons; but, +after K. I.'s experience, I don't think we'll try <i>them</i>. It was at a +little place on the way here, called Colico, that he insisted on having +a slice of one of these steeped in rum for his supper, because he saw +a creature eating it outside the door. Well, my dear, he relished it +so much that he ate two, and—you know the man—would n't stop till he +finished a whole melon as big as one of the big stones over the gate +piers at home. +</p> +<p> +"Jemi," says he, when he'd done, "is this the place the hand-book says +you should n't eat any fruit in, or taste the wines of the country?" +</p> +<p> +"I don't see that," said I; "but Murray says it's notorious for March +miasma, which is most fatal in the fall of the year." +</p> +<p> +"What's the name of it?" said he. +</p> +<p> +I could n't say the word before he gave a screech out of him that made +the house ring. +</p> +<p> +"I 'm a dead man," says he; "that's the very place I was warned about." +</p> +<p> +From that minute the pains begun, and he spent the whole night in +torture. Lord George, the kindest creature that ever breathed, got out +of his bed and set off to Milan for a doctor, but it was late in the +afternoon when he got back. Half an hour later, Molly, and it would +have been past saving him. As it was, he bled him as if he was veal: for +that's the new system, my dear, and it's the blood that does us all the +harm, and works all the wickedness we suffer from. If it's true, K. I. +will get up an altered man, for I don't think a horse could bear what he +'s gone through. Even now he 's as gentle as an infant, Molly, and you +would n't know his voice if you heard it. We only go in one at a time to +him, except Cary, that never leaves him, and, indeed, he would n't +let her quit the room. Sometimes I fancy that he 'll never be the same +again, and from a remark or two of the doctor's, I suspect it's his +head they 're afraid of. If it was n't English he raved in, I 'd be +dreadfully ashamed of the things he says, and the way he talks of the +family. +</p> +<p> +As it is, he makes cruel mistakes; for he took Lord George the other +night for James, and began talking to him, and warning him against his +Lordship. "Don't trust him too far, Jemmy," said he. "If he was n't in +disgrace with his equals, he 'd never condescend to keep company with +us. Depend on 't, boy, he 's not 'all right,' and I wish we were well +rid of him." +</p> +<p> +Lord George tried to make him believe that he did n't understand him, +And said something about the Parliament being prorogued, but K. I. went +on: "I suppose, then, our noble friend did n't get his Bill through the +Lords?" +</p> +<p> +"His mind is quite astray to-night," said Lord George, in a whisper, and +made a sign for us to creep quietly away, and leave him to Caroline. +She understands him best of any of us; and, indeed, one sees her to more +advantage when there 's trouble and misery in the house than when we 're +all well and prosperous. +</p> +<p> +We came here for economy, because K. I. determined we should go +somewhere that money couldn't be spent in. Now, as there is no road, we +cannot have horses; and as there are no shops, we cannot make purchases; +but, except for the name of the thing, Molly, might n't we as well be +at Bruff? I would n't say so to one of the family, but to you, in +confidence between ourselves, I own freely I never spent a more dismal +three weeks at Dodsborough. Betty Cobb and myself spend our time crying +over it the livelong day. Poor creature, she has her own troubles too! +That dirty spalpeen she married ran away with all her earnings, and even +her clothes; and Mary Anne's maid says that he has two other wives in +his own country. She 's made a nice fool of herself, and she sees it +now. +</p> +<p> +How long we're to stay here in this misery, I can't guess, and K. I.'s +convalescence may be, the doctor thinks, a matter of months; and even +then, Molly, who knows in what state he 'll come out of it! Nobody +can tell if we won't be obliged to take what they call a Confession of +Lunacy against him, and make him allow that he's mad and unfit to manage +his affairs. If it was the will of Providence, I 'd just as soon be a +widow at once; for, after all, it's uncertainty that tries the spirits +and destroys the constitution worse than any other affliction. +</p> +<p> +Indeed, till yesterday afternoon, we all thought he was going off in +a placid sleep; but he opened one eye a little, and bade Cary draw the +window-curtain, that he might look out. He stared for a while at the +water coming up to the steps of the door, and almost entirely round the +house, and he gave a little smile. "What's he thinking of?" said I, in a +whisper; but he heard me at once, and said, "I 'll tell you, Jemi, what +it was. I was thinking this was an elegant place against the bailiffs." +From that moment I saw that the raving had left him, and he was quite +himself again. +</p> +<p> +Now, my dear Molly, you have a true account of the life we lead, and +don't you pity us? If your heart does not bleed for me this minute, I +don't know you. Write to me soon, and send me the Limerick papers, that +has all the news about the Exhibition in Dublin. By all accounts it's +doing wonderfully well, and I often wish I could see it. Cary has just +come down to take her half-hour's walk on the terrace,—for K. I. makes +her do that every evening, though he never thinks of any of the rest of +us,—and I must go and take her place; so I write myself +</p> +<p> +Yours in haste, but in sorrow, +</p> +<p> +Jemima Dodd +</p> +<a name="2H_4_0011"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + LETTER XI. MISS MARY ANNE DODD TO MISS DOOLAN, OF BALLYDOOLAN +</h2> +<h3> + Villa della Fontana, Como. +</h3> +<p> +Forget thee! No, dearest Kitty. But how could such cruel words have ever +escaped your pen? To cease to retain you in memory would be to avow an +oblivion of childhood's joys, and of my youth's fondest recollections; +of those first expansions of the heart, when, "fold after fold to the +fainting air," the petals of my young existence opened one by one +before you; when my shadowy fancies grew into bright realities, and the +dream-world assumed all the lights and, alas! all the shadows of the +actual. The fact was, dearest, papa was very, very ill; I may, indeed, +say so dangerously, that at one time our greatest fears were excited for +his state; nor was it till within a few days back that I could really +throw off all apprehension and revel in that security enjoyed by the +others. He is now up for some hours every day, and able to take light +sustenance, and even to participate a little in social intercourse, +which of course we are most careful to moderate, with every regard to +his weak state; but his convalescence makes progress every hour, and +already he begins to talk and laugh, and look somewhat like himself. +</p> +<p> +So confused is my poor head, and so disturbed by late anxieties, that +I quite forget if I have written to you since our arrival here; at all +events, I will venture on the risk of repetition so far, and say that we +are living in a beautiful villa, in a promontory of the Lake of Como. It +was the property of the Prince Belgiasso, who is now in exile from +his share in the late struggle for Italian independence, and who, +in addition to banishment, is obliged to pay above a million of +livres—about forty thousand pounds—to the Austrian Government. Lord +George, who knew him intimately in his prosperity, arranged to take the +villa for us; and it is confessedly one of the handsomest on the whole +lake. Imagine, Kitty, a splendid marble façade, with a Doric portico, so +close to the water's edge that the whole stands reflected in the crystal +flood; an Alpine mountain at the back; while around and above us the +orange and the fig, the vine, the olive, the wild cactus, and the cedar +wave their rich foliage, and load the soft air with perfume. It is not +alone that Nature unfolds a scene of gorgeous richness and beauty before +us; that earth, sky, and water show forth their most beautiful of forms +and coloring; but there is, as it were, an atmosphere of voluptuous +enjoyment, an inward sense of ecstatic delight, that I never knew nor +felt in the colder lands of the north. The very names have a magic in +their melody; the song of the passing gondolier; the star-like lamp of +the "pescatore," as night steals over the water; the skimming lateen +sail,—all breathe of Italy,—glorious, delightful, divine Italy!—land +of song, of poetry, and of love! +</p> +<p> +Oh, how my dearest Kitty would enjoy those delicious nights upon the +terrace, where, watching the falling stars, or listening to the far-off +sounds of sweet music, we sit for hours long, scarcely speaking! How +responsively would her heart beat to the plash of the lake against her +rocky seat! and how would her gentle spirit drink in every soothing +influence of that fair and beauteous scene! With Lord George it is a +passion; and I scarcely know him to be the same being that he was on the +other side of the Alps. Young men of fashion in England assume a certain +impassive, cold, apathetic air, as though nothing could move them to any +sentiment of surprise, admiration, or curiosity about anything; and when +by an accident these emotions are excited, the very utmost expression in +which their feelings find vent is some piece of town slang,—the turf, +the mess-room, the universities, and, I believe, even the House of +Commons, are the great nurseries of this valuable gift; and as Lord +George has graduated in each of these schools, I take it he was no mean +proficient. But how different was the real metal that lay buried under +the lacquer of conventionality! Why, dearest Kitty, he is the very soul +of passion,—the wildest, most enthusiastic of creatures; he worships +Byron, he adores Shelley. He has told me the whole story of his +childhood,—one of the most beautiful romances I ever listened to. He +passed his youth at Oxford, vacillating between the wildest dissipations +and the most brilliant triumphs. After that he went into the Hussars, +and then entered the House, moving the Address, as it is called, at +one-and-twenty; a career exactly like the great Mr. Pitt's, only that +Lord G. really possesses a range of accomplishments and a vast variety +of gifts to which the Minister could lay no claim. Amidst all these +revelations, poured forth with a frank and almost reckless impetuosity, +it was still strange, Kitty, that he never even alluded to the one great +and turning misfortune of his life. He did at one time seem approaching +it; I thought it was actually on his lips; but he only heaved a deep +sigh, and said, "There is yet another episode to tell you,—the darkest, +the saddest of all,—but I cannot do it now." I thought he might have +heard my heart beating, as he uttered these words; but he was too deeply +buried in his own grief. At last he broke the silence that ensued, by +pressing my hand fervently to his lips, and saying, "But when the time +comes for this, it will also bring the hour for laying myself and +my fortunes at your feet,—for calling you by the dearest of all +names,—for—"Only fancy, Kitty,—it was just as he got this far that +Cary, who really has not a single particle of delicacy in such cases, +came up to ask me where she could find some lemons to make a drink for +papa! I know I shall never forgive her—I feel that I never can—for her +heartless interruption. What really aggravates her conduct, too, was the +kind of apology she subsequently made to me in my own room. Just imagine +her saying,— +</p> +<p> +"I was certain it would be a perfect boon to you to get away from that +tiresome creature." +</p> +<p> +If you only saw him, Kitty! if you only heard him! But all I said was,— +</p> +<p> +"There is certainly the merit of a discovery in your remark, Cary; for +I fancy you are the first who has found out Lord George Tiverton to be +tiresome!" +</p> +<p> +"I only meant," said she, "that his eternal egotism grows wearisome at +last, and that the most interesting person in the world would benefit by +occasionally discussing something besides himself." +</p> +<p> +"Captain Morris, for instance," said I, sharply. +</p> +<p> +"Even so," said she, laughing; "only I half suspect the theme is one he +'ll not touch upon!" And with this she left the room. +</p> +<p> +The fact is, Kitty, jealousy of Lord George's rank, his high station, +and his aristocratic connections are the real secret of her animosity to +him. She feels and sees how small "her poor Captain" appears beside him, +and of course the reflection is anything but agreeable. Yet I am sure +she might know that I would do everything in my power to diminish the +width of that gulf between them, and that I would study to reconcile the +discrepancies and assuage the differences of their so very dissimilar +stations. She may, it is true, place this beyond my power to effect; but +the fault in that case will be purely and solely her own. +</p> +<p> +You do me no more than justice, Kitty, in saying that you are sure I +will feel happy at anything which can conduce to the welfare of Dr. B.; +and I unite with you in wishing him every success his new career can +bestow. Not but, dearest, I must say that, judging from the knowledge I +now possess of life and the world, I should augur more favorably of his +prospects had he still remained in that quiet obscurity for which his +talents and habits best adapt him than adventure upon the more ambitious +but perilous career he has just embarked in. You tell me that, having +gone up to Dublin to thank one of his patrons at the late election, he +was invited to a dinner, where he made the acquaintance of the Earl of +Darewood; and that the noble Lord, now Ambassador at Constantinople, was +so struck with his capacity, knowledge, and great modesty that he made +him at once an offer of the post of Physician to the Embassy, which with +equal promptitude was accepted. +</p> +<p> +Very flatteringly as this reads, dearest, it is the very climax of +improbability; and I have the very strongest conviction that the whole +appointment is wholly and solely due to the secret influence of Lord +George Tiverton, who is the Earl's nephew. In the first place, Kitty, +supposing that the great Earl and the small Dispensary Doctor did really +meet at the same dinner-table,—an incident just as unlikely as need be +conceived,—how many and what opportunities would there exist for that +degree of intercourse of which you speak? +</p> +<p> +If the noble Lord did speak at all to the Doctor, it would have been in +a passing remark, an easily answered question as to the sanitary state +of his neighborhood, or a chance allusion to the march of the cholera in +the north of Europe,—so at least Lord G. says; and, moreover, that if +the Doctor did, by any accident, evidence any of the qualities for which +you give him credit, save the modesty, that the Earl would have just +as certainly turned away from him, as a very forward, presuming person, +quite forgetful of his station, and where he was then standing. You can +perceive from this that I have read the paragraph in yours to Lord G.; +but I have done more, Kitty: I have positively taxed him with having +obtained the appointment in consequence of a chance allusion I had made +to Dr. B. a few weeks ago. He denies it, dearest; but how? He says, "Oh, +my worthy uncle never reads <i>my</i> letters; he 'd throw them aside after a +line or two; he's angry with me, besides, for not going into the 'line,' +as they call Diplomacy, and would scarcely do me a favor if I pressed +him ever so much." +</p> +<p> +When urged further, he only laughed, and, lighting his cigar, puffed +away for a moment or two; after which he said in his careless way: +"After all, it mightn't have been a bad dodge of me to send the Doctor +off to Turkey. He was an old admirer, wasn't he?" +</p> +<p> +After this, Kitty, to allude to the subject was impossible, and here I +had to leave it. But who could possibly have insinuated such a scandal +concerning me? or how could it have occurred to malignant ingenuity to +couple my name with that of a person in his station? I cried the entire +evening in my own room as I thought over the disgrace to which the bare +allusion exposed me. +</p> +<p> +Is there not a fatality, then, I ask you, in everything that ties us to +Ireland? Are not the chance references to that country full of low and +unhappy associations? and yet you can talk to me of "when we come back +again." +</p> +<p> +We are daily becoming more uneasy about James. He is now several weeks +gone, and not a line has reached us to say where he is, or what success +has attended him. I know his high-spirited nature so well, and how any +reverse or disappointment would inevitably drive him to the wildest +excesses, that I am in agony about him. A letter in your brother's hand +is now here awaiting him, so that I can perceive that even Robert is as +ignorant of his fate as we are. +</p> +<p> +All these cares, dearest, will have doubtless thrown their shadows over +this dreary epistle, the reflex of my darkened spirit. Bear with and +pity me, dearest Kitty; and even when calmer reason refuses to follow +the more headlong impulses of my feeling, still care for, still love +Your ever heart-attached and devoted +</p> +<p> +Mary Anne Dodd. +</p> +<p> +P. S. The post has just arrived, bringing a letter for Lord G. in +James's hand. It was addressed Bregenz, and has been several days on +the road. How I long to learn its tidings! But I cannot detain this; so +again good-bye. +</p> +<a name="2H_4_0012"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + LETTER XII. KENNY JAMES DODD TO THOMAS PURCELL, ESQ., OF THE GRANGE, BRUFF +</h2> +<h3> + Lake of Como. +</h3> +<p> +My dear Tom,—Though I begin this to-day, it may be it will take me to +the end of the week to finish it, for I am still very weak, and my +ideas come sometimes too quick and sometimes too slow, and, like an +ill-ordered procession, stop the road, and make confusion everywhere. +Mary Anne has told you how I have been ill, and for both our sakes, I +'ll say little more about it. One remark, however, I will make, and it +is this: that of all the good qualities we ascribe to home, there is one +unquestionably pre-eminent,—"it is the very best place to be sick in." +The monotony and sameness so wearisome in health are boons to the sick +man. The old familiar faces are all dear to him; the well-known voices +do not disturb him; the little gleam of light that steals in between the +curtains checkers some accustomed spot in the room that he has watched +on many a former sick-bed. The stray words he catches are of home +and homely topics. In a word, he is the centre of a little world, all +anxious and eager about him, and even the old watchdog subdues his growl +out of deference to his comfort. +</p> +<p> +Now, though I am all gratitude for the affection and kindness of every +one around me, I missed twenty things I could have had at Dodsborough, +not one of them worth a brass farthing in reality, but priceless in the +estimation of that peevish, fretful habit that grows out of a sick-bed. +It was such a comfort to me to know how Miles Dogherty passed the night, +and to learn whether he got a little sleep towards morning, as I +did, and what the doctor thought of him. Then I liked to hear all the +adventures of Joe Barret, when he "went in" for the leeches, how the +mare threw him, and left him to scramble home on his feet. Then I +revelled in all that petty tyranny illness admits of, but which is only +practicable amongst one's own people, refusing this, and insisting on +that, just to exercise the little despotism that none rebel against, +but which declines into a mixed monarchy on the first day you eat +chicken-broth, and from which you are utterly deposed when you can dine +at table. In good truth, Tom, I don't wonder at men becoming <i>malades +imaginaires</i>, seeing the unnatural importance they attain to by a life +of complaining, and days passed in self-commiseration and sorrow. +</p> +<p> +In place of all this, think of a foreign country and a foreign doctor; +fancy yourself interrogated about your feelings in a language of which +you scarcely know a word, and are conscious that a wrong tense in your +verb may be your death-warrant. Imagine yourself endeavoring, +through the flighty visions of a wandering intellect, to find out the +subjunctive mood or the past participle, and almost forgetting the +torment of your gout in the terrors of your grammar! +</p> +<p> +This is a tiresome theme, and let us change it. Like all home-grown +people, I see you expect me to send you a full account of Italy and the +Italians within a month after my crossing the Alps. It is, after all, a +pardonable blunder on your part, since the very titles we read to books +of travels in the newspapers show that for sketchy books there +are always to be found "skipping" readers. Hence that host of +surface-description that finds its way into print from men who have +the impudence to introduce themselves as writers of "Jottings from my +Note-Book," "Loose Leaves from my Log," "Smoke Puffs from Germany," and +"A Canter over the Caucasus." Cannot these worthy folk see that the very +names of their books are exactly the apologies they should offer for not +having written them, had any kind but indiscreet friend urged them into +letterpress? "I was only three weeks in Sweden, and therefore I wrote +about it," seems to me as ugly a <i>non sequitur</i> as need be. And now, +Tom, that I have inveighed against the custom, I am quite ready to +follow the example, and if you could only find me a publisher, I am +open to an offer for a tight little octavo, to be called "Italy from my +Bedroom Window." +</p> +<p> +Most writers set out by bespeaking your attention on the ground of their +greater opportunities, their influential acquaintances, position, and so +forth. To this end, therefore, must I tell you that my bedroom window, +besides a half-view of the lake, has a full look-out over a very +picturesque landscape of undulating surface, dotted with villas and +cottages, and backed by a high mountain, which forms the frontier +towards Switzerland. At the first glance it seems to be a dense wood, +with foliage of various shades of green, but gradually you detect little +patches of maize and rice, and occasionally, too, a green crop of wurzel +or turnips, which would be creditable even in England; but the vine +and the olive surround these so completely, or the great mulberry-trees +enshadow them so thoroughly, that at a distance they quite escape view. +The soil is intersected everywhere by canals for irrigation, and water +is treasured up in tanks, and conveyed in wooden troughs for miles and +miles of distance, with a care that shows the just value they ascribe +to it. Their husbandry is all spade work, and I must say neatly and +efficiently done. Of course, I am here speaking of what falls under +my own observation; and it is, besides, a little pet spot of rich +proprietors, with tasteful villas, and handsomely laid-out gardens on +every side; but as the system is the same generally, I conclude that the +results are tolerably alike also. The system is this: that the landlord +contributes the soil, and the peasant the labor, the produce being +fairly divided afterwards in equal portions between them. It reads +simple enough, and it does not sound unreasonable either; while, with +certain drawbacks, it unquestionably contains some great advantages. To +the landlord it affords a fair and a certain remuneration, subject only +to the vicissitudes of seasons and the rate of prices. It attaches him +to the soil, and to those who till it, by the very strongest of all +interests, and, even on selfish grounds, enforces a degree of regard for +the well-being of those beneath him. The peasant, on the other hand, +is neither a rack-rented tenant nor a hireling, but an independent man, +profiting by every exercise of his own industry, and deriving direct +and positive benefit from every hour of his labor. It is not alone his +character that is served by the care he bestows on the culture of the +land, but every comfort of himself and his family are the consequences +of it; and lastly, he is not obliged to convert his produce into money +to meet the rent-day. I am no political economist, but it strikes me +that it is a great burden on a poor man, that he must buy a certain +commodity in the shape of a legal tender, to satisfy the claim of a +landlord. Now, here the peasant has no such charge. The day of reckoning +divides the produce, and the "state of the currency" never enters into +the question. He has neither to hunt fairs nor markets, look out for +"dealers" to dispose of his stock, nor solicit a banker to discount his +small bill. All these are benefits, Tom, and some of them great ones +too. The disadvantages are that the capabilities of the soil are not +developed by the skilful employment of capital. The landlord will not +lay out money of which he is only to receive one-half the profit. The +peasant has the same motive, and has not the money besides. The result +is that Italy makes no other progress in agriculture than the skill +of an individual husbandman can bestow. Here are no Smiths of +Deanstown,—no Sinclairs,—no Mechis. The grape ripens and the olive +grows as it did centuries ago; and so will both doubtless continue to +do for ages to come. Again, there is another, and in some respects a +greater, grievance, since it is one which saps the very essence of all +that is good in the system. The contract is rarely a direct one between +landlord and tenant, but is made by the intervention of a third party, +who employs the laborers, and really occupies the place of oar middlemen +at home. The fellow is usually a hard taskmaster to the poor man, and a +rogue to the rich one; and it is a common thing, I am told, for a fine +estate to find itself at last in the hands of the <i>fattore</i>. This is a +sore complication, and very difficult to avoid, for there are so many +different modes of culture, and such varied ways of treating the crops +on an Italian farm, that the overseer must be sought for in some rank +above that of the peasant. +</p> +<p> +We have a notion in Ireland that the Italian lives on maccaroni; depend +upon it, Tom, he seasons it with something better. In the little village +beside me, there are three butchers' shops, and as the wealthy of the +neighborhood all market at Como, these are the recourse of the poorer +classes. Of wine he has abundance; and as to vegetables and fruits, the +soil teems with them in a rich luxuriance of which I cannot give you +a notion. Great barges pass my window every morning, with melons, +cucumbers, and cauliflowers, piled up half-mast high. How a Dutch +painter would revel in the picturesque profusion of grapes, peaches, +figs, and apricots, heaped up amidst huge pumpkins of bursting ripeness, +and those brilliant "love apples," the allusion to which was so costly +to Mr. Pickwick. You are smacking your lips already at the bare idea +of such an existence. Yes, Tom, you are reproaching Fate for not having +"raised" you, as Jonathan says, on the right side of the Alps, and +left you to the enjoyments of an easy life, with lax principles, little +garments, and a fine climate. But let me tell you, Idleness is only a +luxury WHERE OTHER PEOPLE ARE OBLIGED TO WORK; where every one indulges +in it, it is worth nothing. I remember, when sitting listlessly on +a river's bank, of a sunny day, listening to the hum of the bees, or +watching the splash of a trout in the water, I used to hug myself in the +notion of all the fellows that were screaming away their lungs in the +Law Courts, or sitting upon tall stools in dark counting-houses, or +poring over Blue-books in a committee-room, or maybe broiling on the +banks of the Ganges; and then bethink me of the easy, careless, happy +flow of my own existence. I was quite a philosopher in this way,—I +despised riches, and smiled at all ambition. +</p> +<p> +Now there is no such resources for me here. There are eight or nine +fellows that pass the day—and the night also, I believe—under my +window, that would beat me hollow in the art of doing nothing, and seem +to understand it as a science besides. There they lie—and a nice group +they are—on their backs, in the broiling sun; their red nightcaps drawn +a little over their faces for shade; their brawny chests and sinewy +limbs displayed, as if in derision of their laziness. The very squalor +of their rags seems heightened by the tawdry pretension of a scarlet +sash round the waist, or a gay flower stuck jauntily in a filthy bonnet. +The very knife that stands half buried in the water-melon beside them +has its significance,—you have but to glance at the shape to see that, +like its owner, its purpose is an evil one. What do these fellows know +of labor? Nothing; nor will they, ever, till condemned to it at the +galleys. And what a contrast to all around them,—ragged, dirty, and +wretched, in the midst of a teeming and glorious abundance; barbarous, +in a land that breathes of the very highest civilization, and sunk in +brutal ignorance, beside the greatest triumphs of human genius. +</p> +<p> +What a deal of balderdash people talk about Italian liberty, and the +cause of constitutional freedom! There are—and these only in the +cities—some twenty or thirty highly cultivated, well-thinking +men—lawyers, professors, or physicians, usually—who have taken pains +to study the institutions of other countries, and aspire to see some of +the benefits that attend them applied to their own; but there ends the +party. The nobles are a wretched set, satisfied with the second-hand +vices of France and England grafted upon some native rascalities of +even less merit. They neither read nor think: their lives are spent +in intrigue and play. Now and then a brilliant exception stands forth, +distinguished by intellect as well as station; but the little influence +he wields is the evidence of what estimation such qualities are held in. +My doctor is a Liberal, and a very clever fellow too; and I only wish +you heard him describe the men who have assumed the part of "Italian +Regenerators." +</p> +<p> +Their "antecedents" show that in Italy, as elsewhere, patriotism is too +often but the last refuge of a scoundrel. I know how all this will +grate and jar upon your very Irish ears; and, to say truth, I don't like +saying it myself; but still I cannot help feeling that the "Cause +of Liberty" in the peninsula is remarkably like the process of +grape-gathering that now goes on beneath my window,—there is no care, +no selection,—good, bad, ripe, and unripe,—the clean, the filthy, the +ruddy, and the sapless, are all huddled together, pressed and squeezed +down into a common vat, to ferment into bad wine or—a revolution, as +the case may be. It does not require much chemistry to foresee that it +is the crude, the acrid, the unhealthy, and the bad that will give +the flavor to the liquor. The small element of what is really good is +utterly overborne in the vast Maelstrom of the noxious; and so we see +in the late Italian struggle. Who are the men that exercise the widest +influence in affairs? Not the calm and reasoning minds that gave the +first impulse to wise measures of Reform, and guided their sovereigns +to concessions that would have formed the strong foundations of +future freedom. No; it was the advocate of the wildest doctrines of +Socialism,—the true disciple of the old guillotine school, that ravaged +the earth at the close of the last century. These are the fellows who +scream "Blood! blood!" till they are hoarse; but, in justice to their +discretion, it must be said, they always do it from a good distance off. +</p> +<p> +Don't fancy from this that I am upholding the Austrian rule in Italy. I +believe it to be as bad as need be, and exactly the kind of government +likely to debase and degrade a people whom it should have been their +object to elevate and enlighten. Just fancy a system of administration +where there were all penalties and no rewards,—a school with no +premiums but plenty of flogging. That was precisely what they did. They +put a "ban" upon the natives of the country; they appointed them to no +places of trust or confidence, insulted their feelings, outraged their +sense of nationality; and whenever the system had goaded them into a +passionate burst of indignation, they proclaimed martial law, and hanged +them. +</p> +<p> +Now, the question is not whether any kind of resistance would not be +pardonable against such a state of things, but it is this: what species +of resistance is most likely to succeed? This is the real inquiry; and +I don't think it demands much knowledge of mankind and the world to +say that stabbing a cadet in the back as he leaves a <i>café</i>, shooting a +solitary sentinel on his post, or even assassinating his corporal as +he walks home of an evening, are exactly the appropriate methods for +reforming a state or remodelling a constitution. Had the Lombards +devoted themselves heart and hand to the material prosperity of their +country,—educated their people, employed them in useful works, fostered +their rising and most prosperous silk manufactories,—they would have +attained to a weight and consideration in the Austrian Empire which +would have enabled them not to solicit, but dictate the terms of their +administration. +</p> +<p> +A few years back, as late as '47, Milan, I am told, was more than the +rival of Vienna in all that constitutes the pride and splendor of +a capital city; and the growing influence of her higher classes was +already regarded with jealousy by the Austrian nobility. Look what a +revolution has made her now! Her palaces are barracks; her squares are +encampments; artillery bivouac in her public gardens; and the rigors +of a state of siege penetrate into every private house, and poison all +social intercourse. +</p> +<p> +You may rely upon one thing, Tom, and it is this: that no government +ever persisted in a policy of oppression towards a country that +was advancing on the road of prosperity. It is to the disaffected, +dispirited, bankrupt people—idle and cantankerous, wasting their +resources, and squandering their means of wealth—that cabinets play +the bully. They grind them the way a cruel colonel flogs a condemned +regiment. Let industry and its consequences flow in; let the laborer be +well fed, and housed, and clothed; and the spirit of independence in him +will be a far stronger and more dangerous element to deal with than the +momentary burst of passion that comes from a fevered heart in a famished +frame! Ask a Cabinet Minister if he wouldn't be more frightened by a +deputation from the City, than if the telegraph told him a Chartist mob +was moving on London? We live in an age of a very peculiar kind, and +where real power and real strength are more respected than ever they +were before. +</p> +<p> +Don't you think I have given you a dose of politics? Well, happily for +you, I must desist now, for Cary has come to order me off to bed. It is +only two p.m., but the siesta is now one of my habits, and so pleasant a +one that I intend to keep it when I get well again. +</p> +<p> +Nine o'clock, Evening. +</p> +<p> +Here I am again at my desk for you, though Cary has only given me leave +to devote half an hour to your edification. +</p> +<p> +What a good girl it is,—so watchful in all her attention, and with that +kind of devotion that shows that her whole heart is engaged in what she +is doing! The doctor may fight the malady, Tom, but, take my word for +it, it is the nurse that saves the patient. If ever I raised my eyelids, +there she was beside me! I could n't make a sign that I was thirsty till +she had the drink to my lips. She had, too, that noiseless, quiet way +with her, so soothing to a sick man; and, above all, she never bothered +with questions, but learned to guess what I wanted, and sat patiently +watching at her post. +</p> +<p> +It is a strange confession to make, but the very best thing I know of +this foreign tour of ours is that it has not spoiled that girl; she +has contracted no taste for extra finery in dress, nor extra liberty in +morals; her good sense is not overlaid by the pretentious tone of those +mock nobles that run about calling each other count and marquis, and +fancying they are the great world. There she is, as warmhearted, +as natural, and as simple—in all that makes the real excellence of +simplicity—as when she left home. And now, with all this, I 'd wager a +crown that nineteen young fellows out of twenty would prefer Mary Anne +to her. She is, to be sure, a fine, showy girl, and has taken to a +stylish line of character so naturally that she never abandons it. +</p> +<p> +I assure you, Tom, the way she used to come in of a morning to ask me +how I was, and how I passed the night; her graceful stoop to kiss me; +her tender little caressing twaddle, as if I was a small child to be +bribed into black-bottle by sugar-candy,—were as good as a play. The +little extracts, too, that she made from the newspapers to amuse me were +all from that interesting column called fashionable intelligence, and +the movements in fashionable life, as if it amused me to hear who Lady +Jemima married, and who gave away the bride. Cary knew better what I +cared for, and told me about the harvest and the crops, and the state +of the potatoes, with now and then a spice of the foreign news, whenever +there was anything remarkable. To all appearance, we are not far from a +war; but where it 's to be, and with whom, is hard to say. There 's no +doubt but fighting is a costly amusement; and I believe no country pays +so heavily for her fun in that shape as England; but, nevertheless, +there is nothing would so much tend to revive her drooping and declining +influence on the Continent as a little brush at sea. She is, I take +it, as good as certain to be victorious; and the very fervor of the +enthusiasm success would evoke in England would go far to disabuse the +foreigner of his notion that we are only eager about printing calicoes, +and sharpening Sheffield ware. Believe me, it is vital to us to +eradicate this fallacy; and until the world sees a British fleet reeling +up the Downs with some half-dozen dismasted line-of-battle ships in +their wake, they 'll not be convinced of what you and I know well,—that +we are just the same people that fought the Nile and Trafalgar. Those +Industrial Exhibitions, I think, brought out a great deal of trashy +sentimentality about universal brotherhood, peace, and the rest of it. I +suppose the Crystal Palace rage was a kind of allegory to show that +they who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones; but our ships, +Tom,—our ships, as the song says, are "hearts of oak"! Here's Cary +again, and with a confounded cupful of something green at top and muddy +below! Apothecaries are filthy distillers all the world over, and one +never knows the real blessing of health till one has escaped from their +beastly brewings. Good-night. +</p> +<p> +Saturday Morning. +</p> +<p> +A regular Italian morning, Tom, and such a view! The mists are swooping +down the Alps, and showing cliffs and crags in every tint of sunlit +verdure. The lake is blue as a dark turquoise, reflecting the banks and +their hundred villas in the calm water. The odor of the orange-flower +and the oleander load the air, and, except my vagabonds under the +window, there is not an element of the picture devoid of interest and +beauty. There they are as usual; one of them has his arm in a bloody +rag, I perceive, the consequence of a row last night,—at least, +Paddy Byrne saw a fellow wiping his knife and washing his bands in the +lake—very suspicious circumstances—just as he was going to bed. +</p> +<p> +I have been hearing all about our neighbors,—at least, Cary has been +interrogating the gardener, and "reporting progress" to me as well +as she could make him out. This Lake of Como seems the paradise of +<i>ci-devant</i> theatrical folk; all the prima donnas who have amassed +millions, and all the dancers that have pirouetted into great wealth, +appear to have fixed their ambition on retiring to this spot. Of a +truth, it is the very antithesis to a stage existence. The silent and +almost solemn grandeur of the scene, the massive Alps, the deep dense +woods, the calm unbroken stillness, are strong contrasts to the crash +and tumult, the unreality and uproar of a theatre. I wonder, do they +enjoy the change? I am curious to know if they yearn for the blaze +of the dress-circle and the waving pit? Do they long at heart for the +stormy crash of the orchestra and the maddening torrent of applause; +and does the actual world of real flowers and trees and terraces and +fountains seem in their eyes a poor counterfeit of the dramatic one? +It would not be unnatural if it were so. There is the same narrowing +tendency in every professional career. The doctor, the lawyer, the +priest, the soldier,—ay, and even your Parliament man, if he be an old +member, has got to take a House of Commons standard for everything and +everybody. It is only your true idler, your genuine good-for-nothing +vagabond, that ever takes wide or liberal views of life; one like +myself, in short, whose prejudices have not been fostered by any kind of +education, and who, whatever he knows of mankind, is sure to be his own. +</p> +<p> +They 've carried away my ink-bottle, to write acknowledgments and +apologies for certain invitations the womenkind have received to go and +see fireworks somewhere on the lake; for these exhibitions seem to be a +passion with Italians! I wish they were fonder of burning powder to more +purpose! I 'm to dine below to-day, so it is likely that I 'll not be +able to add anything to this before to-morrow, when I mean to despatch +it A neighbor, I hear, has sent us a fine trout; and another has +forwarded a magnificent present of fruit and vegetables,—very graceful +civilities these to a stranger, and worthy of record and remembrance. +Lord George tells me that these Lombard lords are fine fellows,—that +is, they keep splendid houses and capital horses, have first-rate cooks, +and London-built carriages,—and, as he adds, will bet you what you like +at piquet or <i>écarté</i>. Egad, such qualities have great success in the +world, despite all that moralists may say of them! +</p> +<p> +The ink has come back, but it is <i>I</i> am dry now! The fact is, Tom, that +very little exertion goes far with a man in this climate! It is scarcely +noon, but the sultry heat is most oppressive; and I half agree with my +friends under the window, that the dorsal attitude is the true one for +Italy. In any other country you want to be up and doing: there are snipe +or woodcocks to be shot, a salmon to kill, or a fox to hunt; you have +to look at the potatoes or the poorhouse; there 's a row, or a road +session, or something or other to employ you; but here, it's a snug spot +in the shade you look for,—six feet of even ground under a tree; +and with that the hours go glibly over, in a manner that is quite +miraculous. +</p> +<p> +It ought to be the best place under the sun for men of small fortune. +The climate alone is an immense economy in furs and firing; and there is +scarcely a luxury that is not, somehow or other, the growth of the +soil: on this head—the expense I mean—I can tell you nothing, for, +of course, I have not served on any committee of the estimates since +my illness; but I intend to audit the accounts to-morrow, and then you +shall hear all. Tiverton, I understand, has taken the management of +everything; and Mrs. D. and Mary Anne tell me, so excellent is his +system, that a rebellion has broken out below stairs, and three of our +household have resigned, carrying away various articles of wardrobe, and +other property, as an indemnity, doubtless, for the treatment they +had met with. I half suspect that any economy in dinners is more than +compensated for in broken crockery; for every time that a fellow is +scolded in the drawing-room, there is sure to be a smash in the plate +department immediately afterwards, showing that the national custom of +the "vendetta" can be carried into the "willow pattern." This is one of +my window observations. I wish there were no worse ones to record. +</p> +<p> +"Not a line, not another word, till you take your broth, papa," says my +kind nurse; and as after my broth I take my sleep, I 'll just take leave +of you for to-day. I wish I may remember even half of what I wanted to +say to you tomorrow, but I have a strong moral conviction that I shall +not It is not that the oblivion will be any loss to you, Tom; but when +I think of it, after the letter is gone, I 'm fit to be tied with +impatience. Depend upon it, a condition of hopeless repining for +the past is a more terrible torture than all that the most glowing +imagination of coming evil could ever compass or conceive. +</p> +<p> +Sunday Afternoon. +</p> +<p> +I told you yesterday I had not much faith in my memory retaining even +a tithe of what I wished to say to you. The case is far worse than +that,—I can really recollect nothing. I know that I had questions to +ask, doubts to resolve, and directions to give, but they are all so +commingled and blended together in my distracted brain that I can make +nothing out of the disorder. The fact is, Tom, the fellow has bled me +too far, and it is not at my time of life—58° in the shade, by old +Time's thermometer—that one rallies quickly out of the hands of the +doctor. +</p> +<p> +I thought myself well enough this morning to look over my accounts; +indeed, I felt certain that the inquiry could not be prudently delayed, +so I sent for Mary Anne after breakfast, and proceeded in state to a +grand audit. I have already informed you that all the material of life +here is the very cheapest,—meat about fourpence a pound; bread and +butter and milk and vegetables still more reasonable; wine, such as it +is, twopence a bottle; fruit for half nothing. It was not, therefore, +any inordinate expectation on my part that we should be economizing in +rare style, and making up for past extravagance by real retrenchment. +I actually looked forward to the day of reckoning as a kind of holiday +from all care, and for once in my life revel in the satisfaction of +having done a prudent thing. +</p> +<p> +Conceive my misery and disappointment—I was too weak for rage—to find +that our daily expenses here, with a most moderate household, and no +company, amounted to a fraction over five pounds English a day. The +broad fact so overwhelmed me that it was only with camphor-julep and +ether that I got over it, and could proceed to details. Proceed to +details, do I say! Much good did it do me! for what between a new +coinage, new weights and measures, and a new language, I got soon into +a confusion and embarrassment that would have been too much for my brain +in its best days. Now and then I began to hope that I had grappled with +a fact, even a small one; but, alas! it was only a delusion, for though +the prices were strictly as I told you, there was no means of even +approximating to the quantities ordered in. On a rough calculation, +however, it appears that <i>my</i> mutton broth took half a sheep <i>per +diem</i>. The family consumed about two cows a week in beef; besides hares, +pheasants, bams, and capons at will. The servants—with a fourth of +the wine set down to me—could never have been sober an hour; while our +vegetable and fruit supply would have rivalled Covent Garden Market. +</p> +<p> +"Do you understand this, Mary Anne?" said I. +</p> +<p> +"No, papa," said she. +</p> +<p> +"Does your mother?" said I. +</p> +<p> +"No, papa." +</p> +<p> +"Does Lord George understand it?" +</p> +<p> +"No, papa; but he says he is sure Giacomo can explain everything,—for +he is a capital fellow, and honest as the sun!" +</p> +<p> +"And who is Giacomo?" said I. +</p> +<p> +"The Maestro di Casa, papa. He is over all the other servants, pays all +the bills, keeps the keys of everything, and, in fact, takes charge of +the household." +</p> +<p> +"Where did he come from?" +</p> +<p> +"The Prince Belgiasso had him in his service, and strongly recommended +him to Lord George as the most trustworthy and best of servants. His +discharge says that he was always regarded rather in the light of a +friend than a domestic!" +</p> +<p> +Shall I own to you, Tom, that I shuddered as I heard this? It may be a +most unfair and ungenerous prejudice; but if there be any class in life +of whose good qualities I entertain a weak opinion, it is of the servant +tribe, and especially of those who enter into the confidential category. +They are, to my thinking, a pestilent race, either tyrannizing over the +weakness, or fawning to the vices, of their employers. I have known a +score of them, and I rejoice to think that a very large proportion of +that number have been since transported for life. +</p> +<p> +"Does Giacomo speak English?" asked I. +</p> +<p> +"Perfectly, papa; as well as French, Spanish, German, and a little +Russian." +</p> +<p> +"Send him to me, then," said I, "and let us have a talk together. +</p> +<p> +"You can't see him to-day, papa, for he is performing St. Barnabas in a +grand procession that is to take place this evening." +</p> +<p> +This piece of information shows me that it is a "Festa," and the post +will consequently close early, so that I now conclude this, promising +that you shall have an account of my interview with Giacomo by to-morrow +or the day after. +</p> +<p> +Not a line from James yet, and I am beginning to feel very uncomfortable +about him. +</p> +<p> +Yours ever faithfully, +</p> +<p> +Kenny I. Dodd. +</p> +<a name="2H_4_0013"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + LETTER XIII. KENNY JAMES DODD TO THOMAS PURCELL, ESQ., OF THE GRANGE, BRUFF +</h2> +<h3> + Como +</h3> +<p> +My dear Tom,—This may perchance be a lengthy despatch, for I have just +received a polite invitation from the authorities here to pack off, bag +and baggage, over the frontier; and as it is doubtful where our next +move may take us, I write this "in extenso," and to clear off all +arrears up to the present date. +</p> +<p> +At the conclusion of my last, if I remember aright, I was in +anxious expectation of a visit from Signor Giacomo Lamporeccho. That +accomplished gentleman, however, had been so fatigued by his labors in +the procession, and so ill from a determination of blood to the +head, brought on by being tied for two hours to a tree, with his legs +uppermost, to represent the saint's martyrdom, that he could not wait +upon me till the third day after the Festa; and then his streaked +eyeballs and flushed face attested that even mock holiness is a costly +performance. +</p> +<p> +"You are Giacomo?" said I, as he entered; and I ought to mention that +in air and appearance he was a large, full, fine-looking man, of about +eight-and-thirty or forty, dressed in very accurate black, and with +a splendid chain of mosaic gold twined and festooned across his +ample chest; opal shirt-studs and waistcoat buttons, and a very +gorgeous-looking signet-ring on his forefinger aided to show off a +stylish look, rendered still more imposing by a beard a Grand Vizier +might have envied, and a voice a semi-tone deeper than Lablache's. +</p> +<p> +"Giacomo Lamporeccho," said he; and though he uttered the words like a +human bassoon, they really sounded as if he preferred not to be himself, +but somebody else, in case I desired it. +</p> +<p> +"Well, Giacomo," said I, easily, and trying to assume as much +familiarity as I could with so imposing a personage, "I want you to +afford me some information about these accounts of mine." +</p> +<p> +"Ah! the house accounts!" said he, with a very slight elevation of +the eyebrows, but quite sufficient to convey to me an expression of +contemptuous meaning. +</p> +<p> +"Just so, Giacomo; they appear to me high,—enormously, extravagantly +high!" +</p> +<p> +"His Excellency paid, at least, the double in London," said he, bowing. +</p> +<p> +"That's not the question. We are in Lombardy,—a land where the price +of everything is of the cheapest. How comes it, then, that we are +maintaining our house at greater cost than even Paris would require?" +</p> +<p> +With a volubility that I can make no pretension to follow, the fellow +ran over the prices of bread, meat, fowls, and fish, showing that they +were for half their cost elsewhere; that his Excellency's table was +actually a mean one; that sea-fish from Venice, and ortolans, seldom +figured at it above once or twice a week; that it was rare to see a +second flask of champagne opened at dinner; that our Bordeaux was bad, +and our Burgundy bitter; in short, he thought his Excellency had come +expressly for economy, as great "milors" will occasionally do, and +that if so, he must have had ample reason to be satisfied with the +experiment. +</p> +<p> +Though every sentiment the fellow uttered was an impertinence, he +bowed and smiled, and demeaned himself with such an air of humility +throughout, that I stood puzzled between the matter and the manner +of his address. Meanwhile he was not idle, but running over with glib +volubility the names of all the "illustrissimi Inglesi" he had been +cheating and robbing for a dozen years back. To nail him to the fact +of the difference between the cost of the article and the gross sum +expended, was downright impossible, though he clearly gave to understand +that any inquiry into the matter showed his Excellency to be the +shabbiest of men,—mean, grasping, and avaricious, and, in fact, very +likely to be no "milor" at all, but some poor pretender to rank and +station. +</p> +<p> +I felt myself waxing wroth with a weak frame,—about as unpleasant a +situation as can be fancied; for let me observe to you, Tom, that the +brawny proportions of Signor Lamporeccho would not have prevented my +trying conclusion with him, had I been what you last saw me; but, alas! +the Italian doctor had bled me down so low that I was not even a match +for one of his countrymen. I was therefore obliged to inform my friend +that, being alone with him, and our interview having taken the form of a +privileged communication, he was a thief and a robber! +</p> +<p> +The words were not uttered, when he drew a long and glistening knife +from behind his back, under his coat, and made a rush at me. I seized +the butt-end of James's fishing-rod,—fortunately beside me,—and held +him at bay, shouting wildly, "Murder!" all the while. The room was +filled in an instant; Tiverton and the girls, followed by all the +servants and several peasants, rushing in pell-mell. Before, however, +I could speak, for I was almost choked with passion, Signor Giacomo had +gained Lord George's ear, and evidently made him his partisan. +</p> +<p> +Tiverton cleared the room as fast as he could, mumbling out something to +the girls that seemed to satisfy them and allay their fears, and then, +closing the door, took his seat beside me. +</p> +<p> +"It will not signify," said he to me, in a kind voice; "the thing is +only a scratch, and will be well in a day or two." +</p> +<p> +"What do you mean?" said I. +</p> +<p> +"Egad! you'll have to be cautious, though," said he, laughing. "It was +in a very awkward place; and that too is n't the handiest for minute +anatomy." +</p> +<p> +"Do you want to drive me mad, my Lord; for, if not, Just take the +trouble to explain yourself." +</p> +<p> +"Pooh, pooh!" said he; "don't fuss yourself about nothing. I understand +how to deal with these fellows. You 'll see, five-and-twenty Naps, will +set it all right." +</p> +<p> +"I see," said I, "your intention is to outrage me; and I beg that I may +be left alone." +</p> +<p> +"Come, don't be angry with me, Dodd," cried he, in one of his +good-tempered, coaxing ways. "I know well you 'd never have done it—" +</p> +<p> +"Done what,—done what?" screamed I, in an agony of rage. +</p> +<p> +He made a gesture with the fishing-rod, and burst out a-laughing for +reply. +</p> +<p> +"Do you mean that I stuck that scoundrel that has just gone out?" cried +I. +</p> +<p> +"And no great harm, either!" said he. +</p> +<p> +"Do you mean that I stuck him?—answer me that." +</p> +<p> +"Well, I 'd be just as much pleased if you had not," said he; "for, +though they are always punching holes into each other, they don't like +an Englishman to do it. Still, keep quiet, and I 'll set it all straight +before to-morrow. The doctor shall give a certificate, setting forth +mental excitement, and so forth. We 'll show that you are not quite +responsible for your actions just now." +</p> +<p> +"Egad, you 'll have a proof of your theory, if you go on much longer at +this rate," said I, grinding my teeth with passion. +</p> +<p> +"And then we 'll get up a provocation of some kind or other. Of course, +the thing will cost money,—that can't be helped; but we'll try to +escape imprisonment." +</p> +<p> +"Send Cary to me,—send my daughter here!" said I, for I was growing +weak. +</p> +<p> +"But had n't you better let us concert—" +</p> +<p> +"Send Cary to me, my Lord, and leave me!" and I said the words in a way +that he could n't misunderstand. He had scarcely quitted the room when +Cary entered it. +</p> +<p> +"There, dearest papa," said she, caressingly, "don't fret. It's a mere +trifle; and if he was n't a wretchedly cowardly creature, he 'd think +nothing of it!" +</p> +<p> +"Are you in the conspiracy against me too?" cried I; "have <i>you</i> also +joined the enemy?" +</p> +<p> +"That I haven't," said she, putting an arm round my neck; "and I know +well, if the fellow had not grossly outraged, or perhaps menaced you, +you 'd never have done it! I 'm certain of that, pappy!" +</p> +<p> +Egad, Tom, I don't like to own it, but the truth is—I burst out +a-crying; that's what all this bleeding and lowering has brought me to, +that I have n't the nerve of a kitten! It was the inability to rebut +all this balderdash—to show that it was a lie from beginning to +end—confounded me; and when I saw my poor Cary, that never believed ill +of me before, that, no matter what I said or did, always took my part, +and, if she could n't defend at least excused me,—when, I say, I saw +that <i>she</i> gave in to this infernal delusion, I just felt as if my heart +was going to break, and I sincerely wished it might. +</p> +<p> +I tried very hard to summon strength to set her right; I suppose that a +drowning man never struggled harder to reach a plank than did I to grasp +one thought well and vigorously; but to no use. My ideas danced about +like the phantoms in a magic lantern, and none would remain long enough +to be recognized. +</p> +<p> +"I think I 'll take a sleep, my dear," said I. +</p> +<p> +"The very wisest thing you could do, pappy," said she, closing the +shutters noiselessly, and sitting down in her old place beside my bed. +</p> +<p> +Though I pretended slumber, I never slept a wink. I went over all this +affair in my mind, and, summing up the evidence against me, I began to +wonder if a man ever committed a homicide without knowing it,—I +mean, if, when his thoughts were very much occupied, he could stick a +fellow-creature and not be aware of it. I could n't exactly call any +case in point to mind, but I did n't see why it might not be possible. +If stabbing people was a common and daily habit of an individual, +doubtless he might do it, just as he would wind his watch or wipe +his spectacles, while thinking of something else; but as it was not a +customary process, at least where I came from, there was the difficulty. +I would have given more than I had to give, just to ask Cary a few +questions,—as, for instance, how did it happen? where is the wound? how +deep is it? and so on,—but I was so terrified lest I should compromise +my innocence that I would not venture on a syllable. One sees constantly +in the police reports how the prisoner, when driving off to jail with +Inspector Potts, invariably betrays himself by some expression of +anxiety or uneasiness, such as "Well, nobody can say I did it! I was in +Houndsditch till eleven o'clock;" or, "Poor Molly, I did n't mean +her any harm, but it was she begun it." Warned by these indiscreet +admissions, I was guarded not to utter a word. I preserved my resolution +with such firmness that I fell into a sound sleep, and never awoke till +the next morning. +</p> +<p> +Before I acknowledged myself to be awake,—don't you know that state, +Tom, in which a man vibrates between consciousness and indolence, and +when he has not fully made up his mind whether he 'll not skulk his +load of daily cares a little longer?—I could perceive that there was +a certain stir and movement about me that betokened extraordinary +preparation, and I could overhear little scraps of discussions as to +whether "he ought to be awakened," and "what he should wear," Cary's +voice being strongly marked in opposition to everything that portended +any disturbance of me. Patience, I believe, is not my forte, though +long-suffering may be my fortune, for I sharply asked, "What the——— +was in the wind now?" +</p> +<p> +"We'll leave him to Cary," said Mrs. D., retiring precipitately, +followed by the rest, while Cary came up to my bedside, and kindly +began her inquiries about my health; but I stopped her, by a very abrupt +repetition of my former question. +</p> +<p> +"Oh! it's a mere nothing, pappy,—a formality, and nothing more. That +creature, Giacomo, has been making a fuss over the affair of last night; +and though Lord George endeavored to settle it, he refused, and went off +to the Tribunal to lodge a complaint." +</p> +<p> +"Well, go on." +</p> +<p> +"The Judge, or Prefect, or whatever he is, took his depositions, and +issued a warrant—" +</p> +<p> +"To apprehend me?" +</p> +<p> +"Don't flurry yourself, dearest pappy; these are simply formalities, for +the Brigadier has just told me—" +</p> +<p> +"He is here, then,—in the house?" +</p> +<p> +"Why will you excite yourself in this way, when I tell you that all +will most easily be arranged? The Brigadier only asks to see you,—to +ascertain, in fact, that you are really ill, and unable to be removed—" +</p> +<p> +"To jail—to the common prison, eh?" +</p> +<p> +"Oh, I must not talk to you, if it irritates you in this fashion; +indeed, there is now little more to say, and if you will just permit the +Brigadier to come in for a second, everything is done." +</p> +<p> +"I 'm ready for him," said I, in a tone that showed I needed no further +information; and Cary left the room. +</p> +<p> +After about five minutes' waiting, in an almost intolerable impatience, +the Brigadier, stooping his enormous bearskin to fully three feet, +entered with four others, armed cap-à-pic, who drew up in a line behind +him, and grounded their carbines with a clank that made the room shake. +The Brigadier, I must tell you, was a very fine soldier-like fellow, and +with fully half a dozen decorations hanging to his coat. It struck me +that he was rather disappointed; he probably expected to see a man of +colossal proportions and herculean strength, instead of the poor remnant +of humanity that chicken broth and the lancet have left me. The room, +too, seemed to fall below his expectations; for he threw his eyes around +him without detecting any armory or offensive weapons, or, indeed, any +means of resistance whatever. +</p> +<p> +"This is his Excellency?" said he at last, addressing Cary; and she +nodded. +</p> +<p> +"Ask him his own name, Cary," said I. "I'm curious about it." +</p> +<p> +"My name," said he, sonorously, to her question,—"my name is Alessandro +Lamporeccho;" and with that he gave the word to his people to face +about, and away they marched with all the solemnity of a military +movement. As the door closed behind them, however, I heard a few words +uttered in whispers, and immediately afterwards the measured tread of a +sentry slowly parading the lobby outside my room. +</p> +<p> +"That's another <i>formality</i>, Cary," said I, "is n't it?" She nodded for +reply. "Tell them I detest ceremony, my dear," said I; "and—and "—I +could n't keep down my passion—"and if they don't take that fellow +away, I'll pitch him head and crop over the banisters." I tried to +spring up, but back I fell, weak, and almost fainting. The sad truth +came home to me at once that I had n't strength to face a baby; so I +just turned my face to the wall, and sulked away to my heart's content. +If I tell you how I spent that day, the same story will do for the rest +of the week. I saw that they were all watching and waiting for some +outbreak, of either my temper or my curiosity. They tried every means +to tempt me into an inquiry of one kind or other. They dropped hints, in +half-whispers, before me. They said twenty things to arouse anxiety, and +even alarm, in me; but I resolved that if I passed my days there, I 'd +starve them out: and so I did. +</p> +<p> +On the ninth day, when I was eating my breakfast, just as I had +finished my mutton-chop, and was going to attack the eggs, Cary, in a +half-laughing way, said, "Well, pappy, do you never intend to take the +air again? The weather is now delightful,—that second season they call +the summer of St. Joseph." +</p> +<p> +"Ain't I a prisoner?" said I. "I thought I had murdered somebody, and +was sentenced for life to this chamber." +</p> +<p> +"How can you be so silly!" said she. "You know perfectly well how these +foreigners make a fuss about everything, and exaggerate every trifle +into a mock importance. Now, we are not in Ireland—" +</p> +<p> +"No," said I, "would to Heaven we were!" +</p> +<p> +"Well, perhaps I might echo the prayer without doing any great violence +to my sincerity; but as we are not there, nor can we change the +venue—is n't that the phrase?—to our own country, what if we just were +to make the best of it, and suffer this matter to take its course here?" +</p> +<p> +"As how, Cary?" +</p> +<p> +"Simply by dressing yourself, and driving into Como. Your case will be +heard on any morning you present yourself; and I am so convinced +that the whole affair will be settled in five minutes that I am quite +impatient it should be over." +</p> +<p> +I will not repeat all her arguments, some good and some bad, but every +one of them dictated by that kind and affectionate spirit which, however +her judgment incline, never deserts her. The end of it was, I got up, +shaved, and dressed, and within an hour was skimming over the calm clear +water towards the little city of Como. +</p> +<p> +Cary was with me,—she would come,—she said she knew she did me good; +and it was true: but the scene itself—those grand, great mountains; +those leafy glens, opening to the glassy lake, waveless and still; that +glorious reach of blue sky, spanning from peak to peak of those Alpine +ridges—all soothed and calmed me; and in the midst of such gigantic +elements, I could not help feeling shame that such a reptile as I should +mar the influence of this picture on my heart by petty passions and +little fractious discontents an worthy of a sick schoolboy. +</p> +<p> +"Is n't it enough for you, K. I.," says I, "ay, and more than you +deserve, just to live, and breathe, and have your being in such a bright +and glorious world? If you were a poet, with what images would not these +swooping mists, these fleeting shadows, people your imagination? What +voices would you hear in the wind sighing through the olive groves, and +dying in many a soft cadence along the grottoed shore? If a painter, +what effects of sunlight and shadow are there to study? what tints +of color, that, without nature to guarantee, you would never dare to +venture on? But being neither, having neither gift nor talent, being +simply one of those 4 fruit consumers,' who bring back nothing to the +common stock of mankind, and who can no more make my fellow-man wiser or +better than I make myself taller or younger, is it not a matter of +deep thankfulness that, in all my common-place of mind and thought, I +too—even K. I. that I am—have an intense feeling of enjoyment in the +contemplation of this scene? I could n't describe it like Shelley, nor +paint it like Stan field, but I 'll back myself for a five-pound note +to feel it with either of them." And there, let me tell you, Tom, is the +real superiority of Nature over all her counterfeits. You need no study, +no cultivation, no connoisseurship to appreciate her: her glorious works +come home to the heart of the peasant, as, mist-begirt, he waits for +sunrise on some highland waste, as well as to the Prince, who gazes on +the swelling landscape of his own dominions. I could n't tell a Claude +from a Canaletti,—I 'm not sure that I don't like H. B. better than +Albert Durer,—but I 'd not surrender the heartfelt delight, the calm, +intense, deep-souled gratitude I experience from the contemplation of a +lovely landscape, to possess the Stafford gallery. +</p> +<p> +I was, then, in a far more peaceful and practicable frame of mind as we +entered Como than when I quitted the villa. +</p> +<p> +I should like to have lingered a little in the old town itself, with its +quaint little arched passages and curious architecture; but Cary advised +me to nurse all my strength for the "Tribunal." I suppose it must +be with some moral hope of discountenancing litigation that foreign +Governments always make the Law Courts as dirty and disgusting as +possible, pitch them in a filthy quarter, and surround them with every +squalor. This one was a paragon of its kind, and for rags and ruffianly +looks I never saw the equal of the company there assembled. I am not +yet quite sure that the fellow who showed us the way did n't purposely +mislead us; for we traversed a dozen dark corridors, and went up and +went down more staircases than I have accomplished for the last six +months. Now and then we stopped for a minute to interrogate somebody +through a sliding pane in a kind of glass cage, and off we went again. +At last we came to a densely crowded passage, making way through which, +we entered a large hall with a vaulted roof, crammed with people, but +who made room at the instance of a red-eyed, red-bearded little man in +a black gown, that I now, to my horror and disgust, found out was my +counsel, being already engaged by Lord George to defend me. +</p> +<p> +"This is treachery, Cary," whispered I, angrily. +</p> +<p> +"I know it is," said she, "and I 'm one of the traitors; but anything is +better than to see you pine away your life in a sick-room." +</p> +<p> +This was neither the time nor place for much colloquy, as we now had to +fight our way vigorously through the mob till we reached a row of seats +where the bar were placed, and where we were politely told to be seated. +Directly in front of us sat three ill-favored old fellows in black +gowns and square black caps, modelled after those brown-paper helmets +so popular with plasterers and stucco men in our country. I found it a +great trial not to laugh every time I looked at them! +</p> +<p> +There was no case "on" at the moment, but a kind of wrangle was going +forward about whose was to be the next hearing, in which I could hear +my own name mingled. My lawyer, Signor Mastuccio, seemed to make a +successful appeal in my favor; for the three old "plasterers" put up +their eyeglasses, and stared earnestly at Cary, after which the chief +of them nodded benignly, and said that the case of Giacomo Lamporeccho +might be called; and accordingly, with a voice that might have raised +the echoes of the Alps, a fellow screamed out that the "homicidio"—I +have no need to translate the word—was then before the Court If I +only were to tell you, Tom, of the tiresome, tedious, and unmeaning +formalities that followed, your case in listening would be scarcely +more enviable than was my own while enduring them. All the preliminary +proceedings were in writing, and a dirty little dog, with a vile odor +of garlic about him, read some seventy pages of a manuscript which I +was informed was the accusation against me. Then appeared another +creature,—his twin brother in meanness and poverty,—who proved to be +a doctor, the same who had professionally attended the wounded man, +and who also read a memoir of the patient's sufferings and peril. +These occupied the Court till it was nigh three o'clock, when, being +concluded, Giacomo himself was called. I assure you, Tom, I gave a start +when, instead of the large, fine, burly, well-bearded rascal with the +Lablache voice, I beheld a pale, thin, weakly creature, with a miserable +treble, inform the Court that he was Giacomo Lamporeccho. +</p> +<p> +Cary, who translated for me as he spoke, told me that he gave an account +of our interview together, in which it would appear that my conduct was +that of an outrageous maniac. He described me as accusing everybody of +roguery and cheating,—calling the whole country a den of thieves, +and the authorities their accomplices. He detailed his own mild +remonstrances against my hasty judgment, and his calm appeals to my +better reason. He dwelt long upon his wounded honor, and, what he felt +still more deeply, the wounded honor of his nation; and at last he +actually began to cry when his feelings got too much for him, at which +the Court sobbed, and the bar sobbed, and the general audience, in a +mixture of grief and menace, muttered the most signal vengeance against +your humble servant. +</p> +<p> +I happened to be—a rare thing for me, latterly—in one of my old moods, +when the ludicrous and absurd carry away all my sympathies; and faith, +Tom, I laughed as heartily as ever I did in my life at the whole scene. +"Are we coming to the wound yet, Cary," said I, "tell me that," for the +fellow had now begun again. +</p> +<p> +"Yes, papa, he is describing it, and, by his account, it ought to have +killed him." +</p> +<p> +"Egad," said I, "it will be the death of <i>me</i> with laughing;" and I +shook till my sides ached. +</p> +<p> +"Does his Excellency know that he is in a Court of Justice?" said +Plasterer No. 1. +</p> +<p> +"Tell him, my dear, that I quite forgot it. I fancied I was at a play, +and enjoyed it much." +</p> +<p> +I believe Cary did n't translate me honestly, for the old fellow seemed +appeased, and the case continued. I could now perceive that my atrocious +conduct had evoked a very strong sentiment in the auditory, for +there was a great rush forward to get a look at me, and they who were +fortunate enough to succeed complimented me by a string of the most +abusive and insulting epithets. +</p> +<p> +My advocate was now called on, and, seeing him rise, I just whispered to +Cary, "Ask the judge if we may see the wound?" +</p> +<p> +"What does that question mean?" said the chief judge, imperiously. +"Would the prisoner dare to insinuate that the wound has no existence?" +</p> +<p> +"You've hit it," said I. "Tell him, Cary, that's exactly what I mean." +</p> +<p> +"Has not the prisoner sworn to his sufferings," repeated he, "and the +doctor made oath to the treatment?" +</p> +<p> +"They 're both a pair of lying scoundrels. Tell him so, Cary." +</p> +<p> +"You see him now. There is the man himself in his true colors, most +illustrious and most ornate judges," exclaimed Giacomo, pointing to me +with his finger, as I nearly burst with rage. +</p> +<p> +"Ah! che diavolo! che demonio infernale!" rang out amidst the waving +crowd; and the looks bestowed on me from the bench seemed to give hearty +concurrence to the opinion. +</p> +<p> +Now, Tom, a court of justice, be its locale ever so humble, and its +procedure ever so simple, has always struck me as the very finest +evidence of homage to civilization. There is something in the fact of +men submitting, not only their worldly interests and their characters, +but even their very passions, to the arbitration of their fellow-men, +that is indescribably fine and noble, and shows—if we even wanted such +a proof—that this corrupt nature of ours, in the midst of all its worst +influences, has still some of that divine essence within, unsullied and +untarnished. And just as I reverence this, do I execrate, with all my +heart's indignation, a corrupt judicature. The governments who employ, +and the people who tolerate them, are well worthy of each other. +</p> +<p> +Take all the vices that degrade a nation, "bray them in a mortar," and +they 'll not eat so deep into the moral feeling of a people as a tainted +administration of the law. +</p> +<p> +You may fancy that, in my passionate warmth, I have forgotten all about +my individual case: no such thing. I have, however, rescued myself +from the danger of an apoplexy by opening this safety-valve to my +indignation. And now I cannot resume my narrative. No, Tom, "I have lost +the scent," and all I can do is to bring you "in at the death." I was +sentenced to pay seven hundred zwanzigers,—eight-pences,—all the costs +of the procedure, the doctor's bill, and the maintenance of Giacomo +till his convalescence was completed. I appealed on the spot to an upper +court, and the judgment was confirmed! I nearly burst with indignant +anger, and asked my advocate if he had ever heard of such iniquity. +He shrugged his shoulders, smiled slightly, and said, "The law is +precarious in all countries." +</p> +<p> +"Yes,—but," said I, "the judges are not always corrupt. Now, that old +president of the first court suggested every answer to the witness—" +</p> +<p> +"Vincenzio Lamporeccho is a shrewd man—" +</p> +<p> +"What! How do you call him? Is he anything to our friend Giacomo?" +</p> +<p> +"He is his father!" +</p> +<p> +"And the Brigadier who arrested me?" +</p> +<p> +"Is his brother. The junior judge of the Appeal Court, Luigi +Lamporeccho, is his first cousin." +</p> +<p> +I did n't ask more questions, Tom. Fancy a country where your butler +is brother to the chief baron, and sues you for wages in the Court of +Exchequer! +</p> +<p> +"And you, Signor Mastuccio," said I. "I hope I have not exposed you to +the vengeance of this powerful family by your zeal in my behalf?" +</p> +<p> +"Not in the least," said he; "my mother was a Lamporeccho herself." +</p> +<p> +Now, Tom, I think I need not take any more pains to explain the issue of +my lawsuit; and here I'll leave it. +</p> +<p> +My parting benediction to the Court was brief: "Goodbye, old gentlemen. +I 'm glad you have the Austrians here to bully you; and not sorry that +<i>you</i> are here to assassinate <i>them</i>." This speech was overheard by +some learned linguist in court, and on the same evening I received an +intimation to quit the Imperial dominions within twenty-four hours. +Tiverton was for going up to Milan to Radetzky, or somebody, else, and +having it all "put straight," as he calls it; but I would not hear of +this. +</p> +<p> +"We 'll write to the Ambassador at Vienna?" said he. +</p> +<p> +"Nor that either," said I. +</p> +<p> +"To the 'Times,' then." +</p> +<p> +"Not a word of it." +</p> +<p> +"You don't mean to say," said he, "that you 'll put up with this +treatment, and that you'll lower the name of Briton before these +foreigners by such a tame submission?" +</p> +<p> +"My view of the case is a very simple one, my Lord," said I; "and it +is this. We travelling English are very prone to two faults; one is, +a bullying effort to oppose ourselves to the laws of the countries we +visit; and then, when we fail, a whining appeal to some minister +or consul to take up our battle. The first is stupid, the latter is +contemptible. The same feeling that would prevent me trespassing on the +hospitality of an unwilling host will rescue me from the indignity of +remaining in a country where my presence is distasteful to the rulers of +it." +</p> +<p> +"Such a line of conduct," said he, "would expose us to insult from one +end of Europe to the other." +</p> +<p> +"And if it teach us to stay at home, and live under laws that we +understand, the price is not too high for the benefit." +</p> +<p> +He blustered away about what he would n't do in the Press, and in his +"place" in Parliament; but what's the use of all that? Will England go +to war for Kenny James Dodd? No. Well, then, by no other argument is the +foreigner assailable. Tell the Austrian or the Russian Government that +the company at the "Freemasons'" dinner were shocked, and the ladies at +Exeter Hall were outraged at their cruelty, and they 'll only laugh at +you. We can't send a fleet to Vienna; nor—we would n't if we could. +</p> +<p> +I did n't tell Lord George, but to you, in confidence, Tom, I will say, +I think we have—if we liked it—a grand remedy for all these cases. Do +you know that it was thinking of Tim Ryan, the rat-catcher at Kelly's +mills, suggested it to me. Whenever Tim came up to a house with his +traps and contrivances, if the family said they did n't need him, "for +they had no rats," he 'd just loiter about the place till evening,—and, +whatever he did, or how he did it, one thing was quite sure, they had +never to make the same complaint again! Now, my notion is, whenever we +have any grudge with a foreign State, don't begin to fit out fleets or +armaments, but just send a steamer off to the nearest port with one of +the refugees aboard. I 'd keep Kossuth at Malta, always ready; +Louis Blanc and Ledru Rollin at Jersey; Don Miguel and Don Carlos at +Gibraltar; and have Mazzini and some of the rest cruising about for +any service they may be wanted on. In that way, Tom, we 'd keep these +Governments in order, and, like Tim Ryan, be turning our vermin to a +good account besides! +</p> +<p> +I thought that Mrs. D. and Mary Anne displayed a degree of attachment to +this place rather surprising, considering that I have heard of nothing +but its inconvenience till this moment, when we are ordered to quit it. +Now, however, they suddenly discover it to be healthful, charming, and +economical. I have questioned Cary as to the secret of this change, but +she does not understand it. She knows that Lord George received a +large packet by the post this morning, and instantly hurried off to +communicate its contents to Mary Anne. By George! Tom, I have come to +the notion that to rule a family of four people, one ought to have +a "detective officer" attached to the household. Every day or so, +something puzzling and inexplicable occurs, the meaning of which never +turns up till you find yourself duped, and then it is too late to +complain. Now, this same letter Cary speaks of is at this very instant +exercising a degree of influence here, and I am to remain in ignorance +of the cause till I can pick it out from the effect. This, too, is +another blessed result of foreign travel! When we lived at home the +incidents of our daily life were few, and not very eventful; they were +circumscribed within narrow limits, and addressed themselves to the +feelings of every one amongst us. Concealment would have been absurd, +even were it possible; but the truth was, we were all so engaged with +the same topics and the same spirit, that we talked of them constantly, +and grew to think that outside the little circle of ourselves the world +was a mere wilderness. To be sure, all this sounds very narrow-minded, +and all that. So it does; but let me tell you, it conduces greatly to +happiness and contentment. +</p> +<p> +Now, here, we have so many irons in the fire, some one or other of us is +always burning his fingers! +</p> +<p> +I continue to be very uneasy about James. Not a line have we had from +him, and he 's now several weeks gone! I wrote to Vickars, but have not +yet heard from him in reply. Cary endeavors to persuade me that it is +only his indolent, careless habit is in fault; but I can see that she is +just as uncomfortable and anxious as myself. +</p> +<p> +You will collect from the length of this document that I am quite myself +again; and, indeed, except a little dizziness in my head after dinner, +and a tendency to sleep, I 'm all right. Not that I complain of the +latter,—far from it, Tom. Sancho Panza himself never blessed the +inventor of it more fervently than I do. +</p> +<p> +Sometimes, however, I think that it is the newspapers are not so amusing +as they used to be. The racy old bitterness of party spirit is dying +out, and all the spicy drollery and epigrammatic fun of former days gone +with it. It strikes me, too, Tom, that "Party," in the strong sense, +never can exist again amongst us. Party is essentially the submission of +the many to the few; and so long as the few were pre-eminent in ability +and tactical skill, nothing was more salutary. Wal-pole, Pelham, Pitt, +and Fox stood immeasurably above the men and the intelligence of +their time. Their statecraft was a science of which the mass of +their followers were totally ignorant, and the crew never dreamt of +questioning the pilot as to the course he was about to take. Whereas +now—although by no means deficient in able and competent men to +rule us—the body of the House is filled by others very little their +inferiors. Old Babbington used to say "that between a good physician and +a bad one, there was only the difference between a pound and a guinea." +In the same way, there is not a wider interval now between the Right +Honorable Secretary on the Treasury Bench and the Honorable Member below +him. Education is widely disseminated,—the intercourse of club life is +immense,—opportunities of knowledge abound on every hand,—the Press is +a great popular instructor; and, above all, the temper and tendency of +the age favors labor of every kind. Idleness is not in vogue with any +class of the whole community. What chance, then, of any man, no matter +how great and gifted he be, imposing, his opinions—<i>as such</i>—upon +the world of politics! A minister, or his opponent, may get together a +number of supporters for a particular measure, just as you or I could +muster a mob at an election or a fair; but there would be no more +discipline in the one case than in the other. They'd come now, and go +when they liked; and any chance of reducing such "irregulars" to the +habits of an army would be downright impossible! +</p> +<p> +There is another cause of dulness, too, in the newspapers. All the +accidents—a most amusing column it used to be—are now entirely caused +by railroads; and there is a shocking sameness about them. They were +"shunting" wagons across the line when the express came up, or the +pointsman did n't turn the switch, or the fog obscured the danger +signal. With these three explanations, some hundreds of human beings are +annually smashed, smothered, and scalded, and the survivors not a whit +more provident than before. +</p> +<p> +Cruel assaults upon women—usually the wives of the ruffians +themselves—are, I perceive, becoming a species of popular custom in +England. Every "Times" I see has its catalogue of these atrocities; and +I don't perceive that five shilling fines nor even three weeks at the +treadmill diminishes the number. One of the railroad companies announces +that it will not hold itself responsible for casualties, nor indemnify +the sufferers. Don't you think that we might borrow a hint from them, +and insert some cause of the same kind into the marriage ceremony, and +that the woman should know all her "liabilities" without any hope +of appeal? Ah! Tom Purcell, all our naval reviews, and industrial +exhibitions, and boastful "leading" articles about our national +greatness come with a very ill grace in the same broad sheet with these +degrading police histories. Must savage ferocity accompany us as we grow +in wealth and power? If so, then I 'd rather see us a third-rate power +to-morrow than rule the world at the cost of such disgrace! +</p> +<p> +Ireland, I see, jogs on just as usual, wrangling away. They can't even +agree whether the potatoes have got the rot or not. Some of the papers, +too, are taking up the English cry of triumph over the downfall of our +old squirearchy; but it does not sound well from <i>them</i>. To be sure, +some of the new proprietors would seem not only to have taken our +estates, but tasted the Blarney-stone besides; and one, a great man too, +has been making a fine speech with his "respected friend, the Reverend +Mr. O'Shea," on his right hand, and vowing that he 'll never turn out +anybody that pays the rent, nor dispossess a good tenant! The stupid +infatuation of these English makes me sick, Tom. Why, with all their +self-sufficiency, can't they see that we understand our own people +better than they do? We know the causes of bad seasons and short +harvests better; we know the soil better, and the climate better, and if +we haven't been good landlords, it is simply because we couldn't afford +it. Now, they are rich, and can afford it; and if they have bought up +Irish estates to get the rents out of them, I 'd like to know what's to +be the great benefit of the change. "Pay up the arrears," says I; but if +my Lord Somebody from England says the same, I think there 's no use in +selling <i>me</i> out, and taking <i>him</i> in my place. And this brings me to +asking when I'm to get another remittance? I <i>am</i> thinking seriously of +retrenchment; but first, Tom, one must have something to retrench upon. +You must possess a salary before you can stand "stoppages." Of course +we mean "to come home again." I have n't heard that the Government have +selected me for a snug berth in the Colonies; so be assured that you'll +see us all back in Dodsborough before— +</p> +<p> +Mrs. D. had been looking over my shoulder, Tom, while I was writing the +last line, and we have just had what she calls an "explanation," but +what ordinary grammarians would style—a row. She frankly and firmly +declares that I may try Timbuctoo or the Gambia if I like, but back to +Ireland she positively will not go! She informs me, besides, that she +is quite open to an arrangement about a separate maintenance. But my +property, Tom, is like poor Jack Heffernan's goose,—it would n't bear +carving, so he just helped himself to it all! And, as I said to Mrs. D., +two people may get some kind of shelter under one umbrella, but they 'll +infallibly be wet through if they cut it in two, and each walk off with +his half. "If you were a bit of a gentleman," said she, "you 'd give it +all to the lady." That's what I got for my illustration. +</p> +<p> +But now that I 'm safe once more, I repeat, you shall certainly see us +back in our old house again, and which, for more reasons than I choose +to detail here, we ought never to have quitted. +</p> +<p> +I have been just sent for to a cabinet council of the family, who are +curious to know whither we are going from this; and as I wish to appear +prepared with a plan, and am not strong in geography, I 'll take a +look at the map before I go. I've hit it, Tom,—Parma. Parma will do +admirably. It's near, and it's never visited by strangers. There 's a +gallery of pictures to look at, and, at the worst, plenty of cheese to +eat. Tourists may talk and grumble as they will about the dreary aspect +of these small capitals, without trade and commerce, with a beggarly +Court and a ruined nobility,—to me they are a boon from Heaven. You can +always live in them for a fourth of the cost of elsewhere. The head +inn is your own, just as the Piazza is, and the park at the back of the +palace. It goes hard but you can amuse yourself poking about into old +churches, and peeping into shrines and down wells, pottering into the +market-place, and watching the bargaining for eggs and onions; and when +these fail, it's good fun to mark the discomfiture of your womankind at +being shut up in a place where there's neither opera nor playhouse,—no +promenade, no regimental band, and not even a milliner's shop. +</p> +<p> +From all I can learn, Parma will suit me perfectly; and now I 'm off +to announce my resolve to the family. Address me there, Tom, and with a +sufficiency of cash to move further when necessary. +</p> +<p> +I 'm this moment come back, and not quite satisfied with what I 've +done. Mrs. D. and Mary Anne approve highly of my choice. They say +nothing could be better. Some of us must be mistaken, and I fervently +trust that it may not be +</p> +<p> +Your sincere friend, +</p> +<p> +Kenny James Dodd. +</p> +<a name="2H_4_0014"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + LETTER XIV. JAMES DODD TO LORD GEORGE TIVERTON, M.P. +</h2> +<h3> + Cour de Vienne, Mantua. +</h3> +<p> +My dear George,—I 've only five minutes to give you; for the horses are +at the door, and we 're to start at once. I have a great budget for you +when we meet; for we've been over the Tyrol and Styria, spent ten days +at Venice, and "done" Verona and the rest of them,—John Murray in hand. +</p> +<p> +We 're now bound for Milan, where I want you to meet us on our arrival, +with an invitation from my mother, asking Josephine to the villa. I 've +told her that the note is already there awaiting her, and for mercy' +sake let there be no disappointment. +</p> +<p> +This dispensation is a horrible tedious affair; but I hope we shall have +it now within the present month. The interval <i>she</i> desires to spend +in perfect retirement, so that the villa is exactly the place, and the +attention will be well timed. +</p> +<p> +Of course they ought to receive her as well as possible. Mary Anne, +I know, requires no hint; but try and persuade the governor to +trim himself up a little, and if you could make away with that old +flea-bitten robe be calls his dressing-gown, you 'd do the State +some service. Look to the servants, too, and smarten them up; a cold +perspiration breaks over me when I think of Betty Cobb! +</p> +<p> +I rely on you to think of and provide for everything, and am ever your +attached friend, +</p> +<p> +James Dodd. +</p> +<p> +I changed my last five-hundred-pound note at Venice, so that I must +bring the campaign to a close immediately. +</p> +<a name="2H_4_0015"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + LETTER XV. MRS. DODD TO MRS. MARY GALLAGHER, DODSBOROUGH +</h2> +<h3> + Parma, the "Cour de Parme." +</h3> +<p> +My dear Molly,—When I wrote to you last, we were living, quietly, it is +true, and unostensively, but happily, on the Lake of Comus, and there +we might have passed the whole autumn, had not K. L, with his usual +thoughtfulness for the comfort of his family, got into a row with the +police, and had us sent out of the country. +</p> +<p> +No less, my dear! Over the frontier in twenty-four hours was the word; +and when Lord George wanted to see some of the great people about it, or +even make a stir in the newspapers, he wouldn't let him. "No," said he, +"the world is getting tired of Englishmen that are wronged by foreign +governments. They say, naturally enough, that there must be some fault +in ourselves, if we are always in trouble, this way; and, besides, I +would not take fifty pounds, and have somebody get up in the House and +move for all the correspondence in the case of Mr. Dodd, so infamously +used by the authorities in Lombardy." Them 's his words, Molly; and when +we told him that it was a fine way of getting known and talked about in +the world, what was his answer do you think? "I don't want notoriety; +and if I did, I 'd write a letter to the 'Times,' and say it was I that +defended Hougoumont, in the battle of Waterloo. There seems to be +a great dispute about it, and I don't see why I could n't put in my +claim." +</p> +<p> +I suppose after that, Molly, there will be very little doubt that his +head isn't quite right, for he was no more at Waterloo than you or me. +</p> +<p> +It was a great shock to us when we got the order to march; for on that +same morning the post brought us a letter from James, or, at least, it +came to Lord George, and with news that made me cry with sheer happiness +for full two hours after. I was n't far wrong, Molly, when I told you +that it 's little need he 'd have of learning or a profession. Launch +him out well in life was my words to K. I. Give him ample means to +mix in society and make friends, and see if he won't turn it to good +account. I know the boy well; and that's what K. I. never did,—never +could. +</p> +<p> +See if I 'm not right, Mary Gallagher. He went down to the baths of—I'm +afraid of the name, but it sounds like "Humbug," as well as I can make +out—and what does he do but make acquaintance with a beautiful young +creature, a widow of nineteen, rolling in wealth, and one of the first +families in France! +</p> +<p> +How he did it, I can't tell; no more than where he got all the money he +spent there on horses and carriages and dinners, and elegant things that +he ordered for her from Paris. He passed five weeks there, courting her, +I suppose; and then away they went, rambling through Germany, and over +the mountains, down to Venice. She in her own travelling-carriage, +and James driving a team of four beautiful grays of his own; and then +meeting when they stopped at a town, but all with as much discretion as +if it was only politeness between them. At last he pops the question, +Molly; and it turns out that she has no objection in life, only that +she must get a dispensation from the Pope, because she was promised and +betrothed to the King of Naples, or one of his brothers; and though she +married another, she never got what they call a Bull of release. +</p> +<p> +This is the hardest thing in the world to obtain; and if it was n't that +she has a Cardinal an uncle, she might never get it. At all events, +it will take time, and meanwhile she ought to live in the strictest +retirement. To enable her to do this properly, and also by way of +showing her every attention, James wrote to have an invitation ready for +her to come down to the villa and stay with us on a visit. +</p> +<p> +By bad luck, my dear, it was the very morning this letter came, K. I. +had got us all ordered away! What was to be done, was now the question; +we daren't trust him with the secret till she was in the house, for we +knew well he 'd refuse to ask her,—say he could n't afford the expense, +and that we were all sworn to ruin him. We left it to Lord George to +manage; and he, at last, got K. I. to fix on Parma for a week or two, +one of the quietest towns in Italy, and where you never see a coach in +the streets, nor even a well-dressed creature oat on Sunday. K. I. was +delighted with it all; saving money is the soul of him, and he never +thinks of anything but when he can make a hard bargain. What he does +with his income, Molly, the saints alone can tell; but I suspect that +there's some sinners, too, know a trifle about it; and the day will come +when I 'll have the proof! Lord G. sent for the landlord's +tariff, and it was reasonable enough. Rooms were to be two +zwanzigers—one-and-fourpence—apiece; breakfast, one; dinner, two +zwanzigers; tea, half a one; no charge for wine of the place; and if we +stayed any time, we were to have the key of a box at the opera. +</p> +<p> +K. I. was in ecstasy. "If I was to live here five or six years," says +he, "and pay nobody, my affairs wouldn't be so much embarrassed as they +are now!" +</p> +<p> +"If you 'd cut off your encumbrances, Mr. Dodd," says I, "that would +save something." +</p> +<p> +"My what?" said he, flaring up, with a face like a turkey-cock. +</p> +<p> +But I was n't going to dispute with him, Molly; so I swept out of the +room, and threw down a little china flowerpot just to stop him. +</p> +<p> +The same day we started, and arrived here at the hotel, the "Cour de +Parme," by midnight; it was a tiresome journey, and K. I. made it worse, +for he was fighting with somebody or other the whole time; and Lord +George was not with us, for he had gone off to Milan to meet James; and +Mr. D. was therefore free to get into as many scrapes as he pleased. +I must say, he did n't neglect the opportunity, for he insulted the +passport people and the customhouse officers, and the man at the bridge +of boats, and the postmasters and postilions everywhere. "I did n't come +here to be robbed," said he everywhere; and he got a few Italian words +for "thief," "rogue," "villain," and so on; and if I saw one, I saw ten +knives drawn on him that blessed day. He would n't let Cary translate +for him, but sat on the box himself, and screamed out his directions +like a madman. This went on till we came to a place called San Donino, +and there—it was the last stage from Parma—they told him he could n't +have any horses, though he saw ten of them standing all ready harnessed +and saddled in the stable. I suppose they explained to him the reason, +and that he did n't understand it, for they all got to words together, +and it was soon who 'd scream loudest amongst them. +</p> +<p> +At last K. I. cried out, "Come down, Paddy, and see if we can't get four +of these beasts to the carriage, and we 'll not ask for a postilion." +</p> +<p> +Down jumps Paddy out of the rumble, and rushes after him into the +stable. A terrible uproar followed this, and soon after the stable +people, helpers, ostlers, and postboys, were seen running out of +the door for their lives, and K. I. and Paddy after them, with two +rack-staves they had torn out of the manger. "Leave them to me," says K. +I.; "leave them to me, Paddy, and do you go in for the horses; put them +to, and get a pair of reins if you can; if not, jump up on one of the +leaders, and drive away." +</p> +<p> +If he was bred and born in the place, he could not have known it better, +for he came out the next minute with a pair of horses, that he fastened +to the carriage in a trice, and then hurried back for two more, that +he quickly brought out and put to also. "There 's no whip to be found," +says he, "but this wattle will do for the leaders; and if your honor +will stir up the wheelers, here 's a nice little handy stable fork to do +it with." With this Paddy sprung into the saddle, K. I. jumped up to the +box, and off they set, tearing down the street like mad. It was pitch +dark, and of course neither of them knew the road; but K. I. screamed +out, "Keep in the middle, Paddy, and don't pull up for any one." We +went through the village at a full gallop, the people all yelling and +shouting after us; but at the end of the street there were two roads, +and Paddy cried out, "Which way now?" "Take the widest, if you can see +it," screamed out K. I.; and away he went, at a pace that made the big +travelling-carriage bump and swing like a boat at sea. +</p> +<a name="image-0005"><!--IMG--></a> +<center> +<img src="images/164.jpg" height="823" width="736" +alt="164 +"> +</center> + +<p> +We soon felt we were going down a dreadful steep, for the carriage was +all but on top of the horses, and K. I. kept screaming out, "Keep up +the pace, Paddy. Make them go, or we'll all be smashed." Just as he +said that I heard a noise, like the sea in a storm,—a terrible sound +of rushing, dashing, roaring water; then a frightful yell from Paddy, +followed by a plunge. "In a river, by ———!" roared out K. I.; and as +he said it, the coach gave a swing over to one side, then righted, then +swung back again, and with a crash that I thought smashed it to atoms, +fell over on one side into the water. +</p> +<p> +"All right," said K. I.; "I turned the leaders short round and saved +us!" and with that he began tearing and dragging us out. I fell into +a swoon after this, and know no more of what happened. When I came to +myself, I was in a small hut, lying on a bed of chestnut leaves, and the +place crowded with peasants and postilions. +</p> +<p> +"There 's no mischief done, mamma," said Cary. "Paddy swam the leaders +across beautifully, for the traces snapped at once, and, except the +fright, we 're nothing the worse." +</p> +<p> +"Where's Mary Anne?" said I. +</p> +<p> +"Talking to the gentleman who assisted us—outside—some friend of Lord +George's, I believe, for he is with him." +</p> +<p> +Just as she said this, in comes Mary Anne with Lord George and his +friend. +</p> +<p> +"Oh, mamma," says she, in a whisper, "you don't know who it is,—the +Prince himself." +</p> +<p> +"Ah, been and done it, marm," said he, addressing me with his glass in +his eye. +</p> +<p> +"What, sir?" said I. +</p> +<p> +"Taken a 'header,' they tell me, eh? Glad there's no harm done." +</p> +<p> +"His Serene Highness hopes you 'll not mind it, mamma," said Mary Anne. +</p> +<p> +"Oh, is <i>that</i> it?" said I. +</p> +<p> +"Yes, mamma. Isn't he delightful,—so easy, so familiar, and so truly +kind also." +</p> +<p> +"He has just ordered up two of his own carriages to take us on." +</p> +<p> +By this time his Serene Highness had lighted his cigar, and, seating +himself on a log of wood in the corner of the hut, began smoking. In the +intervals of the puffs he said,— +</p> +<p> +"Old gent took a wrong turning—should have gone left—water very high, +besides, from the late rains—regular smash—wish I 'd seen it." +</p> +<p> +K. I. now joined us, all dripping, and hung round with weeds and +water-lilies,—as Lord George said, like an ancient river-god. "In any +other part of the globe," said he, "there would have been a warning of +some kind or other stuck up here to show there was n't a bridge; but +exactly as I said yesterday, these little beggarly States, with their +petty governments, are the curse of Europe." +</p> +<p> +"Hush, papa, for mercy' sake," whispered Mary Anne; "this is the Prince +himself; it is his Serene Highness—" +</p> +<p> +"Oh, the devil!" said he. +</p> +<p> +"My friend, Mr. Dodd, Prince," said Lord George, presenting him with a +sly look, as much as to say, "the same as I told you about." +</p> +<p> +"Dodd—Dodd—fellow of that name hanged, wasn't there?" said the Prince. +</p> +<p> +"Yes, your Highness; he was a Dr. Dodd, who committed forgery, and for +whom the very greatest public sympathy was felt at the time," said K. I. +</p> +<p> +"Your father, eh?" +</p> +<p> +"No, your Highness, no relation whatever," +</p> +<p> +"Won't have him at any price, George," said the Prince, with a wink. +"Never draw a weed, miss?" said he, turning to Mary Anne. +</p> +<p> +I don't know what she said, but it must have been smart, for his Serene +Highness laughed heartily and said,— +</p> +<p> +"Egad, I got it there, Tiverton!" +</p> +<p> +In due time a royal carriage arrived. The Prince himself handed us in, +and we drove off with one of the Court servants on the box. To be sure, +we forgot that we had left K. I. behind; but Mary Anne said he 'd have +no difficulty in finding a conveyance, and the distance was only a few +miles. +</p> +<p> +"I wish his Serene Highness had not taken away Lord George," said Mary +Anne; "he insists upon his going with him to Venice." +</p> +<p> +"For my part," said Cary, "though greatly obliged to the Prince for his +opportune kindness to ourselves, I am still more grateful to him for +this service." +</p> +<p> +On that, my dear, we had a dispute that lasted till we got to our +journey's end; for though the girls never knew what it was to disagree +at home in Dodsborough, here, abroad, Cary's jealousy is such that she +cannot control herself, and says at times the most cruel and unfeeling +things to her sister. +</p> +<p> +At last we got to the end of this wearisome day, and found ourselves at +the door of the inn. The Court servant said something to the landlord, +and immediately the whole household turned out to receive us; and the +order was given to prepare the "Ambassador's suite of apartments for +us." +</p> +<p> +"This is the Prince's doing," whispered Mary Anne in my ear. "Did you +ever know such a piece of good fortune?" +</p> +<p> +The rooms were splendid, Molly; though a little gloomy when we first got +in, for all the hangings were of purple velvet, and the pictures on +the walls were dark and black, so that, though we had two lamps in our +saloon and above a dozen caudles, you could not see more than one-half +the length of it. +</p> +<p> +I never saw Mary Anne in such spirits in my life. She walked up and +down, admiring everything, praising everything; then she 'd sit down to +the piano and play for a few minutes, and then spring up and waltz about +the room like a mad thing. As for Cary, I didn't know what became of +her till I found that she had been downstairs with the landlord, getting +him to send a conveyance back for her father, quite forgetting, as Mary +Anne said, that any fuss about the mistake would only serve to expose +us. And there, Molly, once for all, is the difference between the two +girls! The one has such a knowledge of life and the world, that she +never makes a blunder; and the other, with the best intentions, is +always doing something wrong! +</p> +<p> +We waited supper for K. I. till past one o'clock; but, with his usual +selfishness and disregard of others, he never came till it was nigh +three, and then made such a noise as to wake up the whole house. It +appeared, too, that he missed the coach that was sent to meet him, and +he and Paddy Byrne came the whole way on foot! Let him do what he will, +he has a knack of bringing disgrace on his family! The fatigue and wet +feet, and his temper more than either, brought back the gout on him, and +he did n't get up till late in the afternoon. We were in the greatest +anxiety to tell him about James; but there was no saying what humor he'd +be in, and how he'd take it. Indeed, his first appearance did not augur +well. He was cross with everything and everybody. He said that sleeping +on that grand bed with the satin hangings was like lying in state after +death, and that our elegant drawing-room was about as comfortable as a +cathedral. +</p> +<p> +He got into a little better temper when the landlord came up with the +bill of fare, and to consult him about the dinner. +</p> +<p> +"Egad!" said he, "I've ordered fourteen dishes; so I don't think they'll +make much out of the two zwanzigers a head!" Out of decency he had to +order champagne, and a couple of bottles of Italian wine of a very high +quality. "It's like all my economy," says he; "five shillings for a +horse, and a pound to get him shod!" +</p> +<p> +We saw it was best to wait till dinner was over before we spoke to him; +and, indeed, we were right, for he dined very heartily, finished the two +bottles every glass, and got so happy and comfortable that Mary Anne sat +down to the piano to sing for him. +</p> +<p> +"Thank you, my darling," said he, when she was done. "I 've no doubt +that the song is a fine one, and that you sung it well, but I can't +follow the words, nor appreciate the air. I like something that touches +me either with an old recollection, or by some suggestion for the +future; and if you 'd try and remember the 'Meeting of the Waters,' or +'Where's the Slave so lowly'—" +</p> +<p> +"I 'm afraid, sir, I cannot gratify you," said she; and it was all she +could do to get out of the room before he heard her sobbing. +</p> +<p> +"What's the matter, Jemi," said he, "did I say anything wrong? Is Molly +angry with me?" +</p> +<p> +"Will you tell me," said I, "when you ever said anything right? Or do +you do anything from morning till night but hurt the feelings and dance +upon the tenderest emotions of your whole family? I've submitted to it +so long," said I, "that I have no heart left in me to complain; but now +that you drive me to it, I 'll tell you my mind;" and so I did, Molly, +till he jumped up at last, put on his hat, and rushed downstairs into +the street. After which I went to my room, and cried till bedtime! As +poor Mary Anne said to me, "There was a refined cruelty in that request +of papa's I can never forget;" nor is it to be expected she should! +</p> +<p> +The next morning at breakfast he was in a better humor, for the table +was covered with delicacies of every kind, fruit and liqueurs besides. +"Not dear at eightpence, Jemi," he 'd say, at every time he filled his +plate. "Just think the way one is robbed by servants, when you see what +can be had for a 'zwanziger;'" and he made Cary take down a list of the +things, just to send to the "Times," and show how the English hotels +were cheating the public. +</p> +<p> +We saw that this was a fine opportunity to tell him about James, and so +Mary Anne undertook the task. "And so he never went to London at all," +he kept repeating all the while. No matter what she said about the +Countess, and her fortune, and her great connections; nothing came out +of his lips but the same words. +</p> +<p> +"Don't you perceive," said I, at last, for I could n't bear it any +longer, "that he did better,—that the boy took a shorter and surer road +in life than a shabby place under the Crown!" +</p> +<p> +"May be so," said he, with a deep sigh,—"may be so! but I ought to +be excused if I don't see at a glance how any man makes his fortune by +marriage!" +</p> +<p> +I knew that he meant that for a provocation, Molly, but I bit my lips +and said nothing. +</p> +<p> +We then explained to him that we had sent off a note to the Countess, +asking her to pass a few weeks with us, and were in hourly expectation +of her arrival. +</p> +<p> +He gave another heavy sigh, and drank off a glass of Curaçoa. +</p> +<p> +Mary Anne went on about our good luck in finding such a capital hotel, +so cheap and in such a sweet retired spot,—just the very thing the +Countess would like. +</p> +<p> +"Never went to London at all!" muttered K. I., for he could n't get his +thoughts out of the old track. And, indeed, though we were all talking +to him for more than an hour afterwards, it was easy to see that he was +just standing still on the same spot as before. I don't ever remember +passing a day of such anxiety as that, for every distant noise of +wheels, every crack of a postilion's whip, brought us to the window to +see if they were coming. We delayed dinner till seven o'clock, and put +K. I.'s watch back, to persuade him it was only five; we loitered and +lingered over it as long as we could, but no sight nor sound was there +of their coming. +</p> +<p> +"Tell Paddy to fetch my slippers, Molly," said K. I., as we got into the +drawing-room. +</p> +<p> +"Oh, papa! impossible," said she; "the Countess may arrive at any +moment." +</p> +<p> +"Think of his never going to London at all," said he, with a groan. +</p> +<p> +I almost cried with spite, to see a man so lost to every sentiment of +proper pride, and even dead to the prospects of his own children! +</p> +<p> +"Don't you think I might have a cigar?" said he. +</p> +<p> +"Is it here, papa?" said Mary Anne. "The smell of tobacco would +certainly disgust the Countess." +</p> +<p> +"He thinks it would be more flattering to receive her into all the +intimacy of the family," said I, "and see us without any disguise." +</p> +<p> +"Egad, then," said he, bitterly, "she's come too late for <i>that</i>; she +should have made our acquaintance before we began vagabondizing over +Europe, and pretending to fifty things we 've no right to!" +</p> +<p> +"Here she is,—here they are!" screamed Mary Anne at this moment; and, +with a loud noise like thunder, the heavy carriage rolled under the +arched gateway, while crack—crack—crack went the whips, and the big +bell of the ball began ringing away furiously. +</p> +<p> +"<i>I'm</i> off, at all events," said K. I.; and snatching one of the candles +off the table, he rushed out of the room as hard as he could go. +</p> +<p> +I had n't more than time to put my cap straight on my head, when I heard +them on the stairs; and then, with a loud bang of the folding-doors, the +landlord himself ushered them into the room. She was leaning on James's +arm, but the minute she saw me, she rushed forward and kissed my hand! +I never was so ashamed in my life, Molly. It was making me out such a +great personage at once, that I thought I 'd have fainted at the very +notion. As to Mary Anne, they were in each other's arms in a second, +and kissed a dozen times. Cary, however, with a coldness that I'll never +forgive her for, just shook hands with her, and then turned to embrace +James a second time. +</p> +<p> +While Mary Anne was taking off her shawl and her bonnet, I saw that she +was looking anxiously about the room. +</p> +<p> +"What is it?" said I to Mary Anne,—"what does she want?" "She's asking +where's the Prince; she means papa," whispered Mary Anne to me; and +then, in a flash, I saw the way James represented us. "Tell her, my +dear," said I, "that the Prince was n't very well, and has gone to bed." +But she was too much engaged with us all to ask more about him, and we +all sat down to tea, the happiest party ever you looked at. I had +time now to look at her; and really, Molly, I must allow, she was the +handsomest creature I ever beheld. She was a kind of a Spanish beauty, +brown, and with jet-black eyes and hair, but a little vermilion on her +cheeks, and eyelashes that threw a shadow over the upper part of her +face. As to her teeth, when she smiled,—I thought Mary Anne's good, but +they were nothing in comparison. When she caught me looking at her, she +seemed to guess what was passing in my mind, for she stooped down and +kissed my hand twice or thrice with rapture. +</p> +<p> +It was a great loss to me, as you may suppose, that I could n't speak +to her, nor understand what she said to me; but I saw that Mary Anne +was charmed with her, and even Cary—cold and distant as she was at +first—seemed very much taken with her afterwards. +</p> +<p> +When tea was over, James sat down beside me, and told me everything. +"If the governor will only behave handsomely for a week or two," said +he,—"I ask no more,—that lovely creature and four thousand a year are +all my own." He went on to show me that we ought to live in a certain +style—not looking too narrowly into the cost of it—while she was with +us. "She can't stay after the fourteenth," said he, "for her uncle the +Cardinal is to be at Pisa that day, and she must be there to meet him; +so that, after all, it's only three weeks I 'm asking for, and a couple +of hundred pounds will do it all. As for me," said he, "I'm regularly +aground,—haven't a ten-pound note remaining, and had to sell my 'drag' +and my four grays at Milan, to get money to come on here." +</p> +<p> +He then informed me that her saddle-horses would arrive in a day or two, +and that we should immediately provide others, to enable him and the +girls to ride out with her. "She is used to every imaginable luxury," +said he, "and has no conception that want of means could be the +impediment to having anything one wished for." +</p> +<p> +I promised him to do my best with his father, Molly: but you may guess +what a task that was; for, say what I could, the only remark I could get +out of him was, "It's very strange that he never went to London." +</p> +<p> +After all, Molly, I might have spared myself all my fatigue and all my +labor, if I had only had the common-sense to remember what he was,—what +he is,—ay, and what he will be—to the end of the chapter. He was n't +well in the room with her the next morning, when I saw the old fool +looking as soft and as sheepish at her as if he was making love himself. +I own to you, Molly, I think she encouraged it. She had that French way +with her, that seems to say, "Look as long as you like, and I don't mind +it;" and so he did,—and even after breakfast I caught him peeping under +the "Times" at her foot, which, I must say, was beautifully shaped and +small; not but that the shoe had a great deal to say to it. +</p> +<p> +"I hope you 're pleased, Mr. Dodd?" said I, as I passed behind his +chair. +</p> +<p> +"Yes," said he; "the funds is rising." +</p> +<p> +"I mean with the prospect," said I. +</p> +<p> +"Yes," said he; "we 'll be all looking up presently." +</p> +<p> +"Better than looking down," said I, "you old fool!" +</p> +<p> +I could n't help it, Molly, if it was to have spoiled everything,—the +words would come out. +</p> +<p> +He got very red in the face, Molly, but said nothing, and so I left +him to his own reflections. And it is what I'm now going to do with +yourself, seeing that I 've come to the end of all my news, and +carefully jotted down everything that has occurred here for your +benefit. Four days have now passed over, and they don't seem like as +many hours, though the place itself has not got many amusements. +</p> +<p> +The young people ride out every morning on horseback, and rarely come +back until time to dress for dinner. Then we all meet; and I must say +a more elegant display I never witnessed! The table covered with plate, +and beautiful colored glass globes filled with flowers. The girls in +full dress,—for the Countess comes down as if she was going to a Court, +and wears diamond combs in her head, and a brooch of the same, as large +as a cheese-plate. I too do my best to make a suitable appearance,—in +crimson velvet and a spangled turban, with a deep fall of gold +fringe,—and, except the "Prince,"—as we call K. I.,—we are all fit to +receive the Emperor of Russia. In the evening we have music and a game +of cards, except on the opera nights, which we never miss; and then, +with a nice warm supper at twelve o'clock, Molly, we close as pleasant +a day as you could wish. Of course I can't tell you much more about +the Countess, for I 'm unable to talk to her, but she and Mary Anne are +never asunder; and, though Cary still plays cold and retired, she can't +help calling her a lovely creature. +</p> +<p> +It seems there is some new difficulty about the dispensation; and the +Cardinal requires her to do "some meritorious works," I think they call +them, before he 'll ask for it. But if ever there was a saintly young +creature, it is herself; and I hear she's up at five o'clock every +morning just to attend first mass. +</p> +<p> +Here they are now, coming up the stairs, and I have n't more than time +to seal this, and write myself +</p> +<p> +Your attached friend, +</p> +<p> +Jemima Dodd. +</p> +<p> +Mary Anne begs you will tell Kitty Doolan that she has not been able to +write to her, with all the occupation she has lately had, but will take +the very first moment to send her at least a few lines. As James's good +luck will soon be no secret, you may tell it to Kitty, and I think it +won't be thrown away on her, as I suspect she was making eyes at him +herself, though she might be his mother! +</p> +<a name="2H_4_0016"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + LETTER XVI. MISS MARY ANNE DODD TO MISS DOOLAN, OF BALLYDOOLAN +</h2> +<h3> + Parma. +</h3> +<p> +Dearest Kitty,—It is but seldom I have to bespeak your indulgence on +the score of my brevity, but I must do so now, overwhelmed as I am with +occupation, and scarcely a moment left me that I can really call my own. +Mamma's letter to old Molly will have explained to you the great fortune +which has befallen James, and, I might add also, all who belong to +him. And really, dearest, with all the assurance the evidence of my own +senses can convey, I still find it difficult to credit such unparalleled +luck. Fancy beauty—and such beauty,—youth, genius, mind, rank, and a +large fortune, thrown, I may say, at his feet! She is Spanish, by the +mother's side; "Las Caldenhas," I think the name, whose father was a +grandee of the first class. Her own father was the General Count de +St. Amand, who commanded in the celebrated battle of Austerlitz in +the retreat from Moscow. I 'm sure, dearest, you 'll be amazed at my +familiarity with these historical events; but the truth is, she is a +perfect treasury of such knowledge, and I must needs gain some little by +the contact. +</p> +<p> +I am at a loss how to give you any correct notion of one whose +universality seems to impart to her character all the semblance of +contradictory qualities. She is, for instance, proud and haughty, to +a degree little short of insolence. She exacts from men a species of +deference little less than a slavish submission. As she herself says, +"Let them do homage." All her ideas of life and society are formed on +the very grandest scale. She has known, in fact, but one "set," and +that has been one where royalties moved as private individuals. Her very +trinkets recall such memories; and I have passed more than one morning +admiring pearl ear-rings, with the cipher of the Czarawitsch; bracelets +with the initials of an Austrian Archduke, and a diamond cross, which +she forgot whether it was given her by Prince Metternich or Mehemet Ali. +If you only heard her, too, how she talks of that "dear old thing, the +ex-King of Bavaria," and with what affectionate regard she alludes to +"her second self,—the Queen of Spain," you 'd feel at once, dearest +Kitty, that you were moving amidst crowns and sceptres, with the rustle +of royal purple beside, and the shadow of a thronely canopy over you. In +one sense, this has been for us the very rarest piece of good fortune; +for, accustomed as she has been to only one sphere,—and that the very +highest,—she does not detect many little peculiarities in papa's and +mamma's habits, and censure them as vulgar, but rather accepts them as +the ways and customs among ordinary nobility. In fact, she thinks the +Prince, as she calls papa, the very image of "Pozzo di Borgo;" and mamma +she can scarcely see without saying, "Your Majesty," she is so like the +Queen Dowager of Piedmont. +</p> +<p> +As to James, if it were not that I knew her real sentiments, and that +she loves him to distraction,—merely judging from what goes on in +society,—I should say he had not a chance of success. She takes +pleasure, I almost think, in decrying the very qualities he has most +pretension to. She even laughs at his horsemanship; and yesterday went +so far as to say that activity was not amongst his perfections,—James, +who really is the very type of agility! One of her amusements is to +propose to him some impossible feat or other, and the poor boy has +nearly broken his back and dislocated his limbs by contortions that +nothing but a fish could accomplish. But the contrarieties of her nature +do not end here! She, so grave, so dignified, so imperious, I might even +call it, before others, once alone with me becomes the wildest creature +in existence. The very moment she makes her escape to her own room, she +can scarcely control her delight at throwing off the "Countess," as she +says herself, and being once again free, joyous, and unconstrained. +</p> +<p> +I have told her, over and over again, that if James only knew her in +these moods, that he would adore her even more than he does now; but +she only laughs, and says, "Well, time enough; he shall see me so one of +these days." It was not till after ten or twelve days that she admitted +me to her real confidence. The manner of it was itself curious. "Are you +sleepy?" said she to me, one evening as we went upstairs to bed; "for, +if not, come and pay me a visit in my room." +</p> +<a name="image-0006"><!--IMG--></a> +<center> +<img src="images/176.jpg" height="721" width="709" +alt="176 +"> +</center> + +<p> +I accepted the invitation; and after exchanging my evening robe for a +dressing-gown, hastened to the chamber. I could scarcely believe my +eyes as I entered! She was seated on a richly embroidered cushion on +the floor, dressed in Turkish fashion, loose trousers of gold-sprigged +muslin, with a small fez of scarlet cloth on her head, and a jacket of +the same colored velvet almost concealed beneath its golden embroidery; +a splendid scimitar lay beside her, and a most costly pipe, in pure +Turkish taste, which, however, she did not make use of, but smoked a +small paper cigarette instead. +</p> +<p> +"Come, dearest," said she, "turn the key in the door, and light your +cigar; here we are at length free and happy." It was in vain that I +assured her I never had tried to smoke. At first she would n't believe, +and then she actually screamed with laughter at me. "One would fancy," +said she, "that you had only left England yesterday. Why, child, where +have you lived and with whom?" I cannot go over all she said; nor need +I repeat the efforts I made to palliate my want of knowledge of life, +which she really appeared to grieve over. "I should never think of +asking your sister here," said she; "there is a frivolity in all her +gayety—a light-heartedness, without sentiment—that I cannot abide; +but you, <i>ma chère</i>, you have a nature akin to my own. You ought, and, +indeed, must be one of us." +</p> +<p> +So far as I could collect, Kitty,—for remember, I was smoking my first +cigarette all this time, and not particularly clear of head,—there is a +set in Parisian society, the most exclusive and refined of all, who have +voted the emancipation of women from all the slavery and degradation +to which the social usages of the world at large would condemn them. +Rightly judging that the expansion of intelligence is to be acquired +only in greater liberty of action, they have admitted them to a freer +community and participation in the themes which occupy men's thoughts, +and the habits which accompany their moods of reflection. +</p> +<p> +Gifted, as we confessedly are, with nicer and more acute perceptions, +finer powers of discrimination and judgment, greater delicacy of +feeling, and more apt appreciation of the beautiful and the true, why +should we descend to an intellectual bondage? As dearest Josephine +says, "Our influence, to be beneficial, should be candidly and openly +exercised, not furtively practised, and cunningly insinuated. Let us +leave these arts to women who want to rule their husbands; our destiny +be it—to sway mankind!" Her theory, so far as I understand it, is that +men will not endure petty rivalries, but succumb at once to superior +attainments. Thus, your masculine young lady, Kitty,—your creature of +boisterous manners, slang, and slap-dash,—is invariably a disgust; +but your true "lionne," gifted yet graceful, possessing every manly +accomplishment and yet employing her knowledge to enhance the charms of +her society and render herself more truly companionable, the equal of +men in culture, their superior in taste and refinement, exercises a +despotic influence around her. +</p> +<p> +Men will quit the <i>salon</i> for the play-table. Let us, then, be gamblers +for the nonce, and we shall not be deserted. They smoke, that they may +get together and talk with a freedom and a license not used before +us. Let us adopt the custom, and we are no longer debarred from their +intimacy and the power of infusing the refining influences of our sex +through their barbarism! As Josephine says, "We are the martyrs now, +that we may be the masters hereafter!" +</p> +<p> +I grew very faint, once or twice, while she was talking; and, indeed, +at last was obliged to lie down, and have my temples bathed with +eau-de-Cologne, so that I unluckily lost many of her strongest arguments +and happiest illustrations; but, from frequent conversations since, and +from reading some of the beautiful romances of "Georges Sand," I +have attained to, if not a full appreciation, at least an unbounded +admiration of this beautiful system. +</p> +<p> +Have I forgotten to tell you that we met the Prince of Pontremoli on our +way here?—a Serene Highness, Kitty! but as easy and as familiar as my +brother James. The drollest thing is that he has lived while in England +with all the "fast people," and only talks a species of conventional +slang in vogue amongst them; but for all that he is delightful,—full +of gayety and good spirits, and has the wickedest dark eyes you ever +beheld. +</p> +<p> +Dear Josephine's caprices are boundless! Yesterday she read of a black +Arabian that the Imaum of somewhere was sending as a present to General +Lamoricière, and she immediately said, "Oh, the General is exiled now, +he can't want a charger,—send and get him for <i>me</i>." Poor James is +out all the morning in search of some one to despatch on this difficult +service; but how it is to be accomplished—not to speak of where the +money is to come from—is an unreadable riddle to +</p> +<p> +Your affectionate and devoted +</p> +<p> +Mary Anne Dodd. +</p> +<p> +You will doubtless be dissatisfied, dearest Kitty, if I seal this +without inserting one word about myself and my own prospects. But what +can I say, save that all is mist-wreathed and shadowy in the dim future +before me? <i>He</i> has said nothing since. I see—it is but too plain to +see—the anguish that is tearing his very heart-strings; but he buries +his sorrow within his soul, and I am not free even to weep beside +the sepulchre! Oh, dearest, when you read what Georges Sand has +written,—when you come to ponder over the misenes the fatal institution +of marriage has wrought in the world,—the fond hearts broken, the noble +natures crushed, and the proud spirits degraded,—you will only wonder +why the tyranny has been borne so long! and exclaim with me, "When—oh, +when shall we be free!" +</p> +<a name="2H_4_0017"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + LETTER XVII. KENNY JAMES DODD TO THOMAS PURCELL, ESQ., OF THE GRANGE BRUFF +</h2> +<h3> + Parma. +</h3> +<p> +My dear Tom,—The little gleam of sunshine that shone upon us for +the last week or so has turned out to be but the prelude of a regular +hurricane, and all our feasting and merriment have ended in gloom, +darkness, and disunion. Mrs. D.'s letter to old Molly has made known +to you the circumstances under which James returned home to us, without +ever having gone to London. You, of course, know all about the lovely +young widow, with her immense jointure and splendid connections. If you +do not, I must say that from my heart and soul I envy you, for I have +heard of nothing else for the last fortnight! At all events, you have +heard enough to satisfy you that the house of Dodd was about to garnish +its escutcheon with some very famous quarterings,:—illustrious enough +even to satisfy the pride of the McCarthys. A Cardinal's daughter—niece +I mean—with four thousand a year, had deigned to ally herself with us, +and we were all running breast-high in the blaze of our great success. +</p> +<p> +She came here on a visit to us while some negotiations were being +concluded with the Papal Court, for we were great folk, Tom, let me tell +you, and have been performing, so to say, in the same piece with popes, +kings, and cardinals for the last month; and I myself, under the style +and title of the "Prince," have narrowly escaped going mad from the +unceasing influences of delusions, shams, and impositions in which we +have been living and moving. +</p> +<p> +Of our extravagant mode of life, I'll only say that I don't think there +was anything omitted which could contribute to ruin a moderate income. +Splendid apartments, grand dinners, horses, carriages, servants, +opera-boxes, bouquets, were all put in requisition to satisfy the young +Countess that she was about to make a suitable alliance, and that any +deficiencies observable in either our manners or breeding were fully +compensated for by our taste in cookery and our tact in wine. To be +plain, Tom, to obtain this young widow with four thousand a year, we had +to pretend to be possessed of about four times as much. It was a regular +game of "brag" we were playing, and with a very bad hand of cards! +</p> +<p> +Hope led me on from day to day, trusting that each post would bring +us the wished-for consent, and that at least a private marriage would +ratify the compact Popes and cardinals, however, are too stately for +fast movements, and at the end of five weeks we had n't, so far as I +could see, gained an inch of ground! +</p> +<p> +At one time his Holiness had gone off to Albano to bless somebody's +bones, or the bones were coming to bless <i>him</i>, I forget which. At +another, the King of Naples, fatigued with signing warrants for death +and the galleys, desired to enjoy a little repose from public business. +Cardinal Antonelli, hearing that we were Irish, got in a rage, and said +that Ireland gave them no peace at all. And so it came to pass that the +old thief—procrastination—was at his usual knavery; and for want of +better, set to work to ruin poor Kenny Dodd! +</p> +<p> +It is only fair to observe that, except Cary and myself, nobody +manifested any great impatience at this delay; and even she, I believe, +merely felt it out of regard to me. The others seemed satisfied to fare +sumptuously every day; and assuredly the course of true love ran most +smoothly along in rivulets of "mock turtle" and "potages à la fiancée." +At last, Tom, I brought myself to book with the simple question, "How +long can this continue? Will your capital stand it for a month, or even +a week?" Before I attempted the answer, I sent for Mrs. D., to give her +the honor of solving the riddle if she could. +</p> +<p> +Our interview took place in a little crib they call my dressing-room, +but which, I must remark to you, is a dark corner under a staircase, +where the rats hold a parliament every night of the season. Mrs. D. was +so shocked with the locality that she proposed our adjourning to her own +apartment; and thither we at once repaired to hold our council. +</p> +<p> +I have too often wearied you with our domestic differences to make any +addition to such recitals pleasant to either of us. You know us both +thoroughly, besides, and can have no difficulty in filling up the debate +which ensued. Enough that I say Mrs. D. was more than usually herself. +She was grandly eloquent on the prospect of the great alliance; +contemptuously indifferent about the petty sacrifice it was to cost us; +caustically criticised the narrow-mindedness by which I measured such +grandeur; winding up all with the stereotyped comparison between Dodds +and M'Carthys, with which she usually concludes an engagement, just as +they play "God save the Queen" at Vauxhall to show that the fireworks +are over. +</p> +<p> +"And now," said I, "that we have got over preliminaries, when is this +marriage to come off?" +</p> +<p> +"Ask the Pope when he'll sign the Bull," said she, tartly. +</p> +<p> +"Do you know," said I, "I think the 'Bull is a mistake'?" but she did +n't take the joke, and I went on. "After that, what delays are there?" +</p> +<p> +"I suppose the settlement will take some time. You 'll have to make +suitable provision for James, to give him a handsome allowance out of +the estate." +</p> +<p> +"Egad, Mrs. D.," said I, "it must be <i>out</i> of it with a vengeance, for +there's no man living will advance five hundred <i>upon</i> it." +</p> +<p> +"And who wants them?" said she, angrily. "You know what I mean, well +enough!" +</p> +<p> +"Upon my conscience, ma'am, I do not," said I. "You must just take pity +on my stupidity and enlighten me." +</p> +<p> +"Isn't it clear, Mr. D.," said she, "that when marrying a woman with a +large fortune he ought to have something himself?" +</p> +<p> +"It would be better he had; no doubt of it!" +</p> +<p> +"And if he has n't? if what should have come to him was squandered and +made away with by a life of—No matter, I'll restrain my feelings." +</p> +<p> +"Don't, then," said I, "for I find that <i>mine</i> would like a little +expansion." +</p> +<p> +It took her five minutes, and a hard struggle besides, before she could +resume. She had, so to say, "taken off the gloves," Tom, and it went +hard with her not to have a few "rounds" for her pains. By degrees, +however, she calmed down to explain that by a settlement on James she +never contemplated actual value, but an inconvertible medium, a mere +parchmentary figment to represent lands and tenements,—just, in fact, +what we had done before, and with such memorable success, in Mary Anne's +case. +</p> +<p> +"No," said I, aloud, and at once,—"no more of that humbug! You got me +into that mess before I knew where I was. You involved me in such a maze +of embarrassments that I was glad to take any, even a bad road, to get +away from them. But you 'll not catch me in the same scrape again; and +rather than deliberately sit down to sign, seal, and deliver myself a +swindler, James must die a bachelor, that's all!" +</p> +<p> +If I had told her, Tom, that I was going into holy orders, and intended +to be Bishop of Madagascar, she could not have stared at me with more +surprise. +</p> +<p> +"What's come over you?" said she, at last; "what 's the meaning of all +these elegant fine sentiments and scruples? Are you going to die, Mr. +D.? Is it making your soul you are?" +</p> +<p> +"However unmannerly the confession, Mrs. D.," said I, "I 'm afraid I +'m not going to die; but the simple truth is that I can't be a rogue in +cold blood; maybe, if I had the luck to be born a M'Carthy, I might +have had better ideas on the subject." This was a poke at Morgan James +M'Carthy that was transported for altering a will. +</p> +<p> +She could n't speak with passion; she was struck dumb with rage, and +so, finding the enemy's artillery spiked, I opened a brisk fire at +musket-range; in other words, I told her that all we had been hitherto +doing abroad rarely went beyond making ourselves ridiculous, but that, +though I liked fun, I could n't push a joke as far as a felony. And, +finally, I declared, in a loud and very unmistakable manner, that as I +had n't a sixpence to settle on James, I 'd not go through the mockery +of engrossing a lie on parchment; that I thought very meanly of the +whole farce we were carrying on; and that if I was only sure I could +make myself intelligible in my French, I 'd just go straight to the +Countess and say,—I 'm afraid to write the words as I spoke them, lest +my spelling should be even worse than my pronunciation, for they were in +French, but the meaning was,—"I 'm no more a Prince than I 'm Primate +of Ireland. I 'm a small country gentleman, with an embarrassed estate +and a rascally tenantry. I came abroad for economy, and it has almost +ruined me. If you like my son, there he is for you; but don't flatter +yourself that we possess either nobility or fortune." +</p> +<p> +"You 've done it now, you old————." The epithet was lost in a +scream, Tom, for she went off in strong hysterics; so I just rang the +bell for Mary Anne, and slipped quietly away to my own room. I trust it +is a good conscience does it for me, but I find that I can almost always +sleep soundly when I go to bed; and it is a great blessing, Tom,—for +let me tell you, that after five or six and fifty, one's waking hours +have more annoyances than pleasures about them; but the world is just +like a man's mistress: he cares most for it when it is least fond of +him! +</p> +<p> +I slept like a humming-top, and, indeed, there 's no saying when I +should have awoke, if it had n't been for the knocking they kept up at +my door. +</p> +<p> +It was Cary at last got admittance, and I had only to look in her face +to see that a misfortune had befallen us. +</p> +<p> +"What is it, my dear?" said I. +</p> +<p> +"All kinds of worry and confusion, pappy," said she, taking my hand in +both of hers. "The Countess is gone." +</p> +<p> +"Gone?—how?—where?" +</p> +<p> +"Gone. Started this morning,—indeed, before daybreak,—I believe for +Genoa; but there 's no knowing, for the people have been evidently +bribed to secrecy." +</p> +<p> +"What for?—with what object?" +</p> +<p> +"The short of the matter is this, pappy. She appears to have overheard +some conversation—evidently intended to be of a private nature—that +passed between you and mamma last night. How she understood it does not +appear, for, of course, you did n't talk French." +</p> +<p> +"Let that pass. Proceed." +</p> +<p> +"Whatever it was that she gathered, or fancied she gathered, one thing +is certain: she immediately summoned her maid, and gave orders to pack +up; post-horses were also ordered, but all with the greatest secrecy. +Meanwhile she indited a short note to Mary Anne, in which, after +apologizing for a very unceremonious departure, she refers her to you +and to mamma for the explanation, with a half-sarcastic remark 'that +family confidences had much better be conducted in a measured tone of +voice, and confined to the vernacular of the speakers.' With a very +formal adieu to James, whom she styles 'votre estimable frère,' the +letter concludes with an assurance of deep and sincere consideration on +the part of Josephine de St. A." +</p> +<p> +"What does all this mean?" exclaimed I, with a terrible misgiving, Tom, +that I knew only too well how the mischief originated. +</p> +<p> +"That is exactly what I want you to explain, pappy," said she, "for the +letter distinctly refers to something within your knowledge." +</p> +<p> +"I must see the document itself," said I, cautiously; "fetch me the +letter." +</p> +<p> +"James carried it off with him." +</p> +<p> +"Off with him,—why, is he gone too?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, pappy, he started with post-horses after her,—at least, so far as +he could make out the road she travelled. Poor fellow! he seemed almost +out of his mind when he left this." +</p> +<p> +"And your mother, how is she?" +</p> +<p> +Cary shook her head mournfully. +</p> +<p> +Ah, Tom, I needed but the gesture to show me what was in store for me. +My fertile imagination daguerreotyped a great family picture, in which +I was shortly to fill a most lamentable part. My prophetic soul—as a +novelist would call it—depicted me once more in the dock, arraigned for +the ruin of my children, the wreck of their prospects, and the downfall +of the Dodds. I fancied that even Cary would turn against me, and almost +thought I could hear her muttering, "Ah, it was papa did it all!" +</p> +<p> +While I was thus communing with myself, I received a message from Mrs. +D. that she wished to see me. I take shame to myself for the confession, +Tom, but I own that I felt it like an order to come up for sentence. +There could be no longer any question of my guilt,—my trial was over; +there remained nothing but to hear the last words of the law, which +seemed to say, "Kenny Dodd, you have been convicted of a great offence. +By your blundering stupidity—your unbridled temper, and your gratuitous +folly—you have destroyed your son's chance of worldly fortune, blasted +his affections, and—and lost him four thousand a year. But your +iniquity does not end even here. You have also—" As I reached this, the +door opened, and Mrs. D., in her "buff coat," as I used to call a +certain flannel dressing-gown that she usually donned for battle, slowly +entered, followed by Mary Anne, with a whole pharmacopoeia of +restoratives,—an "ambulance" that plainly predicted hot work before us. +Resolving that our duel should have no witnesses, I turned the girls out +of the room, and for the same reason do I preserve a rigid secrecy as to +all the details of our engagement; enough when I say that the sun went +down upon our wrath, and it was near nightfall when we drew off our +forces. Though I fought vigorously, and with the courage of despair, I +couldn't get over the fact that it was my unhappy explosion in French +that did all the mischief. I tried hard to make it appear that her +sudden departure was rather a boon than otherwise; that our expenses +were terrific, and, moreover, that, as I was determined against any +fictitious settlement, her flight had only anticipated a certain +catastrophe; but all these devices availed me little against my real +culpability, which no casuistry could get over. +</p> +<p> +"Well, ma'am," said I, at last, "one thing is quite clear,—the +Continent does not suit us. All our experience of foreign life and +manners neither guides us in difficulty nor warns us when in danger. Let +us go back to where we are, at least, as wise as our neighbors,—where +we are familiar with the customs, and where, whatever our shortcomings, +we meet with the indulgent judgment that comes of old acquaintance." +</p> +<p> +"Where 's that?" said she. "I 'm curious to know where is this elegant +garden of paradise?" +</p> +<p> +"Bruff, ma'am,—our own neighborhood." +</p> +<p> +"Where we were always in hot water with every one. Were you ever out +of a squabble on the Bench or at the poorhouse? Were n't you always +disputing about land with the tenants, and about water with the miller? +Had n't you a row at every assizes, and a skirmish at every road +session? Bruff, indeed; it's a new thing to hear it called the Happy +Valley!" +</p> +<p> +"Faith, I know I 'm not Rasselas," said I. +</p> +<p> +"You're restless enough," said she, mistaking the word; "but it's your +own temper that does it. No, Mr. D., if you want to go back to Ireland, +I won't be selfish enough to oppose it; but as for myself, I 'll never +set a foot in it." +</p> +<p> +"You are determined on that?" said I. +</p> +<p> +"I am," said she. +</p> +<p> +"In that case, ma'am," said I, "I 'm only losing valuable time waiting +for you to change your mind; so I 'll start at once." +</p> +<p> +"A pleasant journey to you, Mr. D.," said she, flouncing out of the +room, and leaving me the field of battle, but scarcely the victory. Now, +Tom, I 've too much to do and to think about to discuss the point that I +know you 're eager for,—which of us was more in the wrong. Such debates +are only casuistry from beginning to end. Besides, at all events, <i>my</i> +mind is made up. I 'll go back at once. The little there ever was of +anything good about me is fast oozing away in this life of empty parade +and vanity. Mary Anne and James are both the worse of it; who knows how +long Cary will resist its evil influence? I'll go down to Genoa, and +take the Peninsular steamer straight for Southampton. I 'm a bad sailor, +but it will save me a few pounds, and some patience besides, in escaping +the lying and cheating scoundrels I should meet in a land journey. +</p> +<p> +To any of the neighbors, you may say that I 'm coming home for a few +weeks to look after the tenants; and to any whom you think would believe +it, just hint that the Government has sent for me. +</p> +<p> +I conclude that I 'll be very short of cash when I reach Genoa, so send +me anything you can lay hands on, and believe me, +</p> +<p> +Ever yours faithfully, +</p> +<p> +Kenny James Dodd. +</p> +<p> +P. S. I told you this was a cheap place. The bill has just come up, and +it beats the "Clarendon"! It appears that his Serene Highness told them +to treat us like princes, and we must pay in the same style. I'm going +to settle' part of our debt by parting with our travelling-carriage, +which, besides assisting the exchequer, will be a great shock to Mrs. +D., and a foretaste of what she has to come down to when I 'm gone. +It is seldom that a man can combine the double excellence of a great +financier and a great moralist! +</p> +<a name="2H_4_0018"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + LETTER XVIII. MARY ANNE DODD TO MISS DOOLAN, OP BALLYDOOLAN +</h2> +<h3> + "Cour de Parme," Parma. +</h3> +<p> +Dearest Kitty,—So varied have been my emotions of late, and with such +whirlwind rapidity have they succeeded each other in my distracted +brain, that I am really at a loss to know where I left off in my last +epistle to you, and at what particular crisis in our adventures I closed +my narrative. Forgive me, dearest, if I impose on you the tiresome task +of listening twice to the same tale, or the almost equally unpleasant +duty of trying to follow me through gaps of unexplained events. +</p> +<p> +Have I told you of the Countess's departure,—that most mysterious +flight, which has thrown poor James into, I fear, a hopeless melancholy, +and made shipwreck of his heart forever? I feel as if I had revealed it +to my dearest Kitty; my soul whispers to me that she bears her share in +my sorrows, and mingles her tears with mine. Yes, dearest, she is gone! +Some indiscreet revelations papa made to mamma in his room would +appear to have disclosed more of our private affairs than ought to have +obtained publicity, were overheard by her, and she immediately gave +orders to her servants to pack up, leaving a very vague note behind +her, plainly intimating, however, that papa might, if he pleased, +satisfactorily account for the step she had taken. This, and a few +almost flippant acknowledgments of our attentions, concluded an epistle +that fell in the midst of us like a rocket. +</p> +<p> +If I feel deeply wounded at the slight thus shown us, and the still +heavier injury inflicted on poor dear James, yet am I constrained to +confess that Josephine was quite justified in what she did. Born in +the very highest class, all her habits, her ways, her very instincts +aristocratic, the bare thought of an alliance with a family struggling +with dubious circumstances must have been too shocking! I did not ever +believe that she returned James's affection; she liked him, perhaps, +well enough,—that is, well enough to marry! She deemed him her equal in +rank and fortune, and in that respect regarded the match as a fair one. +To learn that we were neither titled nor rich, neither great by station +nor rolling in wealth, was of course to feel that she had been deceived +and imposed upon, and might reasonably warrant even the half-sarcastic +spirit of her farewell note. +</p> +<p> +To tell what misery this has cost us all is quite beyond me; scorned +affection,—blasted hopes,—ambitions scattered to the winds,—a +glorious future annihilated! Conceive all of these that you can, +and then couple them with meaner and more vulgar regrets, as to what +enormous extravagance the pursuit has involved us in, the expense of a +style of living that even a prince could scarcely have maintained, and +all at a little secluded capital where nobody comes, nobody lives; so +that we do not reap even the secondary advantage of that notoriety for +which we have to pay so dearly. Mamma and I, who think precisely alike +on these subjects, are overwhelmed with misery as we reflect over what +the money thus squandered would have done at Rome, Florence, or Vienna! +</p> +<p> +James is distracted, and papa sits poring all day long over papers and +accounts, by way of arranging his affairs before his death. Cary alone +maintains her equanimity, for which she may thank the heartlessness of a +nature insensible to all feeling. +</p> +<p> +Imagine a family circle of such ingredients! Think of us as you saw +us last, even in all the darkness of Dodsborough, and you will find it +difficult to believe we are the same! Yet, dearest, it might all have +been different,—how different! But papa—there is no use trying to +conceal it—has a talent for ruining the prospects of his family, that +no individual advantages, no combination of events, however felicitous, +can avail against! An absurd and most preposterous notion of being what +he calls "honest and aboveboard" leads him to excesses of every kind, +and condemns us to daily sorrows and humiliations. It is in vain that +we tell him nobody parades his debts no more than his infirmities; that +people wear their best faces for the world, and that credit is the same +principle in morals as in mercantile affairs. His reply is, "No. I 'm +tired of all that. I never perform a great part without longing for the +time when I shall be Kenny Dodd again!" +</p> +<p> +This one confession will explain to you the hopelessness of all our +efforts to rise in life, and our last resource is in the prospect of his +going back to Ireland. Mamma has already proposed to accept a thousand +a year for herself and me; while Cary should return with papa to +Dodsborough. It is possible that this arrangement might have been +concluded ere this, but that papa has got a relapse of his gout, and +been laid up for the last eight days. He refuses to see any doctor, +saying that they all drive the malady in by depletion, and has taken to +drinking port wine all day long, by way of confining the attack to his +foot. What is to be the success of this treatment has yet to be seen, +but up to this time its only palpable effect has been to make him like +a chained tiger. He roars and shouts fearfully, and has smashed all the +more portable articles of furniture in the room,—throwing them at the +waiters. He insists, besides, on having his bill made up every night, +so that instead of one grand engagement once a week, we have now a smart +skirmish every evening, which usually lasts till bedtime. +</p> +<p> +For economy, too, we have gone up to the second story, and come down to +a very meagre dinner. No carriage,—no saddle-horses,—no theatre. The +courier dismissed, and a strict order at the bar against all "extras." +</p> +<p> +James lies all day abed; Cary plays nurse to papa; mamma and I sit +moping beside a little miserable stove till evening, when we receive our +one solitary visitor,—a certain Father M'Grail, an Irish priest, who +has been resident here for thirty years, and is known as the Padre +Giacomo! He is a spare, thin, pock-marked little man, with a pair of +downcast, I was going to say dishonest-looking, eyes, who talks with an +accent as rich as though he only left Kilrush yesterday. We have only +known him ten days, but he has already got an immense influence over +mamma, and induced her to read innumerable little books, and to practise +a variety of small penances besides. I suspect he is rather afraid +of <i>me</i>,—at least we maintain towards each other a kind of armed +neutrality; but mamma will not suffer me to breathe a word against him. +</p> +<p> +It is not unlikely that he owes much of the esteem mamma feels for him +to his own deprecatory estimate of papa, whom he pronounces to be, in +many respects, almost as infamous as a Protestant. Cary he only alludes +to by throwing up hands and eyes, and seeming to infer that she is +irrecoverably lost. +</p> +<p> +I own to you, Kitty, I don't like him,—I scarcely trust him,—but it +is, after all, such a resource to have any one to talk to, anything to +break the dull monotony of this dreary life, that I hail his coming with +pleasure, and am actually working a rochet, or an alb, or a something +else for him to wear on Saint Nicolo of Treviso's "festa,"—an occasion +on which the little man desires to appear with extraordinary splendor. +Mamma, too, is making a canopy to hold over his honored head; and I +sincerely hope that our <i>oeuvres méritoires</i> will redound to our future +advantage! I am half afraid that I have shocked you with an apparent +irreverence in speaking of these things, but I must confess to you, +dearest Kitty, that I am occasionally provoked beyond all bounds by the +degree of influence this small saint exercises in our family, and by no +means devoid of apprehension lest his dominion should become absolute. +Even already he has persuaded mamma that papa's illness will resist +all medical skill to the end of time, and will only yield to the +intervention of a certain Saint Agatha of Orsaro, a newly discovered +miracle-worker, of whose fame you will doubtless hear much erelong. +</p> +<p> +To my infinite astonishment, papa is quite converted to this opinion, +and Cary tells me is most impatient to set out for Orsaro, a little +village at the foot of the mountain of that name, and about thirty miles +from this. As the only approach is by a bridle-path, we are to travel on +mules or asses; and I look forward to the excursion, if not exactly with +pleasure, with some interest. Father Giacomo—I can't call him anything +else—has already written to secure rooms for us at the little inn; and +we are meanwhile basely employed in the manufacture of certain pilgrim +costumes, which are indispensable to all frequenting the holy shrine. +The dress is far from unbecoming, I assure you; a loose robe of white +stuff—ours are Cashmere—with wide sleeves, and a large hood lined +with sky-blue; a cord of the same color round the waist; no shoes or +stockings, but light sandals, which show the foot to perfection. An +amber rosary is the only ornament permitted; but the whole is charming. +</p> +<p> +Saint Agatha of Orsaro will unquestionably make a great noise in the +world; and it will therefore be interesting to you to know something +of her history,—or, what Fra Giacomo more properly calls, her +manifestation—which was in this wise: The priest of Orsaro—a very +devout and excellent man—had occasion to go into the church late at +night on the eve of Saint Agatha's festival. He was anxious, I believe, +to see that all the decorations to do honor to the day were in proper +order, and, taking a lamp from the sacristy, he walked down the aisle +till he came to the shrine, where the saint's image stood. He knelt +for a moment to address her in prayer, when, with a sudden sneeze, she +extinguished his light, and left him fainting and in darkness on the +floor of the church. In this fashion was he discovered the following +morning, when, after coming to himself, he made the revelation I have +just given you. Since that she has been known to sneeze three times, +and on each occasion a miracle has followed. The fame of this wonderful +occurrence has now traversed Italy, and will doubtless soon extend to +the faithful in every part of Europe. Orsaro is becoming crowded with +penitents; among whom I am gratified to see the names of many of the +English aristocracy; and it has become quite a fashionable thing to pass +a week or ten days there. +</p> +<p> +Now, dearest Kitty, from you, with whom I have no concealments, I will +not disguise the confession that I look forward to this excursion +with considerable hope and expectation. You cannot but have perceived +latterly how our faith, instead of being, as it once was, the symbol +of low birth and ignoble connections, has become the very bond of +aristocratic society. The church has become the <i>salon</i> wherein we make +our most valued acquaintances; and devout observances are equivalent to +letters of introduction. If I wanted a proof of this, I'd give it in +the number of those who have become converts to our religion, from +the manifest social benefits the change of faith has conferred. How +otherwise would third and fourth-rate Protestants obtain access to +Princely <i>soirées</i> and Ducal receptions? By what other road could +they arrive at recognition in the society of Rome and Naples, frequent +Cardinals' levees, and be even seen lounging in the ante-chambers of the +Vatican! +</p> +<p> +Hence it is clear that the true faith has its benefits in <i>this</i> world +also, and that piety is a passport to high places even on earth. I have +no doubt, if we manage properly, our sojourn at Orsaro may be made very +profitable, and that, even without miracles, the excursion may pay us +well. +</p> +<p> +I have been interrupted by a message to attend mamma in her own room,—a +summons I rightly guessed to imply something of importance. Only fancy, +Kitty, it was a letter which had arrived addressed to papa,—but +of course not given to him to read in his present highly agitated +state,—from Captain Morris, with a proposal for Caroline! +</p> +<p> +He very properly sets out by acknowledging the great difference of age +between them, but he might certainly have added something as to the +discrepancy between their stations. He talks, too, of his small means, +"sufficient for those who can limit their ambitions and wants within a +narrow circle,"—I wonder who they are?—and professes a deal of that +cold kind of respectful love which all old men affect to think a woman +ought to feel flattered by. In fact, the whole reads far more like a +law paper than a love-letter, and is rather a rough draft of an Act of +Parliament against celibacy than a proposal for a pretty girl! +</p> +<p> +Mamma had shown the letter to Fra Giacomo before I entered, and I had +very little trouble to guess the effect produced by his counsels. The +Captain, as a heretic, was at once denounced by him; and the little +man grew actually enthusiastic in inveighing against the insulting +presumption of the offer. He insisted on a peremptory, flat rejection +of the proposal, without any reference whatever to papa. He said that to +hesitate in such a question was in itself a sin; and he even hinted that +he was n't quite sure what reception Saint Agatha might vouchsafe us +after so much of intercourse with an outcast and a disbeliever. +</p> +<p> +This last argument was decisive, and I accordingly sat down and wrote, +in mamma's name, a very stiff acknowledgment of the receipt of his +letter, and an equally cold refusal of the honor it tendered for our +acceptance. We all agreed that Cary should hear nothing whatever of the +matter, but, as Fra Giacomo said, "we 'd keep the disgrace for our own +hearts." +</p> +<p> +I own to you, Kitty, that if the religious question could be got over, +I do not think the thing so inadmissible. Cary is evidently not destined +to advance our family interests; had she even the capacity, she lacks +the ambition. Her tastes are humble, commonplace, and—shall I say +it?—vulgar. +</p> +<p> +It gives her no pleasure to move in high society, and she esteems the +stupid humdrum of domestic life as the very supreme of happiness. With +such tastes this old Captain—he is five-and-thirty at least—would +perhaps have suited her perfectly, and his intolerable mother been quite +a companion. Their small fortune, too, would have consigned them to some +cheap, out-of-the-way place, where we should not have met; and, in fact, +the arrangement might have combined a very fair share of advantage. Fra +G., however, had decided the matter on higher grounds, and there is no +more to be said about it. +</p> +<p> +There is another letter come by this post, too, from Lord George, +dearest! He is to arrive to-night, if he can get horses. He is full of +some wonderful tournament about to be held at Genoa,—a spectacle to +be given by the city to the King, which is to attract all the world +thither; and Lord G. writes to say that we have n't a moment to lose in +securing accommodation at the hotel. Little suspecting the frame of mind +his communication is to find us in, and that, in place of doughty +deeds and chivalrous exploits, our thoughts are turned to fastings, +mortifications, and whipcord! Oh, how I shudder at the ridicule with +which he will assail us, and tremble for my own constancy under the +raillery he will shower on us! I never dreaded his coming before, and +would give worlds now that anything could prevent his arrival. +</p> +<p> +How reconcile his presence with that of Fra Giacomo? How protect the +priest from the overt quizzings of my Lord? and how rescue his Lordship +from the secret machinations of the "father?"? are difficulties that I +know not how to face. Mamma, besides, is now so totally under priestly +guidance that she would sacrifice the whole peerage for a shaving of +a saint's shin-bone! There will not be even time left me to concert +measures with Lord G. The moment he enters the house he'll see the +"altered temper of our ways" in a thousand instances. Relics, missals, +beads, and rosaries have replaced Gavarni's etchings,—"Punch," and the +"Illustration." Charms and amulets blessed by popes occupy the places +of cigar-holders, pipe-sticks, and gutta-percha drolleries. The "Stabat +Mater" has usurped the seat of "Casta Diva" on the piano, and a number +of other unmistakable signs point to our reformed condition. +</p> +<p> +I hear post-horses approaching—they come nearer and nearer! Yes, +Kitty, it must be—it is he! James has met him—they are already on the +stairs—how they laugh! James must be telling him everything. I knew he +would. Another burst of that unfeeling laughter! They are at the door. +Good-bye! +</p> +<p> +Mount Orsaro, "La Pace." +</p> +<p> +Here we are, dearest, at the end of our pilgrimage. Such a delightful +excursion I never remember to have taken. I told you all about my +fears of Lord George. Would that I had never written the ungracious +lines!—never so foully wronged him! Instead of the levity I +apprehended, he is actually reverential,—I might say, devout! The +moment he reached Parma, he ordered a dress to be made for him exactly +like James's, and decided immediately on accompanying us. Fra Giacomo, +I need scarcely observe, was in ecstasies. The prospect of such a noble +convert would be an immense piece of success, and he did not hesitate to +avow, would materially advance his own interests at Rome. +</p> +<p> +As for the journey, Kitty, I have no words to describe the scenery +through which we travelled: deep glens between lofty mountains, wooded +to the very summits with cork and chestnut trees, over which, towering +aloft, were seen the peaks of the great Apennines, glistening in snow, +or golden in the glow of sunset. Wending along through these our little +procession went, in itself no unpicturesque feature, for we were obliged +to advance in single file along the narrow pathway, and thus our mules, +with their scarlet trappings and tasselled bridles, and our floating +costumes, made up an effect which will remain painted on my heart +forever. In reality, I made a sketch of the scene; but Lord George, who +for the convenience of talking to me always rode with his face to the +mule's tail, made me laugh so often that my drawing is quite spoiled. +</p> +<a name="image-0007"><!--IMG--></a> +<center> +<img src="images/frontispiece.jpg" height="999" width="644" +alt="Frontispiece +"> +</center> + +<p> +At last we arrived at our little inn called "La Pace,"—how beautifully +it sounds, dearest! and really stands so, too, beside a gushing +mountain-stream, and perfectly embowered in olives. We could only obtain +two rooms, however,—one, adjoining the kitchen, for papa and mamma; +the other, under the tiles, for Cary and myself. Fra Giacomo quarters +himself on the priest of the village; and Lord George and James are what +the Italians call "<i>a spasso</i>" Betty Cobb is furious at being consigned +to the kitchen, in company with some thirty others, many of whom, I may +remark, are English people of rank and condition. In fact, dearest, the +whole place is so crowded that a miserable room, in all its native dirt +and disgust, costs the price of a splendid apartment in Paris. Many of +the first people of Europe are here: ministers, ambassadors, generals; +and an English earl also, who is getting a drawing made of the shrine +and the Virgin, and intends sending a narrative of her miracles to +the "Tablet." You have no idea, my dearest Kitty, of the tone of +affectionate kindness and cordiality inspired by such a scene. Dukes, +Princes, even Royalties, accost you as their equals. As Fra G. says, +"The holy influences level distinctions." The Duke of San Pietrino +placed his own cushion for mamma to kneel on yesterday. The Graf von +Dummerslungen gave me a relic to kiss as I passed this morning. Lord +Tollington, one of the proudest peers in England, stopped to ask papa +how he was, and regretted we had not arrived last Saturday, when the +Virgin sneezed twice! +</p> +<p> +As we begin our Novena to-morrow, I shall probably not have a moment to +continue this rambling epistle; but you may confidently trust that my +first thoughts, when again at liberty, shall be given to you. Till then, +darling Kitty, believe me, +</p> +<p> +Your devoted and ever affectionate +</p> +<p> +Mart Anne Dodd. +</p> +<p> +P. S. More arrivals, Kitty,—three carriages and eleven donkeys! Where +they are to put up I can't conceive. Lord G. says, "It's as full as the +'Diggins,' and quite as dear." The excitement and novelty of the whole +are charming! +</p> +<a name="2H_4_0019"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + LETTER XIX. MRS. DODD TO MRS. MARY GALLAGHER, DODSBOROUGH +</h2> +<h3> + Orsaro, Feast of Saint Gingo. +</h3> +<p> +My dear Molly,—The Earl of Guzeberry, that leaves this to-day for +England, kindly offers to take charge of my letters to you; and so I +write "Favored by his Lordship" on the outside, just that you may show +the neighbors, and teach them Davises the respect they ought to show us, +if it 's ever our misfortune to meet. +</p> +<p> +The noble Lord was here doing his penances with us for the last +three weeks, and is now my most intimate friend on earth. He 's the +kindest-hearted creature I ever met, and always doing good works, of +one sort or other; and whenever not sticking nails in his own flesh, or +pulling hairs out of his beard or eyelashes, always ready to chastise a +friend! +</p> +<p> +We came here to see the wonderful Virgin of Orsaro, and beg her +intercession for us all, but more especially for K. I., whose temper +proves clearly that there's what Father James calls a "possession of +him;" that is to say, "he has devils inside of him." The whole account +of the saint herself—her first manifestation and miraculous doings—you +'ll find in the little volume that accompanies this, written, as you +will see, by your humble servant. Lord G. gave me every assistance in +his power; and, indeed, but for him and Father James, it might have +taken years to finish it; for I must tell you, Molly, bad as Berlin-work +is, it 's nothing compared to writing a book; for when you have the wool +and the frame, it's only stitching it in, but with a book you have to +arrange your thoughts, and then put them down; after that, there 's the +grammar to be minded, and the spelling, and the stops; and many times, +where you think it's only a comma, you have come to your full period! I +assure you I went through more with that book—little as it is—than in +all my "observances," some of them very severe ones. First of all, we +had to be so particular about the miracles, knowing well what Protestant +bigotry would do when the account came out. We had to give names and +dates and places, with witnesses to substantiate, and all that could +corroborate the facts. Then we had a difficulty of another kind,—how to +call the Virgin. You may remember how those Exeter Hall wretches spoke +of Our Lady of Rimini,—as the "Winking Virgin." We could n't +say sneezing after that, so we just called her "La Madonna dei +Sospiri,"—"Our Lady of Sighs." To be sure, we can't get the people here +to adopt this title; but that's no consequence as regards England. +</p> +<p> +By the time the volume reaches you, all Europe will be ringing with the +wonderful tidings; for there are three bishops here, and they have all +signed the "Mémoire," recommending special services in honor of the +Virgin, and strongly urging a subscription to build a suitable shrine +for her in this her native village. +</p> +<p> +You have no idea, dear Molly, of what a blessed frame of mind +these spiritual duties have enabled me to enjoy. How peaceful is my +spirit!—how humble my heart! I turn my thoughts away from earth as +easily as I could renounce rope-dancing; and when I sit of an evening, +in a state of what Lord Guzeberry calls "beatitude," K. I. might have +the cholera without my caring for it. +</p> +<p> +The season is now far advanced, however, and, to my infinite grief, +we must leave this holy spot, where we have made a numerous and most +valuable acquaintance; for, besides several of the first people of +England, we have formed intimacy with the Duchessa di Sangue Nero, +first lady to the Queen of Naples; the Marquesa di Villa Guasta, a great +leader of fashion in Turin; the "Noncio" at the court of Modena; and a +variety of distinguished Florentines and Romans, who all assure us that +our devotions are the best passports for admission in all the select +houses of Italy. +</p> +<p> +Mary Anne predicts a brilliant winter before us, and even Cary is all +delight at the prospect of picture galleries and works of art. Is n't it +paying the Protestants off for their insulting treatment of us at home, +Molly, to see all the honor and respect we receive abroad? The tables +are completely turned, my dear; for not one of them ever gets his nose +into the really high society of this country, while we are welcomed +to it with open arms. But if there 's anything sure to get you well +received in the first houses, it is having a convert of rank in your +train. To be the means of bringing a lord over to the true fold is to be +taken up at once by cardinals and princes of all kinds. +</p> +<p> +As Mary Anne says, "Let us only induce Lord George to enter the Catholic +Church and our fortune is made." And oh, Molly, putting all the pomps +and vanities of this world aside, never heeding the grandeur of this +life, nor caring what men may do to us, is n't it an elegant reflection +to save one poor creature from the dreadful road of destruction and +ruin! I'm sure it would be the happiest day of my life when I could +read in the "Tablet," "We have great satisfaction in announcing to our +readers that Lord George Tiverton, member for"—I forget where—"and son +of the Marquis "—I forget whom,—"yesterday renounced the errors of the +Protestant Church to embrace those of the Church of Rome." +</p> +<p> +Maybe, now, you 'd like to hear something about ourselves; but I 've +little to tell that is either pleasant or entertaining. You know—or, +at least, you will know from Kitty Doolan—the way K. I. destroyed poor +James, and lost him a beautiful creature and four thousand a year. That +was a blow there's no getting over; and, indeed, I'd have sunk under it +if it was n't for Father James, and the consolation he has been able to +give me. There was an offer came for Caroline. Captain Morris, that you +'ve heard me speak of, wrote and proposed, which I opened during K. I.'s +illness, and sent him a flat refusal, Molly, with a bit of advice in the +end, about keeping in his own rank of life, and marrying into his own +creed. +</p> +<p> +Maybe I mightn't have been so stout about rejecting him, for it's the +hardest thing in life to marry a daughter nowadays, but that Father +Giacomo said his Holiness would never forgive me for taking a heretic +into the family, and that it was one of the nine deadly sins. +</p> +<p> +You may perceive from this, that Father G. is of great use to me when I +need advice and guidance, and, indeed, I consulted him as to whether I +ought to separate from K. I., or not. There are cases of conscience, +he tells me, and cases of convenience. The first are matters for the +cardinals and the Holy College! but the others any ordinary priest can +settle; and this is one of them. "Don't leave him," says he, "for your +means of doing good will only be more limited; and as to your trials, +take out some of your mortifications that way; and, above all, don't be +too lenient to <i>him</i>." Ay, Molly, he saw my weak point, do what I would +to hide it; he knew my failing was an easy disposition, and a patient, +submissive turn of mind. But I 'll do my endeavor to conquer it, if it +was only for the poor children's sake; for I know he'd marry again, and +I sometimes suspect I 've hit the one he has his eyes on. +</p> +<p> +On Friday next we are to leave this for Genoa. It's the end of our +Novena, and we would n't have time for another before the snow sets in; +for though we're in Italy, Molly, the mountains all round us are tipped +with snow, and it's as cold now, when you 're in the shade, as I ever +felt it in Ireland. It's a great tournament at Genoa is taking us there. +There 's to be the King of Saxony, and the King of Bohemia, too, I +believe; for whenever you begin to live in fashionable life, you must +run after royal people from place to place, be seen wherever they +are, and be quite satisfied whenever your name is put down among the +"distinguished company." +</p> +<p> +I was near forgetting that I want you to get Father John to have my +little book read by the children in our National School; for, as K. +I. is the patron, we have, of course, the right. At all events <i>I'll</i> +withdraw if they refuse; and they can't accuse me of illiberality or +bigotry, for I never said a word against the taking away the Bible. Let +them just remember <i>that!</i> +</p> +<p> +Lord Guzeberry is just going, so that I have only time to seal, and sign +myself as ever yours, +</p> +<p> +Jemima Dodd. +</p> +<p> +I send you two dozen of the tracts to distribute among our friends. The +one bound in red silk is for Dean O'Dowd, "with the author's devotions +and duties." +</p> +<a name="2H_4_0020"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + LETTER XX. BETTY COBB TO MISTRESS SHUSAN O'SHEA. +</h2> +<h3> + Mount Orsaro. +</h3> +<p> +My dear Shusan,—It's five months and two days since I wrote to you +last, and it 's like five years in regard to the way time has worn and +distressed me. The mistress tould Mrs. Gallagher how I was deserted +by that deceatfull blaguard, taking off with him my peace of mind, two +petticoats, and a blue cloth cloak, that I thought would last me for +life! so that I need n't go over my miseries again to yourself. We +heard since that he had another wife in Switzerland, not to say two more +wandering about, so that the master says, if we ever meet him, we can +hang him for "bigotry." And, to tell you the truth, Shusy, I feel as if +it would be a great relief to me to do it! if it was only to save other +craytures from the same feat that he did to your poor friend Betty Cobb; +besides that, until something of the kind is done, I can't enter the +holy state again with any other deceaver. +</p> +<p> +Such a life as we 're leadin', Shusy, at one minute all eatin' and +drinkin' and caressin' from morning till night; at another, my dear, +it's all fastin' and mortification, for the mistress has no moderation +at all; but, as the master says, she 's always in her extremities! If +ye seen the dress of her last week, she was Satan from head to foot, and +now she 's, by way of a saint, in white Cashmar, with a little scurge at +her waist, and hard pegs in her shoes! +</p> +<p> +We have nothin' to eat but roots, like the beasts of the field; and +them, too, mostly raw! That's to make us good soldiers of the Church, +Father James says; but in my heart and soul, Shusy, I 'm sick of the +regiment. Shure, when we 've a station in Ireland, it only lasts a day +or two at most; and if your knees is sore with the pennance, shure you +have the satisfaction of the pleasant evenings after; with, maybe, a +dance, or, at all events, tellin' stories over a jug of punch; but +here it's prayers and stripes, stripes and offices, starvation and more +stripes, till, savin' your presence, I never sit down without a screech! +</p> +<p> +Why we came here I don't know; the mistress says it was to cure the +master; but did n't I hear her tell him a thousand times that the bad +drop was in him, and he 'd never be better to his dyin' day? so that it +can't be for that. Sometimes I think it's to get Mary Anne married, and +they want Saint Agatha to help them; but faith, Shusy, one sinner +is worth two saints for the like of that. Lord George tould me in +confidence—the other day it was—that the mistress wanted an increase +to her family. Faith, you may well open your eyes, my dear, but them 's +his words! And tho' I did n't believe him at first, I 'm more persuaded +of it now, that I see how she's goin' on. +</p> +<p> +If the master only suspected it, he 'd be off to-morrow, for he 's +always groanin' and moanin' over the expense of the family; and, between +you and me, I believe I ought to go and tell him. Maybe you 'd give me +advice what to do, for it's a nice point. +</p> +<p> +You would n't know Paddy Byrne, how much he's grown, and the wonderful +whiskers he has all over his face; but he 's as bowld as brass, and has +the impedince of the divil in him. He never ceases tormentin' me about +Taddy, and says I ought to take out a few florins in curses on him, just +as if I could n't do it cheaper myself than payin' a priest for it As +for Paddy himself,—do what the mistress will,—she can get no good of +him, in regard to his duties. He does all his stations on his knees, to +be sure, but with a cigar in his mouth; and when he comes to the holy +well, it's a pull at a dram bottle he takes instead of the blessed +water. I wondered myself at his givin' a crown-piece to the Virgin on +Tuesday last, but he soon showed me what he was at by say in', "If she +does n't get my wages riz for that, the divil receave the f arthin' she +'ll ever receave of mine again!" +</p> +<p> +After all, Shusy, it 's an elegant sight to see all them great people +that thinks so much of themselves, crawling about on their hands and +knees, kissin' a relict here, huggin' a stone there, just as much +frightened about the way the saint looks at them as one of us! It +does one's heart good to know that, for all their fine livin' and fine +clothes, ould Nick has the same hould of them that he has of you and me! +</p> +<p> +I had a great deal to tell you about the family and their goin's on, but +I must conclude in haste, for tho' it's only five o'clock, there's the +bell ringing for martins, and I have a station to take before first +mass. I suppose it's part of my mortifications, but the mistress and +Mary Anne never gives me a stitch of clothes till they're spoiled; and +I'm drivin to my wits' end, tearin' and destroyin' things in such a way +as not to ruin them when they come to me! Miss Caroline never has a gown +much better than my own; and, indeed, she said the other day, "When I +want to be smart, Betty, you must lend me your black bombaseen." +</p> +<p> +There's the mistress gone out already, so no more from +</p> +<p> +Your sincear friend, +</p> +<p> +Betty Cobb. +</p> +<p> +I think Lord G. is right about the mistress. The saints forgive her, at +her time of life! More in my next. +</p> +<a name="2H_4_0021"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + LETTER XXI. JAMES DODD TO ROBERT DOOLAN, ESQ. TRINITY COLLEGE, DUBLIN. +</h2> +<h3> + The Inn, Orsaro. +</h3> +<p> +My dear Bob,—This must be a very brief epistle, since, amongst other +reasons, the sheet of letter-paper costs me a florin, and I shall have +to pay three more for a messenger to convey it to the post-town, a +distance of as many miles off. To explain these scarce credible facts, +I must tell you that we are at a little village called Orsaro, in +the midst of a wild mountain country, whither we have come to perform +penances, say prayers, and enact other devotions at the shrine of a +certain St. Agatha, who, some time last autumn, took to working miracles +down here, and consequently attracting all the faithful who had nothing +to do with themselves before Carnival. +</p> +<p> +My excellent mother it was who, in an access of devotion, devised the +excursion; and the governor, hearing that the locality was a barbarous +one, and the regimen a strict fast, fancied, of course, it would be a +most economical dodge, at once agreed; but, by Jove! the saving is a +delusion and a snare. Two miserable rooms, dirty and ill furnished, +cost forty francs a day; bad coffee and black bread, for breakfast, +are supplied at four francs a head; dinner—if by such a name one would +designate a starved kid stewed in garlic, or a boiled hedgehog with +chiccory sauce,—ten francs each; sour wine at the price of Château +Lafitte; and a seat in the sanctuary, to see the Virgin, four times as +dear as a stall at the Italian Opera. Exorbitant as all these charges +are, we are gravely assured that they will be doubled whenever the +Virgin sneezes again, that being the manifestation, as they call it, by +which she displays her satisfaction at our presence here. I do not +fancy talking irreverently of these things, Bob, but I own to you I +am ineffably shocked at the gross impositions innkeepers, postmasters, +donkey-owners, and others practise by trading on the devotional feelings +and pious aspirations of weak but worthy people. I say nothing of the +priests themselves; they may or may not believe all these miraculous +occurrences. One thing, however, is clear: they make every opportunity +of judging of them so costly that only a rich man can afford himself +the luxury, so that you and I, and a hundred others like us, may either +succumb or scoff, as we please, without any means of correcting our +convictions. One inevitable result ensues from this. There are two +camps: the Faithful, who believe everything, and are cheated by +every imaginable device of mock relics and made-up miracles; and the +Unbelieving, who actually rush into ostentatious vice, to show their +dislike to hypocrisy! Thus, this little dirty village, swarming with +priests, and resounding with the tramp of processions, is a den of every +kind of dissipation. The rattle of the dice-box mingles with the nasal +chantings of the tonsured monks, and the wild orgies of a drinking party +blend with the strains of the organ! If men be not religiously minded, +the contact with the Church seems to make demons of them. How otherwise +interpret the scoff and mockery that unceasingly go forward against +priests and priestcraft in a little community, as it were, separated for +acts of piety and devotion? +</p> +<p> +That we live in a most believing age is palpable, by the fact that this +place swarms with men distinguished in every court and camp in Europe. +Crafty ministers, artful diplomatists, keen old generals, versed in +every wile and stratagem, come here as it were to divest themselves of +all their long-practised acuteness, and give in their adhesion to the +most astounding and incoherent revelations. I cannot bring myself to +suppose these men rogues and hypocrites, and yet I have nearly as +much difficulty to believe them dupes! What have become of those sharp +perceptive powers, that clever insight into motives, and the almost +unerring judgment they could exhibit in any question of politics or +war? It cannot surely be that they who have measured themselves with +the first capacities of the world dread to enter the lists against some +half-informed and narrow-minded village curate; or is it that there +lurks in every human heart some one spot, a refuge as it were for +credulity, which even the craftiest cannot exclude? You are far better +suited than I to canvass such a question, my dear Bob. I only throw it +out for your consideration, without any pretension to solve it myself. +</p> +<p> +My father, you are well aware, is too good a Churchman to suffer a +syllable to escape his lips which might be construed into discredit of +the faith; but I can plainly see that he skulks his penances, and shifts +off any observance that does not harmonize with his comfort. At the same +time he strongly insists that the fastings and other privations enjoined +are an admirable system to counteract the effect of that voluptuous life +practised in almost every capital of Europe. As he shrewdly remarked, +"This place was like Groeffenberg,—you might not be restored by the +water-cure, but you were sure to be benefited by early hours, healthful +exercise, and a light diet." This, you may perceive, is a very modified +approval of the miracles. +</p> +<p> +I have dwelt so long on this theme that I have only left myself what +Mary Anne calls the selvage of my paper, for anything else. Nor is +it pleasant to me, Bob, to tell you that I am low-spirited and +down-hearted. A month ago, life was opening before me with every +prospect of happiness and enjoyment. A lovely creature, gifted and +graceful, of the very highest rank and fortune, was to have been mine. +She was actually domesticated with us, and only waiting for the day +which should unite our destinies forever, when one night—I can scarcely +go on—I know not how either to convey to you what is <i>half</i> shrouded in +mystery, and should be perhaps <i>all</i> concealed in shame; but somehow +my father contrived to talk so of our family affairs—our debts, our +difficulties, and what not—that Josephine overheard everything, and +shocked possibly more at our duplicity than at our narrow fortune, she +hurried away at midnight, leaving a few cold lines of farewell behind +her, and has never been seen or heard of since. +</p> +<p> +I set out after her to Milan; thence to Bologna, where I thought I had +traces of her. From that I went to Rimini, and on a false scent down to +Ancona. I got into a slight row there with the police, and was obliged +to retrace my steps, and arrived at Parma, after three weeks' incessant +travelling, heart-broken and defeated. +</p> +<p> +That I shall ever rally,—that I shall ever take any real interest +in life again, is totally out of the question. Such an opportunity of +fortune as this rarely occurs to any one once in life; none are lucky +enough to meet it a second time. The governor, too, instead of feeling, +as he ought, that he has been the cause of my ruin, continues to pester +me about the indolent way I spend my life, and inveighs against even the +little dissipations that I endeavor to drown my sorrows by indulging in. +It 's all very well to talk about active employment, useful pursuits, +and so forth; but a man ought to have his mind at ease, and his heart +free from care, for all these, as I told the governor yesterday. When a +fellow has got such a "stunner" as I have had lately, London porter and +a weed are his only solace. Even Tiverton's society is distasteful, he +has such a confoundedly flippant way of treating one. +</p> +<p> +I 'm thinking seriously of emigrating, and wish you could give me any +useful hints on the subject. Tiverton knows a fellow out there, who +was in the same regiment with himself,—a baronet, I believe,—and he's +doing a capital stroke of work with a light four-in-hand team that he +drives, I think, between San Francisco and Geelong, but don't trust me +too far in the geography; he takes the diggers at eight pounds a head, +and extra for the "swag." Now that is precisely the thing to suit me; +I can tool a coach as well as most fellows: and as long as one keeps on +the box they don't feel it like coming down in the world! +</p> +<p> +I half suspect Tiverton would come out too. At least, he seems very sick +of England, as everybody must be that has n't ten thousand a year and a +good house in Belgravia. +</p> +<p> +I don't know whither we go from this, and, except in the hope of hearing +from you, I could almost add, care as little. The governor has got so +much better from the good air and the regimen, that he is now anxious +to be off; while my mother, attributing his recovery to the saint's +interference, wants another "Novena." Mary Anne likes the place too; and +Cary, who sketches all day long, seems to enjoy it. +</p> +<p> +How the decision is to come is therefore not easy to foresee. Meanwhile, +whether <i>here</i> or <i>there</i>, +</p> +<p> +Believe me your attached friend, +</p> +<p> +James Dodd. +</p> +<a name="image-0008"><!--IMG--></a> +<center> +<img src="images/210.jpg" height="898" width="736" +alt="210 +"> +</center> + +<p> +I open this to say that we are "booked" for another fortnight here. +My mother went to consult the Virgin about going away last night, and +she—that is, the saint—gave such a sneeze that my mother fainted, +and was carried home insensible. The worst of all this is that Father +Giacomo—our guide in spirituals—insists on my mother's publishing a +little tract on her experiences; and the women are now hard at work with +pen and ink at a small volume to be called "St. Agatha of Orsaro," +by Jemima D———. They have offered half a florin apiece for good +miracles, but they are pouring in so fast they 'll have to reduce the +tariff. Tiverton recommends them to ask thirteen to the dozen. +</p> +<p> +The governor is furious at this authorship, which will cost some +five-and-twenty pounds at the least! +</p> +<a name="2H_4_0022"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + LETTER XXII. MRS. DODD TO MRS. MARY GALLAGHER +</h2> +<h3> + Hôtel Feder, Genoa. +</h3> +<p> +My dear Molly,—It's little that piety and holy living assists us in +this wicked world, as you 'll allow, when I tell you that after all +my penances, my mortifications, and my self-abstainings, instead of +enjoyment and pleasure, as I might reasonably look for in this place, I +never knew real misery and shame till I came here. I would n't believe +anybody that said people was always as bad as they are now! Sure, if +they were, why would n't we be prepared for their baseness and iniquity? +Why would we be deceived and cheated at every hand's turn? It's all +balderdash to pretend it, Molly. The world must be coming to an end, for +this plain reason, that it's morally impossible it can be more corrupt, +more false, and more vicious than it is. +</p> +<p> +I 'm trying these three days to open my heart to you. I 've taken ether, +and salts, and neumonia—I think the man called it—by the spoonfuls, +just to steady my nerves, and give me strength to tell you my +afflictions; and now I 'll just begin, and if my tears does n't blot out +the ink, I 'll reveal my sorrows, and open my breast before you. +</p> +<p> +We left that blessed village of Orsaro two days after I wrote to you +by the Earl of Guzeberry, and came on here, by easy stages, as we were +obliged to ride mules for more than half the way. Our journey was, of +course, fatiguing, but unattended by any other inconvenience than K. +I.'s usual temper about the food, the beds, and the hotel charges as we +came along. He would n't fast, nor do a single penance on the road; nor +would he join in chanting a Litany with Father James, but threatened +to sing "Nora Chrina," if we did n't stop. And though Lord George was +greatly shocked, James was just as bad as his father. Father Giacomo +kept whispering to me from time to time, "We 'll come to grief for this. +We 'll have to pay for all this impiety, Mrs. D.;" till at last he got +my nerves in such a state that I thought we 'd be swept away at every +blast of wind from the mountains, or carried down by every torrent that +crossed the road. I couldn't pass a bridge without screeching; and as +to fording a stream, it was an attack of hysterics. These, of course, +delayed us greatly, and it was a good day when we got over eight miles. +For all that, the girls seemed to like it. Cary had her sketch-book +always open; and Mary Anne used to go fishing with Lord G. and James, +and contrived, as she said, to make the time pass pleasantly enough. +</p> +<p> +I saw very little of K. I., for I was always at some devotional +exercise; and, indeed, I was right glad of it, for his chief amusement +was getting Father James into an argument, and teasing and insulting him +so that I only wondered why he did n't leave us at once and forever. He +never ceased, too, gibing and jeering about the miracles of Orsaro; and +one night, when he had got quite beyond all bounds, laughing at Father +G., he told him, "Faith," says he, "you 're the most credulous man ever +I met in my life; for it seems to me that you can believe anything but +the Christian religion." +</p> +<p> +From that moment Father G. only shook his hands at him, and would n't +discourse. +</p> +<p> +This is the way we got to Genoa, where, because we arrived at night, +they kept us waiting outside the gates of the town till the commandant +of the fortress had examined our passports; K. I. all the while abusing +the authorities, and blackguarding the governor in a way that would have +cost us dear, if it was n't that nobody could understand his Italian. +</p> +<p> +That wasn't all, for when we got to the hotel, they said that all the +apartments had been taken before Lord George's letter arrived, and that +there was n't a room nor a pantry to be had in the whole city at any +price. In fact, an English family had just gone off in despair to +Chiavari, for even the ships in the harbor were filled with strangers, +and the "steam dredge" was fitted up like an hotel! K. I. took down the +list of visitors, to see if he could find a friend or an acquaintance +amongst them, but, though there were plenty of English, we knew none of +them; and as for Lord G., though he was acquainted with nearly all the +titled people, they were always relatives or connections with whom he +wasn't "on terms." While we sat thus at the door, holding our council of +war, with sleepy waiters and a sulky porter, a gentleman passed in, and +went by us, up the stairs, before we could see his face. The landlord, +who lighted him all the way himself, showed that he was a person of some +consequence. K. I. had just time to learn that he was "No. 4, the grand +apartment on the first floor, towards the sea," which was all they +knew, when the landlord came down, smiling and smirking, to say that the +occupant of No. 4 felt much pleasure in putting half his suite of rooms +at our disposal, and hoped we might not decline his offer. +</p> +<p> +"Who is it?—who is he?" cried we all at once; but the landlord made +such a mess of the English name that we were obliged to wait till we +could read it in the Strangers' Book. Meanwhile we lost not a second in +installing ourselves in what I must call a most princely apartment, with +mirrors on all sides, fine pictures, china, and carved furniture, +giving the rooms the air of a palace. There was a fine fire in the great +drawing-room, and the table was littered with English newspapers and +magazines, which proved that he had just left the place for us, as he +was himself occupying it. +</p> +<p> +"Now for our great Unknown," said Lord George, opening the Strangers' +Book, and running his eye down the list. There was Milor Hubbs and +Miladi, Baron this, Count that, the "Vescovo" di Kilmore, with the +"Vescova" and five "Vescovini,"—that meant the Bishop and his wife, and +the five small little Bishops,—which made us laugh. And at last we came +down to "No. 4, Grand Suite, Sir Morris Penrhyn, Bt," not a word more. +</p> +<p> +"There is a swell of that name that owns any amount of slate quarries +down near Holyhead, I think," said Lord George. "Do you happen to know +him?" +</p> +<p> +"No," was chorused by all present. +</p> +<p> +"Oh! everyone knows his place. It's one of the show things of the +neighborhood. How is this they call it,—Pwlldmmolly Castle?—that's the +name, at least so far as human lips can approach it At all events, he +has nigh fifteen thousand a year, and can afford the annoyance of a +consonant more or less." +</p> +<p> +"Any relative of your Lordship's?" asked K. I. +</p> +<p> +"Don't exactly remember; but, if so, we never acknowledged him. Can't +afford Welsh cousin ships!" +</p> +<p> +"He 's a right civil fellow, at all events," said K. I., "and here's his +health;" for at that moment the waiter entered with the supper, and we +all sat down in far better spirits than we had expected to enjoy half an +hour back. We soon forgot all about our unknown benefactor; and, indeed, +we had enough of our own concerns to engross our attention, for there +were places to be secured for the tournament and the other great sights; +for, with all the frailty of our poor natures, there we were, as hot +after the vanities and pleasures of this world as if we had never done a +"Novena" nor a penance in our lives! +</p> +<p> +When I went to my room, Mary Anne and I had a long conversation about +the stranger, whom she was fully persuaded was a connection of Lord +G.'s, and had shown us this attention solely on his account. "I can +perceive," said she, "from his haughty manner, that he doesn't like to +acknowledge the relationship, nor be in any way bound by the tie of an +obligation. His pride is the only sentiment he can never subdue! A bad +'look-out' for me, perhaps, mamma," said she, laughing; "but we'll see +hereafter." And with this she wished me good-night. +</p> +<p> +The next morning our troubles began, and early, too; for Father James, +not making any allowance for the different life one must lead in a +great city from what one follows in a little out-of-the-way place amidst +mountains, expected me to go up to a chapel two miles away and hear +matins, and be down at mid-day mass in the town, and then had a whole +afternoon's work at the convent arranged for us, and was met by Lord +George and James with a decided and, indeed, almost rude opposition. The +discussion lasted till late in the morning, and might perhaps have gone +on further, when K. L, who was reading his "Galignani," screamed out, +"By the great O'Shea!"—a favorite exclamation of his,—"here's a bit +of news. Listen to this, Gentles, all of you: 'By the demise of Sir +Walter Prichard Penrhyn, of—I must give up the castle—' the ancient +title and large estates of the family descend to a sister's son, Captain +George Morris, who formerly served in the—th Foot, but retired from +the army about a year since, to reside on the Continent. The present +Baronet, who will take the name of Penrhyn, will be, by this accession +of fortune, the richest landed proprietor in the Principality, and may, +if he please it, exercise a very powerful interest in the political +world. We are, of course, ignorant of his future intentions, but we +share in the generally expressed wish of all classes here, that the +ancient seat of his ancestors may not be left unoccupied, or only +tenanted by those engaged in exhibiting to strangers its varied +treasures in art, and its unrivalled curiosities in antiquarian +lore.—<i>Welsh Herald</i>.' There 's the explanation of the civility we +met with last night; that clears up the whole mystery, but, at the same +time, leaves another riddle unsolved. Why did n't he speak to us on the +stairs? Could it be that he did not recognize us?" +</p> +<p> +Oh, Molly! I nearly fainted while he was speaking. I was afraid of my +life he 'd look at me, and see by my changed color what was agitating +me; for only think of what it was I had done,—just gone and refused +fifteen thousand a year, and for the least marriageable of the two +girls, since, I need n't say, that for one man that fancies Cary, there +'s forty admires Mary Anne—and a baronetcy! She 'd have been my Lady, +just as much as any in the peerage. I believe in my heart I could n't +have kept the confession in if it had n't been that Mary Anne took my +arm and led me away. Father G. followed us out of the room, and began: +"Isn't it a real blessing from the Virgin on ye," said he, "that you +rejected that heretic before temptation assailed ye?" But I stopped him, +Molly; and at once too! I told him it was all his own stupid bigotry got +us into the scrape. "What has religion to do with it?" said I. "Can't a +heretic spend fifteen thousand a year; and sure if his wife can't live +with him, can't she claim any-money, as they call it?" +</p> +<p> +"I hope and trust," said he, "that your backsliding won't bring a +judgment on ye." +</p> +<p> +And so I turned away from him, Molly, for you may remark that there 's +nothing as narrow-minded as a priest when he talks of worldly matters.' +</p> +<p> +Though we had enough on our minds the whole day about getting places for +the tournament, the thought of Morris never left my head; and I knew, +besides, that I 'd never have another day's peace with K. I. as long as +I lived, if he came to find out that I refused him. I thought of twenty +ways to repair the breach: that I 'd write to him, or make Mary Anne +write—or get James to call and see him. Then it occurred to me, if we +should make out that Cary was dying for love of him, and it was to save +our child that we condescended to change our mind. Mary Anne, however, +overruled me in everything, saying, "Rely upon it, mamma, we 'll have +him yet. If he was a very young man, there would be no chance for us, +but he is five or six and thirty, and he 'll not change now! For a few +months or so, he'll try to bully himself into the notion of forgetting +her, but you 'll see he'll come round at last; and if he should not, +then it will be quite time enough to see whether we ought to pique his +jealousy or awaken his compassion." +</p> +<p> +She said much more in the same strain, and brought me round completely +to her own views. "Above all," said she, "don't let Father James +influence you; for though it's all right and proper to consult him about +the next world, he knows no more than a child about the affairs of +this one." So we agreed, Molly, that we 'd just wait and see, of course +keeping K. I. blind all the time to what we were doing. +</p> +<p> +The games and the circus, and all the wonderful sights that we were +to behold, drove everything else out of my head; for every moment Lord +George was rushing in with some new piece of intelligence about some +astonishing giant, or some beautiful creature, so that we hadn't a +moment to think of anything. +</p> +<p> +It was the hardest thing in life to get places at all. The pit was taken +up with dukes and counts and barons, and the boxes rose to twenty-five +Napoleons apiece, and even at that price it was a favor to get one! +Early and late Lord George was at work about it, calling on ministers, +writing notes, and paying visits, till you 'd think it was life and +death were involved in our success. +</p> +<p> +You have no notion, Molly, how different these matters are abroad and +with us. At home we go to a play or a circus just to be amused for the +time, and we never think more of the creatures we see there than if they +were n't of our species; but abroad it 's exactly the reverse. Nothing +else is talked of, or thought of, but how much the tenor is to have for +six nights. "Is Carlotta singing well? Is Nina fatter? How is Francesca +dancing? Does she do the little step like a goat this season? or has +she forgotten her rainbow spring?" Now, Lord George and James gave us +no peace about all these people till we knew every bit of the private +history of them, from the man that carried a bull on his back, to the +small child with wings, that was tossed about for a shuttlecock by +its father and uncle. Then there was a certain Sofia Bettrame, that +everybody was wild about; the telegraph at one time saying she was at +Lyons, then she was at Vichy, then at Mont Cenis,—now she was sick, +now she was supping with the Princess Odelzeffska,—and, in fact, what +between the people that were in <i>love</i> with <i>her</i>, and a number of +others to whom she was <i>in debt</i>, it was quite impossible to hear of +anything else but "La Sofia," "La Bettrame," from morning till night +It's long before an honest woman, Molly, would engross so much of public +notice; and so I could n't forbear remarking to K. I. Nobody cared to +ask where the Crown Prince of Russia was going to put up, or where the +Archduchess of Austria was staying, but all were eager to learn if the +"Croce di Matta" or the "Leone d'Oro" or the "Cour de Naples" were to +lodge the peerless Sofia. The man that saw her horses arrive was the +fashion for two entire days, and an old gentleman who had talked with +her courier got three dinner invitations on the strength of it. What +discussions there were whether she was to receive a hundred thousand +francs, or as many crowns; and then whether for one or for two nights. +Then there were wagers about her age, her height, the color of her eyes, +and the height of her instep, till I own to you, Molly, it was downright +offensive to the mother of a family to listen to what went on about her; +James being just as bad as the rest. +</p> +<p> +At last, my dear, comes the news that Sofia has taken a sulk and won't +appear. The Grand-Duchess of somewhere did something, or didn't do +it—I forget which—that was or was not "due to her." I wish you saw +the consternation of the town at the tidings. If it was the plague was +announced, the state of distraction would have been less. +</p> +<p> +You would n't believe me if I told you how they took it to heart. +Old generals with white moustaches, fat, elderly gentlemen in +counting-bouses, grave shopkeepers, and grim-looking clerks in the +Excise went about as if they had lost their father, and fallen suddenly +into diminished circumstances. They shook hands, when they met, with a +deep sigh, and parted with a groan, as if the occasion was too much for +their feelings. +</p> +<p> +At this moment, therefore, after all the trouble and expense, nobody +knows if there will be any tournament at all. Some say it is the +Government has found out that the whole thing was a conspiracy for a +rising; and there are fifty rumors afloat about Mazzini himself being +one of the company, in the disguise of a juggler. But what may be the +real truth it is impossible to say. At all events, I 'll not despatch +this till I can give you the latest tidings. +</p> +<p> +Tuesday Evening. +</p> +<p> +The telegraph has just brought word that she <i>will</i> come. James is gone +down to the office to get a copy of the despatch. +</p> +<p> +James is come back to say that she is at Novi. If she arrive here +to-night, there will be an illumination of the town! Is not this too +bad, Molly? Doesn't your blood run cold at the thought of it all? +</p> +<p> +They 're shouting like mad under my window now, and Lord George thinks +she must be come already. James has come in with his hat in tatters and +his coat in rags. The excitement is dreadful. The people suspect that +the Government are betraying them to Russia, and are going to destroy a +palace that belongs to a tallow merchant. +</p> +<p> +All is right, Molly. She is come! and they are serenading her now under +the windows of the "Croce di Matta!" +</p> +<p> +Wednesday Night. +</p> +<p> +If my trembling hand can subscribe legibly a few lines, it is perhaps +the last you will ever receive from your attached Jemima. I was never +intended to go through such trials as these; and they 're now rending a +heart that was only made for tenderness and affection. +</p> +<p> +We were there, Molly! After such a scene of crushing and squeezing as +never was equalled, we got inside the circus, and with the loss of my +new turban and one of my "plats," we reached our box, within two of +the stage, and nearly opposite the King. For an hour or so, it was +only fainting was going on all around us, with the heat and the violent +struggle to get in. Nobody minded the stage at all, where they were +doing the same kind of thing we used to see long ago. Ten men in pinkish +buff, vaulting over an old white horse, and the clown tumbling over the +last of them with a screech; the little infant of three years, with a +strap round its waist, standing and tottering on the horse's back; the +man with the brass balls and the basin, and the other one that stood on +the bottles,—all passed off tiresome enough, till a grand flourish of +trumpets announced Signor Annibale, the great Modern Hercules. In he +rode, Molly, full gallop, all dressed in a light, flesh-colored, web, +and looking so like naked that I screeched out when I saw him. His hair +was divided on his forehead, and cut short all round the head; and, +indeed, I must confess he was a fine-looking man. After a turn or two, +brandishing a big club, he galloped in again, but quickly reappeared +with a woman lying over one of his arms, and her hair streaming down +half-way to the ground. This was Sofia; and you may guess the enthusiasm +of the audience at her coming! There she lay, like in a trance, as he +dashed along at full speed, the very tip of one foot only touching the +saddle, and her other leg dangling down like dead. It was shocking to +hear the way they talked of her symmetry and her shape,—not but they +saw enough to judge of it, Molly!—till at last the giant stopped to +breathe a little just under our box. K. I. and the young men, of course, +leaned over to have a good look at her with their glasses, when suddenly +James screamed, "By the ——— —I won't say what—it is herself!" Mary +Anne and I both rose together. The sight left my eyes, Molly, for she +looked up at me, and who was it—but the Countess that James was going +to marry! There she was, lying languidly on the giant, smiling up at us +as cool as may be. I gave a screech, Molly, that made the house ring, +and went off in Mary Anne's arms. +</p> +<p> +If this is n't disgrace enough to bring me to the grave, Nature must +have given stronger feelings than she knows to your ever afflicted and +heart-broken +</p> +<p> +Jemima Dodd. +</p> +<a name="2H_4_0023"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + LETTER XXIII. MISS CAROLINE DODD TO MISS COX, AT MISS MINCING'S ACADEMY, BLACK ROCK, IRELAND +</h2> +<h3> + Sestri, Gulf of Genoa. +</h3> +<p> +My dear Miss Cox,—I had long looked forward to our visit to Genoa in +order to write to you. I had fancied a thousand things of the "Superb +City" which would have been matters of interest, and hoped that many +others might have presented themselves to actual observation. But with +that same fatality by which the future forever evades us, we have come +and gone again, and really seen nothing. +</p> +<p> +Instead of a week or fortnight passed in loitering about these +mysterious, narrow streets, each one of which is a picture, poking into +crypts, and groping along the aisles of those dim churches, and then +issuing forth into the blaze of sunshine to see the blue sea heaving +in mighty masses on the rocky shore, we came here to see some vulgar +spectacle of a circus or a tournament. By ill-luck, too, even +this pleasure has proved abortive; a very mortifying, I might say +humiliating, discovery awaited us, and we have, for shame's sake, taken +our refuge in flight from one of the most interesting cities in the +whole peninsula. +</p> +<p> +I am ashamed to confess to you how ill I have borne the disappointment. +The passing glimpses I caught here and there of steep old alleys, barely +wide enough for three to go abreast; the little squares, containing some +quaint monument or some fantastic fountain; the massive iron gateways, +showing through the bars the groves of orange-trees within; the wide +portals, opening on great stairs of snow-white marble,—all set me +a-dreaming of that proud Genoa, with its merchant-princes, who combined +all the haughty characteristics of a feudal state with the dashing +spirit of a life of enterprise. +</p> +<p> +The population, too, seemed as varied in type as the buildings around +them. The bronzed, deep-browed Ligurian—the "Faquino"—by right of +birth, stood side by side with the scarcely less athletic Dalmatian. The +Arab from Tiflis, the Suliote, the Armenian, the dull-eyed Moslem, and +the treacherous-looking Moor were all grouped about the Mole, with a +host of those less picturesque figures that represent Northern Europe. +There, was heard every language and every dialect. There, too, seen +the lineaments of every nation, and the traits of every passion that +distinguish a people. Just as on the deep blue water that broke beside +them were ships of every build, from the proud three-decker to the swift +"lateen," and from the tall, taper spare of the graceful clipper to the +heavily rounded, low-masted galliot of the Netherlands. +</p> +<p> +I own to you that however the actual life of commerce may include +commonplace events and commonplace people, there is something about the +sea and those that live on the great waters that always has struck me as +eminently poetical. +</p> +<p> +The scene, the adventurous existence, the strange faraway lands they +have visited, the Spice Islands of the South, the cold shores of the +Arctic Seas, the wondrous people with whom they have mingled, the +dangers they have confronted,—all invest the sailor with a deep +interest to me, and I regard him ever as one who has himself been an +actor in the great drama of which I have only read the outline. +</p> +<p> +I was, indeed, very sorry to leave Genoa, and to leave it, too, unseen. +An event, however, too painful to allude to, compelled us to start at +once; and we came on here to the little village from whence I write. A +lovely spot it is,—sheltered from the open sea by a tall promontory, +wooded with waving pines, whose feathery foliage is reflected in the +calm sea beneath. A gentle curve of the strand leads to Chiavari, +another town about six miles off; and behind us, landward, rise the +great Apennines, several thousand feet in height,—grand, barren, +volcanic-looking masses of wildest outline, and tinted with the colors +of every mineral ore. On the very highest pinnacles of these are +villages perched, and the tall tower of a church is seen to rise against +the blue sky, at an elevation, one would fancy, untrodden by man. +</p> +<p> +There is a beautiful distinctness in Italian landscape,—every detail +is "picked out" sharply. The outline of every rock and cliff, of every +tree, of every shrub, is clean and well defined. Light and shadow fall +boldly, and even abruptly, on the eye; but—shall I own it?—I long for +the mysterious distances, the cloud-shadows, the vague atmospheric tints +of our Northern lands. I want those passing effects that seem to give +a vitality to the picture, and make up something like a story of the +scene. It is in these the mind revels as in a dreamland of its own. It +is from these we conjure up so many mingled thoughts of the past, the +present, and the coming time,—investing the real with the imaginary, +and blending the ideal with the actual world. +</p> +<p> +How naturally do all these thoughts lead us to that of Home! Happily for +us, there is that in the religion of our hearts towards home that takes +no account of the greater beauty of other lands. The loyalty we owe our +own hearth defies seduction. Admire, glory in how you will the grandest +scene the sun ever set upon, there is still a holy spot in your heart +of hearts for some little humble locality,—a lonely glen,—a Highland +tarn,—a rocky path beside some winding river, rich in its childish +memories, redolent of the bright hours of sunny infancy,—and this you +would not give for the most gorgeous landscapes that ever basked beneath +Italian sky. +</p> +<p> +Do not fancy that I repine at being here because I turn with fond +affection to the scene of my earliest days. I delight in Italy; I +glory in its splendor of sky and land and water. I never weary of its +beauteous vegetation, and my ear drinks in with equal pleasure the soft +accents of its language; but I always feel that these things are to +be treasured for memory to be enjoyed hereafter, just as the emigrant +labors for the gold he is to spend in his own country. In this wise, it +may be, when wandering along some mountain "boreen" at home, sauntering +of a summer's eve through some waving meadow, that Italy in all its +brightness will rise before me, and I will exalt in my heart to have +seen the towers of the Eternal City, and watched the waves that sleep in +"still Sorrento." +</p> +<p> +We leave this to-morrow for Spezia, there to pass a few days; our object +being to loiter slowly along till papa can finally decide whether to go +back or forward: for so is it, my dearest friend, all our long-planned +tour and its pleasures have resolved themselves into a hundred +complications of finance and fashionable acquaintances. +</p> +<p> +One might have supposed, from our failures in these attempts, that we +should have learned at least our own unfitness for success. The very +mortifications we have suffered might have taught us that all the +enjoyment we could ever hope to reap could not repay the price of a +single defeat. Yet here we are, just as eager, just as short-sighted, +just as infatuated as ever, after a world that will have "none of +us," and steadily bent on storming a position in society that, if won +to-morrow, we could not retain. +</p> +<p> +I suppose that our reverses in this wise must have attained some +notoriety, and I am even prepared to hear that the Dodd family have +made themselves unhappily conspicuous by their unfortunate attempt at +greatness; but I own, dearest friend, that I am not able to contemplate +with the same philosophical submission the loss of good men's esteem and +respect, to which these failures must expose US—an instance of which, I +tremble to think, has already occurred to us. +</p> +<p> +You have often heard me speak of Mrs. Morris, and of the kindness with +which she treated me during a visit at her house. She was at that time +in what many would have called very narrow circumstances, but which by +consummate care and good management sufficed to maintain a condition in +every way suitable to a gentlewoman. She has since—or rather her son +has—succeeded to a very large fortune and a title. They were at Genoa +when we arrived there,—at the same hotel,—and yet never either called +on or noticed us! It is perfectly needless for me to say that I know, +and know thoroughly, that no change in <i>their</i> position could have +produced any alteration in their manner towards us. If ever there were +people totally removed from such vulgarity,—utterly incapable of even +conceiving it,—it is the Morrises. They were proud in their humble +fortune,—that is, they possessed a dignified self-esteem, that would +have rejected the patronage of wealthy pretension, but willingly +accepted the friendship of very lowly worth; and I can well believe that +prosperity will only serve to widen the sphere of their sympathies, and +make them as generous in action as they were once so in thought. That +their behavior to <i>us</i> depends on anything in themselves, I therefore +completely reject,—this I know and feel to be an impossibility. What +a sad alternative is then left me, when I own that they have more than +sufficient cause to shun our acquaintance and avoid our intimacy! +</p> +<p> +The loss of such a friend as Captain Morris might have been to James +is almost irreparable; and from the interest he once took in him, it +is clear he felt well disposed for such a part; and I am thoroughly +convinced that even papa himself, with all his anti-English prejudices, +has only to come into close contact with the really noble traits of the +English character, to acknowledge their excellence and their worth. I am +very far from undervaluing the great charm of manner which comes +under the category of what is called "aimable." I recognize all its +fascination, and I even own to an exaggerated enjoyment of its display; +but shall I confess that I believe that it is this very habit of +simulation that detracts from the truthful character of a people, and +that English bluntness is—so to say—the complement of English honesty. +That they push the characteristic too far, and that they frequently +throw a chill over social intercourse, which under more genial +influences had been everything that was agreeable, I am free to admit; +but, with all these deficiencies, the national character is incomparably +above that of any other country I have any knowledge of. It will be +scarcely complimentary if I add, after all this, that we Irish are +certainly more popular abroad than our Saxon relatives. We are more +compliant with foreign usages, less rigid in maintaining our own habits, +more conciliating in a thousand ways; and both our tongues and our +temperaments more easily catch a new language and a new tone of society. +</p> +<p> +Is it not fortunate for you that I am interrupted in these gossipings by +the order to march? Mary Anne has come to tell me that we are to start +in half an hour; and so, adieu till we meet at Spezia. +</p> +<p> +Spezia, Croce di Malta. +</p> +<p> +The little sketch that I send with this will give you some very faint +notion of this beautiful gulf, with which I have as yet seen nothing to +compare. This is indeed Italy. Sea, sky, foliage, balmy air, the soft +influences of an atmosphere perfumed with a thousand odors,—all breathe +of the glorious land. +</p> +<p> +The Garden—a little promenade for the townspeople, that stretches along +the beach—is one blaze of deep crimson flowers,—the blossom of the +San Giuseppe,—I know not the botanical name. The blue sea—and such a +blue!—mirrors every cliff and crag and castellated height with the most +minute distinctness. Tall lateen-sailed boats glide swiftly to and fro; +and lazy oxen of gigantic size drag rustling wagons of loaded vines +along, the ruddy juice staining the rich earth as they pass. +</p> +<p> +Como was beautiful; but there was—so to say—a kind of trim coquetry in +its beauty that did not please me. The villas, the gardens, the +terraced walks, the pillared temples, seemed all the creations of a +landscape-gardening spirit that eagerly profited by every accidental +advantage of ground, and every casual excellence of situation. Now, here +there is none of this. All that man has done here had been even +better left undone. It is in the jutting promontories of rock-crowned +olives,—the landlocked, silent bays, darkened by woody shores,—the +wild, profuse vegetation, where the myrtle, the cactus, and the arbutus +blend with the vine, the orange, and the fig,—the sea itself, heaving +as if oppressed with perfumed languor,—and the tall Apennines, +snow-capped, in the distance, but whiter still in the cliffs of pure +Carrara marble,—it is in these that Spezia maintains its glorious +superiority, and in these it is indeed unequalled. +</p> +<p> +It will sound, doubtless, like a very ungenerous speech, when I say that +I rejoice that this spot is so little visited—so little frequented—by +those hordes of stray and straggling English who lounge about the +Continent. I do not say this in any invidious spirit, but simply in the +pleasure that I feel in the quiet and seclusion of a place which, should +it become by any fatality "the fashion" will inevitably degenerate +by all the vulgarities of the change. At present the Riviera—as the +coast-line from Genoa to Pisa is called—is little travelled. The +steamers passing to Leghorn by the cord of the arch, take away nearly +all the tourists, so that Spezia, even as a bathing-place, is little +resorted to by strangers. There are none, not one, of the ordinary +signs of the watering-place about it. Neither donkeys to hire, nor +subscription concerts; not a pony phaeton, a pianist, nor any species +of human phenomenon to torment you; and the music of the town band is, +I rejoice to say, so execrably bad that even a crowd of twenty cannot be +mustered for an audience. +</p> +<p> +Spezia is, therefore, <i>au naturel</i>,—and long may it be so! Distant be +the day when frescoed buildings shall rise around, to seduce from its +tranquil scenery the peaceful lover of nature, and make of him the +hot-cheeked gambler or the broken debauchee. I sincerely, hopefully +trust this is not to be, at least in our time. +</p> +<p> +We made an excursion this morning by boat to Lerici, to see poor +Shelley's house, the same that Byron lived in when here. It stands in +the bight of a little bay of its own, and close to the sea; so close, +indeed, that the waves were plashing and frothing beneath the arched +colonnade on which it is built. It is now in an almost ruinous +condition, and the damp, discolored walls and crumbling plaster bespeak +neglect and decay. +</p> +<p> +The view from the terrace is glorious; the gulf in its entire extent is +before you, and the island of Palmaria stands out boldly, with the tall +headlands of Porto Venere, forming the breakwater against the sea. It +was here Shelley loved to sit; here, of a summer's night, he often sat +till morning, watching the tracts of hill and mountain wax fainter and +fainter, till they grew into brightness again with coming day; and it +was not far from this, on the low beach of Via Reggio, that he was lost! +The old fisherman who showed us the house had known him well, and spoke +of his habits as one might have described those of some wayward child. +The large and lustrous eyes, the long waving hair, the uncertain step, +the look half timid, half daring, had made an impression so strong, that +even after long years he could recall and tell of them. +</p> +<p> +It came on to blow a "Levanter" as we returned, and the sea got up with +a rapidity almost miraculous. From a state of calm and tranquil repose, +it suddenly became storm-lashed and tempestuous; nor was it without +difficulty we accomplished a landing at Spezia. To-morrow we are to +visit Porto Venere,—the scene which it is supposed suggested to Virgil +his description of the Cave in which Æneas meets with Dido; and the +following day we go to Carrara to see the marble quarries and the +artists' studios. In fact, we are "handbooking" this part of our tour in +the most orthodox fashion; and from the tame, half-effaced impressions +objects suggest, of which you come primed with previous description, +I can almost fancy that reading "John Murray" at your fireside at home +might compensate for the fatigue and cost of a journey. It would be +worse than ungrateful to deny the aid one derives from guide-books; but +there is unquestionably this disadvantage in them, that they limit +your faculty of admiration or disapproval. They set down rules for your +liking and disliking, and far from contributing to form and educate +your taste, they cramp its development by substituting criticism for +instinct. +</p> +<p> +As I hope to write to you again from Florence, I 'll not prolong this +too tiresome epistle, but, with my most affectionate greetings to all my +old schoolfellows, ask my dear Miss Cox to believe me her ever attached +and devoted +</p> +<p> +Caroline Dodd. +</p> +<p> +The Morrises arrived here last night and went on this morning, without +any notice of us. They must have seen our names in the book when writing +their own. Is not this more than strange? Mamma and Mary Anne seemed +provoked when I spoke of it, so that I have not again alluded to the +subject. I wish from my heart I could ask how <i>you</i> interpret their +coldness. +</p> +<a name="2H_4_0024"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + LETTER XXIV. MARY ANNE DODD TO MISS DOOLAN, OF BALLYDOOLAN. +</h2> +<h3> + Lucca, Pagnini's Hotel. +</h3> +<p> +Dearest Kitty,—This must be the very shortest of letters, for we are on +the wing, and shall be for some days to come. Very few words, however, +will suffice to tell you that we have at length persuaded papa to come +on to Florence,—for the winter, of course. Rome will follow,—then +Naples,—<i>e poi?</i>—who knows! I think he must have received some very +agreeable tidings from your uncle Purcell, for he has been in better +spirits than I have seen him latterly, and shows something like a return +to his old vein of pleasantry. Not but I must own that it is what +the French would call, very often, a <i>mauvaise plaisanterie</i> in its +exercise, his great amusement being to decry and disparage the people +of the Continent. He seems quite to forget that in every country the +traveller is, and must be, a mark for knavery and cheating. His newness +to the land, his ignorance, in almost all cases, of the language, +his occasional mistakes, all point him out as a proper subject +for imposition; and if the English come to compare notes with any +Continental country, I'm not so sure we should have much to plume +ourselves upon, as regards our treatment of strangers. +</p> +<p> +For our social misadventures abroad, it must be confessed that we are +mainly most to blame ourselves. All the counterfeits of rank, station, +and position are so much better done by foreigners than by our people, +that we naturally are more easily imposed on. Now in England, for +instance, it would be easier to be a duchess than to imitate one +successfully. All the attributes that go to make up such a station +abroad, might be assumed by any adventurer of little means and less +capacity. We forget—or, more properly speaking, we do not know—this, +when we come first on the Continent; hence the mistakes we fall into, +and the disasters that assail us. +</p> +<p> +It would be very disagreeable for me to explain at length how what +I mentioned to you about James's marriage has come to an untimely +conclusion. Enough when I say that the lady was not, in any respect, +what she had represented herself, and my dear brother may be said to +have had a most fortunate escape. Of course the poor fellow has suffered +considerably from the disappointment, nor are his better feelings +alleviated by the—I will say—very indelicate raillery papa is pleased +to indulge in on the subject. It is, however, a theme I do not care to +linger on, and I only thus passively allude to it that it may be buried +in oblivion between us. +</p> +<p> +We came along here from Genoa by the seaboard, a very beautiful and +picturesque road, traversing a wild range of the Apennines, and almost +always within view of the blue Mediterranean. At Spezia we loitered for +a day or two, to bathe, and I must say nothing can be more innocently +primitive than the practice as followed there. +</p> +<p> +Ladies and gentlemen—men and women, if you like it better—all meet in +the water as they do on land, or rather not as they do on land, but in +a very first-parentage state of no-dressedness. There they splash, swim, +dive, and converse,—float, flirt, talk gossip, and laugh with a most +laudable forgetfulness of externals. Introductions and presentations +go forward as they would in society, and a gentleman asks you to duck +instead of to dance with him. It would be affectation in me were I not +to say that I thought all this very shocking at first, and that I really +could scarcely bring myself to adopt it; but Lord George, who really +swims to perfection, laughed me out of some, and reasoned me out of +others of my prejudices, and I will own, dearest Kitty, his arguments +were unanswerable. +</p> +<p> +"Were you not very much ashamed," said he, "the first time you saw +a ballet, or 'poses plastiques'?—did not the whole strike you as +exceedingly indelicate?—and now, would not that very same sense of +shame occur to you as real indelicacy, since in these exhibitions it is +Art alone you admire,—Art in its graceful development? The 'Ballarina' +is not a woman; she is an ideal,—she is a Hebe, a Psyche, an Ariadne, +or an Aphrodite. Symmetry, grace, beauty of outline,—these are the +charms that fascinate you. Can you not, therefore, extend this spirit to +the sea, and, instead of the Marquis of this and the Countess of that, +only behold Tritono and sea-nymphs disporting in the flood?" +</p> +<p> +I saw at once the force of this reasoning, Kitty, and perceived that to +take any lower view of the subject would be really a gross indelicacy. I +tried to make Cary agree with me, but utterly in vain,—she is so devoid +of imagination! There is, too, an utter want of refinement in her mind +positively hopeless. She even confessed to me that Lord George without +his clothes still seemed Lord George to her, and that no effort she +could make was able to persuade her that the old Danish Minister in the +black leather skullcap had any resemblance to a river god. Mamma behaved +much better; seeing that the custom was one followed by all the "best +people," she adopted it at once, and though she would scream out +whenever a gentleman came to talk to her, I 'm sure, with a few +weeks' practice, she 'd have perfectly reconciled herself to "etiquette +in the water." Should you, with your very Irish notions, raise hands and +eyes at all this, and mutter, "How very dreadful!—how shocking!" and +so on, I have only to remind you of what the Princess Pauline said to an +English lady, who expressed her prudish horrors at the Princess having +"sat for Canova in wet drapery": "Oh, it was not so disagreeable as you +think; there was always a fire in the room." Now, Kitty, I make the same +reply to your shocked scruples, by saying the sea was deliciously warm. +Bathing is here, indeed, a glorious luxury. There is no shivering or +shuddering, no lips chattering, blue-nosed, goose-skinned misery, like +the home process! It is not a rush in, in desperation, a duck in agony, +and a dressing in ague, but a delicious lounge, associated with all the +enjoyments of scenery and society. The temperature of the sea is just +sufficiently below that of the air to invigorate without chilling, like +the tone of a company that stimulates without exhausting you. It is, +besides, indescribably pleasant to meet with a pastime so suggestive of +new themes of talk. Instead of the tiresome and trite topics of ballet +and balls, and dress and diamonds, your conversation smacks of salt +water, and every allusion "hath suffered a sea change." Instead of a +compliment to your dancing, the flattery is now on your diving; and he +who once offered his arm to conduct you to the "buffet," now proposes +his company to swim out to a lifebuoy! +</p> +<p> +And now let me get back to land once more, and you will begin to fancy +that your correspondent is Undine herself in disguise. I was very sorry +to leave Spezia, since I was just becoming an excellent swimmer. Indeed, +the surgeon of an American frigate assured me that he thought "I had +been raised in the Sandwich Islands,"—a compliment which, of course, I +felt bound to accept in the sense that most flattered me. +</p> +<p> +We passed through Carrara, stopping only to visit one or two of the +studios. They had not much to interest us, the artists being for the +most part copyists, and their works usually busts; busts being now the +same passion with our travelling countrymen as once were oil portraits. +The consequence is that every sculptor's shelves are loaded with +thin-lipped, grim-visaged English women, and triple-chinned, +apoplectic-looking aldermen, that contrast very unfavorably with the +clean-cut brows and sharply chiselled features of classic antiquity. +The English are an eminently good-looking race of people, seen in their +proper costume of broadcloth and velvet. They are manly and womanly. The +native characteristics of boldness, decision, and highhearted honesty +are conspicuous in all their traits; nor is there any deficiency in the +qualities of tenderness and gentleness. But with all this, when they +take off their neckcloths, they make but very indifferent Romans; and +he who looked a gentleman in his shirt-collar becomes, what James would +call, "an arrant snob" when seen in a toga. And yet they <i>will</i> do it! +They have a notion that the Anglo-Saxon can do anything,—and so he can, +perhaps,—the difference being whether he can <i>look</i> the character he +knows so well how to <i>act</i>. +</p> +<p> +We left Carrara by a little mountain path to visit the Bagni di Lucca, +a summer place, which once, in its days of Rouge-et-Noir celebrity, was +greatly resorted to. The Principality of Lucca possessed at that period, +too, its own reigning duke, and had not been annexed to Tuscany. Like +all these small States, without trade or commerce, its resources were +mainly derived from the Court; and, consequently, the withdrawal of the +Sovereign was the death-blow to all prosperity. It would be quite beyond +me to speculate on the real advantages or disadvantages resulting from +this practice of absorption, but pronouncing merely from externals, I +should say that the small States are great sufferers. Nothing can +be sadder than the aspect of this little capital. Ruined palaces, +grass-grown streets, tenantless houses, and half-empty shops are seen +everywhere. Poverty—I might call it misery—on every hand. The various +arts and trades cultivated had been those required by, even called into +existence by, the wants of a Court. All the usages of the place had +been made to conform to its courtly life and existence, and now this was +gone, and all the "occupation" with it! You are not perhaps aware that +this same territory of Lucca supplies nearly all of that tribe of image +and organ men so well known, not only through Europe, but over the vast +continent of America. They are skilful modellers naturally, and work +really beautiful things in "terra cotta." They are a hardy mountain +race, and, like all "montagnards," have an equal love for enterprise and +an attachment to home. Thus they traverse every land and sea, they labor +for years long in far-away climes, they endure hardships and privations +of every kind, supported by the one thought of the day when they can +return home again, and when in some high-perched mountain village—some +"granuolo," or "bennabbia "—they can rest from wandering, and, seated +amidst their kith and kind, tell of the wondrous things they have seen +in their journeyings. It is not uncommon here, in spots the very wildest +and least visited, to find a volume in English or French on the shelf of +some humble cottage: now it is perhaps a print, or an engraving of +some English landscape,—a spot, doubtless, endeared by some especial +recollection,—and not unfrequently a bird from Mexico—a bright-winged +parrot from the Brazils—shows where the wanderer's footsteps have borne +him, and shows, too, how even there the thoughts of home had followed. +</p> +<p> +Judged by our own experiences, these people are but scantily welcomed +amongst us. They are constantly associated in our minds with intolerable +hurdy-gurdies and execrable barrel-organs. They are the nightmare of +invalids, and the terror of all studious heads, and yet the wealth +with which they return shows that their gifts are both acknowledged and +rewarded. It must be that to many the organ-man is a pleasant visitor, +and the image-hawker a vendor of "high art" I have seen a great many of +them since we came here, and in their homes too; for mamma has taken +up the notion that these excellent people are all living in a state +of spiritual darkness and destitution, and to enlighten them has been +disseminating her precious little volume on the Miracles of Mount +Orsaro. It is plain to me that all this zeal of a woman of a foreign +nation seems to them a far more miraculous manifestation than anything +in her little book, and they stare and wonder at her in a way that +plainly shows a compassionate distrust of her sanity. +</p> +<p> +It is right I should say that Lord George thinks all these people knaves +and vagabonds; and James says they are a set of smugglers, and live by +contraband. Whatever be the true side of the picture, I must now leave +to your own acuteness, or rather to your prejudices, which for all +present purposes are quite good enough judges to decide. +</p> +<p> +Papa likes this place so much that he actually proposed passing the +winter here, for "cheapness,"—a very horrid thought, but which, +fortunately, Lord George averted by a private hint to the landlord of +the inn, saying that papa was rolling in wealth, but an awful miser; so +that when the bill made its appearance, with everything charged double, +papa's indignation turned to a perfect hatred of the town and all in it: +the consequence is that we are tomorrow to leave for Florence, which, +if but one half of what Lord George says be true, must be a real earthly +paradise. Not that I can possibly doubt him, for he has lived there two, +or, I believe, three winters,—knows everybody and everything. How I +long to see the Cascini, the Court Balls, the Private Theatricals, at +Prince Polywkowsky's, the picnics at Fiesole, and those dear receptions +at Madame della Montanare's, where, as Lord G. says, every one goes, and +"there's no absurd cant heard about character." +</p> +<p> +Indeed, to judge from Lord G.'s account, Florence—to use his own +words—is "the most advanced city in Europe;" that is to say, the +Florentines take a higher and more ample view of social philosophy than +any other people. The erring individual in our country is always treated +like the wounded crow,—the whole rookery is down upon him at once. Not +so here; he—or <i>she</i>, to speak more properly—is tenderly treated and +compassionated; all the little blandishments of society showered on her. +She is made to feel that the world is really not that ill-natured thing +sour moralists would describe it; and even if she feel indisposed to +return to safer paths, the perilous ones are made as pleasant for her +as it is possible. These are nearly his own words, dearest, and are they +not beautiful? so teeming with delicacy and true charity. And oh! +Kitty, I must say these are habits we do not practise at home in our +own country. But of this more hereafter; for the present, I can think of +nothing but the society of this delightful city, and am trying to learn +off by heart the names of all the charming houses in which he is to +introduce us. He has written, besides, to various friends in England +for letters for us, so that we shall be unquestionably better off +here—socially speaking—than in any other city of the Continent. +</p> +<p> +We leave this after breakfast to-morrow; and before the end of the week +it is likely you may hear from me again, for I am longing to give you +my first impressions of Firenza la Bella; till when, I am, as ever, your +dearly attached +</p> +<p> +Mary Anne Dodd. +</p> +<p> +P. S. Great good fortune, Kitty,—we shall arrive in time for the races. +Lord G. has got a note from Prince Pincecotti, asking him to ride +his horse "Bruise-drog,"—which, it seems, is the Italian for +"Bull-dog,"—and he consents. He is to wear my colors, too, +dearest,—green and white,—and I have promised to make him a present of +his jacket How handsome he <i>will</i> look in jockey dress! +</p> +<p> +James is in distraction at being too heavy for even a hurdle-race; +but as he is six feet one, and stout in proportion, it is out of the +question. Lord G. insists upon it that Cary and I must go on horseback. +Mamma agrees with him, and papa as stoutly resists. It is in vain we +tell him that all depends on the way we open the campaign here, and that +the present opportunity is a piece of rare good fortune; he is in one of +his obstinate moods, and mutters something about "beggars on horseback," +and the place they "ride to." I open my letter to say—carried +triumphantly, dearest—we <i>are</i> to ride. +</p> +<a name="2H_4_0025"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + LETTER XXV. JAMES DODD TO ROBERT DOOLAN, ESQ., TRINITY COLLEGE, DUBLIN. +</h2> +<h3> + Hôtel d'Italie, Florence, Wednesday. +</h3> +<p> +My dear Bob,—Here we are going it, and in about the very "fastest" +place I ever set foot in. In any other city society seems to reserve +itself for evening and lamplight; but here, Bob, you make "running from +the start," and keep up the pace till you come in. In the morning there +'s the club, with plenty of whist; all the gossip of the town,—and such +gossip too,—the real article, by Jove!—no shadowy innuendoes, no +vague and half-mystified hints of a flaw here or a crack there, but home +blows, my boy, with a smashed character or a ruined reputation at every +stroke. This is, however, only a breathing canter for what awaits you at +the Cascini,—a sort of "promenade," where all the people meet in +their carriages, and exchange confidences in scandal and invitations +to tea,—the Cascini being to the club what the ballet is to the opera. +After this, you have barely time to dress for dinner; which over, the +opera begins. There you pay visits from box to box; learn all that is +going on for the evening; hear where the prettiest women are going, and +where the smartest play will be found. Midnight arrives, and then—but +not before—the real life of Florence begins. The dear Contessa, that +never showed by daylight, at last appears in her <i>salon</i>; the charming +Marchesa, whose very head-dress is a study from Titian, and whose +dark-fringed eyes you think you recognize from the picture in "the +Pitti," at length sails in, to receive the humble homage of—what, +think you? a score of devoted worshippers, a band of chivalrous adorers? +Nothing of the kind, Bob: a dozen or so of young fellows, in all manner +of costumes, and all shapes of beards and moustaches; all smoking cigars +or cigarettes, talking, singing, laughing, thumping the piano, shouting +choruses, playing tricks with cards,—all manner of tomfoolery, in fact; +with a dash of enthusiasm in the nonsense that carries you along in +spite of yourself. The conversation—if one can dare to call it such—is +a wild chaos of turf-talk, politics, scandal, literature, buffoonery, +and the ballet. There is abundance of wit,—plenty of real smartness on +every side. The fellows who have just described the cut of a tucker can +tell you accurately the contents of a treaty; and they who did not seem +to have a thought above the depth of a flounce or the width of a sandal, +are thoroughly well versed in the politics of every State of Europe. +There is no touch of sarcasm in their gayety,—none of that refined, +subtle ridicule that runs through a Frenchman's talk; these fellows are +eminently good-natured: the code of morals is not severe, and hence the +secret of the merciful judgments you hear pronounced on every one. +</p> +<p> +As to breeding, we English should certainly say there was an excess of +familiarity. Everybody puts his arm on your shoulder, pats you on the +back, and calls you by your Christian name. I am "Giacomo" to a host of +fellows I don't know by name; and "Gemess" to a select few, who +pride themselves on speaking English. At all events, Bob, there is no +constraint,—no reserve amongst them. You are at your ease at once, and +good fellowship is the order of the day. +</p> +<p> +As to the women, they have a half-shy, half-confident look, that puzzles +one sadly. They 'll stand a stare from you most unblushingly; they think +it's all very right and very reasonable that you should look at them as +long and as fixedly as you would do at a Baffaelle in the Gallery: but +with all that, there is a great real delicacy of deportment, and those +coram-publico preferences which are occasionally exhibited in England, +and even in France, are never seen in Italian society. As to good looks, +there is an abundance, but of a character which an Englishman at first +will scarcely accept as beauty. They are rarely handsome by feature, +but frequently beautiful by expression. There is, besides, a graceful +languor, a tender Cleopatra-like voluptuousness in their air that +distinguishes them from other women; and I have no doubt that any +one who has lived long in Italy would pronounce French smartness +and coquetry the very essence of vulgarity. They cannot dress like a +Parisian, nor waltz like a Wienerin; but, to my thinking, they are far +more captivating than either. I am already in love with four, and I have +just heard of a fifth, that I am sure will set me downright distracted. +There 's one thing I like especially in them; and I own to you, Bob, it +would compensate to me for any amount of defects, which I believe do not +pertain to them. It is this: they have no accomplishments,—they neither +murder Rossini, nor mar Salvator Rosa; they are not educated to torment +society, poison social intercourse, and push politeness to its last +entrenchment. You are not called on for silence while they scream, nor +for praise when they paint. They do not convert a drawing-room into a +boarding-school on examination-day, and they are satisfied to charm you +by fascinations that cost you no compromise to admire. +</p> +<p> +After all, I believe we English are the only people that adopt the other +plan. We take a commercial view of the matter, and having invested so +much of our money in accomplishment, we like to show our friends that we +have made a good speculation. For myself, I 'd as soon be married to a +musical snuff-box or a daguerreotype machine as to a "well-brought-up +English girl," who had always the benefit of the best masters in music +and drawing. The fourth-rate artist in anything is better than the +first-rate amateur; and I 'd just as soon wear home-made shoes as listen +to home-made music. +</p> +<p> +I have not been presented in any of the English houses here as yet. +There is some wonderful controversy going forward as to whether we are +to call first, or to wait to be called on; and I begin to fear that the +Carnival will open before it can be settled. The governor, too, has got +into a hot controversy with our Minister here, about our presentation at +Court. It would appear that the rule is, you should have been presented +at home, in order to be eligible for presentation abroad. Now, we have +been at the Castle, but never at St James's. The Minister, however, will +not recognize reflected royalty; and here we are, suffering under a real +Irish grievance O'Connell would have given his eye for. The fun of it is +that the Court—at least, I hear so—is crammed with English, who never +even saw a Viceroy, nor perhaps partook of the high festivities of a +Lord Mayor's Ball. How they got there is not for me to inquire, but I +suppose that a vow to a chamberlain is like a customhouse oath, and can +always be reconciled to an easy conscience. +</p> +<p> +We have arrived here at an opportune moment,—time to see all the +notorieties of the place at the races, which began to-day. So far as I +can learn, the foreigners have adopted the English taste, with the true +spirit of imitators; that is, they have given little attention to any +improvement in the breed of cattle, but have devoted considerable energy +to all the rogueries of the ring, and with such success that Newmarket +and Doncaster might still learn something from the "Legs" of the +Continent. +</p> +<p> +Tiverton, who is completely behind the scenes, has told me some strange +stories about their doings; and, at the very moment I am writing, +horses are being withdrawn, names scratched, forfeits declared, and bets +pronounced "off," with a degree of precipitation and haste that shows +how little confidence exists amongst the members of the ring. As for +myself, not knowing either the course, the horses, nor the colors of +the riders, I take my amusement in observing—what is really most +laughable—the absurd effort made by certain small folk here to resemble +the habits and ways of certain big ones in England. Now it is a retired +coach-maker, or a pensioned-off clerk in a Crown office, that jogs down +the course, betting-book in hand, trying to look—in the quaintness of +his cob, and the trim smugness of his groom—like some old county squire +of fifteen thousand a year. Now it is some bluff, middle-aged gent, who, +with coat thrown back and thumbs in his waistcoat, insists upon being +thought Lord George Bentinck. There are Massy Stanleys, George Paynes, +Lord Wiltons, and Colonel Peels by dozens; "gentlemen jocks" swathed in +drab paletots, to hide the brighter rays of costume beneath, gallop at +full speed across the grass on ponies of most diminutive size; smartly +got-up fellows stand under the judge's box, and slang the authorities +above, or stare at the ladies in front. There are cold luncheons, +sandwiches, champagne, and soda-water; bets, beauties, and bitter +beer,—everything, in short, that constitutes races, but horses! The +system is that every great man gives a cup, and wins it himself; the +only possible interest attending such a process being whether, in some +paroxysm of anger at this, or some frump at that, he may not withdraw +his horse at the last moment,—an event on which a small knot of +gentlemen with dark eyes, thick lips, and aquiline noses seem to +speculate as a race chance, and only second in point of interest to a +whist party at the Casino with a couple of newly come "Bulls." A more +stupid proceeding, therefore, than these races—bating always the fun +derived from watching the "snobocracy". +</p> +<p> +I have mentioned—cannot be conceived. Now it was a walk over; now a +"sell;" now two horses of the same owner; now one horse that was owned +by three. The private history of the rogueries might possibly amuse, but +all that met the public eye was of the very slowest imaginable. +</p> +<p> +I begin to think, Bob, that horse-racing is only a sport that can be +maintained by a great nation abounding in wealth, and with all the +appliances of state and splendor. You ought to have gorgeous equipages, +magnificent horses, thousands of spectators, stands crowded to the roof +by a class such as only exists in great countries. Royalty itself, in +all its pomp, should be there; and all that represents the pride and +circumstance of a mighty people. To try these things on a small scale +is ridiculous,—just as a little navy of one sloop and a steamer! With +great proportions and ample verge, the detracting elements are hidden +from view. The minor rascalities do not intrude themselves on a scene of +such grandeur; and though cheating, knavery, and fraud are there, +they are not foreground figures. Now, on a little "race-course," it is +exactly the reverse: just as on board of a three-decker you know nothing +of the rats, but in a Nile boat they are your bedfellows and your guests +at dinner. +</p> +<p> +To-morrow we are to have a match with gentlemen riders, and if anything +worth recording occurs I 'll keep a corner for it Mother is in the grand +stand, with any amount of duchesses and marchionesses around her. +The governor is wandering about the field, peeping at the cattle, and +wondering how the riders are to get round a sharp turn at the end of +the course. The girls are on horseback with Tiverton; and, in the long +intervals between the matches, I jot down these rough notes for you. The +scene itself is beautiful. The field, flanked on one side by the wood of +the Cascini, is open on t' other to the mountains: Fiezole, from base to +summit, is dotted over with villas half buried in groves of orange and +olive trees. The Val d'Arno opens on one side, and the high mountain +of Vallombrosa on the other. The gayly dressed and bright-costumed +Florentine population throng the ground itself, and over their heads +are seen the glorious domes and towers and spires of beautiful Florence, +under a broad sky of cloudless blue, and in an atmosphere of rarest +purity. +</p> +<p> +Thursday. +</p> +<p> +Tiverton has won his match, and with the worst horse too. Of his +competitors one fell off; another never got up at all; a third bolted; +and a fourth took so much out of his horse in a breathing canter before +the race, that the animal was dead beat before he came to the start. And +now the knowing ones are going about muttering angry denunciations on +the treachery of grooms and trainers, and vowing that "Gli gentlemen +riders son grandi bricconi." +</p> +<p> +I am glad it is over. The whole scene was one of quarrelling, row, and +animosity from beginning to end. These people neither know how to +win money nor to lose it; and as to the English who figure on such +occasions, take my word for it, Bob, the national character gains little +by their alliance. It is too soon for me, perhaps, to pronounce in +this fashion, but Tiverton has told me so many little private +histories—revealed so much of the secret memoirs of these folk—that I +believe I am speaking what subsequent experience will amply confirm. For +the present, good-bye, and believe me, +</p> +<p> +Ever yours, +</p> +<p> +James Dodd. +</p> +<a name="2H_4_0026"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + LETTER XXVI. KENNY DODD TO THOMAS PURCELL, ESQ., ORANGE, BRUFF. +</h2> +<h3> + Florence, Lungo l'Arno. +</h3> +<p> +My dear Tom,—It is nigh a month since I wrote to you last, and if I +didn't "steal a few hours from the night, my dear," it might be longer +still. The address will tell you where we are,—I wish anybody or +anything else would tell you how or why we came here! I intended to have +gone back from Genoa, nor do I yet understand what prevented me doing +so. My poor head—none of the clearest in what may be called my lucid +intervals—is but a very indifferent thinking machine when harassed, +worried, and tormented as I have been latterly. You have heard how +James's Countess, the Cardinal's niece and the betrothed of a Neapolitan +Prince, turned out to be a circus woman, one of those bits of tawdry +gold fringe and pink silk pantaloons that dance on a chalked saddle to a +one-shilling multitude! By good fortune she had two husbands living, or +she might have married the boy. As it was, he has gone into all manner +of debt on her account; and if it was not that I can defy ruin in any +shape,—for certain excellent reasons you may guess at,—this last +exploit of his would go nigh to our utter destruction. +</p> +<p> +We hurried away out of Genoa in shame, and came on here by slow stages. +The womenkind plucked up wonderfully on the way, and I believe of the +whole party your humble servant alone carried abasement with him inside +the gates of Florence. +</p> +<p> +My sense of sorrow and shame probably somehow blunted my faculties and +dulled my reasoning powers, for I would seem to have concurred in a vast +number of plans and arrangements that now, when I have come to myself, +strike me with intense astonishment. For instance, we have taken a suite +of rooms on the Arno, hired a cook, a carriage, and a courier; we are, I +hear, also in negotiation for a box at the "Pergola," and I am credibly +informed that I am myself looking out for saddle-horses for the girls, +and a "stout-made, square-jointed cob of lively action," to carry +myself. +</p> +<p> +It may be all true—I have no doubt it is more philosophical, as the +cant phrase is—to believe Kenny Dodd to be mistaken rather than suppose +his whole family deranged, so that if I hear to-morrow or next day +that I 'm about to take lessons in singing, or to hire a studio as a +sculptor, I 'm fully determined to accept the tidings with a graceful +submission. There is only one thing, Tom Purcell, that passes my belief, +and that is, that there ever lived as besotted an old fool as your +friend Kenny D., a man so thoroughly alive to everything that displeased +him, and yet so prone to endure it; so actively bent on going a road the +very opposite to the one he wanted to travel; and that entered heart and +soul into the spirit of ruining himself, as if it was the very best fun +imaginable. +</p> +<p> +That you can attempt to follow me through the vagaries of this strange +frame of mind is more than I expect, neither do I pretend to explain +it to you. There it is, however,—make what you can of it, just as you +would with a handful of copper money abroad, where there was no clew to +the value of a single coin in the mass, but wherewith you are assured +you have received your change. +</p> +<p> +With a fine lodging, smart liveries, a very good cook, and a +well-supplied table, I thought it possible that though ruin would follow +in about three months, yet in the interval I might probably enjoy a +little ease and contentment. At all events, like the Indian, who, +when he saw that he must inevitably go over the Falls, put his paddles +quietly aside, and resolved to give himself no unnecessary trouble, I +also determined I 'd leave the boat alone, and never "fash myself for +the future." Wise as this policy may seem, it has not saved me. Mrs. D. +is a regular storm-bird! Wherever she goes she carries her own hurricane +with her! and I verily believe she could get up a tornado under the +equator. +</p> +<p> +In a little pious paroxysm that seized her in the mountains, she, at the +instigation of a stupid old lord there, must needs write a tract +about certain miracles that were or were not—for I 'll not answer for +either—performed by a saint that for many years back nobody had paid +any attention to. This precious volume cost <i>her</i> three weeks' loss of +rest, and <i>me</i> about thirty pounds sterling. It was, however, a pious +work, and even as a kind of <i>visa</i> on her passport to heaven, I +suppose it would be called cheap. I assure you, Tom, I spent the cash +grudgingly; that I did pay it at all I thought was about as good "a +miracle" as any in the book. +</p> +<p> +Armed with this tract, she tramped through the Lucchese mountains, +leaving copies everywhere, and thrusting her volume into the hands of +all who would have it. I 'm no great admirer of this practice in any +sect. The world has too many indiscreet people to make this kind of +procedure an over-safe one; besides, I 'm not quite certain that even a +faulty religion is not preferable to having none at all, and it happens +not unfrequently that the convert stops half-way on his road, and leaves +one faith without ever reaching the other. I 'll not discuss this matter +further; I have trouble enough on my hands without it. +</p> +<p> +These little tracts of Mrs. D.'s attracted the attention of the +authorities. It was quite enough that they had been given away gratis, +and by an Englishwoman, to stamp them as attempts to proselytize, and, +although they could n't explain how, yet they readily adopted the idea +that the whole was written in a figurative style purposely to cover +its real object, and so they set lawyers and judges to work, and what +between oaths of peasants and affirmations of prefects, they soon made +a very pretty case, and yesterday morning, just as we had finished +breakfast, a sergeant of the gendarmerie entered the room, and with a +military salute asked which was la Signora Dodd? The answer being +given, he proceeded to read aloud a paper, that he held in his hand, +the contents of which Cary translated for me in a whisper. They were, in +fact, a judge's warrant to commit Mrs. D. to prison under no less than +nine different sections of a new law on the subject of religion. In vain +we assured him that we were all good Catholics, kept every ordinance of +the Church, and hated a heretic. He politely bowed to our explanation, +but said that with this part of the matter he had nothing to do; that +doubtless we should be able to establish our innocence before the +tribunal; meanwhile Mrs. D. must go to prison. +</p> +<p> +I 'm ashamed at all the warmth of indignation we displayed, seeing that +this poor fellow was simply discharging his duty,—and that no pleasant +one,—but somehow it is so natural to take one's anger out on the +nearest official, that we certainly didn't spare him. Tiverton +threatened him with the House of Commons; James menaced him with the +"Times;" Mary Anne protested that the British fleet would anchor off +Leghorn within forty hours; and I hinted that Mazzini should have the +earliest information of this new stroke of tyranny. He bore all like—a +gendarme! stroked his moustaches, clinked his sword on the ground, put +his cocked-hat a little more squarely on his head, and stood at +ease. Mrs. D.—there s no guessing how a woman will behave in any +exigency—did n't go off, as I thought and expected she would, in strong +hysterics; she did n't even show fight; she came out in what, I am free +to own, was for her a perfectly new part, and played martyr; ay, Tom, +she threw up her eyes, clasped her hands upon her bosom, and said, "Lead +me away to the stake—burn me—torture me—cut me in four quarters—tear +my flesh off with hot pincers." She suggested a great variety of these +practices, and with a volubility that showed me she had studied the +subject. Meanwhile the sergeant grew impatient, declared the "séance" +was over, and ordered her at once to enter the carriage that stood +awaiting her at the door, and which was to convey her to the prison. I +need n't dwell on a very painful scene; the end of it was that she was +taken away, and though we all followed in another carriage, we were only +admitted to a few moments of leave-taking with her, when the massive +gates were closed, and she was a captive! +</p> +<a name="image-0009"><!--IMG--></a> +<center> +<img src="images/248.jpg" height="558" width="712" +alt="248 +"> +</center> + +<p> +Tiverton told me I must at once go to our Legation and represent the +case. "Be stout about it," said he; "say she must be liberated in half +an hour. Make the Minister understand you are somebody, and won't stand +any humbug. I 'd go," he added, "but I can't do anything against the +present Government." A knowing wink accompanied this speech, and though +I didn't see the force of the remark, I winked too, and said nothing. +</p> +<p> +"What language does he speak?" said I, at last. +</p> +<p> +"Our Minister? English, of course!" +</p> +<p> +"In that case I 'm off at once;" and away I drove to the Legation. The +Minister was engaged. Called again,—he was out. Called later,—he was +in conference with the Foreign Secretary. Later still,—he was dressing +for dinner. Tipped his valet a Nap. and sent in my card, with a pressing +entreaty to be admitted. Message brought back, quite impossible,—must +call in the morning. Another Nap. to the flunkey, and asked his advice. +</p> +<p> +"His Excellency receives this evening,—come as one of the guests." +</p> +<p> +I did n't half like this counsel, Tom; it was rather an obtrusive line +of policy, but what was to be done? I thought for a few minutes, and, +seeing no chance of anything better, resolved to adopt it. At ten +o'clock, then, behold me ascending a splendidly illuminated staircase, +with marble statues on either side, half hid amidst all manner of rare +and beautiful plants. Crowds of splendidly dressed people are wending +their way upward with myself—doubtless with lighter hearts—which was +not a difficult matter. At the top, I find myself in a dense crowd, +all a blaze of diamonds and decorations, gorgeous uniforms and jewelled +dresses of the most costly magnificence. +</p> +<p> +I assure you I was perfectly lost in wonderment and admiration. The +glare of wax-lights, the splendor of the apartments themselves, and the +air of grandeur on every side actually dazzled and astounded me. At each +instant I heard the title of Duke and Prince given to some one or other. +"Your Highness is looking better;" "I trust your Grace will dance;" "Is +the Princess here?" "Pray present me to the Duchess." Egad, Tom, I felt +I was really in the very centre of that charmed circle of which one +hears so much and yet sees so little. +</p> +<p> +I need n't say that I knew nobody, and I own to you it was a great +relief to me that nobody knew <i>me</i>. Where should I find the Minister in +all this chaos of splendor, and if I did succeed, how obtain the means +of addressing him? These were very puzzling questions to be solved, and +by a brain turning with excitement, and half wild between astonishment +and apprehension. On I went, through room after room,—there seemed no +end to this gorgeous display. Here they were crushed together, so that +stars, crosses, epaulettes, diamond coronets, and jewelled arms seemed +all one dense mass; here they were broken into card-parties; here they +were at billiards; here dancing; and here all were gathered around a +splendid buffet, where the pop, pop of champagne corks explained the +lively sallies of the talkers. I was not sorry to find something like +refreshment; indeed, I thought my courage stood in need of a glass of +wine, and so I set myself vigorously to pierce the firm and compact +crowd in front of me. My resolve had scarcely been taken, when I felt a +gentle but close pressure within my arm, and on looking down, saw three +fingers of a white-gloved hand on my wrist. +</p> +<p> +I started back; and even before I could turn my head, Tom, I heard a +gentle voice murmur in my ear, "Dear creature,—how delighted to see +you!—when did you arrive?" and my eyes fell upon Mrs. Gore Hampton! +There she was, in all the splendor of full dress, which, I am bound to +say, in the present instance meant as small an amount of raiment as +any one could well venture out in. That I never saw her look half so +beautiful is quite true. Her combs of brilliants set off her glossy +hair, and added new brilliancy to her eyes, while her beauteous neck and +shoulders actually shone in the brightness of its tints. I bethought me +of the "Splügen," Tom, and the cold insolence of her disdain. I tried +to summon up indignation to reproach her, but she anticipated me, by +saying, with a bewitching smile, "Adolphus isn't here now, Doddy!" +Few as the words were, Tom, they revealed a whole history,—they were +apology for the past, and assurance for the present. "Still," said I, +"you might have—" "What a silly thing it is!" said she, putting her fan +on my lips; "and it wants to quarrel with me the very moment of meeting; +but it must n't and it sha'n't. Get me some supper, Doddy,—an oyster +patty, if there be one,—if not, an ortolan truffé." +</p> +<p> +This at least was a good sensible speech, and so I wedged firmly into +the mass, and, by dint of very considerable pressure, at length landed +my fair friend at the buffet. It was, I must say, worth all the labor. +There was everything you can think of, from sturgeon to Maraschino +jelly, and wines of every land of Europe. It was a good opportunity +to taste some rare vintages, and so I made a little excursion through +Marcobrunner to Johannisberg, and thence on to Steinberger. Leaving the +Rhine land, I coquetted awhile with Burgundy, especially Chambertin, +back again, however, to Champagne, for the sake of its icy coldness, to +wind up with some wonderful Schumlawer,—a Hungariau tap,—that actually +made me wish I had been born a hussar. +</p> +<p> +It is no use trying to explain to <i>you</i> the tangled maze of my poor +bewitched faculties. <i>You</i>, whose experiences in such trials have not +gone beyond a struggle for a ham sandwich, or a chicken bone for some +asthmatic old lady in black satin,—<i>you</i> can neither comprehend my +situation nor compassion ate my difficulties. How shall I convey to +your uninformed imagination the bewitching effects of wine, beauty, +heat, light, music, soft words, soft glances, blue eyes, and snowy +shoulders? I may give you all the details, but you 'll never be able +to blend them into that magic mass that melts the heart, and makes such +fools of the Kenny Dodds of this world. There is such a thing, believe +me, as "an atmosphere of enchantment." There are elements which compose +a magical air around you, perfumed with odors, and still more entrancing +by flatteries. The appeal is now to your senses, now to your heart, your +affections, your intellect, your sympathies; your very self-love is even +addressed, and you are more than man, at least more than an Irishman, if +you resist. +</p> +<p> +Egad, Tom, she is a splendid woman! and has that air of gentleness +and command about her that somehow subdues you at once. Her little +cajoleries—those small nothings of voice and look and touch—are such +subtle tempters for one admired even to homage itself. +</p> +<p> +"You must be my escort, Doddy," said she, drawing on her glove, after +fascinating me by the sight of that dimpled hand, and those rose-tipped +fingers so full of their own memories for me. "You shall give me your +arm, and I'll tell you who every one is." And away we sailed out of the +supper-room into the crowded <i>salons</i>. +</p> +<p> +Our progress was slow, for the crush was tremendous; but, as we went, +her recognitions were frequent. Still, I could not but remark, not with +women. All, or nearly all, her acquaintances were of, I was going to +say the harder, but upon my life I believe the real epithet would be the +softer sex. They saluted her with an easy, almost too easy, familiarity. +Some only smiled; and one, a scoundrel,—I shall know him again, +however,—threw up his eyes with a particular glance towards me, as +plainly as possible implying, "Oh, another victim, eh?" As for the +ladies, some stared full at her, and then turned abruptly away; some +passed without looking; one or two made her low and formal courtesies; +and a few put up their glasses to scan her lace flounce or her lappets, +as if <i>they</i> were really the great objects to be admired. At last we +came to a knot of men talking in a circle round a very pretty woman, +whose jet-black eyes and ringlets, with a high color, gave her a most +brilliant appearance. The moment she saw Mrs. G. H. she sprang from her +seat to embrace her. They spoke in French, and so rapidly that I could +catch nothing of what passed; but the dark eyes were suddenly darted +towards me with a piercing glance that made me half ashamed. +</p> +<a name="image-0010"><!--IMG--></a> +<center> +<img src="images/252.jpg" height="599" width="691" +alt="252 +"> +</center> + +<p> +"Let us take possession of that sofa," said Mrs. Gore, moving towards +one. "And now, Doddy, I want to present you to my dearest friend on +earth, my own darling Georgina." +</p> +<p> +Then they both kissed, and I muttered some stupid nonsense of my own. +</p> +<p> +"This, Georgy,—this is that dear creature of whom you have heard me +speak so often; this is that generous, noble-hearted soul whose devotion +is written upon my heart; and this," said she, turning to the other +side, "this is my more than sister,—my adored Georgina!" +</p> +<p> +I took my place between them on the sofa, and was formally presented to +whom?—guess you? No less a person than Lady George Tiverton! Ay, Tom, +the fascinating creature with the dark orbs was another injured woman! +I was not to be treated like a common acquaintance, it seemed, for +"Georgy" began a recital of her husband's cruelties to me. Of all the +wretches I ever heard or read he went far beyond them. There was not +an indignity, not an outrage, he had not passed on her. He studied +cruelties to inflict upon her. She had been starved, beaten, bruised, +and, I believe, chained to a log. +</p> +<p> +She drew down her dress to show me some mark of cruelty on her shoulder; +and though I saw nothing to shock me, I took her word for the injury. +In fact, Tom, I was lost in wonderment how one that had gone through +so much not only retained the loveliness of her looks, but all the +fascinations of her beauty, unimpaired by any traits of suffering. +</p> +<p> +What a terrible story it was, to be sure! Now he had sold her diamonds +to a Jew; now he had disposed of her beautiful dark hair to a wig-maker. +In his reckless extravagance her very teeth were not safe in her head; +but more dreadful than all were the temptations he had exposed her +to,—sweet, young, artless, and lovely as she was! All the handsome +fellows about town,—all that was gay, dashing, and attractive,—the +young Peerage and the Blues,—all at her feet; but her saintlike purity +triumphed; and it was really quite charming to hear how these two pretty +women congratulated each other on all the perils they had passed +through unharmed, and the dangers through which virtue had borne +them triumphant. There I sat, Tom, almost enveloped in gauze and +Valenciennes,—for their wide flounces encompassed me, their beauteous +faces at either side, their soft breath fanning me,—listening to +tales of man's infamy that made my blood boil. To the excitement of +the champagne had succeeded the delirious intoxication compounded of +passionate indignation and glowing admiration; and at any minute I felt +ready to throw myself at the heads of the husbands or the feet of their +wives! +</p> +<p> +Vast crowds moved by us as we sat there, and I could perceive that +we were by no means unnoticed by the company. At last I perceived an +elderly lady, leaning on a young man's arm, whom I thought I recognized; +but she quickly averted her head and said something to her companion. +He turned and bowed coldly to me; and I perceived it was Morris,—or +Penrhyn, I suppose he calls himself now; and, indeed, his new dignity +would seem to have completely overcome him. Mrs. G. H. asked his name; +and when I told it, said she would permit me to present him to her,—a +liberty I had no intention to profit by. +</p> +<p> +The company was now thinning fast; and so, giving an arm to each of my +fair friends, we descended to the cloak-ing-room. "Call our carriage, +Doddy,—the Villino Amaldini! for Georgy and I go together," said Mrs. +G. I saw them to the door, helped them in, kissed their hands, promised +to call on them early on the morrow,—"Villa Amaldini,—Via +Amaldini,"—got the name by heart; another squeeze of the two fair +hands, and away they rolled, and I turned homeward in a frame of mind of +which I have not courage to attempt the description. +</p> +<p> +When I arrived at our lodgings, it was nigh three o'clock; Mary Anne and +Cary were both sitting up waiting for me. The police had made a descent +on the house in my absence, and carried away three hundred and seventy +copies of the blessed little tract, all our house bills, some of your +letters, and the girls' Italian exercises; a very formidable array +of correspondence, to which some equations in algebra, by James, +contributed the air of a cipher. +</p> +<p> +"Well, papa, what tidings?" cried both the girls, as I entered the +room. "When is she to be liberated? What says the Minister?—is he +outrageous?—was he civil?—did he show much energy?" +</p> +<p> +"Wait a bit, my dears," said I, "and let me collect myself. After all I +have gone through, my head is none of the clearest." +</p> +<p> +This was quite true, Tom, as you may readily believe. They both waited, +accordingly, with a most exemplary patience; and there we sat in +silence, confronting each other; and I own to you honestly, a criminal +in a dock never had a worse conscience than myself at that moment. +</p> +<p> +"Girls," said I, at last, "if I am to have brains to carry me through +this difficult negotiation, it will only be by giving me the most +perfect peace and tranquillity. No questioning—no interrogation—no +annoyance of any kind—you understand me—this," said I, touching my +forehead,—"this must be undisturbed." They both looked at each other +without speaking, and I went on; but what I said, and how I said it, +I have no means of knowing: I dashed intrepidly into the wide sea of +European politics, mixing up Mrs. D. with Mazzini, making out something +like a very strong case against her. From that I turned to Turkey +and the Danubian Provinces, and brought in Omer Pasha and the Earl of +Guzeberry; plainly showing that their mother was a wronged and injured +woman, and that Sir Somebody Dundas might be expected any moment at the +mouth of the Arno, to exact redress for her wrongs. "And now," said I, +winding up, "you know as much of the matter as I do, my dears; you view +things from the same level as myself; and so, off to bed, and we 'll +resume the consideration of the subject in the morning." I did n't wait +for more, but took my candle and departed. +</p> +<p> +"Poor papa!" said Mary Anne, as I closed the door; "he talks quite +wildly. This sad affair has completely affected his mind." +</p> +<p> +"He certainly <i>does</i> talk most incoherently," said Cary; "I hope we +shall find him better in the morning." Ah! Tom, I passed a wretched +night of self-accusation and sorrow. There was nothing Mrs. D. herself +could have said to me that I did n't say. I called myself a variety +of the hardest names, and inveighed stoutly against my depravity and +treachery. The consequence was that I couldn't sleep a wink, and rose +early, to try and shake off my feverish state by a walk. +</p> +<p> +I sallied out into the streets, and half unconsciously took the way to +the prison. It was one of those old feudal fortresses—half jail, half +palace—that the Medici were so fond of,—grim-looking, narrow-windowed, +high-battlemented buildings, that stand amidst modern edifices as a +mailed knight might stand in a group of our every-day dandies. I looked +up at its dark and sullen front with a heavy and self-reproaching heart. +"Your wife is there, Kenny Dodd," said I, "a prisoner!—treated like +a malefactor and a felon!—carried away by force, without trial or +investigation, and already sentenced—for a prisoner is under sentence +when even passingly deprived of liberty—and there you stand, powerless +and inactive! For this you quitted a land where there is at least a law, +and the appeal to it open to every one! For this you have left a +country where personal liberty can be assailed neither by tyranny nor +corruption! For this you have come hundreds of miles away from home, to +subject yourself and those belonging to you to the miserable despotism +of petty tyrants and the persecution of bigots! Why don't they print +it in large letters in every passport what one has to expect in these +journeyings? What nonsense it is to say that Kenny Dodd is to travel at +his pleasure, and that the authorities themselves are neither to give +nor 'permettre qu'il lui soit donné empêchement quelconque, mais au +contraire toute aide et assistance!' Why not be frank, and say, 'Kenny +Dodd comes abroad at his own proper risk and peril, to be cheated in +Belgium, bamboozled in Holland, and blackguarded on the Rhine; with +full liberty to be robbed in Spain, imprisoned in Italy, and knouted +in Russia'? With a few such facts as these before you, you would think +twice on the Tower Stairs, and perhaps deliberate a little at Dover. +It's no use making a row because foreigners do not adopt our notions. +They have no Habeas Corpus, just as they have no London Stout,—maybe +for the same reason, too,—it would n't suit the climate. But what +brings us amongst them! There's the question. Why do we come so far away +from home to eat food that disagrees with us, and live under laws we cry +out against? Is it consistent with common-sense to run amuck through the +statutes of foreign nations just out of wilfulness? I wish my wife was +out of that den, and I wish we were all back in Dodsborough." And with +that wise reflection, uttered in all the fulness of my heart, I turned +slowly away and reached the Arno. A gentleman raised his hat politely to +me as I passed. I turned hastily, and saw it was Morris. His salute was +a cold one, and showed no inclination for nearer acquaintance; but I was +too much humiliated in my own esteem to feel pride, so I followed and +overtook him. His reception of me was so chilling, Tom, that even before +I spoke I regretted the step I had adopted. I rallied, however, and +after reminding him how on a former occasion I had been benefited by his +able intervention in my behalf, briefly told him of Mrs. D.'s arrest, +and the great embarrassment I felt as to the course to be taken. +</p> +<p> +He thawed in a moment. All his distance was at once abandoned, and, +kindly offering me his arm, begged me to relate what had occurred. +He listened calmly, patiently,—I might almost say, coldly. He never +dropped a sentence,—not a syllable like sympathy or condolence. He +had n't as much as a word of honest indignation against the outrageous +behavior of the authorities. In fact, Tom, he took the whole thing just +as much as a matter of course as if there was nothing remarkable nor +strange in imprisoning an Englishwoman, and the mother of a family. He +made a few pencil notes in his pocket-book as to dates and such-like, +and then, looking at his watch, said,— +</p> +<p> +"We'll go and breakfast with Dunthorpe. You know him intimately, don't +you?" +</p> +<p> +I had to confess I did not know him at all. +</p> +<p> +"Oh! seeing you there last night," said he, "I thought you knew him +well, as you are only a very short time in Florence." +</p> +<p> +I drew a long breath, Tom, and told him how I had happened to find +myself at the Minister's "rout." He smiled good-humoredly; there was +nothing offensive in it, however, and it passed off at once. +</p> +<p> +"Sir Alexander and I are old friends," said he. "We served in the same +regiment once together, and I can venture to present you, even at this +early hour;" and with that we walked briskly on towards the Legation. +</p> +<p> +All this while Morris—I can't call him by his new name yet—never +alluded to the family; he did n't even ask after James, and I plainly +saw that he was bent on doing a very good-natured thing, without any +desire to incur further intimacy as its consequence. +</p> +<p> +Sir Alexander had not left his room when we arrived, but on receiving +Morris's card sent word to say he should be down in a moment, and +expected us both at breakfast. The table was spread in a handsome +library, with every possible appliance of comfort about it. There was +a brisk wood-fire blazing on the ample hearth, and a beautiful Blenheim +asleep before it. Newspapers of every country and every language lay +scattered about with illustrated journals and prints. Most voluptuous +easy-chairs and fat-cushioned sofas abounded, and it was plain to see +that the world has some rougher sides than she turns to her Majesty's +Envoys and Ministers Plenipotentiary! +</p> +<p> +I was busy picturing to myself what sort of person the present occupant +of this post was likely to prove, when he entered. A tall, very +good-looking man, of about forty, with bushy whiskers of white hair; +his air and bearing the very type of frankness, and his voice the rich +tone of a manly speaker. He shook me cordially by the hand as Morris +introduced me, apologized for keeping us waiting, and at once seated us +at table. A sickly-looking lad, with sore eyes and a stutter, slipped +unobtrusively in after him, and he was presented to us as Lord Adolphus +de Maudley, the unpaid Attaché. +</p> +<p> +Leaving all to Morris, and rightly conjecturing that he would open the +subject we came upon at the fitting time, I attacked a grouse-pie most +vigorously, and helped myself freely to his Excellency's Bordeaux. There +were all manner of good things, and we did them ample justice, even to +the Unpaid himself, who certainly seemed to take out in prog what they +denied him in salary. +</p> +<p> +Sir Alexander made all the running as to talk. He rattled away about +Turks and Russians,—affairs home and foreign,—the Ministry and the +Opposition,—who was to go next to some vacant embassy, and who was +to be the prima donna at the Pergola. Then came Florence gossip,—an +amusing chapter; but perhaps—as they say in the police reports—not +quite fit for publication. His Excellency had seen the girls at the +races, and complimented me on their good looks, and felicitated the city +on the accession of so much beauty. At last Morris broke ground, and +related the story of Mrs. D.'s captivity. Sir Alex—who had by this time +lighted his cigar—stood with his hands in his dressing-gown pockets, +and his back to the fire, the most calm and impassive of listeners. +</p> +<p> +"They are so stupid, these people," said he at last, puffing his weed +between each word; "won't take the trouble to look before them—won't +examine—won't investigate—a charge. Mrs. Dodd a Catholic too?" +</p> +<p> +"A most devout and conscientious one!" said I. +</p> +<p> +"Great bore for the moment, no doubt; but—try a cheroot, they 're +milder—but, as I was saying, to be amply recompensed hereafter. There's +nothing they won't do in the way of civility and attention to make +amends for this outrage." +</p> +<p> +"Meanwhile, as to her liberation?" said Morris. +</p> +<p> +"Ah! that <i>is</i> a puzzle. No use writing to Ministers, you know. That's +all lost time. Official correspondence—only invented to train up our +youth—like Lord Dolly, there. Must try what can be done with Bradelli." +</p> +<p> +"And who is Bradelli, your Excellency?" +</p> +<p> +"Bradelli is Private Secretary to the Cardinal Boncelli, at Rome." +</p> +<p> +"But we are in Tuscany." +</p> +<p> +"Geographically speaking, so we are. But leave it to me, Mr. Dodd. No +time shall be lost. Draw up a note, Dolly, to the Prince Cigalaroso. +You have a mem. in the Chancellerie will do very well. The English are +always in scrapes, and it is always the same: 'Mon cher Prince,—Je +regrette infiniment que mes devoirs m'imposent,' &c., &c, with a full +account of the 'fâcheux incident,'—that's the phrase, mind that, Dolly; +do everything necessary for the Blue Book, and in the meanwhile take +care that Mrs. D. is out of prison before the day is over." +</p> +<p> +I was surprised to find how little Sir Alexander cared for the real +facts of the case, or the gross injustice of the entire proceeding. +In fact, he listened to my explanations on this head with as much +impatience as could consist with his unquestionable good breeding, +simply interpolating as I went on: "Ah, very true;" "Your observation is +quite correct;" "Perfectly just," and so on. "Can you dine here to-day, +Mr. Dodd?" said he, as I finished; "Penrhyn is coming, and a few other +friends." +</p> +<p> +I had some half scruples about accepting a dinner invitation while my +wife remained a prisoner, but I thought, "After all, the Minister must +be the best judge of such a point," and accordingly said "Yes." A most +agreeable dinner it was too, Tom. A party of seven at a round table, +admirably served, and with—what I assure you is growing rather a rarity +nowadays—a sufficiency of wine. +</p> +<p> +The Minister himself proved most agreeable; his long residence abroad +had often brought him into contact with amusing specimens of his own +countrymen, some of whose traits and stories he recounted admirably, +showing me that the Dodds are only the species of a very widely extended +and well-appreciated genus. +</p> +<p> +I own to you that I heard, with no small degree of humiliation, how +prone we English are to demand money compensations for the wrongs +inflicted upon us by foreign governments. As the information came from a +source I cannot question, I have only to accept the fact, and deplore it. +</p> +<p> +As a nation, we are, assuredly, neither mean nor mercenary. As +individuals, I sincerely hope and trust we can stand comparison in all +that regards liberality of purse with any people. Yet how comes it +that we have attained to an almost special notoriety for converting our +sorrows into silver, and making our personal injuries into a credit at +our banker's? I half suspect that the tone imparted to the national mind +by our Law Courts is the true reason of this, and that our actions for +damages are the damaging features of our character as a people. The man +who sees no indignity in taking the price of his dishonor, will find +little difficulty in appraising the value of an insult to his liberty. +Take my word for it, Tom, it is a very hard thing to make foreigners +respect the institutions of a country stained with this reproach, or +believe that a people can be truly high-minded and high-spirited who +have recourse to such indemnities. +</p> +<p> +From what fell from Sir Alexander on this subject, I could plainly +perceive the embarrassment a Minister must labor under, who, while +asserting the high pretensions of a great nation, is compelled to +descend to such ignoble bargains; and I only wish that the good public +at home, as they pore over Blue Books, would take into account this very +considerable difficulty. +</p> +<p> +As regards foreign governments themselves, it is right to bear in mind +that they rarely or never can be induced to believe the transgressions +of individuals as anything but parts of a grand and comprehensive scheme +of English interference. If John Bull smuggle a pound of tea, it is +immediately set down that England is going to alter the Custom Laws. Let +him surreptitiously steal his fowling-piece over the frontier, and we +are accused of "arming the disaffected population." A copy of a tract +is construed into a treatise on Socialism; and a "Jim-Crow" hat is the +symbol of Republican doctrines. +</p> +<p> +I see the full absurdity of these suspicions, but I wish, for our own +comfort's sake, to take no higher ground, that we were somewhat more +circumspect in our conduct abroad. "Rule Britannia" is a very fine tune, +and nobody likes to hear it, well sung, better than myself; but this I +will say, Tom, Britons <i>ever</i> will be slaves to their prejudices and +self-delusions, until they come to see that <i>their</i> notions of right +and wrong are not universal, and that there is no more faulty impression +than to suppose an English standard of almost anything applicable to +people who have scarcely a thought, a feeling, or even a prejudice in +common with us. +</p> +<p> +One might almost fancy that the travelling Englishman loved a scrape +from the pleasure it afforded him of addressing his Minister, and making +a fuss in the "Times." Just as a fellow who knew he had a cork jacket +under his waistcoat might take pleasure in falling overboard and +attracting public attention, without incurring much risk. +</p> +<p> +While we were discussing these and such-like topics, there came a note +from James to say that Mrs. Dodd had just been liberated, and was then +safe in what is popularly called the bosom of her family. I accordingly +arose and thanked Sir Alexander most heartily for his kind and +successful interference, and though I should not have objected to +another glass or two of his admirable port, I felt it was only decent +and becoming in me to hasten home to my wife. +</p> +<p> +As Morris had shown so much good-nature in the affair, and +had—formerly, at least—been on very friendly terms with us, I asked +him to come along with me; but he declined, with a kind of bashful +reserve that I could not comprehend; and so, half offended at his +coldness, I wished him a "good-night," and departed. +</p> +<p> +I have now only to add that I found Mrs. D. in good health and spirits, +and, on the whole, rather pleased with the incident than otherwise. You +shall hear from me again erelong, and meanwhile believe me, +</p> +<p> +Your ever faithful friend, +</p> +<p> +Kenny James Dodd. +</p> +<a name="2H_4_0027"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + LETTER XXVII. MRS. DODD TO MRS. GALLAGHER, DODSBOROUGH +</h2> +<h3> + Casa Dodd, Florence. +</h3> +<p> +My dear Molly,—So you tell me that the newspapers is full of me, and +that nothing is talked of but "the case of Mrs. Dodd" and her "cruel +incarnation in the dungeons of Tuscany." I wish they 'd keep their +sympathies to themselves, Molly, for, to tell you a secret, this same +captivity has done us the greatest service in the world. Here we are, +my darling, at the top of the tree,—going to all the balls, dining +out every day, and treated with what they call the most distinguished +consideration. And I must say, Molly, that of all the cities ever I +seen, Florence is the most to my taste. There's a way of living here,—I +can't explain how it is done, exactly; but everybody has just what he +likes of everything. I believe it 's the bankers does it,—that they +have a way of exchanging, or discounting, or whatever it is called, +that makes every one at their ease; and, indeed, my only surprise is why +everybody does n't come to live in a place with so many advantages. Even +K. I. has ceased grumbling about money matters, and for the last three +weeks we have really enjoyed ourselves. To be sure, now and then, he +mumbles about "as well to be hanged for a sheep as a lamb;" and this +morning he said that he was "too old to beg," to "dig he was ashamed." +"I hope you are," says I; "it is n't in your station in life that you +can go out as a navvy, and with your two daughters the greatest beauties +in the town." And so they are, Molly. There isn't the like of Mary Anne +in the Cascini; and though Caroline won't give herself fair play in the +way of dress, there's many thinks she 's the prettiest of the two. +</p> +<p> +I wish you saw the Cascini, Molly, when the carriages all drive up, and +get mixed together, so that you would wonder how they 'd ever get out +again. They are full of elegantly dressed ladies; there's nothing too +fine for them, even in the morning, and there they sit, and loll +back, with all the young dandies lying about them, on the steps of +the carriages, over the splash-boards,—indeed, nearly under the +wheels,—squeezing their hands, looking into their eyes and under their +veils. Oh dear, but it seems mighty wicked till you 're used to it, and +know it 's only the way of the place, which one does remarkably soon. +The first thing strikes a stranger here, Molly, is that everybody knows +every other body most intimately. It's all "Carlo," "Luigi," "Antonio +mio," with hands clasped or arms about each other, and everlasting +kissing between the women. And then, Molly, when you see a newly arrived +English family in the midst of them, with a sulky father, a stiff +mother, three stern young ladies, and a stupid boy of sixteen, you think +them the ugliest creatures on earth, and don't rightly know whether to +be angry or laugh at them. +</p> +<p> +Lord George says that the great advantage of the Cascini is that +you hear there "all that's going on." Faith, you do, Molly, and nice +goings-on it is! The Florentines say they 've no liberty. I 'd like to +know how much more they want, for if they haven't it by right, Molly, +they take it at all events, and with everybody too. The creatures, all +rings and chains, beards and moustaches, come up to the side of your +carriage, put up their opera-glasses, and stare at you as if you was +waxwork! Then they begin to discuss you, and almost fall out about the +color of your hair or your eyes, till one, bolder than the rest, comes +up close to you, and decides what is maybe a wager! It's all very trying +at first,—not but Mary Anne bears it beautifully, and seems never to +know that she is standing under a battery of fifty pair of eyes! +</p> +<p> +As to James, it's all paradise. He knows all the beauties of the town +already, and I see him with his head into a brougham there, and his legs +dangling out of a phaeton here, just as if he was one of the family. You +may think, Molly, when they begin that way of a morning, what it is when +they come to the evening! If they 're all dear friends in the daylight, +it 's brothers and sisters—no, but husbands and wives—they become, +when the lamps are lighted! Whether they walk or waltz, whether they +hand you to a seat or offer you an ice, they 've an art to make it a +particular attention,—and, as it were, put you under an obligation for +it; and whether you like it or not, Molly, you are made out in their +debt, and woe to you when they discover you 're a defaulter! +</p> +<p> +I 'm sure, without Lord George's advice, we could n't have found the +right road to the high society of this place so easily; but he told K. +I. at once what to do,—and for a wonder, Molly, he did it. Florence, +says he, is like no other capital in Europe. In all the others there is +a circle, more or less wide, of what assumes to be "the world;" there +every one is known, his rank, position, and even his fortune. Now in +Florence people mix as they do at a Swiss <i>table d'hôte</i>; each talks to +his neighbor, perfectly aware that <i>he</i> may be a blackleg, or she—if +it be a she—something worse. That society is agreeable, pleasant, and +brilliant is the best refutation to all the cant one hears about freedom +of manners, and so on. And, as Lord G. observes, it is manifestly a duty +with the proper people to mingle with the naughty ones, since it is +only in this way they can hope to reclaim them. "Take those two charming +girls of yours into the world here, Mrs. D.," said he to me the other +day; "show the folks that beauty, grace, and fascination are all +compatible with correct principles and proper notions; let them see that +you yourself, so certain of attracting admiration, are not afraid of +its incense; say to society, as it were, 'Here we are, so secure of +ourselves that we can walk unharmed through all the perils around us, +and enjoy health and vigor with the plague on every side of us.'" And +that's what we 're doing, Molly. As Lord George says, "we 're diffusing +our influence," and I 've no doubt we 'll see the results before long. +</p> +<p> +I wish I was as sure of K. I.'s goings-on; but Betty tells me that he +constantly receives letters of a morning, and hurries out immediately +after; that he often drives away late at night in a hackney-coach, and +does n't return till nigh morning! I 'm only waiting for him to buy us a +pair of carriage-horses to be at him about this behavior; and, indeed, I +think he 's trying to push me on to it, to save him from the expense of +the horses. I must tell you, Molly, that next to having no character, +the most fashionable thing here is a handsome coach; and, indeed, +without something striking in that way, you can't hope to take society +by storm. With a phaeton and a pair of blood bays, James says, you can +drive into Prince Walleykoffsky's drawing-room; with a team of four, you +can trot them up the stairs of the Pitti Palace. +</p> +<p> +After a coach, comes your cook; and is n't my heart broke trying them! +We've had a round of "experimental dinners," that has cost us a little +fortune, since each "chef" that came was free to do what he pleased, +without regard to the cost, and an eatable morsel never came to the +table all the while. Our present artist is Monsieur Chardron, who goes +out to market in a brougham, and buys a turkey with kid gloves on +him. He won't cook for us except on company days, but leaves us to his +"aide," as he calls him, whom K. I. likes best, for he condescends to +give us a bit of roast meat, now and then, that has really nourishment +in it. We 're now, therefore, in a state to open the campaign. We 've an +elegant apartment, a first-rate cook, a capital courier; and next week +we 're to set up a chasseur, if K. I. will only consent to be made a +Count. +</p> +<p> +You may stare, Molly, when I tell you that he fights against it as if it +was the Court of Bankruptcy; though Lord George worked night and clay +to have it done. There never was the like of it for cheapness; a trifle +over twenty pounds clears the whole expense; and for that he would be +Count Dodd, of Fiezole, with a title to each of the children. As many +thousands would n't do that in England; and, indeed, one does n't wonder +at the general outcry of the expense of living there, when the commonest +luxuries are so costly. Mary Anne and I are determined on it, and before +the month is over your letters will be addressed to a Countess. +</p> +<p> +In the middle of all this happiness, my dear, there is a drop of bitter, +as there always is in the cup of life, though you may do your best not +to taste it. Indeed, if it was n't for this drawback, Florence would be +a place I 'd like to live and die in. What I allude to is this: here we +are be-tween two fires, Molly,—the Morrises on one side, and Mrs. Gore +Hampton on the other,—both watching, scrutinizing, and observing us; +for, as bad luck would have it, they both settled down here for the +winter! Now, the Morrises know all the quiet, well-behaved, respectable +people, that one ought to be acquainted with just for decency's sake. +But Mrs. G. H. is in the fashionable and fast set, where all the fun is +going on; and from what I can learn them 's the very people would +suit us best. Being in neither camp, we hear nothing but the abuse and +scandal that each throws on the other; and, indeed, to do them justice, +if half of it was true, there's few of them ought to escape hanging! +</p> +<p> +That's how we stand; and can you picture to yourself a more embarrassing +situation? for you see that many of the slow people are high in station +and of real rank, while some of the fast are just the reverse. Lord +George says, "Cut the fogies, and come amongst the fast 'uns," and talks +about making friends with the "Mammoth of unrighteousness;" and if +he means Mrs. G. H., I believe he is n't far wrong: but even if we +consented, Molly, I don't know whether she 'd make up with us; though +Lord George swears that he 'll answer for it with his head. One thing is +clear, Molly, we must choose between them, and that soon too; for it's +quite impossible to be "well with the Treasury and the Opposition also." +</p> +<p> +K. I. affects neutrality, just to blind us to his real intentions; but +I know him well, and see plainly what he 's after. Cary fights hard for +her friends; though, to say the truth, they have n't taken the least +notice of her since they came to their fortune,—the very thing I +expected from them, Molly, for it's just the way with all upstarts! Now +you see some of the difficulties that attend even the highest successes +in life; and maybe it will make you more contented with your own +obscurity. Perhaps, before this reaches you, we'll have decided for one +or the other; for, as Lord G. says, you can't pass your life between +silly and crabbed.(1) +</p> +<pre> + 1 Does Mrs. D. mean Scylla and Charybdis?—Editor of + "Dodd Correspondence." +</pre> +<p> +There 's another thing fretting me, besides, Molly. It is what this same +Lord George means about Mary Anne; for it's now more than six months +since he grew particular; and yet there 's nothing come of it yet. I see +it's preying on the girl herself, too,—and what's to be done? I am sure +I often think of what poor old Jones McCarthy used to say about this: +"If I 'd a family of daughters," says he, "I 'd do just as I manage with +the horses when I want to sell one of them. There they are,—look at +them as long as you like in the stable, but I 'll have no taking them +out for a trial, and trotting them here, and cantering them there; and +then, a fellow coming to tell me that they have this, that, and the +other." And the more I think of it, Molly, the more I'm convinced it's +the right way; though it's too late, maybe, to help it now. +</p> +<p> +As I mean to send you another letter soon, I 'll close this now, wishing +you all the compliments of the season, except chilblains, and remain +your true and affectionate friend, +</p> +<p> +Jemima Dodd. +</p> +<p> +P. S. You 'd better direct your next letter to us "Casa Dodd," for I +remark that all the English here try and get rid of the Italian names to +the houses as soon as they can. +</p> +<a name="2H_4_0028"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + LETTER XXVIII. JAMES DODD TO ROBERT DOOLAN, ESQ., TRINITY COLLEGE, +</h2> +<center> +DUBLIN. +</center> +<p> +Florence. +</p> +<p> +My dear Bob,—If you only knew how difficult it is to obtain even five +minutes of quiet leisure in this same capital, you 'd at once absolve +me from all the accusations in your last letter. It is pleasure at a +railroad pace, from morning till night, and from night till morning. +Perhaps, after all, it is best there should be no time for reflection, +since it would be like one waiting on the rails for an express train to +run over him! +</p> +<p> +I can give you no better nor speedier illustration of the kind of +life we lead here, than by saying that even the governor has felt the +fascination of the place, and goes the pace, signing checks and drawing +bills without the slightest hesitation, or any apparent sense of a +coming responsibility. He plays, too, and loses his money freely, +and altogether comports himself as if he had a most liberal income, +or—terrible alternative—not a sixpence in the world. I own to you, +Bob, that this recklessness affrights me far more than all his former +grumbling over our expensive and wasteful habits. He seems to have +adopted it, too, with a certain method that gives it all the appearance +of a plan, though I confess what possible advantage could redound from +it is utterly beyond my power of calculation. +</p> +<p> +Meanwhile our style of living is on a scale of splendor that might well +suit the most ample fortune. Tiverton says that for a month or two this +is absolutely necessary, and that in society, as in war, it is the first +dash often decides a campaign. And really, even my own brief experience +of the world shows that one's friends, as they are conventionally +called, are far more interested in the skill of your cook than in the +merits of your own character; and that he who has a good cellar may +indulge himself in the luxury of a very bad conscience. You, of course, +suspect that I am now speaking of a class of people dubious both in +fortune and position, and who have really no right to scrutinize too +closely the characters of those with whom they associate. Quite the +reverse, Bob, I am actually alluding to our very best and most correct +English, and who would not for worlds do at home any one of the hundred +transgressions they commit abroad. For instance, we have, in this +goodly capital of debt and divorce celebrity, a certain house of almost +princely splendor; the furniture, plate, pictures, all perfection; the +cook, an artist that once pampered royal palates; in a word, everything, +from the cellar to the conservatory, a miracle of correct taste. +The owner of all this magnificence is—what think you?—a successful +swindler!—the hero of a hundred bubble speculations,—the spoliator of +some thousands of shareholders,—a fellow whose infractions have been +more than once stigmatized by public prosecution, and whose rascalities +are of European fame! You 'd say that with all these detracting +influences he was a man of consummate social tact, refined manners, and +at least possessing the outward signs of good breeding. Wrong again, +Bob. He is coarse, uneducated, and vulgar; he never picked up any +semblance of the class from whom he peculated; and has lived on, as he +began, a "low comedy villain," and no more. Well, what think you, when +I tell you that is "<i>the</i> house," <i>par excellence</i>, where all strangers +strive to be introduced,—that to be on the dinner-list here is a +distinction, and that even a visitor enjoys an envied fortune,—and that +at the very moment I write, the Dodd family are in earnest and active +negotiation to attain to this inestimable privilege? Now, Bob, there's +no denying that there must be something rotten, and to the core too, +where such a condition of things prevails. If this man fed the hungry +and sheltered the houseless, who had no alternative but his table or no +food, the thing requires no explanation; or if his hospitalities were +partaken of by that large floating class who in every city are to be +found, with tastes disproportionate to their fortunes, and who will +at any time postpone their principles to their palates, even then the +matter is not of difficult solution; but what think you that his company +includes some of the very highest names of our stately nobility, and +that the titles that resound through his <i>salon</i> are amongst the most +honored of our haughty aristocracy! These people assuredly stand in no +want of a dinner. They are comfortably lodged, and at least reasonably +well fed at the "Italie" or the "Grande Bretagne." Why should they stoop +to such companionship? Who can explain this, Bob? Assuredly, I am not +the Ædipus! +</p> +<p> +I am nothing surprised that people like ourselves, for instance, seek +to enjoy even this passing splendor, and find themselves at a princely +board, served with a more than royal costliness. One of these grand +dinners is like a page of the Arabian Nights to a man of ordinary +condition; but surely his Grace the Duke, or the most Noble the Marquis +has no such illusions. With <i>him</i> it is only a question whether the +Madeira over-flavored the soup, or that the ortolans might possibly have +been fatter. <i>He</i> dines pretty much in the same fashion every day during +the London season, and a great part of the rest of the year afterwards. +Why then should he descend to any compromise to accept Count +"Dragonards's" hospitality? for I must tell you that "Dives" is a Count, +and has orders from the Pope and the Queen of Spain. +</p> +<p> +With the explanation, as I have said, I have nothing to do. It is beyond +and above me. For the fact alone I am guarantee; and here comes Tiverton +in a transport of triumph to say that "Heaven is won," or, in humbler +phrase, "Monsieur le Comte de Dragonards prie Phonneur," &c, and that +Dodd <i>père</i> and Dodd <i>mère</i> are requested to dine with him on Tuesday, +the younger Dodds to assist at a reception in the evening. +</p> +<p> +Tiverton assures me that by accepting with a good grace the humbler part +of a "refresher," I am certain of promotion afterwards to a higher range +of character; and in this hope I live for the present. +</p> +<p> +It is likely I shall not despatch this without being able to tell you +more of this great man's house; meanwhile—"majora cantamus"—I am in +love, Bob! If I did n't dash into the confession at once, as one +springs into the sea of a chilly morning, I'd even put on the clothes of +secrecy, and walk off unconfessed. She is lovely, beyond anything I can +give you an idea of,—pale as marble; but such a flesh tint! a sunset +sleeping upon snow, and with lids fringed over a third of her cheek. +You know the tender, languid, longing look that vanquishes me,—that's +exactly what she has! A glance of timid surprise, like an affrighted +fawn, and then a downcast consciousness,—a kind of self-reproaching +sense of her own loveliness,—a sort of a—what the devil kind of +enchantment and witchery, Bob? that makes a man feel it's all no use +struggling and fighting,—that his doom is <i>there!</i> that the influence +which is to rule his destiny is before him, and that, turn him which way +he will, his heart has but one road—and <i>will</i> take it! +</p> +<p> +She was in Box 19, over the orchestra! I caught a glimpse of her +shoulder—only her shoulder—at first, as she sat with her face to the +stage, and a huge screen shaded her from the garish light of the lustre. +How I watched the graceful bend of her neck each time she saluted—I +suppose it was a salutation—some new visitor who entered! The drooping +leaves and flowers of her hair trembled with a gentle motion, as if to +the music of her soft voice. I thought I could hear the very accents +echoing within my heart! But oh! my ecstasy when her hand stole forth +and hung listlessly over the cushion of the box! True it was gloved, +yet still you could mark its symmetry, and, in fancy, picture the +rosy-tipped fingers in all their graceful beauty. +</p> +<p> +Night after night I saw her thus; yet never more than I have told you. +I made superhuman efforts to obtain the box directly in front; but it +belonged to a Russian princess, and was therefore inaccessible. I bribed +the bassoon and seduced the oboe in the orchestra; but nothing was to +be seen from their inferno of discordant tunings. I made love to a +ballet-dancer, to secure the <i>entrée</i> behind the scenes; and on the +night of my success <i>she</i>—my adored one—had changed her place with a +friend, and sat with her back to the stage. The adverse fates had taken +a spite against me, Bob, and I saw that my passion must prove unhappy! +</p> +<p> +Somehow it is in love as in hunting, you are never really in earnest +so long as the country is open and the fences easy; but once that the +ditches are "yawners," and the walls "raspers," you sit down to your +work with a resolute heart and a steady eye, determined, at any cost and +at any peril, to be in at the death. Would that the penalties were alike +also! How gladly would I barter a fractured rib or a smashed collar-bone +for the wrecked and cast-away spirit of my lost and broken heart! +</p> +<p> +If I suffer myself to expand upon my feelings, there will be no end +of this, Bob. I already have a kind of consciousness that I could fill +three hundred and fifty folio volumes, like "Hansard's," in subtle +description and discrimination of sensations that were not exactly +"<i>this</i>," but were very like "<i>that</i>;" and of impressions, hopes, +fancies, fears, and visions, a thousand times more real than all +the actual events of my <i>bona fide</i> existence. And, after all, what +balderdash it is to compare the little meaningless incidents of our +lives with the soul-stirring passions that rage within us! the thoughts +that, so to say, form the very fuel of our natures! These are, indeed, +the realities; and what we are in the habit of calling such are the +mere mockeries and semblances of fact! I can honestly aver that I +suffered—in the true sense of the word—more intense agony from the +conflict of my distracted feelings than I ever did when lying under the +pangs of a compound fracture; and I may add of a species of pain not to +be alleviated by anodynes and soothed by hot flannels. +</p> +<p> +To be brief, Bob, I felt that, though I had often caught slight attacks +of the malady, at length I had contracted it in its deadliest form,—a +regular "blue case," as they say, with bad symptoms from the start. Has +it ever struck you that a man may go through every stage of a love fever +without even so much as speaking to the object of his affections? I can +assure you that the thing is true, and I myself suffered nightly every +vacillating sense of hope, fear, ecstasy, despair, joy, jealousy, and +frantic delight, just by following out the suggestions of my own fancy, +and exalting into importance the veriest trifles of the hour. +</p> +<p> +With what gloomy despondence did I turn homeward of an evening, when +she sat back in the box, and perhaps nothing of her but her bouquet was +visible for a whole night!—with what transports have I carried away +the memory of her profile, seen but for a second! Then the agonies of +my jealousy, as I saw her listening, with pleased attention, to some +essenced puppy—I could swear it was such—who lounged into her box +before the ballet! But at last came the climax of my joy, when I saw +her "lorgnette" directed towards me, as I stood in the pit, and actually +felt her eyes on me! I can imagine some old astronomer's ecstasy, as, +gazing for hours on the sky of night, the star that he has watched and +waited for has suddenly shone through the glass of his telescope, and +lit up his very heart within him with its radiance. I 'd back myself to +have experienced a still more thrilling sense of happiness as the beams +of her bright eyes descended on me. +</p> +<p> +At first, Bob, I thought that the glances might have been meant for +another. I turned and looked around me, ready to fasten a deadly quarrel +upon him, whom I should have regarded at once as my greatest enemy. But +the company amidst which I stood soon reassured me. A few snuffy-looking +old counts, with brown wigs and unshaven chins,—a stray Government +clerk with a pinchbeck chain and a weak moustache, couldn't be my +rivals. I looked again, but she had turned away her bead; and save that +the "lorgnette" still rested within her fingers, I'd have thought the +whole a vision. +</p> +<p> +Three nights after this the same thing occurred. I had taken care to +resume the very same place each evening, to wear the same dress, to +stand in the very same attitude,—a very touching "pose," which I had +practised before the glass. I had not been more than two hours at my +post, when she turned abruptly round and stared full at me. There could +be no mistake, no misconception whatever; for, as if to confirm my +wavering doubts, her friend took the glass from her, and looked full and +long at me. You may imagine, Bob, somewhat of the preoccupation of my +faculties when I tell you that I never so much as recognized her friend. +I had thoughts, eyes, ears, and senses for one,—and one only. Judge, +then, my astonishment when she saluted me, giving that little gesture +with the hand your Florentines are such adepts in,—a species of +salutation so full of most expressive meaning. +</p> +<p> +Short of a crow-quilled billet, neatly endorsed with her name, nothing +could have spoken more plainly. It said, in a few words, "Come up here, +Jim, we shall be delighted to see you." I accepted the augury, Bob, +as we used to say in Virgil, and in less than a minute had forced my +passage through the dense crowd of the pit, and was mounting the box +stairs, five steps at a spring. "Whose box is No. 19?" said I to an +official. "Madame de Goranton," was the reply. Awkward this; never had +heard the name before; sounded like French; might be Swiss; possibly +Belgian. +</p> +<p> +No time for debating the point, tapped and entered,—several persons +within barring up the passage to the front,—suddenly heard a well-known +voice, which accosted me most cordially, and, to my intense surprise, +saw before me Mrs. Gore Hampton! You know already all about her, Bob, +and I need not recapitulate. +</p> +<p> +"I fancied you were going to pass your life in distant adoration yonder, +Mr. Dodd," said she, laughingly, while she tendered her hand for me to +kiss. "Adeline, dearest, let me present to you my friend Mr. Dodd." A +very cold—an icy recognition was the reply to this speech; and Adeline +opened her fan, and said something behind it to an elderly dandy beside +her, who laughed, and said, "Parfaitement, ma foi!" +</p> +<p> +Registering a secret vow to be the death of the antiquated tiger +aforesaid, I entered into conversation with Mrs. G. H., who, +notwithstanding some unpleasant passages between our families, expressed +unqualified delight at the thought of meeting us all once more; inquired +after my mother most affectionately; and asked if the girls were looking +well, and whether they rode and danced as beautifully as ever. She made, +between times, little efforts to draw her friend into conversation by +some allusion to Mary Anne's grace or Cary's accomplishments; but all +in vain. Adeline only met the advances with a cold stare, or a little +half-smile of most sneering expression. It was not that she was distant +and reserved towards me. No, Bob; her manner was downright contemptuous; +it was insulting; and yet such was the fascination her beauty had +acquired over me that I could have knelt at her feet in adoration of +her. I have no doubt that she saw this. I soon perceived that Mrs. Gore +Hampton did. There is a wicked consciousness in a woman's look as she +sees a man "hooked," there's no mistaking. Her eyes expressed this +sentiment now; and, indeed, she did not try to hide it. +</p> +<p> +She invited me to come home and sup with them. She half tried to make +Adeline say a word or two in support of the invitation; but no, she +would not even hear it; and when I accepted, she half peevishly declared +she had got a bad headache, and would go to bed after the play. I +tell you these trivial circumstances, Bob, just that you may fancy how +irretrievably lost I was when such palpable signs of dislike could not +discourage me. I felt this all—and acutely too; but somehow with no +sense of defeat, but a stubborn, resolute determination to conquer them. +</p> +<p> +I went back to sup with Mrs. G. H., and Adeline kept her word and +retired. There were a few men—foreigners of distinction—but I sat +beside the hostess, and heard nothing but praises of that "dear angel." +These eulogies were mixed up with a certain tender pity that puzzled me +sadly, since they always left the impression that either the angel had +done something herself, or some one else had done it towards her, that +called for all the most compassionate sentiments of the human heart. +As to any chance of her history—who she was, whence she came, and so +on—it was quite out of the question; you might as well hope for the +private life of some aerial spirit that descends in the midst of canvas +clouds in a ballet. She was there—to be worshipped, wondered at, and +admired, but not to be catechised. +</p> +<p> +I left Mrs. H.'s house at three in the morning,—a sadder but scarcely a +wiser man. She charged me most solemnly not to mention to any one where +I had been,—a precaution possibly suggested by the fact that I had lost +sixty Napoleons at lansquenet,—a game at which I left herself and her +friends deeply occupied when I came away. I was burning with impatience +for Tiverton to come back to Florence. He had gone down to the Maremma +to shoot snipe. For, although I was precluded by my promise from +divulging about the supper, I bethought me of a clever stratagem by +which I could obtain all the counsel and guidance without any breach +of faith, and this was, to take him with me some evening to the pit, +station him opposite to No. 19, and ask all about its occupants; he +knows everybody everywhere, so that I should have the whole history of +my unknown charmer on the easiest of all terms. +</p> +<p> +From that day and that hour, I became a changed creature. The gay +follies of my fashionable friends gave me no pleasure. I detested balls. +I abhorred theatres. <i>She</i> ceased to frequent the opera. In fact, I +gave the most unequivocal proof of my devotion to one by a most sweeping +detestation of all the rest of mankind. Amidst my other disasters, I +could not remember where Mrs. Gore Hampton lived. We had driven to her +house after the theatre; it was a long way off, and seemed to take a +very circuitous course to reach, but in what direction I had not the +very vaguest notion of. The name of it, too, had escaped me, though she +repeated it over several times when I was taking my leave of her. Of +course, my omitting to call and pay my respects would subject me to +every possible construction of rudeness and incivility, and here was, +therefore, another source of irritation and annoyance to me. +</p> +<p> +My misanthropy grew fiercer. I had passed through the sad stage, and +now entered upon the combative period of the disease. I felt an intense +longing to have a quarrel with somebody. I frequented <i>cafe's</i>, +and walked the streets in a battle, murder, and sudden-death +humor,—frowning at this man, scowling at that. But, have you never +remarked, the caprice of Fortune is in this as in all other things? Be +indifferent at play, and you are sure to win; show yourself regardless +of a woman, and you are certain to hear she wants to make your +acquaintance. Go out of a morning in a mood of universal love and +philanthropy, and I'll take the odds that you have a duel on your hands +before evening. +</p> +<p> +There was one man in Florence whom I especially desired to fix a quarrel +upon,—this was Morris, or, as he was now called, Sir Morris Penrhyn. A +fellow who unquestionably ought to have had very different claims on +my regard, but who now, in this perversion of my feelings, struck me as +exactly the man to shoot or be shot by. Don't you know that sensation, +Bob, in which a man feels that he must select a particular person, quite +apart from any misfortune he is suffering under, and make <i>him</i> pay +its penalty? It is a species of antipathy that defies all reason, +and, indeed, your attempt to argue yourself out of it only serves to +strengthen and confirm its hold on you. +</p> +<p> +Morris and I had ceased to speak when we met; we merely saluted coldly, +and with that rigid observance of a courtesy that makes the very easiest +prelude to a row, each party standing ready prepared to say "check" +whenever the other should chance to make a wrong move. Perhaps I am +not justified in saying so much of <i>him</i>, but I know that I do not +exaggerate my own intentions. I fancied—what will a man not fancy in +one of these eccentric stages of his existence?—that Morris saw my +purpose, and evaded me. I argued myself into the notion that he was +deficient in personal courage, and constructed upon this idea a whole +edifice of absurdity. +</p> +<p> +I am ashamed, even before you, to acknowledge the extent to which my +stupid infatuation blinded me; perhaps the best penalty to pay for it is +an open confession. +</p> +<p> +I overtook our valet one morning with a letter in my governor's hand +addressed to Sir Morris Penrhyn, and on inquiring, discovered that +he and my father had been in close correspondence for the three days +previous. At once I jumped to the conclusion that I was, somehow or +other, the subject of these epistles, and in a fit of angry indignation +I drove off to Morris's hotel. +</p> +<p> +When a man gets himself into a thorough passion on account of some +supposed injury, which even to himself he is unable to define, his state +is far from enviable. When I reached the hotel, I was in the hot stage +of my anger, and could scarcely brook the delay of sending in my card. +The answer was, "Sir Morris did not receive." I asked for pen and ink to +write a note, and scribbled something most indiscreet and offensive. I +am glad to say that I cannot now remember a line of it. The reply came +that my "note should be attended to," and with this information I issued +forth into the street half wild with rage. +</p> +<p> +I felt that I had given a deadly provocation, and must now look out for +some "friend" to see me through the affair. Tiverton was absent, and +amongst all my acquaintances I could not pitch upon one to whose keeping +I liked to entrust my honor. I turned into several <i>cafés</i>, I strolled +into the club, I drove down to the Cascini, but in vain; and at last was +walking homeward, when I caught sight of a friendly face from the window +of a travelling-carriage that drove rapidly by, and, hurrying after, +just came up as it stopped at the door of the Hôtel d'Italie. +</p> +<p> +You may guess my astonishment as I felt my hand grasped cordially by no +other than our old neighbor at Bruff, Dr. Belton, the physician of our +county dispensary. Five minutes explained his presence there. He had +gone out to Constantinople as the doctor to our Embassy, and by some +piece of good luck and his own deservings to boot, had risen to the post +of Private Secretary to the Ambassador, and was selected by him to carry +home some very important despatches, to the rightful consideration of +which his own presence at the Foreign Office was deemed essential. +</p> +<p> +Great as was the difference between, his former and his present station, +it was insignificant in comparison with the change worked in himself. +The country doctor, of diffident manners and retiring habits, grateful +for the small civilities of small patrons, cautiously veiling his +conscious superiority under an affected ignorance, was now become a +consummate man of the world,—calm, easy, and self-possessed. His very +appearance had undergone an alteration, and he held himself more erect, +and looked not only handsomer but taller. These were the first things +that struck me; but as we conversed together, I found him the same +hearty, generous fellow I had ever known him, neither elated by his good +fortune, nor, what is just as common a fault, contemptuously pretending +that it was only one-half of his deserts. +</p> +<p> +One thing alone puzzled me, it was that he evinced no desire to come and +see our family, who had been uniformly kind and good-natured to him; in +fact, when I proposed it, he seemed so awkward and embarrassed that I +never pressed my invitation, but changed the topic. I knew that there +bad been, once on a time, some passages between my sister Mary Anne +and him, and therefore supposed that possibly there might have been +something or other that rendered a meeting embarrassing. At all events, +I accepted his half-apology on the ground of great fatigue, and agreed +to dine with him. +</p> +<p> +What a pleasant dinner it was! He related to me all the story of his +life, not an eventful one as regarded incident, but full of those traits +which make up interest for an individual. You felt as you listened that +it was a thoroughly good fellow was talking to you, and that if he were +not to prove successful in life, it was just because his were the very +qualities rogues trade on for their own benefit. There was, moreover, a +manly sense of independence about him, a consciousness of self-reliance +that never approached conceit, but served to nerve his courage and +support his spirit, which gave him an almost heroism in my eyes, and I +own, too, suggested a most humiliating comparison with my own nature. +</p> +<p> +I opened my heart freely to him about everything, and in particular +about Morris; and although I saw plainly enough that he took very +opposite views to mine about the whole matter, he agreed to stop in +Florence for a day, and act as my friend in the transaction. This being +so far arranged, I started for Carrara, which, being beyond the Tuscan +frontier, admits of our meeting without any risk of interruption,—for +that it must come to such I am fully determined on. The fact is, Bob, my +note is a "stunner," and, as I won't retract, Morris has no alternative +but to come out. +</p> +<p> +I have now given you—at full length too—the whole history, up to the +catastrophe,—which perhaps may have to be supplied by another hand. +I am here, in this little capital of artists and quarry men, patiently +waiting for Bel-ton's arrival, or at least some despatch, which may +direct my future movements. It has been a comfort to me to have the +task of this recital, since, for the time at least, it takes me out of +brooding and gloomy thoughts; and though I feel that I have made out a +poor case for myself, I know that I am pleading to a friendly Court and +a merciful Chief Justice. +</p> +<p> +They say that in the few seconds of a drowning agony a man calls up +every incident of his life,—from infancy to the last moment,—that a +whole panorama of his existence is unrolled before him, and that he sees +himself—child, boy, youth, and man—vividly and palpably; that all his +faults, his short-comings, and his transgressions stand out in strong +colors before him, and his character is revealed to him like an +inscription. I am half persuaded this may be true, judging from what I +have myself experienced within these few hours of solitude here. Shame, +sorrow, and regret are ever present with me. I feel utterly disgraced +before the bar of my own conscience. Even of the advantages which +foreign travel might have conferred, how few have fallen to my +share!—in modern languages I have scarcely made any progress, with +respect to works of art I am deplorably ignorant, while in everything +that concerns the laws and the modes of government of any foreign State +I have to confess myself totally uninformed. To be sure, I have acquired +some insight into the rogueries of "Rouge-et-Noir," I can slang a +courier, and even curse a waiter; but I have some misgivings whether +these be gifts either to promote a man's fortune or form his character. +In fact, I begin to feel that engrafting Continental slang upon home +"snobbery" is a very unrewarding process, and I sorely fear that I have +done very little more than this. +</p> +<p> +I am in a mood to make a clean breast of it, and perhaps say more than +I should altogether like to remember hereafter, so will conclude for +the present, and with my most sincere affection write myself, as ever, +yours, +</p> +<p> +Jim Dodd. +</p> +<p> +P. S. It is not impossible that you may have a few lines from me by +to-morrow or next day,—at least, if I have anything worth the telling +and am "to the fore" to tell it. +</p> +<a name="2H_4_0029"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + LETTER XXIX. MARY ANNE DODD TO MISS DOOLAN, OF BALLYDOOLAN +</h2> +<h3> + Casa Dodd, Florence. +</h3> +<p> +Dearest Kitty,—Seventeen long and closely written pages to you—the +warm out-gushings of my heart—have I just consigned to the flames. +They contained the journal of my life in Florence,—all my thoughts and +hopes, my terrors, my anxieties, and my day-dreams. Why, then, will you +say, have they met this fate? I will tell you, Kitty. Of the feelings +there recorded, of the emotions depicted, of the very events themselves, +nothing—absolutely nothing—now remains; and my poor, distracted, +forlorn heart no more resembles the buoyant spirit of yesterday than the +blackened embers before me are like the carefully inscribed pages I had +once destined for your hand. Pity me, dearest Kitty,—pour out every +compassionate thought of your kindred heart, and let me feel that, as +the wind sweeps over the snowy Apennines, it bears the tender sighs of +your affection to one who lives but to be loved! But a week ago, and +what a world was opening before me,—a world brilliant in all that makes +life a triumph! We were launched upon the sunny sea of high society, +our "argosy" a noble and stately ship; and now, Kitty, we lie stranded, +shattered, and shipwrecked. +</p> +<p> +Do not expect from me any detailed account of our disasters. I am +unequal to the task. It is not at the moment of being cast away that the +mariner can recount the story of his wreck. Enough if these few lines be +like the chance words which, enclosed in a bottle, are committed to the +waves, to tell at some distant date and in some far-away land the tale +of impending ruin. +</p> +<p> +It is in vain I try to collect my thoughts: feelings too acute to be +controlled burst in upon me at each moment and my sobs convulse me as I +write. These lines must therefore bear the impress of the emotions that +dictate them, and be broken, abrupt, mayhap incoherent! +</p> +<p> +He is false, Kitty!—false to the heart that he had won, and the +affections where he sat enthroned! Yes, by the blackest treason has he +requited my loyalty and rewarded my devotion. If ever there was a pure +and holy love, it was mine. It was not the offspring of self-interest, +for I knew that he was married; nor was I buoyed up by dreams of +ambition, for I always knew the great difficulty of obtaining a +divorce. But I loved him, as the classic maiden wept,—because it was +inconsolable! It is not in my heart to deny the qualities of his gifted +nature. No, Kitty, not even now can I depreciate them. How accomplished +as a linguist!—how beautifully he drove!—how exquisitely he +danced!—what perfection was his dress!—how fascinating his manners! +There was—so to say—an idiosyncrasy—an idealism about him; +his watchguard was unlike any other,—the very perfume of his +pocket-handkerchief was the invention of his own genius. +</p> +<p> +And then, the soft flattery of his attentions before the world, bestowed +with a delicacy that only high breeding ever understands. What wonder +if my imagination followed where my heart had gone before, and if the +visions of a future blended with the ecstasies of the present! +</p> +<p> +I cannot bring myself to speak of his treachery. No, Kitty, it would be +to arraign myself were I to do so. My heartstrings are breaking, as +I ask myself, "Is this, then, the love that I inspired? Are these the +proofs of a devotion I fondly fancied eternal?" No more can I speak of +our last meeting, the agony of which must endure while life remains. +When he left me, I almost dreaded that in his despair he might be driven +to suicide. He fled from the house,—it was past midnight,—and never +appeared the whole of the following day; another and another passed +over,—my terrors increased, my fears rose to madness. I could restrain +myself no longer, and hurried away to confide my agonizing sorrows to +James's ear. It was early, and he was still sleeping. As I stole across +the silent room, I saw an open note upon the table,—I knew the hand and +seized it at once. There were but four lines, and they ran thus:— +</p> +<pre> + "Dear Jim,—The birds are wild and not very plenty; but + there is some capital boar-shooting, and hares in abundance. + + "They tell me Lady George is in Florence; pray see her, and + let me know how she 's looking. + + "Ever yours, + + "George Tiverton. + + "MAREMMA." +</pre> +<p> +I tottered to a seat, Kitty, and burst into tears. Yours are now falling +for me,—I feel it,—I know it, dearest I can write no more. +</p> +<p> +I am better now, dearest Kitty. My heart is stilled, its agonies are +calmed, but my blanched cheek, my sunken eye, my bloodless lip, my +trembling hand, all speak my sorrows, though my tongue shall utter +them no more. Never again shall that name escape me, and I charge your +friendship never to whisper it to my ears. +</p> +<p> +From myself and my own fortunes I turn away as from a theme barren and +profitless. Of Mary Anne—the lost, the forlorn, and the broken-hearted, +you shall hear no more. +</p> +<p> +On Friday last—was it Friday?—I really forget days and dates and +everything—James, who has latterly become totally changed in temper +and appearance, contrived to fix a quarrel of some kind or other on Sir +Morris Penrhyn. The circumstance was so far the more unfortunate, since +Sir M. had shown himself most kind and energetic about mamma's release, +and mainly, I believe, contributed to that result. In the dark obscurity +that involves the whole affair, we have failed to discover with whom the +offence originated, or what it really was. We only know that James wrote +a most indiscreet and intemperate note to Sir Morris, and then hastened +away to appoint a friend to receive his message. By the merest accident +he detected, in a passing travelling-carriage, a well-known face, +followed it, and discovered—whom, think you?—but our former friend and +neighbor, Dr. Belton. +</p> +<p> +He was on his way to England with despatches from Constantinople; +but, fortunately for James, received a telegraphic message to wait at +Florence for more recent news from Vienna before proceeding farther. +James at once induced him to act for him; and firmly persuaded that +a meeting must ensue, set out himself for the Modense frontier beyond +Lucca. +</p> +<p> +I have already said that we know nothing of the grounds of quarrel; we +probably never shall; but whatever they were, the tact and delicacy of +Dr. B., aided by the unvarying good sense and good temper of Sir Morris, +succeeded in overcoming them; and this morning both these gentlemen +drove here in a carriage, and had a long interview with papa. The room +in which he received them adjoined my own, and though for a long time +the conversation was maintained in the dull, monotonous tone of ordinary +speakers, at last I heard hearty laughter, in which papa's voice was +eminently conspicuous. +</p> +<p> +With a heart relieved of a heavy load, I dressed, and went into the +drawing-room. I wore a very becoming dark blue silk, with three deep +flounces, and as many falls of Valenciennes lace on my sleeves. My hair +was "à l'Impératrice," and altogether, Kitty, I felt I was looking my +very best; not the less, perhaps, that a certain degree of expectation +had given me a faint color, and imparted a heightened animation to my +features. I was alone, too, and seated in a large, low arm-chair, one of +those charming inventions of modern skill, whose excellence is to unite +grace with comfort, and make ease itself subsidiary to elegance. +</p> +<p> +I could see in the glass at one side of me that my attitude was well +chosen, and even to my instep upon the little stool the effect was good. +Shall I own to you, Kitty, that I was bent on astonishing this poor +native doctor with a change a year of foreign travel had wrought in me? +I actually longed to enjoy the amazed look with which he would survey +me, and mark the deferential humility struggling with the remembrance +of former intimacy. A hundred strange fancies shot through me,—shall +I fascinate him by mere externals, or shall I condescend to captivate? +Shall I delight him by memories of home and of long ago, or shall +I shock him by the little levities of foreign manner? Shall I be +brilliant, witty, and amusing, or shall I show myself gentle and +subdued, or shall I dash my manner with a faint tinge of eccentricity, +just enough to awaken interest by exciting anxiety? +</p> +<p> +I was almost ashamed to think of such an amount of preparation against +so weak an adversary. It seemed ungenerous and even unfair, when +suddenly I heard a carriage drive away from the door. I could have cried +with vexation, but at the same instant heard papa's voice on the +stairs, saying, "If you 'll step into the drawing-room, I 'll join you +presently;" and Dr. Belton entered. +</p> +<a name="image-0011"><!--IMG--></a> +<center> +<img src="images/286.jpg" height="743" width="703" +alt="286 +"> +</center> + +<p> +I expected, if not humility, dearest, at least deference, mingled with +intense astonishment and, perhaps, admiration. Will you believe me when +I tell you that he was just as composed, as easy and unconstrained as +if it was my sister Cary! The very utmost I could do was to restrain +my angry sense of indignation; I'm not, indeed, quite certain that I +succeeded in this, for I thought I detected at one moment a half-smile +upon his features at a sally of more than ordinary smartness which I +uttered. +</p> +<p> +I cannot express to you how much he is disimproved, not in appearance, +for I own that he is remarkably good-looking, and, strange to say, has +even the air and bearing of fashion about him. It is his manners, Kitty, +his insufferable ease and self-sufficiency, that I allude to. He talked +away about the world and society, about great people and their habits, +as if they were amongst his earliest associations. He was not astonished +at anything; and, stranger than all, showed not the slightest desire to +base his present acquaintance upon our former intimacy. +</p> +<p> +I told him I detested Ireland, and hoped never to go back there. He +coldly remarked that with such feelings it were probably wiser to live +abroad. I sneered at the vulgar tone of the untravelled English; and +his impertinent remark was an allusion to the demerits of badly imitated +manners and ill-copied attractions. I grew enthusiastic about art, +praised pictures and statues, and got eloquent about music. Fancy his +cool insolence, in telling me that he was too uninformed to enter upon +these themes, and only knew when he was pleased, but without being able +to say why. In fact, Kitty, a more insufferable mass of conceit and +presumption I never encountered, nor could I have believed that a +few months of foreign travel could have converted a simple-hearted, +unaffected young man into a vain, self-opinionated coxcomb,—too +offensive to waste words on, and for whom I have really to apologize in +thus obtruding on your notice. +</p> +<p> +It was an unspeakable relief to me when papa joined us. A very little +more would have exhausted my patience; and in my heart I believe the +puppy saw as much, and enjoyed it as a triumph. Worse again, too, papa +complimented him upon the change a knowledge of the world had effected +in him, and even asked me to concur in the commendation. I need not say +that I replied to this address by a sneer not to be misunderstood, and I +trust he felt it. +</p> +<p> +He is to dine here to-day. He declined the invitation at first, but +suffered himself to be persuaded into a cold acceptance afterwards. He +had to go to Lord Stanthorpe's in the evening. I expected to hear him +say "Stanthorpe's;" but he did n't, and it vexed me. I have not been +peculiarly courteous nor amiable to him this morning, but I hope he will +find me even less so at dinner. I only wish that a certain person +was here, and I would show, by the preference of my manner, how I can +converse with, and how treat those whom I really recognize as my equals. +I must now hurry away to prepare Cary for what she is to expect, and, +if possible, instil into her mind some share of the prejudices which now +torture my own. +</p> +<p> +Saturday Morning. +</p> +<p> +Everything considered, Kitty, our dinner of yesterday passed off +pleasantly,—a thousand times better than I expected. Sir Morris Penrhyn +was of the party too; and notwithstanding certain awkward passages that +had once occurred between mamma and him, comported himself agreeably and +well. I concluded that papa was able to make some explanations that must +have satisfied him, for he appeared to renew his attentions to Cary; +at least, he bestowed upon her some arctic civilities, whose frigid +deference chills me even in memory. +</p> +<p> +You will be curious to hear how Mr. B. (he appears to have dropped +the Doctor) appeared on further intimacy; and, really, I am forced to +confess that he rather overcame some of the unfavorable impressions his +morning visit had left. He has evidently taken pains to profit by the +opportunities afforded to him, and seen and learned whatever lay within +his reach. He is a very respectable linguist, and not by any means so +presumptuous as I at first supposed. I fancy, dearest, that somehow, +unconsciously perhaps, we have been sparring with each other this +morning, and that thus many of the opinions he appeared to profess were +simply elicited by the spirit of contradiction. I say this, because +I now find that we agree on a vast variety of topics, and even our +judgments of people are not so much at variance as I could have +imagined. +</p> +<p> +Of course, Kitty, the sphere of his knowledge of the world is a very +limited one, and even what he <i>has</i> seen has always been in the capacity +of a subordinate. He has not viewed life from the eminence of one who +shall be nameless, nor mixed in society with a rank that confers its +prescriptive title to attention. I could wish he were more aware—more +conscious of this fact I mean, dearest, that I should like to see him +more penetrated by his humble position, whereas his manner has an easy, +calm unconstraint, that is exactly the opposite of what I imply. I +cannot exactly, perhaps, convey the impression upon my own mind, but +you may approximate to it, when I tell you that he vouchsafes neither +surprise nor astonishment at the class of people with whom we now +associate; nor does he appear to recognize in them anything more exalted +than our old neighbors at Bruff. +</p> +<p> +Mamma gave him some rather sharp lessons on this score, which it is only +fair to say that he bore with perfect good breeding. Upon the whole, he +is really what would be called very agreeable, and, unquestionably, very +good-looking. I sang for him two things out of Verdi's last opera of the +"Trovatore;" but I soon discovered that music was one of the tastes he +had not cultivated, nor did he evince any knowledge whatever when the +conversation turned on dress. In fact, dearest, it is only your really +fashionable man ever attains to a nice appreciation of this theme, or +has a true sentiment for the poetry of costume. +</p> +<p> +Sir Morris and he seemed to have fallen into a sudden friendship, and +found that they agreed precisely in their opinion about Etruscan +vases, frescos, and pre-Raphaelite art,—subjects which, I own, general +good-breeding usually excludes from discussion where there are pretty +girls to talk to. Cary, of course, was in ecstasies with all this; she +thought—or fancied she thought—Morris most agreeable, whereas it was +really the other man that "made all the running." +</p> +<p> +James arrived while we were at supper, and, the first little awkwardness +of the meeting over, became excellent friends with Morris. With all his +cold, unattractive qualities, I am sure that Morris is a very amiable +and worthy person; and if Cary likes him, I see no reason in life to +refuse such an excellent offer,—always provided that it be made. But of +this, Kitty, I must be permitted to doubt, since he informed us that he +was daily expecting his yacht out from England, and was about to sail +on a voyage which might possibly occupy upwards of two years. He pressed +Mr. B. strongly to accompany him, assuring him that he now possessed +influence sufficient to reinstate him in his career at his return. I 'm +not quite certain that the proposal, when more formally renewed, will +not be accepted. +</p> +<p> +I must tell you that I overheard Morris say, in a whisper to Belton, "I +'m sure if you ask her, Lady Louisa will give you leave." Can it be that +the doctor has dared to aspire to a Lady Louisa? I almost fancy it may +be so, dearest, and that this presumption is the true explanation of all +his cool self-sufficiency. I only want to be certain of this to hate him +thoroughly. +</p> +<p> +Just before they took their leave a most awkward incident occurred. Mr. +B., in answer to some question from Morris, took out his tablets to look +over his engagements for the next day: "Ah! by the way," said he, "that +must not be forgotten. There is a certain scampish relative of Lord +Dare-wood, for whom I have been entrusted with a somewhat disagreeable +commission. This hopeful young gentleman has at last discovered that +his wits, when exercised within legal limits, will not support him, and +though he has contrived to palm himself off as a man of fashion on +some second-rate folks who know no better, his skill at <i>écarté</i> and +lansquenet fails to meet his requirements. He has, accordingly, taken a +higher flight, and actually committed a forgery. The Earl whose name +was counterfeited has paid the bill, but charged me with the task of +acquainting his nephew with his knowledge of the fraud, and as frankly +assuring him that, if the offence be repeated, he shall pay its penalty. +I assure you I wish the duty had devolved upon any other, though, from +all I have heard, anything like feelings of respect or compassion would +be utterly thrown away if bestowed on such an object as Lord George +Tiverton." +</p> +<p> +Oh, Kitty, the last words were not needed to make the cup of my anguish +run over. At every syllable he uttered, the conviction of what was +coming grew stronger; and though I maintained consciousness to the end, +it was by a struggle that almost convulsed me. +</p> +<p> +As for mamma, she flew out in a violent passion, called Lord Darewood +some very hard names, and did not spare his emissary; fortunately, her +feelings so far overcame her that she became totally unintelligible, and +was carried away to her room in hysterics. As I was obliged to follow +her, I was unable to hear more. But to what end should I desire it? Is +not this last disappointment more than enough to discourage all hope +and trustfulness forever? Shall my heart ever open again to a sense of +confidence in any? +</p> +<p> +When I sat down to write, I had firmly resolved not to reveal this +disgraceful event to you; but somehow, Kitty, in the overflowing of a +heart that has no recesses against you, it has come forth, and I leave +it so. +</p> +<p> +James came to my room later on, and told me such dreadful stories—he +had heard them from Morris—of Lord G. that I really felt my brain +turning as I listened to him; that the separation from his wife was all +a pretence,—part of a plot arranged between them; that she, under the +semblance of desertion, attracted to her the compassion—in some cases +the affection—of young men of fortune, from whom her husband exacted +the most enormous sums; that James himself had been marked out for a +victim in this way; in fact, Kitty, I cannot go on: a web of such infamy +was exposed as I firmly believed, till then, impossible to exist, and a +degree of baseness laid bare that, for the sake of human nature, I trust +has not its parallel. +</p> +<p> +I can write no more. Tears of shame as well as sorrow are blotting my +paper, and in my self-abasement I feel how changed I must have become, +when, in reflecting over such disgrace as this, I have a single thought +but of contempt for one so lost and dishonored. +</p> +<p> +Yours in the depth of affliction, +</p> +<p> +Mary Anne Dodd. +</p> +<a name="2H_4_0030"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + LETTER XXX. KENNY JAMES DODD TO THOMAS PURCELL, ESQ., OF THE GRANGE, BRUFF +</h2> +<h3> + Florence. +</h3> +<p> +My dear Tom,—I have had a busy week of it, and even now I scarcely +perceive that the day is come when I can rest and repose myself. The +pleasure-life of this same capital is a very exhausting process, and +to do the thing well, a man's constitution ought to be in as healthy a +condition as his cash account! Now, Tom, it is an unhappy fact, that I +am a very "low letter" in both person and pocket, and I should be sorely +puzzled to say whether I find it harder to dance or to pay for the +music! +</p> +<p> +Don't fancy that I 'm grumbling, now; not a bit of it, old fellow; I +have had my day, and as pleasant a one as most men. And if a man starts +in life with a strong fund of genial liking for his fellows, enjoying +society less for its display than for its own resources in developing +the bright side of human nature, take my word for it, he 'll carry on +with him, as he goes, memories and recollections enough to make his road +agreeable, and, what is far better, to render himself companionable to +others. +</p> +<p> +You tell me you want to hear "all about Florence,"—a modest request, +truly! Why, man, I might fill a volume with my own short experiences, +and afterwards find that the whole could be condensed into a foot-note +for the bottom of a page. In the first place, there are at least half a +dozen distinct aspects in this place, which are almost as many cities. +There is the Florence of Art,—of pictures, statues, churches, frescos, +a town of unbounded treasures in objects of high interest. There are +galleries, where a whole life might be passed in cultivating the eye, +refining the taste, and elevating the imagination. There is the Florence +of Historical Association, with its palaces recalling the feudal age, +and its castellated strongholds, telling of the stormy times before the +"Medici." There is not a street, there is scarcely a house, whose name +does not awaken some stirring event, and bring you back to the period +when men were as great in crime as in genius. Here an inscription tells +you Benvenuto Cellini lived and labored; yonder was the window of his +studio; there the narrow street through which he walked at nightfall, +his hand upon his rapier, and his left arm well enveloped in his mantle; +there the stone where Dante used to sit; there the villa Boccaccio +inhabited; there the lone tower where Galileo watched; there the house, +unchanged in everything, of the greatest of them all, Michael Angelo +himself. The pen sketches of his glorious conceptions adorn the walls, +the half-finished models of his immortal works are on the brackets. That +splendid palace on the sunny Arno was Alfieri's. Go where you will, in +fact, a gorgeous story of the past reveals itself before you, and you +stand before the great triumphs of human genius, with the spirit of the +authors around and about you. +</p> +<p> +There is also Florence the Beautiful and the Picturesque; Florence the +City of Fashion and Splendor; and, saddest of all, Florence garrisoned +by the stranger, and held in subjection by the Austrian! +</p> +<p> +I entertain no bigoted animosity to the German, Tom; on the contrary, +I like him; I like his manly simplicity of character, his thorough good +faith, his unswerving loyalty; but I own to you, his figure is out of +keeping with the picture here,—the very tones of his harsh gutturals +grate painfully on the ears attuned to softer sounds. It is pretty +nearly a hopeless quarrel when a Sovereign has recourse to a foreign +intervention between himself and his subjects; as in private life, there +is no reconciliation when you have once called Doctors' Commons to your +councils. You may get damages; you 'll never have tranquillity. You 'll +say, perhaps, the thing was inevitable, and could n't be helped. Nothing +of the kind. Coercing the Tuscans by Austrian bayonets was like herding +a flock of sheep with bull-dogs. I never saw a people who so little +require the use of strong measures; the difficulty of ruling them lies +not in their spirit of resistance, but in its very opposite,—a plastic +facility of temper that gives way to every pressure. Just like a horse +with an over-fine mouth, you never can have him in hand, and never know +that he has stumbled till he is down. +</p> +<p> +It was the duty of our Government to have prevented this occupation, +or at least to have set some limits to its amount and duration. We +did neither, and our influence has grievously suffered iu consequence. +Probably at no recent period of history was the name of England so +little respected in the entire peninsula as at present. And now, if I +don't take care, I 'll really involve myself in a grumbling revery, so +here goes to leave the subject at once. +</p> +<p> +These Italians, Tom, are very like the Irish. There is the same +blending of mirth and melancholy in the national temperament, the +same imaginative cast of thought, the same hopefulness, and the same +indolence. In justice to our own people, I must say that they are the +better of the two. Paddy has strong attachments, and is unquestionably +courageous; neither of these qualities are conspicuous here. It would +be ungenerous and unjust to pronounce upon the <i>naturel</i> of a people +who for centuries have been subjected to every species of misrule, whose +moral training has been also either neglected or corrupted, and whose +only lessons have been those of craft and deception. It would be worse +than rash to assume that a people so treated were unfitted for a freedom +they never enjoyed, or un suited to a liberty they never even heard of. +Still, I may be permitted to doubt that Constitutional Government will +ever find its home in the hearts of a Southern nation. The family, +Tom,—the fireside, the domestic habits of a Northern people, are the +normal schools for self-government. It is in the reciprocities of a +household men learn to apportion their share of the burdens of life, and +to work for the common weal. The fellow who with a handful of chestnuts +can provision himself for a whole day, and who can pass the night +under the shade of a fig-tree, acknowledges no such responsibilities. +All-sufficing to himself, he recognizes no claims upon him for exertion +in behalf of others; and as to the duties of citizenship, he would +repudiate them as an intolerable burden. Take ray word for it, +Parliamentary Institutions will only flourish where you have coal-fires +and carpets, and Elective Governments have a close affinity to +easy-chairs and hearth-rugs! +</p> +<p> +You are curious to learn "how far familiarity with works of high art may +have contributed to influence the national character of Italy." I +don't like to dogmatize on such a subject, but so far as my own narrow +experience goes, I am far from attributing any high degree of culture +to this source. I even doubt whether objects of beauty suggest a high +degree of enjoyment, except to intellects already cultivated. I suspect +that your men of Glasgow or Manchester, who never saw anything more +artistic than a power-loom and a spinning-jenny, would stand favorable +comparison with him who daily passes beside the "Dying Gladiator" or the +Farnese Hercules. +</p> +<p> +Of course I do not extend this opinion to the educated classes, amongst +whom there is a very high range of acquirement and cultivation. They +bring, moreover, to the knowledge of any subject a peculiar subtlety +of perception, a certain Machiavellian ingenuity, such as I have never +noticed elsewhere. A great deal of the national distrustful-ness and +suspicion has its root in this very habit, and makes me often resigned +to Northern dulness for the sake of Northern reliance and good faith. +</p> +<p> +They are most agreeable in all the intercourse of society. Less full +of small attentions than the French, less ceremonious than the Germans, +they are easier in manner than either. They are natural to the very +verge of indifference; but above all their qualities stands pre-eminent +their good nature. An ungenerous remark, a harsh allusion, an unkind +anecdote, are utterly unknown amongst them, and all that witty smartness +which makes the success of a French <i>salon</i> would find no responsive +echo in an Italian drawing-room. In a word, Tom, they are eminently a +people to live amongst They do not contribute much, but they exact +as little; and if never broken-hearted when you separate, they are +delighted when you meet; falling in naturally with your humor, tolerant +of anything and everything, except what gives trouble. +</p> +<p> +There now, my dear Tom, are all my Italian experiences in a few words. +I feel that by a discreet use of my material I might have made a tureen +with what I have only filled a teaspoon; but as I am not writing for the +public, but only for Tom Purcell, I 'll not grumble at my wastefulness. +</p> +<p> +Of the society, what can I say that would not as well apply to any city +of the same size as much resorted to by strangers? The world of fashion +is pretty much the same thing everywhere; and though we may "change the +venue," we are always pleading the same cause. They tell me that social +liberty here is understood in a very liberal sense, and the right of +private judgment on questions of morality exercised with a more than +Protestant independence. I hear of things being done that could not be +done elsewhere, and so on; but were I only to employ my own unassisted +faculties, I should say that everything follows its ordinary routine, +and that profligacy does not put on in Florence a single "travesty" that +I have not seen at Brussels and Baden, and twenty similar places! True, +people know each other very well, and discuss each other in all the +privileged candor close friendship permits. This sincerity, abused +as any good thing is liable to be, now and then grows scandalous; but +still, Tom, though they may bespatter you with mud, nobody ever thinks +you too dirty for society. In point of fact, there is a great deal of +evil speaking, and very little malevolence; abundance of slander, but +scarcely any ill-will. Mark you, these are what they tell me; for up +to this moment I have not seen or heard anything but what has pleased +me,—met much courtesy and some actual cordiality. And surely, if a +man can chance upon a city where the climate is good, the markets well +supplied, the women pretty, and the bankers tractable, he must needs be +an ill-conditioned fellow not to rest satisfied with his good fortune. +I don't mean to Bay I 'd like to pass my life here, no more than I would +like to wear a domino, and spend the rest of my days in a masquerade, +for the whole thing is just as unreal, just as unnatural; but it is +wonderfully amusing for a while, and I enjoy it greatly. +</p> +<p> +From what I have seen of the world of pleasure, I begin to suspect that +we English people are never likely to have any great success in our +attempts at it; and for this simple reason, that we bring to our social +hours exhausted bodies and fatigued minds; we labor hard all day in law +courts or counting-houses or committee-rooms, and when evening comes are +overcome by our exertions, and very little disposed for those efforts +which make conversation brilliant, or intercourse amusing. Your +foreigner, however, is a chartered libertine. He feels that nature never +meant him for anything but idleness; he takes to frivolity naturally +and easily; and, what is of no small importance too, without any loss +of self-esteem! Ah, Tom! that is the great secret of it all. We never +do our fooling gracefully. There is everlastingly rising up within us a +certain bitter conviction that we are not doing fairly by ourselves, and +that our faculties might be put to better and more noble uses than we +have engaged them in. We walk the stage of life like an actor ashamed +of his costume, and "our motley" never sets easily on us to the last. I +think I had better stop dogmatizing, Tom. Heaven knows where it may lead +me, if I don't. Old Woodcock says that "he might have been a vagabond, +if Providence had n't made him a justice of the peace;" so I feel that +it is not impossible I might have been a moral philosopher, if fate had +n't made me the husband of Mrs. Dodd. +</p> +<p> +Wednesday Afternoon. +</p> +<p> +My dear Tom,—I had thought to have despatched this prosy epistle +without being obliged to inflict you with any personal details of the +Dodd family. I was even vaunting to myself that I had kept us all +"out of the indictment," and now I discover that I have made a signal +failure, and the codicil must revoke the whole body of the testament. +How shall I ever get my head clear enough to relate all I want to tell +you? I go looking after a stray idea the way I 'd chase a fellow in +a crowded fair or market, catching a glimpse of him now—losing him +again—here, with my hand almost on him,—and the next minute no sign of +him! Try and follow me, however; don't quit me for a moment; and, above +all, Tom, whatever vagaries I may fall into, be still assured that I +have a road to go, if I only have the wit to discover it! +</p> +<p> +First of all about Morris, or Sir Morris, as I ought to call him. I +told you in my last how warmly he had taken up Mrs. D.'s cause, and how +mainly instrumental was he in her liberation. This being accomplished, +however, I could not but perceive that he inclined to resume the cold +and distant tone he had of late assumed towards us, and rather retire +from, than incur, any renewal of our intimacy. When I was younger in the +world, Tom, I believe I'd have let him follow his humor undisturbed; but +with more mature experience of life, I have come to see that one often +sacrifices a real friendship in the indulgence of some petty regard to +a ceremonial usage, and so I resolved at least to know the why, if I +could, of Morris's conduct. +</p> +<p> +I went frankly to him at his hotel, and asked for an explanation. +He stared at me for a second or two without speaking, and then said +something about the shortness of my memory,—a recent circumstance,—and +such like, that I could make nothing of. Seeing my embarrassment, he +appeared slightly irritated, and proceeded to unlock a writing-desk on +the table before him, saying hurriedly,— +</p> +<p> +"I shall be able to refresh your recollection, and when you read over—" +He stopped, clasped his hand to his forehead suddenly, and, as if +overcome, threw himself down into a seat, deeply agitated. "Forgive me," +said he at length, "if I ask you a question or two. You remember being +ill at Genoa, don't you?" +</p> +<p> +"Perfectly." +</p> +<p> +"You can also remember receiving a letter from me at that time?" +</p> +<p> +"No,—nothing of the kind!" +</p> +<p> +"No letter?—you received no letter of mine?" +</p> +<p> +"None!" +</p> +<p> +"Oh, then, this must really—" He paused, and, overcoming what I saw +was a violent burst of indignation, he walked the room up and down for +several minutes. "Mr. Dodd," said he to me, taking ray hand in both his +own, "I have to entreat your forgiveness for a most mistaken impression +on my part influencing me in my relations, and suggesting a degree of +coldness and distrust which, owing to your manliness of character alone, +has not ended in our estrangement forever. I believed you had been in +possession of a letter from me; I thought until this moment that it +really had reached you. I now know that I was mistaken, and have only to +express my sincere contrition for having acted under a rash credulity." +He went over this again and again, always, as it seemed to me, as +if about to say more, and then suddenly checking himself under what +appeared to be a quickly remembered reason for reserve. +</p> +<p> +I was getting impatient at last. I thought that the explanation +explained little, and was really about to say so; but he anticipated me +by saying, "Believe me, my dear sir, any suffering, any unhappiness that +my error has occasioned, has fallen entirely upon me. <i>You</i> at least +have nothing to complain of. The letter which ought to have reached you +contained a proposal from me for the hand of your younger daughter; +a proposal which I now make to you, happily, in a way that cannot be +frustrated by an accident." He went on to press his suit, Tom, eagerly +and warmly; but still with that scrupulous regard to truthfulness I +have ever remarked in him. He acknowledged the difference in age, the +difference in character, the disparity between Cary's joyous, sunny +nature and his own colder mood; but he hoped for happiness, on grounds +so solid and so reasonable that showed me much of his own thoughtful +habit of mind. +</p> +<p> +Of his fortune, he simply said that it was very far above all his +requirements; that he himself had few, if any, expensive tastes, but was +amply able to indulge such in a wife, if she were disposed to cultivate +them. He added that he knew my daughter had always been accustomed to +habits of luxury and expense, always lived in a style that included +every possible gratification, and therefore, if not in possession of +ample means, he never would have presumed on his present offer. +</p> +<p> +I felt for a moment the vulgar pleasure that such flattery confers. I +own to you, Tom, I experienced a degree of satisfaction at thinking +that even to the observant eyes of Morris himself,—old soldier as he +was,—the Dodds had passed for brilliant and fashionable folk, in the +fullest enjoyment of every gift of fortune; but as quickly a more honest +and more manly impulse overcame this thought, and in a few words I told +him that he was totally mistaken; that I was a poor, half-ruined Irish +gentleman, with an indolent tenantry and an encumbered estate; that our +means afforded no possible pretension to the style in which we lived, +nor the society we mixed in; that it would require years of patient +economy and privation to repay the extravagance into which our foreign +tour had launched us; and that, so convinced was I of the inevitable +ruin a continuance of such a life must incur, I had firmly resolved to +go back to Ireland at the end of the present month and never leave it +again for the rest of my days. +</p> +<p> +I suppose I spoke warmly, for I felt deeply. The shame many of the +avowals might have cost me in calmer mood was forgotten now, in my +ardent determination to be honest and above-board. I was resolved, +too, to make amends to my own heart for all the petty deceptions I had +descended to in a former case, and, even at the cost of the loss of a +son-in-law, to secure a little sense of self-esteem. +</p> +<p> +He would not let me finish, Tom, but, grasping my hand in his with a +grip I did n't believe he was capable of, he said,— +</p> +<p> +"Dodd,"—he forgot the Mr. this time,—"Dodd, you are an honest, +true-hearted fellow, and I always thought so. Consent now to my +entreaty,—at least do not refuse it,—and I 'd not exchange my +condition with that of any man in Europe!" +</p> +<p> +Egad, I could not have recognized him as he spoke, for his cheek colored +up, and his eye flashed, and there was a dash of energy about him I had +never detected in his nature. It was just the quality I feared he was +deficient in. Ay, Tom, I can't deny it, old Celt that I am, I would n't +give a brass farthing for a fellow whose temperament cannot be warmed up +to some burst of momentary enthusiasm! +</p> +<p> +Of my hearty consent and my good wishes I speedily assured him, just +adding, "Cary must say the rest." I told him frankly that I saw it was +a great match for my daughter; that both in rank and fortune he was +considerably above what she might have looked for; but with all that, if +she herself would n't have taken him in his days of humbler destiny, my +advice would be, "don't have him now." +</p> +<p> +He left me for a moment to say something to his mother,—I suppose some +explanation about this same letter that went astray, and of which I can +make nothing,—and then they came back together. The old lady seemed +as well pleased as her son, and told me that his choice was her own in +every respect. She spoke of Cary with the most hearty affection; but +with all her praise of her, she does n't know half her real worth; but +even what she did say brought the tears to my eyes,—and I 'm afraid I +made a fool of myself! +</p> +<p> +You may be sure, Tom, that it was a happy day with me, although, for a +variety of reasons, I was obliged to keep my secret for my own heart. +Morris proposed that he should be permitted to wait on us the next +morning, to pay his respects to Mrs. D. upon her liberation, and thus +his visit might be made the means of reopening our acquaintance. You'd +think that to these arrangements, so simple and natural, one might +look forward with an easy tranquillity. So did I, Tom,—and so was I +mistaken. Mr. James, whose conduct latterly seems to have pendulated +between monastic severity and the very wildest dissipation, takes it +into his wise head that Morris has insulted him. He thinks—no, not +thinks, but dreams—that this calm-tempered, quiet gentleman is pursuing +an organized system of outrage towards him, and has for a time back made +him the mark of his sarcastic pleasantry. Full of this sage conceit, +he hurries on to his hotel, to offer him a personal insult. They +fortunately do not meet; but James, ordering pen and paper, sits down +and indites a letter. I have not seen it; but even his friend considers +it to have been "a step ill-advised and inconsiderate,—in fact, to be +deeply regretted." +</p> +<p> +I cannot conjecture what might have been Morris's conduct under other +circumstances, but in his present relations to myself, he saw probably +but one course open to him. He condescended to overlook the terms of +this insulting note, and calmly asked for an explanation of it. By great +good luck, James had placed the affair in young Belton's hands,—our +former doctor at Bruff,—who chanced to be on his way through here; and +thus, by the good sense of one, and the calm temper of the other, this +rash boy has been rescued from one of the most causeless quarrels ever +heard of. James had started for Modena, I believe, with a carpet-bag +full of cigars, a French novel, and a bullet-mould; but before he had +arrived at his destination, Morris, Belton, and myself were laughing +heartily over the whole adventure.. Morris's conduct throughout the +entire business raised him still higher in my esteem; and the consummate +good tact with which he avoided the slightest reflection that might pain +me on my son's score, showed me that he was a thorough gentleman. I must +say, too, that Belton behaved admirably. Brief as has been his residence +abroad, he has acquired the habits of a perfect man of the world, but +without sacrificing a jot of his truly frank and generous temperament. +</p> +<p> +Ah, Tom! it was not without some sharp self-reproaches that I saw this +young fellow, poor and friendless as he started in life, struggling with +that hard fate that insists upon a man's feeling independent in spirit, +and humble in manner, fighting that bitter battle contained in +a dispensary doctor's life, emerge at once into an accomplished, +well-informed gentleman, well versed in all the popular topics of +the day, and evidently stored with a deeper and more valuable kind of +knowledge,—I say, I saw all this, and thought of my own boy, bred +up with what were unquestionably greater advantages and better +opportunities of learning, not obliged to adventure on a career in his +mere student years, but with ample time and leisure for cultivation; and +yet there he was,—there he is, this minute,—and there is not a station +nor condition in life wherein he could earn half a crown a day. He was +educated, as it is facetiously called, at Dr. Stingem's school. He read +his Homer and Virgil, wrote his false quantities, and blundered +through his Greek themes, like the rest. He went through—it's a +good phrase—some books of Euclid, and covered reams of foolscap with +equations; and yet, to this hour, he can't translate a classic, nor do a +sum in common arithmetic, while his handwriting is a cuneiform character +that defies a key: and with all that, the boy is not a fool, nor +deficient in teachable qualities. I hope and trust this system is coming +to an end. I wish sincerely, Tom, that we may have seen the last of +a teaching that for one whom it made accomplished and well-informed, +converted fifty into pedants, and left a hundred dunces! Intelligible +spelling, and readable writing, a little history, and the "rule of +three," some geography, a short course of chemistry and practical +mathematics,—that's not too much, I think,—and yet I 'd be easy in +my mind if James had gone that far, even though he were ignorant of +"spondees," and had never read a line of that classic morality they call +the Heathen Mythology. I'd not have touched upon this ungrateful theme, +but that my thoughts have been running on the advantages we were to have +derived from our foreign tour, and some misgivings stinking me as to +their being realized. +</p> +<p> +Perhaps we are not very docile subjects, perhaps we set about the thing +in a wrong way, perhaps we had not stored our minds with the preliminary +knowledge necessary, perhaps—anything you like, in short; but here we +are, in all essentials, as ignorant of everything a residence abroad +might be supposed to teach, as though we had never quitted Dodsborough. +Stop—I'm going too fast—we <i>have</i> learned some things not usually +acquired at home; we have attained to an extravagant passion for dress, +and an inordinate love of grand acquaintances. Mary Anne is an advanced +student in modern French romance literature; James no mean proficient +at écarté; Mrs. D. has added largely to the stock of what she calls her +"knowledge of life," by familiar intimacy with a score of people who +ought to be at the galleys; and I, with every endeavor to oppose the +tendency, have grown as suspicious as a government spy, and as meanly +inquisitive about other people's affairs as though I were prime minister +to an Italian prince. +</p> +<p> +We have lost that wholesome reserve with respect to mere acquaintances, +and by which our manner to our friends attained to its distinctive signs +of cordiality, for now we are on the same terms with all the world. The +code is, to be charmed with everything and everybody,—with their looks, +with their manners, with their house and their liveries, with their +table and their "toilette,"—ay, even with their vices! There is the +great lesson, Tom; you grow lenient to everything save the reprobation +of wrong, and <i>that</i> you set down for rank hypocrisy, and cry out +against as the blackest of all the blemishes of humanity. +</p> +<p> +Nor is it a small evil that our attachment to home is weakened, and even +a sense of shame engendered with respect to a hundred little habits +and customs that to foreign eyes appear absurd—and perhaps vulgar. +And lastly comes the great question, How are we ever to live in our own +country again, with all these exotic notions and opinions? I don't mean +how are <i>we</i> to bear <i>Ireland</i>, but how is <i>Ireland</i> to endure us! An +American shrewdly remarked to me t' other day, "that one of the greatest +difficulties of the slave question was, how to emancipate the slave +<i>owners</i>; how to liberate the shackles of their rusty old prejudices, +and fit them to stand side by side with real freemen." And in a vast +variety of questions you 'll often discover that the puzzle is on the +side opposite to that we had been looking at. In this way do I feel that +all my old friends will have much to overlook,—much to forgive in my +present moods of thinking. I 'll no more be able to take interest in +home politics again than I could live on potatoes! My sympathies are now +more catholic. I can feel acutely for Schleswig-Holstein, or the Druses +at Lebanon. I am deeply interested about the Danubian Provinces, and +strong on Sebastopol; but I regard as contemptible the cares of a +quarter sessions, or the business of the "Union." If you want me to +listen, you must talk of the Cossacks, or the war in the Caucasus; and I +am far less anxious about who may be the new member for Bruff, than who +will be the next "Vladica" of "Montenegro." +</p> +<p> +These ruminations of mine might never come to a conclusion, Tom, if +it were not that I have just received a short note from Belton, with a +pressing entreaty that he may see me at once on a matter of importance +to myself, and I have ordered a coach to take me over to his hotel. If I +can get back in time for post hour, I 'll be able to explain the reason +of this sudden call, till when I say adieu. +</p> +<a name="2H_4_0031"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + LETTER XXXI. MISS CAROLINE DODD TO MISS COX, AT MISS MINCINGS ACADEMY, +</h2> +<center> +BLACK ROCK, IRELAND. +</center> +<p> +Florence. +</p> +<p> +My dearest Miss Cox,—It would be worse than ingratitude in me were I +to defer telling you how happy I am, and with what a perfect shower of +favors Fortune has just overwhelmed me! Little thought I, a few weeks +back, that Florence was to become to me the spot nearest and dearest to +my heart, associated as it is, and ever must be, with the most blissful +event of my life! Sir Penrhyn Morris, who, from some unexplained +misconception, had all but ceased to know us, was accidentally thrown +in our way by the circumstance of mamma's imprisonment. By his kind and +zealous aid her liberation was at length accomplished, and, as a matter +of course, he called to make his inquiries after her, and receive our +grateful acknowledgments. +</p> +<p> +I scarcely can tell—my head is too confused to remember—the steps by +which he retraced his former place in our intimacy. It is possible there +may have been explanations on both sides. I only know that he took his +leave one morning with the very coldest of salutations, and appeared +on the next day with a manner of the deepest devotion, so evidently +directed towards myself that it would have been downright affectation to +appear indifferent to it. +</p> +<p> +He asked me in a low and faltering voice if I would accord him a few +moments' interview. He spoke the words with a degree of effort at +calmness that gave them a most significant meaning, and I suddenly +remembered a certain passage in one of your letters to me, wherein you +speak of the inconsiderate conduct which girls occasionally pursue in +accepting the attentions of men whose difference in age would seem to +exclude them from the category of suitors. So far from having incurred +this error, I had actually retreated from any advances on his part, +not from the disparity of our ages, but from the far wider gulfs that +separated <i>his</i> highly cultivated and informed mind from <i>my</i> ungifted +and unstored intellect. Partly in shame at my inferiority, partly with a +conscious sense of what his impression of me must be, I avoided, so far +as I could, his intimacy; and even when domesticated with him, I sought +for occupations in which he could not join, and estranged myself from +the pursuits which he loved to practise. +</p> +<p> +Oh, my dear, kind governess, how thoroughly I recognize the truthfulness +of all your views of life; how sincerely I own that I have never +followed them without advantage, never neglected them without loss! How +often have you told me that "dissimulation is never good;" that, however +speciously we may persuade ourselves that in feigning a part we are +screening our self-esteem from insult, or saving the feelings of others, +the policy is ever a bad one; and that, "if our sincerity be only allied +with an honest humility, it never errs." The pains I took to escape from +the dangerous proximity of his presence suggested to him that I disliked +his attentions, and desired to avoid them; and acting on this conviction +it was that he made a journey to England during the time I was a visitor +at his mother's. It would appear, however, that his esteem for me had +taken a deeper root than he perhaps suspected, for on his return his +attentions were redoubled, and I could detect that in a variety of +ways his feelings towards me were not those of mere friendship. Of mine +towards him I will conceal nothing from you. They were deep and intense +admiration for qualities of the highest order, and as much of love as +consisted with a kind of fear,—a sense of almost terror lest he should +resent the presumption of such affection as mine. +</p> +<p> +You already know something of our habits of life abroad,—wasteful +and extravagant beyond all the pretensions of our fortune. It was a +difficult thing for me to carry on the semblance of our assumed position +so as not to throw discredit upon my family, and at the same time avoid +the dis-ingenuousness of such a part. The struggle, from which I saw no +escape, was too much for me, and I determined to leave the Morrises and +return home,—to leave a house wherein I already had acquired the first +steps of the right road in life, and go back to dissipations in which I +felt no pleasure, and gayeties that never enlivened! I did not tell +you all this at the time, my dear friend, partly because I had not +the courage for it, and partly that the avowal might seem to throw a +reproach on those whom my affection should shield from even a criticism. +If I speak of it now, it is because, happily, the theme is one hourly +discussed amongst us in all the candor of true frankness. We have no +longer concealments, and we are happy. +</p> +<p> +It may have been that the abruptness of my departure offended Captain +Morris, or, possibly, some other cause produced the estrangement; but, +assuredly, he no longer cultivated the intimacy he had once seemed so +ardently to desire, and, until the event of mamma's misfortune here, he +ceased to visit us. +</p> +<p> +And now came the interview I have alluded to! Oh, my dearest friend, if +there be a moment in life which combines within it the most exquisite +delight with the most torturing agony, it is that in which an affection +is sought for by one who, immeasurably above us in all the gifts of +fortune, still seems to feel that there is a presumption in his demand, +and that his appeal may be rejected. I know not how to speak of that +conflict between pride and shame, between the ecstasy of conquest and +the innate sense of the unworthiness that had won the victory! +</p> +<p> +Sir Penrhyn thought, or fancied he thought, me fond of display and +splendor,—that in conforming to the quiet habits of his mother's house, +I was only submitting with a good grace to privations. I undeceived him +at once. I confessed, not without some shame, that I was in a manner +unsuited to the details of an exalted station,—that wealth and its +accompaniments would, in reality, be rather burdens than pleasure to one +whose tastes were humble as my own,—that, in fact, I was so little of a +"Grande Dame" that I should inevitably break down in the part, and +that no appliances of mere riches could repay for the onerous duties of +dispensing them. +</p> +<p> +"In so much," interrupted he, with a half-smile, "that you would prefer +a poor man to a rich one?" +</p> +<p> +"If you mean," said I, "a poor man who felt no shame in his poverty, +in comparison with a rich man who felt his pride in his wealth, I say, +Yes." +</p> +<p> +"Then what say you to one who has passed through both ordeals," said he, +"and only asks that you should share either with him to make him happy?" +</p> +<p> +I have no need to tell you my answer. It satisfied <i>him</i>, and made mine +the happiest heart in the world. And now we are to be married, dearest, +in a fortnight or three weeks,—as soon, in fact, as maybe; and then we +are to take a short tour to Rome and Naples, where Sir Penrhyn's yacht +is to meet us; after which we visit Malta, coast along Spain, and home. +Home sounds delightfully when it means all that one's fondest fancies +can weave of country, of domestic happiness, of duties heartily entered +on, and of affections well repaid. +</p> +<p> +Penrhyn is very splendid; the castle is of feudal antiquity, and the +grounds are princely in extent and beauty. Sir Morris is justly proud +of his ancestral possessions, and longs to show me its stately +magnificence; but still more do I long for the moment when my dear Miss +Cox will be my guest, and take up her quarters in a certain little room +that opens on a terraced garden overlooking the sea. I fixed on the spot +the very instant I saw a drawing of the castle, and I am certain you +will not find it in your heart to refuse me what will thus make up the +perfect measure of my happiness. +</p> +<p> +In all the selfishness of my joy, I have forgotten to tell you of +Florence; but, in truth, it would require a calmer head than mine to +talk of galleries and works of art while my thoughts are running on the +bright realities of my condition. It is true we go everywhere and see +everything, but I am in such a humor to be pleased that I am delighted +with all, and can be critical to nothing. I half suspect that art, as +art, is a source of pleasure to a very few. I mean that the number is a +limited one which can enter into all the minute excellences of a great +work, appreciate justly the difficulties overcome, and value deservingly +the real triumph accomplished. For myself, I know and feel that painting +has its greatest charm for me in its power of suggestiveness, and, +consequently, the subject is often of more consequence than the +treatment of it; not that I am cold to the chaste loveliness of a +Raphael, or indifferent to the gorgeous beauty of a Giordano. They +appeal to me, however, in somewhat the same way, and my mind at once +sets to work upon an ideal character of the creation before me. That +this same admiration of mine is a very humble effort at appreciating +artistic excellence, I want no better proof than the fact that it is +exactly what Betty Cobb herself felt on being shown the pictures in "the +Pitti." Her honest worship of a Madonna at once invested her with every +attribute of goodness, and the painter, could he only have heard the +praises she uttered, might have revelled in the triumph of an art that +can rise above the mere delineation of external beauty. That the appeal +to her own heart was direct, was evidenced by her constant reference to +some living resemblance to the picture before her. Now it was a +saintly hermit by Caracci,—that was the image of Peter Delany at +the cross-roads; now it was a Judas,—that was like Tom Noon of the +turnpike; and now it was a lovely head by Titian,—the "very moral of +Miss Kitty Doolan, when her hair was down about her." I am certain, my +dearest Miss Cox, that the delight conveyed by painting and music is +a much more natural pleasure than that derived from the enjoyment of +imaginary composition by writing. The appeal is not alone direct, but +it is in a manner the same to all,—to the highest king upon the throne, +and to the lowly peasant, as in meek wonder he stands entranced and +enraptured. +</p> +<p> +But why do I loiter within doors when it is of Florence itself, of its +sunny Arno, of its cypress-crowned San Miniato, and of the villa-clad +Fiezole I would tell you! But even these are so interwoven with the +frame of mind in which I now enjoy them, that to speak of them would be +again to revert to my selfishness. +</p> +<p> +Yesterday we made an excursion to Vallambrosa, which lies in a cleft +between two lofty mountains, about thirteen miles from this. It was a +strange transition from the warm air and sunny streets of Florence, with +all their objects of artistic wonder on every side, to find one's self +suddenly traversing a wild mountain gorge in a rude bullock-cart, +guided by a peasant of semi-savage aspect, his sheepskin mantle and long +ox-goad giving a picturesque air to his tall and sinewy figure. The snow +lay heavily in all the crevices around, and it was a perfectly Alpine +scene in its desolation; nor, I must say, did it recall a single one +of the ideas with which our great poet has associated it. The thickly +strewn leaves have no existence here, since the trees are not deciduous, +and consist entirely of pines. +</p> +<p> +A straight avenue in the forest leads to the convent, which is of +immense size, forming a great quadrangle. At a little distance off, +sheltered by a thick grove of tall pines, stands a small building +appropriated to the accommodation of strangers, who are the guests +of the monks for any period short of three days, and by a special +permission for even a longer time. +</p> +<p> +We passed the day and the night there, and I would willingly have +lingered still longer. From the mountain peak above the convent the two +seas at either side of the peninsula are visible, and the Gulf of Genoa +and the Adriatic are stretched out at your feet, with the vast plain of +Central Italy, dotted over with cities, every name of which is a spell +to memory! Thence back to Florence, and all that gay world that seemed +so small to the eye the day before! And now, dearest Miss Cox, let me +conclude, ere my own littleness become more apparent; for here I am, +tossing over laces and embroidery, gazing with rapture at brooches +and bracelets, and actually fancying how captivating I shall be when +apparelled in all this finery. It would be mere deceitfulness in me were +I to tell you that I am not charmed with the splendor that surrounds me. +Let me only hope that it may not corrupt that heart which at no time was +more entirely your own than while I write myself yours affectionately, +</p> +<p> +Caroline Dodd. +</p> +<a name="2H_4_0032"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + LETTER XXXII. KENNY JAMES DODD TO THOMAS PURCELL, ESQ., OF THE GRANGE, +</h2> +<center> +BRUFF. +</center> +<p> +Florence. +</p> +<p> +Well, my dear Tom, my task is at last completed,—my <i>magnum opus</i> +accomplished. I have carried all my measures, if not with triumphant +majorities, at least with a "good working party," as the slang has it, +and I stand proudly pre-eminent the head of the Dodd Administration. I +have no patience for details. I like better to tell you the results in +some striking paragraph, to be headed "Latest Intelligence," and to run +thus: "Our last advices inform us that, notwithstanding the intrigues +in the Cabinet, K. I. maintains his ascendency. We have no official +intelligence of the fact, but all the authorities concur in believing +that the Dodds are about to leave the Continent and return to Ireland." +</p> +<p> +Ay, Tom, that is the grand and comprehensive measure of family reform I +have so long labored over, and at length have the proud gratification to +see Law! +</p> +<p> +I find, on looking back, that I left off on my being sent for by Belton. +I 'll try and take up one of the threads of my tangled narrative at +that point. I found him at his hotel in conversation with a very smartly +dressed, well-whiskered, kid-gloved little man, whom he presented as +"Mr. Curl Davis, of Lincoln's Inn." Mr. D. was giving a rather pleasant +account of the casualties of his first trip to Italy when I entered, +but immediately stopped, and seemed to think that the hour of business +should usurp the time of mere amusement. +</p> +<p> +Belton soon informed me why, by telling me that Mr. C. D. was a London +collector who transacted the foreign affairs for various discounting +houses at home, and who held a roving commission to worry, harass, and +torment all such and sundry as might have drawn, signed, or endorsed +bills, either for their own accommodation or that of their friends. +</p> +<p> +Now, I had not the most remote notion how I should come to figure in +this category. I knew well that you had "taken care of"—that's the +word—all my little missives in that fashion. So persuaded was I of my +sincerity that I offered him at once a small wager that he had mistaken +his man, and that it was, in fact, some other Dodd, bent on bringing our +honorable name to shame and disgrace. +</p> +<p> +"It must, under these circumstances, then," said he, "be a very gross +case of forgery, for the name is yours; nor can I discover any other +with the same Christian names." So saying, he produced a pocket-book, +like a family Bible, and drew from out a small partition of it a bill +for five hundred pounds, at nine months, drawn and endorsed by me in +favor of the Hon. Augustus Gore Hampton! +</p> +<p> +This precious document had now about fifty-two hours some odd minutes +to run. In other words, it was a crocodile's egg with the shell already +bursting, and the reptile's head prepared to spring out. +</p> +<p> +"The writing, if not yours, is an admirable imitation," said Davis, +surveying it through his double eye-glass. +</p> +<p> +"Is it yours?" asked Belton. +</p> +<p> +"Yes," said I, with a great effort to behave like an ancient Roman. +</p> +<p> +"Ah, then, it is all correct," said Davis, smirking. "I am charmed to +find that the case presents no difficulty whatsoever." +</p> +<p> +"I 'm not quite so certain of that, sir," said I; "I take a very +different view of the transaction." +</p> +<p> +"Don't be alarmed, Mr. Dodd," said he, coaxingly, "we are not Shylocks. +We will meet your convenience in any way; in fact, it is with that sole +object I have come out from England. 'Don't negotiate it,' said Mr. Gore +Hampton to me,' if you can possibly help it; see Mr. D. himself, ask +what arrangement will best suit him, take half the amount in cash, +and renew the bill at three months, rather than push him to an +inconvenience.' I assure you these were his own words, for there is n't +a more generous fellow breathing than Gore." Mr. Davis uttered this with +a kind of hearty expansiveness, as though to say, "The man 's my friend, +and let me see who 'll gainsay me." +</p> +<p> +"Am I at liberty to inquire into the circumstances of this transaction?" +said Belton, who had been for some minutes attentively examining the +bill, and the several names upon it, and comparing the writing with some +other that he held in his hand. +</p> +<p> +I half scrupled to say "Yes" to this request, Tom. If there be anything +particularly painful in shame above all others, it is for an old fellow +to come to confession of his follies to a young one. It reverses their +relative stations to each other so fatally that they never can stand +rightly again. He saw this, or he seemed to see it, in a second, by my +hesitation, for, quickly turning to Mr. Davis, he said, "Our +meeting here is a most opportune one, as you will perceive by this +paper,"—giving him a letter as he spoke. Although I paid little +attention to these words, I was soon struck by the change that had come +over Mr. Davis. The fresh and rosy cheek was now blanched, the easy +smile had departed, and a look of terror and dismay was exhibited in its +place. +</p> +<p> +"Now, sir," said Belton, folding up the document, "you see I have been +very frank with you. The charges contained in that letter I am in a +position to prove. The Earl of Darewood has placed all the papers in my +hands, and given me full permission as to how I shall employ them. Mr. +Dodd," said he, addressing me, "if I am not at liberty to ask you +the history of that bill, there is at least nothing to prevent <i>my</i> +informing <i>you</i> that all the names upon it are those of men banded +together for purposes of fraud." +</p> +<p> +"Take care what you say, sir," said Davis, affecting to write down his +words, but in his confusion unable to form a letter. +</p> +<p> +"I shall accept your caution as it deserves," said Belton, "and say +that they are a party of professional swindlers,—men who cheat at play, +intimidate for money, and even commit forgery for it." +</p> +<p> +Davis moved towards the door, but Belton anticipated him, and he sat +down again without a word. +</p> +<a name="image-0012"><!--IMG--></a> +<center> +<img src="images/314.jpg" height="661" width="705" +alt="314 +"> +</center> + +<p> +"Now, Mr. Davis," said he, calmly, "it is left entirely to my discretion +in what way I am to proceed with respect to one of the parties to +these frauds." As he got thus far, the waiter entered, and presented a +visiting-card, on which Belton said, "Yes, show him upstairs;" and the +next minute Lord George Tiverton made his appearance. He was already in +the middle of the room ere he perceived me, and for the first time in my +life I saw signs of embarrassment and shame on his impassive features. +</p> +<p> +"They told me you were alone, Mr. Belton," said he, angrily, and as if +about to retire. +</p> +<p> +"For all the purposes you have come upon, my Lord, it is the same as +though I were." +</p> +<p> +"Is it blown, then?" asked his Lordship of Davis; and the other replied +with an almost imperceptible nod. Muttering what sounded like a curse, +Tiverton threw himself into a chair, drawing his hat, which he still +wore, more deeply over his eyes. +</p> +<p> +I assure you, Tom, that so overwhelmed was I by this distressing +scene,—for, say what you will, there is nothing so distressing as +to see the man with whom you have lived in intimacy, if not +actual friendship, suddenly displayed in all the glaring colors of +scoundrelism. You feel yourself so humiliated before such a spectacle, +that the sense of shame becomes like an atmosphere around you; I +actually heard nothing,—I saw nothing. A scene of angry discussion +ensued between Belton and the lawyer—Tiverton never uttered a word—of +which I caught not one syllable. I could only mark, at last, that +Belton had gained the upper hand, and in the other's subdued manner and +submissive tone defeat was plainly written. +</p> +<p> +"Will Mr. Dodd deny his liability?" cried out Davis; and though, I +suppose, he must have said the words many times over, I could not bring +myself to suppose they were addressed to me. +</p> +<p> +"I shall not ask him that question." said Belton, "but <i>you</i> may." +</p> +<p> +"Hang it, Curl! you know it was a 'plant,'" said Tiverton, who was now +smoking a cigar as coolly as possible. "What's the use of pushing them +further? We 've lost the game, man!" +</p> +<p> +"Just so, my Lord," said Belton; "and notwithstanding all his pretended +boldness, nobody is more aware of that fact than Mr. Curl Davis, and the +sooner he adopts your Lordship's frankness the quicker will this affair +be settled." +</p> +<p> +Belton and the lawyer conversed eagerly together in half-whispers. I +could only overhear a stray word or two; but they were enough to show +me that Davis was pressing for some kind of a compromise, to which the +other would not accede, and the terms of which came down successively +from five hundred pounds to three, two, one, and at last fifty. +</p> +<p> +"No, nor five, sir,—not five shillings in such a cause!" said Belton, +determinedly. "I should feel it an indelible disgrace upon me forever to +concede one farthing to a scheme so base and contemptible. Take my word +for it, to escape exposure in such a case is no slight immunity." +</p> +<p> +Davis still demurred, but it was rather with the disciplined resistance +of a well-trained rascal than with the ardor of a strong conviction. +</p> +<p> +The altercation—for it was such—interested me wonderfully little, my +attention being entirely bestowed on Tiverton, who had now lighted his +third cigar, which he was smoking away vigorously, never once bestowing +a look towards me, nor in any way seeming to recognize my presence. A +sudden pause in the discussion attracted me, and I saw that Mr. Davis +was handing over several papers, which, to my practical eye, resembled +bills, to Belton, who carefully perused each of them in turn before +enclosing them in his pocket-book. +</p> +<p> +"Now, my Lord, I am at your service," said Belton; "but I presume our +interview may as well be without witnesses." +</p> +<p> +"I should like to have Davis here," replied Tiverton, languidly; "seeing +how you have bullied <i>him</i> only satisfies me how little chance <i>I</i> shall +have with you." +</p> +<p> +Not waiting to hear an answer to this speech, I arose and took my hat, +and pressing Belton's hand cordially as I asked him to dinner for that +day, I hurried out of the room. Not, however, without his having time to +whisper to me,— +</p> +<p> +"That affair is all arranged,—have no further uneasiness on the +subject." +</p> +<p> +I was in the street in the midst of the moving, bustling population, +with all the life, din, and turmoil of a great city around me, and yet +I stood confounded and overwhelmed by what I had just witnessed. "And +this," said I, at last, "is the way the business of the world goes +on,—robbery, cheating, intimidation, and overreaching are the +politenesses men reciprocate with each other!" Ah, Tom, with what +scanty justice we regard our poor hard-working, half-starved, and ragged +people, when men of rank, station, and refinement are such culprits as +this! Nor could I help confessing that if I had passed my life at home, +in my own country, such an instance as I had just seen had, in +all likelihood, never occurred to me. The truth is that there is a +simplicity in the life of poor countries that almost excludes such a +craft as that of a swindler. Society must be a complex and intricate +machinery where <i>they</i> are to thrive. There must be all the thousand +requirements that are begotten of a pampered and luxurious civilization, +and all the faults and frailties that grow out of these. Your well-bred +scoundrel trades upon the follies, the weaknesses, the foibles, rather +than the vices of the world, and his richest harvest lies amongst those +who have ambitions above their station, and pretensions unsuited to +their property,—in one word, to the "Dodds of this world, whether they +issue from Tipperary or Yorkshire, whether their tongue betray the Celt +or the Saxon!" +</p> +<p> +I grew very moral on this theme as I walked along, and actually found +myself at my own door before I knew where I was. I discovered that +Morris and his mother had been visiting Mrs. D. in my absence, and that +the interview had passed off satisfactorily Cary's bright and cheery +looks sufficiently assured me. Perhaps she was "not i' the vein," or +perhaps she was awed by the presence of real wealth and fortune, but +I was glad to find that Mrs. D. scarcely more than alluded to the +splendors of Dodsborough; nor did she bring in the M'Carthys more than +four times during their stay. This is encouraging, Tom; and who knows +but in time we may be able to "lay this family," and live without the +terrors of their resurrection! +</p> +<p> +The Morrises are to dine with us, and I only trust that we shall not +give them a "taste of our quality" in high living, for I have just +caught sight of a fellow with a white cap going into Mrs. D.'s +dressing-room, and the preparations are evidently considerable. Here 's +Mary Anne saying she has something of consequence to impart to me, and +so, for the present, farewell. +</p> +<p> +The murder is out, Tom, and all the mystery of Morris's missing letter +made clear. Mrs. D. received it during my illness at Genoa, and finding +it to be a proposal of marriage to Cary, took it upon her to write an +indignant refusal. +</p> +<p> +Mary Anne has just confessed the whole to me in strict secrecy, frankly +owning that she herself was the great culprit on the occasion, and that +the terms of the reply were actually dictated by her. She said that her +present avowal was made less in reparation for her misconduct—which she +owned to be inexcusable—than as an obligation she felt under to requite +the admirable behavior of Morris, who by this time must have surmised +what had occurred, and whose gentlemanlike feeling recoiled from +vindicating himself at the cost of family disunion and exposure. +</p> +<p> +I tell you frankly, Tom, that Mary Anne's own candor, the honest, +straightforward way in which she told me the whole incident, amply +repays me for all the annoyance it occasioned. Her conduct now assures +me that, notwithstanding all the corrupting influences of our life +abroad, the girl's generous nature has still survived, and may yet, with +good care, be trained up to high deservings. Of course she enjoined +me to secrecy; but even had she not done so, I 'd have respected her +confidence. I am scarcely less pleased with Morris, whose delicacy is no +bad guarantee for the future; so that for once, at least, my dear Tom, +you find me in good humor with all the world, nor is it my own fault +if I be not oftener so! You may smile, Tom, at my self-flattery; but +I repeat it. All my philosophy of life has been to submit with a good +grace, and make the best of everything,—to think as well of everybody +as they would permit me to do; and when, as will happen, events went +cross-grain, and all fell out "wrong," I was quite ready to "forget my +own griefs, and be happy with <i>you</i>." And now to dinner, Tom, where I +mean to drink your health! +</p> +<p> +It is all settled; though I have no doubt, after so many "false starts," +you 'll still expect to hear a contradiction to this in my next +letter; but you may believe me this time, Tom. Cary is to be married on +Saturday; and that you may have stronger confidence in my words, I beg +to assure you that I have not bestowed on her, as her marriage portion, +either imaginary estates or mock domains. She is neither to be thought +an Irish princess <i>en retraite</i>, nor to be the proud possessor of the +"M'Carthy diamonds." In a word, Tom, we have contrived, by some good +luck, to conduct the whole of this negotiation without involving +ourselves in a labyrinth of lies, and the consequence has been a very +wide-spread happiness and contentment. +</p> +<p> +Morris improves every hour on nearer acquaintance; and even Mrs. D. +acknowledges that when "his shyness rubs off, he 'll be downright +agreeable and amusing." Now, that same shyness is very little more +than the constitutional coldness of <i>his</i> country, more palpable when +contrasted with the over-warmth of <i>ours</i>. It <i>never does</i> rub off, Tom, +which, unfortunately, our cordiality occasionally does; and hence the +praise bestowed on the constancy of one country, and the censure on the +changeability of the other. But this is no time for such dissertations, +nor is my head in a condition to follow them out. +</p> +<p> +The house is beset with milliners, jewellers, and other seductionists +of the same type; and Mrs. D.'s voice is loud in the drawing-room on +the merits of Brussels lace and the becomingness of rubies. Even Cary +appears to have yielded somewhat to the temptation of these vanities, +and gives a passing glance at herself in the glass without any very +marked disapproval. James is in ecstasies with Morris, who has confided +all his horse arrangements to his especial care; and he sits in solemn +conclave every morning with half a dozen stunted, knock-kneed bipeds, in +earnest discussion of thorough-breds, weight-carriers, and fencers, and +talks "Bell's Life" half the day afterwards. +</p> +<p> +But, above all, Mary Anne has pleased me throughout the whole +transaction. Not a shadow of jealousy, not the faintest coloring of any +unworthy rivalry has interfered with her sisterly affection, and her +whole heart seems devoted to Cary's happiness. Handsome as she always +was, the impulse of a high motive has elevated the character of her +beauty, and rendered her perfectly lovely. So Belton would seem to think +also, if I were only to pronounce from the mere expression of his face +as he looks at her. +</p> +<p> +I must close this at once; there's no use in my trying to journalize any +longer, for events follow too fast for recording; besides, Tom, in the +midst of all my happiness there comes a dash of sadness across me that +I am so soon to part with one so dear to me! The first branch that drops +from the tree tells the story of the decay at the trunk; and so it is as +the chairs around your health become tenantless, you are led to think +of the dark winter of old age, the long night before the longer journey! +This is all selfishness, mayhap, and so no more of it. On Saturday the +wedding, Tom; the Morrises start for Rome, and the Dodds for Ireland. +Ay, my old friend, once more we shall meet, and if I know myself, not to +part again till our passports are made out for a better place. And now, +my dear friend, for the last time on foreign ground, +</p> +<p> +I am yours ever affectionately, +</p> +<p> +Kenny James Dodd. +</p> +<p> +Tell Mrs. Gallagher to have fires in all the rooms, and to see that +Nelligan has a look to the roof where the rain used to come in. We must +try and make the old house comfortable, and if we cannot have the blue +sky without, we 'll at least endeavor to secure the means of an Irish +welcome within doors. +</p> +<p> +I suppose it must be a part of that perversity that pertains to human +nature in everything, but now that I have determined on going home +again, I fancy I can detect a hundred advantages to be derived from +foreign travel and foreign residence. You will, of course, meet me by +saying, "What are your own experiences, Kenny Dodd? Do they serve to +confirm this impression? Have you the evidences of such within the +narrow circle of your own family?" No, Tom, I must freely own I have not +But I am, perhaps, able to say why it has been so, and even that same is +something. +</p> +<p> +You can scarcely take up a number of the "Times" without reading of some +newly arrived provincial in London being "done" by sharpers, through the +devices of a very stale piece of roguery; his appearance, his dress, and +his general air being the signs which have proclaimed him a fit subject +for deception. So it is abroad; a certain class of travellers, the +"Dodds" for instance, ramble about Switzerland and the Rhine country, +John Murray in hand, speaking unintelligible French, and poking their +noses everywhere. So long as they are migratory, they form the prey of +innkeepers and the harvest of <i>laquais de place</i>; but when they settle +and domesticate, they become the mark for ridicule for some, and for +robbery from others. If they be wealthy, much is conceded to them for +their money,—that is, their house will be frequented, their dinners +eaten, their balls danced at; but as to any admission into "the society" +of the place, they have no chance of it. Some Lord George of their +acquaintance, cut by his equals, and shunned by his own set, will +undertake to provide them guests; and so far as their own hospitalities +extend, they will be "in the world," but not one jot further. The +illustrious company that honors your <i>soirée</i> amuses itself with racy +stories of your bad French, or flippant descriptions of your wife's +"toilette;" nor is it enough that they ridicule these, but they will +even make laughing matter of your homely notions of right and wrong, +and scoff at what you know and feel to be the very best things in your +nature. Your "noble friend," or somebody else's "noble friend," has said +in public that you are "nobody;" and every marquis in his garret, and +every count with half the income of your cook, despises as he dines with +you. And you deserve it too; richly deserve it, I say. Had you come +on the Continent to be abroad what you were well contented to be at +home,—had you abstained from the mockery of a class you never belonged +to,—had you settled down amidst those your equals in rank, and often +much more than your equals in knowledge and acquirement,—your journey +would not have been a series of disappointments. You would have seen +much to delight and interest, and much to improve you. You would have +educated your minds while richly enjoying yourselves; and while forming +pleasant intimacies, and even friendships, widened the sphere of your +sympathies with mankind, and assuredly have escaped no small share of +the misfortunes and mishaps that befell the "Dodd Family Abroad." +</p> +<center> +THE END. +</center> + +<br> +<br> +<hr> +<br> +<br> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Dodd Family Abroad, Vol. II.(of II), by +Charles James Lever + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DODD FAMILY ABROAD *** + +***** This file should be named 35442-h.htm or 35442-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/5/4/4/35442/ + +Produced by David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +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 + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/35442-h/images/088.jpg b/35442-h/images/088.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c6dd0d8 --- /dev/null +++ b/35442-h/images/088.jpg diff --git a/35442-h/images/090.jpg b/35442-h/images/090.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e73dd9d --- /dev/null +++ b/35442-h/images/090.jpg diff --git a/35442-h/images/094.jpg b/35442-h/images/094.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a5ab6ab --- /dev/null +++ b/35442-h/images/094.jpg diff --git a/35442-h/images/104.jpg b/35442-h/images/104.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c4df666 --- /dev/null +++ b/35442-h/images/104.jpg diff --git a/35442-h/images/164.jpg b/35442-h/images/164.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c69b22d --- /dev/null +++ b/35442-h/images/164.jpg diff --git a/35442-h/images/176.jpg b/35442-h/images/176.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..3312d66 --- /dev/null +++ b/35442-h/images/176.jpg diff --git a/35442-h/images/210.jpg b/35442-h/images/210.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2e4ec93 --- /dev/null +++ b/35442-h/images/210.jpg diff --git a/35442-h/images/248.jpg b/35442-h/images/248.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..921c28e --- /dev/null +++ b/35442-h/images/248.jpg diff --git a/35442-h/images/252.jpg b/35442-h/images/252.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b357d7b --- /dev/null +++ b/35442-h/images/252.jpg diff --git a/35442-h/images/286.jpg b/35442-h/images/286.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..29d9f06 --- /dev/null +++ b/35442-h/images/286.jpg diff --git a/35442-h/images/314.jpg b/35442-h/images/314.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e4cbd94 --- /dev/null +++ b/35442-h/images/314.jpg diff --git a/35442-h/images/frontispiece.jpg b/35442-h/images/frontispiece.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4aa9695 --- /dev/null +++ b/35442-h/images/frontispiece.jpg diff --git a/35442.txt b/35442.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a8ae1be --- /dev/null +++ b/35442.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10542 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Dodd Family Abroad, Vol. II.(of II), by +Charles James Lever + +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 Dodd Family Abroad, Vol. II.(of II) + +Author: Charles James Lever + +Illustrator: Phiz And W. Cubitt Cooke + +Release Date: March 1, 2011 [EBook #35442] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DODD FAMILY ABROAD *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +THE DODD FAMILY ABROAD + +By Charles James Lever + + +Volume II. + + + + +LETTER I. KENNY JAMES DODD TO THOMAS PURCELL, ESQ., OF THE GRANGE, BRUFF + +Constance. + +My dear Tom,--I got the papers all safe. I am sure the account is +perfectly correct. I only wish the balance was bigger. I waited here to +receive these things, and now I discover that I can't sign the warrant +of attorney except before a consul, and there is none in this place, +so that I must keep it over till I can find one of those pleasant +functionaries,--a class that between ourselves I detest heartily. They +are a presumptuous, under-bred, consequential race,--a cross between +a small skipper and smaller Secretary of Legation, with a mixture +of official pedantry and maritime off-handedness that is perfectly +disgusting. Why our reforming economists don't root them all out I +cannot conceive. Nobody wants, nobody benefits by them; and save that +you are now and then called on for a "consular fee," you might never +hear of their existence. + +I don't rightly understand what you say about the loan from that Land +Improvement Society. Do you mean that the money lent must be laid out on +the land as a necessary condition? Is it possible that this is what I am +to infer? If so, I never heard anything half so preposterous! Sure, if I +raise five hundred pounds from a Jew, he has no right to stipulate that +I must spend the cash on copper coal-scuttles or potted meats! I want +it for my own convenience; enough for him that I comply with his demands +for interest and repayment. Anything else would be downright tyranny and +oppression, Tom,--as a mere momentary consideration of the matter will +show you. At all events, let us get the money, for I 'd like to contest +the point with these fellows; and if ever there was a man heart and +soul determined to break down any antiquated barrier of cruelty or +domination, it is your friend Kenny Dodd! As to that printed paper, with +its twenty-seven queries, it is positive balderdash from beginning +to end. What right have they to conclude that I approve of subsoil +draining? When did I tell them that I believed in Smith of Deanstown? +Where is it on record that I gave in my adhesion to model cottages, +Berkshire pigs, green crops, and guano manure? In what document do these +appear? Maybe I have my own notions on these matters,--maybe I keep them +for my own guidance too! + +You say that the gentry is all changing throughout the whole land, and +I believe you well, Tom Purcell. Changed indeed must they be if they +subscribe to such preposterous humbug as this! At all events, I repeat +we want the money, so fill up the blanks as you think best, and remit me +the amount at your earliest, for I have barely enough to get to the end +of the present month. I don't dislike this place at all. It is quiet, +peaceful,--humdrum, if you will; but we've had more than our share of +racket and row lately, and the reclusion is very grateful. One day is +exactly like another with us. Lord George--for he is back again--and +James go a-fishing as soon as breakfast is over, and only return for +supper. Mary Anne reads, writes, sews, and sings. Mrs. D. fills up the +time discharging Betty, settling with her, searching her trunks for +missing articles, and being reconciled to her again, which, with +occasional crying fits and her usual devotions, don't leave her a single +moment unoccupied! As for me, I'm trying to learn German, whenever I'm +not asleep. I've got a master,--he is a Swiss, and maybe his accent +is not of the purest; but he is an amusing old vagabond,--an +umbrella-maker, but in his youth a travelling-servant. His time is not +very valuable to him, so that he sits with me sometimes for half a day; +but still I make little progress. My notion is, Tom, that there's no use +in either making love or trying a new language after you're five or six +and twenty. It's all up-hill work after that, believe me. Neither your +declensions nor declarations come natural to you, and it's a bungling +performance at the best. The first condition of either is to have +your head perfectly free,--as little in it as need be. So long as +your thoughts are jostled by debts, duns, mortgages, and marriageable +daughters, you 'll have no room for vows or irregular verbs! It's lucky, +however, that one can dispense both with the love and the learning, +and indeed of the two,--with the last best, for of all the useless, +unprofitable kinds of labor ever pursued out of a jail, acquiring +a foreign language is the most. The few words required for daily +necessaries, such as schnaps and cigars, are easily learnt; all beyond +that is downright rubbish. + +For what can a man express his thoughts in so well as his mother tongue? +with whom does he want to talk but his countrymen? Of course you come +out with the old cant about "intelligent natives," "information derived +at the fountain head," "knowledge obtained by social intimacy with +people of the country." To which I briefly reply, "It's all gammon +and stuff from beginning to end;" and what between _your_ blunders in +grammar and your informant's ignorance of fact, all such information is +n't worth a "trauneen." Now, once for all, Tom, let me observe to +you that ask what you will of a foreigner, be it an inquiry into the +financial condition of his country, its military resources, prison +discipline, law, or religion, he 'll never acknowledge his inability to +answer, but give you a full and ready reply, with facts, figures, dates, +and data, all in most admirable order. At first you are overjoyed with +such ready resources of knowledge. You flatter yourself that even +with the most moderate opportunities you cannot fail to learn much; by +degrees, however, you discover errors in your statistics, and at last, +you come to find out that your accomplished friend, too polite to deny +you a reasonable gratification, had gone to the pains of inventing a +code, a church, and a coinage for your sole use and benefit, but without +the slightest intention of misleading, for it never once entered his +head that you could possibly believe him! I know it will sound badly. +I am well aware of the shock it will give to many a nervous system; but +for all that I will not blink the declaration--which I desire to record +as formally and as flatly as I am capable of expressing it--which is, +that of one hundred statements an Englishman accepts and relies upon +abroad, as matter of fact, ninety-nine are untrue; full fifty being lies +by premeditation, thirty by ignorance, ten by accident or inattention, +and the remainder, if there be a balance, for I 'm bad at figures, from +any other cause you like. + +It is no more disgrace for a foreigner not to tell the truth than to +own that he does not sing, nor dance the mazurka; not so much, indeed, +because these are marks of a polite education. And yet it is to +hold conversation with these people we pore over dictionaries, and +Ollendorfs, and Hamiltonian gospels. As for the enlargement and +expansion of the intelligence that comes of acquiring languages, there +never was a greater fallacy. Look abroad upon your acquaintances: who +are the glib linguists, who are the faultless in French genders, and the +immaculate in German declensions? the flippant boarding-school miss, or +the brainless, unpaid attache, that cannot, compose a note in his own +language. Who are the bungling conversera that make drawing-rooms blush +and dinner-tables titter? Your first-rate debater in the Commons, your +leader at the bar, your double first, or your great electro-magnetic +fellow that knows the secret laws of water-spouts and whirlpools, and +can make thunder and lightning just to amuse himself. Take my word for +it, your linguist is as poor a creature as a dancing-master, and just as +great a formalist. + +If you ask me, then, why I devote myself to such unrewarding labor, I +answer, "It is true I know it to be so, but my apology is, that I make +no progress." No, Tom, I never advance a step. I can neither conjugate +nor decline, and the auxiliary verbs will never aid me in anything. So +far as my lingual incapacity goes, I might be one of the great geniuses +of the age; and very probably I am, too, without knowing it! + +I have little to tell you of the place itself. It is a quaint old town +on the side of the lake; the most remarkable object being the minster, +or cathedral. They show you the spot in the aisle where old Huss stood +to receive his sentence of death. Even after a lapse of centuries, there +was something affecting to stand where a man once stood to bear that he +was to be burned alive. Of course I have little sympathy with a heretic, +but still I venerate the martyr, the more since I am strongly disposed +to think that it is one of those characters which are not the peculiar +product of an age of railroads and submarine telegraphs. The expansion +of the intelligence, Tom, seems to be in the inverse ratio of the +expansion of the conscience, and the stubborn old spirit of right that +was once the mode, would nowadays be construed into a dogged, stupid +bull-headedness, unworthy of the enlightenment of our glorious era. +Take my word for it, there's a great many eloquent and indignant +letter-writers in the newspapers would shrink from old Huss's test for +their opinions, and a fossil elk is not a greater curiosity than would +be a man ready to stake life on his belief. When a fellow tells you of +"dying on the floor of the House," he simply means that he'll talk till +there's a "count out;" and as for "registering vows in heaven," and +"wasting out existence in the gloom of a dungeon," it's just balderdash, +and nothing else. + +The simple fact is this, Tom Purcell: we live in an age of universal +cant, and I swallow all _your_ shams on the easy condition that you +swear to _mine_, and whenever I hear people praising the present age, +and extolling its wonderful progress, and all that, I just think of all +the quackery I see advertised in the newspapers, and sigh heartily to +myself at our degradation! Why, man, the "Patent Pills for the Cure of +Cancer," and the Agapemone, would disgrace the middle ages! And it is +not a little remarkable that England, so prone to place herself at the +head of civilization, is exactly the very metropolis of all this humbug! + +To come back to ourselves, I have to report that James arrived here a +couple of days ago. He followed that scoundrel "the Baron" for thirty +hours, and only desisted from the pursuit when his horse could go no +farther. The police authorities mainly contributed to the escape of the +fugitive, by detaining James on every possible occasion, and upon any +or no pretext. The poor fellow reached Freyburg dead beat, and without a +sou in his pocket; but good luck would have it that Lord George Tiverton +had just arrived there, so that by his aid he came on here, where they +both made their appearance at breakfast on Tuesday morning. + +Lord George, I suspect, had not made a successful campaign of it lately; +though in what he has failed--if it be failure--I have no means of +guessing. He looks a little out at elbows, however, and travels without +a servant. In spirits and bearing I see no change in him; but these +fellows, I have remarked, never show depression, and india-rubber +itself is not so elastic as a bad character! I don't half fancy his +companionship for James; but I know well that this opinion would be +treated by the rest of the family as downright heresy; and certainly he +is an amusing dog, and it is impossible to resist liking him; but there +lies the very peril I am afraid of. If your loose fish, as the +slang phrase calls them, were disagreeable chaps,--prosy, selfish, +sententious,--vulgar in their habits, and obtrusive in their manners, +one would run little risk of contamination; but the reverse is the case, +Tom,--the very reverse! Meet a fellow that speaks every tongue of the +Continent, dresses to perfection, rides and drives admirably, a dead +shot with the pistol, a sure cue at billiards,--if he be the delight of +every circle he goes into,--look out sharp in the "Times," and the odds +are that there's a handsome reward offered for him, and he's either +a forger or a defaulter. The truth is, a man may be ill-mannered as a +great lawyer or a great physician; he may make a great figure in +the field or the cabinet; there may be no end to his talents as a +geometrician or a chemist; it's only your adventurer must be well-bred, +and swindling is the soldiery profession to which a man must bring +fascinating manners, a good address, personal advantages, and the power +of pleasing. I own to you, Tom Purcell, I like these fellows, and +I can't help it! I take to them as I do to twenty things that are +agreeable at the time, but are sure to disagree with me--afterwards. +They rally me out of my low spirits, they put me on better terms with +myself, and they administer that very balmy flattery that says, "Don't +distress yourself, Kenny Dodd. As the world goes, you 're better than +nine-tenths of it. You'd be hospitable if you could; you'd pay your +debts if you could; and there would n't be an easier-tempered, more +good-natured creature breathing than yourself, if it was only the will +was wanting!" Now, these are very soothing doses when a man is scarified +by duns, and flayed alive by lawsuits; and when a fellow comes to my +time of life, he can no more bear the candid rudeness of what is called +friendship than an ex-Lord Mayor could endure Penitentiary diet! + +I must confess, however, that whenever we come to divide on any +question, Lord George always votes with Mrs. D. He told me once that +with respect to Parliament he always sided with the Government, whatever +it was, when he could, and perhaps he follows the same rule in private +life. Last night, after tea, we discussed our future movements, and I +found him strongly in favor of getting us on to Italy for the winter. +I did n't like to debate the matter exactly on financial grounds, but I +hazarded a half-conjecture that the expedition would be a costly one. +He stopped me at once. "Up to this time," said he, "you have really not +benefited by the cheapness of Continental living,"--that was certainly +true,--"and for this simple reason, you have always lived in the beaten +track of the wandering cockney. You must go farther away from England. +You must reach those places where people settle as residents, not ramble +as tourists; you will then be rewarded, not only economically, but +socially. The markets and the morals are both better; for our countrymen +filter by distance, and the farther from home the purer they become." +To Mrs. D. and Mary Anne he gave a glowing description of Trans-Alpine +existence, and rapturously pictured forth the fascinations of Italian +life. I can only give you the items, Tom; you must arrange them for +yourself. So make what you can of starry skies, olives, ices, tenors, +volcanoes, music, mountains, and maccaroni. He appealed to _me_ by the +budget. Never was there such cheapness in the known world. The Italian +nobility were actually crashed down with house-accommodation, and only +entreated a stranger to accept of a palace or a villa. The climate +produced everything without labor, and consequently without cost. Fruit +had no price; wine was about twopence a bottle; a strong tap rose to +two and a half! Clothes one scarcely needed; and, except for decency, +"nothing and a cocked hat" would suffice. These were very seductive +considerations, Tom; and I own to you that, even allowing a large margin +for exaggeration, there was a great amount of solid advantage remaining. +Mrs. D. adduced an additional argument when we were alone, and in this +wise: What was to be done with the wedding finery if we should return +to Ireland; for all purposes of home life they would be totally +inapplicable. You might as well order a service of plate to serve up +potatoes as introduce Paris fashions and foreign elegance into our +provincial circle. "We have the things now," said she; "let us have the +good of them." I remember a cask of Madeira being left with my father +once, by a mistake, and that was the very reason he gave for drinking +it. She made a strong case of it, Tom; she argued the matter well, +laying great stress upon the duty we owed our girls, and the necessity +of "getting them married before we went back." Of course, I did n't +give in. If I was to give her the notion that she could convince me +of anything, we 'd never have a moment's peace again; so I said I 'd +reflect on the subject, and turn it over in my mind. And now I want you +to say what disposable cash can we lay our hands on for the winter. I +am more than ever disinclined to have anything to say to these Drainage +Commissioners. It's our pockets they drain, and not our farms. I 'd +rather try and raise a trifle on mortgage; for you see, nowadays, they +have got out of the habit of doing it, and there's many a one has money +lying idle and does n't know what to do with it. Look out for one of +these fellows, Tom, and see what you can do with him. Dear me, is n't it +a strange thing the way one goes through life, and the contrivances one +is put to to make two ends meet! + +I remember the time, and so do you too, when an Irish gentleman could +raise what he liked; and there was n't an estate in my own county wasn't +encumbered, as they call it, to more than double its value. There's +fellows will tell you "that's the cause of all the present distress." +Not a bit of it. They 're all wrong! It is because that system has come +to an end that we are ruined; that's the root of the evil, Tom Purcell; +and if I was in Parliament I'd tell them so. Where will you find any one +willing to lend money now if the estate would n't pay it? We may thank +the English Government for that; and, as poor Dan used to say, "They +know as much about us as the Chinese!" + +I can't answer your question about James. Vickars has not replied to my +last two letters; and I really see no opening for the boy whatever. I +mean to write, however, in a day or two to Lord Muddleton, to whom Lord +George is nearly related, and ask for something in the Diplomatic way. +Lord G. says it's the only career nowadays does n't require some kind of +qualification,--since even in the army they've instituted a species of +examination. "Get him made an Attache somewhere," says Tiverton, "and +he must be a 'Plenipo' at last." J. is good-looking, and a great deal of +dash about him; and I 'm informed that's exactly what's wanting in the +career. If nothing comes of this application, I 'll think seriously +of Australia; but, of course, Mrs. D. must know nothing about it; for, +according to _her_ notions, the boy ought to be Chamberlain to the +Queen, or Gold-stick at least. + +I don't know whether I mentioned to you that Betty Cobb had entered the +holy bonds with a semi-civilized creature she picked up in the Black +Forest. The orang-outang is now a part of our household,--at least so +far as living at rack and manger at my cost,--though in what way to +employ him I have not the slightest notion. Do you think, if I could +manage to send him over to Ireland, that we could get him indicted +for any transportable offence? Ask Curtis about it; for I know he +did something of the kind once in the case of a natural son of Tony +Barker's, and the lad is now a judge, I believe, in Sydney. + +Cary is quite well. I heard from her yesterday, and when I write, I 'll +be sure to send her your affectionate message. I don't mean to leave +this till I heat from you. So write immediately and believe me, + +Very sincerely your friend, + +Kenny James. + + + + +LETTER II. JAMES DODD TO ROBERT DOOLAN, ESQ., TRINITY COLLEGE, DUBLIN. + +Bregenz. + +My dear Bob,--I had made up my mind not to write to you till we had +quitted this place, where our life has been of the "slowest;" but this +morning has brought a letter with a piece of good news which I cannot +defer imparting to you. It is a communication from the Under-Secretary +for Foreign Affairs to the governor, to say that I have been appointed +to something somewhere, and that I am to come over to London, and be +examined by somebody. Very vague all this, but I suppose it's the +style of Diplomacy, and one will get used to it. The real bore is the +examination, for George told "dad" that there was none, and, in fact, +that very circumstance it was which gave the peculiar value to the +"service." Tiverton tells me, however, he can make it "all safe;" +whether you "tip" the Secretary, or some of the underlings, I don't +know. Of course there is a way in all these things, for half the fellows +that pass are just as ignorant as your humble servant. + +I am mainly indebted to Tiverton for the appointment, for he wrote to +everybody he could think of, and made as much interest as if it was +for himself. He tells me, in confidence, that the list of names down +is about six feet long, and actually wonders at the good fortune of my +success. From all I can learn, however, there is no salary at first, so +that the governor must "stump out handsome," for an Attache is expected +to live in a certain style, keep horses, and, in fact, come it "rayther +strongish." In some respects, I should have preferred the army; but +then there are terrible drawbacks in colonial banishment, whereas in +Diplomacy you are at least stationed in the vicinity of a Court, which +is always something. + +I wonder where I am to be gazetted for; I hope Naples, but even Vienna +would do. In the midst of our universal joy at my good fortune, it's not +a little provoking to see the governor pondering over all it will cost +for outfit, and wondering if the post be worth the gold lace on the +uniform. Happily for me, Bob, he never brought me up to any profession, +as it is called, and it is too late now to make me anything either in +law or physic. I say happily, because I see plainly enough that he 'd +refuse the present opportunity if he knew of any other career for me. +My mother does not improve matters by little jokes on his low tastes and +vulgar ambitions; and, in fact, the announcement has brought a good deal +of discussion and some discord amongst us. + +I own to you, frankly, that once named to a Legation, I will do my +utmost to persuade the governor to go back to Ireland. In the first +place, nothing but a very rigid economy at Dodsborough will enable him +to make me a liberal allowance; and secondly, to have my family +prowling about the Legation to which I was attached would be perfectly +insufferable. I like to have my father and mother what theatrical +folk call "practicable," that is, good for all efficient purposes of +bill-paying, and such-like; but I shudder at the notion of being their +pioneer into fashionable life; and, indeed, I am not aware of any one +having carried his parent on his back since the days of AEneas. + +I am obliged to send you a very brief despatch, for I 'm off to-morrow +for London, to make my bow at "F. O.," and kiss hands on my appointment. +I 'd have liked another week here, for the fishing has just come in, and +we killed yesterday, with two rods, eleven large, and some thirty small +trout. They are a short, thick-shouldered kind of fish, ready enough +to rise, but sluggish to play afterwards. The place is pretty, too; the +Swiss Alps at one side, and the Tyrol mountains at the other. Bregenz +itself stands well, on the very verge of the lake, and although not +ancient enough to be curious in architecture, has a picturesque air +about it. The people are as primitive as anything one can well fancy, +and wear a costume as ungracefully barbarous as any lover of nationality +could desire. Their waists are close under their arms, and the longest +petticoats I have yet seen finish at the knee! They affect, besides, +a round, low-crowned cap, like a fur turban, or else a great piece of +filigree sliver, shaped like a peacock's tail, and fastened to the back +of the head. Nature, it must be owned, has been somewhat ungenerous to +them; and with the peculiar advantages conferred on them by costume, +they are the ugliest creatures I 've ever set eyes on. + +It is only just to remark that Mary Anne dissents from me in all this, +and has made various "studies" of them, which are, after all, not a whit +more flattering than my own description. As to a good-looking peasantry, +Bob, it's all humbug. It's only the well-to-do classes, in any country, +have pretensions to beauty. The woman of rank numbers amongst her charms +the unmistakable stamp of her condition. Even in her gait, like the +Goddess in Virgil, she displays her divinity. The pretty "bourgeoise" +has her peculiar fascination in the brilliant intelligence of her +laughing eye, and the sly archness of her witty mouth; but your peasant +beauty is essentially heavy and dull. It is of the earth, earthy; and +there is a bucolic grossness about the lips the very antithesis to the +pleasing. I 'm led to these remarks by the question in your last as to +the character of Continental physiognomy. Up to this, Bob, I have seen +nothing to compare with our own people, and you will meet more pretty +faces between Stephen's Green and the Rotunda than between Schaffhausen +and the sea. I 'm not going to deny that they "make up" better abroad, +but our boast is the raw material of beauty. The manufactured article we +cannot dispute with them. It would be, however, a great error to suppose +that the artistic excellence I speak of is a small consideration; on the +contrary, it is a most important one, and well deserving of deep thought +and reflection, and, I must say, that all our failures in the decorative +arts are as nothing to our blunders when attempting to adorn beauty. A +French woman, with a skin like an old drumhead, and the lower jaw of a +baboon, will actually "get herself up" to look better than many a really +pretty girl of our country, disfigured by unbecoming hairdressing, +ill-assorted colors, ill-put-on clothes, and that confounded walk, which +is a cross between the stride of a Grenadier and running in a sack! + +With all our parade of Industrial Exhibitions and shows of National +Productions lately, nobody has directed his attention to this subject, +and, for _my_ part, I 'd infinitely rather know that our female +population had imbibed some notions of dress and self-adornment from +their French neighbors, than that Glasgow could rival Genoa in velvet, +or that we beat Bohemia out of the field in colored glass. If the proper +study of mankind be man,--which, of course, includes woman,--we +are throwing a precious deal of time away on centrifugal pumps, +sewing-machines, and self-acting razors. If I ever get into Parliament, +Bob, and I don't see why I should not, when once fairly launched in the +Diplomatic line, I 'll move for a Special Commission, not to examine +into foreign railroads, or mines, or schools, or smelting-houses, but to +inquire into and report upon how the women abroad, with not a tenth of +the natural advantages, contrive to look,--I won't say better, but more +fascinating than our own,--and how it is that they convert something a +shade below plainness into features of downright pleasing expression! + +Since this appointment has come, I have been working away to brush up my +French and German, which you will be surprised to hear is pretty +nearly where it was when we first came abroad. We English herd so +much together, and continue to follow our home habits and use our own +language wherever we happen to be, that it is not very easy to break +out of the beaten track. This observation applies only to the men of +the family, for our sisters make a most astonishing progress, under +the guidance of those mustachioed and well-whiskered gents they meet at +balls. The governor and my mother of course believe that I am as great +a linguist as Mezzofanti, if that be the fellow's name, and I shall try +and keep up the delusion to the last. It is not quite impossible I may +have more time for my studies here than I fancy, for "dad" has come +in, this moment, to say that he has n't got five shillings towards the +expenses of my journey to London, nor has he any very immediate prospect +of a remittance from Ireland. What a precious mess will it be if my +whole career in life is to be sacrificed for a shabby hundred or two! +The governor appears to have spent about three times as much as he +speculated on, and our affairs at this moment present as pleasant a +specimen of hopeless entanglement as a counsel in Bankruptcy could +desire. + +I wish I was out of the ship altogether, Bob, and would willingly +adventure on the broad ocean of life in a punt, were it only my own. I +trust that by the time this reaches you her Majesty's gracious pleasure +will have numbered me amongst the servants of the Crown; but whether in +high or humble estate, believe me ever + +Unalterably yours, + +James Dodd. + +P. S. My sister Cary has written to say she will be here to-night or +to-morrow; she is coming expressly to see me before I go; but from all +that I can surmise she need not have used such haste. What a bore it +will be if the governor should not be able to "stump out"! I'm in a +perfect fever at the very thought. + + + + +LETTER III. CAROLINE DODD TO MISS COX AT MISS MINCING'S ACADEMY, BLACK ROCK, IRELAND. + +My dear Miss Cox,--It would appear, from your last, that a letter of +mine to you must have miscarried; for I most distinctly remember having +written to you on the topics you allude to, and, so far as I was able, +answered all your kind inquiries about myself and my pursuits. Lest my +former note should ever reach you, I do not dare to go over again the +selfish narrative which would task even your friendship to peruse once. + +I remained with my kind friend, Mrs. Morris, till three days ago, when I +came here to see my brother James, who has been promised some Government +employment, and is obliged to repair at once to London. Mamma terrified +me greatly by saying that he was to go to China or to India, so that I +hurried back to see and stay with him as much as I could before he +left us. I rejoice, however, to tell you that his prospects are in the +Diplomatic service, and he will be most probably named to a Legation in +some European capital. + +He is a dear, kind-hearted boy; and although not quite untainted by +the corruptions which are more or less inseparable from this rambling +existence, is still as fresh in his affections, and as generous in +nature, as when he left home. Captain Morris, whose knowledge of life +is considerable, predicts most favorably of him, and has only one +misgiving,--the close intimacy he maintains with Lord George Tiverton. +Towards this young nobleman the Captain expresses the greatest distrust +and dislike; feelings that I really own seem to me to be frequently +tinctured by a degree of prejudice rather than suggested by reason. It +is true, no two beings can be less alike than they are. The one, rigid +and unbending in all his ideas of right, listening to no compromise, +submitting to no expediency, reserved towards strangers even to the +verge of stiffness, and proud from a sense that his humble station might +by possibility expose him to freedoms he could not reciprocate. The +other, all openness and candor, pushed probably to an excess, and not +unfrequently transgressing the barrier of an honorable self-esteem; +without the slightest pretension to principle of any kind, and as ready +to own his own indifference as to ridicule the profession of it by +another. Yet, with all this, kind and generous in all his impulses, ever +willing to do a good-natured thing; and, so far as I can judge, +even prepared to bear a friendly part at the hazard of personal +inconvenience. + +Characters of this stamp are, as you have often observed to me, far more +acceptable to very young men than those more swayed by rigid rules of +right; and when they join to natural acuteness considerable practical +knowledge of life, they soon obtain a great influence over the less +gifted and less experienced. I see this in James; for, though not by +any means blind to the blemishes in Lord George's character, nor even +indifferent to them, yet is he submissive to every dictate of his will, +and an implicit believer in all his opinions. But why should I feel +astonished at this? Is not his influence felt by every member of the +family; and papa himself, with all his native shrewdness, strongly +disposed to regard his judgments as wise and correct? I remark this +the more because I have been away from home, and after an absence one +returns with a mind open to every new impression; nor can I conceal from +myself that many of the notions I now see adopted and approved of, are +accepted as being those popular in high society, and not because of +their intrinsic correctness. Had we remained in Ireland, my dear Miss +Cox, this had never been the case. There is a corrective force in the +vicinity of those who have known us long and intimately, who can measure +our pretensions by our station, and pronounce upon our mode of life from +the knowledge they have of our condition; and this discipline, if at +times severe and even unpleasant, is, upon the whole, beneficial to us. +Now, abroad, this wholesome--shall I call it--"surveillance" is +wanting altogether, and people are induced by its very absence to give +themselves airs, and assume a style quite above them. From that very +moment they insensibly adopt a new standard of right and wrong, and +substitute fashion and conventionality for purity and good conduct. I +'m sure I wish we were back in Dodsborough with all my heart! It is not +that there are not objects and scenes of intense interest around us here +on every hand. Even I can feel that the mind expands by the variety of +impressions that continue to pour in upon it. Still, I would not say +that these things may not be bought too dearly; and that if the price +they cost is discontent at our lot in life, a craving ambition to be +higher and richer, and a cold shrinking back from all of our own real +condition, they are unquestionably not worth the sacrifice. + +To really enjoy the Continent it is not necessary--at least, for people +bred and brought up as we have been--to be very rich; on the contrary, +many--ay, and the greatest--advantages of Continental travel are open +to very small fortunes and very small ambitions. Scenery, climate, +inexpensive acquaintanceship, galleries, works of art, public libraries, +gardens, promenades, are all available. The Morrises have certainly much +less to live on than we have, and yet they have travelled over every +part of Europe, know all its cities well, and never found the cost of +living considerable. You will smile when I tell you that the single +secret for this is, not to cultivate English society. Once make up your +mind abroad to live with the people of the country, French, German, and +Italian,--and there is no class of these above the reach of well-bred +English,--and you need neither shine in equipage nor excel in a cook. +There is no pecuniary test of respectability abroad; partly because this +vulgarity is the offspring of a commercial spirit, which is, of course, +not the general characteristic, and partly from the fact that many +of the highest names have been brought down to humble fortunes by +the accidents of war and revolution, and poverty is, consequently, no +evidence of deficient birth. Our gorgeous notions of hospitality are +certainly very fine things, and well become great station and large +fortune, but are ruinous when they are imitated by inferior means and +humble incomes. Foreigners are quite above such vulgar mimicry; and +nothing is more common to hear than the avowal, "I am too poor to +do this; my fortune would not admit of that;" not uttered in a mock +humility, or with the hope of a polite incredulity, but in all the +unaffected simplicity with which one mentions a personal fact, to which +no shame or disgrace attaches. You may imagine, then, how unimpressively +fall upon the ear all those pompous announcements by which we travelling +English herald our high and mighty notions; the palaces we are about to +hire, the _fetes_ we are going to give, and the other splendors we mean +to indulge in. + +I have read and re-read that part of your letter wherein you speak of +your wish to come and live abroad, so soon as the fruits of your life of +labor will enable you. Oh, my dear kind governess, with what emotion the +words filled me,--emotions very different from those you ever suspected +they would call up; for I bethought me how often I and others must have +added to that toilsome existence by our indolence, our carelessness, and +our wilfulness. In a moment there rose before me the anxieties you must +have suffered, the cares you must have endured, the hopes for those +who threw all their burdens upon _you_, and left to _you_ the blame of +_their_ shortcomings and the reproach of _their_ insufficiency. + +What rest, what repose would ever requite such labor! How delighted am +I to say that there are places abroad where even the smallest fortunes +will suffice. I profited by the permission you gave me to show your +letter to Mrs. Morris, and she gave me in return a list of places for +you to choose from, at any one of which you could live with comfort for +less than you speak of. Some are in Belgium, some in Germany, and some +in Italy. Think, for instance, of a small house on the "Meuse," in the +midst of the most beauteous scenery, and with a country teeming in every +abundance around you, for twelve pounds a year, and all the material of +life equally cheap in proportion. Imagine the habits of a Grand-Ducal +capital, where the Prime Minister receives three hundred per annum, and +spends two; where the admission to the theatre is fourpence, and you go +to a Court dinner on foot at four o'clock in the day, and sit out of an +evening with your work in a public garden afterwards. + +Now, I know that in Ireland or Scotland, and perhaps in Wales too, +places might be discovered where all the ordinary wants of life would +not be dearer than here, but then remember that to live with this +economy at home, you subject yourself to all that pertains to a small +estate; you endure the barbarizing influences of a solitary life, or, +what is worse, the vulgarity of village society. The well-to-do classes, +the educated and refined, will not associate with you. Not so here. Your +small means are no barrier against your admission into the best circles; +you will be received anywhere. Your black silk gown will be "toilet" for +the "Minister's reception," your white muslin will be good enough for a +ball at Court! When the army numbers in its cavalry fifty hussars, and +one battalion for its infantry, the simple resident need never blush for +his humble retinue, nor feel ashamed that a maid-servant escorts him +to a Court entertainment with a lantern, or that a latch-key and a +lucifer-match do duty for a hall-porter and a chandelier! + +One night--I was talking of these things--Captain Morris quoted a Latin +author to the effect "that poverty had no such heavy infliction as in +its power to make people ridiculous." The remark sounds at first an +unfeeling one, but there is yet a true and deep philosophy in it, for it +is in our own abortive and silly attempts to gloss over narrow fortune +that the chief sting of poverty resides, and the ridicule alluded to +is all of our making! The poverty of two thousand a year can be thus as +glaringly absurd, as ridiculous, as that of two hundred, and even more +so, since its failures are more conspicuous. + +Now, had we been satisfied to live in this way, it is not alone that we +should have avoided debt and embarrassment, but we should really have +profited largely besides. I do not speak of the negative advantages of +not mingling with those it had been better to have escaped; but that in +the society of these smaller capitals there is, especially in Germany, a +highly cultivated and most instructive class, slightly pedantic, it +may be, but always agreeable and affable. The domesticity of Germany is +little known to us, since even their writers afford few glimpses of +it. There are no Bulwers nor Bozes nor Thackerays to show the play of +passion, nor the working of deep feeling around the family board and +hearth. The cares of fathers, the hopes of sons, the budding anxieties +of the girlish heart, have few chroniclers. How these people think and +act and talk at home, and in the secret circle of their families, we +know as little as we do of the Chinese. It may be that the inquiry would +require long and deep and almost microscopic study. Life with them is +not as with us, a stormy wave-tossed ocean; it is rather a calm and +landlocked bay. They have no colonial empires, no vast territories for +military ambition to revel in, nor great enterprise to speculate on. +There are neither gigantic schemes of wealth, nor gold-fields to tempt +them. Existence presents few prizes, and as few vicissitudes. The march +of events is slow, even, and monotonous, and men conform themselves to +the same measure! How, then, do they live,--what are their loves, their +hates, their ambitions, their crosses, their troubles, and their joys? +How are they moved to pity,--how stirred to revenge? I own to you I +cannot even fancy this. The German heart seems to me a clasped volume; +and even Goethe has but shown us a chance page or two, gloriously +illustrated, I acknowledge, but closed as quickly as displayed. + +Is Marguerite herself a type? I wish some one would tell me. Is that +childlike gentleness, that trustful nature, that resistless, passionate +devotion, warring with her piety, and yet heightened by it,--are these +German traits? They seem so; and yet do these Fraeuleins that I see, with +yellow hair, appear capable of this headlong and impetuous love. Faust, +I 'm convinced, is true to his nationality. He loves like a German,--and +is mad, and mystical, fond, dreamy, and devoted by turns. + +But all these are not what I look for. I want a family picture--a +Teerburgh or a Mieris--painted by a German Dickens, or touched by a +native Titmarsh. So far as I have read of it, too, the German Drama +does not fill up this void; the comedies of the stage present nothing +identical of the people, and yet it appears to me they are singularly +good materials for portraiture. The stormy incidents of university life, +its curious vicissitudes, and its strange, half-crazed modes of thought +blend into the quiet realities of after-life, and make up men such as +one sees nowhere else. The tinge of romance they have contracted in +boyhood is never thoroughly washed out of their natures, and although +statecraft may elevate them to be grave privy councillors, or good +fortune select them for its revenue officers, they cherish the old +memories of Halle and Heidelberg, and can grow valorous over the shape +of a rapier, or pathetic about the color of Fraeulein Lydchen's hair. + +It is doubtless very presumptuous in _me_ to speak thus of a people of +whom I have seen so little; but bear in mind, my dear Miss Cox, that I'm +rather giving Mrs. Morris's experiences than my own, and, in some cases, +in her own very words. She has a very extensive acquaintance in Germany, +and corresponds, besides, with many very distinguished persons of that +country. Perhaps private letters give a better insight into the habits +of a people than most other things, and if so, one should pronounce very +favorably of German character from the specimens I have seen. There are +everywhere, great truthfulness, great fairness; a willingness to concede +to others a standard different from their own; a hopeful tone in all +things, and extreme gentleness towards women and children. Of rural +life, and of scenery, too, they speak with true feeling-; and, as Sir +Walter said of Goethe, "they understand trees." + +You will wish to hear something of Bregenz, where we are staying at +present, and I have little to say beyond its situation in a little +bay on the Lake of Constance, begirt with high mountains, amidst which +stretches a level flat, traversed by the Rhine. The town itself is +scarcely old enough to be picturesque, though from a distance on the +lake the effect is very pleasing. A part is built upon a considerable +eminence, the ascent to which is by a very steep street, impassable save +on foot; at the top of this is an old gateway, the centre of which is +ornamented by a grotesque attempt at sculpture, representing a female +figure seated on a horse, and, to all seeming, traversing the clouds. +The phenomenon is explained by a legend, that tells how a Bregenzer +maiden, some three and a half centuries ago, had gone to seek her +fortune in Switzerland, and becoming domesticated there in a family, +lived for years among the natural enemies of her people. Having learned +by an accident one night, that an attack was meditated on her native +town, she stole away unperceived, and, taking a horse, swam the current +of the Rhine, and reached Bregenz in time to give warning of the +threatened assault, and thus rescued her kinsmen and her birthplace from +sack and slaughter. This is the act commemorated by the sculpture, and +the stormy waves of the river are doubtless typified in what seem to be +clouds. + +There is, however, a far more touching memory of the heroism preserved +than this; for each night, as the watchman goes his round of the +village, when he comes to announce midnight, he calls aloud the name of +her who at the same dead hour, three centuries back, came to wake the +sleeping town and tell them of their peril. I do not know of a monument +so touching as this! No bust nor statue, no group of marble or bronze, +can equal in association the simple memory transmitted from age to age, +and preserved ever fresh and green in the hearts of a remote generation. +As one thinks of this, the mind at once reverts to the traditions of +the early Church, and insensibly one is led to feel the beauty of those +transmitted words and acts, which, associated with place, and bound up +with customs not yet obsolete, gave such impressive truthfulness to +all the story of our faith. At the same time, it is apparent that the +current of tradition cannot long run pure. Even now there are those who +scoff at the grateful record of the Bregenzer maiden! Where will her +memory be five years after the first railroad traverses the valley of +the Vorarlberg? The shrill whistle of the "express" is the death-note to +all the romance of life! + +Some deplore this, and assert that, with this immense advancement of +scientific discovery, we are losing the homely virtues of our fathers. +Others pretend that we grow better as we grow wiser, and that increased +intelligence is but another form of enlarged goodness. To myself, the +great change seems to be that every hour of this progress diminishes the +influences of woman, and that, as men grow deeper and deeper engaged in +the pursuits of wealth, the female voice is less listened to, and its +counsels less heeded and cared for. + +But why do I dare to hazard such conjectures to you, so far more capable +of judging, so much more able to solve questions like this! + +I am sorry not to be able to speak more confidently about my music; but +although Germany is essentially the land of song, there is less domestic +cultivation of the art than I had expected; or, rather, it is made less +a matter of display. Your mere acquaintances seldom or never will sing +for your amusement; your friends as rarely refuse you. To our notions, +also, it seems strange that men are more given to the art here than +women. The Frau is almost entirely devoted to household cares. Small +fortunes and primitive habits seem to require this, and certainly no one +who has ever witnessed the domestic peace of a German family could find +fault with the system. + +What has most struck me of all here, is the fact that while many of the +old people retain a freshness of feeling, and a warm susceptibility that +is quite remarkable, the children are uniformly grave, even to sadness. +The bold, dashing, half-reckless boy; the gay, laughing, high-spirited +girl,--have no types here. The season of youth, as we under-stand it, +in all its jocund merriment, its frolics, and its wildness, has no +existence amongst them. The child of ten seems weighted with the +responsibilities of manhood; the little sister carries her keys about, +and scolds the maids with all the semblance of maternal rigor. Would +that these liquid blue eyes had a more laughing look, and that pretty +mouth could open to joyous laughter! + +With all these drawbacks, it is still a country that I love to live +in, and should leave with regret; besides that, I have as yet seen but +little of it, and its least remarkable parts. + +Whither we go hence, and when, are points that I cannot inform you on. +I am not sure, indeed, if any determination on the subject has been come +to. Mamma and Mary Anne seem most eager for Rome and Naples; but though +I should anticipate a world of delight and interest in these cities, I +am disposed to think that they would prove far too expensive,--at least +with our present tastes and habits. + +Wherever my destiny, however, I shall not cease to remember my dear +governess, nor to convey to her, in all the frankness of my affection, +every thought and feeling of her sincerely attached + +Caroline Dodd. + + + + +LETTER IV. MRS. DODD TO MRS. MARY GALLAGHER, DODSBOROUGH + +Bregenz. + +My dear Molly,--It 's well I ever got your last letter, for it seems +there's four places called Freyburg, and they tried the three wrong +ones first, and I believe they opened and read it everywhere it stopped. +"Much good may it do them," says I, "if they did!" They know at +least the price of wool in Kinnegad, and what boneens is bringing in +Ballinasloe, not to mention the news you tell of Betty Walsh! I thought +I cautioned you before not to write anything like a secret when the +letter came through a foreign post, seeing that the police reads +everything, and if there's a word against themselves, you're ordered +over the frontier in six hours. That's liberty, my dear! But that is +not the worst of it, for nobody wants the dirty spalpeens to read about +their private affairs, nor to know the secrets of their families. I must +say, you are very unguarded in this respect, and poor Betty's mishap is +now known to the Emperor of Prussia and the King of Sweden, just as well +as to Father Luke and the Coadjutor; and as they say that these courts +are always exchanging gossip with each other, it will be back in England +by the time this reaches you. Let it be a caution to you in future, +or, if you must allude to these events, do it in a way that can't be +understood, as you may remark they do in the newspapers. I wish you +would n't be tormenting me about coming home and living among my own +people, as you call it. Let them pay up the arrears first Molly, before +they think of establishing any claim of the kind on your humble servant. +But the fact is, my dear, the longer you live abroad, the more you like +it; and going back to the strict rules and habits of England, after it, +is for all the world like putting on a strait-waistcoat. If you only +heard foreigners the way they talk of us, and we all the while thinking +ourselves the very pink of the creation! + +But of all the things they're most severe upon is Sunday. The manner +we pass the day, according to their notions, is downright barbarism. +No diversion of any kind, no dancing, no theatres; shops shut up, and +nothing legal but intoxication. I always tell them that the fault isn't +ours, that it's the Protestants that do these things; for, as Father +Maher says, "they 'd put a bit of crape over the blessed sun if they +could." But between ourselves, Molly, even we Catholics are greatly +behind the foreigners on all matters of civilization. It may be out of +fear of the others, but really we don't enjoy ourselves at all like the +French or the Germans. Even in the little place I'm writing now, there's +more amusement than in a big city at home; and if there's anything I 'm +convinced of at all, Molly, it's this: that there is no keeping people +out of great wickedness except by employing them in small sins; and, let +me tell you, there's not a political economist that ever I heard of has +hit upon the secret. + +We are all in good health, and except that K. I. is in one of his +habitual moods of discontent and grumbling, there's not anything +particular the matter with us. Indeed, if it was n't for his natural +perverseness of disposition, he ought n't to be cross and disagreeable, +for dear James has just been appointed to an elegant situation, on what +they call the "Diplomatic Service." When the letter first came, I was +almost off in a faint. I did n't know where it might be they might be +sending the poor child,--perhaps to Great Carey-o, or the Hy-menoal +Mountains of India; but Lord George says that it's at one of the great +Courts of Europe he's sure to be; and, indeed, with his figure and +advantages, that's the very thing to suit him. He's a picture of a +young man, and the very image of poor Tom McCarthy, that was shot at +Bally-healey the year of the great frost. If he does n't make a great +match, I 'm surprised at it; and the young ladies must be mighty +different in their notions from what I remember them, besides. Getting +him ready and fitting him out has kept us here; for whenever there's a +call upon K. I.'s right-hand pocket, he buttons up the left at once; so +that, till James is fairly off, there 's no hope for us of getting away +from this. That once done, however, I'm determined to pass the winter in +Italy. As Lord George says, coming abroad and not crossing the Alps, +is like going to a dinner-party and getting up after the "roast,"-- +"you have all the solids of the entertainment, but none of the light and +elegant trifles that aid digestion, and engage the imagination."'It's +a beautiful simile, Molly, and very true besides; for, after all, +the heart requires more than mere material enjoyments! You 're maybe +surprised to bear that Lord G. is back here; and so was I to see him. +What his intentions are, I 'm unable to say; but it's surely Mary Anne +at all events; and as she knows the world well, I 'm very easy in my +mind about her. As I told K. I. last night, "Abuse the Continent as you +like, K. I., waste all your bad words about the cookery and the morals +and the light wines and women, but there 's one thing you can't deny to +it,--there's no falling in love abroad,--that I maintain!" And when +you come to think of it, I believe that's the real evil of Ireland. +Everybody there falls in love, and the more surely when they haven't +a sixpence to marry on! All the young lawyers without briefs, all the +young doctors in dispensaries, every marching lieutenant living on his +pay, every young curate with seventy pounds a year,--in fact, +Molly, every case of hopeless poverty,--all what the newspapers call +heartrending distress,--is sure to have a sweetheart! When you think of +the misery that it brings on a single family, you may imagine the ruin +that it entails on a whole country. And I don't speak in ignorance, Mrs. +Gallagher; I 've lived to see the misery of even a tincture of love in +my own unfortunate fate. Not that indeed I ever went far in my feelings +towards K. I., but my youth and inexperience carried me away; and see +where they 've left me! Now that's an error nobody commits abroad; and +as to any one being married according to their inclination, it's quite +unheard of; and if they have less love, they have fewer disappointments, +and that same is something! + +Talking of marriage brings me to Betty,--I suppose I mustn't say Betty +Cobb, now that she calls herself the Frau Taddy. Hasn't she made a nice +business of it! "They're fighting," as K. I. says, "like man and wife, +already!" The creature is only half human; and when he has gorged +himself with meat and drink, he sometimes sleeps for twenty-four, or +maybe thirty hours; and if there's not something ready for him when he +wakes up, his passion is dreadful. I 'm afraid of my life lest K. I. +should see the bill for his food, and told the landlord only to put down +his four regular meals, and that I 'd pay the rest, which I have managed +to do, up to this, by disposing of K. I.'s wearing-apparel. And would +you believe it that the beast has already eaten a brown surtout, two +waistcoats, and three pairs of kerseymere shorts and gaiters, not to say +a spencer that he had for his lunch, and a mackintosh cape that he took +the other night before going to bed! Betty is always crying from his bad +usage, and consequently of no earthly use to any one; but if a word is +said against him, she flies out in a rage, and there's no standing her +tongue! + +Maybe, however, it's all for the best; for without a little excitement +to my nervous system, I 'd have found this place very dull. Dr. Morgan +Moore, that knew the M'Carthy constitution better than any one living, +used to say, "Miss Jemima requires movement and animation;" and, indeed, +I never knew any place agree with me like the "Sheds" of Clontarf. + +Mary Anne keeps telling me that this is now quite vulgar, and that your +people of first fashion are never pleased with anybody or anything; +and whenever a place or a party or even an individual is peculiarly +tiresome, she says, "Be sure, then, that it's quite the mode." That is +possibly the reason why Lord George recommends us passing a few weeks +on the Lake of Comus; and if it's the right thing to do, I 'm ready and +willing; but I own to you, Molly, I 'd like a little sociality, if it +was only for a change. At any rate, Comus is in Italy; and if we once +get there, it will go far with me if I don't see the Pope. I 'm obliged +to be brief this time, for the post closes here whenever the postmaster +goes to dinner; and to-day I 'm told he dines early. I 'll write you, +however, a full and true account of us all next week, till when, believe +me your ever affectionate and attached friend, + +Jemima Dodd. + +P. S. Mary Anne has just reconciled me to the notion of Comus. It is +really the most aristocratic place in Europe, and she remarks that it +is exactly the spot to make excellent acquaintances in for the ensuing +winter; for you see, Molly, that is really what one requires in summer +and autumn, and the English that live much abroad study this point +greatly. But, indeed, there's a wonderful deal to be learned before one +can say that they know life on the Continent; and the more I think +of it, the less am I surprised at the mistakes and blunders of our +travelling countrymen,--errors, I am proud to say, that we have escaped +up to this. + + + + +LETTER V. KENNY JAMES DODD TO THOMAS PURCELL, ESQ., OF THE GRANGE, BRUFF + +Bregenz. + +My dear Tom,--Although it is improbable I shall be able to despatch +this by the post of to-day, I take the opportunity of a few moments +of domestic peace to answer your last--I wish I could say +agreeable--letter. It is not that your intentions are not everything +that consists with rectitude and honor, or that your sentiments are not +always those of a right-minded man, but I beg to observe to you, Tom +Pur-cell, in all the candor of a five-and-forty years' friendship, that +you have about the same knowledge of life and the world that a toad has +of Lord Rosse's telescope. + +We have come abroad for an object, which, whether attainable or not, is +not now the question; but if there be any prospect whatever of realizing +it,--confound the phrase, but I have no other at hand,--it is surely +by an ample and liberal style of living, such as shall place us on a +footing of equality with the best society, and make the Dodds eligible +anywhere. + +I suppose you admit that much. I take it for granted that even bucolic +dulness is capable of going so far. Well, then, what do you mean by your +incessant appeals to "retrenchment" and "economy"? Don't you see that +you make yourself just as preposterous as Cobden, when he says, cut down +the estimates, reduce the navy, and dismiss your soldiers, but still +be a first-rate power. Tie your hands behind your back, but cry out, +"Beware of me, for I'm dreadful when I'm angry." + +You quote me against myself; you bring up my old letters, like Hansard, +against me, and say that all our attempts have been failures; but +without calling you to order for referring "to what passed in another +place," I will reply to you on your own grounds. If we have failed, it +has been because our resources did not admit of our maintaining to the +end what we had begun in splendor,--that our means fell short of our +requirements,--that, in fact, with a well-chosen position and picked +troops, we lost the battle only for want of ammunition, having fired +away all our powder in the beginning of the engagement. Whose fault was +_that_, I beg to ask? Can the Commissary-General Purcell come clear out +of _that_ charge? + +I know your hair-splitting habit; I at once anticipate your reply. An +agent and a commissary are two very different things! And just as flatly +I tell you, you are wrong, and that, rightly considered, the duties of +both are precisely analogous, and that a general commanding an army, and +an Irish landlord travelling on the Continent, present a vast number of +points of similitude and resemblance. In the one case as in the other, +supplies are indispensable; come what will, the forces must be fed, +and if it it would be absurd for the general to halt in his march and +inquire into all the difficulties of providing stores, it would be +equally preposterous for the landlord to arrest his career by going +into every petty grievance of his tenantry, and entering into a minute +examination of the state of every cottier on his laud. Send the rations, +Tom, and I 'll answer for the campaign. I don't mean to say that +there are not some hardships attendant upon this. I know that to raise +contributions an occasional severity must be employed; but is the +fate of a great engagement to be jeopardized for the sake of such +considerations? No, no, Tom. Even your spirit will recoil from such an +admission as this! + +It is only fair to mention that these are not merely my own sentiments. +Lord George Tiverton, to whom I happened to show your letter, was +really shocked at the contents. I don't wish to offend you, Tom, but the +expression he used was, "It is fortunate for your friend Purcell that he +is not _my_ agent" I will not repeat what he said about the management +of English landed property, but it is obvious that our system is not +their system, and that such a thing as a landlord in _my_ position is +actually unheard of. "If Ireland were subject to earthquakes," said he, +"if the arable land were now and then covered over ten feet deep with +lava, I could understand your agent's arguments; but wanting these +causes, they are downright riddles to me." + +He was most anxious to obtain possession of your letter; and I learned +from Mary Anne that he really meant to use it in the House, and show you +up bodily as one of the prominent causes of Irish misery. I have saved +you from this exposure, but I really cannot spare you some of the +strictures your conduct calls for. + +I must also observe to you that there is what the Duke used to call "a +terrible sameness" about your letters. The potatoes are always going to +rot, the people always going to leave. It rains for ten weeks at a time, +and if you have three fine days you cry out that the country is +ruined by drought. Just for sake of a little variety, can't you take +a prosperous tone for once, instead of "drawing my attention," as you +superciliously phrase it, to the newspaper announcement about "George +Davis and other petitioners, and the lands of Ballyclough, Kiltimaon, +and Knocknaslat-tery, being part of the estates of James Kenny Dodd, +Esq., of Dodsborough." I have already given you my opinion about +that Encumbered Estates Court, and I see no reason for changing it. +Confiscation is a mild name for its operation. What Ireland really +wanted was a loan fund,--a good round sum, say three and a half or +four millions, lent out on reasonable security, but free from all +embarrassing conditions. Compel every proprietor to plant so many +potatoes for the use of the poor, and get rid of those expensive +absurdities called "Unions," with all the lazy, indolent officials; do +that, and we might have a chance of prospering once more. + +It makes me actually sick to hear you, an Irishman born and bred, +repeating all that English balderdash about "a cheap and indisputable +title." and so forth. Do you remember about four-and-twenty years ago, +Tom, when I wanted to breach a place for a window in part of the old +house at Dodsborough, and Hackett warned me that if I touched a stone of +it I 'd maybe have the whole edifice come tumbling about my ears. Don't +you see the analogy between that and our condition as landlords, and +that our real security lay in the fact that nobody could dare to breach +us? Meddle with us once, and who could tell where the ruin would fall! +So long as the system lasted we were safe, Tom. Now, your Encumbered +Court, with its parliamentary title, has upset all that security; and +that's the reason of all the distress and misfortune that have overtaken +us. + +I think, after the specimen of my opinions, I 'll hear no more of your +reproaches about my "growing indifference to home topics," my "apparent +apathy regarding Ireland," and other similar reflections in your +last letter. Forget my country, indeed! Does a man ever forget the +cantharides when he has a blister on his back? If I 'm warm, I 'm sorry +for it; but it 's your own fault, Tom Purcell. You know me since I was +a child, and understand my temper well; and whatever it was once, it +hasn't improved by conjugal felicity. + +And now for the Home Office. James started last night for London, to +go through whatever formalities there may be before receiving his +appointment. What it is to be, or where, I have not an idea; but I cling +to the hope that when they see the lad, and discover his utter ignorance +on all subjects, it will be something very humble, and not requiring a +sixpence from me. All that I have seen of the world shows me that the +higher you look for your children the more they cost you; and for that +reason, if I had my choice, I 'd rather have him a gauger than in the +Grenadier Guards. Even as it is, the outfit for this journey has run +away with no small share of your late remittance, and now that we +have come to the end of the M'Carthy legacy,--the last fifty was +"appropriated" by James before starting,--it will require all the +financial skill you can command to furnish me with sufficient means for +our new campaign. + +Yes, Tom, we are going to Italy. I have discussed the matter so long, +and so fully argued it in every shape, artistical, philosophical, +economical, and moral, that I verily believe that our dialogues would +furnish a very respectable manual to Trans-Alpine travellers; and if I +am not a convert to the views of my opponents, I am so far vanquished in +the controversy as to give in. Lord George put the matter, I must say, +very strongly before me. "To turn your steps homeward from the Alps," +said he, "is like the act of a man who, having dressed for an evening +party and ascended the stairs, wheels round at the door of the +drawing-room, and quits the house. All your previous knowledge of the +Continent, so costly and so difficult to attain, is about at length to +become profitable; that insight into foreign life and habits which you +have arrived at by study and observation, is now about to be available. +Italy is essentially the land of taste, elegance, and refinement; and +there will all the varied gifts and acquirements of your accomplished +family be appreciated." Besides this, Tom, he showed me that the +"Snobs," as he politely designated them, are all "Cis-Alpine;" strictly +confining themselves to the Rhine and Switzerland, and never descending +the southern slopes of the Alps. According to his account, therefore, +the climate of Italy is not more marked by superiority than the tone of +its society. There all is polished, elegant, and refined; and if the +men be "not all brave, and the women all virtuous," it is because "their +moral standard is one more in accordance with the ancient traditions, +the temper, and the instincts of the people." I quote you his words +here, because very possibly they may be more intelligible to you than +to myself. At all events, one thing is quite clear,--we ought to go and +judge for ourselves, and to this resolve have we come. Tiverton--without +whom we should be actually helpless--has arranged the whole affair, and, +really, with a regard to economy that, considering his habits and his +station, can only be attributed to a downright feeling of friendship +for us. By a mere accident he hit upon a villa at Como, for a mere +trifle,--he won't tell me the sum, but he calls it a "nothing,"--and +now he has, with his habitual good luck, chanced upon a return carriage +going to Milan, the driver of which horses our carriage, and takes the +servants with him, for very little more than the keep of his beasts on +the road. This piece of intelligence will tickle every stingy fibre in +your economical old heart, and at last shall I know you to mutter, "K. +I. is doing the prudent thing." + +Tiverton himself says, "It's not exactly the most elegant mode of +travelling; but as the season is early, and the Splugen a pass seldom +traversed, we shall slip down to Como unobserved, and save some forty +or fifty 'Naps.' without any one being the wiser." Mrs. D. would, +of course, object if she had the faintest suspicion that it was +inexpensive; but "my Lord," who seems to read her like a book, has told +her that it is the very mode in which all the aristocracy travel, and +that by a happy piece of fortune we have secured the vetturino that took +Prince Albert to Rome, and the Empress of Russia to Palermo! + +He has, or he is to find, four horses for our coach, and three for +his own; we are to take the charge of bridges, barriers, rafts, and +"remounts," and give him, besides, five Napoleons _per diem_, and a +"buona mano," or gratuity, of three more, if satisfied, at the end of +the journey. Now, nothing could be more economical than this; for we are +a large party, and with luggage enough to fill a ship's jolly-boat. + +You see, therefore, what it is to have a shrewd and intelligent friend. +You and I might have walked the main street of Bregenz till our shoes +were thin, before we discovered that the word "Gelegenheit," chalked up +on the back-leather of an old caleche, meant "A return conveniency to be +had cheap." The word is a German one, and means "Opportunity:" and ah! +my dear Tom, into what a strange channel does it entice one's thoughts! +What curious reflections come across the mind as we think of all our +real opportunities in this world, and how little we did of them! Not but +there might be a debit side to the account, too, and that some two or +three may have escaped us that it was just as well we let pass! + +We intended to have left this to-morrow, but Mrs. D. won't travel on +a Friday. "It's an unlucky day," she says, and maybe she's right. If I +don't mistake greatly, it was on a Friday I was married; but of course +this is a reminiscence I keep to myself. This reminds me of the question +in your postscript, and to which I reply: "Not a bit of it; nothing of +the kind. So far as I see, Tiverton feels a strong attachment to James, +but never even notices the girls. I ought to add that this is not Mrs. +D.'s opinion; and she is always flouncing into my dressing-room, with +a new discovery of a look that he gave Mary Anne, or a whisper that he +dropped into Cary's ear. Mothers would be a grand element in a detective +police, if they did n't now and then see more than was in sight; but +that's their failing, Tom. The same generous zeal which they employ +in magnifying their husbands' faults helps them to many another +exaggeration. Now Mrs. D. is what she calls fully persuaded--in other +words, she has some shadowy suspicions--that Lord George has formed a +strong attachment to one or other of her daughters, the only doubtful +point being which of them is to be my Lady." + +Shall I confess to you that I rather cherish the notion than seek to +disabuse her of it, and for this simple reason: whenever she is in +full cry after grandeur, whether in the shape of an acquaintance, an +invitation, or a match for the girls, she usually gives me a little +peace and quietness. The peerage, "God bless our old nobility," acts +like an anodyne on her. + +I give you, therefore, both sides of the question, repeating once more +my own conviction that Lord G. has no serious intentions, to use the +phrase maternal, whatever. And now to your second query: If not, is it +prudent to encourage his intimacy? Why, Tom Purcell, just bethink you +for a moment, and see to what a strange condition would your theory, if +acted on, resolve all the inhabitants of the globe. Into one or other +category they must go infallibly. "Either they want to marry one of the +Dodds, or they don't." Now, though the fact is palpable enough, it is +for all purposes of action a most embarrassing one; and if I proceed to +make use of it, I shall either be doomed to very tiresome acquaintances, +or a life of utter solitude and desertion. + +Can't a man like your society, your dinners, your port, your jokes, and +your cigars, but he must perforce marry one of your daughters? Is your +house to be like a rat-trap, and if a fellow puts his head in must he be +caught? I don't like the notion at all; and not the less that it rather +throws a slight over certain convivial gifts and agreeable qualities for +which, once upon a time at least, I used to have some reputation. As to +Tiverton, I like _him_, and I have a notion that he likes _me_, We suit +each other as well as it is possible for two men bred, born, and brought +up so perfectly unlike. We both have seen a great deal of the world, or +rather of two worlds, for _his_ is not _mine_. At the same time, every +remark he makes--and all his observations show me that mankind is +precisely the same thing everywhere, and that it is exactly with the +same interests, the same impulses, and the same passions my Lord bets +his thousands at "Crocky's" that Billy Healey or Father Tom ventures his +half-crown at the Pig and Pincers, in Bruff. I used to think that what +with races, elections, horse-fairs, and the like, I had seen my share of +rascality or roguery; but, compared to my Lord's experiences, I might be +a babe in the nursery. There is n't a dodge--not a piece of knavery that +was ever invented--he doesn't know. Trickery and deception of every kind +are all familiar to him, and, as he says himself, he only wants a few +weeks in a convict settlement to put the finish on his education. + +You 'd fancy, from what I say, that he must be a cold, misanthropic, +suspectful fellow, with an ill-natured temper, and a gloomy view of +everybody and everything. Far from it, his whole theory of life is +benevolent; and his maxim, to believe every one honorable, trustworthy, +and amiable. I see the half-cynical smile with which you listen to this, +and I already know the remark that trembles on your lip. You would +say that such a code cuts both ways, and that a man who pronounces so +favorably of his fellows almost secures thereby a merciful verdict on +himself. In fact, that he who passes base money can scarcely refuse, +now and then, to accept a bad halfpenny in change. Well, Tom, I 'll not +argue the case with you, for if not myself a disciple of this creed, +I have learned to think that there are very few, indeed, who are +privileged to play censor upon their acquaintances, and that there is +always the chance that when you are occupied looking at your neighbor +drifting on a lee shore, you may bump on a rock yourself. + +You said in your last that you thought me more lax than I used to be +about right and wrong,--"less strait-laced," you were polite enough to +call it; and with an equal urbanity you ascribed this change in me to +the habits of the Continent. I am proud to say "Guilty" to the charge, +and I believe you are right as to the cause. Yes, Tom, the tone of +society abroad is eminently merciful, and it must needs be a bad case +where there are no attenuating circumstances. So much the worse, say +you; where vice is leniently looked on, it will be sure to flourish. To +which I answer, Show me where it does not! Is it in the modern Babylon, +is it in moral Scotland, or drab-colored Washington? On my conscience, I +don't believe there is more of wickedness in a foreign city than a +home one; the essential difference being that we do wrong with a +consciousness of our immorality; whereas the foreigner has a strong +impression that after all it's only a passing frailty, and that human +nature was not ever intended to be perfect. Which system tends most to +corrupt a people, and which creates more hopeless sinners, I leave to +you, and others as fond of such speculations, to ponder over. + +Another charge--for your letter has as many counts as an +indictment--another you make against me is that I seem as if I was +beginning to like--or, as you modestly phrase it--as if I was getting +more reconciled to the Continent. Maybe I am, now that I have learned +how to qualify the light wines with a little brandy, and to make my +dinner of the eight or nine, instead of the two-and-thirty dishes they +serve up to you; and since I have trained myself to walk the length of +a street, in rain or sunshine, without my hat, and have attained to the +names of the cards at whist in a foreign tongue, I believe I do feel +more at home here than at first; but still I am far, very far, in arrear +of the knowledge that a man bred and born abroad would possess at my +age. To begin, Tom: He would be a perfect cook; you couldn't put a clove +of garlic too little, or an olive too much, without his detecting it in +the dish. Secondly, he would be curious in snuffs, and a dead hand at +dominos; then he would be deep in the private histories of the ballet, +and tell you the various qualities of short-draperied damsels that had +figured on the boards for the last thirty years. These, and such-like, +would be the consolations of his declining years; and of these I know +absolutely next to nothing. Who knows, however, but I may improve? The +world is a wonderful schoolmaster, and if Mrs. D. is to be believed, I +am an apt scholar whenever the study is of an equivocal kind. + +We hope to spend the late autumn at Como, and then step down into some +of the cities of the South for the winter months. The approved plan is +Florence till about the middle of January, Rome till the beginning +of Lent, then Naples till the Holy Week, whence back again for the +ceremonies. After that, northward wherever you please. All this sounds +like a good deal of locomotion, and, consequently, of expense; but Lord +G. says, "Just leave it to _me_, I'll be your courier;" and as he not +only performs that function, but unites with it that of banker,--he can +get anything discounted at any moment,--I am little disposed to depose +him from his office. Now no more complaints that I have not replied to +you about this, that, and t' other, not informed you about our future +movements, nor given you any hint as to our plans: you know everything +about us, at least so far as it is known to your + +Very sincere friend, + +Kenny I. Dodd. + +As I mentioned in the beginning, I am too late for the post, so I 'll +keep this open if anything should occur to me before the next mail. + + +The Inn, Splugen, Monday. + +I thought this was already far on its way to you; but, to my great +surprise, on opening my writing-desk this morning, I discovered it +there still. The truth is, I grow more absent, and what the French call +"distracted," every day; and it frequently happens that I forget some +infernal bill or other, till the fellow knocks at the door with "the +notice." Here we are, at a little inn on the very top of the Alps. +We arrived yesterday, and, to our utter astonishment, found ourselves +suddenly in a land of snow and icebergs. The whole way from Bregenz the +season was a mellow autumn: some of the corn was still standing, but +most was cut, and the cattle turned out over the stubble; the trees were +in full leaf, and the mountain rivulets were clear and sparkling, for no +rain had fallen for some time back. It was a picturesque road and full +of interest in many ways. From Coire we made a little excursion across +the Rhine to a place called Ragatz,--a kind of summer resort for +visitors who come to bathe and drink the waters of Pfeffers, one of +the most extraordinary sights I ever beheld. These baths are built in +a cleft of the mountain, about a thousand feet in depth, and scarcely +thirty wide in many parts; the sides of the precipices are straight as a +wall, and only admit of a gleam of the sun when perfectly vertical. The +gloom and solemnity of the spot, its death-like stillness and shade, +even at noonday, are terribly oppressive. Nor is the sadness dispelled +by the living objects of the picture,--Swiss, Germans, French, and +Italians, swathed in flannel dressing-gowns and white dimity cerements, +with nightcaps and slippers, steal along the gloomy corridors and the +gloomier alleys, pale, careworn, and cadaverous. They come here for +health, and their whole conversation is sickness. Now, however consoling +it may be to an invalid to find a recipient of his sorrows, the price +of listening in turn is a tremendous infliction. Nor is the character of +the scene such as would probably suggest agreeable reflections; had it +been the portico to the nameless locality itself, it could not possibly +be more dreary and sorrow-stricken. Now, whatever virtues the waters +possess, is surely antagonized by all this agency of gloom and +depression; and except it be as a preparation for leaving the world +without regret, this place seems to be marvellously ill adapted for its +object. It appears to me, however, that foreigners run into the greatest +extremes in these matters; a sick man must either live in a perpetual +Vauxhall of fireworks, music, dancing, dining, and gambling, as at +Baden, or be condemned to the worse than penitentiary diet and prison +discipline of Pfeffers! Surely there must be some halting-place between +the ball-room and the cloister, or some compromise of costume between +silk stockings and bare feet! But really, to a thinking, reasonable +being, it appears very distressing that you must either dance out of the +world to Strauss's music, or hobble miserably out of life to the sound +of the falling waters of Pfeffers. + +Does it not sound, also, very oddly to our free-trade notions of malady, +that the doctor of these places is appointed by the State; that without +his sanction and opinion of your case, you must neither bathe nor drink; +that no matter how satisfied you may be with your own physician, nor how +little to your liking the Government medico, he has the last word on the +subject of your disorder, and without his wand the pool is never to be +stirred in your behalf. You don't quite approve of this, Tom,--neither +do I. The State has no more a right to choose my doctor than to select +a wife for me. If there be anything essentially a man's own prerogative, +it is his--what shall I call it?--his caprice about his medical adviser. +One man likes a grave, sententious, silently disposed fellow, who feels +his pulse, shakes his head, takes his fee, and departs, with scarcely +more than a muttered monosyllable; another prefers the sympathetic +doctor, that goes half-and-half in all his sufferings, lies awake at +night thinking of his case, and seems to rest his own hopes of future +bliss in life on curing him. As for myself, I lean to the fellow that, +no matter what ails me, is sure to make me pass a pleasant half-hour; +that has a lively way of laughing down all my unpleasant symptoms, and +is certain to have a droll story about a patient that he has just come +from. That's the man for my money; and I wish you could tell me where a +man gets as good value as for the guinea be gives to one of these. Now, +from what I have seen of the Continent, this is an order of which +they have no representative. All the professional classes, but more +essentially the medical, are taken from an inferior grade in society, +neither brought up in intercourse with the polite world, nor ever +admitted to it afterwards. The consequence is, that your doctor comes +to visit you as your shoemaker to measure you for shoes, and it would +be deemed as great a liberty were he to talk of anything but your +complaint, as for Crispin to impart his sentiments about Russia or the +policy of Louis Napoleon. I don't like the system, and I am convinced +it does n't work well. If I know anything of human nature, too, it is +this,--that nobody tells the whole truth to his physician _till he can't +help it_. No, Tom, it only comes out after a long cross-examination, +great patience, and a deal of dodging; and for these you must have no +vulgarly minded, commonplace, underbred fellow, but a consummate man of +the world, who knows when you are bamboozling him and when fencing him +off with a sham. He must be able to use all the arts of a priest in the +confessional, and an advocate in a trial, with a few more of his own not +known to either, to extort your secret from you; and I am sure that a +man of vulgar habits and low associations is not the best adapted for +this. + +I wanted to stop and dine with this lugubrious company. I was curious +to see what they ate, and whether their natures attained any social +expansion under the genial influences of food and drink; but Mrs. D. +would n't hear of it. She had detected, she said, an "impudent hussy +with black eyes" bestowing suspicious glances at your humble servant. I +thought that she was getting out of these fancies,--I fondly hoped that +a little peace on these subjects would in a degree reconcile me to many +of the discomforts of old age; but, alas! the gray hairs and the stiff +ankles have come, and no writ of ease against conjugal jealousies. +Away we came, fresh and fasting, and as there was nothing to be had at +Ragatz, we were obliged to go on to Coire before we got supper; and if +you only knew what it is to arrive at one of these foreign inns after +the hour of the ordinary meals, you 'd confess there was little risk of +our committing an excess. + +I own to you, Tom, that the excursion scarcely deserved to be called +a pleasant one. Fatigue, disappointment, and hunger are but ill +antagonized by an outbreak of temper; and Mrs. D. lightened the way +homeward by a homily on fidelity that would have made Don Juan appear +deserving of being canonized as a saint! I must also observe that +Tiverton's conduct on this occasion was the very reverse of what I +expected from him. A shrewd, keen fellow like him could not but know in +his heart that Mrs. D.'s suspicions were only nonsense and absurdity; +and yet what did he do but play shocked and horrified, agreed completely +with every ridiculous notion of my wife, and actually went so far as to +appeal to me as a father against myself as a profligate. I almost choked +with passion; and if it was not that we were under obligations to him +about James's business, I'm not certain I should not have thrown him +out of the coach. I wish to the saints that the women would take to +any other line of suspicion, even for the sake of variety,--fancy me an +incurable drunkard, a gambler, an uncertificated bankrupt, or a forger. +I'm not certain if I would not accept the charge of a transportable +felony rather than be regarded as the sworn enemy of youth and virtue, +and the snake in the grass to all unprotected females. + +From Coire we travelled on to Reichenau, a pretty village at the foot +of the Alps, watered by the Rhine, which is there a very inconsiderable +stream, and with as little promise of future greatness as any barrister +of six years' standing you please to mention. There is a neat-looking +chateau, which stands on a small terrace above the river here, not +without a certain interest attached to it. It was here that Louis +Philippe, then Duke of Orleans, taught mathematics in the humble +capacity of usher to a school. Just fancy that deep politician--the +wiliest head in all Europe, with the largest views of statecraft, and +the most consummate knowledge of men--instilling angles and triangles +into impracticable numskulls, and crossing the Asses' bridge ten times a +day with lame and crippled intellects. + +It would be curious to know what views of mankind, what studies of +life, he made during this period. Such a man was not made to suffer +any opportunity, no matter how inconsiderable in itself, to escape him +without profiting; and it may be easily believed that in the monarchy of +a school he might have meditated over the rule of large masses. + +History can scarcely present greater changes of fortune than those that +have befallen that family, which is the more singular, since they +have been brought about neither by great talents nor great crimes. The +Orleans family was more remarkable for the qualities which shine in +the middle ranks of life than either for any towering genius or +any unscrupulous ambition. Their strength was essentially in this +mediocrity, and it was a momentary forgetfulness of that same +stronghold--by the Spanish marriage--that cost the King his throne. The +truth was, Tom, that the nation never liked us,--they hated England just +as they hated it at Cressy, at Blenheim, and at Waterloo, and will hate +it, notwithstanding your great Industrial gatherings, to the end of +time. They were much dissatisfied with Louis Philippe's policy of +an English alliance; they deemed it disadvantageous, costly, and +humiliating; but that it should be broken up and destroyed for an object +of mere family, for a piece of dynastic ambition, was a gross outrage +and affront to the spirit of national pride. It was the sentiment of +insulted honor that leagued the followers of the Orleans branch with the +Legitimists and the Republicans, and formed that terrible alliance that +extended from St. Antoine to the Faubourg St. Germain, and included +every one from the peer to the common laborer. + +All this prosing about politics will never take us over the Alps; and, +indeed, so far as I can see, there is small prospect of that event just +now; for it has been snowing smartly all night, with a strong southerly +wind, which they say always leaves heavy drifts in different parts of +the mountain. + +We are cooped up here in a curious, straggling kind of an inn, that +gradually dwindles away into a barn, a stable, and a great shed, filled +with disabled diligences and smashed old sledges,--an incurable asylum +for diseased conveyances. The house stands in a cleft of the hills; but +from the windows you can see the zigzag road that ascends for miles in +front, and which now is only marked by long poles, already some ten or +twelve feet deep in snow. It is snow on every side,--on the mountains, +on the roofs, on the horses that stand shaking their bells at the door, +on the conducteur that drinks his schnaps, on the postilion as he +lights his pipe. The thin flakes are actually plating his whiskers and +moustaches, till he looks like one of the "Old Guard," as we see them in +a melodrama. + +Tiverton, who conducts all our arrangements, has had a row with our +vetturino, who says that he never contracted to take us over the +mountain in sledges; and as the carriages cannot run on wheels, here +we are discussing the question. There have been three stormy debates +already, and another is to come off this afternoon; meanwhile, the snow +is falling heavily, and whatever chance there was of getting forward +yesterday is now ten times less practicable. The landlord of our inn is +to be arbiter, I understand; and as he is the proprietor of the sledges +we shall have to hire, if defeated, without impugning in any way the +character of Alpine justice, you can possibly anticipate the verdict. + +A word upon this vetturino system ere I leave it,--I hope forever. It +is a perfect nuisance from beginning to end. From the moment you set off +with one of these rascals, till the hour you arrive at your journey's +end, it is plague, squabble, insolence, and torment. They start at what +hour of the morning they please; they halt where they like, and for as +long as they like, invariably, too, at the worst wayside inns,--away +from a town and from all chance of accommodation,--since rye-bread and +sour wine, with a mess of stewed garlic, will always satisfy _them_. +They rarely drive at full five miles the hour, and walk every inch with +an ascent of a foot in a hundred yards. If expostulated with by the +wretched traveller, they halt in some public place, and appeal to the +bystanders in some dialect unknown to you. The result of which is that +a ferocious mob surrounds you, and with invectives, insults, and +provocative gestures assail and outrage you, till it please your +tormentor to drive on; which you do at length amidst hooting and uproar +that even convicted felons would feel ashamed of. + +On reaching your inn at night, they either give such a representation of +you as gets you denied admittance at all, or obtain for you the enviable +privilege of paying for everything "en Milor." Between being a swindler +and an idiot the chance alone lies for you. Then they refuse to unstrap +your luggage; or if they do so, tie it on again so insecurely that it +is sure to drop off next day. I speak not of a running fire of petty +annoyances; such as fumigating you with pestilent tobacco, nor the +blessed enjoyment of that infernal Spitz dog which stands all day on the +roof, and barks every mile of the road from Berne to Naples. As to any +redress against their insolence, misconduct, or extortion, it is utterly +hopeless,--and for this reason: they are sure to have a hundred petty +occasions of rendering small services to the smaller authorities of +every village they frequent. They carry the judge's mother for nothing +to a watering-place; or they fetch his aunt to the market town; or they +smuggle for him--or thieve for him--something that is only to be had +over the frontier. Very probably, too, on the very morning of your +appeal, you have kicked the same judge's brother, he being the waiter +of your inn, and having given you bad money in change,--at all events, +_you_ are not likely ever to be met with again; the vetturino is certain +to come back within the year; and, finally, you are sure to have money, +and be able to pay,--so that, as the Irish foreman said, as the reason +for awarding heavy damages against an Englishman, "It is a fine thing to +bring so much money into the country." + +Take my word for it, Tom, the system is a perfect disgust from beginning +to end, and even its cheapness only a sham; for your economy is more +than counterbalanced by police fees, fines, and impositions, delays, +remounts, bulls, and starved donkeys, paid for at a price they would not +bring if sold at a market. Post, if you can afford it; take the public +conveyances, if you must; but for the sake of all that is decent and +respectable,--all that consists with comfort and self-respect,--avoid +the vetturino! I know that a contrary opinion has a certain prevalence +in the world,--I am quite aware that these rascals have their +advocates,--and no bad ones either,--since they are women. + +I have witnessed more than one Giuseppe, or Antonio, with a beard, +whiskers, and general "get up," that would have passed muster in a comic +opera; and on looking at the fellow's book of certificates (for such as +these always have a bound volume, smartly enclosed in a neat case), I +have found that "Mrs. Miles Dalrymple and daughters made the journey +from Milan to Aix-les-Bains with Francesco Birbante, and found him +excessively attentive, civil, and obliging; full of varied information +about the road, and quite a treasure to ladies travelling alone." +Another of these villains is styled "quite an agreeable companion;" one +was called "charming;" and I found that Miss Matilda Somers, of Queen's +Road, Old Brompton, pronounces Luigi Balderdasci, although in the +humble rank of a vetturino, "an accomplished gentleman." I know, +therefore, how ineffectual would it be for Kenny Dodd to enter the lists +against such odds, and it is only under the seal of secrecy that I dare +to mutter them. The widows and the fatherless form a strong category in +foreign travel; dark dresses and demure looks are very vagrant in their +habits, and I am not going to oppose myself single-handed to such a +united force. But to you, Tom Purceli, I may tell the truth in all +confidence and security. If I was in authority, I 'd shave these +scoundrels to-morrow. I 'd not suffer a moustache, a red sash, nor a +hat with a feather amongst them; and take my word for it, the panegyrics +would be toned down, and we'd read much more about the horses than the +drivers, and learn how many miles a day they could travel, and not how +many sonnets of Petrarch the rascal could repeat. + +I have lost my "John Murray." I forgot it in our retreat from Pfeffers; +so that I don't remember whether he lauds these fellows or the reverse, +but the chances are it is the former. It is one of the endless delusions +travellers fall into, and many's the time I have had to endure a +tiresome description of their delightful vetturino, that "charming +Beppo, who, 'however he got them,' had a bouquet for each of us every +morning at breakfast." If I ever could accomplish the writing of that +book I once spoke to you about upon the Continent and foreign travels, I +'d devote a whole chapter to these fellows; and more than that, Tom, I'd +have an Appendix--a book of travels is nothing without an Appendix in +small print--wherein I'd give a list of all these scoundrels who have +been convicted as bandits, thieves, and petty larceners; of all their +misdeeds against old gentlemen with palsy, and old ladies with "nerves." +I 'd show them up, not as heroes but highwaymen; and take my word for +it, I 'd be doing good service to the writers of those sharply formed +little paragraphs now so enthusiastic about Giovanni, and so full of +"grateful recollections" of "poor Giuseppe." + +I am positively ashamed to say how many of the observations, ay, and of +the printed observations of travellers, I have discovered to have their +origin in this same class; and that what the tourist jotted down as +his own remark on men and manners, was the stereotyped opinion of +these illiterate vagabonds. But as for books of travel, Tom, of all the +humbugs of a humbugging age, there is nothing can approach them. I have +heard many men talk admirably about foreign life and customs. I have +never chanced upon one who could write about them. It is not only +that your really smart fellows do not write; but that, to pronounce +authoritatively on a people, one must have a long and intimate +acquaintance with them. Now, this very fact alone to a great degree +invalidates the freshness of observation; for what we are accustomed +to see every day ceases to strike us as worthy of remark. To the raw +tourist, all is strange, novel, and surprising; and if he only record +what he sees, he will tell much that everybody knows, but also some +things that are not quite so familiar to the multitude. Now, your old +resident abroad knows the Continent too well and too thoroughly to find +any one incident or circumstance peculiar. To take an illustration: A +man who had never been at a play in his life would form a far better +conception of what a theatre was like from hearing the description of +one from an intelligent child, who had been there once, than from the +most labored criticism on the acting from an old frequenter of the pit. +Hence the majority of these tours have a certain success at home; but +for the man who comes abroad, and wishes to know something that may aid +to guide his steps, form his opinions, and direct his judgment, believe +me they are not worth a brass farthing. There is this also to be taken +into account,--that every observer is, more or less, recounting some +trait of his own nature, of his habits, his tastes, and his prejudices; +so that before you can receive his statement, you have to study his +disposition. Take all these adverse and difficult conditions into +consideration,--give a large margin for credulity, and a larger for +exaggeration,--bethink you of the embarrassments of a foreign tongue, +and then I ask you how much real information you have a right to expect +from Journals of the Long Vacation, or Winters in Italy, or Tyrol +Rambles in Autumn? I say it in no boastfulness, Tom, nor in any mood of +vanity, but if I was some twenty years younger, with a good income and +no encumbrances, well versed in languages, and fairly placed as regards +social advantages, I myself could make a very readable volume about +foreign life and foreign manners. You laugh at the notion of Kenny Dodd +on a titlepage; but have n't we one or two of our acquaintances that cut +just as ridiculous a figure? + +Tiverton has come in to tell me that the judgment of the Court has been +given against him, and consequently against us, "_in re_ Vetturino;" and +the award of the judge is, "That we pay all the expenses for the journey +to Milan, the gratuity,--that was only to be given as an evidence of +our perfect satisfaction,--and anything more that our sense of honor +and justice may suggest, as compensation for the loss of time he has +sustained in litigating with us." On these conditions he is to be free +to follow his road, and we are to remain here till--I wish I could say +the time--but, according to present appearances, it may be spring before +we get away. When I tell you that the decision has been given by the +landlord of the inn, where we must stop,--as no other exists within +twenty miles of us,--you may guess the animus of the judgment-seat. It +requires a great degree of self-restraint not be to carried into what +the law calls an overt act, by a piece of iniquity like this. I have +abstained by a great effort; but the struggle has almost given me a fit +of apoplexy. Imagine the effrontery of the rascal, Tom: scarcely had +he counted over his Napoleons, and made his grin of farewell, than he +mounted his box and drove away over the mountain, which had just been +declared impassable,--a feat witnessed by all of us,--in company with +the landlord who had pronounced the verdict against us. I stormed--I +swore--in short, I worked myself into a sharp fit of the gout, which +flew from my ankle to my stomach, and very nigh carried me off. A day +of extreme suffering has been succeeded by one of great depression; and +here I am now, with the snow still falling fast; the last courier who +went by saying "that all the inns at Chiavenna were full of people, none +of whom would venture to cross the mountain." It appears that there are +just two peculiarly unpropitious seasons for the passage,--when the snow +falls first, and when it begins to melt in spring. It is needless to say +that we have hit upon one of these, with our habitual good fortune! + + +Thursday. The Inn, Spluegen. + +Here we are still in this blessed place, this being now our seventh day +in a hole you would n't condemn a dog to live in. How long we might +have continued our sojourn it is hard to say, when a mere accident has +afforded us the prospect of liberation. It turns out that two families +arrived and went forward last night, having only halted to sup and +change horses. On inquiry why we could n't be supposed capable of the +same exertion, you 'll not believe me when I tell you the answer we got. +No, Tom! The enormous power of lying abroad is clear and clean beyond +your conception. It was this, then. We could go when we pleased,--it was +entirely a caprice of our own that we had not gone before. "How so, may +I ask?" said I, in the meekest of inquiring voices. "You would n't go +like others," was the answer. "In what respect,--how?" asked I again. +"Oh, your English notions rejected the idea of a sledge. You insisted +upon going on wheels, and as no wheeled carriage could run--" Grant me +patience, or I'll explode like a shell. My hand shakes, and my temples +are throbbing so that I can scarcely write the lines. I made a great +effort at a calm and discretionary tone, but it would n't do; a certain +fulness about the throat, a general dizziness, and a noise like the sea +in my ears, told me that I'd have been behaving basely to the "Guardian" +and the "Equitable Fire and Life" were I to continue the debate. I sat +down, and with a sponge and water and loose cravat, I got better. There +was considerable confusion in my faculties on my coming to myself; I had +a vague notion of having conducted myself in some most ridiculous and +extravagant fashion,--having insisted upon the horses being harnessed +in some impossible mode, or made some demand or other totally +impracticable. Cary, like a dear kind girl as she is, laughed and +quizzed me out of my delusion, and showed me that it was the cursed +imputation of that scoundrel of a landlord had given this erratic turn +to my thoughts. The gout has settled in my left foot, and I now, with +the exception of an occasional shoot of pain that I relieve by a shout, +feel much better, and hope soon to be fit for the road. Poor Cary made +me laugh by a story she picked up somewhere of a Scotch gentleman who +had contracted with his vetturino to be carried from Genoa to Rome and +fed on the road,--a very common arrangement. The journey was to occupy +nine days; but wishing to secure a splendid "buona mano," the vetturino +drove at a tremendous pace, and actually arrived in Rome on the eighth +day, having almost killed his horses and exhausted himself. When he +appeared before his traveller, expecting compliments on his speed, and +a handsome recognition for his zeal, guess his astonishment to hear his +self-panegyrics cut short by the pithy remark: "You drove very well, my +friend; but we are not going to part just yet,--you have still another +day to _feed_ me." + +Tiverton has at length patched up an arrangement with our landlord +for twelve sledges,--each only carries one and the driver,--so that if +nothing adverse intervene we are to set forth to-morrow. He says that we +may reasonably hope to reach Chiavenna before evening. I 'll therefore +not detain this longer, but in the prospect that our hour of liberation +has at length drawn nigh, conclude my long despatch. + +Our villa at Como will be our next address, and I hope to find a letter +there from you soon after our arrival. Remember, Tom, all that I have +said about the supplies, for though they tell me Italy be cheap, I +have not yet discovered a land where the population believes gold to be +dross. Adieu! + + + + +LETTER VI. MARY ANNE DODD TO MISS DOOLAN, OF BALLYDOOLAN. + +On the Spluegen Alps. + +Dearest Kitty,--I write these few lines from the Refuge-house on the +Spluegen Pass. We are seven thousand feet above the level of something, +with fifty feet of snow around us, and the deafening roar of avalanches +thundering on the ear. We set out yesterday from the village of Spluegen, +contrary to the advice of the guides, but papa insisted on going. He +declared that if no other means offered, he 'd go on foot, so that +opposition was really out of the question. Our departure was quite a +picture. First came a long, low sledge, with stones and rocks to explore +the way, and show where the footing was secure. Then came three others +with our luggage; after that mamma, under the guidance of a most careful +person, a certain Bernardt something, brother of the man who acted +as guide to Napoleon; Cary followed her in another sledge, and I came +third, papa bringing up the rear, for Betty and the other servants +were tastefully grouped about the luggage. Several additional sledges +followed with spade and shovel-folk, ropes, drags, and other implements +most suggestive of peril and adventure. We were perfect frights to look +at; for, in addition to fur boots and capes, tarpaulins and hoods, we +had to wear snow goggles as a precaution against the fine drifting snow, +so that really for very shame' sake I was glad that each sledge only +held one, and the driver, who is fortunately, also, at your back. + +The first few miles of ascent were really pleasurable, for the snow +was hard, and the pace occasionally reached a trot, or at least such a +resemblance to one as shook the conveniency, and made the bells jingle +agreeably on the harness. The road, too, followed a zigzag course on +the steep side of the mountain, so that you saw at moments some of those +above and some beneath you, winding along exactly like the elephant +procession in Bluebeard. The voices sounded cheerily in the sharp +morning air, itself exhilarating to a degree, and this, with the bright +snow-peaks, rising one behind the other in the distance, and the little +village of Spluegen in the valley, made up a scene strikingly picturesque +and interesting. There was a kind of adventure, too, about it all, +dearest Kitty, that never loses its charm for the soul deeply imbued +with a sense of the beautiful and imaginative. I fancied myself at +moments carried away by force into the Steppes of Tartary, or that I +was Elizabeth crossing the Volga, and I believe I even shed tears at my +fancied distress. To another than you, dearest, I might hesitate even if +I confessed as much; but you, who know every weakness of a too feeling +heart, will forgive me for being what I am. + +My guide, a really fine-looking mountaineer, with a magnificent beard, +fancied that it was the danger that had appalled me. He hastened to +offer his rude but honest consolations; he protested that there was +nothing whatever like peril, and that if there were--But why do I go on? +even to my dearest friend may not this seem childish? and is it not a +silly vanity that owns it can derive pleasure from every homage, even +the very humblest? + +We gradually lost sight of the little smoke-wreathed village, and +reached a wild but grandly desolate region, with snow on every side. The +pathway, too, was now lost to us, and the direction only indicated by +long poles at great intervals. That all was not perfectly safe in front +might be apprehended, for we came frequently to a dead halt, and then +the guides and the shovel-men would pass rapidly to and fro, but, +muffled as we were, all inquiry was impossible, so that we were left to +the horrors of doubt and dread without a chance of relief. At length we +grew accustomed to these interruptions, and felt in a measure tranquil. +Not so the guides, however; they frequently talked together in knots, +and I could see from their upward glances, too, that they apprehended +some change in the weather. Papa had contrived to cut some of the cords +with which they had fastened his muffles, and by great patience and +exertion succeeded in getting his head out of three horsecloths, with +which they had swathed him. + +"Are we near the summit?" cried he, in English,--"how far are we from +the top?" + +His question was of course unintelligible, but his action not; and the +consequence was that three of our followers rushed over to him, and +after a brief struggle, in which two of them were tumbled over in the +snow, his head was again enclosed within its woolly cenotaph; and, +indeed, but for a violent jerking motion of it, it might have been +feared that even all access to external air was denied him. This little +incident was the only break to the monotony of the way, till nigh noon, +when a cold, biting wind, with great masses of misty vapor, swept past +and around us, and my guide told me that we were somewhere, with a hard +name, and that he wished we were somewhere else, with a harder. + +I asked why, but my question died away in the folds of my head-gear, and +I was left to my own thoughts, when suddenly a loud shout rang through +the air. It was a party about to turn back, and the sledges stopped up +the road. The halt led to a consultation between the guides, which I +could see turned on the question of the weather. The discussion was +evidently a warm one, a party being for, and another against it. Hearing +what they said was of course out of the question, muffled as I was; but +their gestures clearly defined who were in favor of proceeding, and who +wished to retrace their steps. One of the former particularly struck me; +for, though encumbered with fur boots and an enormous mantle, his action +plainly indicated that he was something out of the common. He showed +that air of command, too, Kitty, that at once proclaims superiority. +His arguments prevailed, and after a considerable time spent, on we went +again. I followed the interesting stranger till he was lost to me; but +guess my feelings, Kitty, when I heard a voice whisper in my ear, +"Don't be afraid, dearest, I watch over _your_ safety." Oh! fancy the +perturbation of my poor heart, for it was Lord George who spoke. He it +was whose urgent persuasions had determined the guides to proceed, and +he now had taken the place behind my own sledge, and actually drove +instead of the postilion. Can you picture to yourself heroism and +devotion like this? And while I imagined that he was borne along with +all the appliances of ease and comfort, the poor dear fellow was braving +the storm _for me_, and _for me_ enduring the perils of the raging +tempest. From that instant, my beloved Kitty, I took little note of the +dangers around me. I thought but of him who stood so near to me,--so +near, and yet so far off; so close, and yet so severed! I bethought me, +too, how unjust the prejudice of the vulgar mind that attributes to our +youthful nobility habits of selfish indolence and effeminate ease. Here +was one reared in all the voluptuous enjoyment of a splendid household, +trained from his cradle to be waited on and served, and yet was he there +wilfully encountering perils and hardships from which the very bravest +might recoil. Ah, Kitty! it is impossible to deny it,--the highly born +have a native superiority in everything. Their nobility is not a thing +of crosses and ribbons, but of blood. They feel that they are of earth's +purest clay, and they assert the claim to pre-eminence by their own +proud and lofty gifts. I told you, too, that he said "dearest." I might +have been deceived; the noise was deafening at the moment; but I feel +as if my ears could not have betrayed me. At all events, Kitty, his hand +sought mine while he spoke, and though in his confusion it was my elbow +he caught, he pressed it tenderly. In what a delicious dream did I revel +as we slid along over the snow! What cared I for the swooping wind, the +thundering avalanche, the drifting snow-wreath,--was he not there, my +protector and my guide? Had he not sworn to be my succor and my safety? +We had just arrived at a lofty tableland,--some few peaks appeared still +above us, but none very near,--when the wind, with a violence beyond +all description, bore great masses of drift against us, and effectually +barred all farther progress. The stone sledge, too, had partly become +embedded in the soft snow, and the horse was standing powerless, when +suddenly mamma's horse stumbled and fell. In his efforts to rise he +smashed one of the rope traces, so that when he began to pull again, +the unequal draught carried the sledge to one side, and upset it. A +loud shriek told me something had happened, and at the instant Lord G. +whispered in my ear, "It's nothing,--she has only taken a 'header' in +the soft snow, and won't be a bit the worse." + +Further questioning was vain; for Cary's sledge-horse shied at the +confusion in front, and plunged off the road into the deep snow, where +he disappeared all but the head, fortunately flinging her out into +the guide's arms. My turn was now to come; for Lord G., with his mad +impetuosity, tried to pass on and gain the front, but the animal, by +a furious jerk, smashed all the tackle, and set off at a wild, +half-swimming pace through the snow, leaving our sledge firmly wedged +between two dense walls of drift Papa sprang out to our rescue; but so +helpless was he, from the quantity of his integuments, that he rolled +over, and lay there on his back, shouting fearfully. + +It appeared as if the violence of the storm had only waited for this +moment of general disaster; for now the wind tore along great masses of +snow, that rose around us to the height of several feet, covering up +the horses to their backs, and embedding the men to their armpits. Loud +booming masses announced the fall of avalanches near, and the sky became +darkened, like as if night was approaching. Words cannot convey the +faintest conception of that scene of terror, dismay, and confusion. +Guides shouting and swearing; cries of distress and screams of anguish +mingled with the rattling thunder and the whistling wind. Some were for +trying to go back; others proclaimed it impossible; each instant a new +disaster occurred. The baggage had disappeared altogether, Betty Cobb +being saved, as it sank, by almost superhuman efforts of the guide. +Paddy Byrne, who had mistaken the kick of a horse on the back of his +head for a blow, had pitched into one of the guides, and they were now +fighting in four feet of snow, and likely to carry their quarrel out of +the world with them. Taddy was "nowhere." To add to this uproar, papa +had, in mistake for brandy, drunk two-thirds of a bottle of complexion +wash, and screamed out that he was poisoned. Of mamma I could see +nothing; but a dense group surrounded her sledge, and showed me she was +in trouble. + +I could not give you an idea of what followed, for incidents of peril +were every moment interrupted by something ludicrous. The very efforts +we made to disengage ourselves were constantly attended by some absurd +catastrophe, and no one could stir a step without either a fall, or +a plunge up to the waist in soft snow. The horses, too, would make no +efforts to rise, but lay to be snowed over as if perfectly indifferent +to their fate. By good fortune our britschka, from which the wheels had +been taken off, was in a sledge to the rear, and mamma, Cary, and myself +were crammed into this, to which all the horses, and men also, were +speedily harnessed, and by astonishing efforts we were enabled to get +on. Papa and Betty were wedged fast into one sledge, and attached to us +by a tow-rope, and thus we at length proceeded. + +When mamma found herself in comparative safety, she went off into a +slight attack of her nerves; but, fortunately, Lord G. found out the +bottle papa had been in vain in search of, and she got soon better. Poor +fellow, no persuasion could prevail on him to come inside along with us. +How he travelled, or how he contrived to brave that fearful day, I never +learned! From this moment our journey was at the rate of about a mile +in three hours, the shovel and spade men having to clear the way as we +went; and what between horses that had to be dug out of holes, harness +repaired, men rescued, and frequent accident to papa's sledge, which, on +an average, was upset every half-hour, our halts were incessant. It was +after midnight that we reached a dreary-looking stone edifice in the +midst of the snow. Anything so dismal I never beheld, as it stood there +surrounded with drift-snow, its narrow windows strongly barred with +iron, and its roof covered with heavy masses of stone to prevent +it being earned away by the hurricane. This, we were told, was the +Refuge-house on the summit, and here, we were informed, we should stay +till a change of weather might enable us to proceed. + +But does not the very name "Refuge-house" fill you with thoughts of +appalling danger? Do you not instinctively shudder at the perils to +which this is the haven of succor? + +"I see we are not the first here," cried Caroline; "don't you see lights +moving yonder?" + +She was right, for as we drew up we perceived a group of guides and +drivers in the doorway, and saw various conveyances and sledges within +the shed at the side of the building. + +A dialogue in the wildest shouts was now conducted between our party and +the others, by which we came to learn that the travellers were some +of those who had left Splugen the night before ourselves, and whose +disasters had been even worse than our own. Indeed, as far as I could +ascertain, they had gone through much more than we had. + +Our first meeting with papa--in the kitchen, as I suppose I must call +the lower room of this fearful place--was quite affecting, for he had +taken so much of the guide's brandy as an antidote to the supposed +poison, that he was really overcome, and, under the delusion that he was +at home in his own house, ran about shaking hands with every one, and +welcoming them to Dodsborough. Mamma was so convinced that he had lost +his reason permanently, that she was taken with violent hysterics. The +scene baffles all description, occurring, as it did, in presence of +some twenty guides and spade-folk, who drank their "schnaps," ate their +sausages, smoked, and dried their wet garments all the while, with a +most well-bred inattention to our sufferings. Though Cary and I were +obliged to do everything ourselves,--for Betty was insensible, owing to +her having travelled in the vicinity of the same little cordial flask, +and my maid was sulky in not being put under the care of a certain +good-looking guide,--we really succeeded wonderfully, and contrived to +have papa put to bed in a little chamber with a good mattress, and where +a cheerful fire was soon lighted. Mamma also rallied, and Lord George +made her a cup of tea in a kettle, and poured her out a cup of it into +the shaving-dish of his dressing-box, and we all became as happy as +possible. + +It appeared that the other arrivals, who occupied a separate quarter, +were not ill provided for the emergency, for a servant used to pass +and repass to their chamber with a very savory odor from the dish he +carried, and Lord G. swore that he heard the pop of a champagne cork. We +made great efforts to ascertain who they were, but without success. All +we could learn was that it was a gentleman and a lady, with their two +servants, travelling in their own carriage, which was unmistakably +English. + +"I 'm determined to run them to earth," exclaimed Lord G. at last. "I +'ll just mistake my way, and blunder into their apartment." + +We endeavored to dissuade him, but he was determined; and when he is so, +Kitty, nothing can swerve him. Off he went, and after a pause of a few +seconds we heard a heavy door slammed, then another. After that, both +Cary and myself were fully persuaded that we heard a hearty burst of +laughter; but though we listened long and painfully, we could detect +no more. Unhappily, too, at this time mamma fell asleep, and her +deep respirations effectually masked everything but the din of the +avalanches. After a while Cary followed ma's example, leaving me alone +to sit by the "watch-fire's light," and here, in the regions of eternal +snow, to commune with her who holds my heart's dearest affections. + +It is now nigh three o'clock. The night is of the very blackest, neither +moon nor stars to be seen; fearful squalls of wind--gusts strong enough +to shake this stronghold to its foundation--tear wildly past, and from +the distance comes the booming sound of thundering avalanches. One might +fancy, easily, that escape from this was impossible, and that to be cast +away here implied a lingering but inevitable fate. No great strain of +fancy is needed for such a consummation. We are miles from all human +habitation, and three yards beyond the doorway the boldest would not +dare to venture! And you, Kitty, at this hour are calmly sleeping to the +hum of "the spreading sycamore;" or, perchance, awake, and thinking of +her who now pours out her heart before you; and oh, blame me not if it +be a tangled web that I present to you, for such will human hopes and +emotions ever make it My poor heart is, indeed, a battleground for +warring hopes and fears, high-soaring ambitions, and depressing terrors. +Would that you were here to guide, console, and direct me! + +Lord George has not returned. What can his absence mean? All is silent, +too, in the dreary building. My anxieties are fearful,--I dread I know +not what. I fancy a thousand ills that even possibility would have +rejected. The courier is to pass this at five o'clock, so that I must, +perchance, close my letter in the same agony of doubt and uncertainty. + +Oh, dearest, only fancy the _mal a propos_. Who do you think our +neighbors are? Mr. and Mrs. Gore Hampton, on their way to Italy! Can you +imagine anything so unfortunate and so distressing? You may remember +all our former intimacy,--I may call it friendship,--and by what an +unpropitious incident it was broken up. Lord George has just come to +tell me the tidings, but, instead of participating in my distress, he +seems to think the affair an admirable joke. I need not tell you that he +knows nothing of mamma's temper, nor her manner of acting. What may come +of this there is no saying. It seems that there is scarcely a chance of +our being able to get on to-day; and here we are all beneath one roof, +our mutual passions of jealousy, hatred, revenge, and malice, all snowed +up on the top of the Splugen Alps! + +I have asked of Lord George, almost with tears, what is to be done? but +to all seeming he sees no difficulty in the matter, for his reply is +always, "Nothing whatever." When pressed closely, he says, "Oh, the +Gore Hamptons are such thoroughly well-bred folk, there is never any +awkwardness to be apprehended from _them_. Be quite easy in your mind; +_they_ have tact enough for any emergency." What this may mean, Kitty, I +cannot even guess; for the "situation," as the French would call it, is +peculiar. And as to tact, it is, after all, like skill in a game which, +however available against a clever adversary, is of little value when +opposed to those who neither recognize the rules, nor appreciate the +nice points of the encounter. + +But I cannot venture to inquire further; it would at once convict me +of ignorance, so that I appear to be satisfied with an explanation that +explains nothing. And now, Kitty, to conclude; for, though dying to tell +you that this knotty question has been fairly solved, I must seal my +letter and despatch it by Lord George, who is this moment about to set +out for the Toll-house, three miles away. It appears that two of our +guides have refused to go farther, and that we must have recourse to the +authorities to compel them. This is the object of Lord George's mission; +but the dear fellow braves every hardship and every peril for us, and +says that he would willingly encounter far more hazardous dangers +for one "kind word, or one kind look," from your distracted, but ever +devoted + +Mary Anne. + +They begin to fear now that some accident must have befallen the courier +with the mails; he should have passed through here at midnight. It is +now daybreak, and no sign of him! Our anxieties are terrible, and what +fate may yet be ours there is no knowing. + + + + +LETTER VII. MRS. DODD TO MRS. MARY GALLAGHER, PRIEST'S HOUSE, BRUFF. + +Colico, Italy. + +My dear Molly,--After fatigues and distresses that would have worn out +the strength of a rhinocerass, here we are, at length, in Italy. If you +only saw the places we came through, the mountains upon mountains of +snow, the great masses that tumbled down on every side of us, and we +lost, as one might call it, in the very midst of eternal dissolution, +you 'd naturally exclaim that you had got the last lines ever to be +traced by your friend Jemima. Two days of this, no less, my dear, +with fifteen degrees below "Nero," wherever he is, that's what I call +suffering and misery. We were twice given up for lost, and but for +Providence and a guide called--I am afraid to write it, but it answers +to Barny with us--we 'd have soon gone to our long account; and, oh, +Molly! what a reckoning will that be for K. I.! If ever there was a +heart jet black with iniquity and baseness, it is his; and he knows it; +and he knows I knows it; and more than that, the whole world shall know +it I 'll publish him through what the poet calls the "infamy of space;" +and, so long as I 'm spared, I 'll be a sting in his flesh, and a thorn +in his side. + +I can't go over our journey--the very thought of it goes far with +me--but if you can imagine three females along with the Arctic voyagers, +you may form some vague idea of our perils. Bitter winds, piercing +snow-drift, pelting showers of powdered ice, starvation, and +danger,--dreadful danger,--them was the enjoyments that cost us +something over eighteen pounds! Why?--you naturally say,--why? And well +may you ask, Mrs. Gallagher. It is nothing remarkable in your saying +that this is singular and almost unintelligible. The answer, however, is +easy, and the thing itself no mystery. It's as old as Adam, my dear, and +will last as long as his family. The natural baseness and depravity +of the human heart! Oh, Molly, what a subject that is! I'm never weary +thinking of it; and, strange to say, the more you reflect the more +difficult does it become. Father Shea had an elegant remark that I often +think over: "Our bad qualities," says he, "are like noxious reptiles. +There 's no good trying to destroy them, for they 're too numerous; nor +to reclaim them, for they 're too savage; the best thing is to get out +of their way." There's a deal of fine philosophy in the observation, +Molly; and if, instead of irritating and vexing and worrying our +infirmities, we just treated them the way we should a shark or a +rattlesnake, depend upon it we 'd preserve our unanimity undisturbed, +and be happier as well as better. Maybe you 'll ask why I don't try this +plan with K. I.? But I did, Molly. I did so for fifteen years. I went +on never minding his perfidious behavior; I winked at his frailties, +and shut my eyes, as you know yourself, to Shusy Connor; but my leniency +only made him bolder in wickedness, till at last we came to that elegant +business, last summer, in Germany, that got into all the newspapers, and +made us the talk of the whole world. + +I thought the lesson he got at that time taught him something. I fondly +dreamed that the shame and disgrace would be of service to him; at all +events, that it would take the conceit out of him. Vain hopes, Molly +dear,--vain and foolish hopes! He isn't a bit better; the bad dross +is in him; and my silent tears does no more good than my gentle +remonstrances. + +It was only the other day we went to see a place called Pfeffers, a +dirty, dismal hole as ever you looked at I thought we were going to see +a beautiful something like Ems or Baden, with a band and a pump-room, +and fine company, and the rest of it Nothing of the kind,--but a gloomy +old building in a cleft between two mountains, that looked as if they +were going to swallow it up. The people, too, were just fit for the +place,--a miserable set of sickly creatures in flannel dresses, either +sitting up to their necks in water, or drying themselves on the rocks. +To any one else the scene would be full of serious reflections about the +uncertainty of human life, and the certainty of what was to come after +it Them was n't K. I.'s sentiments, my dear, for he begins at once what +naval men call "exchanging signals" with one of the patients. "This is +the Bad-house, my dear," says he. "I think so, Mr. D.," said I, with a +look that made him tremble. He had just ordered dinner, but I did n't +care for that; I told them to bring out the horses at once. "Come, +girls," said I, "this is no place for you; your father's proceedings are +neither very edifying nor exemplary." + +"What's the matter now?" says he. "Where are we going before dinner?" + +"Out of this, Mr. Dodd," said I. "Out of this at any rate." + +"Where to,--what for?" cried he. + +"I think you might guess," said I, with a sneer; "but if not, perhaps +that hussy with the spotted gingham could aid you to the explanation." + +He was so overwhelmed at my discovering this, Molly, that he was +speechless; not a word,--not a syllable could he utter. He sat down on a +stone, and wiped his head with a handkerchief. + +"Don't make me ill, Mrs. D.," said he, at last. "I 've a notion that the +gout is threatening me." + +"If that's all, K. I.," said I, "it's well for you,--it's well if it is +not worse than the gout. Ay, get red in the face,--be as passionate as +you please, but you shall hear the truth from me, at least; I mayn't +be long here to tell it. Sufferings such as I 've gone through will +do their work at last; but I 'll fulfil my duty to my family till I +'m released--" With that I gave it to him, till we arrived at Coire, +eighteen miles, and a good part of it up hill, and you may think what +that was. At all events, Molly, he did n't come off with flying colors, +for when we reached a place called Spluegen he was seized with the gout +in earnest I only wish you saw the hole he pitched upon to be laid +up in; but it's like everything else the man does. Every trait of his +character shows that he has n't a thought, nor a notion, but about his +own comforts and his own enjoyments. And I told him so. I said to him, +"Don't think that your self-indulgence and indolence go down with _me_ +for easiness of temper: that's an imposture may do very well for the +_world_, but your wife can't be taken in by it." In a word, Molly, I +didn't spare him; and as his attack was a sharp one, I think it's +likely he does n't look back to the Spluegen with any very grateful +reminiscences. + +Little I thought, all the time, what good cause I had for my complaints, +nor what was in store for me in the very middle of the snow! You must +know that we had to take the wheels off the carriage and put it on +something like a pair of big skates, for the snow was mountains high, +and as soft as an egg-pudding. You may think what floundering we had +through it for twelve hours, sometimes sinking up to the chin, now +swimming, now digging, and now again being dragged out of it by ropes, +till we came to what they call the "Refuge-house;" a pretty refuge, +indeed, with no door, and scarcely a window, and everybody--guides, +postboys, diggers, and travellers--all hickledy-pickledy inside! There +we were, my dear, without a bed, or even a mattress, and nothing to eat +but a bottle of Sir Robert Peel's sauce, that K. I. had in his trunk, +with a case of eau-de-Cologne to wash it down. Fortunately for me my +feelings got the better of me, and I sobbed and screeched myself to +rest. When I awoke in the morning, I heard from Mary Anne that another +family, and English too, were in the refuge with us, and, to all +appearance, not ill-supplied with the necessaries of life. This much I +perceived myself, for the courier lit a big fire on the hearth, and laid +a little table beside it, as neat and comfortable as could be. After +that he brought out a coffee-pot and boiled the coffee, and made a plate +of toast, and fried a dish of ham-rashers and eggs. The very fizzing of +them on the fire, Molly, nearly overcame me! But that wasn't all; but he +put down on the table a case of sardines and a glass bowl of beautiful +honey, just as if he wanted to make my suffering unbearable. It was all +I could do to stand it. At last, when he had everything ready, he went +to a door at the end of the room and knocked. Something was said inside +that I didn't catch, but he answered quickly, "Oui, Madame," and a +minute after out they walked. Oh, Molly, there 's not words in the +language to express even half of my feelings at that moment. Indeed, +for a minute or two I would n't credit my senses, but thought it was an +optical confusion. In she flounced, my dear, just as if she was walking +into the Court of St. James's, with one arm within his, and the other +hand gracefully holding up her dress, and _he_, with a glass stuck in +his eye, gave us a look as he passed just as if we were the people of +the place. + +Down they sat in all state, smiling at each other, and settling their +napkins as coolly as if they were at the Clarendon. "Will you try a +rasher, my dear?" "Thanks, love; I'll trouble you." It was "love" and +"dear" every word with them; and such looks as passed, Molly, I am +ashamed even to think of it! Heaven knows I never looked that way at K. +I. There I sat watching them; for worlds I could n't take my eyes away; +and though Mary Anne whispered and implored, and even tried to force me, +I was chained to the spot. To be sure, it's little they minded me! They +talked away about Lady Sarah This and Sir Joseph That; wondered if the +Marquis had gone down to Scotland, and whether the Duchess would meet +them at Milan. As I told you before, Molly, I was n't quite sure my eyes +did n't betray me, and while I was thus struggling with my doubts, in +came K. I. "I was over the whole place, Jemi," said he, "and there 's +not a scrap of victuals to be had for love or money. They say, however, +that there 's an English family--" When he got that far, he stopped +short, for his eyes just fell on the pair at breakfast. + +"May I never, Mrs. D.," said he, "but that's our friend Mrs. G. H. As +sure as I'm here, that's herself and no other." + +"And of course quite a surprise to you," said I, with a look, Molly, +that went through him. + +"Faith, I suppose so," said he, trying to laugh. "I wasn't exactly +thinking of her at this moment. At all events, the meeting is fortunate; +for one might die of hunger here." + +I need n't tell you, Molly, that I 'd rather endure the trials of +Tartary than I 'd touch a morsel belonging to her; but before I could +say so, up he goes to the table, bowing, and smiling, and smirking in +a way that I 'm sure he thought quite irresistible. She, however, never +looked up from her teacup, but her companion stuck his glass in his eye, +and stared impudently without speaking. + +[Illustration: 088] + +"If I 'm not greatly mistaken," said K. I., "I have the honor and the +happiness to see before me--" + +"Mistake,--quite a mistake, my good man. Au! au!" said the other, +cutting him short. "Never saw you before in my life!" + +"Nor are _you_, sir, the object of my recognition. It is this +lady,--Mrs. Gore Hampton." + +She lifted her head at this, and stared at K. I. as coldly as if he was +a wax image in a hairdresser's window. + +"Don't you remember me, ma'am?" says he, in a soft voice; "or must I +tell you my name?" + +"I'm afraid even that, sir, would not suffice," said she, with a most +insulting smile of compassion. + +"Ain't you Mrs. Gore Hampton, ma'am?" asked he, trembling all over +between passion and astonishment. + +"Pray, do send him away, Augustus," said she, sipping her tea. + +"Don't you perceive, sir--eh, au--don't you see--that it's a au--au, +eh--a misconception--a kind of a demned blunder?" + +"I tell you what I see, sir," said K. I,--"I see a lady that travelled +day and night in my company, and with no other companion too, for two +hundred and seventy miles; that lived in the same hotel, dined at the +same table, and, what's more--" + +But I could n't bear it any longer, Molly. Human nature is not strong +enough for trials like this,--to hear him boasting before my face of his +base behavior, and to see her sitting coolly by listening to it. I gave +a screech that made the house ring, and went off in the strongest fit of +screaming ever I took in my life. I tore my cap to tatters, and pulled +down my hair,--and, indeed, if what they say be true, my sufferings must +have been dreadful; for I didn't leave a bit of whisker on one of the +guides, and held another by the cheek till he was nigh insensible. I was +four hours coming to myself; but many of the others were n't in a much +better state when it was all over. The girls were completely overcome, +and K. I. taken with spasms, that drew him up like a football. Meanwhile +_she_ and her friend were off; never till the last minute as much as +saying one word to any of us, but going away, as I may say, with colors +flying, and all the "horrors of war." + +Oh, Molly, was n't that more than mere human fragility is required to +bear, not to speak of the starvation and misery in my weak state? Black +bread and onions, that was our dinner, washed down with the sourest +vinegar, called wine forsooth, I ever tasted. And that's the way we +crossed the Alps, my dear, and them the pleasures that accompanied us +into the beautiful South. + +If I wanted a proof of K. I.'s misconduct, Molly, was n't this scene +decisive? Where would be the motive of her behavior, if it was n't +conscious guilt? That was the ground I took in discussing the subject +as we came along; and a more lamentable spectacle of confounded iniquity +than he exhibited I never beheld. To be sure, I did n't spare him much, +and jibed him on the ingratitude his devotion met with, till he grew +nearly purple with passion. "Mrs. D.," said he, at last, "when we lived +at home, in Ireland, we had our quarrels like other people, about the +expense of the house, and waste in the kitchen, the time the horses was +kept out under the rain, and such-like,--but it never occurred to you to +fancy me a gay Lutherian. What the ------ has put that in your head +now? Is it coming abroad? for, if so, that's another grudge I owe this +infernal excursion!" + +"You've just guessed it, Mr. Dodd, then," said I. "When you were at home +in your own place, you were content like the other old fools of your +own time of life, with a knowing glance of the eye, a sly look, and +maybe a passing word or two, to a pretty girl; but no sooner did you +put foot on foreign ground than you fancied yourself a lady-killer! You +never saw how absurd you were, though I was telling it to you day and +night. You would n't believe how the whole world was laughing at you, +though I said so to the girls." + +I improved on this theme till we came at nightfall to the foot of the +Alps, and by that time--take my word for it, Mrs. Gallagher--there was +n't much more to be said on the subject. + +New troubles awaited us here, Molly. I wonder will they ever end? You +may remember that I told you how the wheels was taken off our carriage +to put it on a sledge on account of the snow. Well, my dear, what do +you think the creatures did, but they sent our wheels over the Great +St. Bernardt,--I think they call it,--and when we arrived here we found +ourselves on the hard road without any wheels to the coach, but sitting +with the axles in the mud! I only ask you where's the temper can stand +that? And worse, too, for K. I. sat down on a stone to look at us, and +laughed till the tears run down his wicked old cheeks and made him look +downright horrid. + +[Illustration: 090] + +"May I never!" said he, "but I 'd come the whole way from Ireland for +one hearty laugh like this! It's the only thing I 've yet met that +requites me for coming! If I live fifty years, I'll never forget it." + +I perceive that I have n't space for the reply I made him, so that I +must leave you to fill it up for yourself, and believe me your + +Ever attached and suffering + +Jemima Dodd. + + + + +LETTER VIII. JAMES DODD TO LORD GEORGE TIVERTON, M. P., POSTE RESTANTE, BREGENZ. + +Hotel of All Nations, Baths of Homburg. + +My dear Tiverton,--You often said I was a fellow to make a spoon or +spoil a--something which I have forgotten--and I begin to fancy that +you were a better prophet than that fellow in "Bell's Life" who always +predicts the horse that does _not_ win the Oaks. When we parted a few +days ago, my mind was resolutely bent on becoming another Metternich or +Palmerston. I imagined a whole life of brilliant diplomatic successes, +and thought of myself receiving the freedom of the City of London, +dining with the Queen, and making "very pretty running" for the peerage. +What will you say, then, when I tell you that I despise the highest +honors of the entire career, and would n't take the seals of the Foreign +Office, if pressed on my acceptance this minute? To save myself from +even the momentary accusation of madness, I 'll give you--and in as few +words as I can--ray explanation. As I have just said, I set out with my +head full of Ambassadorial ambitions, and jogged along towards England, +scarcely noticing the road or speaking to my fellow-travellers. On +arriving at Frankfort, however, I saw nothing on all sides of me but +announcements and advertisements of the baths of Homburg,--"The +last week of the season, and the most brilliant of all." Gorgeous +descriptions of the voluptuous delights of the place--lists of +distinguished visitors, and spicy bits of scandal--alternated with +anecdotes of those who had "broke the bank," and were buying up all +the chateaux and parks in the neighborhood. I tried to laugh at these +pictorial puffs; I did my best to treat them as mere humbugs; but it +would n't do. I went to bed so full of them that I dreamed all night of +the play-table, and fancied myself once again the terror of croupiers, +and the admired of the fashionable circle in the _salon_. To crown all, +a waiter called me to say that the carriage I had ordered for the baths +was at the door. I attempted to undeceive him; but even there my effort +was a failure; and, convinced that there was a fate in the matter, +I jumped out of bed, dressed, and set off, firmly impressed with the +notion that I was not a free agent, but actually impelled and driven by +destiny to go and win my millions at Homburg. + +Perhaps my ardor was somewhat cooled down by the aspect of the place. It +has few of the advantages nature has so lavishly bestowed on Baden, +and which really impart to that delightful resort a charm that totally +disarms you of all distrust, and make you forget that you are in a land +of "legs" and swindlers, and that every second man you meet is a rogue +or a runaway. Now, Homburg does not, as the French say, "impose" in this +way. You see at once that it is a "Hell," and that the only amusement is +to ruin or to be ruined. + +"No matter," thought I; "I have already graduated at the green table; I +have taken my degree in arts at Baden, and am no young hand fresh from +Oxford and new to the Continent; I 'll just go down and try my luck--as +a fisherman whips a stream. If they rise to my fly,--well; if not, pack +up the traps, and try some other water." You know that my capital was +not a strong one,--about a hundred and thirty in cash, and a bill on +Drummond for a hundred more,--and with this, the governor had "cleared +me out" for at least six months to come. I was therefore obliged to +"come it small;" and merely dabbled away with a few "Naps.," which, by +dint of extraordinary patience and intense application, I succeeded in +accumulating to the gross total of sixty. As I foresaw that I could n't +loiter above a day longer, I went down in the evening to experimentalize +on this fund, and, after a few hours, rose a winner of thirty-two +thousand odd hundred francs. The following morning, I more than doubled +this; and in the evening, won a trifle of twenty thousand francs; when, +seeing the game take a capricious turn, I left off, and went to supper. + +I was an utter stranger in the place, had not even a passing +acquaintance with any one; so that, although dying for a little +companionship, I had nothing for it but to order my roast partridge in +my own apartment, and hobnob with myself. It is true, I was in capital +spirits,--I had made glorious running, and no mistake,--and I drank my +health, and returned thanks for the toast with an eloquence that really +astonished me. Egad, I think the waiter must have thought me mad, as he +heard me hip, hipping with "one cheer more," to the sentiment. + +[Illustration: 094] + +I suppose I must have felt called on to sing; for sing I did, and, I +am afraid, with far more zeal than musical talent; for I overheard a +tittering of voices outside my door, and could plainly perceive that the +household had assembled as audience. What cared I for this? The world +had gone too well with me of late to make me thin-skinned or peevishly +disposed. I could afford to be forgiving and generous: and I revelled in +the very thought that I was soaring in an atmosphere to which trifling +and petty annoyances never ascended. In this enviable frame of mind was +I, when a waiter presented himself with a most obsequious bow, and, in +a voice of submissive civility, implored me to moderate my musical +transports, since the lady who occupied the adjoining apartment was +suffering terribly from headache. + +"Certainly, of course," was my reply at once; and as he was leaving the +room,--just by way of having something to say,--I asked, "Is she young, +waiter?" + +"Young and beautiful, sir." + +"An angel, eh?" + +"Quite handsome enough to be one, sir, I'm certain." + +"And her name?" + +"The Countess de St. Auber, widow of the celebrated Count de St. Auber, +of whom Monsieur must have read in the newspapers." + +But Monsieur had not read of him, and was therefore obliged to ask +further information; whence it appeared that the Count had accidentally +shot himself on the morning of his marriage, when drawing the charge +of his pistols, preparatory to putting them in his carriage. The waiter +grew quite pathetic in his description of the young bride's agonies, and +had to wipe his eyes once or twice during his narrative. + +"But she has rallied by this, hasn't she?" asked I. + +"If Monsieur can call it so," said he, shrugging his shoulders. "She +never goes into the world,--knows no one,--receives no one,--lives +entirely to herself; and, except her daily ride in the wood, appears to +take no pleasure whatever in life." + +"And so she rides out every day?" + +"Every day, and at the same hour too. The carriage takes her about a +league into the forest, far beyond where the usual promenade extends, +and there her horses meet her, and she rides till dusk. Often it is even +night ere she returns." + +There was something that interested me deeply in all this. You know that +a pretty woman on horseback is one of my greatest weaknesses; and so I +went on weaving thoughts and fancies about the charming young widow till +the champagne was finished, after which I went off to bed, intending to +dream of her, but, to my intense disgust, to sleep like a sea-calf till +morning. + +My first care on waking, however, was to despatch a very humble apology +by the waiter for my noisy conduct on the previous evening, and a very +sincere hope that the Countess had not suffered on account of it. + +He brought me back for answer "that the Countess thanked me for my +polite inquiry, and was completely restored." + +"Able to ride out as usual?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"How do you know that?" + +"She has just given orders for the carriage, sir." + +"I say, waiter, what kind of a hack can be got here? Or, stay, is there +such a thing as a good-looking saddle-horse to be sold in the place?" + +"There are two at Lagrange's stables, sir, this moment Prince +Guiciatelli has left them and his groom to pay about thirty thousand +francs he owes here." + +In less than a quarter of an hour I was dressed and at the stables. The +nags were a neat pair; the groom, an English fellow, had just brought +them over. He had bought them at Anderson's, and paid close upon three +hundred for the two. It was evident that they were "too much," as +horses, for the Prince, for he had never backed either of them. Before +I left I had bought them both for six thousand francs, and taken "Bob" +himself, a very pretty specimen of the short-legged, red-whiskered +tribe, into my service. + +This was on the very morning, mark, when I should have presented myself +before the dons of Downing Street, and been admitted a something into +her Majesty's service! + +"I wish they may catch me at red-tapery!" thought I, as I shortened my +stirrups, and sat down firmly in the saddle. "I 'm much more at home +here than perched on an office-stool in that pleasant den they call the +'Nursery' at the Foreign Office." + +Guided by a groom, with a led horse beside him, I took the road to the +forest, and soon afterwards passed a dark-green barouche, with a lady +in it, closely veiled, and evidently avoiding observation. The wood is +intersected by alleys, so that I found it easy, while diverging from the +carriage-road, to keep the equipage within view, and after about half an +hour's sharp canter, I saw the carriage stop, and the Countess descend +from it. + +Even _you_ admit that I am a sharp critic about all that pertains to +riding-gear; and that as to a woman's hat, collar, gloves, habit, +and whip, I am a first-rate opinion. Now, in the present instance, +everything was perfect There was a dash of "costume" in the long +drooping feather and the snow-white gauntlets; but then all was strictly +toned down to extreme simplicity and quiet elegance. I had just time to +notice this much, and catch a glimpse of such a pair of black eyes! when +she was in the saddle at once. I only want to see a woman gather up +her reins in her hand, shake her habit back with a careless toss of +her foot, and square herself well in the saddle, to say, "That's +a horsewoman!" Egad, George, her every gesture and movement were +admirable, and the graceful bend forwards with which she struck out +into a canter was actually captivating. I stood watching her till she +disappeared in the wood, perfectly entranced. I own to you I could not +understand a Frenchwoman sitting her horse in this fashion. I had always +believed the accomplishment to be more or less English, and I felt +ashamed at the narrow prejudice into which I had fallen. + +"What an unlucky fellow that same Count must have been!" thought I; and +with this reflection I spurred my nag into a sharp pace, hoping that +fast motion might enable me to turn my thoughts into some other channel. +It was to no use. Go how I would, or where I would, I could think of +nothing but the pretty widow,--whither she might be travelling,--where +she intended to stop,--whether alone, or with others of her family,--her +probable age,--her fortune?--all would rise up before me, to trouble my +curiosity or awaken my interest. + +I was deep in my speculations, when suddenly a horse bounded past me by +a cross path. I had barely time to see the flutter of a habit, when +it was lost to view. I waited to see her groom follow, but he did not +appear. I listened, but no sound of a horse could be heard approaching. +Had her horse run away? Had her servant lost trace of her? were +questions that immediately occurred to me; but there was nothing to +suggest the answer or dispel the doubt I could bear my anxiety no +longer, and away I dashed after her. It was not till after a quarter +of an hour that I came in sight of her, and then she was skimming along +over the even turf at a very slapping pace, which, however, I quickly +perceived was no run-away gallop. + +[Illustration: 104] + +This fact proclaimed itself in a most unmistakable manner, for she +suddenly drew up, and wheeled about, pointing at the same time to the +ground, where her whip had just fallen. I dashed up and dismounted, +when, in a voice tremulous with agitation, and with a face suffused in +blushes, she begged my pardon for her gesture; she believed it was her +groom who was following her, and had never noticed his absence before. +I cannot repeat her words, but in accent, manner, tone, and utterance, +I never heard the like of them before. What would I have given at that +moment, George, for your glib facility of French! Hang me if I would not +have paid down a thousand pounds to have been able to rattle out even +some of those trashy commonplaces I have seen you scatter with such +effect in the _coulisses_ of the opera! It was all of no avail. "Where +there 's a will there 's a way," says the adage; but it's a sorry maxim +where a foreign language is concerned. All the volition in the world +won't supply irregular verbs; and the most go-ahead resolution will +never help one to genders. + +I did, of course, mutter all that I could think of; and, default of +elocution, I made my eyes do duty for my tongue, and with tolerable +success too, as her blush betrayed. I derived one advantage, too, from +my imperfect French, which is worth recording,--I was perfectly obdurate +as to anything she might have replied in opposition to my wishes, +and notwithstanding all her scruples to the contrary, persisted in +accompanying her back to the town. + +If I was delighted with her horsemanship, I was positively enchanted +with her conversation; for, the first little novelty of our situation +over, she talked away with a frank innocence and artless ease which +quite fascinated me. She was, in fact, the very realization of that +high-bred manner you have so often told me of as characterizing the best +French society. How I wished I could have prolonged that charming ride! +I 'm not quite sure that she did n't detect me in a purposed mistake of +the road, that cost us an additional mile or two; if she did, she +was gracious enough to pardon the offence without even showing +any consciousness of it. Short as the road was, George, it left me +irretrievably in love. I know you 'll not stand any raptures about +beauty, but this much I must and will say, that she is incomparably +handsomer than that Sicilian princess you raved about at Ems, and in +the same style too,--brunette, but with a dash of color in the cheek, a +faint pink, that gives a sparkling brilliancy to the rich warmth of the +southern tint. Besides this,--and let me remark, it is something,--_my_ +Countess is not two-and-twenty, at most. Indeed, but for the story of +the widowhood, I should guess her as something above nineteen. + +There 's a piece of fortune for you! and all--every bit of it--of my +own achieving too! No extraneous aid in the shape of friends, or +introductory letters. "Alone I did it," as the fellow says in the play. +Now, I do think a man might be pardoned a little boastfulness for such a +victory, and I freely own I esteem Jem Dodd a sharper fellow than I ever +believed him. + +Perhaps you suspect all this while that I am going too fast, and that +I have taken a casual success for a regular victory. If so, you 're all +wrong, my boy. She has struck her flag already, and acknowledged that +your humble servant has effected a change in her sentiments that but a +few short weeks before she would have pronounced impossible. The truth +is, George, "the Tipperary tactics" that win battles in India are just +as successful in love. Make no dispositions for a general engagement, +never trouble your head about cavalry supports, reserves, or the like, +but "just go in and win." It is a mighty short "General Order," and +cannot possibly be misapprehended. The Countess herself has acknowledged +to me, full half a dozen times within the last fortnight, that she was +quite unprepared for such warfare. She expected, doubtless, that I 'd +follow the old rubric, with opera-boxes, bouquets, _marrons glaces_, and +so on, for a month or two. Nothing of the kind, George. I frankly told +her that she was the most beautiful creature in Europe without knowing +it. That it would be little short of a sacrilege she should pass her +life in solitude and sorrow, and ten times worse than sacrilege to marry +anything but an Irishman. That in all other countries the men are either +money-getting, ambitious, or selfish, but that Paddy turns his whole +thoughts towards fun and enjoyment. That Napier's Peninsular War and +Moore's Melodies might be referred to for evidence of our national +tastes; and, in short, such a people for fighting and making love was +never recorded in history. She laughed at me for the whole of the first +week, grew more serious the second, and now, within the last three days, +instead of calling me "Monsieur le Sauvage," "Cosaque Anglais," and so +on, she gravely asks my advice about everything, and never ventures on +a step without my counsel and approbation. I have been candid with you +hitherto, Tiverton, and so I must frankly own that, profiting by the +adage that says "stratagem is equally legitimate in love as in war," I +have indulged slightly in the strategy of mystification. For instance, +I have represented the governor as a great don in his own country, +with immense estates, and an ancient title, that he does not assume in +consequence of some old act of attainder against the family. My mother +I have made a princess in her own right; and here I am on safer ground, +for, if called into court, she 'll sustain me in every assertion. Of my +own self and prospects I have spoken meekly enough, merely hinting that +I dislike diplomacy, and would rather live with the woman of my choice +in some comparatively less distinguished station, upon a pittance +of--say--three or four thousand a year! + +This latter assumption, I must observe to you, is the only one ever +disputed between us, and many a debate have we had on the subject. She +sees, as everybody sees here, that I spend money lavishly, that not +only I indulge in everything costly, but that I outbid even the Russians +whenever anything is offered for sale; and at this moment my rooms are +filled with pictures, china, carved ivory, stained glass, and other such +lumber, that I only bought for the _eclat_ of the purchase. If you +only heard her innocent remonstrances to me about my extravagance, her +anxious appeals as to what "le Prince," as she calls my father, will say +to all this wastefulness! + +It's a great trial to me sometimes not to laugh at all this, and, +indeed, if I did n't know in my heart that I 'll make her the very best +of husbands, I 'd be even ashamed of my deceit; but it's only a pious +fraud after all, and the good result will more than atone for the +roguery. + +I have hinted at our marriage, you see, and I may add that it is all +but decided on. There is, however, a difficulty which must be got over +first. She was betrothed when a child to a young Neapolitan Prince of +the blood,--a brother, I take it, of the present King. This ceremony +was overlooked on her first marriage; and had her husband lived, +very serious consequences--but of what kind I don't know--might +have resulted. Now, before contracting a second union, we must get a +dispensation of some sort from the Pope, which I fear will take time, +although she says that her uncle, the Cardinal, will do his utmost to +expedite it. + +Indeed, I may mention, incidentally, that she is a great favorite with +his Eminence, and _we_ hope to be his heirs! Egad, George, I almost +fancy myself "punting" his Eminence's gold pieces at hazard, with his +signet-ring on my finger! What a house I'll keep, old fellow! what a +stable! what a cellar!--and such cigars! Meanwhile I look to you to aid +and abet me in various ways. The Countess, like all foreigners of real +rank, knows our peerage and nobility off by heart; and she constantly +asks me if I know the Marquis of this, and the Duchess of that, and I 'm +sorely put to, to show cause why I 'm not intimate with them all. Now, +my dear Tiverton, can't you somehow give me the Shibboleth amongst these +high-priests of Fashion, and get me into the Tabernacle, if only for a +season? I used myself to know some of the swells of London life when I +was at Baden, but, to be sure, I lost a deal of money to them at "creps" +and "lansquenet" as the price of the intimacy; and when "_I_ shut up," +so did _they_ too. You, I'm sure, however, will hit upon some expedient +to gain me at least acceptance and recognition for a week or two. I only +want the outward signs of acquaintanceship, mark you, for I honestly own +that all I ever saw during my brief intimacy with these fellows gave me +anything but a high "taste of their quality." + +I'll enclose you the list of the distinguished company now here, and +you 'll pick out any to whom you can present me. Another, and not a less +important service, I also look to at your hands, which is, to break all +this to the governor, to whom I 'm half ashamed to write myself. In +the first place, a recent event, of which I may speak more fully to you +hereafter, may have made the old gent somewhat suspectful; and secondly, +he 'll be fraptious about my not going over to England; although, I +'ll take my oath, if he wants it, that I 'd pitch up the appointment +to-morrow, if I had it At the best, I don't suppose they 'd make me +more than a Secretary of Legation; and _that_, perhaps, at the Hague, or +Stuttgard, or some other confounded capital of fog and flunkeydom; and I +need n't say your friend Jem is not going to "enter for such stakes." + +You 'd like to know our plans; and so far as I can make out, we're not +to marry till we reach Italy. At Milan, probably, the dispensation will +reach us, and the ceremony will be performed by the Arch B.. himself. +This she insists upon; for about church matters and dignitaries she +stickles to a degree that I 'd laugh at if I dare; and that I intend to +do later on, when I can _dare_ with impunity. + +Except this, and a most inordinate amount of prudery, she hasn't a +fault on earth. Her reserve is, however, awful; and I almost spoiled +everything t' other evening by venturing to kiss her hand before she +drew her glove on. By Jove, did n't she give me a lecture! If any one +had only overheard her, I 'm not sure they would n't have thought me a +lucky fellow to get off with transportation for life! As it was, I +had to enter into heavy recognizances for the future, and was even +threatened with having Mademoiselle Pauline, her maid, present at all +our subsequent meetings! The very menace made me half crazy! + +After all, the fault is on the right side; and I suppose the day will +come when I shall deem it the very reverse of a failing. You will be +curious to know something about her fortune, but not a whit more so +than I am. That her means are ample--even splendid--her style of +living evidences. The whole "premier" of a fashionable hotel, four +saddle-horses, two carriages, and a tribe of servants are a strong +security for a well-filled purse; but more than that I can ascertain +nothing. + +As for myself, my supplies will only carry me through a very short +campaign, so that I am driven of necessity to hasten matters as much as +possible. Now, my dear Tiverton, you know my whole story; and I beg you +to lose no time in giving me your very best and shrewdest counsels. Put +me up to everything you can think of about settlements, and so forth; +and tell me if marrying a foreigner in any way affects my nationality. +In brief, turn the thing over in your mind in all manner of ways, and +let me have the result. + +She is confoundedly particular about knowing that my family approve +of the match; and though I have represented myself as being perfectly +independent of them on the score of fortune,--which, so far as not +expecting a shilling from them, is strictly true,--I shall probably +be obliged to obtain something in the shape of a formal consent and +paternal benediction; in which case I reckon implicitly on you to +negotiate the matter. + +I have been just interrupted by the arrival of a packet from Paris. It +is a necklace and some other trumpery I had sent for to "Le Roux." She +is in ecstasy with it, but cannot conceal her terror at my extravagance. +The twenty thousand francs it cost are a cheap price for the remark the +present elicited: "My miserable 'rente' of a hundred thousand francs," +said she, "will be nothing to a man of such wasteful habits." So, then, +we have, four thousand a year, certain, George; and, as times go, one +might do worse. + +I have no time for more, as we are going to ride out Write to me at +once, like a good fellow, and give all your spare thoughts to the +fortunes of your ever attached friend, + +James Dodd. + +Address me Lucerne, for _she_ means to remove from this at once,--the +gossips having already taken an interest in us more flattering than +agreeable. I shall expect a letter from you at the post-office. + + + + +LETTER IX. MISS MARY ANNE DODD TO THOMAS PURCELL, ESQ., OF THE GRANGE, BRUFF + +Villa della Fontana, Lake of Como + +My dear Mr. Purcell,--Poor papa has been so ill since his arrival in +Italy, that he could not reply to either of your two last letters, +and even now is compelled to employ me as his amanuensis. A misfortune +having occurred to our carriage, we were obliged to stop at a small +village called Colico, which, as the name implies, was remarkably +unhealthy. Here the gout, that had been hovering over him for some +days previous, seized him with great violence; no medical aid could +be obtained nearer than Milan, a distance of forty miles, and you may +imagine the anxiety and terror we all suffered during the interval +between despatching the messenger and the arrival of the doctor. As +it was, we did not succeed in securing the person we had sent for, he +having been that morning sentenced to the galleys for having in his +possession some weapon--a surgical instrument, I believe--that was +longer or sharper than the law permits; but Dr. Pantuccio came in his +stead, and we have every reason to be satisfied with his skill and +kindness. He bled papa very largely on Monday, twice on Tuesday, and +intends repeating it again to-day, if the strength of the patient allow +of it. The debility resulting from all this is, naturally, very great; +but papa is able to dictate to me a few particulars in reply to your +last. First, as to Crowther's bill of costs: he says, "that he certainly +cannot pay it at present," nor does he think he ever will. I do not know +how much of this you are to tell Mr. C., but you will be guided by your +own discretion in that, as on any other point wherein I may be doubtful. +Harris also must wait for his money--and be thankful when he gets it. + +You will make no abatement to Healey, but try and get the farm out of +his hands, by any means, before he sublets it and runs away to America. +Tom Dunne's house, at the cross-roads, had better be repaired; and if a +proper representation was made to the Castle about the disturbed state +of the country, papa thinks it might be made a police-station, and +probably bring twenty pounds a year. He does not like to let Dodsborough +for a "Union;" he says it's time enough when we go back there to make it +a poorhouse. As to Paul Davis, he says, "let him foreclose, if he likes; +for there are three other claims before his, and he 'll only burn his +fingers,"--whatever that means. + +Papa will give nothing to the schoolhouse till he goes back and examines +the children himself; but you are to continue his subscription to the +dispensary, for he thinks overpopulation is the real ruin of Ireland. I +don't exactly understand what he says about allowance for improvements, +and he is not in a state to torment him with questions; but it appears +to me that you are not to allow anything to anybody till some +Bill passes, or does not pass, and after that it is to be arranged +differently. I am afraid poor papa's head was wandering here, for he +mumbled something about somebody being on a "raft at sea," and hoped he +wouldn't go adrift, and I don't know what besides. + +Your post-bill arrived quite safe; but the sum is totally insufficient, +and below what he expected. I am sure, if you knew how much irritation +it cost him, you would take measures to make a more suitable remittance. +I think, on the whole, till papa is perfectly recovered, it would be +better to avoid any irritating or unpleasant topics; and if you would +talk encouragingly of home prospects, and send him money frequently, it +would greatly contribute to his restoration. + +I may add, on mamma's part and my own, the assurance of our being ready +to submit to any privation, or even misery if necessary, to bring papa's +affairs into a healthier condition. Mamma will consent to anything but +living in Ireland, which, indeed, I think is more than could be expected +from her. As it is, we keep no carriage here, nor have any equipage +whatever; our table is simply two courses, and some fruit. We are +wearing out all our old-fashioned clothes, and see nobody. If you can +suggest any additional mode of economizing, mamma begs you will favor +us with a line; meanwhile, she desires me to say that any allusion to +"returning to Dodsborough," or any plan "for living abroad as we lived +at home" will only embitter the intercourse, which, to be satisfactory, +should be free from any irritation between us. + +Of course, for the present you will write to mamma, as papa is far from +being fit for any communication on matters of business, nor does the +doctor anticipate his being able for such for some weeks to come. +We have not heard from James since he left this, but are anxiously +expecting a letter by every post, and even to see his name in the +"Gazette." Cary does not forget that she was always your favorite, and +desires me to send her very kindest remembrances, with which I beg you +to accept those of very truly yours, + +Mart Anne Dodd. + +P. S. As it is quite uncertain when papa will be equal to any exertion, +mamma thinks it would be advisable to make your remittances, for some +time, payable to her name. + +The doctor of the dispensary has written to papa, asking his support +at some approaching contest for some situation,--I believe under the +Poor-law. Will you kindly explain the reasons for which his letter has +remained unreplied to? and if papa should not be able to answer, perhaps +you could take upon yourself to give him the assistance he desires, as +I know pa always esteemed him a very competent person, and kind to +the poor. Of course the suggestion is only thrown out for your own +consideration, and in strict confidence besides, for I make it a point +never to interfere with any of the small details of pa's property. + + + + +LETTER X. MRS. DODD TO MRS. MARY GALLAGHER, DODSBOROUGH + +My dear Molly,--I received your letter in due course, and if it was n't +for crying, I could have laughed heartily over it! I don't know, I'm +sure, where you got your elegant description of the Lake of Comus; but I +am obliged to tell you it's very unlike the real article; at all events, +there 's one thing I 'm sure of,--it's a very different matter living +here like Queen Caroline, and being shut up in the same house with K. +I.; and therefore no more balderdash about my "queenly existence," and +so on, that your last was full of. + +Here we are, in what they call the Villa of the Fountains, as if there +was n't water enough before the door but they must have it spouting +up out of a creature's nose in one corner, another blowing it out of a +shell, and three naked figures--females, Molly--dancing in a pond of +it in the garden, that kept me out of the place till I had them covered +with an old mackintosh of K. I.'s. We have forty-seven rooms, and +there's barely furniture, if it was all put together, for four; and +there 's a theatre, and a billiard-room, and a chapel; but there 's +not a chair would n't give you the lumbago, and the stocks at Bruff is +pleasant compared to the grand sofa. The lake comes round three sides of +the house, and a mountain shuts in the other one, for there 's no road +whatever to it. You think I 'm not in earnest, but it's as true as I 'm +here; the only approach is by water, so that everything has to come in +boats. Of course, as long as the weather keeps fine, we 'll manage to +send into the town; but when there comes--what we 're sure to have in +this season--aquenoctial gales, I don't know what 's to become of us. +The natives of the place don't care, for they can live on figs and +olives, and those great big green pumpkins they call watermelons; but, +after K. I.'s experience, I don't think we'll try _them_. It was at a +little place on the way here, called Colico, that he insisted on having +a slice of one of these steeped in rum for his supper, because he saw +a creature eating it outside the door. Well, my dear, he relished it +so much that he ate two, and--you know the man--would n't stop till he +finished a whole melon as big as one of the big stones over the gate +piers at home. + +"Jemi," says he, when he'd done, "is this the place the hand-book says +you should n't eat any fruit in, or taste the wines of the country?" + +"I don't see that," said I; "but Murray says it's notorious for March +miasma, which is most fatal in the fall of the year." + +"What's the name of it?" said he. + +I could n't say the word before he gave a screech out of him that made +the house ring. + +"I 'm a dead man," says he; "that's the very place I was warned about." + +From that minute the pains begun, and he spent the whole night in +torture. Lord George, the kindest creature that ever breathed, got out +of his bed and set off to Milan for a doctor, but it was late in the +afternoon when he got back. Half an hour later, Molly, and it would +have been past saving him. As it was, he bled him as if he was veal: for +that's the new system, my dear, and it's the blood that does us all the +harm, and works all the wickedness we suffer from. If it's true, K. I. +will get up an altered man, for I don't think a horse could bear what he +'s gone through. Even now he 's as gentle as an infant, Molly, and you +would n't know his voice if you heard it. We only go in one at a time to +him, except Cary, that never leaves him, and, indeed, he would n't +let her quit the room. Sometimes I fancy that he 'll never be the same +again, and from a remark or two of the doctor's, I suspect it's his +head they 're afraid of. If it was n't English he raved in, I 'd be +dreadfully ashamed of the things he says, and the way he talks of the +family. + +As it is, he makes cruel mistakes; for he took Lord George the other +night for James, and began talking to him, and warning him against his +Lordship. "Don't trust him too far, Jemmy," said he. "If he was n't in +disgrace with his equals, he 'd never condescend to keep company with +us. Depend on 't, boy, he 's not 'all right,' and I wish we were well +rid of him." + +Lord George tried to make him believe that he did n't understand him, +And said something about the Parliament being prorogued, but K. I. went +on: "I suppose, then, our noble friend did n't get his Bill through the +Lords?" + +"His mind is quite astray to-night," said Lord George, in a whisper, and +made a sign for us to creep quietly away, and leave him to Caroline. +She understands him best of any of us; and, indeed, one sees her to more +advantage when there 's trouble and misery in the house than when we 're +all well and prosperous. + +We came here for economy, because K. I. determined we should go +somewhere that money couldn't be spent in. Now, as there is no road, we +cannot have horses; and as there are no shops, we cannot make purchases; +but, except for the name of the thing, Molly, might n't we as well be +at Bruff? I would n't say so to one of the family, but to you, in +confidence between ourselves, I own freely I never spent a more dismal +three weeks at Dodsborough. Betty Cobb and myself spend our time crying +over it the livelong day. Poor creature, she has her own troubles too! +That dirty spalpeen she married ran away with all her earnings, and even +her clothes; and Mary Anne's maid says that he has two other wives in +his own country. She 's made a nice fool of herself, and she sees it +now. + +How long we're to stay here in this misery, I can't guess, and K. I.'s +convalescence may be, the doctor thinks, a matter of months; and even +then, Molly, who knows in what state he 'll come out of it! Nobody +can tell if we won't be obliged to take what they call a Confession of +Lunacy against him, and make him allow that he's mad and unfit to manage +his affairs. If it was the will of Providence, I 'd just as soon be a +widow at once; for, after all, it's uncertainty that tries the spirits +and destroys the constitution worse than any other affliction. + +Indeed, till yesterday afternoon, we all thought he was going off in +a placid sleep; but he opened one eye a little, and bade Cary draw the +window-curtain, that he might look out. He stared for a while at the +water coming up to the steps of the door, and almost entirely round the +house, and he gave a little smile. "What's he thinking of?" said I, in a +whisper; but he heard me at once, and said, "I 'll tell you, Jemi, what +it was. I was thinking this was an elegant place against the bailiffs." +From that moment I saw that the raving had left him, and he was quite +himself again. + +Now, my dear Molly, you have a true account of the life we lead, and +don't you pity us? If your heart does not bleed for me this minute, I +don't know you. Write to me soon, and send me the Limerick papers, that +has all the news about the Exhibition in Dublin. By all accounts it's +doing wonderfully well, and I often wish I could see it. Cary has just +come down to take her half-hour's walk on the terrace,--for K. I. makes +her do that every evening, though he never thinks of any of the rest of +us,--and I must go and take her place; so I write myself + +Yours in haste, but in sorrow, + +Jemima Dodd + + + + +LETTER XI. MISS MARY ANNE DODD TO MISS DOOLAN, OF BALLYDOOLAN + +Villa della Fontana, Como. + +Forget thee! No, dearest Kitty. But how could such cruel words have ever +escaped your pen? To cease to retain you in memory would be to avow an +oblivion of childhood's joys, and of my youth's fondest recollections; +of those first expansions of the heart, when, "fold after fold to the +fainting air," the petals of my young existence opened one by one +before you; when my shadowy fancies grew into bright realities, and the +dream-world assumed all the lights and, alas! all the shadows of the +actual. The fact was, dearest, papa was very, very ill; I may, indeed, +say so dangerously, that at one time our greatest fears were excited for +his state; nor was it till within a few days back that I could really +throw off all apprehension and revel in that security enjoyed by the +others. He is now up for some hours every day, and able to take light +sustenance, and even to participate a little in social intercourse, +which of course we are most careful to moderate, with every regard to +his weak state; but his convalescence makes progress every hour, and +already he begins to talk and laugh, and look somewhat like himself. + +So confused is my poor head, and so disturbed by late anxieties, that +I quite forget if I have written to you since our arrival here; at all +events, I will venture on the risk of repetition so far, and say that we +are living in a beautiful villa, in a promontory of the Lake of Como. It +was the property of the Prince Belgiasso, who is now in exile from +his share in the late struggle for Italian independence, and who, +in addition to banishment, is obliged to pay above a million of +livres--about forty thousand pounds--to the Austrian Government. Lord +George, who knew him intimately in his prosperity, arranged to take the +villa for us; and it is confessedly one of the handsomest on the whole +lake. Imagine, Kitty, a splendid marble facade, with a Doric portico, so +close to the water's edge that the whole stands reflected in the crystal +flood; an Alpine mountain at the back; while around and above us the +orange and the fig, the vine, the olive, the wild cactus, and the cedar +wave their rich foliage, and load the soft air with perfume. It is not +alone that Nature unfolds a scene of gorgeous richness and beauty before +us; that earth, sky, and water show forth their most beautiful of forms +and coloring; but there is, as it were, an atmosphere of voluptuous +enjoyment, an inward sense of ecstatic delight, that I never knew nor +felt in the colder lands of the north. The very names have a magic in +their melody; the song of the passing gondolier; the star-like lamp of +the "pescatore," as night steals over the water; the skimming lateen +sail,--all breathe of Italy,--glorious, delightful, divine Italy!--land +of song, of poetry, and of love! + +Oh, how my dearest Kitty would enjoy those delicious nights upon the +terrace, where, watching the falling stars, or listening to the far-off +sounds of sweet music, we sit for hours long, scarcely speaking! How +responsively would her heart beat to the plash of the lake against her +rocky seat! and how would her gentle spirit drink in every soothing +influence of that fair and beauteous scene! With Lord George it is a +passion; and I scarcely know him to be the same being that he was on the +other side of the Alps. Young men of fashion in England assume a certain +impassive, cold, apathetic air, as though nothing could move them to any +sentiment of surprise, admiration, or curiosity about anything; and when +by an accident these emotions are excited, the very utmost expression in +which their feelings find vent is some piece of town slang,--the turf, +the mess-room, the universities, and, I believe, even the House of +Commons, are the great nurseries of this valuable gift; and as Lord +George has graduated in each of these schools, I take it he was no mean +proficient. But how different was the real metal that lay buried under +the lacquer of conventionality! Why, dearest Kitty, he is the very soul +of passion,--the wildest, most enthusiastic of creatures; he worships +Byron, he adores Shelley. He has told me the whole story of his +childhood,--one of the most beautiful romances I ever listened to. He +passed his youth at Oxford, vacillating between the wildest dissipations +and the most brilliant triumphs. After that he went into the Hussars, +and then entered the House, moving the Address, as it is called, at +one-and-twenty; a career exactly like the great Mr. Pitt's, only that +Lord G. really possesses a range of accomplishments and a vast variety +of gifts to which the Minister could lay no claim. Amidst all these +revelations, poured forth with a frank and almost reckless impetuosity, +it was still strange, Kitty, that he never even alluded to the one great +and turning misfortune of his life. He did at one time seem approaching +it; I thought it was actually on his lips; but he only heaved a deep +sigh, and said, "There is yet another episode to tell you,--the darkest, +the saddest of all,--but I cannot do it now." I thought he might have +heard my heart beating, as he uttered these words; but he was too deeply +buried in his own grief. At last he broke the silence that ensued, by +pressing my hand fervently to his lips, and saying, "But when the time +comes for this, it will also bring the hour for laying myself and +my fortunes at your feet,--for calling you by the dearest of all +names,--for--"Only fancy, Kitty,--it was just as he got this far that +Cary, who really has not a single particle of delicacy in such cases, +came up to ask me where she could find some lemons to make a drink for +papa! I know I shall never forgive her--I feel that I never can--for her +heartless interruption. What really aggravates her conduct, too, was the +kind of apology she subsequently made to me in my own room. Just imagine +her saying,-- + +"I was certain it would be a perfect boon to you to get away from that +tiresome creature." + +If you only saw him, Kitty! if you only heard him! But all I said was,-- + +"There is certainly the merit of a discovery in your remark, Cary; for +I fancy you are the first who has found out Lord George Tiverton to be +tiresome!" + +"I only meant," said she, "that his eternal egotism grows wearisome at +last, and that the most interesting person in the world would benefit by +occasionally discussing something besides himself." + +"Captain Morris, for instance," said I, sharply. + +"Even so," said she, laughing; "only I half suspect the theme is one he +'ll not touch upon!" And with this she left the room. + +The fact is, Kitty, jealousy of Lord George's rank, his high station, +and his aristocratic connections are the real secret of her animosity to +him. She feels and sees how small "her poor Captain" appears beside him, +and of course the reflection is anything but agreeable. Yet I am sure +she might know that I would do everything in my power to diminish the +width of that gulf between them, and that I would study to reconcile the +discrepancies and assuage the differences of their so very dissimilar +stations. She may, it is true, place this beyond my power to effect; but +the fault in that case will be purely and solely her own. + +You do me no more than justice, Kitty, in saying that you are sure I +will feel happy at anything which can conduce to the welfare of Dr. B.; +and I unite with you in wishing him every success his new career can +bestow. Not but, dearest, I must say that, judging from the knowledge I +now possess of life and the world, I should augur more favorably of his +prospects had he still remained in that quiet obscurity for which his +talents and habits best adapt him than adventure upon the more ambitious +but perilous career he has just embarked in. You tell me that, having +gone up to Dublin to thank one of his patrons at the late election, he +was invited to a dinner, where he made the acquaintance of the Earl of +Darewood; and that the noble Lord, now Ambassador at Constantinople, was +so struck with his capacity, knowledge, and great modesty that he made +him at once an offer of the post of Physician to the Embassy, which with +equal promptitude was accepted. + +Very flatteringly as this reads, dearest, it is the very climax of +improbability; and I have the very strongest conviction that the whole +appointment is wholly and solely due to the secret influence of Lord +George Tiverton, who is the Earl's nephew. In the first place, Kitty, +supposing that the great Earl and the small Dispensary Doctor did really +meet at the same dinner-table,--an incident just as unlikely as need be +conceived,--how many and what opportunities would there exist for that +degree of intercourse of which you speak? + +If the noble Lord did speak at all to the Doctor, it would have been in +a passing remark, an easily answered question as to the sanitary state +of his neighborhood, or a chance allusion to the march of the cholera in +the north of Europe,--so at least Lord G. says; and, moreover, that if +the Doctor did, by any accident, evidence any of the qualities for which +you give him credit, save the modesty, that the Earl would have just +as certainly turned away from him, as a very forward, presuming person, +quite forgetful of his station, and where he was then standing. You can +perceive from this that I have read the paragraph in yours to Lord G.; +but I have done more, Kitty: I have positively taxed him with having +obtained the appointment in consequence of a chance allusion I had made +to Dr. B. a few weeks ago. He denies it, dearest; but how? He says, "Oh, +my worthy uncle never reads _my_ letters; he 'd throw them aside after a +line or two; he's angry with me, besides, for not going into the 'line,' +as they call Diplomacy, and would scarcely do me a favor if I pressed +him ever so much." + +When urged further, he only laughed, and, lighting his cigar, puffed +away for a moment or two; after which he said in his careless way: +"After all, it mightn't have been a bad dodge of me to send the Doctor +off to Turkey. He was an old admirer, wasn't he?" + +After this, Kitty, to allude to the subject was impossible, and here I +had to leave it. But who could possibly have insinuated such a scandal +concerning me? or how could it have occurred to malignant ingenuity to +couple my name with that of a person in his station? I cried the entire +evening in my own room as I thought over the disgrace to which the bare +allusion exposed me. + +Is there not a fatality, then, I ask you, in everything that ties us to +Ireland? Are not the chance references to that country full of low and +unhappy associations? and yet you can talk to me of "when we come back +again." + +We are daily becoming more uneasy about James. He is now several weeks +gone, and not a line has reached us to say where he is, or what success +has attended him. I know his high-spirited nature so well, and how any +reverse or disappointment would inevitably drive him to the wildest +excesses, that I am in agony about him. A letter in your brother's hand +is now here awaiting him, so that I can perceive that even Robert is as +ignorant of his fate as we are. + +All these cares, dearest, will have doubtless thrown their shadows over +this dreary epistle, the reflex of my darkened spirit. Bear with and +pity me, dearest Kitty; and even when calmer reason refuses to follow +the more headlong impulses of my feeling, still care for, still love +Your ever heart-attached and devoted + +Mary Anne Dodd. + +P. S. The post has just arrived, bringing a letter for Lord G. in +James's hand. It was addressed Bregenz, and has been several days on +the road. How I long to learn its tidings! But I cannot detain this; so +again good-bye. + + + + +LETTER XII. KENNY JAMES DODD TO THOMAS PURCELL, ESQ., OF THE GRANGE, BRUFF + +Lake of Como. + +My dear Tom,--Though I begin this to-day, it may be it will take me to +the end of the week to finish it, for I am still very weak, and my +ideas come sometimes too quick and sometimes too slow, and, like an +ill-ordered procession, stop the road, and make confusion everywhere. +Mary Anne has told you how I have been ill, and for both our sakes, I +'ll say little more about it. One remark, however, I will make, and it +is this: that of all the good qualities we ascribe to home, there is one +unquestionably pre-eminent,--"it is the very best place to be sick in." +The monotony and sameness so wearisome in health are boons to the sick +man. The old familiar faces are all dear to him; the well-known voices +do not disturb him; the little gleam of light that steals in between the +curtains checkers some accustomed spot in the room that he has watched +on many a former sick-bed. The stray words he catches are of home +and homely topics. In a word, he is the centre of a little world, all +anxious and eager about him, and even the old watchdog subdues his growl +out of deference to his comfort. + +Now, though I am all gratitude for the affection and kindness of every +one around me, I missed twenty things I could have had at Dodsborough, +not one of them worth a brass farthing in reality, but priceless in the +estimation of that peevish, fretful habit that grows out of a sick-bed. +It was such a comfort to me to know how Miles Dogherty passed the night, +and to learn whether he got a little sleep towards morning, as I +did, and what the doctor thought of him. Then I liked to hear all the +adventures of Joe Barret, when he "went in" for the leeches, how the +mare threw him, and left him to scramble home on his feet. Then I +revelled in all that petty tyranny illness admits of, but which is only +practicable amongst one's own people, refusing this, and insisting on +that, just to exercise the little despotism that none rebel against, +but which declines into a mixed monarchy on the first day you eat +chicken-broth, and from which you are utterly deposed when you can dine +at table. In good truth, Tom, I don't wonder at men becoming _malades +imaginaires_, seeing the unnatural importance they attain to by a life +of complaining, and days passed in self-commiseration and sorrow. + +In place of all this, think of a foreign country and a foreign doctor; +fancy yourself interrogated about your feelings in a language of which +you scarcely know a word, and are conscious that a wrong tense in your +verb may be your death-warrant. Imagine yourself endeavoring, +through the flighty visions of a wandering intellect, to find out the +subjunctive mood or the past participle, and almost forgetting the +torment of your gout in the terrors of your grammar! + +This is a tiresome theme, and let us change it. Like all home-grown +people, I see you expect me to send you a full account of Italy and the +Italians within a month after my crossing the Alps. It is, after all, a +pardonable blunder on your part, since the very titles we read to books +of travels in the newspapers show that for sketchy books there +are always to be found "skipping" readers. Hence that host of +surface-description that finds its way into print from men who have +the impudence to introduce themselves as writers of "Jottings from my +Note-Book," "Loose Leaves from my Log," "Smoke Puffs from Germany," and +"A Canter over the Caucasus." Cannot these worthy folk see that the very +names of their books are exactly the apologies they should offer for not +having written them, had any kind but indiscreet friend urged them into +letterpress? "I was only three weeks in Sweden, and therefore I wrote +about it," seems to me as ugly a _non sequitur_ as need be. And now, +Tom, that I have inveighed against the custom, I am quite ready to +follow the example, and if you could only find me a publisher, I am +open to an offer for a tight little octavo, to be called "Italy from my +Bedroom Window." + +Most writers set out by bespeaking your attention on the ground of their +greater opportunities, their influential acquaintances, position, and so +forth. To this end, therefore, must I tell you that my bedroom window, +besides a half-view of the lake, has a full look-out over a very +picturesque landscape of undulating surface, dotted with villas and +cottages, and backed by a high mountain, which forms the frontier +towards Switzerland. At the first glance it seems to be a dense wood, +with foliage of various shades of green, but gradually you detect little +patches of maize and rice, and occasionally, too, a green crop of wurzel +or turnips, which would be creditable even in England; but the vine +and the olive surround these so completely, or the great mulberry-trees +enshadow them so thoroughly, that at a distance they quite escape view. +The soil is intersected everywhere by canals for irrigation, and water +is treasured up in tanks, and conveyed in wooden troughs for miles and +miles of distance, with a care that shows the just value they ascribe +to it. Their husbandry is all spade work, and I must say neatly and +efficiently done. Of course, I am here speaking of what falls under +my own observation; and it is, besides, a little pet spot of rich +proprietors, with tasteful villas, and handsomely laid-out gardens on +every side; but as the system is the same generally, I conclude that the +results are tolerably alike also. The system is this: that the landlord +contributes the soil, and the peasant the labor, the produce being +fairly divided afterwards in equal portions between them. It reads +simple enough, and it does not sound unreasonable either; while, with +certain drawbacks, it unquestionably contains some great advantages. To +the landlord it affords a fair and a certain remuneration, subject only +to the vicissitudes of seasons and the rate of prices. It attaches him +to the soil, and to those who till it, by the very strongest of all +interests, and, even on selfish grounds, enforces a degree of regard for +the well-being of those beneath him. The peasant, on the other hand, +is neither a rack-rented tenant nor a hireling, but an independent man, +profiting by every exercise of his own industry, and deriving direct +and positive benefit from every hour of his labor. It is not alone his +character that is served by the care he bestows on the culture of the +land, but every comfort of himself and his family are the consequences +of it; and lastly, he is not obliged to convert his produce into money +to meet the rent-day. I am no political economist, but it strikes me +that it is a great burden on a poor man, that he must buy a certain +commodity in the shape of a legal tender, to satisfy the claim of a +landlord. Now, here the peasant has no such charge. The day of reckoning +divides the produce, and the "state of the currency" never enters into +the question. He has neither to hunt fairs nor markets, look out for +"dealers" to dispose of his stock, nor solicit a banker to discount his +small bill. All these are benefits, Tom, and some of them great ones +too. The disadvantages are that the capabilities of the soil are not +developed by the skilful employment of capital. The landlord will not +lay out money of which he is only to receive one-half the profit. The +peasant has the same motive, and has not the money besides. The result +is that Italy makes no other progress in agriculture than the skill +of an individual husbandman can bestow. Here are no Smiths of +Deanstown,--no Sinclairs,--no Mechis. The grape ripens and the olive +grows as it did centuries ago; and so will both doubtless continue to +do for ages to come. Again, there is another, and in some respects a +greater, grievance, since it is one which saps the very essence of all +that is good in the system. The contract is rarely a direct one between +landlord and tenant, but is made by the intervention of a third party, +who employs the laborers, and really occupies the place of oar middlemen +at home. The fellow is usually a hard taskmaster to the poor man, and a +rogue to the rich one; and it is a common thing, I am told, for a fine +estate to find itself at last in the hands of the _fattore_. This is a +sore complication, and very difficult to avoid, for there are so many +different modes of culture, and such varied ways of treating the crops +on an Italian farm, that the overseer must be sought for in some rank +above that of the peasant. + +We have a notion in Ireland that the Italian lives on maccaroni; depend +upon it, Tom, he seasons it with something better. In the little village +beside me, there are three butchers' shops, and as the wealthy of the +neighborhood all market at Como, these are the recourse of the poorer +classes. Of wine he has abundance; and as to vegetables and fruits, the +soil teems with them in a rich luxuriance of which I cannot give you +a notion. Great barges pass my window every morning, with melons, +cucumbers, and cauliflowers, piled up half-mast high. How a Dutch +painter would revel in the picturesque profusion of grapes, peaches, +figs, and apricots, heaped up amidst huge pumpkins of bursting ripeness, +and those brilliant "love apples," the allusion to which was so costly +to Mr. Pickwick. You are smacking your lips already at the bare idea +of such an existence. Yes, Tom, you are reproaching Fate for not having +"raised" you, as Jonathan says, on the right side of the Alps, and +left you to the enjoyments of an easy life, with lax principles, little +garments, and a fine climate. But let me tell you, Idleness is only a +luxury WHERE OTHER PEOPLE ARE OBLIGED TO WORK; where every one indulges +in it, it is worth nothing. I remember, when sitting listlessly on +a river's bank, of a sunny day, listening to the hum of the bees, or +watching the splash of a trout in the water, I used to hug myself in the +notion of all the fellows that were screaming away their lungs in the +Law Courts, or sitting upon tall stools in dark counting-houses, or +poring over Blue-books in a committee-room, or maybe broiling on the +banks of the Ganges; and then bethink me of the easy, careless, happy +flow of my own existence. I was quite a philosopher in this way,--I +despised riches, and smiled at all ambition. + +Now there is no such resources for me here. There are eight or nine +fellows that pass the day--and the night also, I believe--under my +window, that would beat me hollow in the art of doing nothing, and seem +to understand it as a science besides. There they lie--and a nice group +they are--on their backs, in the broiling sun; their red nightcaps drawn +a little over their faces for shade; their brawny chests and sinewy +limbs displayed, as if in derision of their laziness. The very squalor +of their rags seems heightened by the tawdry pretension of a scarlet +sash round the waist, or a gay flower stuck jauntily in a filthy bonnet. +The very knife that stands half buried in the water-melon beside them +has its significance,--you have but to glance at the shape to see that, +like its owner, its purpose is an evil one. What do these fellows know +of labor? Nothing; nor will they, ever, till condemned to it at the +galleys. And what a contrast to all around them,--ragged, dirty, and +wretched, in the midst of a teeming and glorious abundance; barbarous, +in a land that breathes of the very highest civilization, and sunk in +brutal ignorance, beside the greatest triumphs of human genius. + +What a deal of balderdash people talk about Italian liberty, and the +cause of constitutional freedom! There are--and these only in the +cities--some twenty or thirty highly cultivated, well-thinking +men--lawyers, professors, or physicians, usually--who have taken pains +to study the institutions of other countries, and aspire to see some of +the benefits that attend them applied to their own; but there ends the +party. The nobles are a wretched set, satisfied with the second-hand +vices of France and England grafted upon some native rascalities of +even less merit. They neither read nor think: their lives are spent +in intrigue and play. Now and then a brilliant exception stands forth, +distinguished by intellect as well as station; but the little influence +he wields is the evidence of what estimation such qualities are held in. +My doctor is a Liberal, and a very clever fellow too; and I only wish +you heard him describe the men who have assumed the part of "Italian +Regenerators." + +Their "antecedents" show that in Italy, as elsewhere, patriotism is too +often but the last refuge of a scoundrel. I know how all this will +grate and jar upon your very Irish ears; and, to say truth, I don't like +saying it myself; but still I cannot help feeling that the "Cause +of Liberty" in the peninsula is remarkably like the process of +grape-gathering that now goes on beneath my window,--there is no care, +no selection,--good, bad, ripe, and unripe,--the clean, the filthy, the +ruddy, and the sapless, are all huddled together, pressed and squeezed +down into a common vat, to ferment into bad wine or--a revolution, as +the case may be. It does not require much chemistry to foresee that it +is the crude, the acrid, the unhealthy, and the bad that will give +the flavor to the liquor. The small element of what is really good is +utterly overborne in the vast Maelstrom of the noxious; and so we see +in the late Italian struggle. Who are the men that exercise the widest +influence in affairs? Not the calm and reasoning minds that gave the +first impulse to wise measures of Reform, and guided their sovereigns +to concessions that would have formed the strong foundations of +future freedom. No; it was the advocate of the wildest doctrines of +Socialism,--the true disciple of the old guillotine school, that ravaged +the earth at the close of the last century. These are the fellows who +scream "Blood! blood!" till they are hoarse; but, in justice to their +discretion, it must be said, they always do it from a good distance off. + +Don't fancy from this that I am upholding the Austrian rule in Italy. I +believe it to be as bad as need be, and exactly the kind of government +likely to debase and degrade a people whom it should have been their +object to elevate and enlighten. Just fancy a system of administration +where there were all penalties and no rewards,--a school with no +premiums but plenty of flogging. That was precisely what they did. They +put a "ban" upon the natives of the country; they appointed them to no +places of trust or confidence, insulted their feelings, outraged their +sense of nationality; and whenever the system had goaded them into a +passionate burst of indignation, they proclaimed martial law, and hanged +them. + +Now, the question is not whether any kind of resistance would not be +pardonable against such a state of things, but it is this: what species +of resistance is most likely to succeed? This is the real inquiry; and +I don't think it demands much knowledge of mankind and the world to +say that stabbing a cadet in the back as he leaves a _cafe_, shooting a +solitary sentinel on his post, or even assassinating his corporal as +he walks home of an evening, are exactly the appropriate methods for +reforming a state or remodelling a constitution. Had the Lombards +devoted themselves heart and hand to the material prosperity of their +country,--educated their people, employed them in useful works, fostered +their rising and most prosperous silk manufactories,--they would have +attained to a weight and consideration in the Austrian Empire which +would have enabled them not to solicit, but dictate the terms of their +administration. + +A few years back, as late as '47, Milan, I am told, was more than the +rival of Vienna in all that constitutes the pride and splendor of +a capital city; and the growing influence of her higher classes was +already regarded with jealousy by the Austrian nobility. Look what a +revolution has made her now! Her palaces are barracks; her squares are +encampments; artillery bivouac in her public gardens; and the rigors +of a state of siege penetrate into every private house, and poison all +social intercourse. + +You may rely upon one thing, Tom, and it is this: that no government +ever persisted in a policy of oppression towards a country that +was advancing on the road of prosperity. It is to the disaffected, +dispirited, bankrupt people--idle and cantankerous, wasting their +resources, and squandering their means of wealth--that cabinets play +the bully. They grind them the way a cruel colonel flogs a condemned +regiment. Let industry and its consequences flow in; let the laborer be +well fed, and housed, and clothed; and the spirit of independence in him +will be a far stronger and more dangerous element to deal with than the +momentary burst of passion that comes from a fevered heart in a famished +frame! Ask a Cabinet Minister if he wouldn't be more frightened by a +deputation from the City, than if the telegraph told him a Chartist mob +was moving on London? We live in an age of a very peculiar kind, and +where real power and real strength are more respected than ever they +were before. + +Don't you think I have given you a dose of politics? Well, happily for +you, I must desist now, for Cary has come to order me off to bed. It is +only two p.m., but the siesta is now one of my habits, and so pleasant a +one that I intend to keep it when I get well again. + +Nine o'clock, Evening. + +Here I am again at my desk for you, though Cary has only given me leave +to devote half an hour to your edification. + +What a good girl it is,--so watchful in all her attention, and with that +kind of devotion that shows that her whole heart is engaged in what she +is doing! The doctor may fight the malady, Tom, but, take my word for +it, it is the nurse that saves the patient. If ever I raised my eyelids, +there she was beside me! I could n't make a sign that I was thirsty till +she had the drink to my lips. She had, too, that noiseless, quiet way +with her, so soothing to a sick man; and, above all, she never bothered +with questions, but learned to guess what I wanted, and sat patiently +watching at her post. + +It is a strange confession to make, but the very best thing I know of +this foreign tour of ours is that it has not spoiled that girl; she +has contracted no taste for extra finery in dress, nor extra liberty in +morals; her good sense is not overlaid by the pretentious tone of those +mock nobles that run about calling each other count and marquis, and +fancying they are the great world. There she is, as warmhearted, +as natural, and as simple--in all that makes the real excellence of +simplicity--as when she left home. And now, with all this, I 'd wager a +crown that nineteen young fellows out of twenty would prefer Mary Anne +to her. She is, to be sure, a fine, showy girl, and has taken to a +stylish line of character so naturally that she never abandons it. + +I assure you, Tom, the way she used to come in of a morning to ask me +how I was, and how I passed the night; her graceful stoop to kiss me; +her tender little caressing twaddle, as if I was a small child to be +bribed into black-bottle by sugar-candy,--were as good as a play. The +little extracts, too, that she made from the newspapers to amuse me were +all from that interesting column called fashionable intelligence, and +the movements in fashionable life, as if it amused me to hear who Lady +Jemima married, and who gave away the bride. Cary knew better what I +cared for, and told me about the harvest and the crops, and the state +of the potatoes, with now and then a spice of the foreign news, whenever +there was anything remarkable. To all appearance, we are not far from a +war; but where it 's to be, and with whom, is hard to say. There 's no +doubt but fighting is a costly amusement; and I believe no country pays +so heavily for her fun in that shape as England; but, nevertheless, +there is nothing would so much tend to revive her drooping and declining +influence on the Continent as a little brush at sea. She is, I take +it, as good as certain to be victorious; and the very fervor of the +enthusiasm success would evoke in England would go far to disabuse the +foreigner of his notion that we are only eager about printing calicoes, +and sharpening Sheffield ware. Believe me, it is vital to us to +eradicate this fallacy; and until the world sees a British fleet reeling +up the Downs with some half-dozen dismasted line-of-battle ships in +their wake, they 'll not be convinced of what you and I know well,--that +we are just the same people that fought the Nile and Trafalgar. Those +Industrial Exhibitions, I think, brought out a great deal of trashy +sentimentality about universal brotherhood, peace, and the rest of it. I +suppose the Crystal Palace rage was a kind of allegory to show that +they who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones; but our ships, +Tom,--our ships, as the song says, are "hearts of oak"! Here's Cary +again, and with a confounded cupful of something green at top and muddy +below! Apothecaries are filthy distillers all the world over, and one +never knows the real blessing of health till one has escaped from their +beastly brewings. Good-night. + +Saturday Morning. + +A regular Italian morning, Tom, and such a view! The mists are swooping +down the Alps, and showing cliffs and crags in every tint of sunlit +verdure. The lake is blue as a dark turquoise, reflecting the banks and +their hundred villas in the calm water. The odor of the orange-flower +and the oleander load the air, and, except my vagabonds under the +window, there is not an element of the picture devoid of interest and +beauty. There they are as usual; one of them has his arm in a bloody +rag, I perceive, the consequence of a row last night,--at least, +Paddy Byrne saw a fellow wiping his knife and washing his bands in the +lake--very suspicious circumstances--just as he was going to bed. + +I have been hearing all about our neighbors,--at least, Cary has been +interrogating the gardener, and "reporting progress" to me as well +as she could make him out. This Lake of Como seems the paradise of +_ci-devant_ theatrical folk; all the prima donnas who have amassed +millions, and all the dancers that have pirouetted into great wealth, +appear to have fixed their ambition on retiring to this spot. Of a +truth, it is the very antithesis to a stage existence. The silent and +almost solemn grandeur of the scene, the massive Alps, the deep dense +woods, the calm unbroken stillness, are strong contrasts to the crash +and tumult, the unreality and uproar of a theatre. I wonder, do they +enjoy the change? I am curious to know if they yearn for the blaze +of the dress-circle and the waving pit? Do they long at heart for the +stormy crash of the orchestra and the maddening torrent of applause; +and does the actual world of real flowers and trees and terraces and +fountains seem in their eyes a poor counterfeit of the dramatic one? +It would not be unnatural if it were so. There is the same narrowing +tendency in every professional career. The doctor, the lawyer, the +priest, the soldier,--ay, and even your Parliament man, if he be an old +member, has got to take a House of Commons standard for everything and +everybody. It is only your true idler, your genuine good-for-nothing +vagabond, that ever takes wide or liberal views of life; one like +myself, in short, whose prejudices have not been fostered by any kind of +education, and who, whatever he knows of mankind, is sure to be his own. + +They 've carried away my ink-bottle, to write acknowledgments and +apologies for certain invitations the womenkind have received to go and +see fireworks somewhere on the lake; for these exhibitions seem to be a +passion with Italians! I wish they were fonder of burning powder to more +purpose! I 'm to dine below to-day, so it is likely that I 'll not be +able to add anything to this before to-morrow, when I mean to despatch +it A neighbor, I hear, has sent us a fine trout; and another has +forwarded a magnificent present of fruit and vegetables,--very graceful +civilities these to a stranger, and worthy of record and remembrance. +Lord George tells me that these Lombard lords are fine fellows,--that +is, they keep splendid houses and capital horses, have first-rate cooks, +and London-built carriages,--and, as he adds, will bet you what you like +at piquet or _ecarte_. Egad, such qualities have great success in the +world, despite all that moralists may say of them! + +The ink has come back, but it is _I_ am dry now! The fact is, Tom, that +very little exertion goes far with a man in this climate! It is scarcely +noon, but the sultry heat is most oppressive; and I half agree with my +friends under the window, that the dorsal attitude is the true one for +Italy. In any other country you want to be up and doing: there are snipe +or woodcocks to be shot, a salmon to kill, or a fox to hunt; you have +to look at the potatoes or the poorhouse; there 's a row, or a road +session, or something or other to employ you; but here, it's a snug spot +in the shade you look for,--six feet of even ground under a tree; +and with that the hours go glibly over, in a manner that is quite +miraculous. + +It ought to be the best place under the sun for men of small fortune. +The climate alone is an immense economy in furs and firing; and there is +scarcely a luxury that is not, somehow or other, the growth of the +soil: on this head--the expense I mean--I can tell you nothing, for, +of course, I have not served on any committee of the estimates since +my illness; but I intend to audit the accounts to-morrow, and then you +shall hear all. Tiverton, I understand, has taken the management of +everything; and Mrs. D. and Mary Anne tell me, so excellent is his +system, that a rebellion has broken out below stairs, and three of our +household have resigned, carrying away various articles of wardrobe, and +other property, as an indemnity, doubtless, for the treatment they +had met with. I half suspect that any economy in dinners is more than +compensated for in broken crockery; for every time that a fellow is +scolded in the drawing-room, there is sure to be a smash in the plate +department immediately afterwards, showing that the national custom of +the "vendetta" can be carried into the "willow pattern." This is one of +my window observations. I wish there were no worse ones to record. + +"Not a line, not another word, till you take your broth, papa," says my +kind nurse; and as after my broth I take my sleep, I 'll just take leave +of you for to-day. I wish I may remember even half of what I wanted to +say to you tomorrow, but I have a strong moral conviction that I shall +not It is not that the oblivion will be any loss to you, Tom; but when +I think of it, after the letter is gone, I 'm fit to be tied with +impatience. Depend upon it, a condition of hopeless repining for +the past is a more terrible torture than all that the most glowing +imagination of coming evil could ever compass or conceive. + +Sunday Afternoon. + +I told you yesterday I had not much faith in my memory retaining even +a tithe of what I wished to say to you. The case is far worse than +that,--I can really recollect nothing. I know that I had questions to +ask, doubts to resolve, and directions to give, but they are all so +commingled and blended together in my distracted brain that I can make +nothing out of the disorder. The fact is, Tom, the fellow has bled me +too far, and it is not at my time of life--58 deg. in the shade, by old +Time's thermometer--that one rallies quickly out of the hands of the +doctor. + +I thought myself well enough this morning to look over my accounts; +indeed, I felt certain that the inquiry could not be prudently delayed, +so I sent for Mary Anne after breakfast, and proceeded in state to a +grand audit. I have already informed you that all the material of life +here is the very cheapest,--meat about fourpence a pound; bread and +butter and milk and vegetables still more reasonable; wine, such as it +is, twopence a bottle; fruit for half nothing. It was not, therefore, +any inordinate expectation on my part that we should be economizing in +rare style, and making up for past extravagance by real retrenchment. +I actually looked forward to the day of reckoning as a kind of holiday +from all care, and for once in my life revel in the satisfaction of +having done a prudent thing. + +Conceive my misery and disappointment--I was too weak for rage--to find +that our daily expenses here, with a most moderate household, and no +company, amounted to a fraction over five pounds English a day. The +broad fact so overwhelmed me that it was only with camphor-julep and +ether that I got over it, and could proceed to details. Proceed to +details, do I say! Much good did it do me! for what between a new +coinage, new weights and measures, and a new language, I got soon into +a confusion and embarrassment that would have been too much for my brain +in its best days. Now and then I began to hope that I had grappled with +a fact, even a small one; but, alas! it was only a delusion, for though +the prices were strictly as I told you, there was no means of even +approximating to the quantities ordered in. On a rough calculation, +however, it appears that _my_ mutton broth took half a sheep _per +diem_. The family consumed about two cows a week in beef; besides hares, +pheasants, bams, and capons at will. The servants--with a fourth of +the wine set down to me--could never have been sober an hour; while our +vegetable and fruit supply would have rivalled Covent Garden Market. + +"Do you understand this, Mary Anne?" said I. + +"No, papa," said she. + +"Does your mother?" said I. + +"No, papa." + +"Does Lord George understand it?" + +"No, papa; but he says he is sure Giacomo can explain everything,--for +he is a capital fellow, and honest as the sun!" + +"And who is Giacomo?" said I. + +"The Maestro di Casa, papa. He is over all the other servants, pays all +the bills, keeps the keys of everything, and, in fact, takes charge of +the household." + +"Where did he come from?" + +"The Prince Belgiasso had him in his service, and strongly recommended +him to Lord George as the most trustworthy and best of servants. His +discharge says that he was always regarded rather in the light of a +friend than a domestic!" + +Shall I own to you, Tom, that I shuddered as I heard this? It may be a +most unfair and ungenerous prejudice; but if there be any class in life +of whose good qualities I entertain a weak opinion, it is of the servant +tribe, and especially of those who enter into the confidential category. +They are, to my thinking, a pestilent race, either tyrannizing over the +weakness, or fawning to the vices, of their employers. I have known a +score of them, and I rejoice to think that a very large proportion of +that number have been since transported for life. + +"Does Giacomo speak English?" asked I. + +"Perfectly, papa; as well as French, Spanish, German, and a little +Russian." + +"Send him to me, then," said I, "and let us have a talk together. + +"You can't see him to-day, papa, for he is performing St. Barnabas in a +grand procession that is to take place this evening." + +This piece of information shows me that it is a "Festa," and the post +will consequently close early, so that I now conclude this, promising +that you shall have an account of my interview with Giacomo by to-morrow +or the day after. + +Not a line from James yet, and I am beginning to feel very uncomfortable +about him. + +Yours ever faithfully, + +Kenny I. Dodd. + + + + +LETTER XIII. KENNY JAMES DODD TO THOMAS PURCELL, ESQ., OF THE GRANGE, BRUFF + +Como + +My dear Tom,--This may perchance be a lengthy despatch, for I have just +received a polite invitation from the authorities here to pack off, bag +and baggage, over the frontier; and as it is doubtful where our next +move may take us, I write this "in extenso," and to clear off all +arrears up to the present date. + +At the conclusion of my last, if I remember aright, I was in +anxious expectation of a visit from Signor Giacomo Lamporeccho. That +accomplished gentleman, however, had been so fatigued by his labors in +the procession, and so ill from a determination of blood to the +head, brought on by being tied for two hours to a tree, with his legs +uppermost, to represent the saint's martyrdom, that he could not wait +upon me till the third day after the Festa; and then his streaked +eyeballs and flushed face attested that even mock holiness is a costly +performance. + +"You are Giacomo?" said I, as he entered; and I ought to mention that +in air and appearance he was a large, full, fine-looking man, of about +eight-and-thirty or forty, dressed in very accurate black, and with +a splendid chain of mosaic gold twined and festooned across his +ample chest; opal shirt-studs and waistcoat buttons, and a very +gorgeous-looking signet-ring on his forefinger aided to show off a +stylish look, rendered still more imposing by a beard a Grand Vizier +might have envied, and a voice a semi-tone deeper than Lablache's. + +"Giacomo Lamporeccho," said he; and though he uttered the words like a +human bassoon, they really sounded as if he preferred not to be himself, +but somebody else, in case I desired it. + +"Well, Giacomo," said I, easily, and trying to assume as much +familiarity as I could with so imposing a personage, "I want you to +afford me some information about these accounts of mine." + +"Ah! the house accounts!" said he, with a very slight elevation of +the eyebrows, but quite sufficient to convey to me an expression of +contemptuous meaning. + +"Just so, Giacomo; they appear to me high,--enormously, extravagantly +high!" + +"His Excellency paid, at least, the double in London," said he, bowing. + +"That's not the question. We are in Lombardy,--a land where the price +of everything is of the cheapest. How comes it, then, that we are +maintaining our house at greater cost than even Paris would require?" + +With a volubility that I can make no pretension to follow, the fellow +ran over the prices of bread, meat, fowls, and fish, showing that they +were for half their cost elsewhere; that his Excellency's table was +actually a mean one; that sea-fish from Venice, and ortolans, seldom +figured at it above once or twice a week; that it was rare to see a +second flask of champagne opened at dinner; that our Bordeaux was bad, +and our Burgundy bitter; in short, he thought his Excellency had come +expressly for economy, as great "milors" will occasionally do, and +that if so, he must have had ample reason to be satisfied with the +experiment. + +Though every sentiment the fellow uttered was an impertinence, he +bowed and smiled, and demeaned himself with such an air of humility +throughout, that I stood puzzled between the matter and the manner +of his address. Meanwhile he was not idle, but running over with glib +volubility the names of all the "illustrissimi Inglesi" he had been +cheating and robbing for a dozen years back. To nail him to the fact +of the difference between the cost of the article and the gross sum +expended, was downright impossible, though he clearly gave to understand +that any inquiry into the matter showed his Excellency to be the +shabbiest of men,--mean, grasping, and avaricious, and, in fact, very +likely to be no "milor" at all, but some poor pretender to rank and +station. + +I felt myself waxing wroth with a weak frame,--about as unpleasant a +situation as can be fancied; for let me observe to you, Tom, that the +brawny proportions of Signor Lamporeccho would not have prevented my +trying conclusion with him, had I been what you last saw me; but, alas! +the Italian doctor had bled me down so low that I was not even a match +for one of his countrymen. I was therefore obliged to inform my friend +that, being alone with him, and our interview having taken the form of a +privileged communication, he was a thief and a robber! + +The words were not uttered, when he drew a long and glistening knife +from behind his back, under his coat, and made a rush at me. I seized +the butt-end of James's fishing-rod,--fortunately beside me,--and held +him at bay, shouting wildly, "Murder!" all the while. The room was +filled in an instant; Tiverton and the girls, followed by all the +servants and several peasants, rushing in pell-mell. Before, however, +I could speak, for I was almost choked with passion, Signor Giacomo had +gained Lord George's ear, and evidently made him his partisan. + +Tiverton cleared the room as fast as he could, mumbling out something to +the girls that seemed to satisfy them and allay their fears, and then, +closing the door, took his seat beside me. + +"It will not signify," said he to me, in a kind voice; "the thing is +only a scratch, and will be well in a day or two." + +"What do you mean?" said I. + +"Egad! you'll have to be cautious, though," said he, laughing. "It was +in a very awkward place; and that too is n't the handiest for minute +anatomy." + +"Do you want to drive me mad, my Lord; for, if not, Just take the +trouble to explain yourself." + +"Pooh, pooh!" said he; "don't fuss yourself about nothing. I understand +how to deal with these fellows. You 'll see, five-and-twenty Naps, will +set it all right." + +"I see," said I, "your intention is to outrage me; and I beg that I may +be left alone." + +"Come, don't be angry with me, Dodd," cried he, in one of his +good-tempered, coaxing ways. "I know well you 'd never have done it--" + +"Done what,--done what?" screamed I, in an agony of rage. + +He made a gesture with the fishing-rod, and burst out a-laughing for +reply. + +"Do you mean that I stuck that scoundrel that has just gone out?" cried +I. + +"And no great harm, either!" said he. + +"Do you mean that I stuck him?--answer me that." + +"Well, I 'd be just as much pleased if you had not," said he; "for, +though they are always punching holes into each other, they don't like +an Englishman to do it. Still, keep quiet, and I 'll set it all straight +before to-morrow. The doctor shall give a certificate, setting forth +mental excitement, and so forth. We 'll show that you are not quite +responsible for your actions just now." + +"Egad, you 'll have a proof of your theory, if you go on much longer at +this rate," said I, grinding my teeth with passion. + +"And then we 'll get up a provocation of some kind or other. Of course, +the thing will cost money,--that can't be helped; but we'll try to +escape imprisonment." + +"Send Cary to me,--send my daughter here!" said I, for I was growing +weak. + +"But had n't you better let us concert--" + +"Send Cary to me, my Lord, and leave me!" and I said the words in a way +that he could n't misunderstand. He had scarcely quitted the room when +Cary entered it. + +"There, dearest papa," said she, caressingly, "don't fret. It's a mere +trifle; and if he was n't a wretchedly cowardly creature, he 'd think +nothing of it!" + +"Are you in the conspiracy against me too?" cried I; "have _you_ also +joined the enemy?" + +"That I haven't," said she, putting an arm round my neck; "and I know +well, if the fellow had not grossly outraged, or perhaps menaced you, +you 'd never have done it! I 'm certain of that, pappy!" + +Egad, Tom, I don't like to own it, but the truth is--I burst out +a-crying; that's what all this bleeding and lowering has brought me to, +that I have n't the nerve of a kitten! It was the inability to rebut +all this balderdash--to show that it was a lie from beginning to +end--confounded me; and when I saw my poor Cary, that never believed ill +of me before, that, no matter what I said or did, always took my part, +and, if she could n't defend at least excused me,--when, I say, I saw +that _she_ gave in to this infernal delusion, I just felt as if my heart +was going to break, and I sincerely wished it might. + +I tried very hard to summon strength to set her right; I suppose that a +drowning man never struggled harder to reach a plank than did I to grasp +one thought well and vigorously; but to no use. My ideas danced about +like the phantoms in a magic lantern, and none would remain long enough +to be recognized. + +"I think I 'll take a sleep, my dear," said I. + +"The very wisest thing you could do, pappy," said she, closing the +shutters noiselessly, and sitting down in her old place beside my bed. + +Though I pretended slumber, I never slept a wink. I went over all this +affair in my mind, and, summing up the evidence against me, I began to +wonder if a man ever committed a homicide without knowing it,--I +mean, if, when his thoughts were very much occupied, he could stick a +fellow-creature and not be aware of it. I could n't exactly call any +case in point to mind, but I did n't see why it might not be possible. +If stabbing people was a common and daily habit of an individual, +doubtless he might do it, just as he would wind his watch or wipe +his spectacles, while thinking of something else; but as it was not a +customary process, at least where I came from, there was the difficulty. +I would have given more than I had to give, just to ask Cary a few +questions,--as, for instance, how did it happen? where is the wound? how +deep is it? and so on,--but I was so terrified lest I should compromise +my innocence that I would not venture on a syllable. One sees constantly +in the police reports how the prisoner, when driving off to jail with +Inspector Potts, invariably betrays himself by some expression of +anxiety or uneasiness, such as "Well, nobody can say I did it! I was in +Houndsditch till eleven o'clock;" or, "Poor Molly, I did n't mean +her any harm, but it was she begun it." Warned by these indiscreet +admissions, I was guarded not to utter a word. I preserved my resolution +with such firmness that I fell into a sound sleep, and never awoke till +the next morning. + +Before I acknowledged myself to be awake,--don't you know that state, +Tom, in which a man vibrates between consciousness and indolence, and +when he has not fully made up his mind whether he 'll not skulk his +load of daily cares a little longer?--I could perceive that there was +a certain stir and movement about me that betokened extraordinary +preparation, and I could overhear little scraps of discussions as to +whether "he ought to be awakened," and "what he should wear," Cary's +voice being strongly marked in opposition to everything that portended +any disturbance of me. Patience, I believe, is not my forte, though +long-suffering may be my fortune, for I sharply asked, "What the------ +was in the wind now?" + +"We'll leave him to Cary," said Mrs. D., retiring precipitately, +followed by the rest, while Cary came up to my bedside, and kindly +began her inquiries about my health; but I stopped her, by a very abrupt +repetition of my former question. + +"Oh! it's a mere nothing, pappy,--a formality, and nothing more. That +creature, Giacomo, has been making a fuss over the affair of last night; +and though Lord George endeavored to settle it, he refused, and went off +to the Tribunal to lodge a complaint." + +"Well, go on." + +"The Judge, or Prefect, or whatever he is, took his depositions, and +issued a warrant--" + +"To apprehend me?" + +"Don't flurry yourself, dearest pappy; these are simply formalities, for +the Brigadier has just told me--" + +"He is here, then,--in the house?" + +"Why will you excite yourself in this way, when I tell you that all +will most easily be arranged? The Brigadier only asks to see you,--to +ascertain, in fact, that you are really ill, and unable to be removed--" + +"To jail--to the common prison, eh?" + +"Oh, I must not talk to you, if it irritates you in this fashion; +indeed, there is now little more to say, and if you will just permit the +Brigadier to come in for a second, everything is done." + +"I 'm ready for him," said I, in a tone that showed I needed no further +information; and Cary left the room. + +After about five minutes' waiting, in an almost intolerable impatience, +the Brigadier, stooping his enormous bearskin to fully three feet, +entered with four others, armed cap-a-pic, who drew up in a line behind +him, and grounded their carbines with a clank that made the room shake. +The Brigadier, I must tell you, was a very fine soldier-like fellow, and +with fully half a dozen decorations hanging to his coat. It struck me +that he was rather disappointed; he probably expected to see a man of +colossal proportions and herculean strength, instead of the poor remnant +of humanity that chicken broth and the lancet have left me. The room, +too, seemed to fall below his expectations; for he threw his eyes around +him without detecting any armory or offensive weapons, or, indeed, any +means of resistance whatever. + +"This is his Excellency?" said he at last, addressing Cary; and she +nodded. + +"Ask him his own name, Cary," said I. "I'm curious about it." + +"My name," said he, sonorously, to her question,--"my name is Alessandro +Lamporeccho;" and with that he gave the word to his people to face +about, and away they marched with all the solemnity of a military +movement. As the door closed behind them, however, I heard a few words +uttered in whispers, and immediately afterwards the measured tread of a +sentry slowly parading the lobby outside my room. + +"That's another _formality_, Cary," said I, "is n't it?" She nodded for +reply. "Tell them I detest ceremony, my dear," said I; "and--and "--I +could n't keep down my passion--"and if they don't take that fellow +away, I'll pitch him head and crop over the banisters." I tried to +spring up, but back I fell, weak, and almost fainting. The sad truth +came home to me at once that I had n't strength to face a baby; so I +just turned my face to the wall, and sulked away to my heart's content. +If I tell you how I spent that day, the same story will do for the rest +of the week. I saw that they were all watching and waiting for some +outbreak, of either my temper or my curiosity. They tried every means +to tempt me into an inquiry of one kind or other. They dropped hints, in +half-whispers, before me. They said twenty things to arouse anxiety, and +even alarm, in me; but I resolved that if I passed my days there, I 'd +starve them out: and so I did. + +On the ninth day, when I was eating my breakfast, just as I had +finished my mutton-chop, and was going to attack the eggs, Cary, in a +half-laughing way, said, "Well, pappy, do you never intend to take the +air again? The weather is now delightful,--that second season they call +the summer of St. Joseph." + +"Ain't I a prisoner?" said I. "I thought I had murdered somebody, and +was sentenced for life to this chamber." + +"How can you be so silly!" said she. "You know perfectly well how these +foreigners make a fuss about everything, and exaggerate every trifle +into a mock importance. Now, we are not in Ireland--" + +"No," said I, "would to Heaven we were!" + +"Well, perhaps I might echo the prayer without doing any great violence +to my sincerity; but as we are not there, nor can we change the +venue--is n't that the phrase?--to our own country, what if we just were +to make the best of it, and suffer this matter to take its course here?" + +"As how, Cary?" + +"Simply by dressing yourself, and driving into Como. Your case will be +heard on any morning you present yourself; and I am so convinced +that the whole affair will be settled in five minutes that I am quite +impatient it should be over." + +I will not repeat all her arguments, some good and some bad, but every +one of them dictated by that kind and affectionate spirit which, however +her judgment incline, never deserts her. The end of it was, I got up, +shaved, and dressed, and within an hour was skimming over the calm clear +water towards the little city of Como. + +Cary was with me,--she would come,--she said she knew she did me good; +and it was true: but the scene itself--those grand, great mountains; +those leafy glens, opening to the glassy lake, waveless and still; that +glorious reach of blue sky, spanning from peak to peak of those Alpine +ridges--all soothed and calmed me; and in the midst of such gigantic +elements, I could not help feeling shame that such a reptile as I should +mar the influence of this picture on my heart by petty passions and +little fractious discontents an worthy of a sick schoolboy. + +"Is n't it enough for you, K. I.," says I, "ay, and more than you +deserve, just to live, and breathe, and have your being in such a bright +and glorious world? If you were a poet, with what images would not these +swooping mists, these fleeting shadows, people your imagination? What +voices would you hear in the wind sighing through the olive groves, and +dying in many a soft cadence along the grottoed shore? If a painter, +what effects of sunlight and shadow are there to study? what tints +of color, that, without nature to guarantee, you would never dare to +venture on? But being neither, having neither gift nor talent, being +simply one of those 4 fruit consumers,' who bring back nothing to the +common stock of mankind, and who can no more make my fellow-man wiser or +better than I make myself taller or younger, is it not a matter of +deep thankfulness that, in all my common-place of mind and thought, I +too--even K. I. that I am--have an intense feeling of enjoyment in the +contemplation of this scene? I could n't describe it like Shelley, nor +paint it like Stan field, but I 'll back myself for a five-pound note +to feel it with either of them." And there, let me tell you, Tom, is the +real superiority of Nature over all her counterfeits. You need no study, +no cultivation, no connoisseurship to appreciate her: her glorious works +come home to the heart of the peasant, as, mist-begirt, he waits for +sunrise on some highland waste, as well as to the Prince, who gazes on +the swelling landscape of his own dominions. I could n't tell a Claude +from a Canaletti,--I 'm not sure that I don't like H. B. better than +Albert Durer,--but I 'd not surrender the heartfelt delight, the calm, +intense, deep-souled gratitude I experience from the contemplation of a +lovely landscape, to possess the Stafford gallery. + +I was, then, in a far more peaceful and practicable frame of mind as we +entered Como than when I quitted the villa. + +I should like to have lingered a little in the old town itself, with its +quaint little arched passages and curious architecture; but Cary advised +me to nurse all my strength for the "Tribunal." I suppose it must +be with some moral hope of discountenancing litigation that foreign +Governments always make the Law Courts as dirty and disgusting as +possible, pitch them in a filthy quarter, and surround them with every +squalor. This one was a paragon of its kind, and for rags and ruffianly +looks I never saw the equal of the company there assembled. I am not +yet quite sure that the fellow who showed us the way did n't purposely +mislead us; for we traversed a dozen dark corridors, and went up and +went down more staircases than I have accomplished for the last six +months. Now and then we stopped for a minute to interrogate somebody +through a sliding pane in a kind of glass cage, and off we went again. +At last we came to a densely crowded passage, making way through which, +we entered a large hall with a vaulted roof, crammed with people, but +who made room at the instance of a red-eyed, red-bearded little man in +a black gown, that I now, to my horror and disgust, found out was my +counsel, being already engaged by Lord George to defend me. + +"This is treachery, Cary," whispered I, angrily. + +"I know it is," said she, "and I 'm one of the traitors; but anything is +better than to see you pine away your life in a sick-room." + +This was neither the time nor place for much colloquy, as we now had to +fight our way vigorously through the mob till we reached a row of seats +where the bar were placed, and where we were politely told to be seated. +Directly in front of us sat three ill-favored old fellows in black +gowns and square black caps, modelled after those brown-paper helmets +so popular with plasterers and stucco men in our country. I found it a +great trial not to laugh every time I looked at them! + +There was no case "on" at the moment, but a kind of wrangle was going +forward about whose was to be the next hearing, in which I could hear +my own name mingled. My lawyer, Signor Mastuccio, seemed to make a +successful appeal in my favor; for the three old "plasterers" put up +their eyeglasses, and stared earnestly at Cary, after which the chief +of them nodded benignly, and said that the case of Giacomo Lamporeccho +might be called; and accordingly, with a voice that might have raised +the echoes of the Alps, a fellow screamed out that the "homicidio"--I +have no need to translate the word--was then before the Court If I +only were to tell you, Tom, of the tiresome, tedious, and unmeaning +formalities that followed, your case in listening would be scarcely +more enviable than was my own while enduring them. All the preliminary +proceedings were in writing, and a dirty little dog, with a vile odor +of garlic about him, read some seventy pages of a manuscript which I +was informed was the accusation against me. Then appeared another +creature,--his twin brother in meanness and poverty,--who proved to be +a doctor, the same who had professionally attended the wounded man, +and who also read a memoir of the patient's sufferings and peril. +These occupied the Court till it was nigh three o'clock, when, being +concluded, Giacomo himself was called. I assure you, Tom, I gave a start +when, instead of the large, fine, burly, well-bearded rascal with the +Lablache voice, I beheld a pale, thin, weakly creature, with a miserable +treble, inform the Court that he was Giacomo Lamporeccho. + +Cary, who translated for me as he spoke, told me that he gave an account +of our interview together, in which it would appear that my conduct was +that of an outrageous maniac. He described me as accusing everybody of +roguery and cheating,--calling the whole country a den of thieves, +and the authorities their accomplices. He detailed his own mild +remonstrances against my hasty judgment, and his calm appeals to my +better reason. He dwelt long upon his wounded honor, and, what he felt +still more deeply, the wounded honor of his nation; and at last he +actually began to cry when his feelings got too much for him, at which +the Court sobbed, and the bar sobbed, and the general audience, in a +mixture of grief and menace, muttered the most signal vengeance against +your humble servant. + +I happened to be--a rare thing for me, latterly--in one of my old moods, +when the ludicrous and absurd carry away all my sympathies; and faith, +Tom, I laughed as heartily as ever I did in my life at the whole scene. +"Are we coming to the wound yet, Cary," said I, "tell me that," for the +fellow had now begun again. + +"Yes, papa, he is describing it, and, by his account, it ought to have +killed him." + +"Egad," said I, "it will be the death of _me_ with laughing;" and I +shook till my sides ached. + +"Does his Excellency know that he is in a Court of Justice?" said +Plasterer No. 1. + +"Tell him, my dear, that I quite forgot it. I fancied I was at a play, +and enjoyed it much." + +I believe Cary did n't translate me honestly, for the old fellow seemed +appeased, and the case continued. I could now perceive that my atrocious +conduct had evoked a very strong sentiment in the auditory, for +there was a great rush forward to get a look at me, and they who were +fortunate enough to succeed complimented me by a string of the most +abusive and insulting epithets. + +My advocate was now called on, and, seeing him rise, I just whispered to +Cary, "Ask the judge if we may see the wound?" + +"What does that question mean?" said the chief judge, imperiously. +"Would the prisoner dare to insinuate that the wound has no existence?" + +"You've hit it," said I. "Tell him, Cary, that's exactly what I mean." + +"Has not the prisoner sworn to his sufferings," repeated he, "and the +doctor made oath to the treatment?" + +"They 're both a pair of lying scoundrels. Tell him so, Cary." + +"You see him now. There is the man himself in his true colors, most +illustrious and most ornate judges," exclaimed Giacomo, pointing to me +with his finger, as I nearly burst with rage. + +"Ah! che diavolo! che demonio infernale!" rang out amidst the waving +crowd; and the looks bestowed on me from the bench seemed to give hearty +concurrence to the opinion. + +Now, Tom, a court of justice, be its locale ever so humble, and its +procedure ever so simple, has always struck me as the very finest +evidence of homage to civilization. There is something in the fact of +men submitting, not only their worldly interests and their characters, +but even their very passions, to the arbitration of their fellow-men, +that is indescribably fine and noble, and shows--if we even wanted such +a proof--that this corrupt nature of ours, in the midst of all its worst +influences, has still some of that divine essence within, unsullied and +untarnished. And just as I reverence this, do I execrate, with all my +heart's indignation, a corrupt judicature. The governments who employ, +and the people who tolerate them, are well worthy of each other. + +Take all the vices that degrade a nation, "bray them in a mortar," and +they 'll not eat so deep into the moral feeling of a people as a tainted +administration of the law. + +You may fancy that, in my passionate warmth, I have forgotten all about +my individual case: no such thing. I have, however, rescued myself +from the danger of an apoplexy by opening this safety-valve to my +indignation. And now I cannot resume my narrative. No, Tom, "I have lost +the scent," and all I can do is to bring you "in at the death." I was +sentenced to pay seven hundred zwanzigers,--eight-pences,--all the costs +of the procedure, the doctor's bill, and the maintenance of Giacomo +till his convalescence was completed. I appealed on the spot to an upper +court, and the judgment was confirmed! I nearly burst with indignant +anger, and asked my advocate if he had ever heard of such iniquity. +He shrugged his shoulders, smiled slightly, and said, "The law is +precarious in all countries." + +"Yes,--but," said I, "the judges are not always corrupt. Now, that old +president of the first court suggested every answer to the witness--" + +"Vincenzio Lamporeccho is a shrewd man--" + +"What! How do you call him? Is he anything to our friend Giacomo?" + +"He is his father!" + +"And the Brigadier who arrested me?" + +"Is his brother. The junior judge of the Appeal Court, Luigi +Lamporeccho, is his first cousin." + +I did n't ask more questions, Tom. Fancy a country where your butler +is brother to the chief baron, and sues you for wages in the Court of +Exchequer! + +"And you, Signor Mastuccio," said I. "I hope I have not exposed you to +the vengeance of this powerful family by your zeal in my behalf?" + +"Not in the least," said he; "my mother was a Lamporeccho herself." + +Now, Tom, I think I need not take any more pains to explain the issue of +my lawsuit; and here I'll leave it. + +My parting benediction to the Court was brief: "Goodbye, old gentlemen. +I 'm glad you have the Austrians here to bully you; and not sorry that +_you_ are here to assassinate _them_." This speech was overheard by +some learned linguist in court, and on the same evening I received an +intimation to quit the Imperial dominions within twenty-four hours. +Tiverton was for going up to Milan to Radetzky, or somebody, else, and +having it all "put straight," as he calls it; but I would not hear of +this. + +"We 'll write to the Ambassador at Vienna?" said he. + +"Nor that either," said I. + +"To the 'Times,' then." + +"Not a word of it." + +"You don't mean to say," said he, "that you 'll put up with this +treatment, and that you'll lower the name of Briton before these +foreigners by such a tame submission?" + +"My view of the case is a very simple one, my Lord," said I; "and it +is this. We travelling English are very prone to two faults; one is, +a bullying effort to oppose ourselves to the laws of the countries we +visit; and then, when we fail, a whining appeal to some minister +or consul to take up our battle. The first is stupid, the latter is +contemptible. The same feeling that would prevent me trespassing on the +hospitality of an unwilling host will rescue me from the indignity of +remaining in a country where my presence is distasteful to the rulers of +it." + +"Such a line of conduct," said he, "would expose us to insult from one +end of Europe to the other." + +"And if it teach us to stay at home, and live under laws that we +understand, the price is not too high for the benefit." + +He blustered away about what he would n't do in the Press, and in his +"place" in Parliament; but what's the use of all that? Will England go +to war for Kenny James Dodd? No. Well, then, by no other argument is the +foreigner assailable. Tell the Austrian or the Russian Government that +the company at the "Freemasons'" dinner were shocked, and the ladies at +Exeter Hall were outraged at their cruelty, and they 'll only laugh at +you. We can't send a fleet to Vienna; nor--we would n't if we could. + +I did n't tell Lord George, but to you, in confidence, Tom, I will say, +I think we have--if we liked it--a grand remedy for all these cases. Do +you know that it was thinking of Tim Ryan, the rat-catcher at Kelly's +mills, suggested it to me. Whenever Tim came up to a house with his +traps and contrivances, if the family said they did n't need him, "for +they had no rats," he 'd just loiter about the place till evening,--and, +whatever he did, or how he did it, one thing was quite sure, they had +never to make the same complaint again! Now, my notion is, whenever we +have any grudge with a foreign State, don't begin to fit out fleets or +armaments, but just send a steamer off to the nearest port with one of +the refugees aboard. I 'd keep Kossuth at Malta, always ready; +Louis Blanc and Ledru Rollin at Jersey; Don Miguel and Don Carlos at +Gibraltar; and have Mazzini and some of the rest cruising about for +any service they may be wanted on. In that way, Tom, we 'd keep these +Governments in order, and, like Tim Ryan, be turning our vermin to a +good account besides! + +I thought that Mrs. D. and Mary Anne displayed a degree of attachment to +this place rather surprising, considering that I have heard of nothing +but its inconvenience till this moment, when we are ordered to quit it. +Now, however, they suddenly discover it to be healthful, charming, and +economical. I have questioned Cary as to the secret of this change, but +she does not understand it. She knows that Lord George received a +large packet by the post this morning, and instantly hurried off to +communicate its contents to Mary Anne. By George! Tom, I have come to +the notion that to rule a family of four people, one ought to have +a "detective officer" attached to the household. Every day or so, +something puzzling and inexplicable occurs, the meaning of which never +turns up till you find yourself duped, and then it is too late to +complain. Now, this same letter Cary speaks of is at this very instant +exercising a degree of influence here, and I am to remain in ignorance +of the cause till I can pick it out from the effect. This, too, is +another blessed result of foreign travel! When we lived at home the +incidents of our daily life were few, and not very eventful; they were +circumscribed within narrow limits, and addressed themselves to the +feelings of every one amongst us. Concealment would have been absurd, +even were it possible; but the truth was, we were all so engaged with +the same topics and the same spirit, that we talked of them constantly, +and grew to think that outside the little circle of ourselves the world +was a mere wilderness. To be sure, all this sounds very narrow-minded, +and all that. So it does; but let me tell you, it conduces greatly to +happiness and contentment. + +Now, here, we have so many irons in the fire, some one or other of us is +always burning his fingers! + +I continue to be very uneasy about James. Not a line have we had from +him, and he 's now several weeks gone! I wrote to Vickars, but have not +yet heard from him in reply. Cary endeavors to persuade me that it is +only his indolent, careless habit is in fault; but I can see that she is +just as uncomfortable and anxious as myself. + +You will collect from the length of this document that I am quite myself +again; and, indeed, except a little dizziness in my head after dinner, +and a tendency to sleep, I 'm all right. Not that I complain of the +latter,--far from it, Tom. Sancho Panza himself never blessed the +inventor of it more fervently than I do. + +Sometimes, however, I think that it is the newspapers are not so amusing +as they used to be. The racy old bitterness of party spirit is dying +out, and all the spicy drollery and epigrammatic fun of former days gone +with it. It strikes me, too, Tom, that "Party," in the strong sense, +never can exist again amongst us. Party is essentially the submission of +the many to the few; and so long as the few were pre-eminent in ability +and tactical skill, nothing was more salutary. Wal-pole, Pelham, Pitt, +and Fox stood immeasurably above the men and the intelligence of +their time. Their statecraft was a science of which the mass of +their followers were totally ignorant, and the crew never dreamt of +questioning the pilot as to the course he was about to take. Whereas +now--although by no means deficient in able and competent men to +rule us--the body of the House is filled by others very little their +inferiors. Old Babbington used to say "that between a good physician and +a bad one, there was only the difference between a pound and a guinea." +In the same way, there is not a wider interval now between the Right +Honorable Secretary on the Treasury Bench and the Honorable Member below +him. Education is widely disseminated,--the intercourse of club life is +immense,--opportunities of knowledge abound on every hand,--the Press is +a great popular instructor; and, above all, the temper and tendency of +the age favors labor of every kind. Idleness is not in vogue with any +class of the whole community. What chance, then, of any man, no matter +how great and gifted he be, imposing, his opinions--_as such_--upon +the world of politics! A minister, or his opponent, may get together a +number of supporters for a particular measure, just as you or I could +muster a mob at an election or a fair; but there would be no more +discipline in the one case than in the other. They'd come now, and go +when they liked; and any chance of reducing such "irregulars" to the +habits of an army would be downright impossible! + +There is another cause of dulness, too, in the newspapers. All the +accidents--a most amusing column it used to be--are now entirely caused +by railroads; and there is a shocking sameness about them. They were +"shunting" wagons across the line when the express came up, or the +pointsman did n't turn the switch, or the fog obscured the danger +signal. With these three explanations, some hundreds of human beings are +annually smashed, smothered, and scalded, and the survivors not a whit +more provident than before. + +Cruel assaults upon women--usually the wives of the ruffians +themselves--are, I perceive, becoming a species of popular custom in +England. Every "Times" I see has its catalogue of these atrocities; and +I don't perceive that five shilling fines nor even three weeks at the +treadmill diminishes the number. One of the railroad companies announces +that it will not hold itself responsible for casualties, nor indemnify +the sufferers. Don't you think that we might borrow a hint from them, +and insert some cause of the same kind into the marriage ceremony, and +that the woman should know all her "liabilities" without any hope +of appeal? Ah! Tom Purcell, all our naval reviews, and industrial +exhibitions, and boastful "leading" articles about our national +greatness come with a very ill grace in the same broad sheet with these +degrading police histories. Must savage ferocity accompany us as we grow +in wealth and power? If so, then I 'd rather see us a third-rate power +to-morrow than rule the world at the cost of such disgrace! + +Ireland, I see, jogs on just as usual, wrangling away. They can't even +agree whether the potatoes have got the rot or not. Some of the papers, +too, are taking up the English cry of triumph over the downfall of our +old squirearchy; but it does not sound well from _them_. To be sure, +some of the new proprietors would seem not only to have taken our +estates, but tasted the Blarney-stone besides; and one, a great man too, +has been making a fine speech with his "respected friend, the Reverend +Mr. O'Shea," on his right hand, and vowing that he 'll never turn out +anybody that pays the rent, nor dispossess a good tenant! The stupid +infatuation of these English makes me sick, Tom. Why, with all their +self-sufficiency, can't they see that we understand our own people +better than they do? We know the causes of bad seasons and short +harvests better; we know the soil better, and the climate better, and if +we haven't been good landlords, it is simply because we couldn't afford +it. Now, they are rich, and can afford it; and if they have bought up +Irish estates to get the rents out of them, I 'd like to know what's to +be the great benefit of the change. "Pay up the arrears," says I; but if +my Lord Somebody from England says the same, I think there 's no use in +selling _me_ out, and taking _him_ in my place. And this brings me to +asking when I'm to get another remittance? I _am_ thinking seriously of +retrenchment; but first, Tom, one must have something to retrench upon. +You must possess a salary before you can stand "stoppages." Of course +we mean "to come home again." I have n't heard that the Government have +selected me for a snug berth in the Colonies; so be assured that you'll +see us all back in Dodsborough before-- + +Mrs. D. had been looking over my shoulder, Tom, while I was writing the +last line, and we have just had what she calls an "explanation," but +what ordinary grammarians would style--a row. She frankly and firmly +declares that I may try Timbuctoo or the Gambia if I like, but back to +Ireland she positively will not go! She informs me, besides, that she +is quite open to an arrangement about a separate maintenance. But my +property, Tom, is like poor Jack Heffernan's goose,--it would n't bear +carving, so he just helped himself to it all! And, as I said to Mrs. D., +two people may get some kind of shelter under one umbrella, but they 'll +infallibly be wet through if they cut it in two, and each walk off with +his half. "If you were a bit of a gentleman," said she, "you 'd give it +all to the lady." That's what I got for my illustration. + +But now that I 'm safe once more, I repeat, you shall certainly see us +back in our old house again, and which, for more reasons than I choose +to detail here, we ought never to have quitted. + +I have been just sent for to a cabinet council of the family, who are +curious to know whither we are going from this; and as I wish to appear +prepared with a plan, and am not strong in geography, I 'll take a +look at the map before I go. I've hit it, Tom,--Parma. Parma will do +admirably. It's near, and it's never visited by strangers. There 's a +gallery of pictures to look at, and, at the worst, plenty of cheese to +eat. Tourists may talk and grumble as they will about the dreary aspect +of these small capitals, without trade and commerce, with a beggarly +Court and a ruined nobility,--to me they are a boon from Heaven. You can +always live in them for a fourth of the cost of elsewhere. The head +inn is your own, just as the Piazza is, and the park at the back of the +palace. It goes hard but you can amuse yourself poking about into old +churches, and peeping into shrines and down wells, pottering into the +market-place, and watching the bargaining for eggs and onions; and when +these fail, it's good fun to mark the discomfiture of your womankind at +being shut up in a place where there's neither opera nor playhouse,--no +promenade, no regimental band, and not even a milliner's shop. + +From all I can learn, Parma will suit me perfectly; and now I 'm off +to announce my resolve to the family. Address me there, Tom, and with a +sufficiency of cash to move further when necessary. + +I 'm this moment come back, and not quite satisfied with what I 've +done. Mrs. D. and Mary Anne approve highly of my choice. They say +nothing could be better. Some of us must be mistaken, and I fervently +trust that it may not be + +Your sincere friend, + +Kenny James Dodd. + + + + +LETTER XIV. JAMES DODD TO LORD GEORGE TIVERTON, M.P. + +Cour de Vienne, Mantua. + +My dear George,--I 've only five minutes to give you; for the horses are +at the door, and we 're to start at once. I have a great budget for you +when we meet; for we've been over the Tyrol and Styria, spent ten days +at Venice, and "done" Verona and the rest of them,--John Murray in hand. + +We 're now bound for Milan, where I want you to meet us on our arrival, +with an invitation from my mother, asking Josephine to the villa. I 've +told her that the note is already there awaiting her, and for mercy' +sake let there be no disappointment. + +This dispensation is a horrible tedious affair; but I hope we shall have +it now within the present month. The interval _she_ desires to spend +in perfect retirement, so that the villa is exactly the place, and the +attention will be well timed. + +Of course they ought to receive her as well as possible. Mary Anne, +I know, requires no hint; but try and persuade the governor to +trim himself up a little, and if you could make away with that old +flea-bitten robe be calls his dressing-gown, you 'd do the State +some service. Look to the servants, too, and smarten them up; a cold +perspiration breaks over me when I think of Betty Cobb! + +I rely on you to think of and provide for everything, and am ever your +attached friend, + +James Dodd. + +I changed my last five-hundred-pound note at Venice, so that I must +bring the campaign to a close immediately. + + + + +LETTER XV. MRS. DODD TO MRS. MARY GALLAGHER, DODSBOROUGH + +Parma, the "Cour de Parme." + +My dear Molly,--When I wrote to you last, we were living, quietly, it is +true, and unostensively, but happily, on the Lake of Comus, and there +we might have passed the whole autumn, had not K. L, with his usual +thoughtfulness for the comfort of his family, got into a row with the +police, and had us sent out of the country. + +No less, my dear! Over the frontier in twenty-four hours was the word; +and when Lord George wanted to see some of the great people about it, or +even make a stir in the newspapers, he wouldn't let him. "No," said he, +"the world is getting tired of Englishmen that are wronged by foreign +governments. They say, naturally enough, that there must be some fault +in ourselves, if we are always in trouble, this way; and, besides, I +would not take fifty pounds, and have somebody get up in the House and +move for all the correspondence in the case of Mr. Dodd, so infamously +used by the authorities in Lombardy." Them 's his words, Molly; and when +we told him that it was a fine way of getting known and talked about in +the world, what was his answer do you think? "I don't want notoriety; +and if I did, I 'd write a letter to the 'Times,' and say it was I that +defended Hougoumont, in the battle of Waterloo. There seems to be +a great dispute about it, and I don't see why I could n't put in my +claim." + +I suppose after that, Molly, there will be very little doubt that his +head isn't quite right, for he was no more at Waterloo than you or me. + +It was a great shock to us when we got the order to march; for on that +same morning the post brought us a letter from James, or, at least, it +came to Lord George, and with news that made me cry with sheer happiness +for full two hours after. I was n't far wrong, Molly, when I told you +that it 's little need he 'd have of learning or a profession. Launch +him out well in life was my words to K. I. Give him ample means to +mix in society and make friends, and see if he won't turn it to good +account. I know the boy well; and that's what K. I. never did,--never +could. + +See if I 'm not right, Mary Gallagher. He went down to the baths of--I'm +afraid of the name, but it sounds like "Humbug," as well as I can make +out--and what does he do but make acquaintance with a beautiful young +creature, a widow of nineteen, rolling in wealth, and one of the first +families in France! + +How he did it, I can't tell; no more than where he got all the money he +spent there on horses and carriages and dinners, and elegant things that +he ordered for her from Paris. He passed five weeks there, courting her, +I suppose; and then away they went, rambling through Germany, and over +the mountains, down to Venice. She in her own travelling-carriage, +and James driving a team of four beautiful grays of his own; and then +meeting when they stopped at a town, but all with as much discretion as +if it was only politeness between them. At last he pops the question, +Molly; and it turns out that she has no objection in life, only that +she must get a dispensation from the Pope, because she was promised and +betrothed to the King of Naples, or one of his brothers; and though she +married another, she never got what they call a Bull of release. + +This is the hardest thing in the world to obtain; and if it was n't that +she has a Cardinal an uncle, she might never get it. At all events, +it will take time, and meanwhile she ought to live in the strictest +retirement. To enable her to do this properly, and also by way of +showing her every attention, James wrote to have an invitation ready for +her to come down to the villa and stay with us on a visit. + +By bad luck, my dear, it was the very morning this letter came, K. I. +had got us all ordered away! What was to be done, was now the question; +we daren't trust him with the secret till she was in the house, for we +knew well he 'd refuse to ask her,--say he could n't afford the expense, +and that we were all sworn to ruin him. We left it to Lord George to +manage; and he, at last, got K. I. to fix on Parma for a week or two, +one of the quietest towns in Italy, and where you never see a coach in +the streets, nor even a well-dressed creature oat on Sunday. K. I. was +delighted with it all; saving money is the soul of him, and he never +thinks of anything but when he can make a hard bargain. What he does +with his income, Molly, the saints alone can tell; but I suspect that +there's some sinners, too, know a trifle about it; and the day will come +when I 'll have the proof! Lord G. sent for the landlord's +tariff, and it was reasonable enough. Rooms were to be two +zwanzigers--one-and-fourpence--apiece; breakfast, one; dinner, two +zwanzigers; tea, half a one; no charge for wine of the place; and if we +stayed any time, we were to have the key of a box at the opera. + +K. I. was in ecstasy. "If I was to live here five or six years," says +he, "and pay nobody, my affairs wouldn't be so much embarrassed as they +are now!" + +"If you 'd cut off your encumbrances, Mr. Dodd," says I, "that would +save something." + +"My what?" said he, flaring up, with a face like a turkey-cock. + +But I was n't going to dispute with him, Molly; so I swept out of the +room, and threw down a little china flowerpot just to stop him. + +The same day we started, and arrived here at the hotel, the "Cour de +Parme," by midnight; it was a tiresome journey, and K. I. made it worse, +for he was fighting with somebody or other the whole time; and Lord +George was not with us, for he had gone off to Milan to meet James; and +Mr. D. was therefore free to get into as many scrapes as he pleased. +I must say, he did n't neglect the opportunity, for he insulted the +passport people and the customhouse officers, and the man at the bridge +of boats, and the postmasters and postilions everywhere. "I did n't come +here to be robbed," said he everywhere; and he got a few Italian words +for "thief," "rogue," "villain," and so on; and if I saw one, I saw ten +knives drawn on him that blessed day. He would n't let Cary translate +for him, but sat on the box himself, and screamed out his directions +like a madman. This went on till we came to a place called San Donino, +and there--it was the last stage from Parma--they told him he could n't +have any horses, though he saw ten of them standing all ready harnessed +and saddled in the stable. I suppose they explained to him the reason, +and that he did n't understand it, for they all got to words together, +and it was soon who 'd scream loudest amongst them. + +At last K. I. cried out, "Come down, Paddy, and see if we can't get four +of these beasts to the carriage, and we 'll not ask for a postilion." + +Down jumps Paddy out of the rumble, and rushes after him into the +stable. A terrible uproar followed this, and soon after the stable +people, helpers, ostlers, and postboys, were seen running out of +the door for their lives, and K. I. and Paddy after them, with two +rack-staves they had torn out of the manger. "Leave them to me," says K. +I.; "leave them to me, Paddy, and do you go in for the horses; put them +to, and get a pair of reins if you can; if not, jump up on one of the +leaders, and drive away." + +If he was bred and born in the place, he could not have known it better, +for he came out the next minute with a pair of horses, that he fastened +to the carriage in a trice, and then hurried back for two more, that +he quickly brought out and put to also. "There 's no whip to be found," +says he, "but this wattle will do for the leaders; and if your honor +will stir up the wheelers, here 's a nice little handy stable fork to do +it with." With this Paddy sprung into the saddle, K. I. jumped up to the +box, and off they set, tearing down the street like mad. It was pitch +dark, and of course neither of them knew the road; but K. I. screamed +out, "Keep in the middle, Paddy, and don't pull up for any one." We +went through the village at a full gallop, the people all yelling and +shouting after us; but at the end of the street there were two roads, +and Paddy cried out, "Which way now?" "Take the widest, if you can see +it," screamed out K. I.; and away he went, at a pace that made the big +travelling-carriage bump and swing like a boat at sea. + +[Illustration: 164] + +We soon felt we were going down a dreadful steep, for the carriage was +all but on top of the horses, and K. I. kept screaming out, "Keep up +the pace, Paddy. Make them go, or we'll all be smashed." Just as he +said that I heard a noise, like the sea in a storm,--a terrible sound +of rushing, dashing, roaring water; then a frightful yell from Paddy, +followed by a plunge. "In a river, by ------!" roared out K. I.; and as +he said it, the coach gave a swing over to one side, then righted, then +swung back again, and with a crash that I thought smashed it to atoms, +fell over on one side into the water. + +"All right," said K. I.; "I turned the leaders short round and saved +us!" and with that he began tearing and dragging us out. I fell into +a swoon after this, and know no more of what happened. When I came to +myself, I was in a small hut, lying on a bed of chestnut leaves, and the +place crowded with peasants and postilions. + +"There 's no mischief done, mamma," said Cary. "Paddy swam the leaders +across beautifully, for the traces snapped at once, and, except the +fright, we 're nothing the worse." + +"Where's Mary Anne?" said I. + +"Talking to the gentleman who assisted us--outside--some friend of Lord +George's, I believe, for he is with him." + +Just as she said this, in comes Mary Anne with Lord George and his +friend. + +"Oh, mamma," says she, in a whisper, "you don't know who it is,--the +Prince himself." + +"Ah, been and done it, marm," said he, addressing me with his glass in +his eye. + +"What, sir?" said I. + +"Taken a 'header,' they tell me, eh? Glad there's no harm done." + +"His Serene Highness hopes you 'll not mind it, mamma," said Mary Anne. + +"Oh, is _that_ it?" said I. + +"Yes, mamma. Isn't he delightful,--so easy, so familiar, and so truly +kind also." + +"He has just ordered up two of his own carriages to take us on." + +By this time his Serene Highness had lighted his cigar, and, seating +himself on a log of wood in the corner of the hut, began smoking. In the +intervals of the puffs he said,-- + +"Old gent took a wrong turning--should have gone left--water very high, +besides, from the late rains--regular smash--wish I 'd seen it." + +K. I. now joined us, all dripping, and hung round with weeds and +water-lilies,--as Lord George said, like an ancient river-god. "In any +other part of the globe," said he, "there would have been a warning of +some kind or other stuck up here to show there was n't a bridge; but +exactly as I said yesterday, these little beggarly States, with their +petty governments, are the curse of Europe." + +"Hush, papa, for mercy' sake," whispered Mary Anne; "this is the Prince +himself; it is his Serene Highness--" + +"Oh, the devil!" said he. + +"My friend, Mr. Dodd, Prince," said Lord George, presenting him with a +sly look, as much as to say, "the same as I told you about." + +"Dodd--Dodd--fellow of that name hanged, wasn't there?" said the Prince. + +"Yes, your Highness; he was a Dr. Dodd, who committed forgery, and for +whom the very greatest public sympathy was felt at the time," said K. I. + +"Your father, eh?" + +"No, your Highness, no relation whatever," + +"Won't have him at any price, George," said the Prince, with a wink. +"Never draw a weed, miss?" said he, turning to Mary Anne. + +I don't know what she said, but it must have been smart, for his Serene +Highness laughed heartily and said,-- + +"Egad, I got it there, Tiverton!" + +In due time a royal carriage arrived. The Prince himself handed us in, +and we drove off with one of the Court servants on the box. To be sure, +we forgot that we had left K. I. behind; but Mary Anne said he 'd have +no difficulty in finding a conveyance, and the distance was only a few +miles. + +"I wish his Serene Highness had not taken away Lord George," said Mary +Anne; "he insists upon his going with him to Venice." + +"For my part," said Cary, "though greatly obliged to the Prince for his +opportune kindness to ourselves, I am still more grateful to him for +this service." + +On that, my dear, we had a dispute that lasted till we got to our +journey's end; for though the girls never knew what it was to disagree +at home in Dodsborough, here, abroad, Cary's jealousy is such that she +cannot control herself, and says at times the most cruel and unfeeling +things to her sister. + +At last we got to the end of this wearisome day, and found ourselves at +the door of the inn. The Court servant said something to the landlord, +and immediately the whole household turned out to receive us; and the +order was given to prepare the "Ambassador's suite of apartments for +us." + +"This is the Prince's doing," whispered Mary Anne in my ear. "Did you +ever know such a piece of good fortune?" + +The rooms were splendid, Molly; though a little gloomy when we first got +in, for all the hangings were of purple velvet, and the pictures on +the walls were dark and black, so that, though we had two lamps in our +saloon and above a dozen caudles, you could not see more than one-half +the length of it. + +I never saw Mary Anne in such spirits in my life. She walked up and +down, admiring everything, praising everything; then she 'd sit down to +the piano and play for a few minutes, and then spring up and waltz about +the room like a mad thing. As for Cary, I didn't know what became of +her till I found that she had been downstairs with the landlord, getting +him to send a conveyance back for her father, quite forgetting, as Mary +Anne said, that any fuss about the mistake would only serve to expose +us. And there, Molly, once for all, is the difference between the two +girls! The one has such a knowledge of life and the world, that she +never makes a blunder; and the other, with the best intentions, is +always doing something wrong! + +We waited supper for K. I. till past one o'clock; but, with his usual +selfishness and disregard of others, he never came till it was nigh +three, and then made such a noise as to wake up the whole house. It +appeared, too, that he missed the coach that was sent to meet him, and +he and Paddy Byrne came the whole way on foot! Let him do what he will, +he has a knack of bringing disgrace on his family! The fatigue and wet +feet, and his temper more than either, brought back the gout on him, and +he did n't get up till late in the afternoon. We were in the greatest +anxiety to tell him about James; but there was no saying what humor he'd +be in, and how he'd take it. Indeed, his first appearance did not augur +well. He was cross with everything and everybody. He said that sleeping +on that grand bed with the satin hangings was like lying in state after +death, and that our elegant drawing-room was about as comfortable as a +cathedral. + +He got into a little better temper when the landlord came up with the +bill of fare, and to consult him about the dinner. + +"Egad!" said he, "I've ordered fourteen dishes; so I don't think they'll +make much out of the two zwanzigers a head!" Out of decency he had to +order champagne, and a couple of bottles of Italian wine of a very high +quality. "It's like all my economy," says he; "five shillings for a +horse, and a pound to get him shod!" + +We saw it was best to wait till dinner was over before we spoke to him; +and, indeed, we were right, for he dined very heartily, finished the two +bottles every glass, and got so happy and comfortable that Mary Anne sat +down to the piano to sing for him. + +"Thank you, my darling," said he, when she was done. "I 've no doubt +that the song is a fine one, and that you sung it well, but I can't +follow the words, nor appreciate the air. I like something that touches +me either with an old recollection, or by some suggestion for the +future; and if you 'd try and remember the 'Meeting of the Waters,' or +'Where's the Slave so lowly'--" + +"I 'm afraid, sir, I cannot gratify you," said she; and it was all she +could do to get out of the room before he heard her sobbing. + +"What's the matter, Jemi," said he, "did I say anything wrong? Is Molly +angry with me?" + +"Will you tell me," said I, "when you ever said anything right? Or do +you do anything from morning till night but hurt the feelings and dance +upon the tenderest emotions of your whole family? I've submitted to it +so long," said I, "that I have no heart left in me to complain; but now +that you drive me to it, I 'll tell you my mind;" and so I did, Molly, +till he jumped up at last, put on his hat, and rushed downstairs into +the street. After which I went to my room, and cried till bedtime! As +poor Mary Anne said to me, "There was a refined cruelty in that request +of papa's I can never forget;" nor is it to be expected she should! + +The next morning at breakfast he was in a better humor, for the table +was covered with delicacies of every kind, fruit and liqueurs besides. +"Not dear at eightpence, Jemi," he 'd say, at every time he filled his +plate. "Just think the way one is robbed by servants, when you see what +can be had for a 'zwanziger;'" and he made Cary take down a list of the +things, just to send to the "Times," and show how the English hotels +were cheating the public. + +We saw that this was a fine opportunity to tell him about James, and so +Mary Anne undertook the task. "And so he never went to London at all," +he kept repeating all the while. No matter what she said about the +Countess, and her fortune, and her great connections; nothing came out +of his lips but the same words. + +"Don't you perceive," said I, at last, for I could n't bear it any +longer, "that he did better,--that the boy took a shorter and surer road +in life than a shabby place under the Crown!" + +"May be so," said he, with a deep sigh,--"may be so! but I ought to +be excused if I don't see at a glance how any man makes his fortune by +marriage!" + +I knew that he meant that for a provocation, Molly, but I bit my lips +and said nothing. + +We then explained to him that we had sent off a note to the Countess, +asking her to pass a few weeks with us, and were in hourly expectation +of her arrival. + +He gave another heavy sigh, and drank off a glass of Curacoa. + +Mary Anne went on about our good luck in finding such a capital hotel, +so cheap and in such a sweet retired spot,--just the very thing the +Countess would like. + +"Never went to London at all!" muttered K. I., for he could n't get his +thoughts out of the old track. And, indeed, though we were all talking +to him for more than an hour afterwards, it was easy to see that he was +just standing still on the same spot as before. I don't ever remember +passing a day of such anxiety as that, for every distant noise of +wheels, every crack of a postilion's whip, brought us to the window to +see if they were coming. We delayed dinner till seven o'clock, and put +K. I.'s watch back, to persuade him it was only five; we loitered and +lingered over it as long as we could, but no sight nor sound was there +of their coming. + +"Tell Paddy to fetch my slippers, Molly," said K. I., as we got into the +drawing-room. + +"Oh, papa! impossible," said she; "the Countess may arrive at any +moment." + +"Think of his never going to London at all," said he, with a groan. + +I almost cried with spite, to see a man so lost to every sentiment of +proper pride, and even dead to the prospects of his own children! + +"Don't you think I might have a cigar?" said he. + +"Is it here, papa?" said Mary Anne. "The smell of tobacco would +certainly disgust the Countess." + +"He thinks it would be more flattering to receive her into all the +intimacy of the family," said I, "and see us without any disguise." + +"Egad, then," said he, bitterly, "she's come too late for _that_; she +should have made our acquaintance before we began vagabondizing over +Europe, and pretending to fifty things we 've no right to!" + +"Here she is,--here they are!" screamed Mary Anne at this moment; and, +with a loud noise like thunder, the heavy carriage rolled under the +arched gateway, while crack--crack--crack went the whips, and the big +bell of the ball began ringing away furiously. + +"_I'm_ off, at all events," said K. I.; and snatching one of the candles +off the table, he rushed out of the room as hard as he could go. + +I had n't more than time to put my cap straight on my head, when I heard +them on the stairs; and then, with a loud bang of the folding-doors, the +landlord himself ushered them into the room. She was leaning on James's +arm, but the minute she saw me, she rushed forward and kissed my hand! +I never was so ashamed in my life, Molly. It was making me out such a +great personage at once, that I thought I 'd have fainted at the very +notion. As to Mary Anne, they were in each other's arms in a second, +and kissed a dozen times. Cary, however, with a coldness that I'll never +forgive her for, just shook hands with her, and then turned to embrace +James a second time. + +While Mary Anne was taking off her shawl and her bonnet, I saw that she +was looking anxiously about the room. + +"What is it?" said I to Mary Anne,--"what does she want?" "She's asking +where's the Prince; she means papa," whispered Mary Anne to me; and +then, in a flash, I saw the way James represented us. "Tell her, my +dear," said I, "that the Prince was n't very well, and has gone to bed." +But she was too much engaged with us all to ask more about him, and we +all sat down to tea, the happiest party ever you looked at. I had +time now to look at her; and really, Molly, I must allow, she was the +handsomest creature I ever beheld. She was a kind of a Spanish beauty, +brown, and with jet-black eyes and hair, but a little vermilion on her +cheeks, and eyelashes that threw a shadow over the upper part of her +face. As to her teeth, when she smiled,--I thought Mary Anne's good, but +they were nothing in comparison. When she caught me looking at her, she +seemed to guess what was passing in my mind, for she stooped down and +kissed my hand twice or thrice with rapture. + +It was a great loss to me, as you may suppose, that I could n't speak +to her, nor understand what she said to me; but I saw that Mary Anne +was charmed with her, and even Cary--cold and distant as she was at +first--seemed very much taken with her afterwards. + +When tea was over, James sat down beside me, and told me everything. +"If the governor will only behave handsomely for a week or two," said +he,--"I ask no more,--that lovely creature and four thousand a year are +all my own." He went on to show me that we ought to live in a certain +style--not looking too narrowly into the cost of it--while she was with +us. "She can't stay after the fourteenth," said he, "for her uncle the +Cardinal is to be at Pisa that day, and she must be there to meet him; +so that, after all, it's only three weeks I 'm asking for, and a couple +of hundred pounds will do it all. As for me," said he, "I'm regularly +aground,--haven't a ten-pound note remaining, and had to sell my 'drag' +and my four grays at Milan, to get money to come on here." + +He then informed me that her saddle-horses would arrive in a day or two, +and that we should immediately provide others, to enable him and the +girls to ride out with her. "She is used to every imaginable luxury," +said he, "and has no conception that want of means could be the +impediment to having anything one wished for." + +I promised him to do my best with his father, Molly: but you may guess +what a task that was; for, say what I could, the only remark I could get +out of him was, "It's very strange that he never went to London." + +After all, Molly, I might have spared myself all my fatigue and all my +labor, if I had only had the common-sense to remember what he was,--what +he is,--ay, and what he will be--to the end of the chapter. He was n't +well in the room with her the next morning, when I saw the old fool +looking as soft and as sheepish at her as if he was making love himself. +I own to you, Molly, I think she encouraged it. She had that French way +with her, that seems to say, "Look as long as you like, and I don't mind +it;" and so he did,--and even after breakfast I caught him peeping under +the "Times" at her foot, which, I must say, was beautifully shaped and +small; not but that the shoe had a great deal to say to it. + +"I hope you 're pleased, Mr. Dodd?" said I, as I passed behind his +chair. + +"Yes," said he; "the funds is rising." + +"I mean with the prospect," said I. + +"Yes," said he; "we 'll be all looking up presently." + +"Better than looking down," said I, "you old fool!" + +I could n't help it, Molly, if it was to have spoiled everything,--the +words would come out. + +He got very red in the face, Molly, but said nothing, and so I left +him to his own reflections. And it is what I'm now going to do with +yourself, seeing that I 've come to the end of all my news, and +carefully jotted down everything that has occurred here for your +benefit. Four days have now passed over, and they don't seem like as +many hours, though the place itself has not got many amusements. + +The young people ride out every morning on horseback, and rarely come +back until time to dress for dinner. Then we all meet; and I must say +a more elegant display I never witnessed! The table covered with plate, +and beautiful colored glass globes filled with flowers. The girls in +full dress,--for the Countess comes down as if she was going to a Court, +and wears diamond combs in her head, and a brooch of the same, as large +as a cheese-plate. I too do my best to make a suitable appearance,--in +crimson velvet and a spangled turban, with a deep fall of gold +fringe,--and, except the "Prince,"--as we call K. I.,--we are all fit to +receive the Emperor of Russia. In the evening we have music and a game +of cards, except on the opera nights, which we never miss; and then, +with a nice warm supper at twelve o'clock, Molly, we close as pleasant +a day as you could wish. Of course I can't tell you much more about +the Countess, for I 'm unable to talk to her, but she and Mary Anne are +never asunder; and, though Cary still plays cold and retired, she can't +help calling her a lovely creature. + +It seems there is some new difficulty about the dispensation; and the +Cardinal requires her to do "some meritorious works," I think they call +them, before he 'll ask for it. But if ever there was a saintly young +creature, it is herself; and I hear she's up at five o'clock every +morning just to attend first mass. + +Here they are now, coming up the stairs, and I have n't more than time +to seal this, and write myself + +Your attached friend, + +Jemima Dodd. + +Mary Anne begs you will tell Kitty Doolan that she has not been able to +write to her, with all the occupation she has lately had, but will take +the very first moment to send her at least a few lines. As James's good +luck will soon be no secret, you may tell it to Kitty, and I think it +won't be thrown away on her, as I suspect she was making eyes at him +herself, though she might be his mother! + + + + +LETTER XVI. MISS MARY ANNE DODD TO MISS DOOLAN, OF BALLYDOOLAN + +Parma. + +Dearest Kitty,--It is but seldom I have to bespeak your indulgence on +the score of my brevity, but I must do so now, overwhelmed as I am with +occupation, and scarcely a moment left me that I can really call my own. +Mamma's letter to old Molly will have explained to you the great fortune +which has befallen James, and, I might add also, all who belong to +him. And really, dearest, with all the assurance the evidence of my own +senses can convey, I still find it difficult to credit such unparalleled +luck. Fancy beauty--and such beauty,--youth, genius, mind, rank, and a +large fortune, thrown, I may say, at his feet! She is Spanish, by the +mother's side; "Las Caldenhas," I think the name, whose father was a +grandee of the first class. Her own father was the General Count de +St. Amand, who commanded in the celebrated battle of Austerlitz in +the retreat from Moscow. I 'm sure, dearest, you 'll be amazed at my +familiarity with these historical events; but the truth is, she is a +perfect treasury of such knowledge, and I must needs gain some little by +the contact. + +I am at a loss how to give you any correct notion of one whose +universality seems to impart to her character all the semblance of +contradictory qualities. She is, for instance, proud and haughty, to +a degree little short of insolence. She exacts from men a species of +deference little less than a slavish submission. As she herself says, +"Let them do homage." All her ideas of life and society are formed on +the very grandest scale. She has known, in fact, but one "set," and +that has been one where royalties moved as private individuals. Her very +trinkets recall such memories; and I have passed more than one morning +admiring pearl ear-rings, with the cipher of the Czarawitsch; bracelets +with the initials of an Austrian Archduke, and a diamond cross, which +she forgot whether it was given her by Prince Metternich or Mehemet Ali. +If you only heard her, too, how she talks of that "dear old thing, the +ex-King of Bavaria," and with what affectionate regard she alludes to +"her second self,--the Queen of Spain," you 'd feel at once, dearest +Kitty, that you were moving amidst crowns and sceptres, with the rustle +of royal purple beside, and the shadow of a thronely canopy over you. In +one sense, this has been for us the very rarest piece of good fortune; +for, accustomed as she has been to only one sphere,--and that the very +highest,--she does not detect many little peculiarities in papa's and +mamma's habits, and censure them as vulgar, but rather accepts them as +the ways and customs among ordinary nobility. In fact, she thinks the +Prince, as she calls papa, the very image of "Pozzo di Borgo;" and mamma +she can scarcely see without saying, "Your Majesty," she is so like the +Queen Dowager of Piedmont. + +As to James, if it were not that I knew her real sentiments, and that +she loves him to distraction,--merely judging from what goes on in +society,--I should say he had not a chance of success. She takes +pleasure, I almost think, in decrying the very qualities he has most +pretension to. She even laughs at his horsemanship; and yesterday went +so far as to say that activity was not amongst his perfections,--James, +who really is the very type of agility! One of her amusements is to +propose to him some impossible feat or other, and the poor boy has +nearly broken his back and dislocated his limbs by contortions that +nothing but a fish could accomplish. But the contrarieties of her nature +do not end here! She, so grave, so dignified, so imperious, I might even +call it, before others, once alone with me becomes the wildest creature +in existence. The very moment she makes her escape to her own room, she +can scarcely control her delight at throwing off the "Countess," as she +says herself, and being once again free, joyous, and unconstrained. + +I have told her, over and over again, that if James only knew her in +these moods, that he would adore her even more than he does now; but +she only laughs, and says, "Well, time enough; he shall see me so one of +these days." It was not till after ten or twelve days that she admitted +me to her real confidence. The manner of it was itself curious. "Are you +sleepy?" said she to me, one evening as we went upstairs to bed; "for, +if not, come and pay me a visit in my room." + +[Illustration: 176] + +I accepted the invitation; and after exchanging my evening robe for a +dressing-gown, hastened to the chamber. I could scarcely believe my +eyes as I entered! She was seated on a richly embroidered cushion on +the floor, dressed in Turkish fashion, loose trousers of gold-sprigged +muslin, with a small fez of scarlet cloth on her head, and a jacket of +the same colored velvet almost concealed beneath its golden embroidery; +a splendid scimitar lay beside her, and a most costly pipe, in pure +Turkish taste, which, however, she did not make use of, but smoked a +small paper cigarette instead. + +"Come, dearest," said she, "turn the key in the door, and light your +cigar; here we are at length free and happy." It was in vain that I +assured her I never had tried to smoke. At first she would n't believe, +and then she actually screamed with laughter at me. "One would fancy," +said she, "that you had only left England yesterday. Why, child, where +have you lived and with whom?" I cannot go over all she said; nor need +I repeat the efforts I made to palliate my want of knowledge of life, +which she really appeared to grieve over. "I should never think of +asking your sister here," said she; "there is a frivolity in all her +gayety--a light-heartedness, without sentiment--that I cannot abide; +but you, _ma chere_, you have a nature akin to my own. You ought, and, +indeed, must be one of us." + +So far as I could collect, Kitty,--for remember, I was smoking my first +cigarette all this time, and not particularly clear of head,--there is a +set in Parisian society, the most exclusive and refined of all, who have +voted the emancipation of women from all the slavery and degradation +to which the social usages of the world at large would condemn them. +Rightly judging that the expansion of intelligence is to be acquired +only in greater liberty of action, they have admitted them to a freer +community and participation in the themes which occupy men's thoughts, +and the habits which accompany their moods of reflection. + +Gifted, as we confessedly are, with nicer and more acute perceptions, +finer powers of discrimination and judgment, greater delicacy of +feeling, and more apt appreciation of the beautiful and the true, why +should we descend to an intellectual bondage? As dearest Josephine +says, "Our influence, to be beneficial, should be candidly and openly +exercised, not furtively practised, and cunningly insinuated. Let us +leave these arts to women who want to rule their husbands; our destiny +be it--to sway mankind!" Her theory, so far as I understand it, is that +men will not endure petty rivalries, but succumb at once to superior +attainments. Thus, your masculine young lady, Kitty,--your creature of +boisterous manners, slang, and slap-dash,--is invariably a disgust; +but your true "lionne," gifted yet graceful, possessing every manly +accomplishment and yet employing her knowledge to enhance the charms of +her society and render herself more truly companionable, the equal of +men in culture, their superior in taste and refinement, exercises a +despotic influence around her. + +Men will quit the _salon_ for the play-table. Let us, then, be gamblers +for the nonce, and we shall not be deserted. They smoke, that they may +get together and talk with a freedom and a license not used before +us. Let us adopt the custom, and we are no longer debarred from their +intimacy and the power of infusing the refining influences of our sex +through their barbarism! As Josephine says, "We are the martyrs now, +that we may be the masters hereafter!" + +I grew very faint, once or twice, while she was talking; and, indeed, +at last was obliged to lie down, and have my temples bathed with +eau-de-Cologne, so that I unluckily lost many of her strongest arguments +and happiest illustrations; but, from frequent conversations since, and +from reading some of the beautiful romances of "Georges Sand," I +have attained to, if not a full appreciation, at least an unbounded +admiration of this beautiful system. + +Have I forgotten to tell you that we met the Prince of Pontremoli on our +way here?--a Serene Highness, Kitty! but as easy and as familiar as my +brother James. The drollest thing is that he has lived while in England +with all the "fast people," and only talks a species of conventional +slang in vogue amongst them; but for all that he is delightful,--full +of gayety and good spirits, and has the wickedest dark eyes you ever +beheld. + +Dear Josephine's caprices are boundless! Yesterday she read of a black +Arabian that the Imaum of somewhere was sending as a present to General +Lamoriciere, and she immediately said, "Oh, the General is exiled now, +he can't want a charger,--send and get him for _me_." Poor James is +out all the morning in search of some one to despatch on this difficult +service; but how it is to be accomplished--not to speak of where the +money is to come from--is an unreadable riddle to + +Your affectionate and devoted + +Mary Anne Dodd. + +You will doubtless be dissatisfied, dearest Kitty, if I seal this +without inserting one word about myself and my own prospects. But what +can I say, save that all is mist-wreathed and shadowy in the dim future +before me? _He_ has said nothing since. I see--it is but too plain to +see--the anguish that is tearing his very heart-strings; but he buries +his sorrow within his soul, and I am not free even to weep beside +the sepulchre! Oh, dearest, when you read what Georges Sand has +written,--when you come to ponder over the misenes the fatal institution +of marriage has wrought in the world,--the fond hearts broken, the noble +natures crushed, and the proud spirits degraded,--you will only wonder +why the tyranny has been borne so long! and exclaim with me, "When--oh, +when shall we be free!" + + + + +LETTER XVII. KENNY JAMES DODD TO THOMAS PURCELL, ESQ., OF THE GRANGE BRUFF + +Parma. + +My dear Tom,--The little gleam of sunshine that shone upon us for +the last week or so has turned out to be but the prelude of a regular +hurricane, and all our feasting and merriment have ended in gloom, +darkness, and disunion. Mrs. D.'s letter to old Molly has made known +to you the circumstances under which James returned home to us, without +ever having gone to London. You, of course, know all about the lovely +young widow, with her immense jointure and splendid connections. If you +do not, I must say that from my heart and soul I envy you, for I have +heard of nothing else for the last fortnight! At all events, you have +heard enough to satisfy you that the house of Dodd was about to garnish +its escutcheon with some very famous quarterings,:--illustrious enough +even to satisfy the pride of the McCarthys. A Cardinal's daughter--niece +I mean--with four thousand a year, had deigned to ally herself with us, +and we were all running breast-high in the blaze of our great success. + +She came here on a visit to us while some negotiations were being +concluded with the Papal Court, for we were great folk, Tom, let me tell +you, and have been performing, so to say, in the same piece with popes, +kings, and cardinals for the last month; and I myself, under the style +and title of the "Prince," have narrowly escaped going mad from the +unceasing influences of delusions, shams, and impositions in which we +have been living and moving. + +Of our extravagant mode of life, I'll only say that I don't think there +was anything omitted which could contribute to ruin a moderate income. +Splendid apartments, grand dinners, horses, carriages, servants, +opera-boxes, bouquets, were all put in requisition to satisfy the young +Countess that she was about to make a suitable alliance, and that any +deficiencies observable in either our manners or breeding were fully +compensated for by our taste in cookery and our tact in wine. To be +plain, Tom, to obtain this young widow with four thousand a year, we had +to pretend to be possessed of about four times as much. It was a regular +game of "brag" we were playing, and with a very bad hand of cards! + +Hope led me on from day to day, trusting that each post would bring +us the wished-for consent, and that at least a private marriage would +ratify the compact Popes and cardinals, however, are too stately for +fast movements, and at the end of five weeks we had n't, so far as I +could see, gained an inch of ground! + +At one time his Holiness had gone off to Albano to bless somebody's +bones, or the bones were coming to bless _him_, I forget which. At +another, the King of Naples, fatigued with signing warrants for death +and the galleys, desired to enjoy a little repose from public business. +Cardinal Antonelli, hearing that we were Irish, got in a rage, and said +that Ireland gave them no peace at all. And so it came to pass that the +old thief--procrastination--was at his usual knavery; and for want of +better, set to work to ruin poor Kenny Dodd! + +It is only fair to observe that, except Cary and myself, nobody +manifested any great impatience at this delay; and even she, I believe, +merely felt it out of regard to me. The others seemed satisfied to fare +sumptuously every day; and assuredly the course of true love ran most +smoothly along in rivulets of "mock turtle" and "potages a la fiancee." +At last, Tom, I brought myself to book with the simple question, "How +long can this continue? Will your capital stand it for a month, or even +a week?" Before I attempted the answer, I sent for Mrs. D., to give her +the honor of solving the riddle if she could. + +Our interview took place in a little crib they call my dressing-room, +but which, I must remark to you, is a dark corner under a staircase, +where the rats hold a parliament every night of the season. Mrs. D. was +so shocked with the locality that she proposed our adjourning to her own +apartment; and thither we at once repaired to hold our council. + +I have too often wearied you with our domestic differences to make any +addition to such recitals pleasant to either of us. You know us both +thoroughly, besides, and can have no difficulty in filling up the debate +which ensued. Enough that I say Mrs. D. was more than usually herself. +She was grandly eloquent on the prospect of the great alliance; +contemptuously indifferent about the petty sacrifice it was to cost us; +caustically criticised the narrow-mindedness by which I measured such +grandeur; winding up all with the stereotyped comparison between Dodds +and M'Carthys, with which she usually concludes an engagement, just as +they play "God save the Queen" at Vauxhall to show that the fireworks +are over. + +"And now," said I, "that we have got over preliminaries, when is this +marriage to come off?" + +"Ask the Pope when he'll sign the Bull," said she, tartly. + +"Do you know," said I, "I think the 'Bull is a mistake'?" but she did +n't take the joke, and I went on. "After that, what delays are there?" + +"I suppose the settlement will take some time. You 'll have to make +suitable provision for James, to give him a handsome allowance out of +the estate." + +"Egad, Mrs. D.," said I, "it must be _out_ of it with a vengeance, for +there's no man living will advance five hundred _upon_ it." + +"And who wants them?" said she, angrily. "You know what I mean, well +enough!" + +"Upon my conscience, ma'am, I do not," said I. "You must just take pity +on my stupidity and enlighten me." + +"Isn't it clear, Mr. D.," said she, "that when marrying a woman with a +large fortune he ought to have something himself?" + +"It would be better he had; no doubt of it!" + +"And if he has n't? if what should have come to him was squandered and +made away with by a life of--No matter, I'll restrain my feelings." + +"Don't, then," said I, "for I find that _mine_ would like a little +expansion." + +It took her five minutes, and a hard struggle besides, before she could +resume. She had, so to say, "taken off the gloves," Tom, and it went +hard with her not to have a few "rounds" for her pains. By degrees, +however, she calmed down to explain that by a settlement on James she +never contemplated actual value, but an inconvertible medium, a mere +parchmentary figment to represent lands and tenements,--just, in fact, +what we had done before, and with such memorable success, in Mary Anne's +case. + +"No," said I, aloud, and at once,--"no more of that humbug! You got me +into that mess before I knew where I was. You involved me in such a maze +of embarrassments that I was glad to take any, even a bad road, to get +away from them. But you 'll not catch me in the same scrape again; and +rather than deliberately sit down to sign, seal, and deliver myself a +swindler, James must die a bachelor, that's all!" + +If I had told her, Tom, that I was going into holy orders, and intended +to be Bishop of Madagascar, she could not have stared at me with more +surprise. + +"What's come over you?" said she, at last; "what 's the meaning of all +these elegant fine sentiments and scruples? Are you going to die, Mr. +D.? Is it making your soul you are?" + +"However unmannerly the confession, Mrs. D.," said I, "I 'm afraid I +'m not going to die; but the simple truth is that I can't be a rogue in +cold blood; maybe, if I had the luck to be born a M'Carthy, I might +have had better ideas on the subject." This was a poke at Morgan James +M'Carthy that was transported for altering a will. + +She could n't speak with passion; she was struck dumb with rage, and +so, finding the enemy's artillery spiked, I opened a brisk fire at +musket-range; in other words, I told her that all we had been hitherto +doing abroad rarely went beyond making ourselves ridiculous, but that, +though I liked fun, I could n't push a joke as far as a felony. And, +finally, I declared, in a loud and very unmistakable manner, that as I +had n't a sixpence to settle on James, I 'd not go through the mockery +of engrossing a lie on parchment; that I thought very meanly of the +whole farce we were carrying on; and that if I was only sure I could +make myself intelligible in my French, I 'd just go straight to the +Countess and say,--I 'm afraid to write the words as I spoke them, lest +my spelling should be even worse than my pronunciation, for they were in +French, but the meaning was,--"I 'm no more a Prince than I 'm Primate +of Ireland. I 'm a small country gentleman, with an embarrassed estate +and a rascally tenantry. I came abroad for economy, and it has almost +ruined me. If you like my son, there he is for you; but don't flatter +yourself that we possess either nobility or fortune." + +"You 've done it now, you old--------." The epithet was lost in a +scream, Tom, for she went off in strong hysterics; so I just rang the +bell for Mary Anne, and slipped quietly away to my own room. I trust it +is a good conscience does it for me, but I find that I can almost always +sleep soundly when I go to bed; and it is a great blessing, Tom,--for +let me tell you, that after five or six and fifty, one's waking hours +have more annoyances than pleasures about them; but the world is just +like a man's mistress: he cares most for it when it is least fond of +him! + +I slept like a humming-top, and, indeed, there 's no saying when I +should have awoke, if it had n't been for the knocking they kept up at +my door. + +It was Cary at last got admittance, and I had only to look in her face +to see that a misfortune had befallen us. + +"What is it, my dear?" said I. + +"All kinds of worry and confusion, pappy," said she, taking my hand in +both of hers. "The Countess is gone." + +"Gone?--how?--where?" + +"Gone. Started this morning,--indeed, before daybreak,--I believe for +Genoa; but there 's no knowing, for the people have been evidently +bribed to secrecy." + +"What for?--with what object?" + +"The short of the matter is this, pappy. She appears to have overheard +some conversation--evidently intended to be of a private nature--that +passed between you and mamma last night. How she understood it does not +appear, for, of course, you did n't talk French." + +"Let that pass. Proceed." + +"Whatever it was that she gathered, or fancied she gathered, one thing +is certain: she immediately summoned her maid, and gave orders to pack +up; post-horses were also ordered, but all with the greatest secrecy. +Meanwhile she indited a short note to Mary Anne, in which, after +apologizing for a very unceremonious departure, she refers her to you +and to mamma for the explanation, with a half-sarcastic remark 'that +family confidences had much better be conducted in a measured tone of +voice, and confined to the vernacular of the speakers.' With a very +formal adieu to James, whom she styles 'votre estimable frere,' the +letter concludes with an assurance of deep and sincere consideration on +the part of Josephine de St. A." + +"What does all this mean?" exclaimed I, with a terrible misgiving, Tom, +that I knew only too well how the mischief originated. + +"That is exactly what I want you to explain, pappy," said she, "for the +letter distinctly refers to something within your knowledge." + +"I must see the document itself," said I, cautiously; "fetch me the +letter." + +"James carried it off with him." + +"Off with him,--why, is he gone too?" + +"Yes, pappy, he started with post-horses after her,--at least, so far as +he could make out the road she travelled. Poor fellow! he seemed almost +out of his mind when he left this." + +"And your mother, how is she?" + +Cary shook her head mournfully. + +Ah, Tom, I needed but the gesture to show me what was in store for me. +My fertile imagination daguerreotyped a great family picture, in which +I was shortly to fill a most lamentable part. My prophetic soul--as a +novelist would call it--depicted me once more in the dock, arraigned for +the ruin of my children, the wreck of their prospects, and the downfall +of the Dodds. I fancied that even Cary would turn against me, and almost +thought I could hear her muttering, "Ah, it was papa did it all!" + +While I was thus communing with myself, I received a message from Mrs. +D. that she wished to see me. I take shame to myself for the confession, +Tom, but I own that I felt it like an order to come up for sentence. +There could be no longer any question of my guilt,--my trial was over; +there remained nothing but to hear the last words of the law, which +seemed to say, "Kenny Dodd, you have been convicted of a great offence. +By your blundering stupidity--your unbridled temper, and your gratuitous +folly--you have destroyed your son's chance of worldly fortune, blasted +his affections, and--and lost him four thousand a year. But your +iniquity does not end even here. You have also--" As I reached this, the +door opened, and Mrs. D., in her "buff coat," as I used to call a +certain flannel dressing-gown that she usually donned for battle, slowly +entered, followed by Mary Anne, with a whole pharmacopoeia of +restoratives,--an "ambulance" that plainly predicted hot work before us. +Resolving that our duel should have no witnesses, I turned the girls out +of the room, and for the same reason do I preserve a rigid secrecy as to +all the details of our engagement; enough when I say that the sun went +down upon our wrath, and it was near nightfall when we drew off our +forces. Though I fought vigorously, and with the courage of despair, I +couldn't get over the fact that it was my unhappy explosion in French +that did all the mischief. I tried hard to make it appear that her +sudden departure was rather a boon than otherwise; that our expenses +were terrific, and, moreover, that, as I was determined against any +fictitious settlement, her flight had only anticipated a certain +catastrophe; but all these devices availed me little against my real +culpability, which no casuistry could get over. + +"Well, ma'am," said I, at last, "one thing is quite clear,--the +Continent does not suit us. All our experience of foreign life and +manners neither guides us in difficulty nor warns us when in danger. Let +us go back to where we are, at least, as wise as our neighbors,--where +we are familiar with the customs, and where, whatever our shortcomings, +we meet with the indulgent judgment that comes of old acquaintance." + +"Where 's that?" said she. "I 'm curious to know where is this elegant +garden of paradise?" + +"Bruff, ma'am,--our own neighborhood." + +"Where we were always in hot water with every one. Were you ever out +of a squabble on the Bench or at the poorhouse? Were n't you always +disputing about land with the tenants, and about water with the miller? +Had n't you a row at every assizes, and a skirmish at every road +session? Bruff, indeed; it's a new thing to hear it called the Happy +Valley!" + +"Faith, I know I 'm not Rasselas," said I. + +"You're restless enough," said she, mistaking the word; "but it's your +own temper that does it. No, Mr. D., if you want to go back to Ireland, +I won't be selfish enough to oppose it; but as for myself, I 'll never +set a foot in it." + +"You are determined on that?" said I. + +"I am," said she. + +"In that case, ma'am," said I, "I 'm only losing valuable time waiting +for you to change your mind; so I 'll start at once." + +"A pleasant journey to you, Mr. D.," said she, flouncing out of the +room, and leaving me the field of battle, but scarcely the victory. Now, +Tom, I 've too much to do and to think about to discuss the point that I +know you 're eager for,--which of us was more in the wrong. Such debates +are only casuistry from beginning to end. Besides, at all events, _my_ +mind is made up. I 'll go back at once. The little there ever was of +anything good about me is fast oozing away in this life of empty parade +and vanity. Mary Anne and James are both the worse of it; who knows how +long Cary will resist its evil influence? I'll go down to Genoa, and +take the Peninsular steamer straight for Southampton. I 'm a bad sailor, +but it will save me a few pounds, and some patience besides, in escaping +the lying and cheating scoundrels I should meet in a land journey. + +To any of the neighbors, you may say that I 'm coming home for a few +weeks to look after the tenants; and to any whom you think would believe +it, just hint that the Government has sent for me. + +I conclude that I 'll be very short of cash when I reach Genoa, so send +me anything you can lay hands on, and believe me, + +Ever yours faithfully, + +Kenny James Dodd. + +P. S. I told you this was a cheap place. The bill has just come up, and +it beats the "Clarendon"! It appears that his Serene Highness told them +to treat us like princes, and we must pay in the same style. I'm going +to settle' part of our debt by parting with our travelling-carriage, +which, besides assisting the exchequer, will be a great shock to Mrs. +D., and a foretaste of what she has to come down to when I 'm gone. +It is seldom that a man can combine the double excellence of a great +financier and a great moralist! + + + + +LETTER XVIII. MARY ANNE DODD TO MISS DOOLAN, OP BALLYDOOLAN + +"Cour de Parme," Parma. + +Dearest Kitty,--So varied have been my emotions of late, and with such +whirlwind rapidity have they succeeded each other in my distracted +brain, that I am really at a loss to know where I left off in my last +epistle to you, and at what particular crisis in our adventures I closed +my narrative. Forgive me, dearest, if I impose on you the tiresome task +of listening twice to the same tale, or the almost equally unpleasant +duty of trying to follow me through gaps of unexplained events. + +Have I told you of the Countess's departure,--that most mysterious +flight, which has thrown poor James into, I fear, a hopeless melancholy, +and made shipwreck of his heart forever? I feel as if I had revealed it +to my dearest Kitty; my soul whispers to me that she bears her share in +my sorrows, and mingles her tears with mine. Yes, dearest, she is gone! +Some indiscreet revelations papa made to mamma in his room would +appear to have disclosed more of our private affairs than ought to have +obtained publicity, were overheard by her, and she immediately gave +orders to her servants to pack up, leaving a very vague note behind +her, plainly intimating, however, that papa might, if he pleased, +satisfactorily account for the step she had taken. This, and a few +almost flippant acknowledgments of our attentions, concluded an epistle +that fell in the midst of us like a rocket. + +If I feel deeply wounded at the slight thus shown us, and the still +heavier injury inflicted on poor dear James, yet am I constrained to +confess that Josephine was quite justified in what she did. Born in +the very highest class, all her habits, her ways, her very instincts +aristocratic, the bare thought of an alliance with a family struggling +with dubious circumstances must have been too shocking! I did not ever +believe that she returned James's affection; she liked him, perhaps, +well enough,--that is, well enough to marry! She deemed him her equal in +rank and fortune, and in that respect regarded the match as a fair one. +To learn that we were neither titled nor rich, neither great by station +nor rolling in wealth, was of course to feel that she had been deceived +and imposed upon, and might reasonably warrant even the half-sarcastic +spirit of her farewell note. + +To tell what misery this has cost us all is quite beyond me; scorned +affection,--blasted hopes,--ambitions scattered to the winds,--a +glorious future annihilated! Conceive all of these that you can, +and then couple them with meaner and more vulgar regrets, as to what +enormous extravagance the pursuit has involved us in, the expense of a +style of living that even a prince could scarcely have maintained, and +all at a little secluded capital where nobody comes, nobody lives; so +that we do not reap even the secondary advantage of that notoriety for +which we have to pay so dearly. Mamma and I, who think precisely alike +on these subjects, are overwhelmed with misery as we reflect over what +the money thus squandered would have done at Rome, Florence, or Vienna! + +James is distracted, and papa sits poring all day long over papers and +accounts, by way of arranging his affairs before his death. Cary alone +maintains her equanimity, for which she may thank the heartlessness of a +nature insensible to all feeling. + +Imagine a family circle of such ingredients! Think of us as you saw +us last, even in all the darkness of Dodsborough, and you will find it +difficult to believe we are the same! Yet, dearest, it might all have +been different,--how different! But papa--there is no use trying to +conceal it--has a talent for ruining the prospects of his family, that +no individual advantages, no combination of events, however felicitous, +can avail against! An absurd and most preposterous notion of being what +he calls "honest and aboveboard" leads him to excesses of every kind, +and condemns us to daily sorrows and humiliations. It is in vain that +we tell him nobody parades his debts no more than his infirmities; that +people wear their best faces for the world, and that credit is the same +principle in morals as in mercantile affairs. His reply is, "No. I 'm +tired of all that. I never perform a great part without longing for the +time when I shall be Kenny Dodd again!" + +This one confession will explain to you the hopelessness of all our +efforts to rise in life, and our last resource is in the prospect of his +going back to Ireland. Mamma has already proposed to accept a thousand +a year for herself and me; while Cary should return with papa to +Dodsborough. It is possible that this arrangement might have been +concluded ere this, but that papa has got a relapse of his gout, and +been laid up for the last eight days. He refuses to see any doctor, +saying that they all drive the malady in by depletion, and has taken to +drinking port wine all day long, by way of confining the attack to his +foot. What is to be the success of this treatment has yet to be seen, +but up to this time its only palpable effect has been to make him like +a chained tiger. He roars and shouts fearfully, and has smashed all the +more portable articles of furniture in the room,--throwing them at the +waiters. He insists, besides, on having his bill made up every night, +so that instead of one grand engagement once a week, we have now a smart +skirmish every evening, which usually lasts till bedtime. + +For economy, too, we have gone up to the second story, and come down to +a very meagre dinner. No carriage,--no saddle-horses,--no theatre. The +courier dismissed, and a strict order at the bar against all "extras." + +James lies all day abed; Cary plays nurse to papa; mamma and I sit +moping beside a little miserable stove till evening, when we receive our +one solitary visitor,--a certain Father M'Grail, an Irish priest, who +has been resident here for thirty years, and is known as the Padre +Giacomo! He is a spare, thin, pock-marked little man, with a pair of +downcast, I was going to say dishonest-looking, eyes, who talks with an +accent as rich as though he only left Kilrush yesterday. We have only +known him ten days, but he has already got an immense influence over +mamma, and induced her to read innumerable little books, and to practise +a variety of small penances besides. I suspect he is rather afraid +of _me_,--at least we maintain towards each other a kind of armed +neutrality; but mamma will not suffer me to breathe a word against him. + +It is not unlikely that he owes much of the esteem mamma feels for him +to his own deprecatory estimate of papa, whom he pronounces to be, in +many respects, almost as infamous as a Protestant. Cary he only alludes +to by throwing up hands and eyes, and seeming to infer that she is +irrecoverably lost. + +I own to you, Kitty, I don't like him,--I scarcely trust him,--but it +is, after all, such a resource to have any one to talk to, anything to +break the dull monotony of this dreary life, that I hail his coming with +pleasure, and am actually working a rochet, or an alb, or a something +else for him to wear on Saint Nicolo of Treviso's "festa,"--an occasion +on which the little man desires to appear with extraordinary splendor. +Mamma, too, is making a canopy to hold over his honored head; and I +sincerely hope that our _oeuvres meritoires_ will redound to our future +advantage! I am half afraid that I have shocked you with an apparent +irreverence in speaking of these things, but I must confess to you, +dearest Kitty, that I am occasionally provoked beyond all bounds by the +degree of influence this small saint exercises in our family, and by no +means devoid of apprehension lest his dominion should become absolute. +Even already he has persuaded mamma that papa's illness will resist +all medical skill to the end of time, and will only yield to the +intervention of a certain Saint Agatha of Orsaro, a newly discovered +miracle-worker, of whose fame you will doubtless hear much erelong. + +To my infinite astonishment, papa is quite converted to this opinion, +and Cary tells me is most impatient to set out for Orsaro, a little +village at the foot of the mountain of that name, and about thirty miles +from this. As the only approach is by a bridle-path, we are to travel on +mules or asses; and I look forward to the excursion, if not exactly with +pleasure, with some interest. Father Giacomo--I can't call him anything +else--has already written to secure rooms for us at the little inn; and +we are meanwhile basely employed in the manufacture of certain pilgrim +costumes, which are indispensable to all frequenting the holy shrine. +The dress is far from unbecoming, I assure you; a loose robe of white +stuff--ours are Cashmere--with wide sleeves, and a large hood lined +with sky-blue; a cord of the same color round the waist; no shoes or +stockings, but light sandals, which show the foot to perfection. An +amber rosary is the only ornament permitted; but the whole is charming. + +Saint Agatha of Orsaro will unquestionably make a great noise in the +world; and it will therefore be interesting to you to know something +of her history,--or, what Fra Giacomo more properly calls, her +manifestation--which was in this wise: The priest of Orsaro--a very +devout and excellent man--had occasion to go into the church late at +night on the eve of Saint Agatha's festival. He was anxious, I believe, +to see that all the decorations to do honor to the day were in proper +order, and, taking a lamp from the sacristy, he walked down the aisle +till he came to the shrine, where the saint's image stood. He knelt +for a moment to address her in prayer, when, with a sudden sneeze, she +extinguished his light, and left him fainting and in darkness on the +floor of the church. In this fashion was he discovered the following +morning, when, after coming to himself, he made the revelation I have +just given you. Since that she has been known to sneeze three times, +and on each occasion a miracle has followed. The fame of this wonderful +occurrence has now traversed Italy, and will doubtless soon extend to +the faithful in every part of Europe. Orsaro is becoming crowded with +penitents; among whom I am gratified to see the names of many of the +English aristocracy; and it has become quite a fashionable thing to pass +a week or ten days there. + +Now, dearest Kitty, from you, with whom I have no concealments, I will +not disguise the confession that I look forward to this excursion +with considerable hope and expectation. You cannot but have perceived +latterly how our faith, instead of being, as it once was, the symbol +of low birth and ignoble connections, has become the very bond of +aristocratic society. The church has become the _salon_ wherein we make +our most valued acquaintances; and devout observances are equivalent to +letters of introduction. If I wanted a proof of this, I'd give it in +the number of those who have become converts to our religion, from +the manifest social benefits the change of faith has conferred. How +otherwise would third and fourth-rate Protestants obtain access to +Princely _soirees_ and Ducal receptions? By what other road could +they arrive at recognition in the society of Rome and Naples, frequent +Cardinals' levees, and be even seen lounging in the ante-chambers of the +Vatican! + +Hence it is clear that the true faith has its benefits in _this_ world +also, and that piety is a passport to high places even on earth. I have +no doubt, if we manage properly, our sojourn at Orsaro may be made very +profitable, and that, even without miracles, the excursion may pay us +well. + +I have been interrupted by a message to attend mamma in her own room,--a +summons I rightly guessed to imply something of importance. Only fancy, +Kitty, it was a letter which had arrived addressed to papa,--but +of course not given to him to read in his present highly agitated +state,--from Captain Morris, with a proposal for Caroline! + +He very properly sets out by acknowledging the great difference of age +between them, but he might certainly have added something as to the +discrepancy between their stations. He talks, too, of his small means, +"sufficient for those who can limit their ambitions and wants within a +narrow circle,"--I wonder who they are?--and professes a deal of that +cold kind of respectful love which all old men affect to think a woman +ought to feel flattered by. In fact, the whole reads far more like a +law paper than a love-letter, and is rather a rough draft of an Act of +Parliament against celibacy than a proposal for a pretty girl! + +Mamma had shown the letter to Fra Giacomo before I entered, and I had +very little trouble to guess the effect produced by his counsels. The +Captain, as a heretic, was at once denounced by him; and the little +man grew actually enthusiastic in inveighing against the insulting +presumption of the offer. He insisted on a peremptory, flat rejection +of the proposal, without any reference whatever to papa. He said that to +hesitate in such a question was in itself a sin; and he even hinted that +he was n't quite sure what reception Saint Agatha might vouchsafe us +after so much of intercourse with an outcast and a disbeliever. + +This last argument was decisive, and I accordingly sat down and wrote, +in mamma's name, a very stiff acknowledgment of the receipt of his +letter, and an equally cold refusal of the honor it tendered for our +acceptance. We all agreed that Cary should hear nothing whatever of the +matter, but, as Fra Giacomo said, "we 'd keep the disgrace for our own +hearts." + +I own to you, Kitty, that if the religious question could be got over, +I do not think the thing so inadmissible. Cary is evidently not destined +to advance our family interests; had she even the capacity, she lacks +the ambition. Her tastes are humble, commonplace, and--shall I say +it?--vulgar. + +It gives her no pleasure to move in high society, and she esteems the +stupid humdrum of domestic life as the very supreme of happiness. With +such tastes this old Captain--he is five-and-thirty at least--would +perhaps have suited her perfectly, and his intolerable mother been quite +a companion. Their small fortune, too, would have consigned them to some +cheap, out-of-the-way place, where we should not have met; and, in fact, +the arrangement might have combined a very fair share of advantage. Fra +G., however, had decided the matter on higher grounds, and there is no +more to be said about it. + +There is another letter come by this post, too, from Lord George, +dearest! He is to arrive to-night, if he can get horses. He is full of +some wonderful tournament about to be held at Genoa,--a spectacle to +be given by the city to the King, which is to attract all the world +thither; and Lord G. writes to say that we have n't a moment to lose in +securing accommodation at the hotel. Little suspecting the frame of mind +his communication is to find us in, and that, in place of doughty +deeds and chivalrous exploits, our thoughts are turned to fastings, +mortifications, and whipcord! Oh, how I shudder at the ridicule with +which he will assail us, and tremble for my own constancy under the +raillery he will shower on us! I never dreaded his coming before, and +would give worlds now that anything could prevent his arrival. + +How reconcile his presence with that of Fra Giacomo? How protect the +priest from the overt quizzings of my Lord? and how rescue his Lordship +from the secret machinations of the "father?"? are difficulties that I +know not how to face. Mamma, besides, is now so totally under priestly +guidance that she would sacrifice the whole peerage for a shaving of +a saint's shin-bone! There will not be even time left me to concert +measures with Lord G. The moment he enters the house he'll see the +"altered temper of our ways" in a thousand instances. Relics, missals, +beads, and rosaries have replaced Gavarni's etchings,--"Punch," and the +"Illustration." Charms and amulets blessed by popes occupy the places +of cigar-holders, pipe-sticks, and gutta-percha drolleries. The "Stabat +Mater" has usurped the seat of "Casta Diva" on the piano, and a number +of other unmistakable signs point to our reformed condition. + +I hear post-horses approaching--they come nearer and nearer! Yes, +Kitty, it must be--it is he! James has met him--they are already on the +stairs--how they laugh! James must be telling him everything. I knew he +would. Another burst of that unfeeling laughter! They are at the door. +Good-bye! + +Mount Orsaro, "La Pace." + +Here we are, dearest, at the end of our pilgrimage. Such a delightful +excursion I never remember to have taken. I told you all about my +fears of Lord George. Would that I had never written the ungracious +lines!--never so foully wronged him! Instead of the levity I +apprehended, he is actually reverential,--I might say, devout! The +moment he reached Parma, he ordered a dress to be made for him exactly +like James's, and decided immediately on accompanying us. Fra Giacomo, +I need scarcely observe, was in ecstasies. The prospect of such a noble +convert would be an immense piece of success, and he did not hesitate to +avow, would materially advance his own interests at Rome. + +As for the journey, Kitty, I have no words to describe the scenery +through which we travelled: deep glens between lofty mountains, wooded +to the very summits with cork and chestnut trees, over which, towering +aloft, were seen the peaks of the great Apennines, glistening in snow, +or golden in the glow of sunset. Wending along through these our little +procession went, in itself no unpicturesque feature, for we were obliged +to advance in single file along the narrow pathway, and thus our mules, +with their scarlet trappings and tasselled bridles, and our floating +costumes, made up an effect which will remain painted on my heart +forever. In reality, I made a sketch of the scene; but Lord George, who +for the convenience of talking to me always rode with his face to the +mule's tail, made me laugh so often that my drawing is quite spoiled. + +[Illustration: frontispiece] + +At last we arrived at our little inn called "La Pace,"--how beautifully +it sounds, dearest! and really stands so, too, beside a gushing +mountain-stream, and perfectly embowered in olives. We could only obtain +two rooms, however,--one, adjoining the kitchen, for papa and mamma; +the other, under the tiles, for Cary and myself. Fra Giacomo quarters +himself on the priest of the village; and Lord George and James are what +the Italians call "_a spasso_" Betty Cobb is furious at being consigned +to the kitchen, in company with some thirty others, many of whom, I may +remark, are English people of rank and condition. In fact, dearest, the +whole place is so crowded that a miserable room, in all its native dirt +and disgust, costs the price of a splendid apartment in Paris. Many of +the first people of Europe are here: ministers, ambassadors, generals; +and an English earl also, who is getting a drawing made of the shrine +and the Virgin, and intends sending a narrative of her miracles to +the "Tablet." You have no idea, my dearest Kitty, of the tone of +affectionate kindness and cordiality inspired by such a scene. Dukes, +Princes, even Royalties, accost you as their equals. As Fra G. says, +"The holy influences level distinctions." The Duke of San Pietrino +placed his own cushion for mamma to kneel on yesterday. The Graf von +Dummerslungen gave me a relic to kiss as I passed this morning. Lord +Tollington, one of the proudest peers in England, stopped to ask papa +how he was, and regretted we had not arrived last Saturday, when the +Virgin sneezed twice! + +As we begin our Novena to-morrow, I shall probably not have a moment to +continue this rambling epistle; but you may confidently trust that my +first thoughts, when again at liberty, shall be given to you. Till then, +darling Kitty, believe me, + +Your devoted and ever affectionate + +Mart Anne Dodd. + +P. S. More arrivals, Kitty,--three carriages and eleven donkeys! Where +they are to put up I can't conceive. Lord G. says, "It's as full as the +'Diggins,' and quite as dear." The excitement and novelty of the whole +are charming! + + + + +LETTER XIX. MRS. DODD TO MRS. MARY GALLAGHER, DODSBOROUGH + +Orsaro, Feast of Saint Gingo. + +My dear Molly,--The Earl of Guzeberry, that leaves this to-day for +England, kindly offers to take charge of my letters to you; and so I +write "Favored by his Lordship" on the outside, just that you may show +the neighbors, and teach them Davises the respect they ought to show us, +if it 's ever our misfortune to meet. + +The noble Lord was here doing his penances with us for the last +three weeks, and is now my most intimate friend on earth. He 's the +kindest-hearted creature I ever met, and always doing good works, of +one sort or other; and whenever not sticking nails in his own flesh, or +pulling hairs out of his beard or eyelashes, always ready to chastise a +friend! + +We came here to see the wonderful Virgin of Orsaro, and beg her +intercession for us all, but more especially for K. I., whose temper +proves clearly that there's what Father James calls a "possession of +him;" that is to say, "he has devils inside of him." The whole account +of the saint herself--her first manifestation and miraculous doings--you +'ll find in the little volume that accompanies this, written, as you +will see, by your humble servant. Lord G. gave me every assistance in +his power; and, indeed, but for him and Father James, it might have +taken years to finish it; for I must tell you, Molly, bad as Berlin-work +is, it 's nothing compared to writing a book; for when you have the wool +and the frame, it's only stitching it in, but with a book you have to +arrange your thoughts, and then put them down; after that, there 's the +grammar to be minded, and the spelling, and the stops; and many times, +where you think it's only a comma, you have come to your full period! I +assure you I went through more with that book--little as it is--than in +all my "observances," some of them very severe ones. First of all, we +had to be so particular about the miracles, knowing well what Protestant +bigotry would do when the account came out. We had to give names and +dates and places, with witnesses to substantiate, and all that could +corroborate the facts. Then we had a difficulty of another kind,--how to +call the Virgin. You may remember how those Exeter Hall wretches spoke +of Our Lady of Rimini,--as the "Winking Virgin." We could n't +say sneezing after that, so we just called her "La Madonna dei +Sospiri,"--"Our Lady of Sighs." To be sure, we can't get the people here +to adopt this title; but that's no consequence as regards England. + +By the time the volume reaches you, all Europe will be ringing with the +wonderful tidings; for there are three bishops here, and they have all +signed the "Memoire," recommending special services in honor of the +Virgin, and strongly urging a subscription to build a suitable shrine +for her in this her native village. + +You have no idea, dear Molly, of what a blessed frame of mind +these spiritual duties have enabled me to enjoy. How peaceful is my +spirit!--how humble my heart! I turn my thoughts away from earth as +easily as I could renounce rope-dancing; and when I sit of an evening, +in a state of what Lord Guzeberry calls "beatitude," K. I. might have +the cholera without my caring for it. + +The season is now far advanced, however, and, to my infinite grief, +we must leave this holy spot, where we have made a numerous and most +valuable acquaintance; for, besides several of the first people of +England, we have formed intimacy with the Duchessa di Sangue Nero, +first lady to the Queen of Naples; the Marquesa di Villa Guasta, a great +leader of fashion in Turin; the "Noncio" at the court of Modena; and a +variety of distinguished Florentines and Romans, who all assure us that +our devotions are the best passports for admission in all the select +houses of Italy. + +Mary Anne predicts a brilliant winter before us, and even Cary is all +delight at the prospect of picture galleries and works of art. Is n't it +paying the Protestants off for their insulting treatment of us at home, +Molly, to see all the honor and respect we receive abroad? The tables +are completely turned, my dear; for not one of them ever gets his nose +into the really high society of this country, while we are welcomed +to it with open arms. But if there 's anything sure to get you well +received in the first houses, it is having a convert of rank in your +train. To be the means of bringing a lord over to the true fold is to be +taken up at once by cardinals and princes of all kinds. + +As Mary Anne says, "Let us only induce Lord George to enter the Catholic +Church and our fortune is made." And oh, Molly, putting all the pomps +and vanities of this world aside, never heeding the grandeur of this +life, nor caring what men may do to us, is n't it an elegant reflection +to save one poor creature from the dreadful road of destruction and +ruin! I'm sure it would be the happiest day of my life when I could +read in the "Tablet," "We have great satisfaction in announcing to our +readers that Lord George Tiverton, member for"--I forget where--"and son +of the Marquis "--I forget whom,--"yesterday renounced the errors of the +Protestant Church to embrace those of the Church of Rome." + +Maybe, now, you 'd like to hear something about ourselves; but I 've +little to tell that is either pleasant or entertaining. You know--or, +at least, you will know from Kitty Doolan--the way K. I. destroyed poor +James, and lost him a beautiful creature and four thousand a year. That +was a blow there's no getting over; and, indeed, I'd have sunk under it +if it was n't for Father James, and the consolation he has been able to +give me. There was an offer came for Caroline. Captain Morris, that you +'ve heard me speak of, wrote and proposed, which I opened during K. I.'s +illness, and sent him a flat refusal, Molly, with a bit of advice in the +end, about keeping in his own rank of life, and marrying into his own +creed. + +Maybe I mightn't have been so stout about rejecting him, for it's the +hardest thing in life to marry a daughter nowadays, but that Father +Giacomo said his Holiness would never forgive me for taking a heretic +into the family, and that it was one of the nine deadly sins. + +You may perceive from this, that Father G. is of great use to me when I +need advice and guidance, and, indeed, I consulted him as to whether I +ought to separate from K. I., or not. There are cases of conscience, +he tells me, and cases of convenience. The first are matters for the +cardinals and the Holy College! but the others any ordinary priest can +settle; and this is one of them. "Don't leave him," says he, "for your +means of doing good will only be more limited; and as to your trials, +take out some of your mortifications that way; and, above all, don't be +too lenient to _him_." Ay, Molly, he saw my weak point, do what I would +to hide it; he knew my failing was an easy disposition, and a patient, +submissive turn of mind. But I 'll do my endeavor to conquer it, if it +was only for the poor children's sake; for I know he'd marry again, and +I sometimes suspect I 've hit the one he has his eyes on. + +On Friday next we are to leave this for Genoa. It's the end of our +Novena, and we would n't have time for another before the snow sets in; +for though we're in Italy, Molly, the mountains all round us are tipped +with snow, and it's as cold now, when you 're in the shade, as I ever +felt it in Ireland. It's a great tournament at Genoa is taking us there. +There 's to be the King of Saxony, and the King of Bohemia, too, I +believe; for whenever you begin to live in fashionable life, you must +run after royal people from place to place, be seen wherever they +are, and be quite satisfied whenever your name is put down among the +"distinguished company." + +I was near forgetting that I want you to get Father John to have my +little book read by the children in our National School; for, as K. +I. is the patron, we have, of course, the right. At all events _I'll_ +withdraw if they refuse; and they can't accuse me of illiberality or +bigotry, for I never said a word against the taking away the Bible. Let +them just remember _that!_ + +Lord Guzeberry is just going, so that I have only time to seal, and sign +myself as ever yours, + +Jemima Dodd. + +I send you two dozen of the tracts to distribute among our friends. The +one bound in red silk is for Dean O'Dowd, "with the author's devotions +and duties." + + + + +LETTER XX. BETTY COBB TO MISTRESS SHUSAN O'SHEA. + +Mount Orsaro. + +My dear Shusan,--It's five months and two days since I wrote to you +last, and it 's like five years in regard to the way time has worn and +distressed me. The mistress tould Mrs. Gallagher how I was deserted +by that deceatfull blaguard, taking off with him my peace of mind, two +petticoats, and a blue cloth cloak, that I thought would last me for +life! so that I need n't go over my miseries again to yourself. We +heard since that he had another wife in Switzerland, not to say two more +wandering about, so that the master says, if we ever meet him, we can +hang him for "bigotry." And, to tell you the truth, Shusy, I feel as if +it would be a great relief to me to do it! if it was only to save other +craytures from the same feat that he did to your poor friend Betty Cobb; +besides that, until something of the kind is done, I can't enter the +holy state again with any other deceaver. + +Such a life as we 're leadin', Shusy, at one minute all eatin' and +drinkin' and caressin' from morning till night; at another, my dear, +it's all fastin' and mortification, for the mistress has no moderation +at all; but, as the master says, she 's always in her extremities! If +ye seen the dress of her last week, she was Satan from head to foot, and +now she 's, by way of a saint, in white Cashmar, with a little scurge at +her waist, and hard pegs in her shoes! + +We have nothin' to eat but roots, like the beasts of the field; and +them, too, mostly raw! That's to make us good soldiers of the Church, +Father James says; but in my heart and soul, Shusy, I 'm sick of the +regiment. Shure, when we 've a station in Ireland, it only lasts a day +or two at most; and if your knees is sore with the pennance, shure you +have the satisfaction of the pleasant evenings after; with, maybe, a +dance, or, at all events, tellin' stories over a jug of punch; but +here it's prayers and stripes, stripes and offices, starvation and more +stripes, till, savin' your presence, I never sit down without a screech! + +Why we came here I don't know; the mistress says it was to cure the +master; but did n't I hear her tell him a thousand times that the bad +drop was in him, and he 'd never be better to his dyin' day? so that it +can't be for that. Sometimes I think it's to get Mary Anne married, and +they want Saint Agatha to help them; but faith, Shusy, one sinner +is worth two saints for the like of that. Lord George tould me in +confidence--the other day it was--that the mistress wanted an increase +to her family. Faith, you may well open your eyes, my dear, but them 's +his words! And tho' I did n't believe him at first, I 'm more persuaded +of it now, that I see how she's goin' on. + +If the master only suspected it, he 'd be off to-morrow, for he 's +always groanin' and moanin' over the expense of the family; and, between +you and me, I believe I ought to go and tell him. Maybe you 'd give me +advice what to do, for it's a nice point. + +You would n't know Paddy Byrne, how much he's grown, and the wonderful +whiskers he has all over his face; but he 's as bowld as brass, and has +the impedince of the divil in him. He never ceases tormentin' me about +Taddy, and says I ought to take out a few florins in curses on him, just +as if I could n't do it cheaper myself than payin' a priest for it As +for Paddy himself,--do what the mistress will,--she can get no good of +him, in regard to his duties. He does all his stations on his knees, to +be sure, but with a cigar in his mouth; and when he comes to the holy +well, it's a pull at a dram bottle he takes instead of the blessed +water. I wondered myself at his givin' a crown-piece to the Virgin on +Tuesday last, but he soon showed me what he was at by say in', "If she +does n't get my wages riz for that, the divil receave the f arthin' she +'ll ever receave of mine again!" + +After all, Shusy, it 's an elegant sight to see all them great people +that thinks so much of themselves, crawling about on their hands and +knees, kissin' a relict here, huggin' a stone there, just as much +frightened about the way the saint looks at them as one of us! It +does one's heart good to know that, for all their fine livin' and fine +clothes, ould Nick has the same hould of them that he has of you and me! + +I had a great deal to tell you about the family and their goin's on, but +I must conclude in haste, for tho' it's only five o'clock, there's the +bell ringing for martins, and I have a station to take before first +mass. I suppose it's part of my mortifications, but the mistress and +Mary Anne never gives me a stitch of clothes till they're spoiled; and +I'm drivin to my wits' end, tearin' and destroyin' things in such a way +as not to ruin them when they come to me! Miss Caroline never has a gown +much better than my own; and, indeed, she said the other day, "When I +want to be smart, Betty, you must lend me your black bombaseen." + +There's the mistress gone out already, so no more from + +Your sincear friend, + +Betty Cobb. + +I think Lord G. is right about the mistress. The saints forgive her, at +her time of life! More in my next. + + + + +LETTER XXI. JAMES DODD TO ROBERT DOOLAN, ESQ. TRINITY COLLEGE, DUBLIN. + +The Inn, Orsaro. + +My dear Bob,--This must be a very brief epistle, since, amongst other +reasons, the sheet of letter-paper costs me a florin, and I shall have +to pay three more for a messenger to convey it to the post-town, a +distance of as many miles off. To explain these scarce credible facts, +I must tell you that we are at a little village called Orsaro, in +the midst of a wild mountain country, whither we have come to perform +penances, say prayers, and enact other devotions at the shrine of a +certain St. Agatha, who, some time last autumn, took to working miracles +down here, and consequently attracting all the faithful who had nothing +to do with themselves before Carnival. + +My excellent mother it was who, in an access of devotion, devised the +excursion; and the governor, hearing that the locality was a barbarous +one, and the regimen a strict fast, fancied, of course, it would be a +most economical dodge, at once agreed; but, by Jove! the saving is a +delusion and a snare. Two miserable rooms, dirty and ill furnished, +cost forty francs a day; bad coffee and black bread, for breakfast, +are supplied at four francs a head; dinner--if by such a name one would +designate a starved kid stewed in garlic, or a boiled hedgehog with +chiccory sauce,--ten francs each; sour wine at the price of Chateau +Lafitte; and a seat in the sanctuary, to see the Virgin, four times as +dear as a stall at the Italian Opera. Exorbitant as all these charges +are, we are gravely assured that they will be doubled whenever the +Virgin sneezes again, that being the manifestation, as they call it, by +which she displays her satisfaction at our presence here. I do not +fancy talking irreverently of these things, Bob, but I own to you I +am ineffably shocked at the gross impositions innkeepers, postmasters, +donkey-owners, and others practise by trading on the devotional feelings +and pious aspirations of weak but worthy people. I say nothing of the +priests themselves; they may or may not believe all these miraculous +occurrences. One thing, however, is clear: they make every opportunity +of judging of them so costly that only a rich man can afford himself +the luxury, so that you and I, and a hundred others like us, may either +succumb or scoff, as we please, without any means of correcting our +convictions. One inevitable result ensues from this. There are two +camps: the Faithful, who believe everything, and are cheated by +every imaginable device of mock relics and made-up miracles; and the +Unbelieving, who actually rush into ostentatious vice, to show their +dislike to hypocrisy! Thus, this little dirty village, swarming with +priests, and resounding with the tramp of processions, is a den of every +kind of dissipation. The rattle of the dice-box mingles with the nasal +chantings of the tonsured monks, and the wild orgies of a drinking party +blend with the strains of the organ! If men be not religiously minded, +the contact with the Church seems to make demons of them. How otherwise +interpret the scoff and mockery that unceasingly go forward against +priests and priestcraft in a little community, as it were, separated for +acts of piety and devotion? + +That we live in a most believing age is palpable, by the fact that this +place swarms with men distinguished in every court and camp in Europe. +Crafty ministers, artful diplomatists, keen old generals, versed in +every wile and stratagem, come here as it were to divest themselves of +all their long-practised acuteness, and give in their adhesion to the +most astounding and incoherent revelations. I cannot bring myself to +suppose these men rogues and hypocrites, and yet I have nearly as +much difficulty to believe them dupes! What have become of those sharp +perceptive powers, that clever insight into motives, and the almost +unerring judgment they could exhibit in any question of politics or +war? It cannot surely be that they who have measured themselves with +the first capacities of the world dread to enter the lists against some +half-informed and narrow-minded village curate; or is it that there +lurks in every human heart some one spot, a refuge as it were for +credulity, which even the craftiest cannot exclude? You are far better +suited than I to canvass such a question, my dear Bob. I only throw it +out for your consideration, without any pretension to solve it myself. + +My father, you are well aware, is too good a Churchman to suffer a +syllable to escape his lips which might be construed into discredit of +the faith; but I can plainly see that he skulks his penances, and shifts +off any observance that does not harmonize with his comfort. At the same +time he strongly insists that the fastings and other privations enjoined +are an admirable system to counteract the effect of that voluptuous life +practised in almost every capital of Europe. As he shrewdly remarked, +"This place was like Groeffenberg,--you might not be restored by the +water-cure, but you were sure to be benefited by early hours, healthful +exercise, and a light diet." This, you may perceive, is a very modified +approval of the miracles. + +I have dwelt so long on this theme that I have only left myself what +Mary Anne calls the selvage of my paper, for anything else. Nor is +it pleasant to me, Bob, to tell you that I am low-spirited and +down-hearted. A month ago, life was opening before me with every +prospect of happiness and enjoyment. A lovely creature, gifted and +graceful, of the very highest rank and fortune, was to have been mine. +She was actually domesticated with us, and only waiting for the day +which should unite our destinies forever, when one night--I can scarcely +go on--I know not how either to convey to you what is _half_ shrouded in +mystery, and should be perhaps _all_ concealed in shame; but somehow +my father contrived to talk so of our family affairs--our debts, our +difficulties, and what not--that Josephine overheard everything, and +shocked possibly more at our duplicity than at our narrow fortune, she +hurried away at midnight, leaving a few cold lines of farewell behind +her, and has never been seen or heard of since. + +I set out after her to Milan; thence to Bologna, where I thought I had +traces of her. From that I went to Rimini, and on a false scent down to +Ancona. I got into a slight row there with the police, and was obliged +to retrace my steps, and arrived at Parma, after three weeks' incessant +travelling, heart-broken and defeated. + +That I shall ever rally,--that I shall ever take any real interest +in life again, is totally out of the question. Such an opportunity of +fortune as this rarely occurs to any one once in life; none are lucky +enough to meet it a second time. The governor, too, instead of feeling, +as he ought, that he has been the cause of my ruin, continues to pester +me about the indolent way I spend my life, and inveighs against even the +little dissipations that I endeavor to drown my sorrows by indulging in. +It 's all very well to talk about active employment, useful pursuits, +and so forth; but a man ought to have his mind at ease, and his heart +free from care, for all these, as I told the governor yesterday. When a +fellow has got such a "stunner" as I have had lately, London porter and +a weed are his only solace. Even Tiverton's society is distasteful, he +has such a confoundedly flippant way of treating one. + +I 'm thinking seriously of emigrating, and wish you could give me any +useful hints on the subject. Tiverton knows a fellow out there, who +was in the same regiment with himself,--a baronet, I believe,--and he's +doing a capital stroke of work with a light four-in-hand team that he +drives, I think, between San Francisco and Geelong, but don't trust me +too far in the geography; he takes the diggers at eight pounds a head, +and extra for the "swag." Now that is precisely the thing to suit me; +I can tool a coach as well as most fellows: and as long as one keeps on +the box they don't feel it like coming down in the world! + +I half suspect Tiverton would come out too. At least, he seems very sick +of England, as everybody must be that has n't ten thousand a year and a +good house in Belgravia. + +I don't know whither we go from this, and, except in the hope of hearing +from you, I could almost add, care as little. The governor has got so +much better from the good air and the regimen, that he is now anxious +to be off; while my mother, attributing his recovery to the saint's +interference, wants another "Novena." Mary Anne likes the place too; and +Cary, who sketches all day long, seems to enjoy it. + +How the decision is to come is therefore not easy to foresee. Meanwhile, +whether _here_ or _there_, + +Believe me your attached friend, + +James Dodd. + +[Illustration: 210] + +I open this to say that we are "booked" for another fortnight here. +My mother went to consult the Virgin about going away last night, and +she--that is, the saint--gave such a sneeze that my mother fainted, +and was carried home insensible. The worst of all this is that Father +Giacomo--our guide in spirituals--insists on my mother's publishing a +little tract on her experiences; and the women are now hard at work with +pen and ink at a small volume to be called "St. Agatha of Orsaro," +by Jemima D------. They have offered half a florin apiece for good +miracles, but they are pouring in so fast they 'll have to reduce the +tariff. Tiverton recommends them to ask thirteen to the dozen. + +The governor is furious at this authorship, which will cost some +five-and-twenty pounds at the least! + + + + +LETTER XXII. MRS. DODD TO MRS. MARY GALLAGHER + +Hotel Feder, Genoa. + +My dear Molly,--It's little that piety and holy living assists us in +this wicked world, as you 'll allow, when I tell you that after all +my penances, my mortifications, and my self-abstainings, instead of +enjoyment and pleasure, as I might reasonably look for in this place, I +never knew real misery and shame till I came here. I would n't believe +anybody that said people was always as bad as they are now! Sure, if +they were, why would n't we be prepared for their baseness and iniquity? +Why would we be deceived and cheated at every hand's turn? It's all +balderdash to pretend it, Molly. The world must be coming to an end, for +this plain reason, that it's morally impossible it can be more corrupt, +more false, and more vicious than it is. + +I 'm trying these three days to open my heart to you. I 've taken ether, +and salts, and neumonia--I think the man called it--by the spoonfuls, +just to steady my nerves, and give me strength to tell you my +afflictions; and now I 'll just begin, and if my tears does n't blot out +the ink, I 'll reveal my sorrows, and open my breast before you. + +We left that blessed village of Orsaro two days after I wrote to you +by the Earl of Guzeberry, and came on here, by easy stages, as we were +obliged to ride mules for more than half the way. Our journey was, of +course, fatiguing, but unattended by any other inconvenience than K. +I.'s usual temper about the food, the beds, and the hotel charges as we +came along. He would n't fast, nor do a single penance on the road; nor +would he join in chanting a Litany with Father James, but threatened +to sing "Nora Chrina," if we did n't stop. And though Lord George was +greatly shocked, James was just as bad as his father. Father Giacomo +kept whispering to me from time to time, "We 'll come to grief for this. +We 'll have to pay for all this impiety, Mrs. D.;" till at last he got +my nerves in such a state that I thought we 'd be swept away at every +blast of wind from the mountains, or carried down by every torrent that +crossed the road. I couldn't pass a bridge without screeching; and as +to fording a stream, it was an attack of hysterics. These, of course, +delayed us greatly, and it was a good day when we got over eight miles. +For all that, the girls seemed to like it. Cary had her sketch-book +always open; and Mary Anne used to go fishing with Lord G. and James, +and contrived, as she said, to make the time pass pleasantly enough. + +I saw very little of K. I., for I was always at some devotional +exercise; and, indeed, I was right glad of it, for his chief amusement +was getting Father James into an argument, and teasing and insulting him +so that I only wondered why he did n't leave us at once and forever. He +never ceased, too, gibing and jeering about the miracles of Orsaro; and +one night, when he had got quite beyond all bounds, laughing at Father +G., he told him, "Faith," says he, "you 're the most credulous man ever +I met in my life; for it seems to me that you can believe anything but +the Christian religion." + +From that moment Father G. only shook his hands at him, and would n't +discourse. + +This is the way we got to Genoa, where, because we arrived at night, +they kept us waiting outside the gates of the town till the commandant +of the fortress had examined our passports; K. I. all the while abusing +the authorities, and blackguarding the governor in a way that would have +cost us dear, if it was n't that nobody could understand his Italian. + +That wasn't all, for when we got to the hotel, they said that all the +apartments had been taken before Lord George's letter arrived, and that +there was n't a room nor a pantry to be had in the whole city at any +price. In fact, an English family had just gone off in despair to +Chiavari, for even the ships in the harbor were filled with strangers, +and the "steam dredge" was fitted up like an hotel! K. I. took down the +list of visitors, to see if he could find a friend or an acquaintance +amongst them, but, though there were plenty of English, we knew none of +them; and as for Lord G., though he was acquainted with nearly all the +titled people, they were always relatives or connections with whom he +wasn't "on terms." While we sat thus at the door, holding our council of +war, with sleepy waiters and a sulky porter, a gentleman passed in, and +went by us, up the stairs, before we could see his face. The landlord, +who lighted him all the way himself, showed that he was a person of some +consequence. K. I. had just time to learn that he was "No. 4, the grand +apartment on the first floor, towards the sea," which was all they +knew, when the landlord came down, smiling and smirking, to say that the +occupant of No. 4 felt much pleasure in putting half his suite of rooms +at our disposal, and hoped we might not decline his offer. + +"Who is it?--who is he?" cried we all at once; but the landlord made +such a mess of the English name that we were obliged to wait till we +could read it in the Strangers' Book. Meanwhile we lost not a second in +installing ourselves in what I must call a most princely apartment, with +mirrors on all sides, fine pictures, china, and carved furniture, +giving the rooms the air of a palace. There was a fine fire in the great +drawing-room, and the table was littered with English newspapers and +magazines, which proved that he had just left the place for us, as he +was himself occupying it. + +"Now for our great Unknown," said Lord George, opening the Strangers' +Book, and running his eye down the list. There was Milor Hubbs and +Miladi, Baron this, Count that, the "Vescovo" di Kilmore, with the +"Vescova" and five "Vescovini,"--that meant the Bishop and his wife, and +the five small little Bishops,--which made us laugh. And at last we came +down to "No. 4, Grand Suite, Sir Morris Penrhyn, Bt," not a word more. + +"There is a swell of that name that owns any amount of slate quarries +down near Holyhead, I think," said Lord George. "Do you happen to know +him?" + +"No," was chorused by all present. + +"Oh! everyone knows his place. It's one of the show things of the +neighborhood. How is this they call it,--Pwlldmmolly Castle?--that's the +name, at least so far as human lips can approach it At all events, he +has nigh fifteen thousand a year, and can afford the annoyance of a +consonant more or less." + +"Any relative of your Lordship's?" asked K. I. + +"Don't exactly remember; but, if so, we never acknowledged him. Can't +afford Welsh cousin ships!" + +"He 's a right civil fellow, at all events," said K. I., "and here's his +health;" for at that moment the waiter entered with the supper, and we +all sat down in far better spirits than we had expected to enjoy half an +hour back. We soon forgot all about our unknown benefactor; and, indeed, +we had enough of our own concerns to engross our attention, for there +were places to be secured for the tournament and the other great sights; +for, with all the frailty of our poor natures, there we were, as hot +after the vanities and pleasures of this world as if we had never done a +"Novena" nor a penance in our lives! + +When I went to my room, Mary Anne and I had a long conversation about +the stranger, whom she was fully persuaded was a connection of Lord +G.'s, and had shown us this attention solely on his account. "I can +perceive," said she, "from his haughty manner, that he doesn't like to +acknowledge the relationship, nor be in any way bound by the tie of an +obligation. His pride is the only sentiment he can never subdue! A bad +'look-out' for me, perhaps, mamma," said she, laughing; "but we'll see +hereafter." And with this she wished me good-night. + +The next morning our troubles began, and early, too; for Father James, +not making any allowance for the different life one must lead in a +great city from what one follows in a little out-of-the-way place amidst +mountains, expected me to go up to a chapel two miles away and hear +matins, and be down at mid-day mass in the town, and then had a whole +afternoon's work at the convent arranged for us, and was met by Lord +George and James with a decided and, indeed, almost rude opposition. The +discussion lasted till late in the morning, and might perhaps have gone +on further, when K. L, who was reading his "Galignani," screamed out, +"By the great O'Shea!"--a favorite exclamation of his,--"here's a bit +of news. Listen to this, Gentles, all of you: 'By the demise of Sir +Walter Prichard Penrhyn, of--I must give up the castle--' the ancient +title and large estates of the family descend to a sister's son, Captain +George Morris, who formerly served in the--th Foot, but retired from +the army about a year since, to reside on the Continent. The present +Baronet, who will take the name of Penrhyn, will be, by this accession +of fortune, the richest landed proprietor in the Principality, and may, +if he please it, exercise a very powerful interest in the political +world. We are, of course, ignorant of his future intentions, but we +share in the generally expressed wish of all classes here, that the +ancient seat of his ancestors may not be left unoccupied, or only +tenanted by those engaged in exhibiting to strangers its varied +treasures in art, and its unrivalled curiosities in antiquarian +lore.--_Welsh Herald_.' There 's the explanation of the civility we +met with last night; that clears up the whole mystery, but, at the same +time, leaves another riddle unsolved. Why did n't he speak to us on the +stairs? Could it be that he did not recognize us?" + +Oh, Molly! I nearly fainted while he was speaking. I was afraid of my +life he 'd look at me, and see by my changed color what was agitating +me; for only think of what it was I had done,--just gone and refused +fifteen thousand a year, and for the least marriageable of the two +girls, since, I need n't say, that for one man that fancies Cary, there +'s forty admires Mary Anne--and a baronetcy! She 'd have been my Lady, +just as much as any in the peerage. I believe in my heart I could n't +have kept the confession in if it had n't been that Mary Anne took my +arm and led me away. Father G. followed us out of the room, and began: +"Isn't it a real blessing from the Virgin on ye," said he, "that you +rejected that heretic before temptation assailed ye?" But I stopped him, +Molly; and at once too! I told him it was all his own stupid bigotry got +us into the scrape. "What has religion to do with it?" said I. "Can't a +heretic spend fifteen thousand a year; and sure if his wife can't live +with him, can't she claim any-money, as they call it?" + +"I hope and trust," said he, "that your backsliding won't bring a +judgment on ye." + +And so I turned away from him, Molly, for you may remark that there 's +nothing as narrow-minded as a priest when he talks of worldly matters.' + +Though we had enough on our minds the whole day about getting places for +the tournament, the thought of Morris never left my head; and I knew, +besides, that I 'd never have another day's peace with K. I. as long as +I lived, if he came to find out that I refused him. I thought of twenty +ways to repair the breach: that I 'd write to him, or make Mary Anne +write--or get James to call and see him. Then it occurred to me, if we +should make out that Cary was dying for love of him, and it was to save +our child that we condescended to change our mind. Mary Anne, however, +overruled me in everything, saying, "Rely upon it, mamma, we 'll have +him yet. If he was a very young man, there would be no chance for us, +but he is five or six and thirty, and he 'll not change now! For a few +months or so, he'll try to bully himself into the notion of forgetting +her, but you 'll see he'll come round at last; and if he should not, +then it will be quite time enough to see whether we ought to pique his +jealousy or awaken his compassion." + +She said much more in the same strain, and brought me round completely +to her own views. "Above all," said she, "don't let Father James +influence you; for though it's all right and proper to consult him about +the next world, he knows no more than a child about the affairs of +this one." So we agreed, Molly, that we 'd just wait and see, of course +keeping K. I. blind all the time to what we were doing. + +The games and the circus, and all the wonderful sights that we were +to behold, drove everything else out of my head; for every moment Lord +George was rushing in with some new piece of intelligence about some +astonishing giant, or some beautiful creature, so that we hadn't a +moment to think of anything. + +It was the hardest thing in life to get places at all. The pit was taken +up with dukes and counts and barons, and the boxes rose to twenty-five +Napoleons apiece, and even at that price it was a favor to get one! +Early and late Lord George was at work about it, calling on ministers, +writing notes, and paying visits, till you 'd think it was life and +death were involved in our success. + +You have no notion, Molly, how different these matters are abroad and +with us. At home we go to a play or a circus just to be amused for the +time, and we never think more of the creatures we see there than if they +were n't of our species; but abroad it 's exactly the reverse. Nothing +else is talked of, or thought of, but how much the tenor is to have for +six nights. "Is Carlotta singing well? Is Nina fatter? How is Francesca +dancing? Does she do the little step like a goat this season? or has +she forgotten her rainbow spring?" Now, Lord George and James gave us +no peace about all these people till we knew every bit of the private +history of them, from the man that carried a bull on his back, to the +small child with wings, that was tossed about for a shuttlecock by +its father and uncle. Then there was a certain Sofia Bettrame, that +everybody was wild about; the telegraph at one time saying she was at +Lyons, then she was at Vichy, then at Mont Cenis,--now she was sick, +now she was supping with the Princess Odelzeffska,--and, in fact, what +between the people that were in _love_ with _her_, and a number of +others to whom she was _in debt_, it was quite impossible to hear of +anything else but "La Sofia," "La Bettrame," from morning till night +It's long before an honest woman, Molly, would engross so much of public +notice; and so I could n't forbear remarking to K. I. Nobody cared to +ask where the Crown Prince of Russia was going to put up, or where the +Archduchess of Austria was staying, but all were eager to learn if the +"Croce di Matta" or the "Leone d'Oro" or the "Cour de Naples" were to +lodge the peerless Sofia. The man that saw her horses arrive was the +fashion for two entire days, and an old gentleman who had talked with +her courier got three dinner invitations on the strength of it. What +discussions there were whether she was to receive a hundred thousand +francs, or as many crowns; and then whether for one or for two nights. +Then there were wagers about her age, her height, the color of her eyes, +and the height of her instep, till I own to you, Molly, it was downright +offensive to the mother of a family to listen to what went on about her; +James being just as bad as the rest. + +At last, my dear, comes the news that Sofia has taken a sulk and won't +appear. The Grand-Duchess of somewhere did something, or didn't do +it--I forget which--that was or was not "due to her." I wish you saw +the consternation of the town at the tidings. If it was the plague was +announced, the state of distraction would have been less. + +You would n't believe me if I told you how they took it to heart. +Old generals with white moustaches, fat, elderly gentlemen in +counting-bouses, grave shopkeepers, and grim-looking clerks in the +Excise went about as if they had lost their father, and fallen suddenly +into diminished circumstances. They shook hands, when they met, with a +deep sigh, and parted with a groan, as if the occasion was too much for +their feelings. + +At this moment, therefore, after all the trouble and expense, nobody +knows if there will be any tournament at all. Some say it is the +Government has found out that the whole thing was a conspiracy for a +rising; and there are fifty rumors afloat about Mazzini himself being +one of the company, in the disguise of a juggler. But what may be the +real truth it is impossible to say. At all events, I 'll not despatch +this till I can give you the latest tidings. + +Tuesday Evening. + +The telegraph has just brought word that she _will_ come. James is gone +down to the office to get a copy of the despatch. + +James is come back to say that she is at Novi. If she arrive here +to-night, there will be an illumination of the town! Is not this too +bad, Molly? Doesn't your blood run cold at the thought of it all? + +They 're shouting like mad under my window now, and Lord George thinks +she must be come already. James has come in with his hat in tatters and +his coat in rags. The excitement is dreadful. The people suspect that +the Government are betraying them to Russia, and are going to destroy a +palace that belongs to a tallow merchant. + +All is right, Molly. She is come! and they are serenading her now under +the windows of the "Croce di Matta!" + +Wednesday Night. + +If my trembling hand can subscribe legibly a few lines, it is perhaps +the last you will ever receive from your attached Jemima. I was never +intended to go through such trials as these; and they 're now rending a +heart that was only made for tenderness and affection. + +We were there, Molly! After such a scene of crushing and squeezing as +never was equalled, we got inside the circus, and with the loss of my +new turban and one of my "plats," we reached our box, within two of +the stage, and nearly opposite the King. For an hour or so, it was +only fainting was going on all around us, with the heat and the violent +struggle to get in. Nobody minded the stage at all, where they were +doing the same kind of thing we used to see long ago. Ten men in pinkish +buff, vaulting over an old white horse, and the clown tumbling over the +last of them with a screech; the little infant of three years, with a +strap round its waist, standing and tottering on the horse's back; the +man with the brass balls and the basin, and the other one that stood on +the bottles,--all passed off tiresome enough, till a grand flourish of +trumpets announced Signor Annibale, the great Modern Hercules. In he +rode, Molly, full gallop, all dressed in a light, flesh-colored, web, +and looking so like naked that I screeched out when I saw him. His hair +was divided on his forehead, and cut short all round the head; and, +indeed, I must confess he was a fine-looking man. After a turn or two, +brandishing a big club, he galloped in again, but quickly reappeared +with a woman lying over one of his arms, and her hair streaming down +half-way to the ground. This was Sofia; and you may guess the enthusiasm +of the audience at her coming! There she lay, like in a trance, as he +dashed along at full speed, the very tip of one foot only touching the +saddle, and her other leg dangling down like dead. It was shocking to +hear the way they talked of her symmetry and her shape,--not but they +saw enough to judge of it, Molly!--till at last the giant stopped to +breathe a little just under our box. K. I. and the young men, of course, +leaned over to have a good look at her with their glasses, when suddenly +James screamed, "By the ------ --I won't say what--it is herself!" Mary +Anne and I both rose together. The sight left my eyes, Molly, for she +looked up at me, and who was it--but the Countess that James was going +to marry! There she was, lying languidly on the giant, smiling up at us +as cool as may be. I gave a screech, Molly, that made the house ring, +and went off in Mary Anne's arms. + +If this is n't disgrace enough to bring me to the grave, Nature must +have given stronger feelings than she knows to your ever afflicted and +heart-broken + +Jemima Dodd. + + + + +LETTER XXIII. MISS CAROLINE DODD TO MISS COX, AT MISS MINCING'S ACADEMY, BLACK ROCK, IRELAND + +Sestri, Gulf of Genoa. + +My dear Miss Cox,--I had long looked forward to our visit to Genoa in +order to write to you. I had fancied a thousand things of the "Superb +City" which would have been matters of interest, and hoped that many +others might have presented themselves to actual observation. But with +that same fatality by which the future forever evades us, we have come +and gone again, and really seen nothing. + +Instead of a week or fortnight passed in loitering about these +mysterious, narrow streets, each one of which is a picture, poking into +crypts, and groping along the aisles of those dim churches, and then +issuing forth into the blaze of sunshine to see the blue sea heaving +in mighty masses on the rocky shore, we came here to see some vulgar +spectacle of a circus or a tournament. By ill-luck, too, even +this pleasure has proved abortive; a very mortifying, I might say +humiliating, discovery awaited us, and we have, for shame's sake, taken +our refuge in flight from one of the most interesting cities in the +whole peninsula. + +I am ashamed to confess to you how ill I have borne the disappointment. +The passing glimpses I caught here and there of steep old alleys, barely +wide enough for three to go abreast; the little squares, containing some +quaint monument or some fantastic fountain; the massive iron gateways, +showing through the bars the groves of orange-trees within; the wide +portals, opening on great stairs of snow-white marble,--all set me +a-dreaming of that proud Genoa, with its merchant-princes, who combined +all the haughty characteristics of a feudal state with the dashing +spirit of a life of enterprise. + +The population, too, seemed as varied in type as the buildings around +them. The bronzed, deep-browed Ligurian--the "Faquino"--by right of +birth, stood side by side with the scarcely less athletic Dalmatian. The +Arab from Tiflis, the Suliote, the Armenian, the dull-eyed Moslem, and +the treacherous-looking Moor were all grouped about the Mole, with a +host of those less picturesque figures that represent Northern Europe. +There, was heard every language and every dialect. There, too, seen +the lineaments of every nation, and the traits of every passion that +distinguish a people. Just as on the deep blue water that broke beside +them were ships of every build, from the proud three-decker to the swift +"lateen," and from the tall, taper spare of the graceful clipper to the +heavily rounded, low-masted galliot of the Netherlands. + +I own to you that however the actual life of commerce may include +commonplace events and commonplace people, there is something about the +sea and those that live on the great waters that always has struck me as +eminently poetical. + +The scene, the adventurous existence, the strange faraway lands they +have visited, the Spice Islands of the South, the cold shores of the +Arctic Seas, the wondrous people with whom they have mingled, the +dangers they have confronted,--all invest the sailor with a deep +interest to me, and I regard him ever as one who has himself been an +actor in the great drama of which I have only read the outline. + +I was, indeed, very sorry to leave Genoa, and to leave it, too, unseen. +An event, however, too painful to allude to, compelled us to start at +once; and we came on here to the little village from whence I write. A +lovely spot it is,--sheltered from the open sea by a tall promontory, +wooded with waving pines, whose feathery foliage is reflected in the +calm sea beneath. A gentle curve of the strand leads to Chiavari, +another town about six miles off; and behind us, landward, rise the +great Apennines, several thousand feet in height,--grand, barren, +volcanic-looking masses of wildest outline, and tinted with the colors +of every mineral ore. On the very highest pinnacles of these are +villages perched, and the tall tower of a church is seen to rise against +the blue sky, at an elevation, one would fancy, untrodden by man. + +There is a beautiful distinctness in Italian landscape,--every detail +is "picked out" sharply. The outline of every rock and cliff, of every +tree, of every shrub, is clean and well defined. Light and shadow fall +boldly, and even abruptly, on the eye; but--shall I own it?--I long for +the mysterious distances, the cloud-shadows, the vague atmospheric tints +of our Northern lands. I want those passing effects that seem to give +a vitality to the picture, and make up something like a story of the +scene. It is in these the mind revels as in a dreamland of its own. It +is from these we conjure up so many mingled thoughts of the past, the +present, and the coming time,--investing the real with the imaginary, +and blending the ideal with the actual world. + +How naturally do all these thoughts lead us to that of Home! Happily for +us, there is that in the religion of our hearts towards home that takes +no account of the greater beauty of other lands. The loyalty we owe our +own hearth defies seduction. Admire, glory in how you will the grandest +scene the sun ever set upon, there is still a holy spot in your heart +of hearts for some little humble locality,--a lonely glen,--a Highland +tarn,--a rocky path beside some winding river, rich in its childish +memories, redolent of the bright hours of sunny infancy,--and this you +would not give for the most gorgeous landscapes that ever basked beneath +Italian sky. + +Do not fancy that I repine at being here because I turn with fond +affection to the scene of my earliest days. I delight in Italy; I +glory in its splendor of sky and land and water. I never weary of its +beauteous vegetation, and my ear drinks in with equal pleasure the soft +accents of its language; but I always feel that these things are to +be treasured for memory to be enjoyed hereafter, just as the emigrant +labors for the gold he is to spend in his own country. In this wise, it +may be, when wandering along some mountain "boreen" at home, sauntering +of a summer's eve through some waving meadow, that Italy in all its +brightness will rise before me, and I will exalt in my heart to have +seen the towers of the Eternal City, and watched the waves that sleep in +"still Sorrento." + +We leave this to-morrow for Spezia, there to pass a few days; our object +being to loiter slowly along till papa can finally decide whether to go +back or forward: for so is it, my dearest friend, all our long-planned +tour and its pleasures have resolved themselves into a hundred +complications of finance and fashionable acquaintances. + +One might have supposed, from our failures in these attempts, that we +should have learned at least our own unfitness for success. The very +mortifications we have suffered might have taught us that all the +enjoyment we could ever hope to reap could not repay the price of a +single defeat. Yet here we are, just as eager, just as short-sighted, +just as infatuated as ever, after a world that will have "none of +us," and steadily bent on storming a position in society that, if won +to-morrow, we could not retain. + +I suppose that our reverses in this wise must have attained some +notoriety, and I am even prepared to hear that the Dodd family have +made themselves unhappily conspicuous by their unfortunate attempt at +greatness; but I own, dearest friend, that I am not able to contemplate +with the same philosophical submission the loss of good men's esteem and +respect, to which these failures must expose US--an instance of which, I +tremble to think, has already occurred to us. + +You have often heard me speak of Mrs. Morris, and of the kindness with +which she treated me during a visit at her house. She was at that time +in what many would have called very narrow circumstances, but which by +consummate care and good management sufficed to maintain a condition in +every way suitable to a gentlewoman. She has since--or rather her son +has--succeeded to a very large fortune and a title. They were at Genoa +when we arrived there,--at the same hotel,--and yet never either called +on or noticed us! It is perfectly needless for me to say that I know, +and know thoroughly, that no change in _their_ position could have +produced any alteration in their manner towards us. If ever there were +people totally removed from such vulgarity,--utterly incapable of even +conceiving it,--it is the Morrises. They were proud in their humble +fortune,--that is, they possessed a dignified self-esteem, that would +have rejected the patronage of wealthy pretension, but willingly +accepted the friendship of very lowly worth; and I can well believe that +prosperity will only serve to widen the sphere of their sympathies, and +make them as generous in action as they were once so in thought. That +their behavior to _us_ depends on anything in themselves, I therefore +completely reject,--this I know and feel to be an impossibility. What +a sad alternative is then left me, when I own that they have more than +sufficient cause to shun our acquaintance and avoid our intimacy! + +The loss of such a friend as Captain Morris might have been to James +is almost irreparable; and from the interest he once took in him, it +is clear he felt well disposed for such a part; and I am thoroughly +convinced that even papa himself, with all his anti-English prejudices, +has only to come into close contact with the really noble traits of the +English character, to acknowledge their excellence and their worth. I am +very far from undervaluing the great charm of manner which comes +under the category of what is called "aimable." I recognize all its +fascination, and I even own to an exaggerated enjoyment of its display; +but shall I confess that I believe that it is this very habit of +simulation that detracts from the truthful character of a people, and +that English bluntness is--so to say--the complement of English honesty. +That they push the characteristic too far, and that they frequently +throw a chill over social intercourse, which under more genial +influences had been everything that was agreeable, I am free to admit; +but, with all these deficiencies, the national character is incomparably +above that of any other country I have any knowledge of. It will be +scarcely complimentary if I add, after all this, that we Irish are +certainly more popular abroad than our Saxon relatives. We are more +compliant with foreign usages, less rigid in maintaining our own habits, +more conciliating in a thousand ways; and both our tongues and our +temperaments more easily catch a new language and a new tone of society. + +Is it not fortunate for you that I am interrupted in these gossipings by +the order to march? Mary Anne has come to tell me that we are to start +in half an hour; and so, adieu till we meet at Spezia. + +Spezia, Croce di Malta. + +The little sketch that I send with this will give you some very faint +notion of this beautiful gulf, with which I have as yet seen nothing to +compare. This is indeed Italy. Sea, sky, foliage, balmy air, the soft +influences of an atmosphere perfumed with a thousand odors,--all breathe +of the glorious land. + +The Garden--a little promenade for the townspeople, that stretches along +the beach--is one blaze of deep crimson flowers,--the blossom of the +San Giuseppe,--I know not the botanical name. The blue sea--and such a +blue!--mirrors every cliff and crag and castellated height with the most +minute distinctness. Tall lateen-sailed boats glide swiftly to and fro; +and lazy oxen of gigantic size drag rustling wagons of loaded vines +along, the ruddy juice staining the rich earth as they pass. + +Como was beautiful; but there was--so to say--a kind of trim coquetry in +its beauty that did not please me. The villas, the gardens, the +terraced walks, the pillared temples, seemed all the creations of a +landscape-gardening spirit that eagerly profited by every accidental +advantage of ground, and every casual excellence of situation. Now, here +there is none of this. All that man has done here had been even +better left undone. It is in the jutting promontories of rock-crowned +olives,--the landlocked, silent bays, darkened by woody shores,--the +wild, profuse vegetation, where the myrtle, the cactus, and the arbutus +blend with the vine, the orange, and the fig,--the sea itself, heaving +as if oppressed with perfumed languor,--and the tall Apennines, +snow-capped, in the distance, but whiter still in the cliffs of pure +Carrara marble,--it is in these that Spezia maintains its glorious +superiority, and in these it is indeed unequalled. + +It will sound, doubtless, like a very ungenerous speech, when I say that +I rejoice that this spot is so little visited--so little frequented--by +those hordes of stray and straggling English who lounge about the +Continent. I do not say this in any invidious spirit, but simply in the +pleasure that I feel in the quiet and seclusion of a place which, should +it become by any fatality "the fashion" will inevitably degenerate +by all the vulgarities of the change. At present the Riviera--as the +coast-line from Genoa to Pisa is called--is little travelled. The +steamers passing to Leghorn by the cord of the arch, take away nearly +all the tourists, so that Spezia, even as a bathing-place, is little +resorted to by strangers. There are none, not one, of the ordinary +signs of the watering-place about it. Neither donkeys to hire, nor +subscription concerts; not a pony phaeton, a pianist, nor any species +of human phenomenon to torment you; and the music of the town band is, +I rejoice to say, so execrably bad that even a crowd of twenty cannot be +mustered for an audience. + +Spezia is, therefore, _au naturel_,--and long may it be so! Distant be +the day when frescoed buildings shall rise around, to seduce from its +tranquil scenery the peaceful lover of nature, and make of him the +hot-cheeked gambler or the broken debauchee. I sincerely, hopefully +trust this is not to be, at least in our time. + +We made an excursion this morning by boat to Lerici, to see poor +Shelley's house, the same that Byron lived in when here. It stands in +the bight of a little bay of its own, and close to the sea; so close, +indeed, that the waves were plashing and frothing beneath the arched +colonnade on which it is built. It is now in an almost ruinous +condition, and the damp, discolored walls and crumbling plaster bespeak +neglect and decay. + +The view from the terrace is glorious; the gulf in its entire extent is +before you, and the island of Palmaria stands out boldly, with the tall +headlands of Porto Venere, forming the breakwater against the sea. It +was here Shelley loved to sit; here, of a summer's night, he often sat +till morning, watching the tracts of hill and mountain wax fainter and +fainter, till they grew into brightness again with coming day; and it +was not far from this, on the low beach of Via Reggio, that he was lost! +The old fisherman who showed us the house had known him well, and spoke +of his habits as one might have described those of some wayward child. +The large and lustrous eyes, the long waving hair, the uncertain step, +the look half timid, half daring, had made an impression so strong, that +even after long years he could recall and tell of them. + +It came on to blow a "Levanter" as we returned, and the sea got up with +a rapidity almost miraculous. From a state of calm and tranquil repose, +it suddenly became storm-lashed and tempestuous; nor was it without +difficulty we accomplished a landing at Spezia. To-morrow we are to +visit Porto Venere,--the scene which it is supposed suggested to Virgil +his description of the Cave in which AEneas meets with Dido; and the +following day we go to Carrara to see the marble quarries and the +artists' studios. In fact, we are "handbooking" this part of our tour in +the most orthodox fashion; and from the tame, half-effaced impressions +objects suggest, of which you come primed with previous description, +I can almost fancy that reading "John Murray" at your fireside at home +might compensate for the fatigue and cost of a journey. It would be +worse than ungrateful to deny the aid one derives from guide-books; but +there is unquestionably this disadvantage in them, that they limit +your faculty of admiration or disapproval. They set down rules for your +liking and disliking, and far from contributing to form and educate +your taste, they cramp its development by substituting criticism for +instinct. + +As I hope to write to you again from Florence, I 'll not prolong this +too tiresome epistle, but, with my most affectionate greetings to all my +old schoolfellows, ask my dear Miss Cox to believe me her ever attached +and devoted + +Caroline Dodd. + +The Morrises arrived here last night and went on this morning, without +any notice of us. They must have seen our names in the book when writing +their own. Is not this more than strange? Mamma and Mary Anne seemed +provoked when I spoke of it, so that I have not again alluded to the +subject. I wish from my heart I could ask how _you_ interpret their +coldness. + + + + +LETTER XXIV. MARY ANNE DODD TO MISS DOOLAN, OF BALLYDOOLAN. + +Lucca, Pagnini's Hotel. + +Dearest Kitty,--This must be the very shortest of letters, for we are on +the wing, and shall be for some days to come. Very few words, however, +will suffice to tell you that we have at length persuaded papa to come +on to Florence,--for the winter, of course. Rome will follow,--then +Naples,--_e poi?_--who knows! I think he must have received some very +agreeable tidings from your uncle Purcell, for he has been in better +spirits than I have seen him latterly, and shows something like a return +to his old vein of pleasantry. Not but I must own that it is what +the French would call, very often, a _mauvaise plaisanterie_ in its +exercise, his great amusement being to decry and disparage the people +of the Continent. He seems quite to forget that in every country the +traveller is, and must be, a mark for knavery and cheating. His newness +to the land, his ignorance, in almost all cases, of the language, +his occasional mistakes, all point him out as a proper subject +for imposition; and if the English come to compare notes with any +Continental country, I'm not so sure we should have much to plume +ourselves upon, as regards our treatment of strangers. + +For our social misadventures abroad, it must be confessed that we are +mainly most to blame ourselves. All the counterfeits of rank, station, +and position are so much better done by foreigners than by our people, +that we naturally are more easily imposed on. Now in England, for +instance, it would be easier to be a duchess than to imitate one +successfully. All the attributes that go to make up such a station +abroad, might be assumed by any adventurer of little means and less +capacity. We forget--or, more properly speaking, we do not know--this, +when we come first on the Continent; hence the mistakes we fall into, +and the disasters that assail us. + +It would be very disagreeable for me to explain at length how what +I mentioned to you about James's marriage has come to an untimely +conclusion. Enough when I say that the lady was not, in any respect, +what she had represented herself, and my dear brother may be said to +have had a most fortunate escape. Of course the poor fellow has suffered +considerably from the disappointment, nor are his better feelings +alleviated by the--I will say--very indelicate raillery papa is pleased +to indulge in on the subject. It is, however, a theme I do not care to +linger on, and I only thus passively allude to it that it may be buried +in oblivion between us. + +We came along here from Genoa by the seaboard, a very beautiful and +picturesque road, traversing a wild range of the Apennines, and almost +always within view of the blue Mediterranean. At Spezia we loitered for +a day or two, to bathe, and I must say nothing can be more innocently +primitive than the practice as followed there. + +Ladies and gentlemen--men and women, if you like it better--all meet in +the water as they do on land, or rather not as they do on land, but in +a very first-parentage state of no-dressedness. There they splash, swim, +dive, and converse,--float, flirt, talk gossip, and laugh with a most +laudable forgetfulness of externals. Introductions and presentations +go forward as they would in society, and a gentleman asks you to duck +instead of to dance with him. It would be affectation in me were I not +to say that I thought all this very shocking at first, and that I really +could scarcely bring myself to adopt it; but Lord George, who really +swims to perfection, laughed me out of some, and reasoned me out of +others of my prejudices, and I will own, dearest Kitty, his arguments +were unanswerable. + +"Were you not very much ashamed," said he, "the first time you saw +a ballet, or 'poses plastiques'?--did not the whole strike you as +exceedingly indelicate?--and now, would not that very same sense of +shame occur to you as real indelicacy, since in these exhibitions it is +Art alone you admire,--Art in its graceful development? The 'Ballarina' +is not a woman; she is an ideal,--she is a Hebe, a Psyche, an Ariadne, +or an Aphrodite. Symmetry, grace, beauty of outline,--these are the +charms that fascinate you. Can you not, therefore, extend this spirit to +the sea, and, instead of the Marquis of this and the Countess of that, +only behold Tritono and sea-nymphs disporting in the flood?" + +I saw at once the force of this reasoning, Kitty, and perceived that to +take any lower view of the subject would be really a gross indelicacy. I +tried to make Cary agree with me, but utterly in vain,--she is so devoid +of imagination! There is, too, an utter want of refinement in her mind +positively hopeless. She even confessed to me that Lord George without +his clothes still seemed Lord George to her, and that no effort she +could make was able to persuade her that the old Danish Minister in the +black leather skullcap had any resemblance to a river god. Mamma behaved +much better; seeing that the custom was one followed by all the "best +people," she adopted it at once, and though she would scream out +whenever a gentleman came to talk to her, I 'm sure, with a few +weeks' practice, she 'd have perfectly reconciled herself to "etiquette +in the water." Should you, with your very Irish notions, raise hands and +eyes at all this, and mutter, "How very dreadful!--how shocking!" and +so on, I have only to remind you of what the Princess Pauline said to an +English lady, who expressed her prudish horrors at the Princess having +"sat for Canova in wet drapery": "Oh, it was not so disagreeable as you +think; there was always a fire in the room." Now, Kitty, I make the same +reply to your shocked scruples, by saying the sea was deliciously warm. +Bathing is here, indeed, a glorious luxury. There is no shivering or +shuddering, no lips chattering, blue-nosed, goose-skinned misery, like +the home process! It is not a rush in, in desperation, a duck in agony, +and a dressing in ague, but a delicious lounge, associated with all the +enjoyments of scenery and society. The temperature of the sea is just +sufficiently below that of the air to invigorate without chilling, like +the tone of a company that stimulates without exhausting you. It is, +besides, indescribably pleasant to meet with a pastime so suggestive of +new themes of talk. Instead of the tiresome and trite topics of ballet +and balls, and dress and diamonds, your conversation smacks of salt +water, and every allusion "hath suffered a sea change." Instead of a +compliment to your dancing, the flattery is now on your diving; and he +who once offered his arm to conduct you to the "buffet," now proposes +his company to swim out to a lifebuoy! + +And now let me get back to land once more, and you will begin to fancy +that your correspondent is Undine herself in disguise. I was very sorry +to leave Spezia, since I was just becoming an excellent swimmer. Indeed, +the surgeon of an American frigate assured me that he thought "I had +been raised in the Sandwich Islands,"--a compliment which, of course, I +felt bound to accept in the sense that most flattered me. + +We passed through Carrara, stopping only to visit one or two of the +studios. They had not much to interest us, the artists being for the +most part copyists, and their works usually busts; busts being now the +same passion with our travelling countrymen as once were oil portraits. +The consequence is that every sculptor's shelves are loaded with +thin-lipped, grim-visaged English women, and triple-chinned, +apoplectic-looking aldermen, that contrast very unfavorably with the +clean-cut brows and sharply chiselled features of classic antiquity. +The English are an eminently good-looking race of people, seen in their +proper costume of broadcloth and velvet. They are manly and womanly. The +native characteristics of boldness, decision, and highhearted honesty +are conspicuous in all their traits; nor is there any deficiency in the +qualities of tenderness and gentleness. But with all this, when they +take off their neckcloths, they make but very indifferent Romans; and +he who looked a gentleman in his shirt-collar becomes, what James would +call, "an arrant snob" when seen in a toga. And yet they _will_ do it! +They have a notion that the Anglo-Saxon can do anything,--and so he can, +perhaps,--the difference being whether he can _look_ the character he +knows so well how to _act_. + +We left Carrara by a little mountain path to visit the Bagni di Lucca, +a summer place, which once, in its days of Rouge-et-Noir celebrity, was +greatly resorted to. The Principality of Lucca possessed at that period, +too, its own reigning duke, and had not been annexed to Tuscany. Like +all these small States, without trade or commerce, its resources were +mainly derived from the Court; and, consequently, the withdrawal of the +Sovereign was the death-blow to all prosperity. It would be quite beyond +me to speculate on the real advantages or disadvantages resulting from +this practice of absorption, but pronouncing merely from externals, I +should say that the small States are great sufferers. Nothing can +be sadder than the aspect of this little capital. Ruined palaces, +grass-grown streets, tenantless houses, and half-empty shops are seen +everywhere. Poverty--I might call it misery--on every hand. The various +arts and trades cultivated had been those required by, even called into +existence by, the wants of a Court. All the usages of the place had +been made to conform to its courtly life and existence, and now this was +gone, and all the "occupation" with it! You are not perhaps aware that +this same territory of Lucca supplies nearly all of that tribe of image +and organ men so well known, not only through Europe, but over the vast +continent of America. They are skilful modellers naturally, and work +really beautiful things in "terra cotta." They are a hardy mountain +race, and, like all "montagnards," have an equal love for enterprise and +an attachment to home. Thus they traverse every land and sea, they labor +for years long in far-away climes, they endure hardships and privations +of every kind, supported by the one thought of the day when they can +return home again, and when in some high-perched mountain village--some +"granuolo," or "bennabbia "--they can rest from wandering, and, seated +amidst their kith and kind, tell of the wondrous things they have seen +in their journeyings. It is not uncommon here, in spots the very wildest +and least visited, to find a volume in English or French on the shelf of +some humble cottage: now it is perhaps a print, or an engraving of +some English landscape,--a spot, doubtless, endeared by some especial +recollection,--and not unfrequently a bird from Mexico--a bright-winged +parrot from the Brazils--shows where the wanderer's footsteps have borne +him, and shows, too, how even there the thoughts of home had followed. + +Judged by our own experiences, these people are but scantily welcomed +amongst us. They are constantly associated in our minds with intolerable +hurdy-gurdies and execrable barrel-organs. They are the nightmare of +invalids, and the terror of all studious heads, and yet the wealth +with which they return shows that their gifts are both acknowledged and +rewarded. It must be that to many the organ-man is a pleasant visitor, +and the image-hawker a vendor of "high art" I have seen a great many of +them since we came here, and in their homes too; for mamma has taken +up the notion that these excellent people are all living in a state +of spiritual darkness and destitution, and to enlighten them has been +disseminating her precious little volume on the Miracles of Mount +Orsaro. It is plain to me that all this zeal of a woman of a foreign +nation seems to them a far more miraculous manifestation than anything +in her little book, and they stare and wonder at her in a way that +plainly shows a compassionate distrust of her sanity. + +It is right I should say that Lord George thinks all these people knaves +and vagabonds; and James says they are a set of smugglers, and live by +contraband. Whatever be the true side of the picture, I must now leave +to your own acuteness, or rather to your prejudices, which for all +present purposes are quite good enough judges to decide. + +Papa likes this place so much that he actually proposed passing the +winter here, for "cheapness,"--a very horrid thought, but which, +fortunately, Lord George averted by a private hint to the landlord of +the inn, saying that papa was rolling in wealth, but an awful miser; so +that when the bill made its appearance, with everything charged double, +papa's indignation turned to a perfect hatred of the town and all in it: +the consequence is that we are tomorrow to leave for Florence, which, +if but one half of what Lord George says be true, must be a real earthly +paradise. Not that I can possibly doubt him, for he has lived there two, +or, I believe, three winters,--knows everybody and everything. How I +long to see the Cascini, the Court Balls, the Private Theatricals, at +Prince Polywkowsky's, the picnics at Fiesole, and those dear receptions +at Madame della Montanare's, where, as Lord G. says, every one goes, and +"there's no absurd cant heard about character." + +Indeed, to judge from Lord G.'s account, Florence--to use his own +words--is "the most advanced city in Europe;" that is to say, the +Florentines take a higher and more ample view of social philosophy than +any other people. The erring individual in our country is always treated +like the wounded crow,--the whole rookery is down upon him at once. Not +so here; he--or _she_, to speak more properly--is tenderly treated and +compassionated; all the little blandishments of society showered on her. +She is made to feel that the world is really not that ill-natured thing +sour moralists would describe it; and even if she feel indisposed to +return to safer paths, the perilous ones are made as pleasant for her +as it is possible. These are nearly his own words, dearest, and are they +not beautiful? so teeming with delicacy and true charity. And oh! +Kitty, I must say these are habits we do not practise at home in our +own country. But of this more hereafter; for the present, I can think of +nothing but the society of this delightful city, and am trying to learn +off by heart the names of all the charming houses in which he is to +introduce us. He has written, besides, to various friends in England +for letters for us, so that we shall be unquestionably better off +here--socially speaking--than in any other city of the Continent. + +We leave this after breakfast to-morrow; and before the end of the week +it is likely you may hear from me again, for I am longing to give you +my first impressions of Firenza la Bella; till when, I am, as ever, your +dearly attached + +Mary Anne Dodd. + +P. S. Great good fortune, Kitty,--we shall arrive in time for the races. +Lord G. has got a note from Prince Pincecotti, asking him to ride +his horse "Bruise-drog,"--which, it seems, is the Italian for +"Bull-dog,"--and he consents. He is to wear my colors, too, +dearest,--green and white,--and I have promised to make him a present of +his jacket How handsome he _will_ look in jockey dress! + +James is in distraction at being too heavy for even a hurdle-race; +but as he is six feet one, and stout in proportion, it is out of the +question. Lord G. insists upon it that Cary and I must go on horseback. +Mamma agrees with him, and papa as stoutly resists. It is in vain we +tell him that all depends on the way we open the campaign here, and that +the present opportunity is a piece of rare good fortune; he is in one of +his obstinate moods, and mutters something about "beggars on horseback," +and the place they "ride to." I open my letter to say--carried +triumphantly, dearest--we _are_ to ride. + + + + +LETTER XXV. JAMES DODD TO ROBERT DOOLAN, ESQ., TRINITY COLLEGE, DUBLIN. + +Hotel d'Italie, Florence, Wednesday. + +My dear Bob,--Here we are going it, and in about the very "fastest" +place I ever set foot in. In any other city society seems to reserve +itself for evening and lamplight; but here, Bob, you make "running from +the start," and keep up the pace till you come in. In the morning there +'s the club, with plenty of whist; all the gossip of the town,--and such +gossip too,--the real article, by Jove!--no shadowy innuendoes, no +vague and half-mystified hints of a flaw here or a crack there, but home +blows, my boy, with a smashed character or a ruined reputation at every +stroke. This is, however, only a breathing canter for what awaits you at +the Cascini,--a sort of "promenade," where all the people meet in +their carriages, and exchange confidences in scandal and invitations +to tea,--the Cascini being to the club what the ballet is to the opera. +After this, you have barely time to dress for dinner; which over, the +opera begins. There you pay visits from box to box; learn all that is +going on for the evening; hear where the prettiest women are going, and +where the smartest play will be found. Midnight arrives, and then--but +not before--the real life of Florence begins. The dear Contessa, that +never showed by daylight, at last appears in her _salon_; the charming +Marchesa, whose very head-dress is a study from Titian, and whose +dark-fringed eyes you think you recognize from the picture in "the +Pitti," at length sails in, to receive the humble homage of--what, +think you? a score of devoted worshippers, a band of chivalrous adorers? +Nothing of the kind, Bob: a dozen or so of young fellows, in all manner +of costumes, and all shapes of beards and moustaches; all smoking cigars +or cigarettes, talking, singing, laughing, thumping the piano, shouting +choruses, playing tricks with cards,--all manner of tomfoolery, in fact; +with a dash of enthusiasm in the nonsense that carries you along in +spite of yourself. The conversation--if one can dare to call it such--is +a wild chaos of turf-talk, politics, scandal, literature, buffoonery, +and the ballet. There is abundance of wit,--plenty of real smartness on +every side. The fellows who have just described the cut of a tucker can +tell you accurately the contents of a treaty; and they who did not seem +to have a thought above the depth of a flounce or the width of a sandal, +are thoroughly well versed in the politics of every State of Europe. +There is no touch of sarcasm in their gayety,--none of that refined, +subtle ridicule that runs through a Frenchman's talk; these fellows are +eminently good-natured: the code of morals is not severe, and hence the +secret of the merciful judgments you hear pronounced on every one. + +As to breeding, we English should certainly say there was an excess of +familiarity. Everybody puts his arm on your shoulder, pats you on the +back, and calls you by your Christian name. I am "Giacomo" to a host of +fellows I don't know by name; and "Gemess" to a select few, who +pride themselves on speaking English. At all events, Bob, there is no +constraint,--no reserve amongst them. You are at your ease at once, and +good fellowship is the order of the day. + +As to the women, they have a half-shy, half-confident look, that puzzles +one sadly. They 'll stand a stare from you most unblushingly; they think +it's all very right and very reasonable that you should look at them as +long and as fixedly as you would do at a Baffaelle in the Gallery: but +with all that, there is a great real delicacy of deportment, and those +coram-publico preferences which are occasionally exhibited in England, +and even in France, are never seen in Italian society. As to good looks, +there is an abundance, but of a character which an Englishman at first +will scarcely accept as beauty. They are rarely handsome by feature, +but frequently beautiful by expression. There is, besides, a graceful +languor, a tender Cleopatra-like voluptuousness in their air that +distinguishes them from other women; and I have no doubt that any +one who has lived long in Italy would pronounce French smartness +and coquetry the very essence of vulgarity. They cannot dress like a +Parisian, nor waltz like a Wienerin; but, to my thinking, they are far +more captivating than either. I am already in love with four, and I have +just heard of a fifth, that I am sure will set me downright distracted. +There 's one thing I like especially in them; and I own to you, Bob, it +would compensate to me for any amount of defects, which I believe do not +pertain to them. It is this: they have no accomplishments,--they neither +murder Rossini, nor mar Salvator Rosa; they are not educated to torment +society, poison social intercourse, and push politeness to its last +entrenchment. You are not called on for silence while they scream, nor +for praise when they paint. They do not convert a drawing-room into a +boarding-school on examination-day, and they are satisfied to charm you +by fascinations that cost you no compromise to admire. + +After all, I believe we English are the only people that adopt the other +plan. We take a commercial view of the matter, and having invested so +much of our money in accomplishment, we like to show our friends that we +have made a good speculation. For myself, I 'd as soon be married to a +musical snuff-box or a daguerreotype machine as to a "well-brought-up +English girl," who had always the benefit of the best masters in music +and drawing. The fourth-rate artist in anything is better than the +first-rate amateur; and I 'd just as soon wear home-made shoes as listen +to home-made music. + +I have not been presented in any of the English houses here as yet. +There is some wonderful controversy going forward as to whether we are +to call first, or to wait to be called on; and I begin to fear that the +Carnival will open before it can be settled. The governor, too, has got +into a hot controversy with our Minister here, about our presentation at +Court. It would appear that the rule is, you should have been presented +at home, in order to be eligible for presentation abroad. Now, we have +been at the Castle, but never at St James's. The Minister, however, will +not recognize reflected royalty; and here we are, suffering under a real +Irish grievance O'Connell would have given his eye for. The fun of it is +that the Court--at least, I hear so--is crammed with English, who never +even saw a Viceroy, nor perhaps partook of the high festivities of a +Lord Mayor's Ball. How they got there is not for me to inquire, but I +suppose that a vow to a chamberlain is like a customhouse oath, and can +always be reconciled to an easy conscience. + +We have arrived here at an opportune moment,--time to see all the +notorieties of the place at the races, which began to-day. So far as I +can learn, the foreigners have adopted the English taste, with the true +spirit of imitators; that is, they have given little attention to any +improvement in the breed of cattle, but have devoted considerable energy +to all the rogueries of the ring, and with such success that Newmarket +and Doncaster might still learn something from the "Legs" of the +Continent. + +Tiverton, who is completely behind the scenes, has told me some strange +stories about their doings; and, at the very moment I am writing, +horses are being withdrawn, names scratched, forfeits declared, and bets +pronounced "off," with a degree of precipitation and haste that shows +how little confidence exists amongst the members of the ring. As for +myself, not knowing either the course, the horses, nor the colors of +the riders, I take my amusement in observing--what is really most +laughable--the absurd effort made by certain small folk here to resemble +the habits and ways of certain big ones in England. Now it is a retired +coach-maker, or a pensioned-off clerk in a Crown office, that jogs down +the course, betting-book in hand, trying to look--in the quaintness of +his cob, and the trim smugness of his groom--like some old county squire +of fifteen thousand a year. Now it is some bluff, middle-aged gent, who, +with coat thrown back and thumbs in his waistcoat, insists upon being +thought Lord George Bentinck. There are Massy Stanleys, George Paynes, +Lord Wiltons, and Colonel Peels by dozens; "gentlemen jocks" swathed in +drab paletots, to hide the brighter rays of costume beneath, gallop at +full speed across the grass on ponies of most diminutive size; smartly +got-up fellows stand under the judge's box, and slang the authorities +above, or stare at the ladies in front. There are cold luncheons, +sandwiches, champagne, and soda-water; bets, beauties, and bitter +beer,--everything, in short, that constitutes races, but horses! The +system is that every great man gives a cup, and wins it himself; the +only possible interest attending such a process being whether, in some +paroxysm of anger at this, or some frump at that, he may not withdraw +his horse at the last moment,--an event on which a small knot of +gentlemen with dark eyes, thick lips, and aquiline noses seem to +speculate as a race chance, and only second in point of interest to a +whist party at the Casino with a couple of newly come "Bulls." A more +stupid proceeding, therefore, than these races--bating always the fun +derived from watching the "snobocracy". + +I have mentioned--cannot be conceived. Now it was a walk over; now a +"sell;" now two horses of the same owner; now one horse that was owned +by three. The private history of the rogueries might possibly amuse, but +all that met the public eye was of the very slowest imaginable. + +I begin to think, Bob, that horse-racing is only a sport that can be +maintained by a great nation abounding in wealth, and with all the +appliances of state and splendor. You ought to have gorgeous equipages, +magnificent horses, thousands of spectators, stands crowded to the roof +by a class such as only exists in great countries. Royalty itself, in +all its pomp, should be there; and all that represents the pride and +circumstance of a mighty people. To try these things on a small scale +is ridiculous,--just as a little navy of one sloop and a steamer! With +great proportions and ample verge, the detracting elements are hidden +from view. The minor rascalities do not intrude themselves on a scene of +such grandeur; and though cheating, knavery, and fraud are there, +they are not foreground figures. Now, on a little "race-course," it is +exactly the reverse: just as on board of a three-decker you know nothing +of the rats, but in a Nile boat they are your bedfellows and your guests +at dinner. + +To-morrow we are to have a match with gentlemen riders, and if anything +worth recording occurs I 'll keep a corner for it Mother is in the grand +stand, with any amount of duchesses and marchionesses around her. +The governor is wandering about the field, peeping at the cattle, and +wondering how the riders are to get round a sharp turn at the end of +the course. The girls are on horseback with Tiverton; and, in the long +intervals between the matches, I jot down these rough notes for you. The +scene itself is beautiful. The field, flanked on one side by the wood of +the Cascini, is open on t' other to the mountains: Fiezole, from base to +summit, is dotted over with villas half buried in groves of orange and +olive trees. The Val d'Arno opens on one side, and the high mountain +of Vallombrosa on the other. The gayly dressed and bright-costumed +Florentine population throng the ground itself, and over their heads +are seen the glorious domes and towers and spires of beautiful Florence, +under a broad sky of cloudless blue, and in an atmosphere of rarest +purity. + +Thursday. + +Tiverton has won his match, and with the worst horse too. Of his +competitors one fell off; another never got up at all; a third bolted; +and a fourth took so much out of his horse in a breathing canter before +the race, that the animal was dead beat before he came to the start. And +now the knowing ones are going about muttering angry denunciations on +the treachery of grooms and trainers, and vowing that "Gli gentlemen +riders son grandi bricconi." + +I am glad it is over. The whole scene was one of quarrelling, row, and +animosity from beginning to end. These people neither know how to +win money nor to lose it; and as to the English who figure on such +occasions, take my word for it, Bob, the national character gains little +by their alliance. It is too soon for me, perhaps, to pronounce in +this fashion, but Tiverton has told me so many little private +histories--revealed so much of the secret memoirs of these folk--that I +believe I am speaking what subsequent experience will amply confirm. For +the present, good-bye, and believe me, + +Ever yours, + +James Dodd. + + + + +LETTER XXVI. KENNY DODD TO THOMAS PURCELL, ESQ., ORANGE, BRUFF. + +Florence, Lungo l'Arno. + +My dear Tom,--It is nigh a month since I wrote to you last, and if I +didn't "steal a few hours from the night, my dear," it might be longer +still. The address will tell you where we are,--I wish anybody or +anything else would tell you how or why we came here! I intended to have +gone back from Genoa, nor do I yet understand what prevented me doing +so. My poor head--none of the clearest in what may be called my lucid +intervals--is but a very indifferent thinking machine when harassed, +worried, and tormented as I have been latterly. You have heard how +James's Countess, the Cardinal's niece and the betrothed of a Neapolitan +Prince, turned out to be a circus woman, one of those bits of tawdry +gold fringe and pink silk pantaloons that dance on a chalked saddle to a +one-shilling multitude! By good fortune she had two husbands living, or +she might have married the boy. As it was, he has gone into all manner +of debt on her account; and if it was not that I can defy ruin in any +shape,--for certain excellent reasons you may guess at,--this last +exploit of his would go nigh to our utter destruction. + +We hurried away out of Genoa in shame, and came on here by slow stages. +The womenkind plucked up wonderfully on the way, and I believe of the +whole party your humble servant alone carried abasement with him inside +the gates of Florence. + +My sense of sorrow and shame probably somehow blunted my faculties and +dulled my reasoning powers, for I would seem to have concurred in a vast +number of plans and arrangements that now, when I have come to myself, +strike me with intense astonishment. For instance, we have taken a suite +of rooms on the Arno, hired a cook, a carriage, and a courier; we are, I +hear, also in negotiation for a box at the "Pergola," and I am credibly +informed that I am myself looking out for saddle-horses for the girls, +and a "stout-made, square-jointed cob of lively action," to carry +myself. + +It may be all true--I have no doubt it is more philosophical, as the +cant phrase is--to believe Kenny Dodd to be mistaken rather than suppose +his whole family deranged, so that if I hear to-morrow or next day +that I 'm about to take lessons in singing, or to hire a studio as a +sculptor, I 'm fully determined to accept the tidings with a graceful +submission. There is only one thing, Tom Purcell, that passes my belief, +and that is, that there ever lived as besotted an old fool as your +friend Kenny D., a man so thoroughly alive to everything that displeased +him, and yet so prone to endure it; so actively bent on going a road the +very opposite to the one he wanted to travel; and that entered heart and +soul into the spirit of ruining himself, as if it was the very best fun +imaginable. + +That you can attempt to follow me through the vagaries of this strange +frame of mind is more than I expect, neither do I pretend to explain +it to you. There it is, however,--make what you can of it, just as you +would with a handful of copper money abroad, where there was no clew to +the value of a single coin in the mass, but wherewith you are assured +you have received your change. + +With a fine lodging, smart liveries, a very good cook, and a +well-supplied table, I thought it possible that though ruin would follow +in about three months, yet in the interval I might probably enjoy a +little ease and contentment. At all events, like the Indian, who, +when he saw that he must inevitably go over the Falls, put his paddles +quietly aside, and resolved to give himself no unnecessary trouble, I +also determined I 'd leave the boat alone, and never "fash myself for +the future." Wise as this policy may seem, it has not saved me. Mrs. D. +is a regular storm-bird! Wherever she goes she carries her own hurricane +with her! and I verily believe she could get up a tornado under the +equator. + +In a little pious paroxysm that seized her in the mountains, she, at the +instigation of a stupid old lord there, must needs write a tract +about certain miracles that were or were not--for I 'll not answer for +either--performed by a saint that for many years back nobody had paid +any attention to. This precious volume cost _her_ three weeks' loss of +rest, and _me_ about thirty pounds sterling. It was, however, a pious +work, and even as a kind of _visa_ on her passport to heaven, I +suppose it would be called cheap. I assure you, Tom, I spent the cash +grudgingly; that I did pay it at all I thought was about as good "a +miracle" as any in the book. + +Armed with this tract, she tramped through the Lucchese mountains, +leaving copies everywhere, and thrusting her volume into the hands of +all who would have it. I 'm no great admirer of this practice in any +sect. The world has too many indiscreet people to make this kind of +procedure an over-safe one; besides, I 'm not quite certain that even a +faulty religion is not preferable to having none at all, and it happens +not unfrequently that the convert stops half-way on his road, and leaves +one faith without ever reaching the other. I 'll not discuss this matter +further; I have trouble enough on my hands without it. + +These little tracts of Mrs. D.'s attracted the attention of the +authorities. It was quite enough that they had been given away gratis, +and by an Englishwoman, to stamp them as attempts to proselytize, and, +although they could n't explain how, yet they readily adopted the idea +that the whole was written in a figurative style purposely to cover +its real object, and so they set lawyers and judges to work, and what +between oaths of peasants and affirmations of prefects, they soon made +a very pretty case, and yesterday morning, just as we had finished +breakfast, a sergeant of the gendarmerie entered the room, and with a +military salute asked which was la Signora Dodd? The answer being +given, he proceeded to read aloud a paper, that he held in his hand, +the contents of which Cary translated for me in a whisper. They were, in +fact, a judge's warrant to commit Mrs. D. to prison under no less than +nine different sections of a new law on the subject of religion. In vain +we assured him that we were all good Catholics, kept every ordinance of +the Church, and hated a heretic. He politely bowed to our explanation, +but said that with this part of the matter he had nothing to do; that +doubtless we should be able to establish our innocence before the +tribunal; meanwhile Mrs. D. must go to prison. + +I 'm ashamed at all the warmth of indignation we displayed, seeing that +this poor fellow was simply discharging his duty,--and that no pleasant +one,--but somehow it is so natural to take one's anger out on the +nearest official, that we certainly didn't spare him. Tiverton +threatened him with the House of Commons; James menaced him with the +"Times;" Mary Anne protested that the British fleet would anchor off +Leghorn within forty hours; and I hinted that Mazzini should have the +earliest information of this new stroke of tyranny. He bore all like--a +gendarme! stroked his moustaches, clinked his sword on the ground, put +his cocked-hat a little more squarely on his head, and stood at +ease. Mrs. D.--there s no guessing how a woman will behave in any +exigency--did n't go off, as I thought and expected she would, in strong +hysterics; she did n't even show fight; she came out in what, I am free +to own, was for her a perfectly new part, and played martyr; ay, Tom, +she threw up her eyes, clasped her hands upon her bosom, and said, "Lead +me away to the stake--burn me--torture me--cut me in four quarters--tear +my flesh off with hot pincers." She suggested a great variety of these +practices, and with a volubility that showed me she had studied the +subject. Meanwhile the sergeant grew impatient, declared the "seance" +was over, and ordered her at once to enter the carriage that stood +awaiting her at the door, and which was to convey her to the prison. I +need n't dwell on a very painful scene; the end of it was that she was +taken away, and though we all followed in another carriage, we were only +admitted to a few moments of leave-taking with her, when the massive +gates were closed, and she was a captive! + +[Illustration: 248] + +Tiverton told me I must at once go to our Legation and represent the +case. "Be stout about it," said he; "say she must be liberated in half +an hour. Make the Minister understand you are somebody, and won't stand +any humbug. I 'd go," he added, "but I can't do anything against the +present Government." A knowing wink accompanied this speech, and though +I didn't see the force of the remark, I winked too, and said nothing. + +"What language does he speak?" said I, at last. + +"Our Minister? English, of course!" + +"In that case I 'm off at once;" and away I drove to the Legation. The +Minister was engaged. Called again,--he was out. Called later,--he was +in conference with the Foreign Secretary. Later still,--he was dressing +for dinner. Tipped his valet a Nap. and sent in my card, with a pressing +entreaty to be admitted. Message brought back, quite impossible,--must +call in the morning. Another Nap. to the flunkey, and asked his advice. + +"His Excellency receives this evening,--come as one of the guests." + +I did n't half like this counsel, Tom; it was rather an obtrusive line +of policy, but what was to be done? I thought for a few minutes, and, +seeing no chance of anything better, resolved to adopt it. At ten +o'clock, then, behold me ascending a splendidly illuminated staircase, +with marble statues on either side, half hid amidst all manner of rare +and beautiful plants. Crowds of splendidly dressed people are wending +their way upward with myself--doubtless with lighter hearts--which was +not a difficult matter. At the top, I find myself in a dense crowd, +all a blaze of diamonds and decorations, gorgeous uniforms and jewelled +dresses of the most costly magnificence. + +I assure you I was perfectly lost in wonderment and admiration. The +glare of wax-lights, the splendor of the apartments themselves, and the +air of grandeur on every side actually dazzled and astounded me. At each +instant I heard the title of Duke and Prince given to some one or other. +"Your Highness is looking better;" "I trust your Grace will dance;" "Is +the Princess here?" "Pray present me to the Duchess." Egad, Tom, I felt +I was really in the very centre of that charmed circle of which one +hears so much and yet sees so little. + +I need n't say that I knew nobody, and I own to you it was a great +relief to me that nobody knew _me_. Where should I find the Minister in +all this chaos of splendor, and if I did succeed, how obtain the means +of addressing him? These were very puzzling questions to be solved, and +by a brain turning with excitement, and half wild between astonishment +and apprehension. On I went, through room after room,--there seemed no +end to this gorgeous display. Here they were crushed together, so that +stars, crosses, epaulettes, diamond coronets, and jewelled arms seemed +all one dense mass; here they were broken into card-parties; here they +were at billiards; here dancing; and here all were gathered around a +splendid buffet, where the pop, pop of champagne corks explained the +lively sallies of the talkers. I was not sorry to find something like +refreshment; indeed, I thought my courage stood in need of a glass of +wine, and so I set myself vigorously to pierce the firm and compact +crowd in front of me. My resolve had scarcely been taken, when I felt a +gentle but close pressure within my arm, and on looking down, saw three +fingers of a white-gloved hand on my wrist. + +I started back; and even before I could turn my head, Tom, I heard a +gentle voice murmur in my ear, "Dear creature,--how delighted to see +you!--when did you arrive?" and my eyes fell upon Mrs. Gore Hampton! +There she was, in all the splendor of full dress, which, I am bound to +say, in the present instance meant as small an amount of raiment as +any one could well venture out in. That I never saw her look half so +beautiful is quite true. Her combs of brilliants set off her glossy +hair, and added new brilliancy to her eyes, while her beauteous neck and +shoulders actually shone in the brightness of its tints. I bethought me +of the "Spluegen," Tom, and the cold insolence of her disdain. I tried +to summon up indignation to reproach her, but she anticipated me, by +saying, with a bewitching smile, "Adolphus isn't here now, Doddy!" +Few as the words were, Tom, they revealed a whole history,--they were +apology for the past, and assurance for the present. "Still," said I, +"you might have--" "What a silly thing it is!" said she, putting her fan +on my lips; "and it wants to quarrel with me the very moment of meeting; +but it must n't and it sha'n't. Get me some supper, Doddy,--an oyster +patty, if there be one,--if not, an ortolan truffe." + +This at least was a good sensible speech, and so I wedged firmly into +the mass, and, by dint of very considerable pressure, at length landed +my fair friend at the buffet. It was, I must say, worth all the labor. +There was everything you can think of, from sturgeon to Maraschino +jelly, and wines of every land of Europe. It was a good opportunity +to taste some rare vintages, and so I made a little excursion through +Marcobrunner to Johannisberg, and thence on to Steinberger. Leaving the +Rhine land, I coquetted awhile with Burgundy, especially Chambertin, +back again, however, to Champagne, for the sake of its icy coldness, to +wind up with some wonderful Schumlawer,--a Hungariau tap,--that actually +made me wish I had been born a hussar. + +It is no use trying to explain to _you_ the tangled maze of my poor +bewitched faculties. _You_, whose experiences in such trials have not +gone beyond a struggle for a ham sandwich, or a chicken bone for some +asthmatic old lady in black satin,--_you_ can neither comprehend my +situation nor compassion ate my difficulties. How shall I convey to +your uninformed imagination the bewitching effects of wine, beauty, +heat, light, music, soft words, soft glances, blue eyes, and snowy +shoulders? I may give you all the details, but you 'll never be able +to blend them into that magic mass that melts the heart, and makes such +fools of the Kenny Dodds of this world. There is such a thing, believe +me, as "an atmosphere of enchantment." There are elements which compose +a magical air around you, perfumed with odors, and still more entrancing +by flatteries. The appeal is now to your senses, now to your heart, your +affections, your intellect, your sympathies; your very self-love is even +addressed, and you are more than man, at least more than an Irishman, if +you resist. + +Egad, Tom, she is a splendid woman! and has that air of gentleness +and command about her that somehow subdues you at once. Her little +cajoleries--those small nothings of voice and look and touch--are such +subtle tempters for one admired even to homage itself. + +"You must be my escort, Doddy," said she, drawing on her glove, after +fascinating me by the sight of that dimpled hand, and those rose-tipped +fingers so full of their own memories for me. "You shall give me your +arm, and I'll tell you who every one is." And away we sailed out of the +supper-room into the crowded _salons_. + +Our progress was slow, for the crush was tremendous; but, as we went, +her recognitions were frequent. Still, I could not but remark, not with +women. All, or nearly all, her acquaintances were of, I was going to +say the harder, but upon my life I believe the real epithet would be the +softer sex. They saluted her with an easy, almost too easy, familiarity. +Some only smiled; and one, a scoundrel,--I shall know him again, +however,--threw up his eyes with a particular glance towards me, as +plainly as possible implying, "Oh, another victim, eh?" As for the +ladies, some stared full at her, and then turned abruptly away; some +passed without looking; one or two made her low and formal courtesies; +and a few put up their glasses to scan her lace flounce or her lappets, +as if _they_ were really the great objects to be admired. At last we +came to a knot of men talking in a circle round a very pretty woman, +whose jet-black eyes and ringlets, with a high color, gave her a most +brilliant appearance. The moment she saw Mrs. G. H. she sprang from her +seat to embrace her. They spoke in French, and so rapidly that I could +catch nothing of what passed; but the dark eyes were suddenly darted +towards me with a piercing glance that made me half ashamed. + +[Illustration: 252] + +"Let us take possession of that sofa," said Mrs. Gore, moving towards +one. "And now, Doddy, I want to present you to my dearest friend on +earth, my own darling Georgina." + +Then they both kissed, and I muttered some stupid nonsense of my own. + +"This, Georgy,--this is that dear creature of whom you have heard me +speak so often; this is that generous, noble-hearted soul whose devotion +is written upon my heart; and this," said she, turning to the other +side, "this is my more than sister,--my adored Georgina!" + +I took my place between them on the sofa, and was formally presented to +whom?--guess you? No less a person than Lady George Tiverton! Ay, Tom, +the fascinating creature with the dark orbs was another injured woman! +I was not to be treated like a common acquaintance, it seemed, for +"Georgy" began a recital of her husband's cruelties to me. Of all the +wretches I ever heard or read he went far beyond them. There was not +an indignity, not an outrage, he had not passed on her. He studied +cruelties to inflict upon her. She had been starved, beaten, bruised, +and, I believe, chained to a log. + +She drew down her dress to show me some mark of cruelty on her shoulder; +and though I saw nothing to shock me, I took her word for the injury. +In fact, Tom, I was lost in wonderment how one that had gone through +so much not only retained the loveliness of her looks, but all the +fascinations of her beauty, unimpaired by any traits of suffering. + +What a terrible story it was, to be sure! Now he had sold her diamonds +to a Jew; now he had disposed of her beautiful dark hair to a wig-maker. +In his reckless extravagance her very teeth were not safe in her head; +but more dreadful than all were the temptations he had exposed her +to,--sweet, young, artless, and lovely as she was! All the handsome +fellows about town,--all that was gay, dashing, and attractive,--the +young Peerage and the Blues,--all at her feet; but her saintlike purity +triumphed; and it was really quite charming to hear how these two pretty +women congratulated each other on all the perils they had passed +through unharmed, and the dangers through which virtue had borne +them triumphant. There I sat, Tom, almost enveloped in gauze and +Valenciennes,--for their wide flounces encompassed me, their beauteous +faces at either side, their soft breath fanning me,--listening to +tales of man's infamy that made my blood boil. To the excitement of +the champagne had succeeded the delirious intoxication compounded of +passionate indignation and glowing admiration; and at any minute I felt +ready to throw myself at the heads of the husbands or the feet of their +wives! + +Vast crowds moved by us as we sat there, and I could perceive that +we were by no means unnoticed by the company. At last I perceived an +elderly lady, leaning on a young man's arm, whom I thought I recognized; +but she quickly averted her head and said something to her companion. +He turned and bowed coldly to me; and I perceived it was Morris,--or +Penrhyn, I suppose he calls himself now; and, indeed, his new dignity +would seem to have completely overcome him. Mrs. G. H. asked his name; +and when I told it, said she would permit me to present him to her,--a +liberty I had no intention to profit by. + +The company was now thinning fast; and so, giving an arm to each of my +fair friends, we descended to the cloak-ing-room. "Call our carriage, +Doddy,--the Villino Amaldini! for Georgy and I go together," said Mrs. +G. I saw them to the door, helped them in, kissed their hands, promised +to call on them early on the morrow,--"Villa Amaldini,--Via +Amaldini,"--got the name by heart; another squeeze of the two fair +hands, and away they rolled, and I turned homeward in a frame of mind of +which I have not courage to attempt the description. + +When I arrived at our lodgings, it was nigh three o'clock; Mary Anne and +Cary were both sitting up waiting for me. The police had made a descent +on the house in my absence, and carried away three hundred and seventy +copies of the blessed little tract, all our house bills, some of your +letters, and the girls' Italian exercises; a very formidable array +of correspondence, to which some equations in algebra, by James, +contributed the air of a cipher. + +"Well, papa, what tidings?" cried both the girls, as I entered the +room. "When is she to be liberated? What says the Minister?--is he +outrageous?--was he civil?--did he show much energy?" + +"Wait a bit, my dears," said I, "and let me collect myself. After all I +have gone through, my head is none of the clearest." + +This was quite true, Tom, as you may readily believe. They both waited, +accordingly, with a most exemplary patience; and there we sat in +silence, confronting each other; and I own to you honestly, a criminal +in a dock never had a worse conscience than myself at that moment. + +"Girls," said I, at last, "if I am to have brains to carry me through +this difficult negotiation, it will only be by giving me the most +perfect peace and tranquillity. No questioning--no interrogation--no +annoyance of any kind--you understand me--this," said I, touching my +forehead,--"this must be undisturbed." They both looked at each other +without speaking, and I went on; but what I said, and how I said it, +I have no means of knowing: I dashed intrepidly into the wide sea of +European politics, mixing up Mrs. D. with Mazzini, making out something +like a very strong case against her. From that I turned to Turkey +and the Danubian Provinces, and brought in Omer Pasha and the Earl of +Guzeberry; plainly showing that their mother was a wronged and injured +woman, and that Sir Somebody Dundas might be expected any moment at the +mouth of the Arno, to exact redress for her wrongs. "And now," said I, +winding up, "you know as much of the matter as I do, my dears; you view +things from the same level as myself; and so, off to bed, and we 'll +resume the consideration of the subject in the morning." I did n't wait +for more, but took my candle and departed. + +"Poor papa!" said Mary Anne, as I closed the door; "he talks quite +wildly. This sad affair has completely affected his mind." + +"He certainly _does_ talk most incoherently," said Cary; "I hope we +shall find him better in the morning." Ah! Tom, I passed a wretched +night of self-accusation and sorrow. There was nothing Mrs. D. herself +could have said to me that I did n't say. I called myself a variety +of the hardest names, and inveighed stoutly against my depravity and +treachery. The consequence was that I couldn't sleep a wink, and rose +early, to try and shake off my feverish state by a walk. + +I sallied out into the streets, and half unconsciously took the way to +the prison. It was one of those old feudal fortresses--half jail, half +palace--that the Medici were so fond of,--grim-looking, narrow-windowed, +high-battlemented buildings, that stand amidst modern edifices as a +mailed knight might stand in a group of our every-day dandies. I looked +up at its dark and sullen front with a heavy and self-reproaching heart. +"Your wife is there, Kenny Dodd," said I, "a prisoner!--treated like +a malefactor and a felon!--carried away by force, without trial or +investigation, and already sentenced--for a prisoner is under sentence +when even passingly deprived of liberty--and there you stand, powerless +and inactive! For this you quitted a land where there is at least a law, +and the appeal to it open to every one! For this you have left a +country where personal liberty can be assailed neither by tyranny nor +corruption! For this you have come hundreds of miles away from home, to +subject yourself and those belonging to you to the miserable despotism +of petty tyrants and the persecution of bigots! Why don't they print +it in large letters in every passport what one has to expect in these +journeyings? What nonsense it is to say that Kenny Dodd is to travel at +his pleasure, and that the authorities themselves are neither to give +nor 'permettre qu'il lui soit donne empechement quelconque, mais au +contraire toute aide et assistance!' Why not be frank, and say, 'Kenny +Dodd comes abroad at his own proper risk and peril, to be cheated in +Belgium, bamboozled in Holland, and blackguarded on the Rhine; with +full liberty to be robbed in Spain, imprisoned in Italy, and knouted +in Russia'? With a few such facts as these before you, you would think +twice on the Tower Stairs, and perhaps deliberate a little at Dover. +It's no use making a row because foreigners do not adopt our notions. +They have no Habeas Corpus, just as they have no London Stout,--maybe +for the same reason, too,--it would n't suit the climate. But what +brings us amongst them! There's the question. Why do we come so far away +from home to eat food that disagrees with us, and live under laws we cry +out against? Is it consistent with common-sense to run amuck through the +statutes of foreign nations just out of wilfulness? I wish my wife was +out of that den, and I wish we were all back in Dodsborough." And with +that wise reflection, uttered in all the fulness of my heart, I turned +slowly away and reached the Arno. A gentleman raised his hat politely to +me as I passed. I turned hastily, and saw it was Morris. His salute was +a cold one, and showed no inclination for nearer acquaintance; but I was +too much humiliated in my own esteem to feel pride, so I followed and +overtook him. His reception of me was so chilling, Tom, that even before +I spoke I regretted the step I had adopted. I rallied, however, and +after reminding him how on a former occasion I had been benefited by his +able intervention in my behalf, briefly told him of Mrs. D.'s arrest, +and the great embarrassment I felt as to the course to be taken. + +He thawed in a moment. All his distance was at once abandoned, and, +kindly offering me his arm, begged me to relate what had occurred. +He listened calmly, patiently,--I might almost say, coldly. He never +dropped a sentence,--not a syllable like sympathy or condolence. He +had n't as much as a word of honest indignation against the outrageous +behavior of the authorities. In fact, Tom, he took the whole thing just +as much as a matter of course as if there was nothing remarkable nor +strange in imprisoning an Englishwoman, and the mother of a family. He +made a few pencil notes in his pocket-book as to dates and such-like, +and then, looking at his watch, said,-- + +"We'll go and breakfast with Dunthorpe. You know him intimately, don't +you?" + +I had to confess I did not know him at all. + +"Oh! seeing you there last night," said he, "I thought you knew him +well, as you are only a very short time in Florence." + +I drew a long breath, Tom, and told him how I had happened to find +myself at the Minister's "rout." He smiled good-humoredly; there was +nothing offensive in it, however, and it passed off at once. + +"Sir Alexander and I are old friends," said he. "We served in the same +regiment once together, and I can venture to present you, even at this +early hour;" and with that we walked briskly on towards the Legation. + +All this while Morris--I can't call him by his new name yet--never +alluded to the family; he did n't even ask after James, and I plainly +saw that he was bent on doing a very good-natured thing, without any +desire to incur further intimacy as its consequence. + +Sir Alexander had not left his room when we arrived, but on receiving +Morris's card sent word to say he should be down in a moment, and +expected us both at breakfast. The table was spread in a handsome +library, with every possible appliance of comfort about it. There was +a brisk wood-fire blazing on the ample hearth, and a beautiful Blenheim +asleep before it. Newspapers of every country and every language lay +scattered about with illustrated journals and prints. Most voluptuous +easy-chairs and fat-cushioned sofas abounded, and it was plain to see +that the world has some rougher sides than she turns to her Majesty's +Envoys and Ministers Plenipotentiary! + +I was busy picturing to myself what sort of person the present occupant +of this post was likely to prove, when he entered. A tall, very +good-looking man, of about forty, with bushy whiskers of white hair; +his air and bearing the very type of frankness, and his voice the rich +tone of a manly speaker. He shook me cordially by the hand as Morris +introduced me, apologized for keeping us waiting, and at once seated us +at table. A sickly-looking lad, with sore eyes and a stutter, slipped +unobtrusively in after him, and he was presented to us as Lord Adolphus +de Maudley, the unpaid Attache. + +Leaving all to Morris, and rightly conjecturing that he would open the +subject we came upon at the fitting time, I attacked a grouse-pie most +vigorously, and helped myself freely to his Excellency's Bordeaux. There +were all manner of good things, and we did them ample justice, even to +the Unpaid himself, who certainly seemed to take out in prog what they +denied him in salary. + +Sir Alexander made all the running as to talk. He rattled away about +Turks and Russians,--affairs home and foreign,--the Ministry and the +Opposition,--who was to go next to some vacant embassy, and who was +to be the prima donna at the Pergola. Then came Florence gossip,--an +amusing chapter; but perhaps--as they say in the police reports--not +quite fit for publication. His Excellency had seen the girls at the +races, and complimented me on their good looks, and felicitated the city +on the accession of so much beauty. At last Morris broke ground, and +related the story of Mrs. D.'s captivity. Sir Alex--who had by this time +lighted his cigar--stood with his hands in his dressing-gown pockets, +and his back to the fire, the most calm and impassive of listeners. + +"They are so stupid, these people," said he at last, puffing his weed +between each word; "won't take the trouble to look before them--won't +examine--won't investigate--a charge. Mrs. Dodd a Catholic too?" + +"A most devout and conscientious one!" said I. + +"Great bore for the moment, no doubt; but--try a cheroot, they 're +milder--but, as I was saying, to be amply recompensed hereafter. There's +nothing they won't do in the way of civility and attention to make +amends for this outrage." + +"Meanwhile, as to her liberation?" said Morris. + +"Ah! that _is_ a puzzle. No use writing to Ministers, you know. That's +all lost time. Official correspondence--only invented to train up our +youth--like Lord Dolly, there. Must try what can be done with Bradelli." + +"And who is Bradelli, your Excellency?" + +"Bradelli is Private Secretary to the Cardinal Boncelli, at Rome." + +"But we are in Tuscany." + +"Geographically speaking, so we are. But leave it to me, Mr. Dodd. No +time shall be lost. Draw up a note, Dolly, to the Prince Cigalaroso. +You have a mem. in the Chancellerie will do very well. The English are +always in scrapes, and it is always the same: 'Mon cher Prince,--Je +regrette infiniment que mes devoirs m'imposent,' &c., &c, with a full +account of the 'facheux incident,'--that's the phrase, mind that, Dolly; +do everything necessary for the Blue Book, and in the meanwhile take +care that Mrs. D. is out of prison before the day is over." + +I was surprised to find how little Sir Alexander cared for the real +facts of the case, or the gross injustice of the entire proceeding. +In fact, he listened to my explanations on this head with as much +impatience as could consist with his unquestionable good breeding, +simply interpolating as I went on: "Ah, very true;" "Your observation is +quite correct;" "Perfectly just," and so on. "Can you dine here to-day, +Mr. Dodd?" said he, as I finished; "Penrhyn is coming, and a few other +friends." + +I had some half scruples about accepting a dinner invitation while my +wife remained a prisoner, but I thought, "After all, the Minister must +be the best judge of such a point," and accordingly said "Yes." A most +agreeable dinner it was too, Tom. A party of seven at a round table, +admirably served, and with--what I assure you is growing rather a rarity +nowadays--a sufficiency of wine. + +The Minister himself proved most agreeable; his long residence abroad +had often brought him into contact with amusing specimens of his own +countrymen, some of whose traits and stories he recounted admirably, +showing me that the Dodds are only the species of a very widely extended +and well-appreciated genus. + +I own to you that I heard, with no small degree of humiliation, how +prone we English are to demand money compensations for the wrongs +inflicted upon us by foreign governments. As the information came from a +source I cannot question, I have only to accept the fact, and deplore it. + +As a nation, we are, assuredly, neither mean nor mercenary. As +individuals, I sincerely hope and trust we can stand comparison in all +that regards liberality of purse with any people. Yet how comes it +that we have attained to an almost special notoriety for converting our +sorrows into silver, and making our personal injuries into a credit at +our banker's? I half suspect that the tone imparted to the national mind +by our Law Courts is the true reason of this, and that our actions for +damages are the damaging features of our character as a people. The man +who sees no indignity in taking the price of his dishonor, will find +little difficulty in appraising the value of an insult to his liberty. +Take my word for it, Tom, it is a very hard thing to make foreigners +respect the institutions of a country stained with this reproach, or +believe that a people can be truly high-minded and high-spirited who +have recourse to such indemnities. + +From what fell from Sir Alexander on this subject, I could plainly +perceive the embarrassment a Minister must labor under, who, while +asserting the high pretensions of a great nation, is compelled to +descend to such ignoble bargains; and I only wish that the good public +at home, as they pore over Blue Books, would take into account this very +considerable difficulty. + +As regards foreign governments themselves, it is right to bear in mind +that they rarely or never can be induced to believe the transgressions +of individuals as anything but parts of a grand and comprehensive scheme +of English interference. If John Bull smuggle a pound of tea, it is +immediately set down that England is going to alter the Custom Laws. Let +him surreptitiously steal his fowling-piece over the frontier, and we +are accused of "arming the disaffected population." A copy of a tract +is construed into a treatise on Socialism; and a "Jim-Crow" hat is the +symbol of Republican doctrines. + +I see the full absurdity of these suspicions, but I wish, for our own +comfort's sake, to take no higher ground, that we were somewhat more +circumspect in our conduct abroad. "Rule Britannia" is a very fine tune, +and nobody likes to hear it, well sung, better than myself; but this I +will say, Tom, Britons _ever_ will be slaves to their prejudices and +self-delusions, until they come to see that _their_ notions of right +and wrong are not universal, and that there is no more faulty impression +than to suppose an English standard of almost anything applicable to +people who have scarcely a thought, a feeling, or even a prejudice in +common with us. + +One might almost fancy that the travelling Englishman loved a scrape +from the pleasure it afforded him of addressing his Minister, and making +a fuss in the "Times." Just as a fellow who knew he had a cork jacket +under his waistcoat might take pleasure in falling overboard and +attracting public attention, without incurring much risk. + +While we were discussing these and such-like topics, there came a note +from James to say that Mrs. Dodd had just been liberated, and was then +safe in what is popularly called the bosom of her family. I accordingly +arose and thanked Sir Alexander most heartily for his kind and +successful interference, and though I should not have objected to +another glass or two of his admirable port, I felt it was only decent +and becoming in me to hasten home to my wife. + +As Morris had shown so much good-nature in the affair, and +had--formerly, at least--been on very friendly terms with us, I asked +him to come along with me; but he declined, with a kind of bashful +reserve that I could not comprehend; and so, half offended at his +coldness, I wished him a "good-night," and departed. + +I have now only to add that I found Mrs. D. in good health and spirits, +and, on the whole, rather pleased with the incident than otherwise. You +shall hear from me again erelong, and meanwhile believe me, + +Your ever faithful friend, + +Kenny James Dodd. + + + + +LETTER XXVII. MRS. DODD TO MRS. GALLAGHER, DODSBOROUGH + +Casa Dodd, Florence. + +My dear Molly,--So you tell me that the newspapers is full of me, and +that nothing is talked of but "the case of Mrs. Dodd" and her "cruel +incarnation in the dungeons of Tuscany." I wish they 'd keep their +sympathies to themselves, Molly, for, to tell you a secret, this same +captivity has done us the greatest service in the world. Here we are, +my darling, at the top of the tree,--going to all the balls, dining +out every day, and treated with what they call the most distinguished +consideration. And I must say, Molly, that of all the cities ever I +seen, Florence is the most to my taste. There's a way of living here,--I +can't explain how it is done, exactly; but everybody has just what he +likes of everything. I believe it 's the bankers does it,--that they +have a way of exchanging, or discounting, or whatever it is called, +that makes every one at their ease; and, indeed, my only surprise is why +everybody does n't come to live in a place with so many advantages. Even +K. I. has ceased grumbling about money matters, and for the last three +weeks we have really enjoyed ourselves. To be sure, now and then, he +mumbles about "as well to be hanged for a sheep as a lamb;" and this +morning he said that he was "too old to beg," to "dig he was ashamed." +"I hope you are," says I; "it is n't in your station in life that you +can go out as a navvy, and with your two daughters the greatest beauties +in the town." And so they are, Molly. There isn't the like of Mary Anne +in the Cascini; and though Caroline won't give herself fair play in the +way of dress, there's many thinks she 's the prettiest of the two. + +I wish you saw the Cascini, Molly, when the carriages all drive up, and +get mixed together, so that you would wonder how they 'd ever get out +again. They are full of elegantly dressed ladies; there's nothing too +fine for them, even in the morning, and there they sit, and loll +back, with all the young dandies lying about them, on the steps of +the carriages, over the splash-boards,--indeed, nearly under the +wheels,--squeezing their hands, looking into their eyes and under their +veils. Oh dear, but it seems mighty wicked till you 're used to it, and +know it 's only the way of the place, which one does remarkably soon. +The first thing strikes a stranger here, Molly, is that everybody knows +every other body most intimately. It's all "Carlo," "Luigi," "Antonio +mio," with hands clasped or arms about each other, and everlasting +kissing between the women. And then, Molly, when you see a newly arrived +English family in the midst of them, with a sulky father, a stiff +mother, three stern young ladies, and a stupid boy of sixteen, you think +them the ugliest creatures on earth, and don't rightly know whether to +be angry or laugh at them. + +Lord George says that the great advantage of the Cascini is that +you hear there "all that's going on." Faith, you do, Molly, and nice +goings-on it is! The Florentines say they 've no liberty. I 'd like to +know how much more they want, for if they haven't it by right, Molly, +they take it at all events, and with everybody too. The creatures, all +rings and chains, beards and moustaches, come up to the side of your +carriage, put up their opera-glasses, and stare at you as if you was +waxwork! Then they begin to discuss you, and almost fall out about the +color of your hair or your eyes, till one, bolder than the rest, comes +up close to you, and decides what is maybe a wager! It's all very trying +at first,--not but Mary Anne bears it beautifully, and seems never to +know that she is standing under a battery of fifty pair of eyes! + +As to James, it's all paradise. He knows all the beauties of the town +already, and I see him with his head into a brougham there, and his legs +dangling out of a phaeton here, just as if he was one of the family. You +may think, Molly, when they begin that way of a morning, what it is when +they come to the evening! If they 're all dear friends in the daylight, +it 's brothers and sisters--no, but husbands and wives--they become, +when the lamps are lighted! Whether they walk or waltz, whether they +hand you to a seat or offer you an ice, they 've an art to make it a +particular attention,--and, as it were, put you under an obligation for +it; and whether you like it or not, Molly, you are made out in their +debt, and woe to you when they discover you 're a defaulter! + +I 'm sure, without Lord George's advice, we could n't have found the +right road to the high society of this place so easily; but he told K. +I. at once what to do,--and for a wonder, Molly, he did it. Florence, +says he, is like no other capital in Europe. In all the others there is +a circle, more or less wide, of what assumes to be "the world;" there +every one is known, his rank, position, and even his fortune. Now in +Florence people mix as they do at a Swiss _table d'hote_; each talks to +his neighbor, perfectly aware that _he_ may be a blackleg, or she--if +it be a she--something worse. That society is agreeable, pleasant, and +brilliant is the best refutation to all the cant one hears about freedom +of manners, and so on. And, as Lord G. observes, it is manifestly a duty +with the proper people to mingle with the naughty ones, since it is +only in this way they can hope to reclaim them. "Take those two charming +girls of yours into the world here, Mrs. D.," said he to me the other +day; "show the folks that beauty, grace, and fascination are all +compatible with correct principles and proper notions; let them see that +you yourself, so certain of attracting admiration, are not afraid of +its incense; say to society, as it were, 'Here we are, so secure of +ourselves that we can walk unharmed through all the perils around us, +and enjoy health and vigor with the plague on every side of us.'" And +that's what we 're doing, Molly. As Lord George says, "we 're diffusing +our influence," and I 've no doubt we 'll see the results before long. + +I wish I was as sure of K. I.'s goings-on; but Betty tells me that he +constantly receives letters of a morning, and hurries out immediately +after; that he often drives away late at night in a hackney-coach, and +does n't return till nigh morning! I 'm only waiting for him to buy us a +pair of carriage-horses to be at him about this behavior; and, indeed, I +think he 's trying to push me on to it, to save him from the expense of +the horses. I must tell you, Molly, that next to having no character, +the most fashionable thing here is a handsome coach; and, indeed, +without something striking in that way, you can't hope to take society +by storm. With a phaeton and a pair of blood bays, James says, you can +drive into Prince Walleykoffsky's drawing-room; with a team of four, you +can trot them up the stairs of the Pitti Palace. + +After a coach, comes your cook; and is n't my heart broke trying them! +We've had a round of "experimental dinners," that has cost us a little +fortune, since each "chef" that came was free to do what he pleased, +without regard to the cost, and an eatable morsel never came to the +table all the while. Our present artist is Monsieur Chardron, who goes +out to market in a brougham, and buys a turkey with kid gloves on +him. He won't cook for us except on company days, but leaves us to his +"aide," as he calls him, whom K. I. likes best, for he condescends to +give us a bit of roast meat, now and then, that has really nourishment +in it. We 're now, therefore, in a state to open the campaign. We 've an +elegant apartment, a first-rate cook, a capital courier; and next week +we 're to set up a chasseur, if K. I. will only consent to be made a +Count. + +You may stare, Molly, when I tell you that he fights against it as if it +was the Court of Bankruptcy; though Lord George worked night and clay +to have it done. There never was the like of it for cheapness; a trifle +over twenty pounds clears the whole expense; and for that he would be +Count Dodd, of Fiezole, with a title to each of the children. As many +thousands would n't do that in England; and, indeed, one does n't wonder +at the general outcry of the expense of living there, when the commonest +luxuries are so costly. Mary Anne and I are determined on it, and before +the month is over your letters will be addressed to a Countess. + +In the middle of all this happiness, my dear, there is a drop of bitter, +as there always is in the cup of life, though you may do your best not +to taste it. Indeed, if it was n't for this drawback, Florence would be +a place I 'd like to live and die in. What I allude to is this: here we +are be-tween two fires, Molly,--the Morrises on one side, and Mrs. Gore +Hampton on the other,--both watching, scrutinizing, and observing us; +for, as bad luck would have it, they both settled down here for the +winter! Now, the Morrises know all the quiet, well-behaved, respectable +people, that one ought to be acquainted with just for decency's sake. +But Mrs. G. H. is in the fashionable and fast set, where all the fun is +going on; and from what I can learn them 's the very people would +suit us best. Being in neither camp, we hear nothing but the abuse and +scandal that each throws on the other; and, indeed, to do them justice, +if half of it was true, there's few of them ought to escape hanging! + +That's how we stand; and can you picture to yourself a more embarrassing +situation? for you see that many of the slow people are high in station +and of real rank, while some of the fast are just the reverse. Lord +George says, "Cut the fogies, and come amongst the fast 'uns," and talks +about making friends with the "Mammoth of unrighteousness;" and if +he means Mrs. G. H., I believe he is n't far wrong: but even if we +consented, Molly, I don't know whether she 'd make up with us; though +Lord George swears that he 'll answer for it with his head. One thing is +clear, Molly, we must choose between them, and that soon too; for it's +quite impossible to be "well with the Treasury and the Opposition also." + +K. I. affects neutrality, just to blind us to his real intentions; but +I know him well, and see plainly what he 's after. Cary fights hard for +her friends; though, to say the truth, they have n't taken the least +notice of her since they came to their fortune,--the very thing I +expected from them, Molly, for it's just the way with all upstarts! Now +you see some of the difficulties that attend even the highest successes +in life; and maybe it will make you more contented with your own +obscurity. Perhaps, before this reaches you, we'll have decided for one +or the other; for, as Lord G. says, you can't pass your life between +silly and crabbed.(1) + + 1 Does Mrs. D. mean Scylla and Charybdis?--Editor of + "Dodd Correspondence." + +There 's another thing fretting me, besides, Molly. It is what this same +Lord George means about Mary Anne; for it's now more than six months +since he grew particular; and yet there 's nothing come of it yet. I see +it's preying on the girl herself, too,--and what's to be done? I am sure +I often think of what poor old Jones McCarthy used to say about this: +"If I 'd a family of daughters," says he, "I 'd do just as I manage with +the horses when I want to sell one of them. There they are,--look at +them as long as you like in the stable, but I 'll have no taking them +out for a trial, and trotting them here, and cantering them there; and +then, a fellow coming to tell me that they have this, that, and the +other." And the more I think of it, Molly, the more I'm convinced it's +the right way; though it's too late, maybe, to help it now. + +As I mean to send you another letter soon, I 'll close this now, wishing +you all the compliments of the season, except chilblains, and remain +your true and affectionate friend, + +Jemima Dodd. + +P. S. You 'd better direct your next letter to us "Casa Dodd," for I +remark that all the English here try and get rid of the Italian names to +the houses as soon as they can. + + + + +LETTER XXVIII. JAMES DODD TO ROBERT DOOLAN, ESQ., TRINITY COLLEGE, +DUBLIN. + +Florence. + +My dear Bob,--If you only knew how difficult it is to obtain even five +minutes of quiet leisure in this same capital, you 'd at once absolve +me from all the accusations in your last letter. It is pleasure at a +railroad pace, from morning till night, and from night till morning. +Perhaps, after all, it is best there should be no time for reflection, +since it would be like one waiting on the rails for an express train to +run over him! + +I can give you no better nor speedier illustration of the kind of +life we lead here, than by saying that even the governor has felt the +fascination of the place, and goes the pace, signing checks and drawing +bills without the slightest hesitation, or any apparent sense of a +coming responsibility. He plays, too, and loses his money freely, +and altogether comports himself as if he had a most liberal income, +or--terrible alternative--not a sixpence in the world. I own to you, +Bob, that this recklessness affrights me far more than all his former +grumbling over our expensive and wasteful habits. He seems to have +adopted it, too, with a certain method that gives it all the appearance +of a plan, though I confess what possible advantage could redound from +it is utterly beyond my power of calculation. + +Meanwhile our style of living is on a scale of splendor that might well +suit the most ample fortune. Tiverton says that for a month or two this +is absolutely necessary, and that in society, as in war, it is the first +dash often decides a campaign. And really, even my own brief experience +of the world shows that one's friends, as they are conventionally +called, are far more interested in the skill of your cook than in the +merits of your own character; and that he who has a good cellar may +indulge himself in the luxury of a very bad conscience. You, of course, +suspect that I am now speaking of a class of people dubious both in +fortune and position, and who have really no right to scrutinize too +closely the characters of those with whom they associate. Quite the +reverse, Bob, I am actually alluding to our very best and most correct +English, and who would not for worlds do at home any one of the hundred +transgressions they commit abroad. For instance, we have, in this +goodly capital of debt and divorce celebrity, a certain house of almost +princely splendor; the furniture, plate, pictures, all perfection; the +cook, an artist that once pampered royal palates; in a word, everything, +from the cellar to the conservatory, a miracle of correct taste. +The owner of all this magnificence is--what think you?--a successful +swindler!--the hero of a hundred bubble speculations,--the spoliator of +some thousands of shareholders,--a fellow whose infractions have been +more than once stigmatized by public prosecution, and whose rascalities +are of European fame! You 'd say that with all these detracting +influences he was a man of consummate social tact, refined manners, and +at least possessing the outward signs of good breeding. Wrong again, +Bob. He is coarse, uneducated, and vulgar; he never picked up any +semblance of the class from whom he peculated; and has lived on, as he +began, a "low comedy villain," and no more. Well, what think you, when +I tell you that is "_the_ house," _par excellence_, where all strangers +strive to be introduced,--that to be on the dinner-list here is a +distinction, and that even a visitor enjoys an envied fortune,--and that +at the very moment I write, the Dodd family are in earnest and active +negotiation to attain to this inestimable privilege? Now, Bob, there's +no denying that there must be something rotten, and to the core too, +where such a condition of things prevails. If this man fed the hungry +and sheltered the houseless, who had no alternative but his table or no +food, the thing requires no explanation; or if his hospitalities were +partaken of by that large floating class who in every city are to be +found, with tastes disproportionate to their fortunes, and who will +at any time postpone their principles to their palates, even then the +matter is not of difficult solution; but what think you that his company +includes some of the very highest names of our stately nobility, and +that the titles that resound through his _salon_ are amongst the most +honored of our haughty aristocracy! These people assuredly stand in no +want of a dinner. They are comfortably lodged, and at least reasonably +well fed at the "Italie" or the "Grande Bretagne." Why should they stoop +to such companionship? Who can explain this, Bob? Assuredly, I am not +the AEdipus! + +I am nothing surprised that people like ourselves, for instance, seek +to enjoy even this passing splendor, and find themselves at a princely +board, served with a more than royal costliness. One of these grand +dinners is like a page of the Arabian Nights to a man of ordinary +condition; but surely his Grace the Duke, or the most Noble the Marquis +has no such illusions. With _him_ it is only a question whether the +Madeira over-flavored the soup, or that the ortolans might possibly have +been fatter. _He_ dines pretty much in the same fashion every day during +the London season, and a great part of the rest of the year afterwards. +Why then should he descend to any compromise to accept Count +"Dragonards's" hospitality? for I must tell you that "Dives" is a Count, +and has orders from the Pope and the Queen of Spain. + +With the explanation, as I have said, I have nothing to do. It is beyond +and above me. For the fact alone I am guarantee; and here comes Tiverton +in a transport of triumph to say that "Heaven is won," or, in humbler +phrase, "Monsieur le Comte de Dragonards prie Phonneur," &c, and that +Dodd _pere_ and Dodd _mere_ are requested to dine with him on Tuesday, +the younger Dodds to assist at a reception in the evening. + +Tiverton assures me that by accepting with a good grace the humbler part +of a "refresher," I am certain of promotion afterwards to a higher range +of character; and in this hope I live for the present. + +It is likely I shall not despatch this without being able to tell you +more of this great man's house; meanwhile--"majora cantamus"--I am in +love, Bob! If I did n't dash into the confession at once, as one +springs into the sea of a chilly morning, I'd even put on the clothes of +secrecy, and walk off unconfessed. She is lovely, beyond anything I can +give you an idea of,--pale as marble; but such a flesh tint! a sunset +sleeping upon snow, and with lids fringed over a third of her cheek. +You know the tender, languid, longing look that vanquishes me,--that's +exactly what she has! A glance of timid surprise, like an affrighted +fawn, and then a downcast consciousness,--a kind of self-reproaching +sense of her own loveliness,--a sort of a--what the devil kind of +enchantment and witchery, Bob? that makes a man feel it's all no use +struggling and fighting,--that his doom is _there!_ that the influence +which is to rule his destiny is before him, and that, turn him which way +he will, his heart has but one road--and _will_ take it! + +She was in Box 19, over the orchestra! I caught a glimpse of her +shoulder--only her shoulder--at first, as she sat with her face to the +stage, and a huge screen shaded her from the garish light of the lustre. +How I watched the graceful bend of her neck each time she saluted--I +suppose it was a salutation--some new visitor who entered! The drooping +leaves and flowers of her hair trembled with a gentle motion, as if to +the music of her soft voice. I thought I could hear the very accents +echoing within my heart! But oh! my ecstasy when her hand stole forth +and hung listlessly over the cushion of the box! True it was gloved, +yet still you could mark its symmetry, and, in fancy, picture the +rosy-tipped fingers in all their graceful beauty. + +Night after night I saw her thus; yet never more than I have told you. +I made superhuman efforts to obtain the box directly in front; but it +belonged to a Russian princess, and was therefore inaccessible. I bribed +the bassoon and seduced the oboe in the orchestra; but nothing was to +be seen from their inferno of discordant tunings. I made love to a +ballet-dancer, to secure the _entree_ behind the scenes; and on the +night of my success _she_--my adored one--had changed her place with a +friend, and sat with her back to the stage. The adverse fates had taken +a spite against me, Bob, and I saw that my passion must prove unhappy! + +Somehow it is in love as in hunting, you are never really in earnest +so long as the country is open and the fences easy; but once that the +ditches are "yawners," and the walls "raspers," you sit down to your +work with a resolute heart and a steady eye, determined, at any cost and +at any peril, to be in at the death. Would that the penalties were alike +also! How gladly would I barter a fractured rib or a smashed collar-bone +for the wrecked and cast-away spirit of my lost and broken heart! + +If I suffer myself to expand upon my feelings, there will be no end +of this, Bob. I already have a kind of consciousness that I could fill +three hundred and fifty folio volumes, like "Hansard's," in subtle +description and discrimination of sensations that were not exactly +"_this_," but were very like "_that_;" and of impressions, hopes, +fancies, fears, and visions, a thousand times more real than all +the actual events of my _bona fide_ existence. And, after all, what +balderdash it is to compare the little meaningless incidents of our +lives with the soul-stirring passions that rage within us! the thoughts +that, so to say, form the very fuel of our natures! These are, indeed, +the realities; and what we are in the habit of calling such are the +mere mockeries and semblances of fact! I can honestly aver that I +suffered--in the true sense of the word--more intense agony from the +conflict of my distracted feelings than I ever did when lying under the +pangs of a compound fracture; and I may add of a species of pain not to +be alleviated by anodynes and soothed by hot flannels. + +To be brief, Bob, I felt that, though I had often caught slight attacks +of the malady, at length I had contracted it in its deadliest form,--a +regular "blue case," as they say, with bad symptoms from the start. Has +it ever struck you that a man may go through every stage of a love fever +without even so much as speaking to the object of his affections? I can +assure you that the thing is true, and I myself suffered nightly every +vacillating sense of hope, fear, ecstasy, despair, joy, jealousy, and +frantic delight, just by following out the suggestions of my own fancy, +and exalting into importance the veriest trifles of the hour. + +With what gloomy despondence did I turn homeward of an evening, when +she sat back in the box, and perhaps nothing of her but her bouquet was +visible for a whole night!--with what transports have I carried away +the memory of her profile, seen but for a second! Then the agonies of +my jealousy, as I saw her listening, with pleased attention, to some +essenced puppy--I could swear it was such--who lounged into her box +before the ballet! But at last came the climax of my joy, when I saw +her "lorgnette" directed towards me, as I stood in the pit, and actually +felt her eyes on me! I can imagine some old astronomer's ecstasy, as, +gazing for hours on the sky of night, the star that he has watched and +waited for has suddenly shone through the glass of his telescope, and +lit up his very heart within him with its radiance. I 'd back myself to +have experienced a still more thrilling sense of happiness as the beams +of her bright eyes descended on me. + +At first, Bob, I thought that the glances might have been meant for +another. I turned and looked around me, ready to fasten a deadly quarrel +upon him, whom I should have regarded at once as my greatest enemy. But +the company amidst which I stood soon reassured me. A few snuffy-looking +old counts, with brown wigs and unshaven chins,--a stray Government +clerk with a pinchbeck chain and a weak moustache, couldn't be my +rivals. I looked again, but she had turned away her bead; and save that +the "lorgnette" still rested within her fingers, I'd have thought the +whole a vision. + +Three nights after this the same thing occurred. I had taken care to +resume the very same place each evening, to wear the same dress, to +stand in the very same attitude,--a very touching "pose," which I had +practised before the glass. I had not been more than two hours at my +post, when she turned abruptly round and stared full at me. There could +be no mistake, no misconception whatever; for, as if to confirm my +wavering doubts, her friend took the glass from her, and looked full and +long at me. You may imagine, Bob, somewhat of the preoccupation of my +faculties when I tell you that I never so much as recognized her friend. +I had thoughts, eyes, ears, and senses for one,--and one only. Judge, +then, my astonishment when she saluted me, giving that little gesture +with the hand your Florentines are such adepts in,--a species of +salutation so full of most expressive meaning. + +Short of a crow-quilled billet, neatly endorsed with her name, nothing +could have spoken more plainly. It said, in a few words, "Come up here, +Jim, we shall be delighted to see you." I accepted the augury, Bob, +as we used to say in Virgil, and in less than a minute had forced my +passage through the dense crowd of the pit, and was mounting the box +stairs, five steps at a spring. "Whose box is No. 19?" said I to an +official. "Madame de Goranton," was the reply. Awkward this; never had +heard the name before; sounded like French; might be Swiss; possibly +Belgian. + +No time for debating the point, tapped and entered,--several persons +within barring up the passage to the front,--suddenly heard a well-known +voice, which accosted me most cordially, and, to my intense surprise, +saw before me Mrs. Gore Hampton! You know already all about her, Bob, +and I need not recapitulate. + +"I fancied you were going to pass your life in distant adoration yonder, +Mr. Dodd," said she, laughingly, while she tendered her hand for me to +kiss. "Adeline, dearest, let me present to you my friend Mr. Dodd." A +very cold--an icy recognition was the reply to this speech; and Adeline +opened her fan, and said something behind it to an elderly dandy beside +her, who laughed, and said, "Parfaitement, ma foi!" + +Registering a secret vow to be the death of the antiquated tiger +aforesaid, I entered into conversation with Mrs. G. H., who, +notwithstanding some unpleasant passages between our families, expressed +unqualified delight at the thought of meeting us all once more; inquired +after my mother most affectionately; and asked if the girls were looking +well, and whether they rode and danced as beautifully as ever. She made, +between times, little efforts to draw her friend into conversation by +some allusion to Mary Anne's grace or Cary's accomplishments; but all +in vain. Adeline only met the advances with a cold stare, or a little +half-smile of most sneering expression. It was not that she was distant +and reserved towards me. No, Bob; her manner was downright contemptuous; +it was insulting; and yet such was the fascination her beauty had +acquired over me that I could have knelt at her feet in adoration of +her. I have no doubt that she saw this. I soon perceived that Mrs. Gore +Hampton did. There is a wicked consciousness in a woman's look as she +sees a man "hooked," there's no mistaking. Her eyes expressed this +sentiment now; and, indeed, she did not try to hide it. + +She invited me to come home and sup with them. She half tried to make +Adeline say a word or two in support of the invitation; but no, she +would not even hear it; and when I accepted, she half peevishly declared +she had got a bad headache, and would go to bed after the play. I +tell you these trivial circumstances, Bob, just that you may fancy how +irretrievably lost I was when such palpable signs of dislike could not +discourage me. I felt this all--and acutely too; but somehow with no +sense of defeat, but a stubborn, resolute determination to conquer them. + +I went back to sup with Mrs. G. H., and Adeline kept her word and +retired. There were a few men--foreigners of distinction--but I sat +beside the hostess, and heard nothing but praises of that "dear angel." +These eulogies were mixed up with a certain tender pity that puzzled me +sadly, since they always left the impression that either the angel had +done something herself, or some one else had done it towards her, that +called for all the most compassionate sentiments of the human heart. +As to any chance of her history--who she was, whence she came, and so +on--it was quite out of the question; you might as well hope for the +private life of some aerial spirit that descends in the midst of canvas +clouds in a ballet. She was there--to be worshipped, wondered at, and +admired, but not to be catechised. + +I left Mrs. H.'s house at three in the morning,--a sadder but scarcely a +wiser man. She charged me most solemnly not to mention to any one where +I had been,--a precaution possibly suggested by the fact that I had lost +sixty Napoleons at lansquenet,--a game at which I left herself and her +friends deeply occupied when I came away. I was burning with impatience +for Tiverton to come back to Florence. He had gone down to the Maremma +to shoot snipe. For, although I was precluded by my promise from +divulging about the supper, I bethought me of a clever stratagem by +which I could obtain all the counsel and guidance without any breach +of faith, and this was, to take him with me some evening to the pit, +station him opposite to No. 19, and ask all about its occupants; he +knows everybody everywhere, so that I should have the whole history of +my unknown charmer on the easiest of all terms. + +From that day and that hour, I became a changed creature. The gay +follies of my fashionable friends gave me no pleasure. I detested balls. +I abhorred theatres. _She_ ceased to frequent the opera. In fact, I +gave the most unequivocal proof of my devotion to one by a most sweeping +detestation of all the rest of mankind. Amidst my other disasters, I +could not remember where Mrs. Gore Hampton lived. We had driven to her +house after the theatre; it was a long way off, and seemed to take a +very circuitous course to reach, but in what direction I had not the +very vaguest notion of. The name of it, too, had escaped me, though she +repeated it over several times when I was taking my leave of her. Of +course, my omitting to call and pay my respects would subject me to +every possible construction of rudeness and incivility, and here was, +therefore, another source of irritation and annoyance to me. + +My misanthropy grew fiercer. I had passed through the sad stage, and +now entered upon the combative period of the disease. I felt an intense +longing to have a quarrel with somebody. I frequented _cafe's_, +and walked the streets in a battle, murder, and sudden-death +humor,--frowning at this man, scowling at that. But, have you never +remarked, the caprice of Fortune is in this as in all other things? Be +indifferent at play, and you are sure to win; show yourself regardless +of a woman, and you are certain to hear she wants to make your +acquaintance. Go out of a morning in a mood of universal love and +philanthropy, and I'll take the odds that you have a duel on your hands +before evening. + +There was one man in Florence whom I especially desired to fix a quarrel +upon,--this was Morris, or, as he was now called, Sir Morris Penrhyn. A +fellow who unquestionably ought to have had very different claims on +my regard, but who now, in this perversion of my feelings, struck me as +exactly the man to shoot or be shot by. Don't you know that sensation, +Bob, in which a man feels that he must select a particular person, quite +apart from any misfortune he is suffering under, and make _him_ pay +its penalty? It is a species of antipathy that defies all reason, +and, indeed, your attempt to argue yourself out of it only serves to +strengthen and confirm its hold on you. + +Morris and I had ceased to speak when we met; we merely saluted coldly, +and with that rigid observance of a courtesy that makes the very easiest +prelude to a row, each party standing ready prepared to say "check" +whenever the other should chance to make a wrong move. Perhaps I am +not justified in saying so much of _him_, but I know that I do not +exaggerate my own intentions. I fancied--what will a man not fancy in +one of these eccentric stages of his existence?--that Morris saw my +purpose, and evaded me. I argued myself into the notion that he was +deficient in personal courage, and constructed upon this idea a whole +edifice of absurdity. + +I am ashamed, even before you, to acknowledge the extent to which my +stupid infatuation blinded me; perhaps the best penalty to pay for it is +an open confession. + +I overtook our valet one morning with a letter in my governor's hand +addressed to Sir Morris Penrhyn, and on inquiring, discovered that +he and my father had been in close correspondence for the three days +previous. At once I jumped to the conclusion that I was, somehow or +other, the subject of these epistles, and in a fit of angry indignation +I drove off to Morris's hotel. + +When a man gets himself into a thorough passion on account of some +supposed injury, which even to himself he is unable to define, his state +is far from enviable. When I reached the hotel, I was in the hot stage +of my anger, and could scarcely brook the delay of sending in my card. +The answer was, "Sir Morris did not receive." I asked for pen and ink to +write a note, and scribbled something most indiscreet and offensive. I +am glad to say that I cannot now remember a line of it. The reply came +that my "note should be attended to," and with this information I issued +forth into the street half wild with rage. + +I felt that I had given a deadly provocation, and must now look out for +some "friend" to see me through the affair. Tiverton was absent, and +amongst all my acquaintances I could not pitch upon one to whose keeping +I liked to entrust my honor. I turned into several _cafes_, I strolled +into the club, I drove down to the Cascini, but in vain; and at last was +walking homeward, when I caught sight of a friendly face from the window +of a travelling-carriage that drove rapidly by, and, hurrying after, +just came up as it stopped at the door of the Hotel d'Italie. + +You may guess my astonishment as I felt my hand grasped cordially by no +other than our old neighbor at Bruff, Dr. Belton, the physician of our +county dispensary. Five minutes explained his presence there. He had +gone out to Constantinople as the doctor to our Embassy, and by some +piece of good luck and his own deservings to boot, had risen to the post +of Private Secretary to the Ambassador, and was selected by him to carry +home some very important despatches, to the rightful consideration of +which his own presence at the Foreign Office was deemed essential. + +Great as was the difference between, his former and his present station, +it was insignificant in comparison with the change worked in himself. +The country doctor, of diffident manners and retiring habits, grateful +for the small civilities of small patrons, cautiously veiling his +conscious superiority under an affected ignorance, was now become a +consummate man of the world,--calm, easy, and self-possessed. His very +appearance had undergone an alteration, and he held himself more erect, +and looked not only handsomer but taller. These were the first things +that struck me; but as we conversed together, I found him the same +hearty, generous fellow I had ever known him, neither elated by his good +fortune, nor, what is just as common a fault, contemptuously pretending +that it was only one-half of his deserts. + +One thing alone puzzled me, it was that he evinced no desire to come and +see our family, who had been uniformly kind and good-natured to him; in +fact, when I proposed it, he seemed so awkward and embarrassed that I +never pressed my invitation, but changed the topic. I knew that there +bad been, once on a time, some passages between my sister Mary Anne +and him, and therefore supposed that possibly there might have been +something or other that rendered a meeting embarrassing. At all events, +I accepted his half-apology on the ground of great fatigue, and agreed +to dine with him. + +What a pleasant dinner it was! He related to me all the story of his +life, not an eventful one as regarded incident, but full of those traits +which make up interest for an individual. You felt as you listened that +it was a thoroughly good fellow was talking to you, and that if he were +not to prove successful in life, it was just because his were the very +qualities rogues trade on for their own benefit. There was, moreover, a +manly sense of independence about him, a consciousness of self-reliance +that never approached conceit, but served to nerve his courage and +support his spirit, which gave him an almost heroism in my eyes, and I +own, too, suggested a most humiliating comparison with my own nature. + +I opened my heart freely to him about everything, and in particular +about Morris; and although I saw plainly enough that he took very +opposite views to mine about the whole matter, he agreed to stop in +Florence for a day, and act as my friend in the transaction. This being +so far arranged, I started for Carrara, which, being beyond the Tuscan +frontier, admits of our meeting without any risk of interruption,--for +that it must come to such I am fully determined on. The fact is, Bob, my +note is a "stunner," and, as I won't retract, Morris has no alternative +but to come out. + +I have now given you--at full length too--the whole history, up to the +catastrophe,--which perhaps may have to be supplied by another hand. +I am here, in this little capital of artists and quarry men, patiently +waiting for Bel-ton's arrival, or at least some despatch, which may +direct my future movements. It has been a comfort to me to have the +task of this recital, since, for the time at least, it takes me out of +brooding and gloomy thoughts; and though I feel that I have made out a +poor case for myself, I know that I am pleading to a friendly Court and +a merciful Chief Justice. + +They say that in the few seconds of a drowning agony a man calls up +every incident of his life,--from infancy to the last moment,--that a +whole panorama of his existence is unrolled before him, and that he sees +himself--child, boy, youth, and man--vividly and palpably; that all his +faults, his short-comings, and his transgressions stand out in strong +colors before him, and his character is revealed to him like an +inscription. I am half persuaded this may be true, judging from what I +have myself experienced within these few hours of solitude here. Shame, +sorrow, and regret are ever present with me. I feel utterly disgraced +before the bar of my own conscience. Even of the advantages which +foreign travel might have conferred, how few have fallen to my +share!--in modern languages I have scarcely made any progress, with +respect to works of art I am deplorably ignorant, while in everything +that concerns the laws and the modes of government of any foreign State +I have to confess myself totally uninformed. To be sure, I have acquired +some insight into the rogueries of "Rouge-et-Noir," I can slang a +courier, and even curse a waiter; but I have some misgivings whether +these be gifts either to promote a man's fortune or form his character. +In fact, I begin to feel that engrafting Continental slang upon home +"snobbery" is a very unrewarding process, and I sorely fear that I have +done very little more than this. + +I am in a mood to make a clean breast of it, and perhaps say more than +I should altogether like to remember hereafter, so will conclude for +the present, and with my most sincere affection write myself, as ever, +yours, + +Jim Dodd. + +P. S. It is not impossible that you may have a few lines from me by +to-morrow or next day,--at least, if I have anything worth the telling +and am "to the fore" to tell it. + + + + +LETTER XXIX. MARY ANNE DODD TO MISS DOOLAN, OF BALLYDOOLAN + +Casa Dodd, Florence. + +Dearest Kitty,--Seventeen long and closely written pages to you--the +warm out-gushings of my heart--have I just consigned to the flames. +They contained the journal of my life in Florence,--all my thoughts and +hopes, my terrors, my anxieties, and my day-dreams. Why, then, will you +say, have they met this fate? I will tell you, Kitty. Of the feelings +there recorded, of the emotions depicted, of the very events themselves, +nothing--absolutely nothing--now remains; and my poor, distracted, +forlorn heart no more resembles the buoyant spirit of yesterday than the +blackened embers before me are like the carefully inscribed pages I had +once destined for your hand. Pity me, dearest Kitty,--pour out every +compassionate thought of your kindred heart, and let me feel that, as +the wind sweeps over the snowy Apennines, it bears the tender sighs of +your affection to one who lives but to be loved! But a week ago, and +what a world was opening before me,--a world brilliant in all that makes +life a triumph! We were launched upon the sunny sea of high society, +our "argosy" a noble and stately ship; and now, Kitty, we lie stranded, +shattered, and shipwrecked. + +Do not expect from me any detailed account of our disasters. I am +unequal to the task. It is not at the moment of being cast away that the +mariner can recount the story of his wreck. Enough if these few lines be +like the chance words which, enclosed in a bottle, are committed to the +waves, to tell at some distant date and in some far-away land the tale +of impending ruin. + +It is in vain I try to collect my thoughts: feelings too acute to be +controlled burst in upon me at each moment and my sobs convulse me as I +write. These lines must therefore bear the impress of the emotions that +dictate them, and be broken, abrupt, mayhap incoherent! + +He is false, Kitty!--false to the heart that he had won, and the +affections where he sat enthroned! Yes, by the blackest treason has he +requited my loyalty and rewarded my devotion. If ever there was a pure +and holy love, it was mine. It was not the offspring of self-interest, +for I knew that he was married; nor was I buoyed up by dreams of +ambition, for I always knew the great difficulty of obtaining a +divorce. But I loved him, as the classic maiden wept,--because it was +inconsolable! It is not in my heart to deny the qualities of his gifted +nature. No, Kitty, not even now can I depreciate them. How accomplished +as a linguist!--how beautifully he drove!--how exquisitely he +danced!--what perfection was his dress!--how fascinating his manners! +There was--so to say--an idiosyncrasy--an idealism about him; +his watchguard was unlike any other,--the very perfume of his +pocket-handkerchief was the invention of his own genius. + +And then, the soft flattery of his attentions before the world, bestowed +with a delicacy that only high breeding ever understands. What wonder +if my imagination followed where my heart had gone before, and if the +visions of a future blended with the ecstasies of the present! + +I cannot bring myself to speak of his treachery. No, Kitty, it would be +to arraign myself were I to do so. My heartstrings are breaking, as +I ask myself, "Is this, then, the love that I inspired? Are these the +proofs of a devotion I fondly fancied eternal?" No more can I speak of +our last meeting, the agony of which must endure while life remains. +When he left me, I almost dreaded that in his despair he might be driven +to suicide. He fled from the house,--it was past midnight,--and never +appeared the whole of the following day; another and another passed +over,--my terrors increased, my fears rose to madness. I could restrain +myself no longer, and hurried away to confide my agonizing sorrows to +James's ear. It was early, and he was still sleeping. As I stole across +the silent room, I saw an open note upon the table,--I knew the hand and +seized it at once. There were but four lines, and they ran thus:-- + + "Dear Jim,--The birds are wild and not very plenty; but + there is some capital boar-shooting, and hares in abundance. + + "They tell me Lady George is in Florence; pray see her, and + let me know how she 's looking. + + "Ever yours, + + "George Tiverton. + + "MAREMMA." + +I tottered to a seat, Kitty, and burst into tears. Yours are now falling +for me,--I feel it,--I know it, dearest I can write no more. + +I am better now, dearest Kitty. My heart is stilled, its agonies are +calmed, but my blanched cheek, my sunken eye, my bloodless lip, my +trembling hand, all speak my sorrows, though my tongue shall utter +them no more. Never again shall that name escape me, and I charge your +friendship never to whisper it to my ears. + +From myself and my own fortunes I turn away as from a theme barren and +profitless. Of Mary Anne--the lost, the forlorn, and the broken-hearted, +you shall hear no more. + +On Friday last--was it Friday?--I really forget days and dates and +everything--James, who has latterly become totally changed in temper +and appearance, contrived to fix a quarrel of some kind or other on Sir +Morris Penrhyn. The circumstance was so far the more unfortunate, since +Sir M. had shown himself most kind and energetic about mamma's release, +and mainly, I believe, contributed to that result. In the dark obscurity +that involves the whole affair, we have failed to discover with whom the +offence originated, or what it really was. We only know that James wrote +a most indiscreet and intemperate note to Sir Morris, and then hastened +away to appoint a friend to receive his message. By the merest accident +he detected, in a passing travelling-carriage, a well-known face, +followed it, and discovered--whom, think you?--but our former friend and +neighbor, Dr. Belton. + +He was on his way to England with despatches from Constantinople; +but, fortunately for James, received a telegraphic message to wait at +Florence for more recent news from Vienna before proceeding farther. +James at once induced him to act for him; and firmly persuaded that +a meeting must ensue, set out himself for the Modense frontier beyond +Lucca. + +I have already said that we know nothing of the grounds of quarrel; we +probably never shall; but whatever they were, the tact and delicacy of +Dr. B., aided by the unvarying good sense and good temper of Sir Morris, +succeeded in overcoming them; and this morning both these gentlemen +drove here in a carriage, and had a long interview with papa. The room +in which he received them adjoined my own, and though for a long time +the conversation was maintained in the dull, monotonous tone of ordinary +speakers, at last I heard hearty laughter, in which papa's voice was +eminently conspicuous. + +With a heart relieved of a heavy load, I dressed, and went into the +drawing-room. I wore a very becoming dark blue silk, with three deep +flounces, and as many falls of Valenciennes lace on my sleeves. My hair +was "a l'Imperatrice," and altogether, Kitty, I felt I was looking my +very best; not the less, perhaps, that a certain degree of expectation +had given me a faint color, and imparted a heightened animation to my +features. I was alone, too, and seated in a large, low arm-chair, one of +those charming inventions of modern skill, whose excellence is to unite +grace with comfort, and make ease itself subsidiary to elegance. + +I could see in the glass at one side of me that my attitude was well +chosen, and even to my instep upon the little stool the effect was good. +Shall I own to you, Kitty, that I was bent on astonishing this poor +native doctor with a change a year of foreign travel had wrought in me? +I actually longed to enjoy the amazed look with which he would survey +me, and mark the deferential humility struggling with the remembrance +of former intimacy. A hundred strange fancies shot through me,--shall +I fascinate him by mere externals, or shall I condescend to captivate? +Shall I delight him by memories of home and of long ago, or shall +I shock him by the little levities of foreign manner? Shall I be +brilliant, witty, and amusing, or shall I show myself gentle and +subdued, or shall I dash my manner with a faint tinge of eccentricity, +just enough to awaken interest by exciting anxiety? + +I was almost ashamed to think of such an amount of preparation against +so weak an adversary. It seemed ungenerous and even unfair, when +suddenly I heard a carriage drive away from the door. I could have cried +with vexation, but at the same instant heard papa's voice on the +stairs, saying, "If you 'll step into the drawing-room, I 'll join you +presently;" and Dr. Belton entered. + +[Illustration: 286] + +I expected, if not humility, dearest, at least deference, mingled with +intense astonishment and, perhaps, admiration. Will you believe me when +I tell you that he was just as composed, as easy and unconstrained as +if it was my sister Cary! The very utmost I could do was to restrain +my angry sense of indignation; I'm not, indeed, quite certain that I +succeeded in this, for I thought I detected at one moment a half-smile +upon his features at a sally of more than ordinary smartness which I +uttered. + +I cannot express to you how much he is disimproved, not in appearance, +for I own that he is remarkably good-looking, and, strange to say, has +even the air and bearing of fashion about him. It is his manners, Kitty, +his insufferable ease and self-sufficiency, that I allude to. He talked +away about the world and society, about great people and their habits, +as if they were amongst his earliest associations. He was not astonished +at anything; and, stranger than all, showed not the slightest desire to +base his present acquaintance upon our former intimacy. + +I told him I detested Ireland, and hoped never to go back there. He +coldly remarked that with such feelings it were probably wiser to live +abroad. I sneered at the vulgar tone of the untravelled English; and +his impertinent remark was an allusion to the demerits of badly imitated +manners and ill-copied attractions. I grew enthusiastic about art, +praised pictures and statues, and got eloquent about music. Fancy his +cool insolence, in telling me that he was too uninformed to enter upon +these themes, and only knew when he was pleased, but without being able +to say why. In fact, Kitty, a more insufferable mass of conceit and +presumption I never encountered, nor could I have believed that a +few months of foreign travel could have converted a simple-hearted, +unaffected young man into a vain, self-opinionated coxcomb,--too +offensive to waste words on, and for whom I have really to apologize in +thus obtruding on your notice. + +It was an unspeakable relief to me when papa joined us. A very little +more would have exhausted my patience; and in my heart I believe the +puppy saw as much, and enjoyed it as a triumph. Worse again, too, papa +complimented him upon the change a knowledge of the world had effected +in him, and even asked me to concur in the commendation. I need not say +that I replied to this address by a sneer not to be misunderstood, and I +trust he felt it. + +He is to dine here to-day. He declined the invitation at first, but +suffered himself to be persuaded into a cold acceptance afterwards. He +had to go to Lord Stanthorpe's in the evening. I expected to hear him +say "Stanthorpe's;" but he did n't, and it vexed me. I have not been +peculiarly courteous nor amiable to him this morning, but I hope he will +find me even less so at dinner. I only wish that a certain person +was here, and I would show, by the preference of my manner, how I can +converse with, and how treat those whom I really recognize as my equals. +I must now hurry away to prepare Cary for what she is to expect, and, +if possible, instil into her mind some share of the prejudices which now +torture my own. + +Saturday Morning. + +Everything considered, Kitty, our dinner of yesterday passed off +pleasantly,--a thousand times better than I expected. Sir Morris Penrhyn +was of the party too; and notwithstanding certain awkward passages that +had once occurred between mamma and him, comported himself agreeably and +well. I concluded that papa was able to make some explanations that must +have satisfied him, for he appeared to renew his attentions to Cary; +at least, he bestowed upon her some arctic civilities, whose frigid +deference chills me even in memory. + +You will be curious to hear how Mr. B. (he appears to have dropped +the Doctor) appeared on further intimacy; and, really, I am forced to +confess that he rather overcame some of the unfavorable impressions his +morning visit had left. He has evidently taken pains to profit by the +opportunities afforded to him, and seen and learned whatever lay within +his reach. He is a very respectable linguist, and not by any means so +presumptuous as I at first supposed. I fancy, dearest, that somehow, +unconsciously perhaps, we have been sparring with each other this +morning, and that thus many of the opinions he appeared to profess were +simply elicited by the spirit of contradiction. I say this, because +I now find that we agree on a vast variety of topics, and even our +judgments of people are not so much at variance as I could have +imagined. + +Of course, Kitty, the sphere of his knowledge of the world is a very +limited one, and even what he _has_ seen has always been in the capacity +of a subordinate. He has not viewed life from the eminence of one who +shall be nameless, nor mixed in society with a rank that confers its +prescriptive title to attention. I could wish he were more aware--more +conscious of this fact I mean, dearest, that I should like to see him +more penetrated by his humble position, whereas his manner has an easy, +calm unconstraint, that is exactly the opposite of what I imply. I +cannot exactly, perhaps, convey the impression upon my own mind, but +you may approximate to it, when I tell you that he vouchsafes neither +surprise nor astonishment at the class of people with whom we now +associate; nor does he appear to recognize in them anything more exalted +than our old neighbors at Bruff. + +Mamma gave him some rather sharp lessons on this score, which it is only +fair to say that he bore with perfect good breeding. Upon the whole, he +is really what would be called very agreeable, and, unquestionably, very +good-looking. I sang for him two things out of Verdi's last opera of the +"Trovatore;" but I soon discovered that music was one of the tastes he +had not cultivated, nor did he evince any knowledge whatever when the +conversation turned on dress. In fact, dearest, it is only your really +fashionable man ever attains to a nice appreciation of this theme, or +has a true sentiment for the poetry of costume. + +Sir Morris and he seemed to have fallen into a sudden friendship, and +found that they agreed precisely in their opinion about Etruscan +vases, frescos, and pre-Raphaelite art,--subjects which, I own, general +good-breeding usually excludes from discussion where there are pretty +girls to talk to. Cary, of course, was in ecstasies with all this; she +thought--or fancied she thought--Morris most agreeable, whereas it was +really the other man that "made all the running." + +James arrived while we were at supper, and, the first little awkwardness +of the meeting over, became excellent friends with Morris. With all his +cold, unattractive qualities, I am sure that Morris is a very amiable +and worthy person; and if Cary likes him, I see no reason in life to +refuse such an excellent offer,--always provided that it be made. But of +this, Kitty, I must be permitted to doubt, since he informed us that he +was daily expecting his yacht out from England, and was about to sail +on a voyage which might possibly occupy upwards of two years. He pressed +Mr. B. strongly to accompany him, assuring him that he now possessed +influence sufficient to reinstate him in his career at his return. I 'm +not quite certain that the proposal, when more formally renewed, will +not be accepted. + +I must tell you that I overheard Morris say, in a whisper to Belton, "I +'m sure if you ask her, Lady Louisa will give you leave." Can it be that +the doctor has dared to aspire to a Lady Louisa? I almost fancy it may +be so, dearest, and that this presumption is the true explanation of all +his cool self-sufficiency. I only want to be certain of this to hate him +thoroughly. + +Just before they took their leave a most awkward incident occurred. Mr. +B., in answer to some question from Morris, took out his tablets to look +over his engagements for the next day: "Ah! by the way," said he, "that +must not be forgotten. There is a certain scampish relative of Lord +Dare-wood, for whom I have been entrusted with a somewhat disagreeable +commission. This hopeful young gentleman has at last discovered that +his wits, when exercised within legal limits, will not support him, and +though he has contrived to palm himself off as a man of fashion on +some second-rate folks who know no better, his skill at _ecarte_ and +lansquenet fails to meet his requirements. He has, accordingly, taken a +higher flight, and actually committed a forgery. The Earl whose name +was counterfeited has paid the bill, but charged me with the task of +acquainting his nephew with his knowledge of the fraud, and as frankly +assuring him that, if the offence be repeated, he shall pay its penalty. +I assure you I wish the duty had devolved upon any other, though, from +all I have heard, anything like feelings of respect or compassion would +be utterly thrown away if bestowed on such an object as Lord George +Tiverton." + +Oh, Kitty, the last words were not needed to make the cup of my anguish +run over. At every syllable he uttered, the conviction of what was +coming grew stronger; and though I maintained consciousness to the end, +it was by a struggle that almost convulsed me. + +As for mamma, she flew out in a violent passion, called Lord Darewood +some very hard names, and did not spare his emissary; fortunately, her +feelings so far overcame her that she became totally unintelligible, and +was carried away to her room in hysterics. As I was obliged to follow +her, I was unable to hear more. But to what end should I desire it? Is +not this last disappointment more than enough to discourage all hope +and trustfulness forever? Shall my heart ever open again to a sense of +confidence in any? + +When I sat down to write, I had firmly resolved not to reveal this +disgraceful event to you; but somehow, Kitty, in the overflowing of a +heart that has no recesses against you, it has come forth, and I leave +it so. + +James came to my room later on, and told me such dreadful stories--he +had heard them from Morris--of Lord G. that I really felt my brain +turning as I listened to him; that the separation from his wife was all +a pretence,--part of a plot arranged between them; that she, under the +semblance of desertion, attracted to her the compassion--in some cases +the affection--of young men of fortune, from whom her husband exacted +the most enormous sums; that James himself had been marked out for a +victim in this way; in fact, Kitty, I cannot go on: a web of such infamy +was exposed as I firmly believed, till then, impossible to exist, and a +degree of baseness laid bare that, for the sake of human nature, I trust +has not its parallel. + +I can write no more. Tears of shame as well as sorrow are blotting my +paper, and in my self-abasement I feel how changed I must have become, +when, in reflecting over such disgrace as this, I have a single thought +but of contempt for one so lost and dishonored. + +Yours in the depth of affliction, + +Mary Anne Dodd. + + + + +LETTER XXX. KENNY JAMES DODD TO THOMAS PURCELL, ESQ., OF THE GRANGE, BRUFF + +Florence. + +My dear Tom,--I have had a busy week of it, and even now I scarcely +perceive that the day is come when I can rest and repose myself. The +pleasure-life of this same capital is a very exhausting process, and +to do the thing well, a man's constitution ought to be in as healthy a +condition as his cash account! Now, Tom, it is an unhappy fact, that I +am a very "low letter" in both person and pocket, and I should be sorely +puzzled to say whether I find it harder to dance or to pay for the +music! + +Don't fancy that I 'm grumbling, now; not a bit of it, old fellow; I +have had my day, and as pleasant a one as most men. And if a man starts +in life with a strong fund of genial liking for his fellows, enjoying +society less for its display than for its own resources in developing +the bright side of human nature, take my word for it, he 'll carry on +with him, as he goes, memories and recollections enough to make his road +agreeable, and, what is far better, to render himself companionable to +others. + +You tell me you want to hear "all about Florence,"--a modest request, +truly! Why, man, I might fill a volume with my own short experiences, +and afterwards find that the whole could be condensed into a foot-note +for the bottom of a page. In the first place, there are at least half a +dozen distinct aspects in this place, which are almost as many cities. +There is the Florence of Art,--of pictures, statues, churches, frescos, +a town of unbounded treasures in objects of high interest. There are +galleries, where a whole life might be passed in cultivating the eye, +refining the taste, and elevating the imagination. There is the Florence +of Historical Association, with its palaces recalling the feudal age, +and its castellated strongholds, telling of the stormy times before the +"Medici." There is not a street, there is scarcely a house, whose name +does not awaken some stirring event, and bring you back to the period +when men were as great in crime as in genius. Here an inscription tells +you Benvenuto Cellini lived and labored; yonder was the window of his +studio; there the narrow street through which he walked at nightfall, +his hand upon his rapier, and his left arm well enveloped in his mantle; +there the stone where Dante used to sit; there the villa Boccaccio +inhabited; there the lone tower where Galileo watched; there the house, +unchanged in everything, of the greatest of them all, Michael Angelo +himself. The pen sketches of his glorious conceptions adorn the walls, +the half-finished models of his immortal works are on the brackets. That +splendid palace on the sunny Arno was Alfieri's. Go where you will, in +fact, a gorgeous story of the past reveals itself before you, and you +stand before the great triumphs of human genius, with the spirit of the +authors around and about you. + +There is also Florence the Beautiful and the Picturesque; Florence the +City of Fashion and Splendor; and, saddest of all, Florence garrisoned +by the stranger, and held in subjection by the Austrian! + +I entertain no bigoted animosity to the German, Tom; on the contrary, +I like him; I like his manly simplicity of character, his thorough good +faith, his unswerving loyalty; but I own to you, his figure is out of +keeping with the picture here,--the very tones of his harsh gutturals +grate painfully on the ears attuned to softer sounds. It is pretty +nearly a hopeless quarrel when a Sovereign has recourse to a foreign +intervention between himself and his subjects; as in private life, there +is no reconciliation when you have once called Doctors' Commons to your +councils. You may get damages; you 'll never have tranquillity. You 'll +say, perhaps, the thing was inevitable, and could n't be helped. Nothing +of the kind. Coercing the Tuscans by Austrian bayonets was like herding +a flock of sheep with bull-dogs. I never saw a people who so little +require the use of strong measures; the difficulty of ruling them lies +not in their spirit of resistance, but in its very opposite,--a plastic +facility of temper that gives way to every pressure. Just like a horse +with an over-fine mouth, you never can have him in hand, and never know +that he has stumbled till he is down. + +It was the duty of our Government to have prevented this occupation, +or at least to have set some limits to its amount and duration. We +did neither, and our influence has grievously suffered iu consequence. +Probably at no recent period of history was the name of England so +little respected in the entire peninsula as at present. And now, if I +don't take care, I 'll really involve myself in a grumbling revery, so +here goes to leave the subject at once. + +These Italians, Tom, are very like the Irish. There is the same +blending of mirth and melancholy in the national temperament, the +same imaginative cast of thought, the same hopefulness, and the same +indolence. In justice to our own people, I must say that they are the +better of the two. Paddy has strong attachments, and is unquestionably +courageous; neither of these qualities are conspicuous here. It would +be ungenerous and unjust to pronounce upon the _naturel_ of a people +who for centuries have been subjected to every species of misrule, whose +moral training has been also either neglected or corrupted, and whose +only lessons have been those of craft and deception. It would be worse +than rash to assume that a people so treated were unfitted for a freedom +they never enjoyed, or un suited to a liberty they never even heard of. +Still, I may be permitted to doubt that Constitutional Government will +ever find its home in the hearts of a Southern nation. The family, +Tom,--the fireside, the domestic habits of a Northern people, are the +normal schools for self-government. It is in the reciprocities of a +household men learn to apportion their share of the burdens of life, and +to work for the common weal. The fellow who with a handful of chestnuts +can provision himself for a whole day, and who can pass the night +under the shade of a fig-tree, acknowledges no such responsibilities. +All-sufficing to himself, he recognizes no claims upon him for exertion +in behalf of others; and as to the duties of citizenship, he would +repudiate them as an intolerable burden. Take ray word for it, +Parliamentary Institutions will only flourish where you have coal-fires +and carpets, and Elective Governments have a close affinity to +easy-chairs and hearth-rugs! + +You are curious to learn "how far familiarity with works of high art may +have contributed to influence the national character of Italy." I +don't like to dogmatize on such a subject, but so far as my own narrow +experience goes, I am far from attributing any high degree of culture +to this source. I even doubt whether objects of beauty suggest a high +degree of enjoyment, except to intellects already cultivated. I suspect +that your men of Glasgow or Manchester, who never saw anything more +artistic than a power-loom and a spinning-jenny, would stand favorable +comparison with him who daily passes beside the "Dying Gladiator" or the +Farnese Hercules. + +Of course I do not extend this opinion to the educated classes, amongst +whom there is a very high range of acquirement and cultivation. They +bring, moreover, to the knowledge of any subject a peculiar subtlety +of perception, a certain Machiavellian ingenuity, such as I have never +noticed elsewhere. A great deal of the national distrustful-ness and +suspicion has its root in this very habit, and makes me often resigned +to Northern dulness for the sake of Northern reliance and good faith. + +They are most agreeable in all the intercourse of society. Less full +of small attentions than the French, less ceremonious than the Germans, +they are easier in manner than either. They are natural to the very +verge of indifference; but above all their qualities stands pre-eminent +their good nature. An ungenerous remark, a harsh allusion, an unkind +anecdote, are utterly unknown amongst them, and all that witty smartness +which makes the success of a French _salon_ would find no responsive +echo in an Italian drawing-room. In a word, Tom, they are eminently a +people to live amongst They do not contribute much, but they exact +as little; and if never broken-hearted when you separate, they are +delighted when you meet; falling in naturally with your humor, tolerant +of anything and everything, except what gives trouble. + +There now, my dear Tom, are all my Italian experiences in a few words. +I feel that by a discreet use of my material I might have made a tureen +with what I have only filled a teaspoon; but as I am not writing for the +public, but only for Tom Purcell, I 'll not grumble at my wastefulness. + +Of the society, what can I say that would not as well apply to any city +of the same size as much resorted to by strangers? The world of fashion +is pretty much the same thing everywhere; and though we may "change the +venue," we are always pleading the same cause. They tell me that social +liberty here is understood in a very liberal sense, and the right of +private judgment on questions of morality exercised with a more than +Protestant independence. I hear of things being done that could not be +done elsewhere, and so on; but were I only to employ my own unassisted +faculties, I should say that everything follows its ordinary routine, +and that profligacy does not put on in Florence a single "travesty" that +I have not seen at Brussels and Baden, and twenty similar places! True, +people know each other very well, and discuss each other in all the +privileged candor close friendship permits. This sincerity, abused +as any good thing is liable to be, now and then grows scandalous; but +still, Tom, though they may bespatter you with mud, nobody ever thinks +you too dirty for society. In point of fact, there is a great deal of +evil speaking, and very little malevolence; abundance of slander, but +scarcely any ill-will. Mark you, these are what they tell me; for up +to this moment I have not seen or heard anything but what has pleased +me,--met much courtesy and some actual cordiality. And surely, if a +man can chance upon a city where the climate is good, the markets well +supplied, the women pretty, and the bankers tractable, he must needs be +an ill-conditioned fellow not to rest satisfied with his good fortune. +I don't mean to Bay I 'd like to pass my life here, no more than I would +like to wear a domino, and spend the rest of my days in a masquerade, +for the whole thing is just as unreal, just as unnatural; but it is +wonderfully amusing for a while, and I enjoy it greatly. + +From what I have seen of the world of pleasure, I begin to suspect that +we English people are never likely to have any great success in our +attempts at it; and for this simple reason, that we bring to our social +hours exhausted bodies and fatigued minds; we labor hard all day in law +courts or counting-houses or committee-rooms, and when evening comes are +overcome by our exertions, and very little disposed for those efforts +which make conversation brilliant, or intercourse amusing. Your +foreigner, however, is a chartered libertine. He feels that nature never +meant him for anything but idleness; he takes to frivolity naturally +and easily; and, what is of no small importance too, without any loss +of self-esteem! Ah, Tom! that is the great secret of it all. We never +do our fooling gracefully. There is everlastingly rising up within us a +certain bitter conviction that we are not doing fairly by ourselves, and +that our faculties might be put to better and more noble uses than we +have engaged them in. We walk the stage of life like an actor ashamed +of his costume, and "our motley" never sets easily on us to the last. I +think I had better stop dogmatizing, Tom. Heaven knows where it may lead +me, if I don't. Old Woodcock says that "he might have been a vagabond, +if Providence had n't made him a justice of the peace;" so I feel that +it is not impossible I might have been a moral philosopher, if fate had +n't made me the husband of Mrs. Dodd. + +Wednesday Afternoon. + +My dear Tom,--I had thought to have despatched this prosy epistle +without being obliged to inflict you with any personal details of the +Dodd family. I was even vaunting to myself that I had kept us all +"out of the indictment," and now I discover that I have made a signal +failure, and the codicil must revoke the whole body of the testament. +How shall I ever get my head clear enough to relate all I want to tell +you? I go looking after a stray idea the way I 'd chase a fellow in +a crowded fair or market, catching a glimpse of him now--losing him +again--here, with my hand almost on him,--and the next minute no sign of +him! Try and follow me, however; don't quit me for a moment; and, above +all, Tom, whatever vagaries I may fall into, be still assured that I +have a road to go, if I only have the wit to discover it! + +First of all about Morris, or Sir Morris, as I ought to call him. I +told you in my last how warmly he had taken up Mrs. D.'s cause, and how +mainly instrumental was he in her liberation. This being accomplished, +however, I could not but perceive that he inclined to resume the cold +and distant tone he had of late assumed towards us, and rather retire +from, than incur, any renewal of our intimacy. When I was younger in the +world, Tom, I believe I'd have let him follow his humor undisturbed; but +with more mature experience of life, I have come to see that one often +sacrifices a real friendship in the indulgence of some petty regard to +a ceremonial usage, and so I resolved at least to know the why, if I +could, of Morris's conduct. + +I went frankly to him at his hotel, and asked for an explanation. +He stared at me for a second or two without speaking, and then said +something about the shortness of my memory,--a recent circumstance,--and +such like, that I could make nothing of. Seeing my embarrassment, he +appeared slightly irritated, and proceeded to unlock a writing-desk on +the table before him, saying hurriedly,-- + +"I shall be able to refresh your recollection, and when you read over--" +He stopped, clasped his hand to his forehead suddenly, and, as if +overcome, threw himself down into a seat, deeply agitated. "Forgive me," +said he at length, "if I ask you a question or two. You remember being +ill at Genoa, don't you?" + +"Perfectly." + +"You can also remember receiving a letter from me at that time?" + +"No,--nothing of the kind!" + +"No letter?--you received no letter of mine?" + +"None!" + +"Oh, then, this must really--" He paused, and, overcoming what I saw +was a violent burst of indignation, he walked the room up and down for +several minutes. "Mr. Dodd," said he to me, taking ray hand in both his +own, "I have to entreat your forgiveness for a most mistaken impression +on my part influencing me in my relations, and suggesting a degree of +coldness and distrust which, owing to your manliness of character alone, +has not ended in our estrangement forever. I believed you had been in +possession of a letter from me; I thought until this moment that it +really had reached you. I now know that I was mistaken, and have only to +express my sincere contrition for having acted under a rash credulity." +He went over this again and again, always, as it seemed to me, as +if about to say more, and then suddenly checking himself under what +appeared to be a quickly remembered reason for reserve. + +I was getting impatient at last. I thought that the explanation +explained little, and was really about to say so; but he anticipated me +by saying, "Believe me, my dear sir, any suffering, any unhappiness that +my error has occasioned, has fallen entirely upon me. _You_ at least +have nothing to complain of. The letter which ought to have reached you +contained a proposal from me for the hand of your younger daughter; +a proposal which I now make to you, happily, in a way that cannot be +frustrated by an accident." He went on to press his suit, Tom, eagerly +and warmly; but still with that scrupulous regard to truthfulness I +have ever remarked in him. He acknowledged the difference in age, the +difference in character, the disparity between Cary's joyous, sunny +nature and his own colder mood; but he hoped for happiness, on grounds +so solid and so reasonable that showed me much of his own thoughtful +habit of mind. + +Of his fortune, he simply said that it was very far above all his +requirements; that he himself had few, if any, expensive tastes, but was +amply able to indulge such in a wife, if she were disposed to cultivate +them. He added that he knew my daughter had always been accustomed to +habits of luxury and expense, always lived in a style that included +every possible gratification, and therefore, if not in possession of +ample means, he never would have presumed on his present offer. + +I felt for a moment the vulgar pleasure that such flattery confers. I +own to you, Tom, I experienced a degree of satisfaction at thinking +that even to the observant eyes of Morris himself,--old soldier as he +was,--the Dodds had passed for brilliant and fashionable folk, in the +fullest enjoyment of every gift of fortune; but as quickly a more honest +and more manly impulse overcame this thought, and in a few words I told +him that he was totally mistaken; that I was a poor, half-ruined Irish +gentleman, with an indolent tenantry and an encumbered estate; that our +means afforded no possible pretension to the style in which we lived, +nor the society we mixed in; that it would require years of patient +economy and privation to repay the extravagance into which our foreign +tour had launched us; and that, so convinced was I of the inevitable +ruin a continuance of such a life must incur, I had firmly resolved to +go back to Ireland at the end of the present month and never leave it +again for the rest of my days. + +I suppose I spoke warmly, for I felt deeply. The shame many of the +avowals might have cost me in calmer mood was forgotten now, in my +ardent determination to be honest and above-board. I was resolved, +too, to make amends to my own heart for all the petty deceptions I had +descended to in a former case, and, even at the cost of the loss of a +son-in-law, to secure a little sense of self-esteem. + +He would not let me finish, Tom, but, grasping my hand in his with a +grip I did n't believe he was capable of, he said,-- + +"Dodd,"--he forgot the Mr. this time,--"Dodd, you are an honest, +true-hearted fellow, and I always thought so. Consent now to my +entreaty,--at least do not refuse it,--and I 'd not exchange my +condition with that of any man in Europe!" + +Egad, I could not have recognized him as he spoke, for his cheek colored +up, and his eye flashed, and there was a dash of energy about him I had +never detected in his nature. It was just the quality I feared he was +deficient in. Ay, Tom, I can't deny it, old Celt that I am, I would n't +give a brass farthing for a fellow whose temperament cannot be warmed up +to some burst of momentary enthusiasm! + +Of my hearty consent and my good wishes I speedily assured him, just +adding, "Cary must say the rest." I told him frankly that I saw it was +a great match for my daughter; that both in rank and fortune he was +considerably above what she might have looked for; but with all that, if +she herself would n't have taken him in his days of humbler destiny, my +advice would be, "don't have him now." + +He left me for a moment to say something to his mother,--I suppose some +explanation about this same letter that went astray, and of which I can +make nothing,--and then they came back together. The old lady seemed +as well pleased as her son, and told me that his choice was her own in +every respect. She spoke of Cary with the most hearty affection; but +with all her praise of her, she does n't know half her real worth; but +even what she did say brought the tears to my eyes,--and I 'm afraid I +made a fool of myself! + +You may be sure, Tom, that it was a happy day with me, although, for a +variety of reasons, I was obliged to keep my secret for my own heart. +Morris proposed that he should be permitted to wait on us the next +morning, to pay his respects to Mrs. D. upon her liberation, and thus +his visit might be made the means of reopening our acquaintance. You'd +think that to these arrangements, so simple and natural, one might +look forward with an easy tranquillity. So did I, Tom,--and so was I +mistaken. Mr. James, whose conduct latterly seems to have pendulated +between monastic severity and the very wildest dissipation, takes it +into his wise head that Morris has insulted him. He thinks--no, not +thinks, but dreams--that this calm-tempered, quiet gentleman is pursuing +an organized system of outrage towards him, and has for a time back made +him the mark of his sarcastic pleasantry. Full of this sage conceit, +he hurries on to his hotel, to offer him a personal insult. They +fortunately do not meet; but James, ordering pen and paper, sits down +and indites a letter. I have not seen it; but even his friend considers +it to have been "a step ill-advised and inconsiderate,--in fact, to be +deeply regretted." + +I cannot conjecture what might have been Morris's conduct under other +circumstances, but in his present relations to myself, he saw probably +but one course open to him. He condescended to overlook the terms of +this insulting note, and calmly asked for an explanation of it. By great +good luck, James had placed the affair in young Belton's hands,--our +former doctor at Bruff,--who chanced to be on his way through here; and +thus, by the good sense of one, and the calm temper of the other, this +rash boy has been rescued from one of the most causeless quarrels ever +heard of. James had started for Modena, I believe, with a carpet-bag +full of cigars, a French novel, and a bullet-mould; but before he had +arrived at his destination, Morris, Belton, and myself were laughing +heartily over the whole adventure.. Morris's conduct throughout the +entire business raised him still higher in my esteem; and the consummate +good tact with which he avoided the slightest reflection that might pain +me on my son's score, showed me that he was a thorough gentleman. I must +say, too, that Belton behaved admirably. Brief as has been his residence +abroad, he has acquired the habits of a perfect man of the world, but +without sacrificing a jot of his truly frank and generous temperament. + +Ah, Tom! it was not without some sharp self-reproaches that I saw this +young fellow, poor and friendless as he started in life, struggling with +that hard fate that insists upon a man's feeling independent in spirit, +and humble in manner, fighting that bitter battle contained in +a dispensary doctor's life, emerge at once into an accomplished, +well-informed gentleman, well versed in all the popular topics of +the day, and evidently stored with a deeper and more valuable kind of +knowledge,--I say, I saw all this, and thought of my own boy, bred +up with what were unquestionably greater advantages and better +opportunities of learning, not obliged to adventure on a career in his +mere student years, but with ample time and leisure for cultivation; and +yet there he was,--there he is, this minute,--and there is not a station +nor condition in life wherein he could earn half a crown a day. He was +educated, as it is facetiously called, at Dr. Stingem's school. He read +his Homer and Virgil, wrote his false quantities, and blundered +through his Greek themes, like the rest. He went through--it's a +good phrase--some books of Euclid, and covered reams of foolscap with +equations; and yet, to this hour, he can't translate a classic, nor do a +sum in common arithmetic, while his handwriting is a cuneiform character +that defies a key: and with all that, the boy is not a fool, nor +deficient in teachable qualities. I hope and trust this system is coming +to an end. I wish sincerely, Tom, that we may have seen the last of +a teaching that for one whom it made accomplished and well-informed, +converted fifty into pedants, and left a hundred dunces! Intelligible +spelling, and readable writing, a little history, and the "rule of +three," some geography, a short course of chemistry and practical +mathematics,--that's not too much, I think,--and yet I 'd be easy in +my mind if James had gone that far, even though he were ignorant of +"spondees," and had never read a line of that classic morality they call +the Heathen Mythology. I'd not have touched upon this ungrateful theme, +but that my thoughts have been running on the advantages we were to have +derived from our foreign tour, and some misgivings stinking me as to +their being realized. + +Perhaps we are not very docile subjects, perhaps we set about the thing +in a wrong way, perhaps we had not stored our minds with the preliminary +knowledge necessary, perhaps--anything you like, in short; but here we +are, in all essentials, as ignorant of everything a residence abroad +might be supposed to teach, as though we had never quitted Dodsborough. +Stop--I'm going too fast--we _have_ learned some things not usually +acquired at home; we have attained to an extravagant passion for dress, +and an inordinate love of grand acquaintances. Mary Anne is an advanced +student in modern French romance literature; James no mean proficient +at ecarte; Mrs. D. has added largely to the stock of what she calls her +"knowledge of life," by familiar intimacy with a score of people who +ought to be at the galleys; and I, with every endeavor to oppose the +tendency, have grown as suspicious as a government spy, and as meanly +inquisitive about other people's affairs as though I were prime minister +to an Italian prince. + +We have lost that wholesome reserve with respect to mere acquaintances, +and by which our manner to our friends attained to its distinctive signs +of cordiality, for now we are on the same terms with all the world. The +code is, to be charmed with everything and everybody,--with their looks, +with their manners, with their house and their liveries, with their +table and their "toilette,"--ay, even with their vices! There is the +great lesson, Tom; you grow lenient to everything save the reprobation +of wrong, and _that_ you set down for rank hypocrisy, and cry out +against as the blackest of all the blemishes of humanity. + +Nor is it a small evil that our attachment to home is weakened, and even +a sense of shame engendered with respect to a hundred little habits +and customs that to foreign eyes appear absurd--and perhaps vulgar. +And lastly comes the great question, How are we ever to live in our own +country again, with all these exotic notions and opinions? I don't mean +how are _we_ to bear _Ireland_, but how is _Ireland_ to endure us! An +American shrewdly remarked to me t' other day, "that one of the greatest +difficulties of the slave question was, how to emancipate the slave +_owners_; how to liberate the shackles of their rusty old prejudices, +and fit them to stand side by side with real freemen." And in a vast +variety of questions you 'll often discover that the puzzle is on the +side opposite to that we had been looking at. In this way do I feel that +all my old friends will have much to overlook,--much to forgive in my +present moods of thinking. I 'll no more be able to take interest in +home politics again than I could live on potatoes! My sympathies are now +more catholic. I can feel acutely for Schleswig-Holstein, or the Druses +at Lebanon. I am deeply interested about the Danubian Provinces, and +strong on Sebastopol; but I regard as contemptible the cares of a +quarter sessions, or the business of the "Union." If you want me to +listen, you must talk of the Cossacks, or the war in the Caucasus; and I +am far less anxious about who may be the new member for Bruff, than who +will be the next "Vladica" of "Montenegro." + +These ruminations of mine might never come to a conclusion, Tom, if +it were not that I have just received a short note from Belton, with a +pressing entreaty that he may see me at once on a matter of importance +to myself, and I have ordered a coach to take me over to his hotel. If I +can get back in time for post hour, I 'll be able to explain the reason +of this sudden call, till when I say adieu. + + + + +LETTER XXXI. MISS CAROLINE DODD TO MISS COX, AT MISS MINCINGS ACADEMY, +BLACK ROCK, IRELAND. + +Florence. + +My dearest Miss Cox,--It would be worse than ingratitude in me were I +to defer telling you how happy I am, and with what a perfect shower of +favors Fortune has just overwhelmed me! Little thought I, a few weeks +back, that Florence was to become to me the spot nearest and dearest to +my heart, associated as it is, and ever must be, with the most blissful +event of my life! Sir Penrhyn Morris, who, from some unexplained +misconception, had all but ceased to know us, was accidentally thrown +in our way by the circumstance of mamma's imprisonment. By his kind and +zealous aid her liberation was at length accomplished, and, as a matter +of course, he called to make his inquiries after her, and receive our +grateful acknowledgments. + +I scarcely can tell--my head is too confused to remember--the steps by +which he retraced his former place in our intimacy. It is possible there +may have been explanations on both sides. I only know that he took his +leave one morning with the very coldest of salutations, and appeared +on the next day with a manner of the deepest devotion, so evidently +directed towards myself that it would have been downright affectation to +appear indifferent to it. + +He asked me in a low and faltering voice if I would accord him a few +moments' interview. He spoke the words with a degree of effort at +calmness that gave them a most significant meaning, and I suddenly +remembered a certain passage in one of your letters to me, wherein you +speak of the inconsiderate conduct which girls occasionally pursue in +accepting the attentions of men whose difference in age would seem to +exclude them from the category of suitors. So far from having incurred +this error, I had actually retreated from any advances on his part, +not from the disparity of our ages, but from the far wider gulfs that +separated _his_ highly cultivated and informed mind from _my_ ungifted +and unstored intellect. Partly in shame at my inferiority, partly with a +conscious sense of what his impression of me must be, I avoided, so far +as I could, his intimacy; and even when domesticated with him, I sought +for occupations in which he could not join, and estranged myself from +the pursuits which he loved to practise. + +Oh, my dear, kind governess, how thoroughly I recognize the truthfulness +of all your views of life; how sincerely I own that I have never +followed them without advantage, never neglected them without loss! How +often have you told me that "dissimulation is never good;" that, however +speciously we may persuade ourselves that in feigning a part we are +screening our self-esteem from insult, or saving the feelings of others, +the policy is ever a bad one; and that, "if our sincerity be only allied +with an honest humility, it never errs." The pains I took to escape from +the dangerous proximity of his presence suggested to him that I disliked +his attentions, and desired to avoid them; and acting on this conviction +it was that he made a journey to England during the time I was a visitor +at his mother's. It would appear, however, that his esteem for me had +taken a deeper root than he perhaps suspected, for on his return his +attentions were redoubled, and I could detect that in a variety of +ways his feelings towards me were not those of mere friendship. Of mine +towards him I will conceal nothing from you. They were deep and intense +admiration for qualities of the highest order, and as much of love as +consisted with a kind of fear,--a sense of almost terror lest he should +resent the presumption of such affection as mine. + +You already know something of our habits of life abroad,--wasteful +and extravagant beyond all the pretensions of our fortune. It was a +difficult thing for me to carry on the semblance of our assumed position +so as not to throw discredit upon my family, and at the same time avoid +the dis-ingenuousness of such a part. The struggle, from which I saw no +escape, was too much for me, and I determined to leave the Morrises and +return home,--to leave a house wherein I already had acquired the first +steps of the right road in life, and go back to dissipations in which I +felt no pleasure, and gayeties that never enlivened! I did not tell +you all this at the time, my dear friend, partly because I had not +the courage for it, and partly that the avowal might seem to throw a +reproach on those whom my affection should shield from even a criticism. +If I speak of it now, it is because, happily, the theme is one hourly +discussed amongst us in all the candor of true frankness. We have no +longer concealments, and we are happy. + +It may have been that the abruptness of my departure offended Captain +Morris, or, possibly, some other cause produced the estrangement; but, +assuredly, he no longer cultivated the intimacy he had once seemed so +ardently to desire, and, until the event of mamma's misfortune here, he +ceased to visit us. + +And now came the interview I have alluded to! Oh, my dearest friend, if +there be a moment in life which combines within it the most exquisite +delight with the most torturing agony, it is that in which an affection +is sought for by one who, immeasurably above us in all the gifts of +fortune, still seems to feel that there is a presumption in his demand, +and that his appeal may be rejected. I know not how to speak of that +conflict between pride and shame, between the ecstasy of conquest and +the innate sense of the unworthiness that had won the victory! + +Sir Penrhyn thought, or fancied he thought, me fond of display and +splendor,--that in conforming to the quiet habits of his mother's house, +I was only submitting with a good grace to privations. I undeceived him +at once. I confessed, not without some shame, that I was in a manner +unsuited to the details of an exalted station,--that wealth and its +accompaniments would, in reality, be rather burdens than pleasure to one +whose tastes were humble as my own,--that, in fact, I was so little of a +"Grande Dame" that I should inevitably break down in the part, and +that no appliances of mere riches could repay for the onerous duties of +dispensing them. + +"In so much," interrupted he, with a half-smile, "that you would prefer +a poor man to a rich one?" + +"If you mean," said I, "a poor man who felt no shame in his poverty, +in comparison with a rich man who felt his pride in his wealth, I say, +Yes." + +"Then what say you to one who has passed through both ordeals," said he, +"and only asks that you should share either with him to make him happy?" + +I have no need to tell you my answer. It satisfied _him_, and made mine +the happiest heart in the world. And now we are to be married, dearest, +in a fortnight or three weeks,--as soon, in fact, as maybe; and then we +are to take a short tour to Rome and Naples, where Sir Penrhyn's yacht +is to meet us; after which we visit Malta, coast along Spain, and home. +Home sounds delightfully when it means all that one's fondest fancies +can weave of country, of domestic happiness, of duties heartily entered +on, and of affections well repaid. + +Penrhyn is very splendid; the castle is of feudal antiquity, and the +grounds are princely in extent and beauty. Sir Morris is justly proud +of his ancestral possessions, and longs to show me its stately +magnificence; but still more do I long for the moment when my dear Miss +Cox will be my guest, and take up her quarters in a certain little room +that opens on a terraced garden overlooking the sea. I fixed on the spot +the very instant I saw a drawing of the castle, and I am certain you +will not find it in your heart to refuse me what will thus make up the +perfect measure of my happiness. + +In all the selfishness of my joy, I have forgotten to tell you of +Florence; but, in truth, it would require a calmer head than mine to +talk of galleries and works of art while my thoughts are running on the +bright realities of my condition. It is true we go everywhere and see +everything, but I am in such a humor to be pleased that I am delighted +with all, and can be critical to nothing. I half suspect that art, as +art, is a source of pleasure to a very few. I mean that the number is a +limited one which can enter into all the minute excellences of a great +work, appreciate justly the difficulties overcome, and value deservingly +the real triumph accomplished. For myself, I know and feel that painting +has its greatest charm for me in its power of suggestiveness, and, +consequently, the subject is often of more consequence than the +treatment of it; not that I am cold to the chaste loveliness of a +Raphael, or indifferent to the gorgeous beauty of a Giordano. They +appeal to me, however, in somewhat the same way, and my mind at once +sets to work upon an ideal character of the creation before me. That +this same admiration of mine is a very humble effort at appreciating +artistic excellence, I want no better proof than the fact that it is +exactly what Betty Cobb herself felt on being shown the pictures in "the +Pitti." Her honest worship of a Madonna at once invested her with every +attribute of goodness, and the painter, could he only have heard the +praises she uttered, might have revelled in the triumph of an art that +can rise above the mere delineation of external beauty. That the appeal +to her own heart was direct, was evidenced by her constant reference to +some living resemblance to the picture before her. Now it was a +saintly hermit by Caracci,--that was the image of Peter Delany at +the cross-roads; now it was a Judas,--that was like Tom Noon of the +turnpike; and now it was a lovely head by Titian,--the "very moral of +Miss Kitty Doolan, when her hair was down about her." I am certain, my +dearest Miss Cox, that the delight conveyed by painting and music is +a much more natural pleasure than that derived from the enjoyment of +imaginary composition by writing. The appeal is not alone direct, but +it is in a manner the same to all,--to the highest king upon the throne, +and to the lowly peasant, as in meek wonder he stands entranced and +enraptured. + +But why do I loiter within doors when it is of Florence itself, of its +sunny Arno, of its cypress-crowned San Miniato, and of the villa-clad +Fiezole I would tell you! But even these are so interwoven with the +frame of mind in which I now enjoy them, that to speak of them would be +again to revert to my selfishness. + +Yesterday we made an excursion to Vallambrosa, which lies in a cleft +between two lofty mountains, about thirteen miles from this. It was a +strange transition from the warm air and sunny streets of Florence, with +all their objects of artistic wonder on every side, to find one's self +suddenly traversing a wild mountain gorge in a rude bullock-cart, +guided by a peasant of semi-savage aspect, his sheepskin mantle and long +ox-goad giving a picturesque air to his tall and sinewy figure. The snow +lay heavily in all the crevices around, and it was a perfectly Alpine +scene in its desolation; nor, I must say, did it recall a single one +of the ideas with which our great poet has associated it. The thickly +strewn leaves have no existence here, since the trees are not deciduous, +and consist entirely of pines. + +A straight avenue in the forest leads to the convent, which is of +immense size, forming a great quadrangle. At a little distance off, +sheltered by a thick grove of tall pines, stands a small building +appropriated to the accommodation of strangers, who are the guests +of the monks for any period short of three days, and by a special +permission for even a longer time. + +We passed the day and the night there, and I would willingly have +lingered still longer. From the mountain peak above the convent the two +seas at either side of the peninsula are visible, and the Gulf of Genoa +and the Adriatic are stretched out at your feet, with the vast plain of +Central Italy, dotted over with cities, every name of which is a spell +to memory! Thence back to Florence, and all that gay world that seemed +so small to the eye the day before! And now, dearest Miss Cox, let me +conclude, ere my own littleness become more apparent; for here I am, +tossing over laces and embroidery, gazing with rapture at brooches +and bracelets, and actually fancying how captivating I shall be when +apparelled in all this finery. It would be mere deceitfulness in me were +I to tell you that I am not charmed with the splendor that surrounds me. +Let me only hope that it may not corrupt that heart which at no time was +more entirely your own than while I write myself yours affectionately, + +Caroline Dodd. + + + + +LETTER XXXII. KENNY JAMES DODD TO THOMAS PURCELL, ESQ., OF THE GRANGE, +BRUFF. + +Florence. + +Well, my dear Tom, my task is at last completed,--my _magnum opus_ +accomplished. I have carried all my measures, if not with triumphant +majorities, at least with a "good working party," as the slang has it, +and I stand proudly pre-eminent the head of the Dodd Administration. I +have no patience for details. I like better to tell you the results in +some striking paragraph, to be headed "Latest Intelligence," and to run +thus: "Our last advices inform us that, notwithstanding the intrigues +in the Cabinet, K. I. maintains his ascendency. We have no official +intelligence of the fact, but all the authorities concur in believing +that the Dodds are about to leave the Continent and return to Ireland." + +Ay, Tom, that is the grand and comprehensive measure of family reform I +have so long labored over, and at length have the proud gratification to +see Law! + +I find, on looking back, that I left off on my being sent for by Belton. +I 'll try and take up one of the threads of my tangled narrative at +that point. I found him at his hotel in conversation with a very smartly +dressed, well-whiskered, kid-gloved little man, whom he presented as +"Mr. Curl Davis, of Lincoln's Inn." Mr. D. was giving a rather pleasant +account of the casualties of his first trip to Italy when I entered, +but immediately stopped, and seemed to think that the hour of business +should usurp the time of mere amusement. + +Belton soon informed me why, by telling me that Mr. C. D. was a London +collector who transacted the foreign affairs for various discounting +houses at home, and who held a roving commission to worry, harass, and +torment all such and sundry as might have drawn, signed, or endorsed +bills, either for their own accommodation or that of their friends. + +Now, I had not the most remote notion how I should come to figure in +this category. I knew well that you had "taken care of"--that's the +word--all my little missives in that fashion. So persuaded was I of my +sincerity that I offered him at once a small wager that he had mistaken +his man, and that it was, in fact, some other Dodd, bent on bringing our +honorable name to shame and disgrace. + +"It must, under these circumstances, then," said he, "be a very gross +case of forgery, for the name is yours; nor can I discover any other +with the same Christian names." So saying, he produced a pocket-book, +like a family Bible, and drew from out a small partition of it a bill +for five hundred pounds, at nine months, drawn and endorsed by me in +favor of the Hon. Augustus Gore Hampton! + +This precious document had now about fifty-two hours some odd minutes +to run. In other words, it was a crocodile's egg with the shell already +bursting, and the reptile's head prepared to spring out. + +"The writing, if not yours, is an admirable imitation," said Davis, +surveying it through his double eye-glass. + +"Is it yours?" asked Belton. + +"Yes," said I, with a great effort to behave like an ancient Roman. + +"Ah, then, it is all correct," said Davis, smirking. "I am charmed to +find that the case presents no difficulty whatsoever." + +"I 'm not quite so certain of that, sir," said I; "I take a very +different view of the transaction." + +"Don't be alarmed, Mr. Dodd," said he, coaxingly, "we are not Shylocks. +We will meet your convenience in any way; in fact, it is with that sole +object I have come out from England. 'Don't negotiate it,' said Mr. Gore +Hampton to me,' if you can possibly help it; see Mr. D. himself, ask +what arrangement will best suit him, take half the amount in cash, +and renew the bill at three months, rather than push him to an +inconvenience.' I assure you these were his own words, for there is n't +a more generous fellow breathing than Gore." Mr. Davis uttered this with +a kind of hearty expansiveness, as though to say, "The man 's my friend, +and let me see who 'll gainsay me." + +"Am I at liberty to inquire into the circumstances of this transaction?" +said Belton, who had been for some minutes attentively examining the +bill, and the several names upon it, and comparing the writing with some +other that he held in his hand. + +I half scrupled to say "Yes" to this request, Tom. If there be anything +particularly painful in shame above all others, it is for an old fellow +to come to confession of his follies to a young one. It reverses their +relative stations to each other so fatally that they never can stand +rightly again. He saw this, or he seemed to see it, in a second, by my +hesitation, for, quickly turning to Mr. Davis, he said, "Our +meeting here is a most opportune one, as you will perceive by this +paper,"--giving him a letter as he spoke. Although I paid little +attention to these words, I was soon struck by the change that had come +over Mr. Davis. The fresh and rosy cheek was now blanched, the easy +smile had departed, and a look of terror and dismay was exhibited in its +place. + +"Now, sir," said Belton, folding up the document, "you see I have been +very frank with you. The charges contained in that letter I am in a +position to prove. The Earl of Darewood has placed all the papers in my +hands, and given me full permission as to how I shall employ them. Mr. +Dodd," said he, addressing me, "if I am not at liberty to ask you +the history of that bill, there is at least nothing to prevent _my_ +informing _you_ that all the names upon it are those of men banded +together for purposes of fraud." + +"Take care what you say, sir," said Davis, affecting to write down his +words, but in his confusion unable to form a letter. + +"I shall accept your caution as it deserves," said Belton, "and say +that they are a party of professional swindlers,--men who cheat at play, +intimidate for money, and even commit forgery for it." + +Davis moved towards the door, but Belton anticipated him, and he sat +down again without a word. + +[Illustration: 314] + +"Now, Mr. Davis," said he, calmly, "it is left entirely to my discretion +in what way I am to proceed with respect to one of the parties to +these frauds." As he got thus far, the waiter entered, and presented a +visiting-card, on which Belton said, "Yes, show him upstairs;" and the +next minute Lord George Tiverton made his appearance. He was already in +the middle of the room ere he perceived me, and for the first time in my +life I saw signs of embarrassment and shame on his impassive features. + +"They told me you were alone, Mr. Belton," said he, angrily, and as if +about to retire. + +"For all the purposes you have come upon, my Lord, it is the same as +though I were." + +"Is it blown, then?" asked his Lordship of Davis; and the other replied +with an almost imperceptible nod. Muttering what sounded like a curse, +Tiverton threw himself into a chair, drawing his hat, which he still +wore, more deeply over his eyes. + +I assure you, Tom, that so overwhelmed was I by this distressing +scene,--for, say what you will, there is nothing so distressing as +to see the man with whom you have lived in intimacy, if not +actual friendship, suddenly displayed in all the glaring colors of +scoundrelism. You feel yourself so humiliated before such a spectacle, +that the sense of shame becomes like an atmosphere around you; I +actually heard nothing,--I saw nothing. A scene of angry discussion +ensued between Belton and the lawyer--Tiverton never uttered a word--of +which I caught not one syllable. I could only mark, at last, that +Belton had gained the upper hand, and in the other's subdued manner and +submissive tone defeat was plainly written. + +"Will Mr. Dodd deny his liability?" cried out Davis; and though, I +suppose, he must have said the words many times over, I could not bring +myself to suppose they were addressed to me. + +"I shall not ask him that question." said Belton, "but _you_ may." + +"Hang it, Curl! you know it was a 'plant,'" said Tiverton, who was now +smoking a cigar as coolly as possible. "What's the use of pushing them +further? We 've lost the game, man!" + +"Just so, my Lord," said Belton; "and notwithstanding all his pretended +boldness, nobody is more aware of that fact than Mr. Curl Davis, and the +sooner he adopts your Lordship's frankness the quicker will this affair +be settled." + +Belton and the lawyer conversed eagerly together in half-whispers. I +could only overhear a stray word or two; but they were enough to show +me that Davis was pressing for some kind of a compromise, to which the +other would not accede, and the terms of which came down successively +from five hundred pounds to three, two, one, and at last fifty. + +"No, nor five, sir,--not five shillings in such a cause!" said Belton, +determinedly. "I should feel it an indelible disgrace upon me forever to +concede one farthing to a scheme so base and contemptible. Take my word +for it, to escape exposure in such a case is no slight immunity." + +Davis still demurred, but it was rather with the disciplined resistance +of a well-trained rascal than with the ardor of a strong conviction. + +The altercation--for it was such--interested me wonderfully little, my +attention being entirely bestowed on Tiverton, who had now lighted his +third cigar, which he was smoking away vigorously, never once bestowing +a look towards me, nor in any way seeming to recognize my presence. A +sudden pause in the discussion attracted me, and I saw that Mr. Davis +was handing over several papers, which, to my practical eye, resembled +bills, to Belton, who carefully perused each of them in turn before +enclosing them in his pocket-book. + +"Now, my Lord, I am at your service," said Belton; "but I presume our +interview may as well be without witnesses." + +"I should like to have Davis here," replied Tiverton, languidly; "seeing +how you have bullied _him_ only satisfies me how little chance _I_ shall +have with you." + +Not waiting to hear an answer to this speech, I arose and took my hat, +and pressing Belton's hand cordially as I asked him to dinner for that +day, I hurried out of the room. Not, however, without his having time to +whisper to me,-- + +"That affair is all arranged,--have no further uneasiness on the +subject." + +I was in the street in the midst of the moving, bustling population, +with all the life, din, and turmoil of a great city around me, and yet +I stood confounded and overwhelmed by what I had just witnessed. "And +this," said I, at last, "is the way the business of the world goes +on,--robbery, cheating, intimidation, and overreaching are the +politenesses men reciprocate with each other!" Ah, Tom, with what +scanty justice we regard our poor hard-working, half-starved, and ragged +people, when men of rank, station, and refinement are such culprits as +this! Nor could I help confessing that if I had passed my life at home, +in my own country, such an instance as I had just seen had, in +all likelihood, never occurred to me. The truth is that there is a +simplicity in the life of poor countries that almost excludes such a +craft as that of a swindler. Society must be a complex and intricate +machinery where _they_ are to thrive. There must be all the thousand +requirements that are begotten of a pampered and luxurious civilization, +and all the faults and frailties that grow out of these. Your well-bred +scoundrel trades upon the follies, the weaknesses, the foibles, rather +than the vices of the world, and his richest harvest lies amongst those +who have ambitions above their station, and pretensions unsuited to +their property,--in one word, to the "Dodds of this world, whether they +issue from Tipperary or Yorkshire, whether their tongue betray the Celt +or the Saxon!" + +I grew very moral on this theme as I walked along, and actually found +myself at my own door before I knew where I was. I discovered that +Morris and his mother had been visiting Mrs. D. in my absence, and that +the interview had passed off satisfactorily Cary's bright and cheery +looks sufficiently assured me. Perhaps she was "not i' the vein," or +perhaps she was awed by the presence of real wealth and fortune, but +I was glad to find that Mrs. D. scarcely more than alluded to the +splendors of Dodsborough; nor did she bring in the M'Carthys more than +four times during their stay. This is encouraging, Tom; and who knows +but in time we may be able to "lay this family," and live without the +terrors of their resurrection! + +The Morrises are to dine with us, and I only trust that we shall not +give them a "taste of our quality" in high living, for I have just +caught sight of a fellow with a white cap going into Mrs. D.'s +dressing-room, and the preparations are evidently considerable. Here 's +Mary Anne saying she has something of consequence to impart to me, and +so, for the present, farewell. + +The murder is out, Tom, and all the mystery of Morris's missing letter +made clear. Mrs. D. received it during my illness at Genoa, and finding +it to be a proposal of marriage to Cary, took it upon her to write an +indignant refusal. + +Mary Anne has just confessed the whole to me in strict secrecy, frankly +owning that she herself was the great culprit on the occasion, and that +the terms of the reply were actually dictated by her. She said that her +present avowal was made less in reparation for her misconduct--which she +owned to be inexcusable--than as an obligation she felt under to requite +the admirable behavior of Morris, who by this time must have surmised +what had occurred, and whose gentlemanlike feeling recoiled from +vindicating himself at the cost of family disunion and exposure. + +I tell you frankly, Tom, that Mary Anne's own candor, the honest, +straightforward way in which she told me the whole incident, amply +repays me for all the annoyance it occasioned. Her conduct now assures +me that, notwithstanding all the corrupting influences of our life +abroad, the girl's generous nature has still survived, and may yet, with +good care, be trained up to high deservings. Of course she enjoined +me to secrecy; but even had she not done so, I 'd have respected her +confidence. I am scarcely less pleased with Morris, whose delicacy is no +bad guarantee for the future; so that for once, at least, my dear Tom, +you find me in good humor with all the world, nor is it my own fault +if I be not oftener so! You may smile, Tom, at my self-flattery; but +I repeat it. All my philosophy of life has been to submit with a good +grace, and make the best of everything,--to think as well of everybody +as they would permit me to do; and when, as will happen, events went +cross-grain, and all fell out "wrong," I was quite ready to "forget my +own griefs, and be happy with _you_." And now to dinner, Tom, where I +mean to drink your health! + +It is all settled; though I have no doubt, after so many "false starts," +you 'll still expect to hear a contradiction to this in my next +letter; but you may believe me this time, Tom. Cary is to be married on +Saturday; and that you may have stronger confidence in my words, I beg +to assure you that I have not bestowed on her, as her marriage portion, +either imaginary estates or mock domains. She is neither to be thought +an Irish princess _en retraite_, nor to be the proud possessor of the +"M'Carthy diamonds." In a word, Tom, we have contrived, by some good +luck, to conduct the whole of this negotiation without involving +ourselves in a labyrinth of lies, and the consequence has been a very +wide-spread happiness and contentment. + +Morris improves every hour on nearer acquaintance; and even Mrs. D. +acknowledges that when "his shyness rubs off, he 'll be downright +agreeable and amusing." Now, that same shyness is very little more +than the constitutional coldness of _his_ country, more palpable when +contrasted with the over-warmth of _ours_. It _never does_ rub off, Tom, +which, unfortunately, our cordiality occasionally does; and hence the +praise bestowed on the constancy of one country, and the censure on the +changeability of the other. But this is no time for such dissertations, +nor is my head in a condition to follow them out. + +The house is beset with milliners, jewellers, and other seductionists +of the same type; and Mrs. D.'s voice is loud in the drawing-room on +the merits of Brussels lace and the becomingness of rubies. Even Cary +appears to have yielded somewhat to the temptation of these vanities, +and gives a passing glance at herself in the glass without any very +marked disapproval. James is in ecstasies with Morris, who has confided +all his horse arrangements to his especial care; and he sits in solemn +conclave every morning with half a dozen stunted, knock-kneed bipeds, in +earnest discussion of thorough-breds, weight-carriers, and fencers, and +talks "Bell's Life" half the day afterwards. + +But, above all, Mary Anne has pleased me throughout the whole +transaction. Not a shadow of jealousy, not the faintest coloring of any +unworthy rivalry has interfered with her sisterly affection, and her +whole heart seems devoted to Cary's happiness. Handsome as she always +was, the impulse of a high motive has elevated the character of her +beauty, and rendered her perfectly lovely. So Belton would seem to think +also, if I were only to pronounce from the mere expression of his face +as he looks at her. + +I must close this at once; there's no use in my trying to journalize any +longer, for events follow too fast for recording; besides, Tom, in the +midst of all my happiness there comes a dash of sadness across me that +I am so soon to part with one so dear to me! The first branch that drops +from the tree tells the story of the decay at the trunk; and so it is as +the chairs around your health become tenantless, you are led to think +of the dark winter of old age, the long night before the longer journey! +This is all selfishness, mayhap, and so no more of it. On Saturday the +wedding, Tom; the Morrises start for Rome, and the Dodds for Ireland. +Ay, my old friend, once more we shall meet, and if I know myself, not to +part again till our passports are made out for a better place. And now, +my dear friend, for the last time on foreign ground, + +I am yours ever affectionately, + +Kenny James Dodd. + +Tell Mrs. Gallagher to have fires in all the rooms, and to see that +Nelligan has a look to the roof where the rain used to come in. We must +try and make the old house comfortable, and if we cannot have the blue +sky without, we 'll at least endeavor to secure the means of an Irish +welcome within doors. + +I suppose it must be a part of that perversity that pertains to human +nature in everything, but now that I have determined on going home +again, I fancy I can detect a hundred advantages to be derived from +foreign travel and foreign residence. You will, of course, meet me by +saying, "What are your own experiences, Kenny Dodd? Do they serve to +confirm this impression? Have you the evidences of such within the +narrow circle of your own family?" No, Tom, I must freely own I have not +But I am, perhaps, able to say why it has been so, and even that same is +something. + +You can scarcely take up a number of the "Times" without reading of some +newly arrived provincial in London being "done" by sharpers, through the +devices of a very stale piece of roguery; his appearance, his dress, and +his general air being the signs which have proclaimed him a fit subject +for deception. So it is abroad; a certain class of travellers, the +"Dodds" for instance, ramble about Switzerland and the Rhine country, +John Murray in hand, speaking unintelligible French, and poking their +noses everywhere. So long as they are migratory, they form the prey of +innkeepers and the harvest of _laquais de place_; but when they settle +and domesticate, they become the mark for ridicule for some, and for +robbery from others. If they be wealthy, much is conceded to them for +their money,--that is, their house will be frequented, their dinners +eaten, their balls danced at; but as to any admission into "the society" +of the place, they have no chance of it. Some Lord George of their +acquaintance, cut by his equals, and shunned by his own set, will +undertake to provide them guests; and so far as their own hospitalities +extend, they will be "in the world," but not one jot further. The +illustrious company that honors your _soiree_ amuses itself with racy +stories of your bad French, or flippant descriptions of your wife's +"toilette;" nor is it enough that they ridicule these, but they will +even make laughing matter of your homely notions of right and wrong, +and scoff at what you know and feel to be the very best things in your +nature. Your "noble friend," or somebody else's "noble friend," has said +in public that you are "nobody;" and every marquis in his garret, and +every count with half the income of your cook, despises as he dines with +you. And you deserve it too; richly deserve it, I say. Had you come +on the Continent to be abroad what you were well contented to be at +home,--had you abstained from the mockery of a class you never belonged +to,--had you settled down amidst those your equals in rank, and often +much more than your equals in knowledge and acquirement,--your journey +would not have been a series of disappointments. You would have seen +much to delight and interest, and much to improve you. You would have +educated your minds while richly enjoying yourselves; and while forming +pleasant intimacies, and even friendships, widened the sphere of your +sympathies with mankind, and assuredly have escaped no small share of +the misfortunes and mishaps that befell the "Dodd Family Abroad." + +THE END. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Dodd Family Abroad, Vol. II.(of II), by +Charles James Lever + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DODD FAMILY ABROAD *** + +***** This file should be named 35442.txt or 35442.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/5/4/4/35442/ + +Produced by David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +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 + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/35442.zip b/35442.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..3d3cdc1 --- /dev/null +++ b/35442.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..bcf476a --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #35442 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/35442) |
